us encourage you to gratify The aged Father last of all comes forth With Mitred head gray hairs of famed worth Who said O King your great experience Of my fidelity and vast expence Deserves of you a better recompence I told that King before the Child was born That he would be the cause of Egypt's scorn If then his Death by him had been decreed As I requested Egypt had been freed From all these plagues For he himself presaged In Childish sports what he would do when aged Pharaoh his Infant Temples did adorn With Egypt's Crown which he pull'd off in scorn By which most just suspicion he gave That he would force the Sceptre not receive It from his hands Then it was my advice That death should pay him for the enterprize But now 't's too late he 's King you his Viceroy Which I forsee you will not long enjoy He threatens kills commands and which is more Destroys our Lands their Fruits and all our store There is but one way left us to preserve Egyyt from ruin that we may not starve To let them go that they may serve the Lord Perhaps this Moses may perform his word He says Heav'n's merciful and will repent Of his fierce anger if ill men relent You have o'rcome me said the raging King Go out in haste Moses and Aaron bring A Monarch is no Monarch when alone His Subjects ruin'd let the men be gone To do as they have said yet I must see Th' extent of this great Goal-delivery Moses Heav'n's fury acted by thy hand I am no longer able to withstand Tell me but who must go Let modesty bound your demands and they shall granted be Who asks too much his own denyal craves I will not part at once with all my Slaves You are not ignorant great Sir I know By this time that my Message from below Came not just Heaven me often did command The Tribes to carry out of Egypt's land And they must go Men Children Herds and Sheep None must be absent when our Feasts we keep Unto Jehovah Is this the justice of your fam'd Jehove Is this the kindness of your God of love To his Vicegerents said the angry King Must they submit to every idle thing That he requires Must every Slave have power To spoil their goods and honours to deflow'r No this great point I will dispute and try Who must be here obeyed he or I Your little ones as pledges I will keep Till you return Go you with Herds and Sheep If this will not content you look you to it I 'll punish you with stripes and Death to boot The present losses I thro you sustain My honour shall repair which I 'll regain By conqu'ring him in you his Subjects slain Go then I say and let your Children stay What! Murmur Serjeants drive the fools away The General omnipotent who far Or near ne'er yet made one false step in War Laugh'd at the indiscretion of his foe And said to his Lieutenant you must go With new rais'd Troops to curb the insolence Of this unwary this bewitched Prince Let Eurus be the Trumpeter whose breath Shall animate the Army threatning Death Death unto Men and Beasts that they may see I do demand this Goal-delivery He spoke no sooner than he was obey'd The hand is stretched forth and Rod display'd O'er Egypt Land then the East Wind doth call The Catterpillers Locusts Insects all Out of their slimy dust who buz and fly About the ears of every stander by Seizing on all the Fruits they could destroy The Earth was cover'd with the numerous swarms No Tree no Fruit no Herb escap't their harms Their Eyes their Mouths their Stings were merciless This made the Prince with tears his grief express Unto the Brethren with heart-breaking voice I cannot longer hear this dreadful noise ' O! that Heav'n had not brought me to the Throne ' O! that I 'd Hermit been and liv'd alone ' In unfrequented Groves in Woods and Caves ' Careless of Crowns Lands Subjects or of Slaves ' If Heav'n had been my Canopy my Bed ' The Flow'ry Earth the Pillow for my Head 'A bundle of Vi'lets Pinks or Cammomile ' Rose-buds with Lillies and sweat smelling Dill ' My meat wild Fruits with quintessence of Bees ' My Drink sweet Liquors from the juicy Trees ' My recreation hunting of the Hare ' The vacant hours I could from Study spare ' Or Fox or Deer or what I liked best ' I had not then by Heav'n been thus opprest ' But so Jehove would have it he did raise ' Me to this shame for his immortal praise ' That Kings may learn true wisdom and their Subjects ' Dread ev'n in thought such great such fearful objects ' As high ambition Diabolick pride ' Will bring on all like Pharaoh stupifi'd ' My hainous crimes and grievous punishment ' Will fright the worst and force them to repent ' As I begin O! may 't not be too late ' I grieve I mourn Alas my cursed fate ' Made me offend your God his Sons and you ' For which I pardon crave with tears and vow ' My Life I see is threat'ned yet spare ' This once that I may see what 's mercies are ' Forgive forgive my friends and you shall see ' That weeping Pharaoh will not falsify Moses the God-like Moses judg'd his heart By his expressions knew no wheedling art Whose Sympathy with tears made him depart And thus accost his maker I have prov'd The King who begs this plague may be remov'd At my request my God let it be so Since he hath vowed that the men shall go Without delay yet be that as it will Omnipotence hath Armies that can kill As these have done such wonders more when shown The more men will thy Justice Mercy own It shall be done I 'll call a Western Wind Shall clear the Land tho you him falfe will find That all those living Clouds shall headlong bear To the Arabick watry Sepulcher Whose purple waves will quickly overflow And send them to the fish that dwell below A Feast that heretofore they did not know I will not leave one Locust on his Coasts That he may know I am the Lord of Hosts This done the Hypocrite forgets his woe His solemn vow and will not let them go Moses said God the blindness of this man Hath still encreased since the War began With us since wonders will not ope his eyes The Sun the Moon the Air shall him despise Stretch out thy Rod to Heav'n and damp the Fires Give light and heat to th' Earth and mens desires With pleasure gratify and let no Star Our En'mies guide it is a time of War Make the Air thick and black for three days space That none of them may see anothers face But fixed sit not rising from his place Yet let my Servants have their wonted joy In Goshen light to see that I employ My wisdom power and justice arm'd with might On their behalf
when Heavens bids him go Distrust no more your God doth undertake This wondrous task and for that end will make Thy pow'rful signs bring down great Pharaoh â—s heart When Aaron as thy mouth shall act his part Exceed not thy commission say no more To him than I to thee have said before This bid him freely unto Pharaoh say Heav'ns chosen Servants must not longer stay In his Dominions their increased woe Is at an end they must to Canaan go I know his rage his fury he 'll deny Thy God or thee in this to gratify From 's hard'ned heart my spirit I 'll remove His Conscience him shall no more warnings give Of my displeasure nor his future state The Devil shall him deceive till it 's too late I 'll blind his judgment so that he shall be The chiefest actor in 's own tragedy ' Like Fish unwary plung'd into the Net ' The more they strike the faster in they get ' So he while all my wonders I have spent ' Not dreaming that his own destructionâ—s meant Shall boldly with enchanting Witch-crafts dare ' The signs by thee and Aaron acted are I know he 'll strive my Outguards to defeat Not knowing that I have more wonders yet At my command whole Armies that can dye His waters Crimson darken his bright Sky My word shall bring poor vermin from their Cells Will him despise and all his Magi's spells The winged Troops I 've ready at my beck His ruin Israel's rescue to effect That tawny King and all his swarthy crew Shall that with vengeance learn they never knew I will the Winds let loose and Seas adjure With him to make the fatal overture For bringing Israel out by my great pow'r I know when you before him next appear Your persons he will scorn yet say draw near You who pretend a message from above Must it confirm by Miracles or prove Your selves Impostors Rebels to my Crown Most willingly say you and then throw down This pregnant Rod which turning to a Snake Shall twist unfold and crawl and strive to take The Royal Scepter out of Pharaoh's hand At which he much affrighted mute will stand Nodding and sighing for his Sophi-band They come He said what think my Priests of this Can you such Serpents turn and make them hiss Alas great Sir said they this fellow's art Was learn'd from us before he did depart Thy Predecessors Court and now he brings Owls into Athens we know better things Look on our Rods Great Sir which we command By all our Deities to turn from our hand As that of his to many Serpents great And when all 's done both his and ours are cheat Legerdemain can make false things appear To th' ignorant as if they real were But here is more said he his swalloweth yours This if a trick I 'm sure 's beyond your pow'rs Well Moses this is fine but yet I must See more and greater things before I trust That you commission have from any God To rob me of my Subjects Aaron's Rod And all your charms for this will prove in vain Once more be gone and from these slights abstain This will not ease but more increase your pain Then turn'd and frown'd and said disdainfully I 'm King of Egypt I your God defie I scorn to think of a superiour Who can make Gods I 'll hear of him no more ' This heard in haste the flaming Seraphs came 'To pay their homage Cherubs did the same ' Say'ng Holy Holy Holy Lord and true ' How long have we blest Spirits honour'd you ' Both night and day not daring once to pry ' Into the secrets of such Majesty ' Yet in our tarvels at your beck we hear ' Proud Mortals talk as they your Rivals were ' Your patience we 've experienc'd in our selves ' Whom you confirm'd in grace but that such elves ' As they should sharers of this goodness be ' Is unto us next to a prodigy ' Since nobler beings for one single fault ' When they attempt your honour to assault ' Receiv'd a present Mittimus to go ' From bliss eternal to eternal woe ' Have you so long domesticks been to me ' And count one single Act a prodigy ' Look back on former ages there you 'll find ' Greater and more done by me of that kind ' My mercy's great and cannot be confin'd ' When all the Sons of men like Pharaoh spoke ' Reproachfully of me and did provoke ' My Justice then I took a fixed time 'To vindicate my self correct that crime ' And so I will do now Take speedy wing To Moses saying you a message bring From me It 's best to see him in the night That he may be prepar'd when it is light To wait on vexed Pharaoh at the River Whose heart is hard and faithless yet as ever And in that state resolves to persevere Tell him from me that when the Monarch views Himself and Aaron coming with fresh news That sight will so exasperate his wrath He 'll threaten both of them with present death Command him not to fear but take his Rod And say once more to him the Hebrews God Scorns his repulses in the business Of Isra'l's going to the Wilderness At his command Shall vile Earthworms deny Their maker and refuse to gratify His just demands his pow'r will make thee know That thou allegiance unto him do'st owe With full obedience Pray Great Sir believe For God commands that I a sign shall give These limpid streams that he made for thy good By this small Rod shall turned be to blood Blood that to thee may fearful loathsome be And all it s sinn'd inhab'tants stupify Thy Rivers shall with blood and fish so stink That thine tho fainting may not of it drink This said the winged Herauld took his flight Leaving his Friend in bed curtain'd with night Whose sleep was broke by th' awful Messenger Who left his errand and did disappear The message Moses must to Pharaoh bear Confused slumbers did again invade The Prophets temples no sound sleep he had Till lofty Titan Earth's Ethereal eye Nights sables tinged with a Rosie dye Which show'd him that the King was passed by He drest and blusht his thoughts were on the River Th' Almighty speaks whose mercy faileth never Whose Judgments slumber not when he begins To bare his arm and punish crying sins Friend Moses do my will it is not hid From thee I 've by my self and Angel bid That thou in this affair should fearless be As Aaron both direction from me From time to time shall have go hand in hand While you have brought my Sons out of the Land Let Aaron take the Rod and shake it over Their Rivers and their Ponds which waters cover And all their Vessels wherein they keep sweet That which they draw for drink and dressing meat For I will turn those waters into blood Because they 've hitherto my power withstood And slain my subjects for this cruel deed They in
not longer bear this load That you call Superstition pleaseth me I will return yet let me hear from thee ' Mixt matches often prove unfortunate 'To private men and always to the State ' Love multitudes of Nuptial faults can cover ' But when Religion's one all are past over ' One Godâ—s enough more make all disagree ' Religious Brawls put out Religions eye Aaron who many years had griev'd to see His brethrens bondage burthens misery Receiv'd command from Heaven to walk abroad To meet his Brother Moses on the road Returning home and bids him listen well To all such matters as he should reveal This news like Balsome his chill'd heart did warm His Sp'rits revive and all his Senses charm He car'd not what or whom he left behind O'rejoy'd he should his exilâ—d Brother find Alive He hastes unto the Mount of God To meet him for he there some time abode The Salutations past and tears distill'd Expressions of the joy their hearts that fill'd Moses to his gives vent by this discourse Is Jochebed alive my Mother Nurse Are Amram Mirian and the rest all well Yes dearest Brother as when you did dwell In Pharaoh's Court this one exception made Our burdens are encreas'd tho Pharaoh's dead This I well know the rest I 'm joy'd to hear Said Moses but I 've wonders to declare Isr'el must be releas'd from Egypt's woe I have command from Heav'n to tell you so See! here 's my seal'd Commission in my hand And Weapon too that Memphis must command With thy assistance I will work such signs As shall that King destroy and his designs This is the bus'ness thou art eloquent Show thine the cause why I am hither sent Up let us go we must the Elders call Publish our freedom and our en'mies fall 'To Caleb once God gave another Spirit ' Elisha did Elijah's gift inherit ' David did wisely play Saul prophesie ' When they command receiv'd from God on high ' So banisht Moses after forty years ' Returns with power to ease his brethrens fears ' Their groans their sighs and their heart-breaking tears ' And Aaron who did work or oversee ' Is Trumpet made for their delivery Who thus began My dearest brethren here If Liberty you love or your God fear What Heav'n by Moses hath bid me reveal The wonders must be done that he may heal All your diseases If you signs must have Time shall bring forth as many as you crave This said the Tribes rejoycing answer'd all We do believe our rise and Egypt's fall And since our sad affliction Heav'n hath ' spy'd Our Song shall be let Heav'n be magnify'd ' When Tempests rise and Clouds pour down their Rain ' The faint and feebled Footmen cry amain ' Help kindest Heav'n and send us Halcyon days ' There is no walking in such dirty ways ' He hears the storm 's allay'd and clouds appear ' Serene a blessing to the traveller ' Such were these tydings to each Jewish ear The Council up and all the Elders gone They leave the Brothers to consult alone Whose next conclusion's to inform the King Of what for him they from Jehovah bring Great Sir said they the King of Kings commands You his Viceroy to slacken Israels bands That they a just a pious people may Rest from their tasks to sacrifice and pray We will no tumult make when we remove Into the Desart let us beg your love ' The sacrifices of a broken heart ' The pray'rs and vows men unto Heav'n impart ' Need neither pompous shows nor glozing art ' He hears in secret in the Wilderness ' In Mountains Christ himself made his address ' Who never pray'd without his wish'd success Impudence Treason cry'd the Heathen King Fairies not Men from their black Pluto bring Such freakish fancies Who 's your Lord that I At such a disadvantage should obey To set my Slaves my drudging Vassals free I know him not and there 's no such decree In my Archieves Vile vagabonds be gone You speak as if you would attempt my Throne I will not let them go They add the Hebrews God us hither sent The God of Order and of Government By whom Kings Reign 't is his prerogative At pleasure to recall what he doth give Who now requires that you forthwith release His friends from slav'ry to their wonted ease With leave to go unto the Wilderness Dismiss the men we pray for three days space We are destroy'd if you deny this grace To which th' incensed King made this reply Moses and Aaron why do ye defie Great Pharaoh's Edicts you are more than mad To cheat these people and destroy my trade Give o'er and let them work it is my will They must and shall their former tasks fulfil Think you that I such numbers can maintain In idleness and sloath you must abstain Else your grave plot will quickly prove a sham And they repent that you unto them came Call the Task masters of these Slaves I 'll know The reason why my work goes on so slow Unnatural Rogues did I not strictly charge That you their wonted burthens should enlarge It 's your connivance that is worthy blame It makes them think the Embassy that came Was by divine appointment but I 'll see What God they shall adore if 't be not me Double their Tasks ye Dogs let no supply Be giv'n for their assistance Straw nor Hay Yet still demand full tale as heretofore When they had their materials from my store Go tell the Zealots that of late they 're Idle Go lash their backs I 'll make them bite the Bridle Must I be rival'd by I know not who Or by two Knaves cajol'd to let them go No they shall know I rule ' Court Parasites as soon as they receive 'A royal Nod they 'll swear that Caesar gave ' Them pow'r by Inuendo to confound ' Babel with Bethel vile with holy ground ' Their Will 's their Law prerogative pretence 'To act a gainst Religion Reason Sense Thus arm'd these Officers away do fly From Pharaoh's presence piercing the wide Sky And Isra'ls Hearts with their blood-thirsting cry Religious Fops Pharaoh will give no Straw Since you deny obedience to his Law And ye from you full tasks of Bricks will draw Or we must beat you dead there 's no reprieve Unless your nameless God doth you relieve It 's Harvest now haste you unto the Fields The new reapt grounds this year much stubble yields That gather and fulfil your work as when The Straw was giv'n Expect it not agen They try'd but all in vain to do the thing Which on their heads another storm did bring From th' enraged Task-masters who say Why have you not made up your tale this day Nor yesterday as you have done before Think on your Bricks and play the fool no more If you are moved with our harsh discourse To Pharaoh you may have your next recourse Perhaps your treatment may be worse than ours Like drowning men
who grasp at every reed This feign'd affection their faint hopes doth feed They ran and said Dread Soveraign we know That we our selves are yours and labours owe Unto this State We trust therefore that ye For pities sake will alter the decree Publish'd against us by your royal will That without Straw our tasks we should fulfil If this be in our pow'r Great Sir be judge Tho use and hardship have taught us to drudge We 're beaten without fault they are the cause Who counsel first and then desire that Laws May be enacted on pretence of good To Egypt but we know it 's for our blood For which they long have thirsted and expect By your command that murder to effect Prevent them Sir No no you idle be I cannot will not alter my Decree Your new devotion made you over-quick Go hence and work I 'll show you trick for trick ' As long besieged Castles when they see 'A bloody Flag hung out when Soldiers be ' Decoy'd to Ambuscade when Seamen fling ' Their Masts o'er board Bale Goods and ev'ry thing ' Or when the nighted Trav'ller falls in pit ' And men condemn'd in darkest Dungeons sit O'erwhelm'd with endless grief such was the state Of Pharoah's bondmen when the knew their fate ' One swounds one cryes one tears his hairs and breast ' Another rageth desperate the rest What shall we do said they See! Moses comes Let 's meet him and relate our fearful dooms Now past on us upbraid him he 's the cause Of our destruction by these bloody Laws Ah! cruel man ran thy Commission thus Thou said'st Heaven bid thee publish unto us We'd better much never have seen thy face Than suffer thus by work stripes and disgrace If just such methods are let Heav'n be judge Before thou cam'st we wrought we did not drudge But thy ungrateful message to the King Hath made us loathsome unto every thing That is in Egypt thy bold bitter words Sharpen their hearts against us as their Swords This they with fury in their looks express Would thou had'st stay'd yet in the Wilderness We at our burthens then we might have had Th' Egyptian's love with Straw for our Brick trade Both now are lost and we our selves in danger To be destroyed in our Monarch's anger Moses distrusting what might be th' event Of this harsh menace highly discontent Look'd pale and trembled grief so seiz'd his heart That neither Aaron's love nor Aaron's art Could cure those wounds tho green they did so smart This made him have recourse unto the Lord And peremptor'ly say who can thy word Believe hereafter since our first attempt Is shamefully repuls'd with scorn contempt This was my fear when thou to me didst say Go unto Egypt bring my Sons away Thy promises to us increase our pain Why didst thou send me I 'll return again To Midian since I see thy providence Promotes our sorrows not deliverance The Tribes despair of ever going hence ' Tho Providence be beautiful and bright ' And brings things that most hidden are to light ' It often works by means that contrary are 'To Human Reason for it Reason far ' Exceedeth yet it hath the wished end ' Good to the good man and the good mans friend ' 'T was providence that made young Joseph dream ' His Parents and his brethren were the theme ' By which his future fortunes were display'd ' Tho he knew neither what he dreamt or said ' Yet for that dream was envy'd sold betray'd Falsely accus'd condemn'd to prison fast Strange steps to make him Egypt's Lord at last What! Faithless Moses fearful dost thou fret Why stumblest in the Porch the time 's not yet Fulfilled for the work wait thou shalt see What I will do ' gainst Pharaoh what for thee I 'll call my thund'ring Legions from above To force your passage that you may remove In spite of your opposers Egypt's King Shall willingly to you assistance bring It is to me a wonder that you should Dispute my promises since Abraâ—m could Without such firmly rest upon my pow'r For all he had from 's his birth to 's his dying hour El-shaddaj to him was sufficient And to his children whitherso'er they went They scarce the name Jehovah e'er did spell But of Adonia talkt and lik'd that well When I to them of Canaan promise made They trusted in my pow'r and always said What! tho we strangers be Our God can give This and much more altho we may not live To see it done it is enough that ours Shall of that Land be the inheritors The time is come my patience is abus'd My Servants by proud Pharaoh so ill us'd That their sad groans which I seem'd to despise Have mov'd my justice now I must arise To vindicate my truth revenge the spite Acted on every suffering Israelite Hope still in me my promise I 'll not break I will redeem you for my promise's sake Go to the Tribes and say I am the Lord I cannot falsify recal my word I 'll bring them forth from under Egypt's yoke And gently lead them they 're my tender flock To Canaanitish pastures where they may In safety sleep wake sacrifice and pray Without disturbance Pharaoh nor his land Shall take them out of the Almighty's hand My formidable actions when they see Their might and rage shall truckle under me Then I with mine my Cov'nant will renew My Love is great although they be but few I will go with them to the wilderness Where with my presence I 'll begin their bliss If they obstruct not their own happiness They Canaan shall possess it shall be theirs By firm entail for them and for their Heirs I will make good whatever I have said Because that God who the first promise made Which you will own when I th' Egyptian King With all his Subjects to destruction bring Then be no more shame-fac'd of fearful heart Go all these tydings to the Jews impart I know they 're vexed and will not believe That I th' Almighty can give a Reprieve From their hard bondage Go unto the King Who peevishly will ask what news ye bring To which with boldness you shall answer make Thy Slaves are Freemen now they must go back From whence they came ' Who would not be Religious and fears ' The wonder-worker whose great mercies are ' Fixt as the Winters Moon and Summer Son ' Lasting when both are scorched up and done ' His promises his favour and his grace ' Were ever such to the Isacides Moses revolving his late reprimand Receiv'd from Pharaoh with a palsied hand And trembling tongue said Lord it is in vain To offer this unto the Tribes again Since Aaron's words nor my great signs they have Regarded hitherto why should I crave That of a wrathful King which they 'll deny Since I can neither of them gratify Are these your thoughts you better things might know Your fear makes you thus scrupulously slow How dares man stay
King give them from law refuge ' They grow more bold and act as if they had 'A Royal Lease to follow their old Trade ' Or like a Miser who thro age doth feel ' His seared Soul within its house to reel ' Cries O this ill-got Gold What shall I do ' It has destroy'd my Soul and Body too ' Yet for prevention I will Alms-house rear ' Or Chappel build to which men may repair ' As I have ofton done my crimes to hallow ' Straining at Gnats that I might Camels swallow ' If none of these I to the poor will give 'A mighty summ that so my Soul may live ' But if of that disease he doth recover ' O! how he frets and acts his tricks all o'er ' With more industry craft and perjury ' Say'ng now I am no more affraid to die So Pharoah griev'd with Blood and with the Frogs Calls out for Moses flatters lies and coggs As if he 'd not been settled on the lees But rack'd and fin'd by these discoveries And fit with them to offer sacrifice Heav'n condescends and Moses is content With his fair words tho the â—…yâ—w falsely meant ' Thus Nineveh's repentance tho a flash ' Kept from its back the Prophets threatned lash ' And Ahab's humbling did for Judah's King ' Obtain reprieve tho not for his off-spring ' So Phaaroh for a feignâ—d acknowledgement ' Had half the plague remov'd Heav'n on him sent Tho thou hast now left off self-glorying Said Moses thou may'st glory in this thing That God in mercy will grant thy request And send these Vermin from thy land in haste Commanding them henceforth to make abode Within Nile's banks Contend no more with God But pray and wait To morrow thy shalt see This plague remov'd from off thy land and thee If to thy words thou add sincerity Then thou shalt know that none is like the Lord Whose pow'r will quickly ease to thee afford We shall no sooner ask than 't will be done They pray Heaven hears the daring Frogs are gone In shoals to Nile or perisht by the way When God saith go his creatures must not stay As soon as Pharaoh had the news receiv'd He smiling said your friend may be deceiv'd Kings can not by their promises be bound To Jove himself their Counsellours have found Salvo's from his own word than can oppose The faint assaults of every Monarch's foes And I 'll believe them tho I lose my Crown My promise lately made I will not own Nor let them go This the Almighty knew Who call'd the brethren and obedience due To his commands required which they give And he commands that scatter'd Dust may live Turning to Lice both upon man and beast That might make Pharaoh shuck and all the rest This done the Itching Monarch calls aloud To Jannes Jambres all the Sophi brood Can you make Lice said he No cry'd the Wizard To counterfeit this thing we will not hazard Lest fire consume us or a worser thing That after this Heav'n may upon us bring For what 's already done for here we see The print of 's Fingers Pow'r and Majesty Which doth confound us and our Foppery 'A fair confession but Hypocrisy ' Will speak the truth when 't thinks the same a lie ' When a duluding Sp'rit infatuates ' Prince Priest or people to despise the fates ' Their policy is madness and their pride ' Such insolence as God and men deride Thus fared it with Pharaoh his release From Blood Frogs Lice presage a fourth disease The God of Miracles could not behold But must subdue the proud suppress the bold Go Moses then said he by morning light Stand before Pharaoh in his peoples sight And let him know it is Jehovah's will That he with speed his just commands fulfil In letting Israel go that they may pay Their Homage if he make them longer stay Thro his refusal by my next alarm A fearful Host great swarms of Flies shall arm Which will molest him more than Frogs or Lice And all his Servants bid him take advice Say 't is no cheat Goshen shall make thee know That I my people love and to them owe By promise freedom from the noisome beast With every thing the greatest and the least That may infest them Tho they dwell by thee Their Habitations shall no shelter be To thee and thine from stinging stinking Flie. Observe this warning since I speak in love Mercy not Judgment 't is I most approve Consider well the sign will be to morrow And will to thee beginning be of sorrow ' Who can such charms of love and goodness hear ' Unless 't be Pharaoh and not shed a tear ' But ah his Heart his Bowels hard'ned are He will not let Heav'n convenanted go But leave to sacrifice at home if so He gives To which Moses made this reply Who gives but half he doth the whole deny Because that half is giv'n unwillingly Our God commands us to the wilderness And he best knows which is the fittest place If among you we stay then we must offer Such things as you which our God will not suffer If ours it will be said we innovate Your sacred Rites and your Decrees of State Both these may on us sudden ruin being And therefore we must plainly tell the King That since our God hath fix'd the time the place And Sacrifice we must with thee find grace When he perceiv'd excuses were in vain That obstinacy did encrease his pain The next resolve was feign'd obedience To God and Moses thus you may from hence Remove with my free leave if you will swear Not to go far and let me quickly hear That you have begg'd of him to set me free From the proud insects all and loathsome Flie. Moses reply'd If thou do keep thy word At thy desire we will entreat the Lord Who I am sure will order the retreat Of these wingâ—d troops tho noisome fierce and great To morrow they shall every one remove From thee and thine thy gratitude to prove The thing is done yet Pharaoh still denies The people Licence to do sacrifice Nor Blood nor Frogs nor Lice nor Flies can awe The stubborn Prince nor to obedience draw His callous heart that self-deceiving cheat Must be out-witted by a plague as great As any of the former Heav'n once more Calls unto Moses as he did before Saying go to the Palace and declare To him again what my intentions are I am his and the Hebrews God tho he Knows not my name nor his own destiny If he refuse to hearken to this word I will lift up my hand with flaming Sworâ— O'er's Cattle Horses Asses Camels Sheep And Oxen which he doth in Pastures keep Pestilent fogs shall from the earth arise Malignant vapours from the starry Skies These shall their blood corrupt whence putrid hearts Shall scorch with piercing pains and shiv'ring sweats So that the Oxe shall fall beneath the yoke The sacrifice shall die before the stroke
that they 're my hearts delight Day put 's on mourning the night birds appear At noon the Hemisphere wax'd black with fear Thinking that Phoebus would come no more there Cynthia for shame creepeth behind the Earth Castor and Pollux weeping cease to breath Their flaming Vapours all the rest do wrap Their drowsie heads in troubled Thetis's lap Thousands of terrours thro the darkness fled The Ghosts complain'd the Spirits murmured Then Egypt like the damn'd did howl and cry For glo'worm-light which Heaven doth them deny This made the King again for Moses call Say'ng you may go your little ones and all Except your Flocks and Herds they must remain With me in safety till you come again ' Ah! Moses Moses was not thou the boy ' Drawn out of Nile to be the Princess joy ' In Flaggen boat Did not that King pass by ' Thy Childish faults and crimes of deeper dye ' Of all his Armies thou wast General ' Peer unto him and Daughter dear to all ' All was committed to thy prudent care ' Then be not be not executioner 'To their successor speak yet to thy friend Whose mercies as you say do never end Your Cattle leaving for my proper use The rest may go I will no more refuse Sir your fair promise would prevail with me If I was Master of my Liberty When I was banish'd first from Pharoah's Court I with my Flocks to Horeb did resort Horeb much fam'd for Spirits habitation I chose for pasture and for meditation Where I continued till one Summer-day I sought a Sheep that from the rest did stray Amongst the Thickets one of which did show Like Flames above and yet unburn'd below A voice from thence came to my trembling ear Which I am sure said Moses come not near The place where thou dost stand is holy ground This double wonder cast me in a swound From which reviv'd appeared to my sight A form divine than Cherubin more bright With charming Language such as Seraphs use In courting Mortals who by craft refuse Heav'ns favours and the best inheritance By this rouz'd up I made a small advance Whom he perceiving readily did meet And with a Godlike smile thus did me greet Moses in Egypt born thou know'st it well Its King and all the Strangers in it dwell They 're mine tho poor afflicted and distrest That King and people have them long opprest Thou must be first Ambassador then Guide To bring them over to the other side Of Jordan Great Sir this was my Commission I must not alter it without permission Pray urge no more this is a fond device Without our Flocks we cannot Sacrifice Nor offerings make It is Jehovah's mind That we in Egypt leave no hoof behind This general command we must obey Yet know not when we come what he will say Unto us more Devotion chiefly tends To Heav'n's praise with many other ends Unknown to thee The more I do comply the more I treat In love and calmness your new zeal and he at Encreaseth I must leave the whole debate Moses be gone look to thy self if I Again behold thy face thou' rt sure to die Thou hast well spoken this is Prophecy For one act more compleats thy Tragedy A plague to which the rest shall seem but small Shall not upon thy Flocks and Cattle fall Alone as heretofore but shall destroy The oldest pledges of your loves and joy This for a time shall move thy stubborn heart To favour Isra'l force them to depart And when resistance thou shalt after make What the Sword leaves the foaming Sea shall take Know then proud King when all are fast asleep This night when thee thy doubled Guards do keep Michael fam'd for strength and warlike power By Heav'n's warrant shall break ope each door In thy unhallow'd Country and shall kill From Egypt's heir that next the Throne should fill To hers that grindeth in the Bridewel Mill None of the first-born shall alive remain Of Men of Women Beasts all shall be slain Whose dying shrieks and groans shall pierce thy Soul And make their frighted Parents cry and howl Unheard of woes thy fearful heart shall seize While they in Goshen live in health and ease Each of their doors shall have a Centinel The grand destroyers hand that my repel The Crimson'd Posts and Lintels shall reveal Heav'ns secret will to him that bears the Steel When thou dost see this great discrimination Betwixt the Hebrew and Egyptian Nation Thy Menaces thou will repent and send The best of all thy subjects who will bend To me and say be gone with all ye have To whom I 'll answer Now no leave I crave But in despite of you and of your King At Heav'n's command we will make offering Do what thou canst I 'll see thy face no more The Death thou threat'nest is at thy own door Thy harden'd heart Heav'n's hand will quickly break When he on thee and thine doth vengeance take ' Ah! Pharaoh what a dismal change is this ' Must I deprived be of all my bliss ' Upbraided scorn'd and slighted by a Slave ' Who holds his life of me yet doth behave ' As King o'er us and all we have ' My feeble Gods whose Altars I have smoak't ' With best Perfumes your Deities invok't ' Why stand you gazing on my misery ' Hath a poor Shepherd greater pow'r than ye ' And you infernal Spirits whose great boasts ' Perswaded me there was no Lord of Hosts ' Have you no Philtre no Enchanted Spell ' Or is there no experiment in Hell ' Against this Moses and against his Rod ' Alas I fear you think there is a God ' If so I am undone I 'll not submit ' Destruction is the worst can come of it By this time night the dreadful night drew on For Egypt's first-born's execution An Angel thro the Air came flying down With speedy wing o'r Egypt's Memphis Town Who without sight or noise view'd all the Tow'rs Of Pharaoh's lofty house and 's Subjects Bow'rs Finds out the Victims and on them doth try The keenness of his Sword by which they die And dying with their groans do pierce the Sky For each his eldest Child saw gasping out Its tender Soul with blood which flew about From Wound and Mouth and Nostrils with great pain And heard their cries to Heav'n for help in vain This made a doleful sound o'er Egypt's plain ' Rachel mourn'd not so long so loud as they ' When Benjamin to his en'mies was a prey ' Nor when the Fox her Children all did slay 'To theirs the mourning in Megiddo's vale ' For good Josiah was no parallel Here ev'ry House sobb'd out the same complaint My eldest's dead ne'er was such punishment The King himself awak'd with this alarm Cry'd out O Heav'n hath this destroyer's arm Bereav'd me of my Successor in State I see I must repent when 't is too late Let none like me again with Heav'n debate Call in the Brothers quickly tho
dispose Of both the Armies who his Angel sent To guards his friends when thro the Sea they went By spreading of a dark and dismal Cloud O'er Egypt's Host while lighted Torches stood By the transparent walls to fright the Flood And light his Servants to the other shore That they might see their enemies no more Alive The sign giv'n Heav'n rais'd the wind That made the Sea contract it self and bind Its furious waves that they might not o'erflow The Walls above nor the new way below Isra'l trod safe th' Egyptians pursue Nor knowing where they were till morning dew Was by the Sun exhal'd and they oâ—erthrew The Foot and Horse sink in the slimy Sands The Chariots cast their Wheels the Riders hands Were feeble when they saw themselves surrounded By th' impetuous Ocean that rebounded With swelling forc't by Thunder and by Rain While they sought to retire but all in vain Heav'n fights for them said they why should we strive Against the stream Is Pharaoh yet alive He was the author of this Tragedy Oh! dye we must we cannot longer flie Vengeance Divine which we have justly brought Upon our selves and this destruction wrought Winds have no ears the Seas are merciless When Heav'n by Men or Angels sends th' express Farewel dear Egypt farewel happiness ' Let Tyrants tremble where my pen relates ' Th' Almighty's fury and th' Egyptian fates ' They fight he wards till that unhappy war ' Wax'd so intense that justice could not spare ' Small parties foil'd he call'd the Arieaban ' Armies too fierce too numerous for man ' The Serpent leads the Van. Their waters fry ' Themselves in blood and took its crimson dye ' Blood that their Streams with stench did putrify ' The drowsy Insects all strong poyson speak ' Frogs haunt the Palace as the watry creek ' Lice there without an optick might be seen ' On the Kings Carpets and the Peasants Skreen ' The mystie Clouds forbad the healthful Sun ' Sucking their poyson while the work was done ' He likewise blusht to see the insolence ' Offer'd to wisdom and omnipotence ' The Stars danc'd up into a higher sphere 'To bath themselves in the Crystal waters there ' Hell storm'd the lower orbs and left its hue ' Black as Egyptian and then withdrew ' At last a Prince of great fidelity ' In Heav'ns guards the first Majestick high ' With vailed face his humble honours made 'To his adored Soveraign thus said ' Holy of Holies 't is your patience ' Procures you all this trouble and expence ' Give me command and this great debate ' Shall soon be ended with their first born's fate ' Your pow'r my hand the Rebels seed shall kill ' As they the infant blood of yours did spill ' He goes with armed Pestilence and Sword ' Two edged sharp for both were Heav'n's word ' And smote the first of all their Beasts and Men ' The sottish crew too late believed then ' So Heav'n would have 't that by this overthrow ' Of theirs a false presumptuous world might know ' That first or last he would proud mortals bow ' Who hastes his out with all things necessar'e ' For their intended journey and their fare ' But ah the wicked's mercies cruel are ' For they like Bears robb'd of their Whelps when young ' With furious haste after Heav'ns Free-men throng ' Resolving to make one attempt for all ' Return Victorious or for ever fall ' And so it was for they no sooner charge ' The Rear of those he did intend t' inlarge ' Than the great Angel of the Covenant came ' As after in the Flesh and quencht their flame ' He was the guide who led them to the shore 'A place made by his power fit to pass o'er 'A Cloud gave light to them that went before ' He view'd the Rear and made the Cloud opac 'To ' maze th' Egyptians and to keep them back ' Commanding Moses to divide the stream ' While they all night lay in a Golden dream ' Pleas'd with the hopes of Conquest while the Sun ' Show'd them the Nest from whence the Birds were gone ' The way they thought was pleasant smooth and plain ' Not knowing that that way would them enshrine ' And so march boldly till a furious Wind ' Rais'd by Jehovah did the Walls unbind ' That rail'd the path to guide his people safe 'To th' other side This did th' Egyptians chafe ' For untam'd surges swell and fill the place ' Where Israel dry-shod walkt no empty space ' Was left The Quick-sands rise they sink below ' The billows did their Chariots overthrow ' Teaching them by experience Heav'n to know ' Half dead some backward and some forward strive ' Tho Neptune vow'd none should go out alive ' Prayers were their last shift but they pray'd in vain ' Men of deserv'd ills must not complain ' Their King they blame for his ill conduct had ' He blames himself for all his insults made ' Gainst God and Isra'l the last words he said ' His Standards fallen and all his daring blades ' Drunk with the Sea he tumbled to the shades THE SONG of MOSES After the VICTORY EXOD. XV. ' AWake my Soul and sing Jehovah's praise ' O! may Jehovah my dull Spirits raise ' May Heav'n's Arch-Flamine give me light and heat ' That I with Zeal may on this subject treat ' O! that I might that double portion have ' Eijah once to his Elisha gave ' May Choires of Angels from the sacred Throne ' Help me to sing this Epinicion Great God! our lives our all we owe to thee For thou alone hast got this Victory By drowning all our en'mies in the Sea Sing Hallelujah Horses are vain things to be trusted in Char'ots tho Iron by the Riders sin Will drown and sink when Justice doth begin Sing Hallelujah No battle ever so unequal known Never was host so easily o'erthrown The Winds and Sea this wond'rous work have done Sing Hallelujah We we faint-hearted Foreigners stood still Trembling and scolding tho against our will Until we saw our en'mies case was ill Sing Hallelujah Then we some prospect had of Victory When thou for us a path made thro the Sea 'T was thou not we triumphed gloriously Sing Hallelujah We thro thy strength do stand upon this shore And see our en'mies floating dead nay more Their Horse and Chariots tost the flood all o're Sing Hallelujah He is my strength my song and my salvation He hath reliev'd the hated Hebrew Nation Therefore I will build him an habitation Sing Hallelujah His Covenant with faithful Abra'm made What he to Isaac and to Jacob said Is all fulfilled by this our present aid Sing Hallelujah What Men of War do for those in distress His pow'r for feeble us hath done no less His name 's Jehovah whom we'll ever bless Sing Hallelujah The proud Kings Host was utterly destroy'd When they our Lives and Land thought t o've enjoy'd And us as formerly in Bricks employ'd Sing Hallelujah His chosen men not able to withstand The watry Troops unhors'd and on the Land Are cast or bury'd in the slimy Sand. Sing Hallelujah This unknown way was made for us alone Soft for our feet the Rocks upon us shone Which they attempting sunk down like a Stone Sing Hallelujah We have exper'ence of thy wondrous pow'r Thy glor'ous right hand did our foes devour Saving us at our last and fatal hour Sing Hallelujah Thou didst but blow upon them yet that wind Gather'd the floods together and did bind Them up in heaps that we a way might find Sing Hallelujah The en'my said pursuing we will take These fugitives and kill or bring them back Dividing all the spoil we from them take Sing Hallelujah Lord who among the Gods is like to thee Spotless and Holy full of Majesty Thy praises fearful wonders many be Sing Hallelujah Thy mercy we believe will save and lead Thy Sons redeem'd unto a fertile meed Where they may safely rest and freely feed Sing Hallelujah They that inhabit Palestine shall hear Approaching sorrow will increase their fear With all their Neigbouring Countries far or near Sing Hallelujah The lofty Dukes of Edom shall be then Greatly amazed Moab's mighty men Losing their courage tremble shall with pain Sing Hallelujah The Canaanites tho strong with grief opprest With trembling hearts and voice will say it 's best To leave the Land that Isra'l may have rest Sing Hallelujah Such dread shall fall upon them by thine arm As will their mouths stop lest they offer harm To us when we do over Jordan swarm Sing Hallelujah Then to the place of thy great holiness Thou shalt us bring and we with joy express In all our Songs this weighty business Sing Hallelujah Say'ng O Lord thou shalt for ever reign Since Pharaoh and his Host who caus'd our pain Are drown'd and we on dry Land see them slain Sing Hallelujah It is our turn said Miriam now to sing The weaker Sex by praise may honour bring Unto Jehovah Nissi our great King Sing Hallelujah Our instruments of all sorts let us take Harps Flutes with Timbrels and sweet Music make To him who hath wrought wonders for our sake Sing Hallelujah Great God! our lives our all we owe to thee Since thou alone hast wrought this Victory By drowning all our enemies in the Sea Sing Hallelujah FINIS
The Horse shall leave his prancing and his head Shall giddy turn run round and fall down dead Asses shall bray and Camels breathe their last And dizzy'd Sheep themselves in Ditches cast The nimble Dogs shall howl forget their meat And teaming Ewes for pain their Breasts will beat All which will his unhappiness compleat He acts as if he knew not what I meant This shall not be a gen'ral punishment His only shall it feel my people's Beasts Must be exempted from these carrion Feasts They shall continue healthy fat as ever Mercy shall be the Skreen by which I 'll sever Their Herds and Flocks from thine that thou mayst see He must be loser that opposeth me All 's done and yet his heart doth harder grow Heav'n must him wonders more and greater shew ' If Souldiers when their Breaches open lye ' Can neither them defend nor fortify ' Do still refuse to make a fair surrender ' On honourable terms despise the tender ' Of Lives and Arms or what else is thought fit 'To grant the next resolve is storming it ' With res'lute bravery so that they may know From Justice what they did to Mercy owe. Thus Heav'n proceeds against him when secure Moses nor Aaron must make overture But suddenly call out a fixt Brigade Of Granadiers who ne'er yet mercy had Where Justice was Commander Water Earth Are both too mild the Tyrants settled wrath To mittigate the fiery element Must act its part in Pharaoh's punishment I 'll give no warning Go and Cinders take Out of the Furnace of which you shall make Large Hand granado's and them upward throw Which kindling there shall ashes turn below Ashes that may breed Boils on Beast and Man Then let his wise men cure them if they can They throw it 's done the dusty ashes fell The Magi cry we ne'er saw such a spell For they like Causticks such Blisters made Such Boils and Blains as Egypt never had The Sorcerers for shame pulled in their Crests Because their Boils grew on their Heads Hands and Breasts By which their Monarch might most plainly see That it was no enchantment but decree For their destruction Yet the blinded man Acted by God persists as he began Not mov'd by Blood Frogs Lice nor Flies nor Murrain The Boils and Scabs do not his pride restrain This angry Heav'n resents and gives command To Moses saying Early rise and stand Before the King to morrow ' nd let him know That Jacobs God will have his Servants go To sacrifice Bid him look to his State I will no more with him Capitulate But one great plague after another send Until his pride with 's life is at an end And Kingdom ruin'd that the world may see There 's none on Earth hath equal pow'r with me The Murrain I will turn to pestilence That he and his may death receive from thence His stubborness admits of no suspence My first plague could his pride have conquered Second or third but all by me forbid Struck gently that his case might warning be To all are haughty stubborn false as he Each Tyrant shall receive this Tyrants doom Either in this or in the world to come Tell him he holds of me his Crown His rise Was to inform the faithful and the wise Of my great pow'r and mercy that they may Tremble at that and for this ever pray Thinks he fond man that I can always see And not redress my peoples misery No he shall find about this time to morrow The Heav'ns arm to magnify his sorrow Clouds dark and pregnant fortifi'd with Thunder A stormy shower shall hurl down to his wonder Hail of such unknown bigness and such weight As him and his with present Death will fright Bid him his Wise men call to assign the cause Of such a rupture in great Nature's Laws Ask if they can at once raise such a show'r As may begin such day and end such hour And in that time surround th' Egyptian Coasts Then bid defiance to the Lord of Hosts Go now proud Pharaoh try thy utmost skill To save thy people from this threatned ill If thou wilt yet be wise thy Cattle gather Out of the Fields since thou art Egypt's Father Pity thy Children with their Herds and Flocks Afford them shelter from the frozen Rocks Else by this plague such Slaughters will be seen Thro all thy Land as never yet hath been ' Behold the natures of the obdurate ' Tho all of them slight mercy yet ill fate ' Makes some distinction fear of punishment ' Forceth a few into acknowledgment ' Of pow'r divine and for their safety cry ' Whilst others fear'd and mad do still deny ' Obedience to their great superior ' Hush 't will be o'er said they t is but a shower Impending woe mov'd such as yet had sence To view the Fields in haste and bring from thence Shepherds and Herdsmen saying quickly fly Home with your herds and flocks or all must die Moses hath said it and we do believe That he from God not Satan did receive His Rod his fearful Rod hath such things done As show they were not wrought by him alone However we will for our safety try 'T is no great trouble if we live or dye Others who no regard had for his word Said what Egyptians believe the Lord Faint-hearted Fools unworthy such a King Who laughs at all the Messages they bring From their fam'd Gods our herds shall stay and graze And so like men we 'll dare him to his face Unheard of boldness said the Thunderer Unto his Servant now my mercy's ear Is shut for ever Therefore lift thy hand To Heaven I must send down a starry band Of Bow-men with such Bullets as shall beat Out of their hearts this irreligious heat Man Beast and Herbs thro all the Land shall feel The weighty Stones the keenness of my Steel Make no delay to Heav'n thy Rod stretch forth That I may send from the East West South and North Thunder and Hail and Fire these all around Shall fly aloft and run upon the ground With so great fury that the Waters face Bright horrour shall adorn and ev'ry place Look like it self transparent as the Fire And mixed Hail as if they were entire One body bright yet terrible to see Two el'ments joyn'd that never did agree The Rod's lift up then from the Clouds a voice Rendeth the Sky with such a dreadful noise That Earth tho heavy cannot longer stand But reels and staggers when it feels the hand Omnipotent who gave it its first base It gapes and opens so that there 's no place For Pasture Corn for Cattle Herbs and Trees All sink away unto their destinies Only in Goshen all-wise Providence Against this storm maketh a stout defence He that the troubled Ocean commands Forbid the Hail to fall upon those Lands This unlook'd for this great discrimination Betwixt th' Egyptian and the Hebrew Nation Made the King serious who doth now begin With forc'd
expressions to confess his sin To Moses and to Aaron saying thus Egypt is wicked Heav'n is Righteous Good men entreat your God once more for me To cease the Thundâ—rings let the Hail storm be Abated then what you desire I 'll give It is enough if I and mine may live I 'd better lose such Subjects than to hire Them at so dear a rate they shall retire To which the Prophet maketh this reply I must go hence before I lift on high My heart and hands for thee unto the Lord That th' Hail and Thunder may cease at my word And turn to their own elements to show That th' Heav'ns above are Gods and th' Earth below But I am sure when this great plague is o're Thy thoughts will be the same as heretofore Faithless and froward and thy sottish crew Of slavish Subjects will their rage renew The damage done by this seventh plague's so great That with dry Eyes no man can it repeat The Flax now ripe from whence the Staple trade Of Egypt had its rise and Linnen made By subtile corruscations withered The pond'rous Hail its bolls knopt off interr'd And bowing Barley calling for the hand Of nimble Sythe-man buried in the Sand. The Wheat and Rye that did not yet appear Were only sav'd from this great Massacre ' The Judgment must be great all must confess ' When Eden's turn'd into a Wilderness This Pharaoh saw but when thro Moses's pray'r The Sun dispers'd the Clouds and made all fair When Thunder Rain and Hail were called in He waxed worse and added sin to sin Whose ill example was so prevalent With all his Subjects that they likewise bent Their minds on future mischief and deny Their punisher to please or gratify Who now resolv'd on Egypt's desolation And the deliv'ry of the Hebrew Nation Said Moses Go unto the King yet know That I his heart have harden'd he 'll not bow To make my wisdom powâ—r and glory shine For ages after in the eyes of thine By thy instruction and may oft repeat With joy and gratitude the wonders great For their redemption wrought and constant prove To thee their Leader me their great Jehove Away in haste unto the faithless King And say the Hebrews God remembering His Servants slavery and thy peevishness Resolves thy ruin this is the Express He wonders at thy refractory Spirit Which will not humble after thy just merit Hath brought seven plagues 't is time his friends were gone The eighth is near a great and grievous one A dreadful host sent by a scorching wind From the South west will eat that 's left behind That will disrobe thy new-cloath'd Fields and Trees Of all their Summer Glories Liveries And such a Famine bring as heretofore When Jacob's Sons to Egypt first came o'er And greater much because the Hebrew Prince Joseph your Saviour is forgot long since Who like a father furnish'd you with Corn When faint thro hunger you did daily mourn Before his Gate His wise his melting heart Found out new measures by a divine art That might your wants supply and you relieve Not dreaming then that you his race would grieve With stripes disgrace with burthens and with death Revenge implacable and endless wrath These are your crimes and this your punishment To morrow Locusts will from Heav'n be sent Locusts so strange so great so numerous They 'll cover all the Land and fill each House The Land that promis'd you a small supply After the Hail and Rain shall putrifie The fruitful Trees shall shake their Leaves and bare Meadows shall look as Winter had been there Whate'er proud Nile and the attracting Sun Hath forced from the Earth shall be undone Nor shall your Bodies from them be excus'd Such measures you shall have as you have us'd Your Tongues and Hands were sharpen'd and your Swords Destroy'd my people your most pleasant words Like Serpents Vipers and like Wasps did bite The fainting feeble famisht Israelite Their poyson'd stings shall pierce your trembling veins Opening their Sluces as you did the Drains Thro Nile's great banks to vex my Servants hearts That when you feel the fury of their Darts You may bind up not chaff the wound that smarts This when the angry Prophet had exprest Without farewel he leaves him and the rest Unspoken All his Counsellors dismaid Seeing Moses to their King no reverence paid At his departure but with high disdain Show'd by his looks charg'd him once more on pain Of Death in haste to let the people go Cry 't is of God now we must own it so We must submit unto their God's decree And not of our own ruin authors be Tho we could flatter when all things went well We must give over now and frankly tell The King that he not we began this 〈◊〉 In which we 're daily worsted better far It is to yield than wait th' unknown event We see their Magazines cannot be spent They are not men we fight with when the pow'rs Of Heav'n and Earth are raised what are ours A loathsome Louse a Frog a Flie can bring Destruction on us and on our King Come le ts not dally here the Monarch comes Chaffâ—d with the late affront he stares he foams Who dares accost him in this furious mood His trembling shows the thirsteth after blood But we must tâ—y before it be too late With him about this matter to debate Great Sir our grief not boldness makes us offer The Nations state our troubles will not suffer â—onger connivance speedy remedy Must be consulted on 'twixt us and thee Earth Water Fire and Air do all agree Against our Counsels to set Israel free It must be done necessity hath no Law Pray Sir be wise and let the men withdraw My Lords it is not strange that loss and fear Give you occasion to accost my ear With such surprizing Language But I wonder That Jannes Jambres who so oft did Thunder Another Dialect should cringe and truckle Against the rules of their own art and buckle To foreign fancies Yet it grieves me most That this grave Priest should too himself be lost Who Pharaoh wished the fondling brat to kill His Daughters joy before he had done ill All made returns the mighty Lords begin Great Sir the loss is yours we would not sin Against a Prince so glorious so great Against a fertile Land and potent State Of all we must be guilty if we do Our eyes hoodwink our senses brains forego It is the glory of a Courtier First to foresee and then prevent the shower This is our Province time lost to recover Is full of hazard Pray Great Sir give over The Sorcerers in order next appear Blushing with shame and stupifi'd with fear Dread Soveraign say they our mortal state Admits of changes while this grand debate 'Twixt Heav'n and you lay dormant our Ally's Taught us both God and Men how to despise You you great Sir excepted now they flie They dare not ape Heav'ns smallest prodigy Nor