know'st the meanness of my Trade And rural dress make me unfit to speak With Pharaoh of a business so great For 't is to spoil a Tyrant of his prey Who threat'neth death to all that disobey His absolute commands I know long since No good can be expected from that Prince Courage my Friend look great the work is mine Let Pharoah frown and Hell with him combine Thou by my pow'r shall finish this design And when my people thou dost from him take See on this Mountain thou an Altar make For their deliv'rance and mine honours sake Lord said the Shepherd this great prodigie Confirms my feeble faith which yields to thee Yet when I unto them this Message carry They 'll scoff and say this mad man makes us merry Who sent thee hither tell us what 's his name Or own thy self a Fool and blush for shame What answer must I give to this demand Let me obtain this favour at thy hand If I must go My being is immence I am I was I will be get thee hence By this I to their Fathers was well known And they the same if theirs will likewise own But if they scruple at this Mystic name Say you from me the God of Abra'm came Who long since unto him a promise gave His prov'dence serv'd by Israel's being slave In Egypt he would them in Canaan place This is my name to all the Jewish race Thou must be chief in this great enterprize Haste unto Egypt call the grave and wise Amongst the Tribes and thy commission show By its contents the author they will know No circumstance of that thou must with-hold Hath been transacted here by me be bold Relate the place the Person words and sign By which they 'll know it is no mock design Tell them that now I with a melting eye Behold their sorrows burthens misery And by a powerful hand will bring them forth From Egypt's bondage publishing their worth To Canaanites and Hittites who shall give The Houses unto them in which they live The Amorites and Perizites shall say The Land 's not ours arise we must away The Hivites and the Jebusites shall haste Out of their place saying 't is th' Almighti's waste Which he on his own Friends will now bestow Where most and best of Fruits shall ever grow And Milk and Honey like the Waters flow When they hear this all quickly will agree To act as they directed are by thee Then lose no time but haste unto that King And say you tydings from Jehovah bring Who charges all the Tribes on pain of Death By Sacrifices to appease his wrath Entreat that he may grant a grant a gracious ear Unto his Servants who their God do fear Three days no more you beg for this affair Which ended they shall back to him repair The Wilderness is near the fittest place To sue for Pardon Pity and for Grace Renew their vows and see his blessed Face Tho I am sure the refractory King Will give no leave nor credit to the thing He will not let them go your prayers their tears Will have repulse from his vindictive ears Yet be not daunted his vain boasts shall tend To Egypt's utter ruin in the end The wonders I will work shall soon incline His tow'ring Sp'rit to favour my design And make his Subjects give their helping hand With all they have to send you from the Land With all their Gold and Jewels they will part Silver and Cloaths all which with willing heart They 'll give your Children that they may depart So you shall be requited for your toyl In Egypts's furnace with Egyptian spoil ' Heav'n sits at Helm in weather foul and fair ' The Living Cargo's his peculiar care ' The Sails may split and Masts come by the board ' The Ship may leak and Pumps no help afford ' The Master Mates and Saylors may complain ' Of Ship and lofty Winds but all in vain ' The Waves must swell and bulge the Ship or stave ' The cutting keel if Mighty Jove give leave ' But Pray'rs and Tears that Heav'n do always please ' Make the Storm cease and smooth the foaming Seas ' Bringing all safe to Land with joy and ease Great Lord said Moses I well knew the men To my great grief forty years since for then By secret instinct sure it was from thee I made a step to their delivery Which early act they for injustice took And make me leave a Sceptre for this hook This ancient odium still alive I fear Will harden their proud hearts and stop their ear Their Unbelief that 's heightned by their grief Hath from them banished all thoughts of relief So that my words I 'm sure they 'll not believe Unless some sign from thee I to them give Their Souls are dead 't is thou must make them live If I give signs think'st thou that signs will do Go show them signs from me and wonders too What 's in thine hand My Lord a Shepherds Crook Throw 't on the Ground and on it sharply look What is it now A Dragon horrid great All men such creatures mortally do hate Fear not lay hold upon its twisting tail Tho it look fierce its sting shall not prevail But to the former form it shall return The Bush of late which flamed did not burn Now put thy hand into thy bosom where It may be free from hurt infectious air Haste take it out Ah! Lord I am undone This Leprosie will cleave unto the bone What! Faithless still put in thy hand again Behold it 's well and free from scurf or stain Distrust no more If they 'll not credit give To the first sign the second they 'll believe If neither doth their faithless hearts affect So as to hear thee I will then direct Another way by which thou may'st perswade That you from me this grand commission had Out of fam'd Nile fair water thou shalt take Which pour'd upon the ground my pow'r shall make Great cakes of clotted blood shall terrifie The King and them then all shall yield to thee ' Let Earth with Earth Mortal with Mortal strive ' Like Wasps and Bees when fighting for the Hive ' Let men contend with men and let them dare ' Each other as they list yet take great care ' They fight not him whose creatures they are ' His powerful Justice can soon animate 'A Rod that 's dry into a Serpent great ' Make Water Blood and what else he thinks fit 'To overthrow their policies and wit This is not all Dear God my stamm'ring tongue For want of Elquence may do much wrong Unto this cause thou orderst me to plead Not with with the Vulgar but with those that lead The rest with whom nothing will relish well But what with art and florid words doth swell A weak excuse since thou well know'st that I Have made mans mouth his heart his ear his eye If dumb men speak deaf hear or blind men see No cause for
Israel's TROUBLES AND TRIUMPH OR The History of their dangers in and deliverance out of EGYPT AS It is recorded by Moses in Exod. AND Turned into English Verse By GEORGE LESLY M. A. Minister of Olney Bucks Discite Justitiam Moniti Virg. Hearken to a Verser who may chance Rhime thee to good and make a bait of pleasure Herbert LONDON Printed for the Author and sold by Nicholas Woolf at his House in Star Court Cheapside 1699. THE PRINTER TO THE READER THE Author makes no apology for what he hath here offered being fully perswaded that he hath injured no man but in the room of that or a prolix Preface he desires me to inform you if you be strangers in our Israel and know not that since the lowest of the people daily invade the Ministerial Office he thinks that for harmless humour and innocent diversion an ancient Preacher may turn Religious Poet because Rhimes as he saith were of old the common Theology and why they may not be subservient to it yet he knoweth not However taking it for granted he was resolved with the Great Apostle to become all things to all men c. If any true Son of the Muses seem to be dissatisfied he saith to such as Gideon did to the angry Ephramites what have I done now in comparison of you Is not the gleaning of the Grapes of Ephraim better than the Vintage of Abiezer c. Farewel ERRATA PAge 5. line 19. r. them p. 13. l. 13. r. Isacides p. 18. l. 20. r. Sire l. 30. r. your p. 19. l. 24. r. your p. 20. l. 23. r. armies p. 21. l. 10. r. Sire p. 26. l. 20. leave out A grant p. 36. l. 7. r. hear p. 38. l. 7. r. those p. 39. l. 3. r. yet p. 44. l. 1. r. Sun p. 51. l. 10. r. Remote p. 55. l. 12. r. were p. 36. l. 31. r. deluding p. 61. l. 3. add great l. 6. dele their p. 63. l. 17. r. God p. 69. l. 8. r. ro p. 72. l. 19. r. descrie p. 75. l. 25. r. dear p. 78. l. 7. r. May l. 26. add himself p. 81. l. 7. r. never p. 85. l. 28. r. not p. 87. l. 11. add then These and what others are not taken notice of the Reader is requested to do it as he reads Israel's TROUBLES AND TRIUMPH I Sing th' Almighty's Friend and Israel's guide His birth and rescue from th' impetuous tide Of rapid Nile I sing his Mother's care His Royal Nurse and how Heav'n's mercies are Like himself boundless his own acts I sing Whose growing greatness griev'd the grumbling King And all his Subjects who combin'd to have His guiltless blood how he was forc'd to leave A Princely Court where ev'ry thing lookt brave His wand'rings and his happy Residence At last with Jethro Midian Priest and Prince His Nuptials Trade and of the great content He had in hours on Mathematicks spent Astronomy was pleasant but Gods Law Delighted most since by its light he saw His change of State his en'mies pride and fall He saw himself made Heav'n's General The flaming Bush and Voice confirmed all This Province Lord a greater light requires Than can be kindled by Promethean fires The way 's unbeaten slipp'ry dark and strange Conduct thy Servant that he may not range Too high 'bove what is written nor too low It 's truth not fancy I desire to show Truth to convince the world of Pharaoh's sins And punishments with thee my Muse begins Joseph the great the good the just and wise Remov'd from Memphis unto Paradice And Pharaoh to that fair Elizian grove To perfect and perpetuate their love Left Israel blest with all the happiness Their King and Brother could by deeds express Which they in peace profound for many years Possest ne're harb'ring jealousies nor fears Admir'd caress'd and lov'd by ev'ry one From the rude Cottage to the Royal Throne But ah where time is nam'd there 's nothing sure All have Convulsions Cramps or Calenture Earth hath strong Palsies that do shake its frame Man accidents ten thousand without name Sent from the Throne Celestial or Abyss To shew how vain a thing is humane bliss Their day's o'recast and stormy Clouds appear When a strange heir sat in th' Imperial Chair Whose haughty humour taught him to despise His Predecessors Laws tho Just and Wise Our Gods themselves count it a saucy thing Said he in Vassals to advise their King A Monarchy that 's absolute I 'll have I 'll change the name of Subject into Slave To reign one day is much more glorious Without controul than ages curbed thus With endless Counsels I will â—…e alone By borrow'd light the former Pharaohs shone I must Eclipse that Turning to his Court You see said he the great the oft resort Of all sorts daily to our Goshenites This chills my blood this checks my active sp'rits Ah me opprest My thoughts I can't relate My apprehensions of our falling state Are black and dismal my night dreams foretel Our overthrow by them that with us dwell And here he stopt tho more he would have said Leaving the rest to tears which crav'd their aid Tears that like torrents from his eyes distill'd All the beholders with amazement fill'd Whose sympathizing eyes and hearts condole The tort'ring torments of his troubled soul With pickled sighs which o're they bow and say Dread Soveraign do you propose the way Your sorrow 's ours if that be its true rise The common Foe at once well sacrifice Which is soon done if we right measures take That 's vent'ring all for King and Country's sake This brisk resolve reviv'd the drooping King So as the aged Winter 's by the Spring His center'd blood resum'd its circ'lar course The briny streams are stopped at their source All parts are changed clarify'd his eyes His tongue 's unty'd with which he magnifies Their Love and Courage Daring souls said he This undertaking calls for secrecy Since they we must attack most subtile be If it takes air they 'll quickly trace the scent Destroy our Persons and our Government Once more invade then we must bow the head As heretofore with pray'rs and tears for bread Or if a Foreign Foe should us infest They 'd joyn with them and prove worse than the rest They know our Strength they know our Houses well They know our Closets where we Money tell Which they would rifle and from us be gone ' Gainst this I know no Remedy but one They live in wealth and ease as if their Land Was not by Grace but by a conqu'ring hand This irritates their wild and wealthy Souls To publish Israel wise and us kind Fools I must an Edict frame that may suppress Their pride and pow'r and all our wrongs redress Which must run thus Our Countries open'lye To ev'ry one that hath a wishing eye On us such may make Inroads when they please Destroy our State our Fruits disturb our ease And stop our Traffick both by Land
Past 'twixt our Lovers as they crost the plains ' Are thoughts too high for any but such Souls ' As Venus softens with Circean Bowls He comes salutes and soon acquaintance had With Raguel Jethro and Zipporah who said Blushing Dear Sir I love this stranger well Perswade him if you can with us to dwell Heav'n rules the Stars the Stars our Actions guide All which portend that I shall be his Bride And if my judgment fail not you will see Him prop and glory of our Family He hath in 's Face such Beams of Majesty Your pardon Sir with your consent I crave To be his wife for he a wife will have How know'st thou that fond Girl Sir at the Well I heard him sing unseen and he sung well Most of the Subject mystical but this He ended with the praise of Marriage bliss Be not too forward he may change his mind And after all prove peevish or unkind 'T is rare a constant Courtier to find Some time is spent in viewing of the place The Herds the Flocks the Buildings and the Grass The manner of their Living and their Laws Sacred and Civil their sweet Springs and Spaws The stranger shew'd his great content in all And wish'd himself the woolly General Of Jethro's bleating arms and that he Might be a Servant in that Family ' Had you seen Venus in her Robes Divine ' Or Helen in Corinthian bravery shine ' Young Paris's love but now the sport of fame ' The Greeks disturber and the Trojans shame ' Or Rachel fair when in her nat'ral dress ' Whom at the Well the Patriarch did caress ' Then at our Zipporah's Beauty you might guess When she appear'd in splendour like love's Queen All on a flame and yet would not be seen To be her Martyr Jethro must make way Who to our Gallant smiling thus did say Sir doth our Country please Can any thing Within my reach to you contentment bring Speak freely all is yours my joy my life My eldest Daughter you may have to wife Dear Zipp what say'st thou to this choice of mine My dearest Sir said she this great design May be above my Merits yet since yours I do submit O! may the higher Pow'rs Direct us all ' When brave Leander boldly ventured ' O're Hell espont by fatal Torches led ' When mighty Jove came down in Golden Show'rs ' Nor Hero â—s charms nor Danae's had more Pow'rs ' Than Zipp'ra's eyes and Jethro's well-tun'd breath ' The stranger blushing said I 'm yours to death Joynt promise giv'n and rites all consummate Our Lovers now are in a fearless state Bashful and coy no more their Bed is one Till pregnant Zipporah had a hopeful Son Whom Moses Gershom nam'd himself to mind Of th' entertainment he on earth should find A stranger there he was tho lov'd and known Tho Jethro's House and Flocks were as his own Where he abode until the time was come That Pharaoh from the fates must have his doom Tho Kings be Gods they cannot scape the Tomb. Whose unlamented fall the Hebrews cheer'd Who said by our new King we may be heard But all their hopes and wishes proved vain Their Tasks are doubled and the Lab'rers slain This made them sigh this made them pray and cry To Heav'n that he no longer would deny His promis'd aid who call'd his word to mind And said I must to Israel be kind For Abra'm Isaac and for Jacob's sake Their Fetters I 'll knock off their Chains I 'll break Now I think fit to ease and set them free From their heart-breaking sorrows slavery ' 'T was I that suffer'd Joseph to be sold ' Imprison'd and releas'd 't was I enroll'd ' His name with Egypt's Worthies it was I ' That gave the wisdom him did dignify ' I moved Pharaoh to send for the Father ' I taught the Son all Egypt's Corn to gather ' Before the Famine I gave Israel grace ' With Egyt's King and chose for him a place ' Goshen the fair where he in wealth did flourish ' 'T was I his num'rous Family did nourish ' When dead 't was I his Bones to Canaan sent 'A pledge of 's Children's future settlement ' It is for reasons to me only known ' They have not yet enjoy'd it tho their own ' But now they shall the best of Lands inherit ' Because I love them not because they Merit The fodder spent and Midian Pastures bare Religious Moses doubleth his care To find out Grass at last his Flocks he brings Unto the back of Horeb where the Springs Are limpid salutiferous and where The Pastures good and Sky is always clear And gladsome Spirits have fam'd dwellings there Here he with patience waits th' accomplishment Of Heav'ns promise and what else Heav'n meant The Angel-God to hasten his design Appearâ—d as man but cloath'd with Light Divine A bush surrounding with Celest'al fire This sight madâ— Moses discompos'd retire The flame was hot and fierce yet frighted more Because the Shrubs stood verdant as before With pensive thoughts mov'd he lookt backt to see The end of this yet unknown mystery Taking it for a sign of victory O're some Great Prince Heaven sees and calls him twice Moses Moses be curious take advice Look to thy Feet and make no rash advance This place is holy sign of importance I 'm no deceitful nor fictitious Jove Tho in this bush I am the God of Love He in whom Abra'm trusted Isaac fear'd And for whose honour Jacob Altars rear'd That seen this heard the trembling Shepherd bows Just sentiments of both in 's face he shews With vailed Eyes not daring more to see Sucâ— wâ—ful beams of splendid majesty As had the Author of this prodigy Whilst he in this dejected posture lay His sences lockt not knowing what to say A sweet refreshing soft melodious voice Revives his Spirits and bids him rejoyce Say'ng the promis'd time is fully come Of Israel's freedom and th' Egyptian's doom It was not my forgetfulness that did Protract their Bondage my eyes were not hid Nor bowels hard my Providence requir'd That they should first with Egypt's fare be tir'd And worship too I must now for my ancient promise sake For which Truth Justice Goodness are at stake Use such sure methods as shall bring them back All their opposers shall before them fall That brutish Nation shall no more enthral The Off-spring of my Friends I 've heard their cry And am come down their wrongs to rectify Their Sorrows to remove their State to change From making Bricks to cultivate a Grange That 's large and fruitful whose Inhabitants Their cup now full shall be expos'd to wants My Peoples plaints I cannot longer bear Without redress revenge on them that tear Their Hearts with Tongues and Hands it is my will Go thou to Pharaoh and bid him fulfil The Lords commands and send his Friends away Doubt not th' event I Egypt's Sceptre sway To this the bashful Shepherd answer made Great God thou
this punishment their sin shall read As blood was their delight so blood shall be The first sad sign of their Catastrophe My Infants tears I cannot longer smother The griefs and groans of each distressed Mother The Fathers loss I do with him condole Infanticide doth vex my very Soul My Justice must this cruelty controul The harmless waters that did suffocate Those half-liv'd babes shall show my pow'r my hate By painted blushes tho this Livery Will not yet work the wish'd delivery Of their surviving parents Go and try Tho he 'll not me by this yet gratify Thus authoriz'd the Brethren haste to Nile Whose early coming made the Monarch smile Stood there before who said come Moses tell Us news from Heav'n are all things settled well In that Utopean Territory say Have you command to take my Slaves away Yes Sir we have as you 're long shall know None can distrust those good credentials show These waters we will in your presence smite Waters that bring to Egypt wealth delight Because in them you drown the Israelite They strike the Flood put on a crimson blush Dy'd by the hand that sav'd the flaming bush Which quickly turn'd to nauseous putrid blood Dazzling the Fishes tho their sight was good They could not see to swim nor gather food But wondring at the change of th' Element Struggle for life until their life was spent The Crocodil's feign'd tears do real grow Because they could not rest above below The waters running bloody thick and slow The Tortoises crawl from their warmer Sand To lay and hatch their Eggs upon the Land All shewing Pharaoh 't was th' Almighty's hand Tho he the prodigy with indignation Beholds and calls the wise men of the Nation Saying have you this new trick never done Are they the Wonder workers they alone Call up your Demons and their aid implore Or else be gone I 'll be Priest-rid no more Most Sacred Sir you know to us your will Is dearer than our Souls we will fulfil All your desires when we clear water find We'â—l do as they have done and ease your mind That Egypt you and all the world may see It is not fit such Fops to gratify Believe your Priests great Sir your doubt is o're Well now my heart is harden'd as before Let us go home My Lord what shall we do Cry'd the Egyptians with a triple bow Our thirst is great the Water none can drink Nor eat the Fish now dead for both do stink We are undone what're the wise men think Remove from Nile deep Wells you may prepare Where Moses nor his Brother Aaron were The subterraneal streams I hope are free From Incantation Jewish Sorcery Try 't is but sev'n days wonder when that 's o'er Nile will be sweet and clear as heretofore When they are weary'd we shall have a Truce With satisfaction for the loss abuse Done to our sacred person to our state Elohim frowning crys obliterate The name of that proud Prince his crimes require Both temp'ral Judgments and eternal Fire Tell him my Justice since he will not mend Designs far greater plagues on him to send His clear'd sweet water shall for smell and taste Be worse than when the blood did it infest For I will call from thence a croaking host That cover shall the Earth with Spawn his Coast Shall be discolour'd no place shall be free His House and Bed will both infested be His Servants who have yet scarce trouble had Shall eat the loathsome slime amongst their bread These Frogs so fast so numerous will come On him and his that there shall be no Room Unhaunted left I say go tell the King Then with your hallowed Rod perform the thing The Brothers go who after honours made Inform'd the King of what Jehovah said He seem'd secure and frown'd they urg'd the case And with a Frog-plague dar'd him to his face Think not said they that menaces will do We have command to act and menace too The Wand stretcht o're the stream a hideous noise Was heard an uncouth croak harsh-sounding voice Of new made Frogs such as the world's eye Ne're yet beheld A loathsom Majesty Sat on their o'er grown bulks and made them dare T' invade their Houses Temples without fear Tho newly rais'd they train'd and valiant were The trembling King and Country strove to oppose The inroads of those unknown warlike Foes But all in vain the more of them they kill The more they grew the more their Houses fill The Palace is not free'd the King must bear The greatest burden while they quarter there Heav'n gave the Billets made the Court of Guard In Pharaoh's House this him from sleep debarr'd Who thought each Frog a dying Child whose cries Pierced his heart as theirs had pierc'd the Skies And brought the Judgment under which he groans Because his cruel heart despis'd their moans Blood-shed and Cruelty make empty Thrones Choak'd with faint fulsome smells he left his bed Shaking his Locks with Frogs-spawn overspread Then sighs and shrieks and weeps and calls who 's there To those lay by but they opprest with fear Made no return At last great Jambres speaks My Lord why are you troubled at such freaks I 'll make such vermin if you say I shall No such delusions do but haste my fall Call Heav'ns Envoys Moses and his Brother There is a God I cannot longer smother My sentiments of this great truth I see That not your art nor love can comfort me You have encreas'd my Sorrows but relief Transcends your pow'r This this augments my grief This said shame paleness seiz'd on ev'ry face To see the insolence impet'ousness Of Titan's spurious brood base watry race But most of all o' the Wizards who begin To shrivel up their Noses Cheeks and Chin Mutter and howl because they cannot awe Pharaoh as formerly He doth withdraw They gawn and yell than Cerberus more loud And so expire Hell gaping for their blood Moses appears to whom the King with tears Said you are not insensible what fears What horrors and what miseries attend The man 's abus'd and cheated by his friend This is my case you know I have withstood At their desire that Heav'n meant for my good Peace tho I drown'd his Servants in the flood Now now alas my Land and Conscience feel The worst of woes think'st not that Heaven may deal More mildly with me since his mercy 's great Beg thou that he remove from my poor state This loathsome fry I will no more contend But willingly his loved people send To offer sacrifice Make this thy care I 'm now convinc'd he is a God of pray'r And thou his Servant This with grave accent He uttered as tho he did repent ' Grand Rebels Murtherers and Thieves when come ' Before the Bench expecting their last doom ' Have mourning on and with a pitious tone ' Complain of their misfortunes every one ' Doth beg for mercy yet if Jur ' or Judge ' Or Clement
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
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
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