Down on the finful land where he was fent, "Ah! yet," said he, " yet, ftubborn king! repent, "Whilft thus unarm'd I ftand, "Ere the keen fword of God fill my commanded hand; "Suffer but yet thyfelf, and thine to live : "Who would, alas! believe "That it for man," said he, "So hard to be forgiven should be,. "And yet for God fo eafy to forgive !" He fpoke, and downward's flew, And o'er his fhining form a well-cut cloud he threw, And clofe-wrought to keep in the powerful light, Than in wide air the wanton fwallows flee. The strongly-temper'd blade, The sharpeft fword that e'er was laid Up in the magazines of God to scourge a wicked land. Of every womb ; none did he spare, None, from the meanest beast to Cenchre's purple heir. VOL. II. F The The fwift approach of endless night And darkness doubles the affright; The mixed founds of fcatter'd deaths they hear, As brighter lightning cuts a way Clear and diftinguifh'd through the day. And no true-mark'd fucceffor to be found. The bleft Destroyer comes not there, That new begins their well-reformed year: The mighty myftery through its humble fign. The fword ftrikes now too deep and near, No diligence or coft they spare To hafte the Hebrews now away, Pharaoh Pharaoh himself chides their delay ; So kind and bountiful is Fear! But, oh the bounty which to fear we owe, So hardly got, and quickly gone, That it scarce out-lives the blow. Sorrow and fear foon quit the tyrant's breast; Rage and revenge their place poffefs'd; With a vast hoft of chariots and of horse, And all his powerful kingdom's ready force, The travelling nation he purfues; Ten times o'ercome, he still th' unequal war renews. Fill'd with proud hopes, "At least," faid he, "Th' Egyptian Gods, from Syrian magic free, "Will now revenge themfelves and me; "Behold what pafsless rocks on either hand, "Like prifon-walls, about them stand, "Whilft the fea bounds their flight before! "And in our injur'd justice they must find "A far worse stop than rocks and feas behind; "Which shall with crimson gore "New paint the water's name, and double dye the shore.” He spoke; and all his hoft Approv'd with fhouts th' unhappy boast, A bidden wind bore his vain words away, And drown'd them in the neighbouring fea, And, with degenerous fear to die, But But the great Guide well knew he led them right, He strikes the raging waves, the waves on either fide (Though juft before no space was seen) To let the admired triumph pass between. The wondering army faw on either hand The no-lefs-wondering waves like rocks of crystal ftand: They march'd betwixt, and boldly trod And here and there all scatter'd in their way The fun did with aftonishment behold The inmoft chambers of the open'd main; By his own priests the poets has been faid, Led chearfully by a bright captain, Flame, March diforderly and flow. The prophet straight from th' Idumean strand Shakes his imperious wand : The upper waves, that highest crowded lie, Strait Strait their first right-hand files begin to move, Give the word " March" to all behind. And hafte to meet them make, As feveral troops do all at once a common fignal take. When on both fides they faw the roaring main To their cœleftial Beafts for aid; In vain their guilty king they' upbraid; In vain on Mofes he, and Mofes' God, does call, They 're compass'd round with a devouring fate, |