To this (for still were some great periods set,
There's a strong knot of several causes met)
The threats concurred of a rough neighbouring war;
A mighty storm long gathering from afar;

For Ammon, heighten'd with mix'd nations' aid, Like torrents swoln with rain, prepared the land to' invade.

Samuel was old, and, by his sons' ill choice,
Turn'd dotard in the' unskilful vulgar's voice;
His sons so scorn'd and hated, that the land
Nor hoped, nor wish'd, a victory from their hand.
These were the just and faultless causes why
The general voice did for a Monarch cry;
But God ill grains did in this incense smell;
Wrapped in fair leaves he saw the canker dwell:
A mutinous itch of change; a dull despair
Of helps divine, oft proved; a faithless care
Of common means; the pride of heart and scorn
Of the' humble yoke under low Judges borne.
They saw the state and glittering pompwhich bless'd
In vulgar sense the sceptres of the East; [obey
They saw not power's true source, and scorn'd to'
Persons that look'd no dreadfuller than they;
They miss'd courts, guards, a gay and numerous
train-

Our Judges, like their laws, were rude and plain :-
On an old bench of wood, her seat of state

Beneath the well-known palm, wise Deborah sate; Her maids with comely diligence round her spun, And she too, when the pleadings there were done : With the same goad Shamgar his oxen drives Which took, the sun before, six hundred lives From his shamed foes: he midst his work dealt laws;

And oft was his plough stopped to hear a cause:

Nor did great Gideon his old flail disdain,
After won fields, sack'd towns, and princes slain ;
His sceptre that, and Ophra's threshing-floor
The seat and emblem of his justice bore.

What should I Jair, the happiest father, name?
Or mournful Jephtha, known no less to fame
For the most wretched? Both at once did keep
The mighty flocks of Israel and their sheep.
Oft from the field in haste they summon❜d were
Some weighty foreign embassy to hear;

They call'd their slaves, their sons, and friends, around,

Who at several cares were scatter'd found;
They wash'd their feet, their only gown put on,
And this chief work of ceremony was done.
These reasons, and all else that could be said,
In a ripe hour by factious eloquence spread
Through all the tribes, make all desire a king;
And to their Judge selected deputies bring
This harsh demand; which Nacol for the rest
(A bold and artful mouth) thus with much grace
express'd :-
[arrears
"We're come, most sacred Judge, to pay the'
Of much-owed thanks, for the bright thirty years
Of your just reign; and at your feet to lay
All that our grateful hearts can weakly pay
In unproportion'd words; for you alone
The not unfit reward, who seek for none.
But, when our forepass'd ill we call to mind,
And sadly think how little's left behind
Of your important life, whose sudden date
Would disinherit the' unprovided state;
When we consider how unjust 'tis, you,

Who ne'er of power more than the burthen knew,

At once the weight of that and age should have Your stooping days press'd doubly towards the grave);

When we behold by Ammon's youthful rage,
Proud in the' advantage of your peaceful age,
And all the' united East, our fall conspired;
And that your sons, whom chiefly we desired
As stamps of you, in your loved room to place,
By unlike acts that noble stamp deface;
Midst these new fears and ills we're forced to fly
To' a new, and yet unpractised, remedy; *
A new one, but long promised, and foretold
By Moses, and to Abraham shown of old;
A prophecy long forming in the womb
Of teeming years, and now to ripeness come.
This remedy's a King; for this we all
With an inspired and zealous union call:
And, in one sound when all men's voices join,
The music's tuned, no doubt, by hand divine:
'Tis God alone speaks a whole nation's voice;
That is his public language; but the choice
Of what Peculiar head that crown must bear,
From who his Peculiar organ are,

you,

We' expect to hear: the people shall to you
Their king, the king his crown and people, owe.
To your great name what lustre will it bring
To' have been our Judge, and to have made our
King!'

"He bow'd, and ended here; and Samuel straight, Pausing awhile at this great question's weight, With a grave sigh, and with a thoughtful eye, That more of care than passion did descry, Calmly replies-You're sure the first, (said he,) Of freeborn men that begged for slavery.

I fear, my friends, with heavenly manna fed
(Our old forefathers' crime), we lust for bread.
Long since by God from bondage drawn, I fear,
We build anew the' Egyptian brick-kiln here.
Cheat not yourselves with words; for, though a
Be the mild name, a Tyrant is the thing. [King
Let his power loose, and you shall quickly see
How mild a thing unbounded man will be. [spill,
He'll lead you forth your hearts' cheap blood to
Where'er his guideless passion leads his will:
Ambition, lust, or spleen, his wars will raise;
Your lives' best price his thirst of wealth or praise:
Your ablest sons for his proud guards he'll take,
And by such hands your yoke more grievous make:
Your daughters and dear wives he'll force away;
His luxury some, and some his lust, to' obey:
His idle friends your hungry toils shall eat,
Drink your rich wines, mix'd with your blood and

sweat.

Then you'll all sigh: but sighs will treasons be;
And not your griefs themselves, or looks, be free:
Robbed even of hopes, when you these ills sustain,
Your watery eyes you'll then turn back in vain
On your old Judges, and perhaps on me,
Nay, even my sons, however they' unhappy be
In your displeasure now; not that I'd clear
Their guilt, or mine own innocence endear:
Witness the' unutterable Name, there's nought
Of private ends into this question brought.
But why this yoke on your own necks to draw?
Why man your God, and passion made your Law?""
"Methinks (thus Moab interrupts him here)
The good old seer 'gainst Kings was too severe.
'Tis jest to tell a people that they're free;
Who, or How
many, shall their masters be

Is the sole doubt; laws guide, but cannot reign; And, though they bind not kings, yet they restrain. I dare affirm (so much I trust their love)

That no one Moabite would his speech approve.
But, pray go on."- 'Tis true, Sir, (he replies ;)
Yet men whom age and action render wise
So much great changes fear, that they believe
All evils will, which may, from them arrive.
On men resolved these threats were spent in vain;
All that his power or eloquence could obtain
Was, to inquire God's will ere they proceed
To' a work that would so much his blessing need.
A solemn day for this great work is set,
And at the' anointed tent all Israel met
Expect the' event; below, fair bullocks fry
In hallowed flames; above, there mount on high
The precious clouds of incense; and, at last,
The sprinkling prayers, and all due honours, pass'd,
Lo! we the sacred bells o' the' sudden hear,
And in mild pomp grave Samuel does appear.
His ephod, mitre, well-cut diadem, on;
The' oraculous stones on his rich breast-plate shone.
Towards the blue curtains of God's holiest place
(The temple's bright third heaven) he turn'd his face;
Thrice bow'd he, thrice the solemn music play'd,
And at third rest thus the great prophet pray'd:-

66 6

Almighty God, to whom all men that be Owe all they have, yet none so much as we; Who, though thou fill'st the spacious world alone, Thy too-small court,hast made this place thy throne; With humble knees, and humbler hearts, lo! here, Bless'd Abraham's seed implores thy gracious ear; Hear them, great God! and thy just will inspire; From Thee, their long-known King, they' a King desire.