720

"About it forks, axes, and scythes, and spears, "Whole magazines of death each chariot bears; "Where it breaks in, there a whole troop it mows, "And with lopp'd panting limbs the field bestrows: "Alike, the valiant and the cowards die ; 715 "Neither can they resist, nor can these fly. "In this proud equipage, at Macmas they, "Saul in much different state at Gilgal, lay; "His forces seem'd no army, but a crowd, "Heartless, unarm'd, disorderly, and loud. "The quick contagion, Fear, ran swift through all, "And into trembling fits th' infected fall. "Saul and his son (for no such faint disease "Could on their strong-complexion'd valour seize) "In vain all parts of virtuous conduct show'd, 725 "And on deaf terror generous words bestow'd: "Thousands from thence fly scatter'd every day, "Thick as the leaves that shake and drop away, "When they th' approach of stormy winter find; "The noble tree all bare expos'd to th' wind. 730 "Some to sad Jordan fly, and swim 't for haste, "And from his farther bank look back at last: "Some into woods and caves their cattle drive; "There with their beasts on equal terms they live, "Nor deserve better: some in rocks on high, 735 "The old retreats of storks and ravens, lie;

"And, were they wing'd like them, scarce would they dare

66

"To stay, or trust their frighted safety there.

"As th' host with fear, so Saul disturb'd with care, "Tavert these ills by sacrifice and prayer,

740

"And God's blest will t' enquire, for Samuel sends ;' "Whom he six days with troubled haste attends; "But, ere the seventh unlucky day (the last "By Samuel set for this great work) was past, "Saul (alarm'd hourly from the neighbouring foe;" "Impatient, ere God's time, God's mind to know ;' "'Sham'd and enrag'd to see his troops decay; "Jealous of an affront in Samuel's stay; "Scorning that any 's presence should appear "Needful besides, when he himself was there; 750 "And, with a pride too natural, thinking Heaven "Had given him all, because much power 't had ❝ given)

"Himself the sacrifice and offerings made; "Himself did th' high selected charge invade; "Himself enquir'd of God; who then spake nought; "But Samuel straight his dreadful answer brought: "For straight he came, and, with a virtue bold "As was Saul's sin, the fatal message told;

"His foul ingratitude to Heaven he chid,'

"To pluck that fruit, which was alone forbid 760 "To kingly power, in all that plenteous land, "Where all things else submit to his command. "And, as fair Eden's violated tree

"Timmortal man brought in mortality;

"So shall that crown, which God eternal meant, 765 "From thee, said he, and thy great house, be rent; "Thy crime shall death to all thine honours send, "And give thy' immortal royalty an end.

"Thus spoke the prophet; but kind Heaven, we hope "(Whose threats and anger know no other scope 770

"But man's amendment) does long since relent, "And, with repentant Saul, itself repent.

"Howe'er (though none more pray for this than we,

"Whose wrongs and sufferings might some colour be

775

780

"To do it less), this speech we sadly find "Still extant, and still active in his mind; "But then a worse effect of it appear'd"Our army, which before modestly fear'd; "Which did by stealth and by degrees decay; "Disbanded now, and fled in troops away. "Base fear so bold and impudent does grow, "When an excuse and colour it can show! "Six hundred only (scarce a princely train) "Of all his host with distress'd Saul remain; "Of his whole host six hundred; and ev'n those 785 "(So did wise Heaven for mighty ends dispose! "Nor would that useless multitudes should share "In that great gift it did for one prepare). "Arm'd not like soldiers marching in a war, "But country-hinds alarmed from afar

790

"By wolves' loud hunger, when the well-known sound "Raises th' affrighted villages around.

"Some goads, flails, plow-shares, forks, or axes, bore, "Made for life's use and better ends before; "Some knotted clubs, and darts, or arrows dry'd 795 "I' th' fire, the first rude arts that malice try'd, "Ere man the sins of too much knowledge knew, "And death by long experience witty grew. "Such were the numbers, such the arms, which we "Had by fate left us for a victory

800

"O'er well-arm'd millions; nor will this appear "Useful itself, when Jonathan was there.

""T was just the time when the new ebb of night "Did the moist world unvail to human sight; "The Prince, who all that night the field had beat 805 "With a small party, and no enemy met "(So proud and so secure the enemy lay, "And drench'd in sleep th' excesses of the day!) "With joy this good occasion did embrace, "With better leisure, and at nearer space,

810

"The strength and order of their camp to view : "Abdon alone his generous purpose knew; "Abdon, a bold, a brave, and comely youth, "Well-born, well-bred, with honour fill'd, and truth; "Abdon, his faithful'squire, whom much he lov'd,815 "And oft with grief his worth in dangers prov'd;

"Abdon, whose love t' his master did exceed

"What Nature's law, or Passion's power, could breed; "Abdon alone did on him now attend, "His humblest servant, and his dearest friend. 820 "They went but sacred fury, as they went, "Chang'd swiftly, and exalted his intent. "What may this be! (the Prince breaks forth); I find "God, or some powerful spirit, invades my mind. "From aught but Heaven can never sure be brought "So high, so glorious, and so vast a thought; 826 "Nor would Ill-fate, that meant me to surprise, "Come cloth'd in so unlikely a disguise.

"Yon host, which its proud fishes spreads so wide "O'er the whole land, like some swoln river's tide;

"Which terrible and numberless appears,

831

"As the thick waves which their rough ocean bears; "Which lies so strongly 'encamp'd, that one would

66 say

835

840

845

"The hill might be remov❜d as soon as they ; "We two alone must fight with and defeat: "Thou 'rt strook, and startest at a sound so great! "Yet we must do't; God our weak hands has chose "Tashame the boasted numbers of our foes; "Which to his strength no more proportion be, "Than millions are of hours to his eternity. "If, when their careless guards espy us here, "With sportful scorn they call t' us to come near, "We'll boldly climb the hill, and charge them all; "Not they, but Israel's Angel, gives the call.. "He spoke and as he spoke, a light divine "Did from his eyes, and round his temples, shine; "Louder his voice, larger his limbs, appear'd; "Less seem'd the numerous army to be fear'd. "This saw, and heard, with joy the brave Esquire, "As he with God's, fill'd with his master's, fire: 850 "Forbid it, Heaven! said he, I should decline, "Or wish, Sir, not to make your danger mine; "The great example which I daily see "Of your high worth is not so lost on me ; "If wonder-strook I at your words appear, "My wonder yet is innocent of fear :

855

"Th' honour which does your princely breast en

“ flame,

"Warms mine too, and joins there with duty's name.

VOL. III.

D