Classic Poem

XXI.

Two oxen then he did in pieces share,
Which he through Israell did with terrour send,
And vow'd solemnly, who did not repaire,
Where Saul and Samuel did their forces bend,
That as those beasts had been dismembred there,
They, like from him (when victor) might attend;
 But in their hearts God such obedience wrought,
 That all to doe his will, were quickly brought.

XXII.

O what huge troupes their native homes did leave!
Of populous Israell , there did armed stand,
Three hundred thousand, thirty Iuda gave,
When by God bless'd, so fertile was that land:
Yet they by this did no high hopes conceive,
Though swarming forth in number as the sand:
 As who oft spy'd, confirm'd by the effects,
 The God of battels, victory directs.

XXIII.

No mercenary mindes base gaine did move,
(As whom when sold, a price to perill drives)
Bright zeale, true honour, and their countries love,
Did to all dangers consecrate their lives:
None needed them to presse, but to approve,
Arm'd for their altars, children, goods and wives,
 When forc'd to fight for liberty and lands,
 Each one (a captaine) all his power commands.

XXIV.

When open force had banish'd private feares,
All were (though sad) bent what they lov'd to quite,
Babes flatt'ring smiles, wives wounding sighes, and tears,
Of pleasures past endeer'd the left delight;
Yet from all else the trumpets challeng'd eares:
They part behov'd, where honour did invite,
 Which made their breasts such gallant guests embrace,
 Soft passions soon gave active courage place.

XXV.

That sadnesse past, which partings had contracted,
All fed their fancies with ideall shewes,
And carelesse what they did, as quite distracted,
All (breathing battell) talk'd but of ore-throwes;
And what they thought, their earnest gesture acted;
Each mouth with brags, each hand seem'd big with blowes:
Each souldier (swoln with hopes) as straight grown great,
With count'nance stern, look'd high, and step'd in state.

XXVI .

All eyes attendance, Ionathan procur'd,
Whose march majesticke highly was extoll'd,
Not arrogant, no, no, but yet assur'd,
It some men's folly, others feares controld:
His looke imperious, forc'd, yet milde, allur'd,
The proud to bow, the humble to be bold:
 What fit, reforming, marking every place;
 His gallant carriage, all the rest did grace.

XXVII .

Clouds made the world (all light below expell'd)
A driry lodging for a drowsie lord,
Yet still (as big with light) heavens bosome swell'd,
And for one great, did many small afford:
In shadowes wrapt, a silent horrour held
All sorts of guests with which the earth was stor'd:
 The world seem'd dumb, where nought save breath did move,
 As, what seem'd dead, it still alive would prove.

XXVIII .

Yet all the hoast to Nature did refuse,
That tribute due by every mortals eye,
Of matters high whilst haughty thoughts did muse,
Sleeps leaden bands straight travell did unty;
Heaven in their mindes such vigour did infuse,
They (as it selfe) the type of death did flye:
 “To doe great things, when generous minds devise,
 “Paine pleasure gives, things difficult entice.”

XXIX .

But (clouds dispers'd) the ayre more pure appear'd,
Light blushing (as late rais'd) the depths did leave,
Whilst flaming shields some trembling glances clear'd,
What night had rest from them, th' eyes back did reave,
And sprites (though dull) a naturall musicke chear'd,
Which many divers sounds consorted gave:
 Thus light from darknesse, day from night forth springs,
 Type of that chaos first whence flow'd all things.

XXX .

Ere that dayes journey Phœbus had begun,
The armies, neere were drawn unto an end;
And those return'd, who first before had runne,
To try abroad that which they might attend:
They told how they (by the occasion wonne)
To Ammons tents did resolutely tend,
 Whose silence seem'd them (in suspense) to call,
 Some watch'd neere Iabesh , elsewhere none at all.

XXXI .

They by faint flashes of exhausted fires,
There spyde a camp, as if from danger farre,
Well serv'd with all to which rich peace aspires,
As if for pleasure com'd, to sporte with warre,
They softly lay (as at adorn'd retires)
Where (all commodious) nought their rest might marre:
  Mars onely seem'd to court his mistresse there,
 Charg'd with superfluous, of things needfull, bare.

XXXII .

Here sleep press'd him, there wine had buried one,
(Death kissed so as straight imbrac'd to be)
Boords still were charg'd, whence guests had falne, not gone,
Cups crown'd with wine, triumph'd, as victors, free,
Late musicks conducts bruis'd (when touch'd) did grone,
Game relicts left, were of all sorts to see;
 Thus souldiers seem'd, voluptuous tokens trac'd,
 Not in a campe, but at some wedding plac'd.

XXXIII .

Two in one tent (whilst we without did hold)
As tyr'd of sleep, the time with words did wast,
The truth I hope, (though not so meant when told)
Said, of their toyles, this night would be the last.
Then, that this day the Hebrews render would,
And at their feet themselves (scorn'd captives) cast:
 Th' one long'd to laugh, when spying them halfe blinde,
 His mate to kill, as more to ruth inclin'd.

XXXIV .

No doubt we might (if willing) where we went,
Have soon kill'd some, and hardly kept hands pure,
But would not so your enterprise prevent,
By making them suspect who lay secure;
Our thoughts for private praise were not so bent,
A publicke danger fondly to procure;
 Then (brought from thence to prove their speeches true)
 A helmet one, a sword the other shew.

XXXV .

Thus what they learn'd, each circumstance declar'd,
In every breast a thirst of battell bred,
With Abner and his sonne, Saul equall shar'd,
The glistring squadrons which no danger dread,
Of which both resolute, and well prepar'd,
Each one a hundred and ten thousand led:
 The chiefes then met, who straight to fight did crave,
  Saul needlesse spurres thus to franke courage gave.

XXXVI .

Whilst all events (as doubtfull) ballanc'd be,
The souldiers mindes their earnest Emperour cheares;
But what I should give you, ye give to me,
Whose resolution at an height appeares;
A courage, yea, a confidence I see,
Through lookes which lightning every count'nance cleares:
 So that I should (if bent to move you more)
 Cast water in the sea, sand on the shore.

XXXVII .

And O! what wonder though ye all be bold,
Your ancestors victorious steps to trace,
Which oft triumph'd o're mighty states of old,
Whilst God the glory, they did purchase peace:
Heavens register, by sacred pennes enrold
Their worth eternall, which each age must grace:
 Who high exploits securely might effect,
 When God himselfe as Captaine did direct.

XXXVIII .

With God at peace, what can appall that band,
Whom so to help (when need requires such ayd)
Seas part, rocks rend, food rains, walls fall, flouds stand,
One may chase thousands, thousands quake dismay'd,
Whose hearts when God, men may the rest command,
As bound, delivered, yet by none betray'd:
 The wonder-workers power more plaine to make,
 Whilst one more captives kept, then ten could take.

XXXIX .

A prey made sure ye onely go to seize,
(As spyes report) which may even dead be thought,
Since spoyl'd by pleasure, buried in their ease,
To grace our labours not come here, but brought;
This hoast of ours the Lord of hoasts doth please,
Whose help, I doubt not, but ye all have sought:
 Loe, Samuel here, and Saul ; let this content,
 A prophet, and a prince, by God both sent.

XL .

But though not difficult this conquest seemes,
Great is the glory which doth it attend;
From bragg'd disgrace our brethren it redeemes,
Which (if not worse) would towards us extend,
And then by it the world that state esteemes,
Which oft ye urg'd, and have procur'd in th' end:
 For, as this first, with fame now credit gaines,
 Your course disprov'd, or still approv'd, remaines.