Part 62 (1/2)

Edom at first dreads his victorious hand; Before him thousand captives trembling stand.

Down a precipice, deep down he casts them all; The mimic shapes in several postures fall: But then (mad fool!) he does those G.o.ds adore, Which when plucked down had wors.h.i.+pped him before.

Thus all his life to come is loss and shame: No help from G.o.ds, who themselves helped not, came.

All this Uzziah's strength and wit repairs, Leaving a well-built greatness to his heirs; Till leprous scurf, o'er his whole body cast, Takes him at first from men, from earth at last.

As virtuous was his son, and happier far; Buildings his peace, and trophies graced his war: But Achaz heaps up sins, as if he meant To make his worst forefathers innocent: He burns his son at Hinnon, whilst around The roaring child drums and loud trumpets sound: This to the boy a barbarous mercy grew, And s.n.a.t.c.hed him from all miseries to ensue.

Here Peca comes, and hundred thousands fall; Here Rezin marches up, and sweeps up all; Till like a sea the great Belochus' son Breaks upon both, and both does overrun.

The last of Adad's ancient stock is slain, Israel captived, and rich Damascus ta'en; All his wild rage to revenge Judah's wrong; But woe to kingdoms that have friends too strong!

Thus Hezekiah the torn empire took, And a.s.sur's king with his worse G.o.ds forsook; Who to poor Judah worlds of nations brings, There rages, utters vain and mighty things.

Some dream of triumphs, and exalted names, Some of dear gold, and some of beauteous dames; Whilst in the midst of their huge sleepy boast, An angel scatters death through all the host.

The affrighted tyrant back to Babel hies, There meets an end far worse than that he flies.

Here Hezekiah's life is almost done!

So good, and yet, alas! so short 'tis spun.

The end of the line was ravelled, weak, and old; Time must go back, and afford better hold, To tie a new thread to it of fifteen years.

'Tis done; the almighty power of prayer and tears!

Backward the sun, an unknown motion, went; The stars gazed on, and wondered what he meant.

Mana.s.ses next (forgetful man!) begins, Enslaved and sold to Ashur by his sins; Till by the rod of learned Misery taught, Home to his G.o.d and country both he's brought.

It taught not Ammon, nor his hardness brake, He's made the example he refused to take.

Yet from this root a goodly scion springs, Josiah! best of men, as well as kings.

Down went the calves, with all their gold and cost; The priests then truly grieved, Osiris lost.

These mad Egyptian rites till now remained; Fools! they their worser thraldom still retained!

In his own fires Moloch to ashes fell, And no more flames must have besides his h.e.l.l.

Like end Astartes' horned image found, And Baal's spired stone to dust was ground.

No more were men in female habit seen, Or they in men's, by the lewd Syrian queen; No l.u.s.tful maids at Benos' temple sit, And with their body's shame their marriage get.

The double Dagon neither nature saves, Nor flies she back to the Erythraean waves.

The travelling sun sees gladly from on high His chariots burn, and Nergal quenched lie.

The King's impartial anger lights on all, From fly-blown Accaron to the thundering Baal.

Here David's joy unruly grows and bold, Nor could sleep's silken chain its violence hold, Had not the angel, to seal fast his eyes, The humours stirred, and bid more mists arise; When straight a chariot hurries swift away, And in it good Josiah bleeding lay: One hand's held up, one stops the wound; in vain They both are used. Alas! he's slain, he's slain.

Jehoias and Jehoiakim next appear; Both urge that vengeance which before was near.

He in Egyptian fetters captive dies, This by more courteous Anger murdered lies.

His son and brother next to bonds sustain, Israel's now solemn and imperial chain.

Here's the last scene of this proud city's state; All ills are met, tied in one knot of Fate.

Their endless slavery in this trial lay; Great G.o.d had heaped up ages in one day: Strong works around the walls the Chaldees build, The town with grief and dreadful business filled: To their carved G.o.ds the frantic women pray, G.o.ds which as near their ruin were as they: At last in rushes the prevailing foe, Does all the mischief of proud conquest show.

The wondering babes from mothers' b.r.e.a.s.t.s are rent, And suffer ills they neither feared nor meant.

No silver reverence guards the stooping age, No rule or method ties their boundless rage.

The glorious temple s.h.i.+nes in flames all o'er, Yet not so bright as in its gold before.

Nothing but fire or slaughter meets the eyes; Nothing the ear but groans and dismal cries.

The walls and towers are levelled with the ground, And scarce aught now of that vast city's found, But shards and rubbish, which weak signs might keep, Of forepast glory, and bid travellers weep.

Thus did triumphant a.s.sur homewards pa.s.s, And thus Jerus'lem left, Jerusalem that was!

Thus Zedechia saw, and this not all; Before his face his friends and children fall, The sport of insolent victors: this he views, A king and father once: ill Fate could use His eyes no more to do their master spite; All to be seen she took, and next his sight.

Thus a long death in prison he outwears, Bereft of grief's last solace, even his tears.

Then Jeconiah's son did foremost come, And he who brought the captived nation home; A row of Worthies in long order pa.s.sed O'er the short stage; of all old Joseph last.