CXVIII. 1 Samuel, Chap. IV. Ver. 10. to 19.
The Ark taken. Hophni and Phinehas
slain. Eli's Death.
Unwilling to resume the servile Yoke,
Of Capthor's Sons, which valiant Samson broke:
The Tribes of Israel arm without success,
For how shou'd God a sinful Nation bless?
Baffl'd and beat, four thousand Warrior's slain,
Their Bones unbury'd lay on Aphek's Plain.
With stronger Forces they renew the War,
God's Ark they to the Camp from Shiloh bear:
But what avails his Ark when God's not there?
Trembled the Plains, the hollow Mountains ring,
When to the Camp that sacred Pledge they bring;
So loud a Shout the joyful Army gave,
Tho' neither that itself nor them cou'd save.
Their Enemy the Noise with wonder hear,
Which soon, th'Occasion known, is chang'd to Fear:
Wo to our Nation—thus alarm'd they cry'd,
Dangers like this, till now we never try'd:
Who, from these mighty Gods our Host shall save,
Which plung'd th'Egyptians underneath the Wave?
Philistia! now exert thy utmost might!
The Conquest gain, or fall in manful Fight!
They joyn, and long the Battel doubtful stood,
The Fields with Warrior's strew'd and dy'd in Blood:
Israel at last gave way, the Foe pursu'd,
But round the Ark agen the Fight renew'd:
Hophni the fainting Troops, and Phinehas chear,
And twice, when broke, they rally'd in the Rear;
(O! how cou'd Guilt like theirs, so brave appear?)
And might have turn'd the Fortune of the Day,
Had not their Sins their Laurels snatch'd away.
A third Effort with feebler Force they make,
But can't their sacred injur'd Charge retake:
Close by the Ark, oppress'd with odds they fell,
Happy their Deaths had they but liv'd as well!
Three Myriads more to Fate compell'd to yield,
Whose Limbs extended on the moisten'd Field:
A Benjamite escapes, Fear lends him Wings,
At close of Day the News to Shiloh brings:
The City gave an universal Groan,
Old Eli hears the Noise, the Cause unknown;
When thus the Messenger—“The People fled,
“Philistia triumphs, both thy Sons are dead,
“And more than all—the Ark is captive led.
He heard till then, till then he fill'd his Place,
But now the hasty Blood forsakes his Face:
Back to his Heart, thro' secret Channels flies,
Back from his Seat he falls, he backward falls, and dies.
