A paraphrase on the Book of Job As likewise on the Songs of Moses, Deborah, David: On Four Select Psalms: Some Chapters of Isaiah, and the Third Chapter of Habakkuk. By Sir Richard Blackmore |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XII. |
Chap. XII.
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| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
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| LIII. |
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Chap. XII.
A paraphrase on the Book of Job |  |
Chap. XII.
Then Job reply'd. No doubt but you are Wise,
And may the barb'rous, sensless World despise.
You've all the Wisdom of Mankind engrost,
Can more than Humane Understanding boast.
If you should dye, the Grave and endless Night
Would overwhelm all Intellectual Light.
Blind Ignorance would unmolested reign,
And Folly Universal Empire gain.
But know, since you your Friend so hardly press,
As well as you, some Reason I possess,
Nor is its Light more dim, or Vigour less.
Yet you and I in this debate must own,
We've no great Flights of Wit, or Depths of Wisdom shown.
That God is Wise, and still does Right decree,
All other Nations grant, as well as we.
But you perversly manage the Debate,
And the true Question never justly State.
You ought to prove, that some enormous fault
Has on my Head this sore Affliction brought.
You should my close Hypocrisy detect,
Which makes th' Allmighty my Complaint reject.
Instead of this you with unnatural Pride
Your suff'ring Friend insultingly deride.
Because th' Allmighty does his Ear incline
To hear your Pray'r, while he is deaf to mine;
Because your Days are prosp'rous, you despise
And mock your Neighbour that in Torment lies.
And may the barb'rous, sensless World despise.
You've all the Wisdom of Mankind engrost,
Can more than Humane Understanding boast.
If you should dye, the Grave and endless Night
Would overwhelm all Intellectual Light.
Blind Ignorance would unmolested reign,
And Folly Universal Empire gain.
But know, since you your Friend so hardly press,
As well as you, some Reason I possess,
Nor is its Light more dim, or Vigour less.
Yet you and I in this debate must own,
We've no great Flights of Wit, or Depths of Wisdom shown.
That God is Wise, and still does Right decree,
All other Nations grant, as well as we.
But you perversly manage the Debate,
And the true Question never justly State.
You ought to prove, that some enormous fault
Has on my Head this sore Affliction brought.
You should my close Hypocrisy detect,
Which makes th' Allmighty my Complaint reject.
47
Your suff'ring Friend insultingly deride.
Because th' Allmighty does his Ear incline
To hear your Pray'r, while he is deaf to mine;
Because your Days are prosp'rous, you despise
And mock your Neighbour that in Torment lies.
Contempt th' afflicted Righteous Man attends,
And Scorn, instead of Pity, from his Friends.
A Man reduc'd to Misery and Want,
Who once could Honour and Abundance vaunt,
In his successful, thriving Neighbour's Sight,
Tho' like a Lamp esteem'd when fresh and bright,
Is scorn'd, when glimm'ring with expiring Light.
Yet of the Just this is the Common Fate,
While Wicked Men enjoy a prosp'rous State.
Robbers and Spoilers see their Wealth endure,
And those, who God provoke, live most secure.
With lavish hand he does his Favours throw,
And undeserv'd Rewards on these bestow.
And Scorn, instead of Pity, from his Friends.
A Man reduc'd to Misery and Want,
Who once could Honour and Abundance vaunt,
In his successful, thriving Neighbour's Sight,
Tho' like a Lamp esteem'd when fresh and bright,
Is scorn'd, when glimm'ring with expiring Light.
Yet of the Just this is the Common Fate,
While Wicked Men enjoy a prosp'rous State.
Robbers and Spoilers see their Wealth endure,
And those, who God provoke, live most secure.
With lavish hand he does his Favours throw,
And undeserv'd Rewards on these bestow.
Ask of the Beasts, the Beasts will strait return,
That they the same sad Circumstances mourn.
They'll cry, the tawny Tyrants that possess
The lawless Empire of the Wilderness,
The strip'd and spotted Monsters of the Wood,
The Bears and Wolves inur'd to Spoil and Blood,
These fat with Rapine, Peace and Power enjoy,
Yet persevere to ravage and destroy:
Mean time the harmless Flock and useful Herd,
By the Destroyer's Hand are never spar'd.
They fall, unhappy Creatures! either way,
To Men their Friends, or Beasts their Foes a Prey.
Ask all the Feather'd Nations of the Air,
They'll all with one Confed'rate Voice declare,
That the voracious Vulture and the Kite,
The Hawk and Eagle that in Blood delight,
With all the long-wing'd Rovers of the Skies,
Which Cruize among the Clouds to ken a Prize,
They'll say this rav'ning Race is most secure,
Whilst the meek Dove, and harmless Fowls endure
A thousand Mischiefs from th'Invader's Power.
Then on the Ocean's oazy Margin stand,
And of the finn'd Inhabitants demand
How 'tis with them; they'll all, as one, complain
The same unequal Fate attends the Main.
They'll cry the vast Leviathan that moves
The Deep around, and Seas before him Shoves,
With all the Spoilers, and the murth'ring Race
Of scaly Ravagers that vex the Place;
In Peace possess the Empire of the Flood,
And undisturb'd, regale themselves with Blood.
Unweildy with their Fat, without controul,
The lazy Tyrants on the Billows roll:
Pamper'd with Spoil, the wanton Monsters Sleep
Along the Shore, or Sport within the Deep.
While their Luxurious Bellies to supply
Whole Shoals of inoffensive Fishes Dy.
But whoe'er entertain'd a doubtful Thought
If God this State of Things ordain'd, or not?
Who by his Power all Beings did produce,
And by his Wisdom fix'd their end and use:
He may, his Creatures lives at Pleasure take,
They are his own, who can Objections make?
God's Soveraign Right of Empire I respect,
But this Concession can't my Cause affect.
Can you some monstrous Guilt or Error show,
Commensurate to my stupendous Woe?
Have Patience then, with an attentive Ear
My just Defence and Allegations hear.
Use a Judicious and Impartial taste,
And you'll no more unjust Reproaches cast.
You'll see with what Integrity I act,
And all your Censures rashly made, retract.
That they the same sad Circumstances mourn.
They'll cry, the tawny Tyrants that possess
The lawless Empire of the Wilderness,
The strip'd and spotted Monsters of the Wood,
The Bears and Wolves inur'd to Spoil and Blood,
These fat with Rapine, Peace and Power enjoy,
Yet persevere to ravage and destroy:
48
By the Destroyer's Hand are never spar'd.
They fall, unhappy Creatures! either way,
To Men their Friends, or Beasts their Foes a Prey.
Ask all the Feather'd Nations of the Air,
They'll all with one Confed'rate Voice declare,
That the voracious Vulture and the Kite,
The Hawk and Eagle that in Blood delight,
With all the long-wing'd Rovers of the Skies,
Which Cruize among the Clouds to ken a Prize,
They'll say this rav'ning Race is most secure,
Whilst the meek Dove, and harmless Fowls endure
A thousand Mischiefs from th'Invader's Power.
Then on the Ocean's oazy Margin stand,
And of the finn'd Inhabitants demand
How 'tis with them; they'll all, as one, complain
The same unequal Fate attends the Main.
They'll cry the vast Leviathan that moves
The Deep around, and Seas before him Shoves,
With all the Spoilers, and the murth'ring Race
Of scaly Ravagers that vex the Place;
In Peace possess the Empire of the Flood,
And undisturb'd, regale themselves with Blood.
Unweildy with their Fat, without controul,
The lazy Tyrants on the Billows roll:
Pamper'd with Spoil, the wanton Monsters Sleep
Along the Shore, or Sport within the Deep.
While their Luxurious Bellies to supply
Whole Shoals of inoffensive Fishes Dy.
49
If God this State of Things ordain'd, or not?
Who by his Power all Beings did produce,
And by his Wisdom fix'd their end and use:
He may, his Creatures lives at Pleasure take,
They are his own, who can Objections make?
God's Soveraign Right of Empire I respect,
But this Concession can't my Cause affect.
Can you some monstrous Guilt or Error show,
Commensurate to my stupendous Woe?
Have Patience then, with an attentive Ear
My just Defence and Allegations hear.
Use a Judicious and Impartial taste,
And you'll no more unjust Reproaches cast.
You'll see with what Integrity I act,
And all your Censures rashly made, retract.
Bildad the Cause between us would refer
To antient Fathers, as less apt to err.
Wisdom I grant in Hoary Heads appears,
And Understanding is matur'd by Years;
Rarely a Beardless Oracle we know,
Judgment by Age does to Perfection grow.
But when we most our Ancestors commend,
Their greatest Wisdom can't with God's contend.
Antiquity's Traditions can't decide
Against a Rule Divine, our certain Guide.
We can't in any but th' Eternal Mind,
Councel and Knowledge in Perfection find.
God is a Mind all Intellectual Light,
Clear without Mist, without a Blemish bright.
From him the Spring those streams of Wisdom flow,
That feed the thinking, reas'ning World below.
The Wise on Earth who most deserve our Praise,
Shine but with dim and delegated Rays.
To antient Fathers, as less apt to err.
Wisdom I grant in Hoary Heads appears,
And Understanding is matur'd by Years;
Rarely a Beardless Oracle we know,
Judgment by Age does to Perfection grow.
But when we most our Ancestors commend,
Their greatest Wisdom can't with God's contend.
Antiquity's Traditions can't decide
Against a Rule Divine, our certain Guide.
We can't in any but th' Eternal Mind,
Councel and Knowledge in Perfection find.
50
Clear without Mist, without a Blemish bright.
From him the Spring those streams of Wisdom flow,
That feed the thinking, reas'ning World below.
The Wise on Earth who most deserve our Praise,
Shine but with dim and delegated Rays.
We should with equal Reverence adore
The Wonders of his Wisdom and his Power.
He levels with the Dust the proudest Town,
O'erthrows her Forts, and breaks her Bullwarks down.
Her gilded Palaces he overturns,
And her high Towers amidst the Rubbish spurns.
Her Rooms of State, and Roofs of Cedar meet,
Huddled in Ruin in th' embarrast Street.
Tho' all bewail her miserable Fall,
None dares attempt to build again her Wall.
If wretched Slaves in Prison he restrains,
Who shall release them from their pond'rous Chains?
He tyes the Clouds the Bottles of the Skies,
And to the Earth his Heav'nly Dew denies.
Then cleaving Drought the Sunburnt Mountains chap,
And for the Rain the thirsty Meadows gape.
Anon the Rivers swell at his Command,
O'erflow their Banks, and kindly drown the Land.
Wisdom and Strength are his, 'tis he imparts
To all the Crafty their successful Arts.
He shows them how to lay a wise Design,
How to Attack, and how to Countermine.
Mean time their Neighbours he of Sense bereaves,
Whom he a Prey to the Deceiver leaves.
He puzzles famous Sages in Debate,
And leads in Triumph Councellors of State.
From learned Judges Wisdom he withdraws,
And they are left, as Fools without Applause:
He haughty Monarchs Bonds and tort'ring Racks,
And all their Engines of Destruction breaks.
He Rifles all their Stores of Death and Pain,
And binds the Tyrant with the Captive's Chain.
He over-turns the Mighty in their Pride,
And makes Men, those they dreaded once, deride.
Warriours with spreading Laurels often crown'd,
Part of th' Almighty's Triumph shall be found,
Drag'd at his Chariot Wheels a Captive Throng
Of Monarch's choak'd with Dust shall pant along.
Tyrants despoil'd shall rave at their defeat,
And mixt with vulgar Slaves shall Curse and Sweat:
Princes in Chains shall in his Train appear,
And weary Kings come lagging in the Rear.
He takes their Understanding from the Wise,
And makes their Friends their Oracles despise.
He pours Contempt on Princes of the Land,
And wrests their awful Scepter from their Hand.
He sinks the mighty Warriour's Martial Fame,
And covers his once glorious Head with Shame.
Th' Almighty's bright all-penetrating Eye,
Does Councels deep and dark as Hell descry:
He sees their secret Works, and Countermines
Mysterious Statesmen's most profound Designs.
The Wonders of his Wisdom and his Power.
He levels with the Dust the proudest Town,
O'erthrows her Forts, and breaks her Bullwarks down.
Her gilded Palaces he overturns,
And her high Towers amidst the Rubbish spurns.
Her Rooms of State, and Roofs of Cedar meet,
Huddled in Ruin in th' embarrast Street.
Tho' all bewail her miserable Fall,
None dares attempt to build again her Wall.
If wretched Slaves in Prison he restrains,
Who shall release them from their pond'rous Chains?
He tyes the Clouds the Bottles of the Skies,
And to the Earth his Heav'nly Dew denies.
Then cleaving Drought the Sunburnt Mountains chap,
And for the Rain the thirsty Meadows gape.
Anon the Rivers swell at his Command,
O'erflow their Banks, and kindly drown the Land.
Wisdom and Strength are his, 'tis he imparts
To all the Crafty their successful Arts.
He shows them how to lay a wise Design,
How to Attack, and how to Countermine.
51
Whom he a Prey to the Deceiver leaves.
He puzzles famous Sages in Debate,
And leads in Triumph Councellors of State.
From learned Judges Wisdom he withdraws,
And they are left, as Fools without Applause:
He haughty Monarchs Bonds and tort'ring Racks,
And all their Engines of Destruction breaks.
He Rifles all their Stores of Death and Pain,
And binds the Tyrant with the Captive's Chain.
He over-turns the Mighty in their Pride,
And makes Men, those they dreaded once, deride.
Warriours with spreading Laurels often crown'd,
Part of th' Almighty's Triumph shall be found,
Drag'd at his Chariot Wheels a Captive Throng
Of Monarch's choak'd with Dust shall pant along.
Tyrants despoil'd shall rave at their defeat,
And mixt with vulgar Slaves shall Curse and Sweat:
Princes in Chains shall in his Train appear,
And weary Kings come lagging in the Rear.
He takes their Understanding from the Wise,
And makes their Friends their Oracles despise.
He pours Contempt on Princes of the Land,
And wrests their awful Scepter from their Hand.
He sinks the mighty Warriour's Martial Fame,
And covers his once glorious Head with Shame.
Th' Almighty's bright all-penetrating Eye,
Does Councels deep and dark as Hell descry:
He sees their secret Works, and Countermines
Mysterious Statesmen's most profound Designs.
52
Plots wrap'd in Clouds, and Death like Shades of Night,
To him lye all expos'd, as Noon-day Light.
To him lye all expos'd, as Noon-day Light.
He gives a City wide Imperial Sway,
And does her Yoke on vanquish'd Nations lay.
She on the Necks of Captive Princes treads,
When he her Armys forth to Conquest leads;
She does with unexhausted Wealth abound,
And as a Mistress awes the World around.
Then on a suddain he corrects her Pride,
And to her Banks drives back her ebbing Tyde.
He breaks her Yoke, and rescues from her hand
The Realms he subject made to her Command.
He thro' her Streets does Desolation spread,
And casts down from the Clouds her tow'ring Head.
Great Chiefs, when he rebukes them, Cowards grow,
And all the marks of Consternation show;
His Terrors pierce their Breasts, like poison'd Darts,
Enfeeble and dismay the proudest Hearts.
For Hills and Mountains they'll forsake their Home,
And thro' the trackless Woods despairing Roam:
They'll seek the lonesom, salvage Wilderness,
There to conceal their vagabond Distress.
They and the Beasts each other shall affright,
At distance gaze, then fly each other's sight.
They ne'er shall see a Beam of dawning Hope,
But for their way involv'd in Darkness grope.
With Wrath Divine intoxicated they,
Like Drunken Men, shall Reel and lose their way.
And does her Yoke on vanquish'd Nations lay.
She on the Necks of Captive Princes treads,
When he her Armys forth to Conquest leads;
She does with unexhausted Wealth abound,
And as a Mistress awes the World around.
Then on a suddain he corrects her Pride,
And to her Banks drives back her ebbing Tyde.
He breaks her Yoke, and rescues from her hand
The Realms he subject made to her Command.
He thro' her Streets does Desolation spread,
And casts down from the Clouds her tow'ring Head.
Great Chiefs, when he rebukes them, Cowards grow,
And all the marks of Consternation show;
His Terrors pierce their Breasts, like poison'd Darts,
Enfeeble and dismay the proudest Hearts.
For Hills and Mountains they'll forsake their Home,
And thro' the trackless Woods despairing Roam:
They'll seek the lonesom, salvage Wilderness,
There to conceal their vagabond Distress.
They and the Beasts each other shall affright,
At distance gaze, then fly each other's sight.
They ne'er shall see a Beam of dawning Hope,
But for their way involv'd in Darkness grope.
With Wrath Divine intoxicated they,
Like Drunken Men, shall Reel and lose their way.
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Chap. XII.
A paraphrase on the Book of Job | |