A Collection of Miscellanies Consisting of Poems, Essays, Discourses & Letters, Occasionally Written. By John Norris ... The Second Edition Corrected |
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The 63 Chap. of Isaiah Paraphrased to the 6 Verse.
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 | A Collection of Miscellanies |  |
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The 63 Chap. of Isaiah Paraphrased to the 6 Verse.
A Pindarique ODE.
I.
Strange Scene of Glory! am I well awake?Or is't my Fancy's wild mistake?
It cannot be a Dream, bright beams of light
Flow from the Vision's face, and pierce my tender sight.
No Common Vision this, I see
Some Marks of more than Human Majesty.
Who is this mighty Hero, who,
With glories round his head, and terrour in his brow?
From Bozrah lo he Comes, a scarlet die
O'respreads his cloaths, and does out-vy
The Blushes of the Morning Sky.
Triumphant and Victorious he appears,
And Honour in his looks and habit wears:
How strong he treads, how stately does he go!
Pompous and solemn is his pace,
And full of Majesty, as is his face.
Who is this mighty Hero, who?
'Tis I who to my promise faithful stand,
I who the Powers of Death, Hell and the Grave,
Have foil'd with this all-conquering hand,
I who most ready am, and mighty too to save.
II.
Why wear'st thou then this scarlet die?Say mighty Hero, why?
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Like them that in the winefat tread?
The wine-press I alone have trod,
That vast unweildy frame, which long did stand
Unmov'd, and which no mortal force cou'd e're command,
That ponderous Mass I ply'd alone
And with me to assist were none;
A mighty task it was, worthy the Son of God.
Angels stood trembling at the dreadful sight,
Concern'd with what success I should go through
The work I undertook to do;
Inrag'd I put forth all my might
And down the Engine press'd, the violent force
Disturb'd the Universe, put Nature out of Course.
The Blood gush'd out in streams, and checquer'd o're
My Garments with its deepest gore;
With Ornamental Drops bedeck'd I stood,
And writ my Victory with my Enemy's Blood.
III.
The day, the Signal day is comeWhen of my Enemies I must vengeance take;
The day when Death shall have its doom,
And the Dark Kingdom with its Powers shall shake.
Fate in her Kalender mark'd out this day with red,
She folded down the iron leaf, and thus she said,
This day, if ought I can divine be true,
Shall for a signal Victory
Be Celebrated to Posterity:
Then shall the Prince of light descend
And rescue Mortals from th' Infernal Fiend,
Break through his strongest Forts, and all his Host subdue.
This said, she shut the Adamantin Volume Close
And wish'd she might the Crouding years transpose;
So much she long'd to have the Scene display,
And see the vast event of this important day.
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This great, this mighty one appears:
The faithful Traveller the Sun
Has number'd out the days, and the set Period run.
I lookt, and to assist was none,
My Angelic guards stood trembling by,
But durst not venture nigh:
In vain too from my Father did I look
For help, my Father me forsook.
Amaz'd I was to see
How all deserted me.
I took my fury for my sole support
And with my single arm the Conquest won,
Loud Acclamations fill'd all Heavens Court,
The Hymning guards above
Strain'd to an higher pitch of Joy and Love,
The great Jehovah prais'd, and his Victorious Son.
| A Collection of Miscellanies | |