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Yet he that knowes this their infirmity,
At last will pitty it, and from on high,
(When now their thoughts of war they will adjourne
When there's no talke now, but of their returne)
Hee'l hinder it by victory: with that
(About the time that pitchy night had gat
The conquest of the day of which being proud
He wrapt himselfe within his thickest cloud,
Thinking perhaps his conquest to be voyd,
If any saw the triumphs he injoyd)
Vnto our Levite he a vision sends
Clad in her dearest shape, in whom he ends
All thoughts of Fancy: Whom when he had seene
(And quickly he had spy'd her) Fairest Queene
Of heav'n, he sayes, what is there here on earth
That could perswade thee to a second birth,
Thus to appeare agen? needs must thou know
(For ignorance belongs to us below
Excluded out of heav'n) that our sad state
Is for its goodnes prov'd unfortunate;
That Benjamin is conqueror, and that we
Could not revenge, but onely follow thee:
Nor was't one losse, one petty overthrow
Hath daunted us, but (as if fate would shew
All her choyce malice on us) we have try'd
How many wayes 'twas possible t'ave dy'd.
Beleeve it, heavenly one, no cowardise
(Which heretofore being base; is now tearmd wise)
Lost us the day, no providence; no zeale
Nor that (which can the maymes of actions heale)
Councell, and grave advice was wanting to us:
Only the heav'ns, which we had thought would wooe us
To prosecute thy vengeance, and from whence
We look'd for daies, like a good conscience
Shining and cleare, with cruelty unheard
Give vs an overthrow for a reward;
That we can onely (such our wretched fate)
Deplore the losse, which we should vindicate.