University of Virginia Library

Those which at home scorn'd Pharaoh and his force,
And whose departure he did humbly pray,
He now pursues with his Egyptian horse
And warlike foote to spoile them on the way.
Where his choice people strongly to protect,
The onely God of Emperie and might,
Before his host his standard doth erect,
A glorious pillar in a field of light,
Which he by day in sable doth unfolde,
To dare the Sonne his Ardour to forbeare,
By night converts it into flaming golde,
Away the coldnesse of the same to feare.
Not by Philistia he his force will leade,
Though the farre nearer and the happier way,
His men of warre a glorious march shall tread
On the vast bowels of the bloudie Sea,
And sends the windes as Currers forth before
To make them way from Pharaohs power to flie,
And to convay them to a safer shore,
Such is his might that can make Oceans drie.
Which by the stroke of that commanding wand,
Shouldred the rough seas forcibly together,
Raised as Rampiers by that glorious hand,
(Twixt which they march) that did conduct them thither.
The surly waves their Rulers will obay'd
By him made up in this confused masse,
Like as an Ambush secretly were laid,
To set on Pharaoh as his power should passe,
Which soone with wombes insatiably wide,
Loos'd from their late bounds by th'Almighties power,
Come raging in, enclosing every side,
And the Egyptians instantly devoure.
The Sling, the stiffe Bow, and the sharpned Launce,
Floting confus'dly on the waters rude,
They which these weapons lately did advance,
Perish in sight of them that they pursude.
Clashing of Armours, and the rumorous sound
Of the sterne billowes in contention stood,
Which to the shores doe every way rebound,
As doth affright the Monsters of the flood.
Death is discern'd triumphantly in Armes
On the rough Seas his slaughtery to keepe,
And his colde selfe in breath of mortals warmes,
Upon the dimpled bosome of the deepe.
There might you see a Checkquer'd Ensigne swim
About the bodie of the envi'd dead,
Serve for a hearse or coverture to him,
Ere while did waft it proudly 'bout his head:
The warlike Chariot turn'd upon the backe
With the dead horses in their traces tide,
Drags their fat carkasse through the fomie bracke
That drew it late undauntedly in pride.
There floats the bard Steed with his Rider drownd,
Whose foot in his caparison is cast,
Who late with sharpe spurs did his Courser wound,
Himselfe now ridden with his strangled beast.
The waters conquer (without helpe of hand)
For them to take for which they never toile,
And like a Quarrie cast them on the land,
As those they slew they left to them to spoile.
In eightie eight at Dover that had beene,
To view that Navie (like a mighty wood)
Whose sailes swept Heaven, might eas'lie there have seene,
How puissant Pharaoh perish'd in the floud.
What for a conquest strictly they did keepe,
Into the channell presently was pour'd,
Castilian riches scattered on the deepe,
That Spaines long hopes had sodainly devour'd.
Th'afflicted English rang'd along the Strand
To waite what would this threatning power betide,
Now when the Lord with a victorious hand
In his high justice scourg'd th'Iberian pride.
Hence three dayes march to Mara leades them on,
Where Surs wilde Desarts as the Armie past
Seemed as from their presence to have flowne,
The mountaines stood so miserably agast.
Where for with drought they hardly are bested,
And the foule waters bitter as the gall,
That they should through this wildernesse be led
To thanklesse murm'ring presently they fall.
God pointeth Moyses to a precious tree,
Whose medc'nall branches cast into the lake,
Of that rare vertue he approv'd to be,
The waters sweet and delicate to make.
Not that his hand stands any way in neede
Of mediate meanes his purposes to bring,
But that in state his wisedome will proceede
To shew his power in every little thing.
Nor Metaphysickes fully him confine,
All measuring so immeasurably great,
That doth in Nature every cause combine,
This All in him so amply hath receate.
Which might have learn'd them in this helpelesse case,
With tribulations willingly to meete,
When men with patience troubles doe embrace,
How oftentimes it makes affliction sweete.
And his free bountie fully now they found,
As they from Mara for mount Sina made,
Pitching in Elim in that plenteous ground
Of pleasant fountaines and delicious shade.
But as at Sur, so they againe at Sin,
Before of thirst, of hunger now complaine,
Wishing they might in Egypt still have bin,
Where never famine all their time did raigne.

When clouds of Quailes from the Arabian shore
Upon the Campe immediately are sent,
Which came so long and in such marv'lous store,
That with their flight they smother'd every Tent:
This glads the Ev'ning, each unto his rest,
With soules even sated with these dainty Cates,
And the great goodnesse of the Lord confest,
That in like measure each participates.
The morne strewes Manna all about the host
(The meate of Angels) mortals to refresh,
Candying the fresh grasse, as the Winters frost,
Never such bread unto so dainty flesh.
O Israel pampred with this heavenly food,
Which else to Nations earthly he denies,
To raise thy spirits, to rectifie thy blood
With these so rare celestiall purities.
Then the fat flesh-pots they so much desire,
Whereon in Egypt gluttoning they fed,
When they came hungry home from carrying mire,
Which onely dulnesse, and grosse humours bred.
Yet in the sweetnesse and th'abundant store,
His power not so conclusively exprest,
But who tooke most not capable of more
Then in his Gomer he that gathered least.
By night corrupting, each day gath'ring new,
But for the Sabbath what they did provide,
That day descended not that heavenly dewe,
That as that day was onely sanctifide.
Thence through those Desarts desolate and drie,
They reach to Reph'dem where as they should passe,
There was not found a fountaine farre nor nie,
Such want of water every where there was.
Thither the Lord by Moyses did them bring,
His force the faithlesse Israelites might know,
For even in the impossiblest thing,
He most delights his wondrous might to show.
Farre worse than Mara is this fruitlesse soile,
For there were waters (bitter though they were)
But here are none, though sought with ne're such toile,
That they from murm'ring longer not forbeare.
Commanding Moyses he should take the Rod,
Wherewith in Egypt he such wonders wrought,
For that most wise, that secret-seeing God
Saw there were some thus reasoned in their thought.
The misterie of that miraculous wand
He did to plagues and fearefull things imply,
That Aaron yet ne're tooke it in his hand,
When worke of mercy was atchiev'd thereby.
Therefore bids Moyses to this high intent,
The same to use, they visibly might see,
That this which erst had beene the instrument
Of justice, so of clemencie to be.
Which with a blow, the Cleeves in sunder crackt,
As with an earthquake violently rent,
Whence came so strong and rough a Cataract,
That in the stones wore gutters as it went.
The Springs spout forth such plenty, that withall
Downe the slope sides it violently swept,
So divers wayes, so various in the fall,
Through every cranny the cleare water crept.
In Pailes, Kits, Dishes, Basons, Pinboukes, Bowles,
Their scorched bosomes merrily they baste,
Untill this very howre their thirstie soules
Never touch'd water of so sweet a taste.
Scarcelie suffic'd but in the very neck
Of this, 'tis bruted by the watchfull post,
That the neere-bordring envious Amaleck,
Was marching towards them with a mighty host,
When he forth Josua from the rest doth draw,
A man selected, of couragious spirit,
Which Moyses with propheticke eye foresaw,
Should be the man, his roome that should inherit.
Commanding him to muster out of hand,
And draw his forces presently to head,
Against that proud Amalakite to stand,
Which in the field a puissant Armie led.
Whilst on rocke Horeb, with erected hand,
Bearing the Rod up to the glorious skie,
'Twixt Hur and Aaron, Amrams sonne doth stand,
Whilst both the hosts for victorie doe trie.
When blades are brandish'd and the fight begun,
Warres thundring horror trumpets doe proclaime,
With the reflection of the radiant Sunne,
Seemes to beholders as a generall flame.
Much courage and dexteritie that day
On either part sufficiently is showne,
And on the earth full many a Souldier lay,
Thrusting through danger to make good his owne.
Here men might see how many a strenuous guide
Striveth to make his enemie to bleede,
Now the fierce vaward, then the rereward plide,
As he perceiveth the Battalians neede.
They fight the full day, he the Rod upheld,
But when his strength by long continuing failes,
Where as before the Israelites had queld,
The adverse proud Amalakite prevailes.
Whilst the two Hebrewes provident of harmes,
Setting grave Moses downe upon a stone,
And by their force support his wearied armes,
Untill the foe was lastly overthrowne.

Jethro the just to whom report had told,
Th'atchievement wrought by his renowned sonne,
That all the world did tributary hold,
By deeds in Egypt God by him had done:
This good old man to consummate their joyes
In happy houre his sonne is come to see,
Bringing his wife and his two little Boyes,
Moses sent back in Midian safe to bee:
Which by this time two proper Youthes are growne,
Bred by their Grandsire with exceeding care,
In all the host there hardly could be showne,
That with those Boyes for beauty could compare.
Such mirth and feasting as for them was seene,
For this grave Father and this goodly Dame,
Unto this day in Israel had not beene,
Since to kinde Joseph righteous Jacob came.
The day mild Moses scarcely can suffice,
To tell this man the troubles they had past,
The wonders God had acted in their eyes,
Since they in Midian kindly parted last.
Jethro that mark'd the paines that Moses tooke
In rising early, and in resting late,
That did himselfe into all causes looke,
And in his person censure each debate:
This Princely Priest a man exceeding wise,
And long experienc'd in this great affaire,
(For at that time few States or Monarchies
Whose government he could not well declare)
Reproves good Moses in this zealous deed:
(Quoth he) me thinks thou dost not well in this,
The course wherein I see thou dost proceed
Trouble to thee and to the people is.
Appoint out Judges, and inferiour Courts,
Twixt the Plebeians and thy selfe to bee,
From them receive those matters by report,
Speake thou to God, and let them speake to thee,
In things important be thou still in place,
In lesser causes leaving them to deale,
So may you both your quietnes embrace
By an exact and perfect Common-weale.

Now when to Sina they approched neare,
God calls up Moyses to the mount above,
And all the rest commaundeth to forbeare,
Nor from the bounds assign'd them to remove.
For who those limits loosely did exceede,
(Which were by Moses mark'd them out beneath)
The Lord had irrevocably decreed
With darts or stones should surely die the death:
Where as the people in a wondrous fright
(With hearts transfixed even with frosen blood)
Beheld their Leader openly in sight
Passe to the Lord, where he in glory stood.
Thunder and Lightning led him downe the ayre,
Trumpets celestiall sounding as he came,
Which struck the people with astounding feare,
Himselfe invested in a splendorous flame.
Sina before him fearfully doth shake,
Covered all over in a smouldring smoake,
As ready the foundation to forsake,
On the dread presence of the Lord to looke.
Erect your spirits and lend attentive eare
To marke at Sina what to you is said,
Weake Moses now you shall not simply heare,
The sonne of Amram and of Jacobed.
But he that Adam did imparadise,
And lent him comfort in his proper blood,
And saved Noah, that did the Arke devise,
When the old world else perish'd in the flood,
To righteous Abraham, Canaan franckly lent,
And brought forth Isaak so extreamly late,
Jacob so faire and many children sent,
And rais'd chast Joseph to so high estate.
He whose just hand plagu'd Egypt for your sake,
That Pharaohs power so scornefully did mock,
Way for his people through the Sea did make,
Gave food from Heaven, and water from the Rock.
Whilst Moses now in this cloud-covered hill,
Full forty dayes his pure aboade did make,
Whilst that great God in his almighty will,
With him of all his Ordinances brake.
The Decalogue from which Religion tooke
The being: sinne and righteousnesse began
The different knowledge: and the certaine booke
Of testimony betwixt God and man.
The Ceremoniall as Judicious lawes,
From his high wisdome that receiv'd their ground,
Not to be altred in the smallest clause,
But as their Maker wondrously profound.
The composition of that sacred Phane,
Which as a Symbol curiously did shew,
What all his six dayes workmanship containe,
Whose perfect modell his owne finger drew.
Whose absence thence gave leasure to their lust,
Oppugning Aaron, Idols them to frame,
And by their power still strengthen this disgust,
In him denouncing the Almighties name.
A gold-made God how durst you ever name,
For him so long had led you from the Skie,
In sight of Sina crowned with a flame,
His glory thence residing in your eye?
Such things might melt mortality to see,
That even the very Elements did fright,
He that in Egypt had perform'd for thee,
What made the world amazed at his might.
Thy soule transpierced ne'r before thou felt'st,
But like a Quarry 't even clave thy breast,
Comming from Sina when as thou beheld'st
Th'elected Israel kneeling to a Beast.
Him sence forsooke, his sinewes strengthlesse are,
He came so much amazed there-withall,
The stony Tables slip'd him unaware,
That with their owne weight brake them in the fall.
Downe this proud lump ambitiously he flung
Into base dust dissolving it with fire,
That since they for variety did long,
They should thereby even surfet their desire.
And sent the minerall through their hatefull throats,
Whence late those horrid blasphemies did flie
On bestiall figures when they fell to doate
In prostitution to idolatrie.
Now when this potion that they lately tooke,
This Chymick medicine (their deserved fare)
Upon their beards, and on their bosome stooke,
He doth their slaughter presently prepare.
What's he himselfe to Levie could allie
Before this Calfe not sinfully did fall,
Girds not his broad blade to his sinewie thie,
When he heares Moyses unto Armes to call?
Killing not him appointed he should slay,
Though they had slep'd in eythers armes before,
Though in one wombe they at one burthen lay,
Yea when this dead, though that could be no more?
You whom not Egypts tyranie could wound,
Nor Seas, nor Rockes could any thing denie,
That till this day no terrour might astound
On the sharpe points of your owne swords to die?

When Moyses now those Tables to renew
Of that essentiall Deitie doth merit,
(Which from his hands he dissolutely threw
In the deepe anguish of his greeved spirit.
When forty dayes without all nat'rall food)
He on mount Sina fixed his abode,
Retayning strength and fervour in his blood,
Rap'd with the presence of that glorious God.
Who in his high estate whilst he passed by
In the cleft rocke that holy man did hide,
Lest he should perish by his radiant eye,
When Moyses seeing but his glorious side
Celestiall brightnesse ceazed on his face,
That did the wondring Israelites amaze,
When he returned from that sovereigne place,
His browes encircled with splendidious rayes.
That their weake sight beholding of the same,
He after cover'd from the common eyes,
Lest when for answer unto him they came,
The lusting people should idolatrize.

Might we those mustred Israelites admire
From plaines of Sina mighty Moyses led,
Or else to view that opulence desire,
To that rich Arke so freely offered.
The mervailous modell of that rarest peece
Th'ingravings, carvings, and embroderies tell,
The cunning worke and excellent device
Of neat Aholiab, and Bezaliell.
But we our Moyses seriously pursue,
And our strong nerves to his high praise applie,
That through this maze shall guide us as a Clue,
And may his vertues absolutely trie.
Whose charge being weary of their mighty Armes,
And much offended they had march'd so long,
As oft disturbed with their sterne Alarmes,
Suppose by Moyses to have suffered wrong.
When with the luggage such as lagd behinde,
And that were set the Cariages to keepe,
Gainst God and Moyses greevously repinde,
Wanting a little sustinance and sleepe.
Who with their murm'ring moved in his ire,
That they so soone his providence mistrust,
Downe from his full hand flung that forcefull fire,
Which in a moment brus'd their bones to dust.
Other the mutt'ring Israelites among
When now to Pharan having come so farre
For flesh, fish, sallads, and for fruites doe long,
Manna (they say) is not for men of warre.
Their glut'nous stomackes loath that heav'nly bread,
Who with full Chargers hunger heere releeves,
As by the belly when they strongly fed
On harty Garlicke and the flesh of Beeves?
Milde man, what fearefull agony thee vex'd,
When thou thy God unkindly didst upbrayd?
How greevously thy suffring soule perplex'd,
When thou repin'st the charge on thee was layd?
With God to reason why he should dispose
On thee that burthen heavy to sustaine,
As though he did his purposes enclose
Within the limits of mans shallow brayne.
To judge so many marching every day,
That all the flesh of Forrest and of flood,
(When the wilde Desarts scarcely yeeld them way)
Should them suffice for competence of food.
That thou shouldst wish that hand so full of dread,
Thy lingring breath should sodainly expire,
Then that the clamorous multitude should spread,
Those wicked slanders to incite his ire.
That God to punish whom he still did love,
And in compassion of thy frailties feare,
The spirit he gave thee lastly should remove
To those thy burthen that should after beare.
O wondrous man! who parallel'd thee ever?
How large a portion diddest thou inherit?
That unto seventie he should it dissever,
Yet all be Prophets only with thy Spirit?
When loe a Cloud comes sailing with the winde
Unto these Rebels terrible to see,
That when they now some fearefull thing divin'd,
A flight of Quailes perceived it to be.
A full dayes journey round about the host,
Two Cubits thicknes over all they flowe,
That when by Israel he was tempted most,
His glory then most notably to show.
The greedy people with the very sight
Are fill'd before they come thereof to taste,
That with such surfet gluts their appetite
Their queasie stomacks ready are to cast.
Those that for Beefe in Gluttonie did call
Those the high'st God his powerfulnes to trie,
Cloyes with the fowle that from the Heavens doe fall,
Untill they stuffe their stomackes by the eye.
But whilst the flesh betwixt their teeth they chew,
And sucke the fat so delicately sweet,
(With too much plenty that even fulsome grew
That lies so common troden with their feet.)
That God impartiall and so rightly just,
When he had given them more then they desire,
Dulie to punish their insatiate lust,
Powres downe his plagues consuming as his fire.
And with a strong hand violently strake
Their blood, distempred with luxurious diet,
That soone the sores in groynes and arme-pits brake,
Thus could the Lord scourge their rebellious riot.
Aron and Miriam, all too much it were
For griefe when Moyses ready is to die;
But you whom one wombe happily did beare
Gainst your milde Brother needs must mutinie.
O unkinde Aaron when thou fondly fram'dst
That Beast-like Idoll bowing Israels knee,
He then thee beg'd, that thou so basely blam'dst,
And did divert the judgement due to thee.
Immodest Miriam when the hand of might
Left thee with lothsome leprosie defil'd,
Contemn'd and abject in the vilest sight,
From the great host perpetually exil'd:
When thou hadst spet the utmost of thy spight,
And for thy sinne this plague on thee was throwne,
He not forsooke thee but in heavie plight
Kneeling to God obtain'd thee for his owne.
His wondrous patience ever was applide
To those on him that causelesly complaine,
Who did with comely carelesnesse deride
What happy men should evermore disdaine.

When now the Spials for the promis'd soyle,
For the twelve Tribes that twelve in number went,
Having discovered forty dayes with toyle,
Safely return'd as happily they went:
Bringing the Figs, Pomgranates, and the Grapes,
Whose verdurous clusters that with moisture swell,
Seeme by the taste and strangenesse of the shapes,
The place that bare them faithfully to tell.
That well express'd the nature of the earth,
So full of liquor and so wondrous great,
That from such wished fruitfulnesse in birth,
Suck'd the sweet marrow of a plenteous teat.
But whilst they stand attentively to heare
The sundry soyles wherein they late had beene,
Telling what Giants did inhabit there,
What Townes of warre that walled they had seene.
Of Anacks of-spring when they come to tell,
And their huge stature when they let them see,
And of their shapes so terrible and fell,
Which were suppos'd the Titanois to bee.
Their hearts sunck downe, and though the fruits they saw
By their rare beauty might allure their eyes,
Yet this report their coward soules did awe,
And so much daunt the forward enterprise,
That they their God doe utterly refuse,
Against just Moses openly exclame,
And were in hand a Captaine them to chuse
To guide them back to Goshen whence they came.
Not all the dread of the Egyptian dayes,
What by milde Moses he to passe had brought,
Nor seene by him done at the purple Seas,
On their vile minds a higher temper wrought.
Whom when of God he beg'd with bloody eyes,
And against Heaven did obstinatly strive,
Obtain'd so hardly their immunities,
Whose sinne seem'd greater then he could forgive.
Caleb and Josua you couragious men,
When bats and stones against your breasts were laid,
Oppose your selves against the other ten,
That expedition basely that disswade.

Quoth they to conquer as he did before
No more than men, what praise his puisance yeelds,
But he whose force the very Rocks did gore,
Can with the same hand cleave their brazen sheelds.
He that foresawe that this should be our seate,
And onely knew the goodnes of the same,
Possess'd the place with those that were so greate
For us to keepe it safely till we came.
For which the Lord did vowe that not a man
At Sina mustred where such numbers were,
Should live to come to fruitfull Canaan,
Onely those two so well themselves that beare.
And for the basenes of those recreant Spies
Whose melting minds this impious slaunder bred,
And the vile peoples incredulities,
In that their God so strongly promised.
For fortie dayes discovrie of the Land,
They fortie yeeres in wildernes shall wast,
Consum'd with plagues from his impetuous hand,
Untill that age be absolutely past.
Which scarsly spoke, but quickly tooke effect,
For those so colde, and cowardly before,
Hearing the censure of their base neglect,
To make his vengeance and their sinne the more.
Entring the Land which Moyses them denies,
Their desp'rate will no better can afford,
Offering those lives they did so lightly prize
Unto the vengance of the Heath'nish sword.
And in the host new factions daylie grewe,
When Chores, Dathan, and Abiram rise,
Two hundred men of speciall note that drew,
Whose strength gave power to their confed'racies.
But the vast earth incontinently clave,
And on the sodaine hurried them to hell
With the shrill screame the shrieking people gave,
The fainting Hoast into a feaver fell:
The rest of the Conspirators were left
(From the first's fall enforcing their retire,
Of all the succours of the host bereft)
Consum'd to ashes with Heavens violent fire:
And those th'abettors of this vile attempt
That did milde Moyses cruelly pursue,
From th'others sinne that could not be exempt,
Them with the dreadfull pestilence he slew.
That had not Aaron when all hope was fled
With holy Incense their atonement wrought,
Thrusting himselfe twixt th'living and the dead,
All had to ruine utterly beene brought.
Where fourteene thousand and seven hundred sanke
Under the burden of their odious sinne,
Which now was wax'd s'insufferably ranke,
It was high time his vengeance should begin.

When after this so terrible a thing,
Now that triumphant and miraculous wand,
Brings forth ripe Almonds, strongly witnessing
In Levies Tribe the Priesthood still to stand.
With leaves and blossomes bravely it doth flourish,
Some budding, some as instantly but blowne,
As when the same the naturall rynd did nourish,
For Moyses sake such Miracles were showne.
Forward to Cadesh they their journey cast,
Where the good Miriam makes her latest houre,
Miriam the faire, the excellent, the chast,
Miriam that was of womanhood the flowre,
Here bids her Brothers lovingly adue,
Who at her parting kisse her closing eyes,
Whose wondrous losse sufficiently to rue,
More is the griefe that teares cannot suffice.
Moyst are their eyes, their lips are shrunk with heat,
Their griefe within, as outward it appeares,
Their want of water in that place as great,
As it to them is plentifull of teares.
They at one instant mutinie and mourne,
Sorrowes creepe forth confusedly together,
The teares for her incontinent they turne
To words gainst Moyses that did guide them thither:
Who from the rocke strooke water with the wand,
That man and beast might plenteously maintaine,
But he from rocks that fountaines can command,
Cannot yet stay the fountaines of his braine.
Much woe for Miriam these good men did make,
Whilst there were two, that might bewaile this one,
But two departing for their mutuall sake,
Moyses remaines to mourne himselfe alone.
Aaron the ancient'st of the Hebrew line,
Repleate with naturall comelinesse and grace,
(God-like so farre as man might be divine)
Endeth his dayes in this predest'ned place.
Which being forewarned to awaite his end,
And here the fate foretelling him to die,
That the good houre doth onely now attend,
Will'd to ascend the mountaine (being nie.)
With Eleazer his deare Childe he goes,
Led by milde Moyses as the Lord decreed,
To his lov'd Sonne his garments to dispose,
Him in the Priesthood pointed to succeed.
When turning backe to bid them all adue,
Who look'd as fast to bid this Lord farewell,
Fountaines of late so fast from rockes ne'r flewe,
As the salt drops downe their sad bosomes fell.
Not the obdurat'st, not the stoniest hearts,
That in deepe sorrow melting here forbeares,
Those to whom Nature not those drops imparts,
Spent what in sighes, the other did in teares.
Sated with sobs, but hungry with his sight,
Their watry eyes him earnestly pursue,
When to discerne him they no longer might
Where their sight ends, their sorrowes doe renue.
Com'n to the top, to the appointed place,
His Sonne in all his ornaments invested,
Which the good Aaron meekely doth embrace,
And unto him his offices bequested.
When they the time no longer could adjourne,
After embraces and a floud of woes,
(Which when one ceas'd the other tooke his turne)
From eithers eyes that on the other flowes.
Now at the last point, at the gaspe of death,
He whom the whole world hath but such another,
Gives up his latest, his most blessed breath,
In the deare armes of his beloved Brother.
So wisely worketh that eternall Being
By the still changes of their varying state,
(As to the end through the beginning seeing)
To build the frame of unavoyded Fate.
When those given up to their lascivious wils,
Themselves in Midian wantonnesse that waste,
Whose fleshly knowledge sip'd those sugred ills,
Twenty foure thousand slaughtered at the last.
Of all those that in Sina numbred are,
I'th plaines of Moab mustered then againe,
Wasted by time, fire, pestilence, and warre,
Those promis'd two and Moyses did remaine.

The time expir'd that they for Aaron mourn'd,
New conquest now, new comfort them doth bring,
Their former hope successively return'd,
That seem'd before so sadly languishing.
When they the glorious victorie obtaine
The Plaines of Horma scattered all with shields,
Where Arad and his Cananites are slaine,
Not the least fight of many glorious fields.
With Sebon's slaughter seconded againe,
And Ogs great fall of a Giganticke strength,
Whose bed of iron fash'on'd to containe
In breadth foure Cubits, doubling it in length:
The living remnant of the mighty race,
Of big-bon'd Anack terrible and dred,
Which long time batning in that fertile place,
Grew like the fat soile wherein they were bred.
Not Poets fictions of the Phlægrian fields,
Whereas the Giants up to Heaven would clime,
Heaping on mountaines not such wonder yeelds,
As did the men that lived in that time.
And five proud Kings fell in their recreant flight,
Before arm'd Israel on the Midian plaine,
Zur, Hur, and Evi, men of wondrous might,
Reba and Rekem valiantly slaine.
And as his strength crush'd mighty Kings to dust,
And cleft the helmes that thunder proofe were thought,
That hand that help'd them, scourg'd their impious lust,
When his high judgement to pervert they sought.
And sent those Serpents (with their fiery stings,)
With inflammations that their flesh did swell,
Sharpely to scourge their trustlesse murmurings,
That still in infidelity did dwell.
Rare in this creature was his wondrous might,
That should effect the nature of the fire,
Yet to recure the sorance by the sight,
Sicknesse might seeme the remedie t'admire.
Onely by mettall miracles to worke,
That Serpents shape, the Serpents hurt should heale,
To shew in him the mysteries that lurke,
And being so strange, as strangely doth reveale.
That the forg'd figure of so vile a thing
Should the disease so presently remove,
Onely by th'eye a remedy to bring,
Deepe searching Magicke leaveth to approve,
As Balaams beast did Balacks hast delay,
And the full purpose of the Prophet brake,
When he beheld the Angell by the way,
Burst out from beast, and to his Master spake:
Whose execration able to astound
The sunne, when he his Sommers height did boast,
And with a word could instantly confound
The world, were it a congregated host.
He whose wise lips could Oracles compile,
And judgements irrevocable did passe,
Should be confounded by the thing most vile,
By that base creature, the dull worthlesse Asse,
Ruling his mouth as with a Riders bit,
Bidden by Balaack to denounce their fall:
Doth all his dreadfull Minaces acquit,
Sounding their blessing and their enemies fall.

When this milde man that onely did remaine,
Of those from Egipt that the Lord did bring,
Which he in Justice sundry wayes had slaine,
For their false worship and their murmuring.
Since he remisse at Meriba was prov'd,
And there his zeale not ardently exprest,
The Lord did sweare (though him he dearely lov'd)
He should not come to Canaan as the rest.
And now approaching Abaris (the place)
From whence he might that promis'd Country see,
(So much the Lord good Moyses pleas'd to grace)
But there his dayes must consummated be.
When this great Prophet zealously had bless'd,
Each sev'rall Tribe with a particular good,
Whose parting, them with sorrow so oppress'd,
That shedding teares, their eyes shed drops of blood.
To Nebo seated admirably hie,
(The Spirit prepares him safely to retire)
Which thrusts his head into the cloudie skie,
Pisga so proudly thither dare aspire.
Pisga the height of Abaris, and this
The height of Pisga over all doth stand,
That as the eye of mighty Abaris
Survayeth the imparallelled Land.
Where goodly Gilead unto him he showes
As farre as ever he could looke to Dan,
The length and breadth how every way it goes,
Till her brow kisse the calme Mediteran.
Where the sweet South layes forth her swelling brest,
With a pleas'd eye he silently survay'd,
To that faire Citie whose high Towers doe rest
Under the Palme trees most delicious shade.
When this meeke man approaching to his death,
In death ev'n pleas'd faire Canaan to behold,
Whilst he had use of his expiring breath,
Thus his last farewell mildly doth enfolde.
Israel (quoth he) deare Israel, now adue,
Moyses no more is, that your Leader was,
Josua and Caleb none but onely you,
Of the last age must over Jordan passe.
Th'Egyptian horrours yet 'twas I did see,
And through those strange calamities did wade,
And Israels charge imposed was on mee,
When they (but then) had scarcely learn'd to dade.
Forty two journeyes have I straitly past
Since first this glorious Pilgrimage begun,
In wrath or mercy where as first or last,
Some wondrous thing hath happily beene done.
M'immortall Maker that so oft have seene
(That God of wonder:) these complaints not boot,
In yonder fields so delicate and greene,
That may not set my miserable foot.
Thus leaning backe against the rising Clieve,
Raising his faint hands to the hopefull skies,
Meeke as the morning never seene to strive,
Great'st of the Prophets the good Moyses dies.
An hundred twenty hardly passed yeares,
His naturall vigour no whit did asswage,
His eye as bright, his body then appeares,
As in the height and Summer of his age.
Who being dissolv'd the Angels did interre
Neere to Bethpeor in the vallied ground,
But yet so secret kept his Sepulcher
That it by mortall never should be found.
Lest that his people (if the place were knowne)
(Seeing by him the miracles were done,
That ever to Idolatrie were prone,)
Unto his bones a worshipping should runne.
One that God grac'd so many sundry wayes,
No former age hath mentioned to bee,
Arived at the period of his dayes
The future time in Israel shall not see.