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. |
| 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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David's Lamentation, Occasion'd by the Death of Saul and Jonathan. |
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| LIII. |
 | A paraphrase on the Book of Job |  |
211
David's Lamentation, Occasion'd by the Death of Saul and Jonathan.
When
Jonathan and Saul expiring lay,
On the curst Hills of Gilboa,
(Ah black, inglorious, fatal Day!)
'Twas then, unhappy Israel,
Thy Beauty, Strength and Glory fell.
How were thy mighty Warriours slain?
What a red Deluge bath'd the reeking Plain?
How were thy Sons to Conquest long inur'd,
How were thy Valiant Chiefs devour'd
By the Philistine's unrelenting Sword?
How terrible, how sudden was their Fate?
These Pillars fal'n that prop'd thy State,
Who shall support thy sinking Empire's weight?
On the curst Hills of Gilboa,
(Ah black, inglorious, fatal Day!)
'Twas then, unhappy Israel,
Thy Beauty, Strength and Glory fell.
How were thy mighty Warriours slain?
What a red Deluge bath'd the reeking Plain?
How were thy Sons to Conquest long inur'd,
How were thy Valiant Chiefs devour'd
By the Philistine's unrelenting Sword?
How terrible, how sudden was their Fate?
These Pillars fal'n that prop'd thy State,
Who shall support thy sinking Empire's weight?
Let Fame be struck with horror dumb,
That to our Foes the News may never come.
Let our dishonour be to Gath unknown,
Proclaim it not in Askelon;
Lest if their Daughters come to know
Our loss, and unexampled Woe,
They in their Feasts and Dances should express,
Insultingly their Joy at our distress;
And impiously devout, should raise
Their carv'd and graven Gods, in wicked Songs of Praise
That to our Foes the News may never come.
Let our dishonour be to Gath unknown,
Proclaim it not in Askelon;
Lest if their Daughters come to know
Our loss, and unexampled Woe,
212
Insultingly their Joy at our distress;
And impiously devout, should raise
Their carv'd and graven Gods, in wicked Songs of Praise
Ye Hills of Gilboa, the fatal place,
O'er which the Foe did Israel chase,
Ye luckless Hills,
Spred with your Monarch's Ignominious Spoils,
May you the marks of Heav'n's displeasure bear;
Be you no more the Farmer's care:
Let no kind Cloud hereafter, pour
On your parch'd Heads one fruitful Shower:
May the relentless, harden'd Sky,
No Rain by Day, or Dew by Night supply
To ease your Thirst, and gaping clefts cement;
With Fire be blasted, and with Thunder rent.
Let not a blade of Grass or Corn,
Nor one green Tree your Heads adorn.
By Heav'n accurst, to future Ages stand
Uncultivated Heaps of barren Sand.
For vanquish'd Israel o'er these Mountains fled,
There with ignoble Rout the Fields were spred,
There lay our Weapons mingled with our Dead.
There scatter'd Bucklers lay,
Which routed Israel cast away.
There may the Shield of Saul be found,
Midst common Bucklers on the ground.
Thy Body too, unhappy Monarch, there
Lys mixt with vulgar Corps, expos'd in open Air.
O'er which the Foe did Israel chase,
Ye luckless Hills,
Spred with your Monarch's Ignominious Spoils,
May you the marks of Heav'n's displeasure bear;
Be you no more the Farmer's care:
Let no kind Cloud hereafter, pour
On your parch'd Heads one fruitful Shower:
May the relentless, harden'd Sky,
No Rain by Day, or Dew by Night supply
To ease your Thirst, and gaping clefts cement;
With Fire be blasted, and with Thunder rent.
Let not a blade of Grass or Corn,
Nor one green Tree your Heads adorn.
By Heav'n accurst, to future Ages stand
Uncultivated Heaps of barren Sand.
For vanquish'd Israel o'er these Mountains fled,
There with ignoble Rout the Fields were spred,
There lay our Weapons mingled with our Dead.
There scatter'd Bucklers lay,
Which routed Israel cast away.
There may the Shield of Saul be found,
Midst common Bucklers on the ground.
Thy Body too, unhappy Monarch, there
Lys mixt with vulgar Corps, expos'd in open Air.
213
O Saul, O Jonathan, ye mighty Dead,
You ne'er before in Battel fled.
The Arrows from the Son's unerring Bow,
Have pierc'd ten thousand valiant Warriours thro'.
The Father's unresisted Sword,
Like raging Fires around devour'd:
By no Opposer e'er withstood,
The crimson Conq'ror reek'd in Hostile Blood.
Till now, you ever us'd to come
Laden with Spoils and Trophys home.
Your Chariots thro' the confluent, gazing Throng,
Us'd in slow State to roll along:
While crowds of Captive Princes chain'd,
Wiping their Brows with dust and sweat distain'd,
Did panting in the Pomp appear,
Part of the long Procession of the Rear.
Our Daughters, both in Mind and Habit gay,
With Songs and Dances on the way,
Met, and increast the Triumph of the Day.
Thus Vict'ry us'd to crown
The mighty Father, and the valiant Son.
Now vanquish'd, o'er the Hills they fly
From the pursuing Enemy.
Surprising change of Providence,
Those who resistless were, can now make no defence!
You ne'er before in Battel fled.
The Arrows from the Son's unerring Bow,
Have pierc'd ten thousand valiant Warriours thro'.
The Father's unresisted Sword,
Like raging Fires around devour'd:
By no Opposer e'er withstood,
The crimson Conq'ror reek'd in Hostile Blood.
Till now, you ever us'd to come
Laden with Spoils and Trophys home.
Your Chariots thro' the confluent, gazing Throng,
Us'd in slow State to roll along:
While crowds of Captive Princes chain'd,
Wiping their Brows with dust and sweat distain'd,
Did panting in the Pomp appear,
Part of the long Procession of the Rear.
Our Daughters, both in Mind and Habit gay,
With Songs and Dances on the way,
Met, and increast the Triumph of the Day.
Thus Vict'ry us'd to crown
The mighty Father, and the valiant Son.
Now vanquish'd, o'er the Hills they fly
From the pursuing Enemy.
Surprising change of Providence,
Those who resistless were, can now make no defence!
So courteous were the Royal Pair,
So condescending, mild and Debonnair,
That they became to all the Nation dear.
No more their kindness fail'd to move
The People's universal Love,
Than their fam'd Courage did their Neighbours fear.
They liv'd-in strongest bonds of Love combin'd,
And as they liv'd, so they together dy'd;
So close was their Affection joyn'd,
That Death it self could not the knot divide.
For tho' they fell opprest with Pagan Power,
Their Love still triumph'd o'er the Conquerour.
And yet their Clemency did ne'er abate
Their Courage, and their Martial heat.
For they, as swift as hungry Eagles, flew,
Or to attack, or to pursue:
And when they were in fight engag'd,
Like Lyons when provok'd, they thro' the Battel rag'd.
So condescending, mild and Debonnair,
That they became to all the Nation dear.
214
The People's universal Love,
Than their fam'd Courage did their Neighbours fear.
They liv'd-in strongest bonds of Love combin'd,
And as they liv'd, so they together dy'd;
So close was their Affection joyn'd,
That Death it self could not the knot divide.
For tho' they fell opprest with Pagan Power,
Their Love still triumph'd o'er the Conquerour.
And yet their Clemency did ne'er abate
Their Courage, and their Martial heat.
For they, as swift as hungry Eagles, flew,
Or to attack, or to pursue:
And when they were in fight engag'd,
Like Lyons when provok'd, they thro' the Battel rag'd.
O Daughters of Jerusalem express,
A Sorrow worthy of our vast distress.
Unite your Groans and mournful Crys,
Unite your Tears and Agonys.
Apply your selves to weeping day and night,
Raptures of Grief be your Delight.
Thro' every Street lamenting go,
Strains of unruly Anguish show,
And howling Tempests raise of wild despairing Woe.
Too exquisite Affliction can't be shown,
Since Saul is fal'n from his Imperial Throne.
Saul lys upon the Mountains dead,
Who with abundance Israel fed:
Who gave you Garments glorious to behold,
Scarlet adorn'd with Needle-work and Gold.
Who hung rich Bracelets on your Arms,
And with bright Gems increas'd your native Charms.
Whose Arms enrich'd your Towns with precious Spoil,
And fill'd with Foreign Wealth Judea's happy Soil.
A Sorrow worthy of our vast distress.
Unite your Groans and mournful Crys,
Unite your Tears and Agonys.
Apply your selves to weeping day and night,
Raptures of Grief be your Delight.
Thro' every Street lamenting go,
Strains of unruly Anguish show,
And howling Tempests raise of wild despairing Woe.
Too exquisite Affliction can't be shown,
Since Saul is fal'n from his Imperial Throne.
Saul lys upon the Mountains dead,
Who with abundance Israel fed:
215
Scarlet adorn'd with Needle-work and Gold.
Who hung rich Bracelets on your Arms,
And with bright Gems increas'd your native Charms.
Whose Arms enrich'd your Towns with precious Spoil,
And fill'd with Foreign Wealth Judea's happy Soil.
How did the mighty Prince, and all
His valiant Chiefs in Battel fall!
How are the Hills with Slaughter spred!
How are our Captive Sons in Triumph led!
Captives who drag th' inglorious Chain,
Captives less happy than the Slain!
Horror and Shame! hark, how the shouting Foe,
How proud Philistia mocks our Woe!
Thro' all their Streets what Acclamations ring?
Hear how their Daughters sing,
See how they dance,
While their victorious Troops with Israel's Spoils advance:
His valiant Chiefs in Battel fall!
How are the Hills with Slaughter spred!
How are our Captive Sons in Triumph led!
Captives who drag th' inglorious Chain,
Captives less happy than the Slain!
Horror and Shame! hark, how the shouting Foe,
How proud Philistia mocks our Woe!
Thro' all their Streets what Acclamations ring?
Hear how their Daughters sing,
See how they dance,
While their victorious Troops with Israel's Spoils advance:
O Isræl, where is now thy warlike Fame?
How will thy once much dreaded Name,
By Foes so often vanquish'd, be despis'd
By all the Nations of th' Uncircumcis'd?
How will thy once much dreaded Name,
By Foes so often vanquish'd, be despis'd
By all the Nations of th' Uncircumcis'd?
Oh Jonathan, how dear wert thou to me?
How dear must be thy Memory?
No Time can from my Breast remove
Thy Image, or thy wondrous love:
A Love, like which we none recorded find,
A Love surpassing that of Womankind.
Their Love was ne'er so tender, pure and strong,
And never lasted in excess so long.
What gen'rous Friendship hast thou shown,
What dreadful Dangers undergone,
To raise thy Rival to thy Father's Throne?
How dear must be thy Memory?
No Time can from my Breast remove
Thy Image, or thy wondrous love:
216
A Love surpassing that of Womankind.
Their Love was ne'er so tender, pure and strong,
And never lasted in excess so long.
What gen'rous Friendship hast thou shown,
What dreadful Dangers undergone,
To raise thy Rival to thy Father's Throne?
Kindest of Brothers, my afflicted Soul,
Does thy unhappy Fall condole.
Thy suddain, thy disast'rous Fate,
Does Agonies of Grief create.
As in a Storm, my rolling Bowels move
With strong Convulsive Throws of sad, distracted Love.
I would the highest marks express
Of uncontroul'd, unmerciful distress:
For if my Grief does not outrageous grow,
'Tis unbecoming my unmeasur'd Woe,
Nothing's enough that's less than all that Love can show.
Does thy unhappy Fall condole.
Thy suddain, thy disast'rous Fate,
Does Agonies of Grief create.
As in a Storm, my rolling Bowels move
With strong Convulsive Throws of sad, distracted Love.
I would the highest marks express
Of uncontroul'd, unmerciful distress:
For if my Grief does not outrageous grow,
'Tis unbecoming my unmeasur'd Woe,
Nothing's enough that's less than all that Love can show.
| A paraphrase on the Book of Job | |