University of Virginia Library

Glory to God th' Avenger! Pow'r supreme!
Who breath'd his Soul into the jarring Tribes,
Uniting Discord. All ye Nations hear,
Ye Principalities, ye Thrones, attend
While to Jehovah's Name I lift my Song.

Lord, when descending Thou from Seir's Top
Didst dreadfully go forth, with Pomp and Strength
Marching o'er Edom's Plain, the shrinking Earth
Shiver'd with Fear, the conscious Heav'ns alarm'd
Bow'd low, and Tears fell copious from the Clouds.
'Twas then the solid Rocks, like melting Snow
Thaw'd at Thy Look; before Thee dropt the Hills
Cow'ring; and Sinai's self by Thy bright Arm
Aw'd, in a sable Mantle wrapt his Head.

E'er yet brave Shamgar with his conqu'ring Goad
Had thinn'd Philistia's State; e'er Jael yet,
The Saviour Woman, smote her mighty Foe;
My Israel be thou thankful! Where was then
Thy Safety? tell me, fearless coud'st thou roam?
Thy Highways unfrequented, save by Thieves,
Were left: no wary Traveller wou'd risque
The Ruffian's public Haunt, but turn aside
To shaded Allies, trust th' entangled Path
Of Thicket, climb the Mountain's craggy Side.
The pleasing Villages, the Flocks, the Herds,
To plunder were abandon'd, while the Swains
To the next City, panting and dismay'd,
Huddled in Swarms. Dire Havock! 'Till myself,
I Deborah arose, Parent arose
To Israel. Foolish Israel left the Lord
For new Divinities and stranger Gods,
Then the fierce Din of War besieg'd your Gates;
Among twice twenty Thousand, helpless Crew
Had one a Shield to guard, or Spear to lance?
How my Heart throbb'd with Gratitude, to see
The forward Rulers, in the gen'rous Strife
Heading their Tribes! On them be Blessings show'r'd,
But ever and incessant bless the Lord.
Speak ye, who ride on Asses, Silver-white,
With gorgeous Trappings; Ye, who Judges sit
In the bench'd Sanhedrim or crouded Gate,
For these his Mercies ever speak his Praise.
Ye Travellers, in Deserts now secure,
Ye Shepherds, piping by the River Side,
And ye, blithe Herdsmen, in his Praises join.
Where's now the Archer with his galling Bow,
The sudden Skirmish, or close Ambush, where
The Cattle slak'd their Thirst! go to, ye Swains
Go to those Waters; there with Reverence due
Tell forth his Acts, and there record his Praise.
Awake, O Deborah, awake, awake,
Break forth in Harmony divine, give Speech
To Rapture; and thou Barak, rise and lead
Captivity thy Slave, Abinoam's Son.
A scanty Remnant (so God's Will ordains)
O'er prostrate Nobles shall bear Sway; and I,
A feeble Woman, o'er the mighty Reign.

Next to thy Tribe, O Benjamin, in Arms,
Came Ephraim (from Mount Amaleck he came,
There marshal'd;) nor was Machir long behind
In pouring forth his Princes: Nor detain'd
Ingenious Zebulun his letter'd Sons,
Who drop't the studious Pen, and grasp'd the Sword.
Nor less did Issachar, while Barac led
By Providence, descended to the Vale,
Of Chiefs and Soldiers yield a numerous Host.
But Reuben, much of thee thy Friends complain,
Inquisitively sad to know the Cause,
Why, mid the Trumpet's Sound you list'ning chose
The lazy Bleatings of your Fleecy Care.
Gilead too came not; Jordan his Excuse
Flowing between.—Why then did selfish Dan
Cling to his Ships? And bartering Asher lov'd
His Ports and Sails, more than the blest Campaign?
But Zebulun and Napthali be prais'd,
Careless of Life, and foremost in the Field.
In Battle opposite, encountring warr'd
The Lords of Canaan, by Megiddo's Flood,
Conquest their Expectation, Blows their Spoil,
Not so our Host; Assistant Angels came,
Confederate Heav'n was listed; and the Stars
Fought in their Course, 'gainst Sisera they sought.
Kishon, that ancient Stream, Kishon renown'd,
In Story, rolling to our Aid, involv'd
Full many a hostile Warrior, and away?
Swept whirling—O! what Might was vanquish'd then,
My Soul, thou glorious Leader of the Day?
The prancing Steeds yet rattle in our Ears,
As they o'er pointed Rocks in War, in Flight
Madded; the Blood gush'd from their mangled Heels.
O curse ye Meroz, (God applauds the Curse,
Commanding by his Angel) curse again
In Bitterness, and often; for that he
Coward and Traitor, arm'd not for the Lord
And Israel tho' within the reach of Shouts.
But ever among Women and above,
Be celebrated Jael, Heber's Wife;
Thrice famous Jael! O my Friends ne'er pass
Her Tent unsung, the Noble Scene of Death.
Water he crav'd; she brought the fattest Cream,
Copious and brimming in a lordly Dish.
She went, she came: In her right Hand she took
The Workman's Hammer, in her Left the Nail,
Then to his Forehead dauntless she applied
The fatal Iron, and the Temples pierc'd
Of Sisera: He stunn'd essay'd to rise,
The Woman-chief astride him, but he bow'd,
He fell; there, where he bow'd, he sunk down dead.

Mean time the Mother of the Warrior slain
Sat waiting her Victorious Son; and oft
Listen'd impatient, to the Windows oft
Ran in Surprize. “Why comes he not? She cried,
Bless me! What means the Gen'ral, not return'd?
Why creeps his Car, why loiter thus his Wheels?
—Her reas'ning Ladies would have said,—but she
Too quick for Answer, save her own, replied.

“Conquer'd they have; methinks I hear their Shouts
The glorious Spoil dividing; to each Man
Well pleas'd a blooming Damsel; but to him,
To Sisera, the choicest of the Prey,
Garments of nicest Art, the Needle's Brag,
The Mantle all embroider'd (on both Sides,
Ladies, embroider'd) and in various Hue
Rival to Heav'n's gay Bow; such as befits
A General, a Conqueror, and my Son.

Almighty Lord supreme! may all thy Foes,
Thy vaunting Foes thus perish, thus laid low
Their Pride, their Splendor thus eclips'd:—But O!
May Israel, thy own People, Gracious God,
Thy Worshippers, still flourish, still advance,
Glorious and lasting: Like the mighty Sun,
When from Heav'n's East-gate, Giant-like, he strides,
Marching sublime to his meridian Throne.