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ELEGY I. BALAAM'S PROPHECY.
Numbers, Chap. xxiv.
Happy, thrice happy, Jacob, heav'n's delight!
Around thy tents what various beauties shine!
Rich vales, fair op'ning on the ravish'd sight,
And gardens, cheer'd by living brooks are thine.
Around thy tents what various beauties shine!
Rich vales, fair op'ning on the ravish'd sight,
And gardens, cheer'd by living brooks are thine.
Along thy silver streams and peaceful vales,
See beauteous trees in lovely order rise!
Here the soft balsam sweetens vernal gales,
There the proud cedar meets the bending skies.
See beauteous trees in lovely order rise!
Here the soft balsam sweetens vernal gales,
There the proud cedar meets the bending skies.
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For thee each blossom drops with balmy dews,
For thee rich streams the nursling fruits befriend;
Thy King has bless'd thy plains, and curs'd thy foes,
And still will curse thy foes, and still thy plains defend.
For thee rich streams the nursling fruits befriend;
Thy King has bless'd thy plains, and curs'd thy foes,
And still will curse thy foes, and still thy plains defend.
On Nile's proud banks thy God his pow'r display'd,
And brought thee conqu'ror from thy humbled foe;
Erect with manly zeal, and heav'nly aid,
With gen'rous pride how did thy bosom glow!
And brought thee conqu'ror from thy humbled foe;
Erect with manly zeal, and heav'nly aid,
With gen'rous pride how did thy bosom glow!
Thus have I seen across some distant hill,
With flying feet the mountain oryx glide;
Wanton and free he mov'd at large, and still
His tow'ring horns he wav'd with conscious pride.
With flying feet the mountain oryx glide;
Wanton and free he mov'd at large, and still
His tow'ring horns he wav'd with conscious pride.
Soon shall thy foes their barb'rous schemes deplore,
Soon their vile corses round thy tents be spread;
Shatter'd their spears shall lie, and wound no more;
No more infest thy tents, and fill thy plains with dead.
Soon their vile corses round thy tents be spread;
Shatter'd their spears shall lie, and wound no more;
No more infest thy tents, and fill thy plains with dead.
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When the young brindled lion couches low,
What daring beast shall rouse the slumb'ring king!
Soon would his breast with wild resentment glow,
And the wide forest with deep howlings ring.
Who blesses thee, himself shall blessings see;
But ruin seize the wretch, who ruin wishes thee!
What daring beast shall rouse the slumb'ring king!
Soon would his breast with wild resentment glow,
And the wide forest with deep howlings ring.
Who blesses thee, himself shall blessings see;
But ruin seize the wretch, who ruin wishes thee!
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