MOSES' IN A MAP OF his Miracles.  
¶ By Michael Drayton ESQUIRE.  
AT LONDON Printed by Humphrey Lownes, and are to be sold by Thomas Man the Younger. 1604.   

TO MY ESTEEMED PATRON SIR Walter Aston, Knight of the Honourable Order of the .  

ALthough our sundry (yet our sacred) flames,  
Work divers and as contrary effects:  
Yet than your own, we seek not other names,  
Nor stranger arches our free Muse erects.  
Though limmitlesse be (naturally) our love,  
We can her powers officiously confine:  
Who can instruct her orderly to move,  
And keep the compass wisely we assign.  
To take our fair leave (till that ampler times  
Some glorious object strongly may beget)  
We make you tender of these hallowed rhymes  
The virtuous payment of a worthier debt.  
Till to our names that monument we rear,  
That steel and marble unto dust shall wear.   
MICHAEL DRAYTON.   

To him that will read this Book.  
REader, to thee that wilt not seem too wise, nor art too singular, I think it not amiss in the behalf of my Poem (to humble myself thus far) the better to prepare thy opinion in the same: and to tell thee briefly, that whatsoever we have from History, as from josephus, Lyra, or others of less authority: we use rather as gems and exterior ornaments to beautify our Subject, than any way to mix the same, with the  body of that which is Canonical and sacred. Though choosing rather to suit and polish it with the colours and rarities of those ancient Writers that have attended so long the worthiness and antiquity thereof, than with any other habiliments of invention or Poesy, should they seem never so delightful, & not disagreeing from the state & dignity of so sacred a Subject as this is of ours. Those that have accompanied us in this kind, is that Reverend Hierony: Vida his Christeis, containing the life and miracles of Christ, that hath been, and is, generally received through Christendom (and very worthily.) Buchanan his Tragedy of jephtha in another kind, and Bartas his judeth. I could derive thee a Catalogue of their like, though I cite these only for the varieties. Thus requesting thee in reading to correct some few faults that have chanced to escape in the Press, I bid thee farewell.   

To this Poem.  

SEe how ingrate forgetfulness  
Cireles us round with dangers,  
That all the Saints whom God doth highly bless,  
To us are strangers.  
Now Heaven into our souls inspires  
No true celestial motions:  
Lusts ardent flame hath dimmed the holy fires  
Of our devotions.  
While 'gainst blasphemers general spite  
Our painful Author striveth,  
And happy Spirits which live in heavenly light  
On Earth reviveth.  
Thou Patriarch great, who with mild looks  
His labouring Muse beholdest:  
Reach him those leaves where thou in sacred books  
All truth unfoldest:  
And guide (like Israel) Poets hands  
From Egypt, from vain Stories,  
Only to sing of the fair promised lands,  
And all the glories.   
JOHN BEAUMONT.   

Ad Michaelem Draytonem.  

DVm reluctantem Pharium JEHOVAE  
Drayton, et fractum canis, et rubentes  
Dividis fluctus, equites reducta et  
obruis unda:  
Instruis quanto monumenta nisu?  
Quam sacra nomen tibi crescit aede?  
Pyramis cedit peritura: cedit  
totaque Memphis,  
Cedit, et quicquid posuere reges  
Molibus fisi nimium superbis.  
O sacer vatis labor: a rapaci  
tempore tutus.   
BEALE SAPPERTON.   

To the Honourable Knight Sir Walter Aston.  

FRom humble Sheepcoates, to loves bow and fires:  
Thence to the arms of Kings, and grieved Peers:  
Now to the great jehovahs' acts aspires  
(Fair Sir) your Poet's pen: your noblesse cheers  
His mounting Muse: and with so worthy hand  
Applauds her flight, as nothing she will leave  
Above the top, whereon she makes her stand,  
So high bright Honour learned Spirits can heave.  
Such lustre lends the Poets polished verse  
Unto Nobility, as aftertimes  
Shall think, there Patron's virtues they rehearse,  
When virtuous men they Character in rhymes.  
You raise his thoughts, with full desire of fame:  
Amongst Heroes he enroles your name.   
Yours BEALE SAPPERTON.   

To M. Michael Drayton.  

THy noble Muse already hath been spread  
Through Europe and the Sunne-scorched Southern climes,  
That I'll where Saturn's royal Son was bred,  
Hath been enriched with thy immortal rhymes:  
Even to the  line have thy poems slowne,  
And gained high same in the declining West,  
And o'er that cold Sea shall thy name be blown,  
That Icy mountains rolleth on her breast:  
Her soaring hence so far made me admire,  
Wither at length thy worthy Muse would fly,  
Borne through the tender air with wings of fire,  
Able to lift her to the starry sky:  
This work resolved my doubts, when th'earth's replete.  
With her fair fruit, in Heaven she'll take her seat.   
THOMAS ANDREW. Ex arduis eternitas.   

The Map of Miracle. THE FIRST BOOK.  

¶ THE ARGUMENT.  
This Canto our attracted Muse  
The Prophet's glorious birth pursues,  
The various changes of his fate,  
From humbleness to high estate,  
His beauty, more than mortal shape,  
From Egypt how he doth escape,  
By his fair bearing in his flight,  
Obtains the lovely Midianite,  
Where God unto the Hebrew spoke,  
Appearing from the burning brake,  
And back doth him to Egypt send,  
That mighty things doth there intend.   

Gird in bright flames, rapt from celestial fire,  
That our unwearied faculties refine,  
By zeal transported boldly we aspire  
To sing a subject gloriously divine:  
Him that of mortals only had the grace,  
(On whom the Spirit did in such power descend)  
To talk with God face opposite to face,  
Even as a man with his familiar friend.  
Muse I invoke the utmost of thy might,  
That with an armed and auspicious wing,  
Thou be obsequious in his doubtless right  
'Gainst the vile Atheists vituperious sting:  
Where thou that gate industriously may'st fly,  
Which Nature strives but feignedly to go,  
Borne by a power so eminent and high,  
As in his course leaves reason far below,  
To show how Poesy (simply hath her praise)  
That from full Jove takes her celestial birth,  
And quick as fire, her glorious self can raise  
Above this base and evitable earth.  
O if that Time have happily reserved,  
(Besides that sacred and canonicke writ,  
What once in slates & barks of trees was carved)  
Thing that our Muse's gravity may sit,  
Unclasp the world's great Register to me,  
That smoky rust hath very near defaced,  
That I in those dim Characters may see,  
From common eyes that hath aside been cast.  
And thou Translator of that faithful Muse  
This ALLS creation that divinely song, 
Bartas.   
From Courtly French (no travail dost refuse)  
To make him Master of thy genuine tongue,  
Sallust to thee and Silvester thy friend,  
Comes my high Poem peaceable and chaste,  
Your hallowed labours humbly to attend  
That wrackful Time shall not have power to waste.  
A gallant Hebrew (in the height of life)  
Amram a Levite honourably bred,  
Of the same offspring won a beauteous wife,  
And no less virtuous, goodly Jacobed:  
So fitly paired that (without all ostent)  
Even of the wise it hardly could be said  
Which of the two was most preheminent,  
Or he more honoured, or she more obeyed,  
In both was found that livelihood and meetness,  
By which affection any way was moved:  
In him that shape, in her there was that sweetness,  
Might make him liked or her to be beloved:  
As this commixtion, so their married mind  
Their good corrected, or their ill relieved,  
As truly loving as discreetly kind,  
Mutually joyed, as mutually grieved:  
Their nuptial bed by abstinence maintained,  
Yet still gave fuel to loves sacred fire,  
And when fruition plentifulli'st gained,  
Yet were they chaste in fullness of desire.  
Now grieved Jsrael many a woeful day,  
That at their vile servility repined,  
Pressed with the burdens of rude boisterous clay,  
By stern Egyptian tyranny assigned:  
Yet still the more the Hebrews are oppressed  
Like the Frim seed they fructify the more  
That by th'eternal providence fore-blest,  
Goshen gives roomth but scantly to their store.  
And the wise Midwives in their natural need,  
That the fair males immediately should kill,  
Hating s'abhord, and Heathenish a deed,  
Check his harsh brutenes and rebellious will  
That small effect perceiving by the same,  
Bids the man-children (greatly that abound)  
After that day into the world that came,  
Upon their birth should instantly be drowned.  
And now the time come had been long foretold,  
He should be borne unto the Hebrews joy, 
josephus de. Ant. jud.   
Whose puissant hand such fatal power should hold,  
As in short time all Egypt should destroy.  
The execution which more strongly forced,  
And every where so generally done,  
As in small time unnaturally divorced,  
Many a dear Mother and as dear a son.  
Though her chaste bosom that fair Altar wear,  
Where loves pure vows he dutifully paid,  
His Arms to her a Sanctuary dear,  
Yet they so much his tyranny obeyed,  
By free consent to separate their bed,  
Better at all no Children yet to have,  
Than their dear love should procreate the dead,  
Untimely issue for a timeless grave.  
When in a vision whilst he slept by night,  
God bids him so not Jacobed to leave,  
The man that Egypt did so much affright,  
Her pregnant womb should happily conceive.  
Soon after finding that she was with child,  
The same conceals by all the means she can,  
Lest by th'appearance she might be beguiled,  
If in the birth it proved to be a man.  
The time she goes till her account was nigh,  
Her swelling belly no conception shows,  
Nor at the time of her delivery, 
joseph.   
As other women panged in her throws.  
When lo the fair fruit of that prospering womb  
Wounds the kind parents in their prime of joy,  
Whose birth pronounceth his too timeless doom  
Accused by Nature, forming it a boy:  
Yet 'tis so sweet, so amiably fair,  
That their pleased eyes with rapture it behold,  
The glad-sad parents full of joy and care  
Feign would reserve their Infant if they could,  
And still they tempt the sundry varying hours,  
Hopes and despairs together strangely mixed,  
Distasting sweets with many cordial sowers,  
Opposed interchangeably betwixt.  
If ought it ailed or hapleslie it cried,  
Unheard of any that she might it keep,  
With one short breath she did entreat & chide,  
And in a moment she did sing and weep.  
Three labouring months them flatterer-like beguiled,  
And danger still redoubling as it lasts,  
Suspecting most the safety of the Child,  
Thus the kind Mother carefully forecasts:  
(For at three months a scrutiny was held,  
And searchers than sent every where about,  
That in that time if any were concealed,  
They should make proof & straightly bring them out.  
To Pharaoh's will she awfullie must bow,  
And therefore hastens to abridge these fears,  
And to the flood determines it shall go,  
Yet  it went she'll drown it with her tears.  
This afternoon Love bids a little stay,  
And yet these pauses do but lengthen sorrow,  
But for one night although she make delay,  
She vows to go unto his death to morrow.  
The morning come, it is too early yet,  
The day so fast not hastening on his date,  
The gloomy Evening murder best doth fit,  
The Evening come and then it is too late.  
Her pretty Infant lying on her lap  
With his sweet eyes her threatening rage beguiles,  
For yet he plays, and dallies with his pap,  
To mock her sorrows with his amorous smiles,  
And laughed, & chucked, & spread the pretty hands  
When her full heart was at the point to break,  
(This little Creature yet not understands  
The woeful language mother's tears did speak.)  
Wherewith surprised and with a parents love,  
From his fair eyes she doth fresh courage take,  
And Nature's laws allowing doth reprove,  
The frail Edicts that mortal Princes make.  
It shall not die, she'll keep her Child unknown  
And come the worst in spite of Pharaoh's rage,  
As it is hers, she will dispose her own,  
And if't must, it'st die at riper age.  
And thus revolving of her frailties care,  
A thousand strange thoughts through her troubled mind,  
Sounding the dangers deeply what they are,  
Betwixt the laws of cruelty and kind.  
But it must die, and better yet to part,  
Since preordained to this disastrous fate,  
His want will sit the nearer to the heart  
In riper and more flourishing estate.  
The perfect husband whose impressive soul,  
took true proportion of each pensive throw,  
Yet had such power his passion to control,  
As not the same immediately to show.  
With carriage full of comeliness and grace,  
As grief not felt nor sorrow seemed to lack,  
Courage and fear so tempered in his face,  
Thus his beloved Jacobed bespoke.  
Dear heart be patiented, stay these timeless tears,  
Death of thy Son shall never quite bereave thee,  
My soul with thine, that equal burden bears,  
As what he takes, my Love again shall give thee:  
For Israel's sin if Israel's seed must suffer,  
And we of mere necessity must leave him,  
Please yet to grace me with this gentle offer,  
Give him to me by whom thou didst conceive him.  
So though thou with so dear a jewel part,  
This yet remaineth lastly to relieve thee,  
Thou hast imposed this hindrance on my heart,  
Another's loss shall need the less to grieve thee,  
Nor are we Hebrews abject by our name,  
Though thus in Egypt hatefully despised,  
That we that blessing fruitlessly should claim  
Once in that holy Covenant comprised,  
It is not fit Mortality should know  
What his eternal providence decreed,  
That unto Abraham ratified the vow  
In happy Sara and her hallowed seed,  
Nor shall the wrong to godly Joseph done  
In his remembrance ever be enrolled,  
By jacobs' sighs for his lost little son  
A Captived slave to the Egyptians souled:  
Reason sets limmets to the longest grief,  
Sorrow scarce passed when comfort is returning,  
He sends affliction that can lend relief,  
Best that is pleased with measure in our mourning.  
Lost in herself, her spirits are so distracted,  
All hopes dissolved might fortify her further,  
Her mind seems now of misery compacted,  
That must consent unto so dear a murder.  
Of slime and twigs she makes a simple shred  
(The poor last duty to her Child she owes  
This pretty martyr, this yet living dead)  
Wherein she doth his little corpse enclose:  
And means to bear it presently away,  
And in some water secretly bestow it,  
But yet a while bethinks herself to stay,  
Some little kindness she doth further own it:  
Nor will she in this cruelty persever,  
That by her means his timeless blood be spilled,  
If of her own she doth herself deliver,  
Let others hands be nocent of the guilt:  
Yet if she keep it from the ruthless flood  
That is by Pharo's tyranny assigned it,  
What boots that wretched miserable good,  
If so disposed where none do come to find it,  
For better yet the homicide should kill it,  
Or by some beast in pieces to be rend,  
Than linger famine cruelly should spill it  
That it endure a double languishment:  
And neighbouring near to the Egyptian Court,  
She knows a place that near the river side  
Was oft frequented by the worthier sort,  
For now the spring was newly in her pride.  
Thither she hasts but with a painful speed  
The nearest way she possibly could get,  
And by the clear brim 'mongst the flags & reed,  
Her little Coffin carefully she set:  
Her little Girl (the Mother following near)  
As of her Brother that her leave would take,  
Which the sad woman unexpecting there,  
Yet it to help her kindly thus bespoke:  
(Quoth she) sweet Miriam secretly attend,  
And for his death see who approacheth hither,  
That once for all assured of his end,  
His days and mine be consummate together,  
It is some comfort to a wretch to die  
(If there be comfort in the way of death)  
To have some friend or kind Alliance by,  
To be officious at the parting breath:  
Thus she departs, oft stays, oft turneth back,  
Looking about lest any one espied her,  
Feign would she leave, that leaving she doth lack,  
That in this sort so strangely doth divide her.  
Unto what Dame (participating kind)  
My verse her sad perplexity shall show,  
That in a softened and relenting mind  
Finds not a true tuch of that Mother's woe.  
Yet all this while full quietly it slept,  
(Poor little Brat incapable of care)  
Which by that powerful providence is kept,  
Who doth this child for better days prepare.  
See here an abject utterly forlorn,  
Left to destruction as a violent prey,  
Whom man might judge accursed to be borne,  
To dark oblivion moulded up in clay,  
That man of might in after times should be  
(The bounds of frail mortality that broke)  
Which that Almighty gloriously should see,  
When he in thunder on mount Sina spoke.  
Now Pharo's Daughter Termuth young and fair,  
With such choice Maidens as she favoured most,  
Needs would abroad to take the gentle air,  
Whilst the rich year his braveries seemed to boast:  
Softly she walks down to the secret flood,  
Through the calm shades most peaceable & quiet,  
In the cool streams to check the pampered blood,  
Stirred with strong youth and their delicious diet;  
Such as the Princess, such the day addressed,  
As though provided equally to pair her,  
Either in other fortunately blessed  
She by the day, the day by her made fairer,  
Both in the height and fullness of their pleasure,  
As to them both some future good divining,  
Holding a steady an accomplished measure,  
This in her perfect clearness, that in shining.  
The very air to emulate her meekness,  
strove to be bright and peaceable as she,  
That it grew jealous of that sudden sleekenes,  
Fearing it after otherwise might be:  
And if the fleet wind by some rigorous gale  
Seemed to be moved, and patiently to chide her,  
It was as angry with her lawnie vail,  
That from his sight it enviously should hide her:  
And now approaching to the flow'rie mead  
Where the rich Summer curiously had dight her,  
Which seemed in all her jollity arrayed,  
With Nature's cost and pleasures to delight her:  
See this most blessed, this unusual hap,  
She the small basket sooner should espy,  
That the Child waked, and missing of his pap,  
As for her succour instantly did cry;  
Forth of the flags she caused it to be taken,  
Calling her Maids this Orphanet to see,  
Much did she joy an Innocent forsaken  
By her from peril privileged might be:  
This most sweet Princess pitiful and mild,  
Soon on her knee unswathes it as her own,  
Found for a man, so beautiful a Child,  
Might for an Hebrew easily be known:  
Noting the care in dressing it bestowed,  
Each thing that fitted gentleness to wear,  
Judged the sad parents this lost Infant owed,  
Were as invulgar as their fruit was fair,  
(Saith she) my mind not any way suggests  
An unchaste womb these lineaments that bred,  
For thy fair brow apparently contests  
The currant stamp of a clean nuptial bed:  
She named it Moses which in time might tell  
(For names do many mysteries expound)  
When it was young the chance that it befell,  
How by the water strangely it was found,  
Calling Melch-women that Egyptians were,  
Once to the teat his lips he would not lay,  
As though offended with their sullied lere,  
Seeming as still to turn his head away:  
The little Girl that near at hand did lurk  
(Thinking this while she tarried but too long)  
Finding these things so happily to work,  
Kindly being crafty, wise as she was young,  
Madam (saith she) will't please you I provide  
A Nurse to breed the Infant you did find,  
There is an Hebrew dwelling here beside,  
I know can do it fitly to your mind:  
For a right Hebrew if the Infant be,  
(As well produce you instances I can,  
And by this Child as partly you may see,)  
It will not suck of an Egyptian,  
The courteous Princess offered now so fair,  
That which before she earnestly desired  
That of her foundling had a special care,  
The Girl to fetch her instantly required.  
Away the Girl goes, doth her Mother tell  
What favour God had to her brother shown,  
And what else in this accident befell,  
That she might now be Nurse unto her own.  
Little it boots to bid the wench to ply her,  
Nor the kind Mother hearken to her son,  
Nor to provoke her to the place to high her,  
Which seemed not now on earthly feet to run:  
Slow to herself yet hasting as she flew,  
(So fast affection forward did her bear)  
As though forewafted with the breath she drew,  
Borne by the force of nature and of fear,  
Little the time, and little is the way,  
And for her business either's speed doth crave,  
Yet in her haste bethinks her what to say,  
And how herself in presence to behave,  
Slack she'll not seem lest to another's trust  
Her hopeful charge were happily directed,  
Nor yet too forward show herself she must,  
Lest her sweet fraud thereby might be suspected;  
come she doth bow her humbly to the ground,  
And every joint incessantly doth tremble,  
Gladness and fear each other so confound,  
So hard a thing for Mothers to dissemble.  
Saith this sweet Termuth well I like thy beauty,  
Nurse me this Child (if it thy state behove)  
Although a Prince i'll not enforce thy duty,  
But pay thy labour, and reward thy love:  
Though even as Gods is Pharo's high command,  
And as strong Nature so precise and strict,  
There rests that power yet in a Princess hand,  
Too free on Hebrew from this strong edict:  
That shall in rich abiliments bedight,  
Decked in the gems that admirabl'st shine,  
Wearing our own robe gracious in our sight,  
Free in our Court, and nourished for mine:  
Love him dear Hebrew as he were thine own,  
Good Nurse be careful of my little Boy,  
In this to us thy kindness may be shown,  
Some Mother's grief, is now a maidens joy.  
This while all mute the poor astonished Mother,  
With admiration as transpearced stood,  
One bursting joy doth so confound another,  
Passion so powerful in her ravished blood.  
Whispering some soft words which delivered were,  
As rather seemed her silence to impart,  
And being enforced from bashfulness and fear,  
Came as true tokens of a graceful heart.  
Thus she departs her husband to content,  
With this dear present back to him she brought,  
Making the time short, telling each event,  
In all shapes joy presented to her thought.  
Yet still his manly modesty was such  
(That his affections strongly so controlled,)  
As if joy seemed his manly heart to touch,  
It was her joy and gladness to behold:  
When all rejoiced unmoved thereat the while,  
In his grave face such constancy appears,  
As now scarce showing comfort in his smiles,  
Nor then revealing sorrow in his tears:  
Yet oft beheld it with that steadfast eye,  
Which though it sdained the pleasdnes to confess,  
More in his looks in fullness there did lie,  
Than all their words could any way express.  
In time the Princess playing with the Child, 
josephus Pet. Comestor.   
In whom she seemed her chief delight to take,  
With whom she oft the weary time beguiled,  
That as her ownë did of this Hebrew make:  
It so fell out as Pharo was in place,  
Seeing his daughter in the Child to joy,  
To please the Princess, and to do it grace,  
Himself vouchsafes to entertain the Boy:  
Whose shape and beauty when he did behold  
With much content his Princely eye that fed,  
Giving to please it, any thing it would,  
Set his rich Crown upon the Infant's head,  
With this weak Child regarding not at all  
(As such a Baby carelessly is meet)  
Unto the ground the Diadem let fall  
Spurning it from him with neglectful feet.  
Which as the Priests beheld this ominous thing  
(That else had past unnoted as a toy.)  
As from their skill report unto the King,  
This was the man that Egypt should destroy.  
Told by the magi that were learned and wise,  
Which might full well the jealous King inflame,  
Said by th' Egyptian ancient prophecies  
That might give credit easilier to the same.  
She as discreet as she was chaste and fair,  
With Princely gesture and with countenance mild  
By things that hurtful and most dangerous were  
Shows to the King the weakness of the Child:  
Hot burning coals doth to his mouth present,  
Which he to handle simply doth not stick,  
This little fool, this reckless Innocent  
The burning gleed with his soft tongue doth lick:  
Which though in Pharo her desire it wrought,  
His babish imbecility to see,  
To the Child's speech impediment it brought,  
From which he after never could be free.  
The Child grew up, when in his manly face  
Beauty was seen in an unusual cheer,  
Such mixtures sweet of comeliness and grace  
Likely appareled in complexion clear.  
The part of earth contends with that of Heaven,  
Both in their proper purity excelling,  
To whether more pre-eminence was given,  
Which should excel the dweller or the dwelling.  
men's usual stature he did far exceed,  
And every part proportioned so well,  
The more the eye upon his shape did feed  
The more it longed upon the same to dwell:  
Each joint such perfect Harmony did bear,  
That eurious judgement taking any limb  
Searching might miss to match it any where,  
Nature so failed in paralleling him:  
His hair bright yellow, on an arched brow  
Sat all the beauty's kind could ever frame,  
And did them there so orderly bestow,  
As such a seat of majesty became.  
As time made perfect each exterior part,  
So still his honour with his years increased,  
That he sat Lord in many a tender heart,  
With such high favours his fair youth was blessed.  
So fell it out that Aethiop war began,  
Invading Egypt with their Armed powers,  
And taking spoils, the Country overran  
To where as Memphis vaunts her climbing Towers.  
Wherefore they with their Oracles confer  
About th'event, which do this answer make,  
That if they would transport this civil war,  
They to their Captain must an Hebrew take.  
And for fair Moses happily was grown  
Of so great towardness and especial hope,  
Him they do choose as absolutest known  
To lead their power against the Aethiope.  
Which they of Termuth hardly can obtain,  
Though on their Altars by their Gods they vow  
Him to deliver safe to her again,  
(Once the war ended) safe as he was now.  
Who for the way the Army was to pass,  
That by th' Egyptians only was intended,  
Most part by water, more prolixious was  
Than present peril any whit commended:  
To intercept the Aethtopians wrought  
A way far nearer who their Legions led,  
Which till that time impassable was thought,  
Such store of serpents in that place was bred:  
Devised by birds this danger to eschew,  
Whereof in Egypt be exceeding store,  
The Stork, and Ibis, which he wisely knew,  
All kinds of Serpents naturally abhor.  
Which he in Baskets of Egyptian reed,  
Borne with his caridge easily doth convey,  
And where encampeth sets them forth to feed,  
Which drive the Serpents presently away.  
Thus them preventing by this subtle course,  
That all their succour suddenly bereft,  
When Aethiop flies before th' Egyptian force,  
Shut up in Saba their last refuge left.  
Which whilst with straight siege they beleaguered long,  
The King's fair Daughter haps him to behold,  
And became fettered with affection strong,  
Which in short time could hardly be controlled.  
Tarbis that kindled this rebellious rage, 
●omestor   
That they to Egypt tributory were,  
When the old King decrepit now with age,  
She in his stead the sovereignty did bear.  
Up to his Tower where she the Camp might see,  
To look her new Love every day she went,  
And when he happened from the field to be,  
She thought her blest beholding but his Tent,  
And oftentimes doth modestly inveigh  
'Gainst him the City walled first about,  
That the strong site should churlishly denay  
Him to come in, or her for passing out,  
Had the gates been but softened as her breast  
(That to behold her loved enemy stands)  
He had ere this of Saba been possessed,  
And therein planted the Egyptian bands:  
Oft from a place as secretly she might  
(That from her Palace looked unto his Tent)  
When he came forth appearing in his sight,  
Showing by signs the love to him she meant.  
For in what arms it pleased him to be dight,  
After the Hebrew or th' Egyptian guise:  
He was the bravest, the most goodly wight  
That ever graced Aethiop with his eyes.  
And finding means to parley from a place,  
By night, her passion doth to him discover,  
To yield the City if he would embrace  
Her a true Princess, as a faithful Lover.  
The feature of so delicate a Dame  
Motives sufficient to his youth had been,  
But to be Lord of Kingdoms by the same,  
And of so great and absolute a Queen,  
Soon gently stole him from himself away.  
That doth to him such rarities partake,  
Offering so rich, so excellent a prey,  
Loving the treason for the traitors sake:  
But whilst he lived in this glorious vain,  
Jsrael his conscience oftentimes doth move,  
That all this while in Egypt did remain  
Virtue and grace o'recomming youth and love.  
And though God knows unwilling to departed,  
From so high Empire wherein now he stood,  
And her that sat so near unto his heart,  
Such power hath Jsrael in his happy blood,  
By skill to quit him forcibly he wrought,  
As he was learned and traded in the stars,  
Both by the Hebrews, and th' Egyptians taught,  
That were the first the best Astronomers,  
Two sundry figures makes, 
Come●tor ex Vet. Script.  whereof the one  
Cause them that wear it all things passed forget.  
As th'other of all accidents foregone  
The memory as eagerly doth whet.  
Which he insculped in two likely stones,  
For rareness of invaluable price,  
And cunningly contrived them for the nonce  
In likely rings of excellent devise:  
That of oblivion giving to his Queen,  
Which soon made show the violent effect  
Forgot him strait as he had never been,  
And all her former kindnesses neglect.  
The other (that doth memory assist)  
Him with the love of Jsrael doth inflame,  
Departing thence not how the Princess witted,  
In peace he leaves her as in war he came.  
But all the pleasures of th' Egyptian Court,  
Had not such power upon his springing years,  
As had the sad and tragical report  
Of the rude burdens captived Israel bears,  
Nor what regards he to be graced of Kings?  
Or flattered greatness idly to await?  
Or what respects he the negotiating  
Matters comporting Empery and state?  
The bondage and servility that lay  
On buried Jsrael (sunk in ordurous slime)  
His grieved spirit down heavily did way,  
That to lean care oft lent the prosperous time.  
A wretched Hebrew happened to behold  
Bruised with sad burdens without all remorse  
By an Egyptian barbarously controlled,  
Spurning his pined and miserable corpse  
Which he beholding vexed as he stood,  
His fair veins swelling with impatient fire,  
Pity and rage so wrestled in his blood  
To get free passage to conceived ire,  
Rescuing the man th' Egyptian doth resist:  
(Which from his vile hands forcibly he took)  
And by a strong blow with his valiant fist.  
His hateful breath out of his nostrils struck.  
Which though his courage boldly dare aver,  
In the proud power of his Imperious hand,  
Yet from high honour deigneth to inter,  
The wretched carcase in the smouldering sand.  
Which then supposed in secret to be wrought,  
Yet still hath Envy such a jealous eye,  
As forth the same incontinent it sought,  
And to the King delivered by and by,  
Which soon gave vent to Pharaoh's covered wrath,  
Which till this instant reason did confine,  
Opening a strait way, an apparent path  
Unto that great and terrible design:  
Most for his safety forcing his retreat  
When now affliction every day did breed,  
And when revengeful tyranny did threat  
The greatest horror to the Hebrew seed.  
To Midian now his Pilgrimage he took,  
Midian earths only Paradise for pleasures,  
Where many a soft Rill, many a sliding Brook,  
Through the sweet valleys trip in wanton measures,  
Whereas the curled Groves and the flowery fields,  
To his free soul so peaceable and quiet  
More true delight and choice contentment yields,  
Than Egypt's braveries and luxurious diet:  
And wandering long he happened on a Well,  
Which he by paths frequented might espy,  
bordered with trees where pleasure seemed to dwell,  
Where to repose him, easily down doth lie:  
Where the soft winds did mutually embrace,  
In the cool Arbours Nature there had made,  
Fanning their sweet breath gently in his face,  
Through the calm cincture of the amorous shade.  
Till now it nigh'd the noon-stead of the day,  
When scorching heat the gadding Herds do grieve.  
When Shepherds now & Herdsmen every way,  
Their thirsting cattle to the Fountain drive:  
Amongst the rest seven Shepherdesses went  
Along the way for watering of their Sheep,  
Whose eyes him seemed such reflection sent,  
As made the Flocks even white that they did keep:  
Girls that so goodly and delightful were,  
The fields were fresh and fragrant in their view,  
Winter was as the Spring time of the year,  
The grass so proud that in their footsteps grew:  
Daughters they were unto a holy man,  
(And worthy too of such a Sire to be)  
Jethro the Priest of fertile Midian,  
Few found so just, so righteous men as he.  
But see the rude Swain, the untutored slave,  
Without respect or reverence to their kind,  
Away their fair flocks from the water drove,  
Such is the nature of the barbarous Hind:  
The Maids (perceiving where a stranger sat)  
Of whom those Clowns so basely did esteem,  
Were in his presence discontent thereat,  
Whom he perhaps improvident might deem.  
Which he perceiving kindly doth entreat,  
Reproves the Rustics for that offered wrong,  
averring it an injury too great,  
To such (of right) all kindness did belong.  
But finding well his Oratory fail,  
His fists about him frankly he bestows,  
That where persuasion could not late prevail,  
He yet compelleth quickly by his blows.  
Entreats the damsels their abode to make,  
(With Courtly semblance and a manly grace,)  
At their fair pleasures quietly to take,  
What might be had by freedom of the place.  
Whose beauty, shape, and courage they admire,  
Exceeding these, the honour of his mind,  
For what in mortal could their heart's desire,  
That in this man they did not richly find?  
Returning sooner than their usual hour,  
All that had happened to their Father told,  
That such a man relieved them by his power,  
As one all civil courtesy that could:  
Who full of bounty hospitably meek  
Of his behaviour greatly pleased to hear,  
Forthwith commands his servants him to seek,  
To honour him by whom his honoured were:  
Gently receives him to his goodly seat,  
Feasts him his friends and families among,  
And him with all those offices entreat,  
That to his place and virtues might belong.  
Whilst in the beauty of those goodly Dames,  
wherein wise Nature her own skill admires,  
He feeds those secret and impiercing flames,  
Nursed in fresh youth, and gotten in desires:  
Won with this man this Princely Priest to dwell,  
For greater hire than bounty could devise,  
For her whose praise makes praise itself excel,  
Fairer than fairness, and as wisdom wise.  
In her, her Sisters severally were seen,  
Of every one she was the rarest part,  
who in her presence any time had been,  
Her Angel eye transpierced not his heart.  
For Zipora a shepherds life he leads,  
And in her sight deceives the subtle hours,  
And for her sake oft robes the flowery meads.  
With those sweet spoils t'enrich her rural bowers,  
Up to mount Horeb with his flock he took,  
The flock wise Jethro willed him to keep,  
Which well he guarded with his shepherds crook,  
Goodly the Shepherd, goodly were the Sheep;  
To feed and fold full warily he knew,  
From Fox and Wolf his wandering flocks to free,  
The goodli'st flower that in the meadows grew  
Were not more fresh and beautiful than he.  
Gently his fair flocks lessowed he along,  
Through the Frim pastures freely at his leisure,  
Now on the hills, the valleys then among,  
Which seem themselves to offer to his pleasure.  
Whilst feathered Siluans from each blooming spray,  
With murmuring waters wistly as they creep,  
Make him such music (to abridge the way,)  
As fits a Shepherd company to keep.  
When lo that great and fearful God of might  
To that fair Hebrew strangely doth appear,  
In a bush burning visible and bright  
Yet unconsuming as no fire there were:  
With hair erected and upturned eyes,  
Whilst he with great astonishment admires,  
Lo that eternal Rector of the skies,  
Thus breathes to Moses from those quickening fires,  
Shake off thy sandals (saith the thundering God,  
With humbled feet my wondrous power to see.  
For that the soil where thou hast boldly troad,  
Is most select and hallowed unto me:  
The righteous Abraham for his God we knew,  
Jsack and Jacob trusted in mine Name,  
And did believe my Covenant was true,  
Which to their seed shall propagate the same:  
My folk that long in Egypt had been bard,  
Whose cries have entered Heavens eternal gate  
Our zealous mercy openly hath heard,  
Kneeling in tears at our eternal state.  
And am come down, them in the Land to see,  
where streams of milk through batfull valleys flow,  
And luscious honey dropping from the tree,  
Load the full flowers that in the shadows grow:  
By thee my power am purposed to try,  
That from rough bondage shalt the Hebrews bring,  
Bearing that great and fearful Embassy,  
To that Monarchal and Imperious King.  
And on this mountain (standing in thy sight,)  
when thou returnest from that conquered Land,  
Thou hallowed Altars unto me shalt light,  
This for a token certainly shall stand.  
O who am I? this wondering man replies,  
A wretched mortal that I should be sent,  
And stand so clear in thine eternal eyes,  
To do a work of such astonishment:  
And trembling now with a transfixed heart,  
Humbling himself before the Lord (quoth he)  
who shall I tell the Hebrews that thou art,  
That giv'st this large commission unto me?  
Say (quoth the Spirit from that impetuous flame)  
Unto the Hebrews ask thee of this,  
That 'twas: I AM: which only is my Name,  
God of their Fathers, so my Title is:  
Divert thy course to Goshen then again,  
And to divulge it constantly be bold,  
And their glad ears attractively retain,  
with what at Sina Abraham's God hath told:  
And tell great Pharo that the Hebrews God,  
Commands from Egypt that he set you free,  
Three journeys thence in Deserts far abroad,  
To offer hallowed sacrifice to me.  
But he refusing to dismiss you so  
On that proud King i'll execute such force,  
As never yet came from the sling, the bow,  
The keen-edged Curt'lax, or the puissant horse,  
But if th'afflicted miserable sort  
To idle incredulity inclined,  
Shall not (quoth Moses) credit my report,  
That thou to me hast so great power assigned.  
Cast down (saith God) thy wand unto the ground,  
Which he obeying fearfully, behold  
The same a Serpent suddenly was found,  
Itself contorting into many a fold.  
With such amazement Moses doth surprise  
With cold convulsions shrinking every vain,  
That his affrighted and uplifted eyes  
Even shot with horror, sink into his brain.  
But being encouraged by the Lord to take,  
The ugly tail into his trembling hand,  
As from a dream he suddenly doth wake,  
When at the instant it became a wand.  
By the same hand into his bosom shut,  
Whose eyes his withered leprosy abhorred,  
When forth he drew it secondly being put,  
Unto the former purity restored.  
These signs he gives this sad admiring man,  
Which he the weak incredulous should show,  
When this frail mortal freshly now began  
To forge new causes, why unfit to go?  
Egypt accusing to have done him wrong,  
Scantling that bounty Nature had bestowed,  
Which had well near deprived him of his tongue,  
Which to this office chief had been owed.  
When he whose wisdom Nature must obey,  
In whose resistance reason weakly fails,  
To whom all human instances give way,  
'Gainst whom not subtle Argument prevails  
Thus doth reprove this idle vain excuse,  
Who made the mouth? who th'eie? or who the ear?  
Or who deprives those organs of their use?  
That thou thy imbecility shouldst fear?  
Thy Brother Aaron cometh unto thee,  
Which as thy Speaker purposely I bring,  
To whom thyself even as a God shalt be,  
And he interpret to th' Egyptian King.  
That when he at thy miracles shall wonder,  
And wan with fear shall tremble at thy rod,  
To feel his power that sways the dreadful thunder,  
That is a jealous and a fearful God.  
Then shall mine own self purchase me renown,  
And win me honour by my glorious deed  
On all the Pharo's on th' Egyptian throne,  
That this proud mortal ever shall succeed.    

The second Book.  

¶ THE ARGUMENT.  
Moses doth his message bring,  
Acts miracles before the King,  
With him the Magis do contend,  
Which he doth conquer in the end,  
When by th'extensure of the wand  
He brings ten plagues upon the Land,  
And in despite of Pharo's pride  
From Goshen doth the Hebrews guide.   

WHen now from Midian Moses forward set  
With whom his wife & fair retine we went,  
Where on his way him happily hath met  
His brother Aron to the Lords intent,  
And to the Hebrews in th'impatient hand  
Of mighty Egypt all his power implies,  
And as the Lord expressly did command,  
Acteth his wonders in their pleased eyes.  
Those miracles mortality beholds  
With an astonished and distracted look,  
The mind that so amazedly enfoldes,  
That every sense the faculty forsook.  
The little Infant with abundant joy  
To man's estate immediately is sprung,  
And though the old man could not back turn boy,  
Casts half his years so much becoming young.  
Whilst mirth in fullness measureth every eye,  
Each breast is heaped up with excess of pleasure,  
Rearing their spread hands to the glorious sky,  
Gladly embracing the Almighty's leisure.  
These Hebrews entering th' Egyptian Court,  
Their great Commission publicly proclaim,  
Which there repulsed as a slight report,  
Doth soon denounce defiance to the same.  
Where now these men their miracles commend,  
By which their power precisely might be tried,  
And Pharo for his Sorcerers doth send,  
By them the Hebrews only to deride.  
Where Heaven must now apparently transcend  
Th'infernal powers Emperiously to thwart,  
And the bright perfect Deity contend  
With abstruse Magic and fallacious Art.  
Never was so miraculous a strife  
Where admiration ever so abounded;  
Where wonders were so prodigally rife,  
That to behold it Nature stood confounded.  
Casting his rod a Serpent that became,  
Which he supposed with marvel them might strike,  
When every Priest essaying in the same,  
By his black skill did instantly the like:  
Which Pharos breast with arrogance doth fill,  
Above the high Gods to exalt his power,  
When by his might (t'amate their weaker skill)  
The Hebrews Rod doth all their rods devour:  
Which deed of wonder slightly he rejects  
His froward Spirit insatiatly elate,  
Which after caused those violent effects  
That sat on Egypt with the power of Fate.  
When he whose wisdom ere the world did far,  
From whom not counsel can her secrets hide,  
Forewarneth Moses early to prepare  
T'accost the proud King by the rivers side.  
What heavenly rapture doth enrich my brain,  
And through my blood extravagantly flows,  
That doth transport me to that endless main,  
whereas th'almighty his high glories shows?  
That holy heat into my Spirit infuse,  
wherewith thou wontest thy Prophets to inspire  
And lend that power to our delightful Muse,  
As dwelled in sounds of that sweet Hebruack lyre.  
A task unusual I must now assay  
Striving through peril to support this mass,  
No former foot did ever tract a way,  
Where I propose unto myself to pass.  
When Moses meeting the Egyptian King  
Urgeth a fresh the Israelites depart,  
And him by Aron stoutly menacing  
To try the temper of his stubborn heart.  
When lo the torrent the fleet hurrying flood 
The x. Plague.   
So clear and perfect Crystalline at hand,  
As a black lake or settled marish stood  
At th'extensure of the Hebrews wand,  
Where segs, rank Bulrush, and the sharpened Reed  
That with the fluxure of the wave is fed,  
Might be discerned unnaturally to bleed,  
Dying their fresh green a deep sullied red:  
Like issuing ulcers every little Spring,  
That being full ripened void the filthy core  
Their loathsome slime and matter vomiting  
Into the Rivers they enriched before:  
What in her banks hath battening Nilus bred,  
Serpent, or Fish, or strange deformed thing  
That on her bosom she not beareth dead,  
Where they were borne them lastly burying?  
That Bird and Beast incontinently fly  
From the detested and contagious stink,  
And rather choose by cruel thirst to die,  
Than once to taste of this contaminate drink,  
And useful Cisterns delicately filled,  
With which rich Egypt wondrously abounds,  
Looking as Bowls receiving what was spilled  
From mortal and immedicable wounds.  
That the faint Earth even poisoned now remains  
In her own self so grievously dejected,  
Horrid pollution travailing her veins  
 of cure so dangerously infected  
The spongy soil, that digging deep and long  
To soak clear liquor from her plenteous pores,  
This bloody issue breaketh out among  
As sickly menstrues or inveterate sores:  
Seven days continuing in this flux of blood,  
Sadly sits Egypt a full week of woe,  
Shame taints the brow of every stew and flood,  
Blushing the world her filthiness to show.  
Yet sdaines proud Pharo Jsrael thus to free,  
Nor this dire plague his hardened heart can tame,  
Which he supposed but Fallaces to be,  
When his Magicians likewise did the same.  
When he again that glorious rod extends  
'Gainst him that Heaven denies that thus to dare.  
On Egypt soon a second plague that sends,  
Which he till now seemed partially to spare  
The soil, that late the owner did enrich  
Him his fair Herds and goodly flocks to feed,  
Lies now a leystall as a common ditch, 
The 2. Plague.   
where in their Todder loathly Paddocks breed.  
Where as the upland mountainous and high  
To them that sadly do behold it shows  
As though in labour with this filthy fry  
Stirring with pain in the parturious throws:  
People from windows looking to the ground,  
At this stupendious spectacle amazed,  
See but their sorrow every where abound,  
That most abhorring whereon most they gazed.  
Their troughs and Ovens Toadstooles now become,  
That housewives wont so carefully to keep,  
These loathsome Creatures taking up the room,  
A croaking there continually do keep.  
And as great Pharo on his Throne is set,  
From thence affrighted with this odious thing,  
which crawling up into the same doth get,  
And him deposing sitteth as a King.  
The wearied man his spirits that to refresh,  
Gets to his bed to free him from this fear,  
Scarce laid but feels them at his naked flesh,  
So small the succour that remaineth there.  
No Court so close to which the speckled Toad  
By some small cranny creeps not by and by,  
No Tower so strong nor natural abode,  
To which for safety any one might fly:  
Egypt now hates the world her so should call,  
Of her own self so grievously ashamed,  
And so contemned in the eyes of all,  
As but in scorn she scarcely once is named.  
When this profane King with a wounded heart  
(His Magis though these miracles could do)  
Sees in his soul one greater than their Art,  
Above all power, that put a hand thereto:  
But as these plagues and sad afflictions ceased,  
At the just prayer of this mild godlike man,  
So Pharaoh's pride and stubbornness increased,  
And his lewd course this headstrong Mortal ran.  
Which might have surelier settled in his mind  
(At his request which Moses quickly slew,  
Leaving a stench so pestilent behind)  
As might preserve old sorrows freshly new.  
But stay my Muse in height of all this speed,  
Somewhat plucks back to quench this sacred heat,  
And many perils doth to us aread  
In that whereof we seriously entreat.  
Lest too concise injuriously we wrong  
Thigns that such state and fearfulness impart,  
Or led by zeal irregularly long,  
Infringe the curious liberties of Art.  
We that calumnious Critic may eschew  
That blasteth all things with his poisoned breath,  
Detracting what laboriously we do,  
Only with that which he but idly saith.  
O be our guide whose glories now we preach  
That above Books must steer us in our Fate,  
For never Ethnic to this day did teach  
(In this) whose method we might imitate.  
When now these men of miracle proceed,  
And by extending of that wondrous wand  
As that resistless providence decreed,  
Thereby brings Lice on the distempered Land: 
The 3. Plague.   
All struck with Lice so numberless they lie,  
The dust grown quick in every place doth creep,  
The sands their want do secondly supply,  
As they at length would suffocate the deep:  
That th' atomies that in the beams appear,  
As they the Sun through crannies shining see,  
The form of those detested things do bear,  
So miserable the Egyptians be:  
Who raked the brands the passed Evening burned  
(As is the use the Morning's fire to keep)  
To these foul vermin finds the ashes turned,  
Covering the hearth, so thick thereon they creep:  
Now Prince and peasant equally are dressed,  
The costliest silks and coarsest rags alike,  
The worst goes now companion with the best,  
The hand of God so generally doth strike.  
The King's Pavilion and the Captives pad  
Are now in choice indifferent unto either,  
Great, small, fair, foul, rich, poor, the good & bad  
Do suffer in this pestilence together,  
In vain to cleanse, in vain to purge, and pick,  
when every Moth that with the breath doth rise  
Forthwith appeareth venomously quick,  
Although so small scarce taken by the eyes.  
By which his wisdom strongly doth prevail,  
When this selfe-wise, this overweening man,  
Even in the least the slightest thing doth fail,  
The very beggar absolutely can,  
When now these Wizards with transfixed hearts  
To make his glory by the same the more,  
Confess a Godhead shining through their Arts,  
which by their Magic's they denied before.  
Yet this proud Pharo as oppugning fate  
Still doth resist that Majesty so high,  
And to himself doth yet appropriate  
A supreme power his Godhead to deny.  
When from his wilful stubbornness doth grow  
That great amazement to all ears and eyes,  
When now the Lord by Aaron's Rod will show  
His mighty power even in the wretched'st flies, 
The 4. plague.   
Varying his vengeance in as many kinds,  
As Pharo doth his obstinacies vary,  
Suiting his plagues so fitly with their minds,  
As though their sin his punishments did carry.  
In Summer time as in an Evening fair,  
The Gnats are heard in a tumultuous sound  
On tops of hills, so troubled is the air  
To the disturbance of the wondering ground.  
The skies are darkened as they yet do hover  
In so gross clouds congested in their slight,  
That the whole Land with multitudes they cover,  
Stopping the streams as generally the light.  
O cruel Land, might these not yet thee move?  
Art thou alone so destitute of fear?  
Or dost thou mean thy utmost to approve  
How many plagues thou able art to bear?  
Three have forethreatned thy destruction sure,  
And now the fourth is following on as fast,  
Dost thou suppose thy pride can still endure?  
Or that his vengeance longer cannot last?  
These are as weak and worthless as the rest,  
Thou much enfeebled, and his strength is more,  
Fitly prepared thee sadly to infest  
Thy sins so many, by their equal store.  
This wretched creature man might well suppose  
To be the least that he had need to fear,  
Amongst the rest is terrified with those  
with which before none ever troubled were.  
As we behold a swarming cast of Bees  
In a swollen cluster to some branch to cleave:  
Thus do they hang in bunches on the trees,  
Pressing each plant and loading every greave.  
The houses covered with these mustering flies,  
And the fair windows that for light were made,  
Eclipsed with horror seeming to their eyes  
Like the dim twilight or some ominous shade.  
For human food what Egypt had in store,  
The creatures feed on, till they bursting die,  
And what in this unhappy Land was more,  
Their loathsome bodies lastly putrefy.  
O goodly Goshen where the Hebrews rest,  
How dear thy children in th'Almighties sight,  
That for their sakes thou only shouldst be blest,  
When all these plagues on the Egyptians light?  
What promised people rested thee within,  
To whom no peril ever might aspire,  
For whose dear sake some watchful Cherubin  
Stood to defend thee armed in glorious fire?  
Thou art that holy Sancttuarie made,  
Where all th'afflicted cast aside their fear,  
Whose privileges ever to invade,  
The Heavens command their horrors to forbear.  
But since man's pride and insolence is such,  
Nor by these plagues his will to pass could bring,  
Now with a sharp and wounding hand will touch  
The dearer body of each living thing:  
To other ends his courses to direct  
By all great means his glory to advance,  
Altereth the cause by altering the effect,  
To work by wonder their deliverance.  
As Aron grasping ashes in his hand,  
which scarcely cast into the open air,  
But brings a murrain over all the Land,  
with scabs and botches such as never were. 
The 5. Plague.   
What chewes the cud, or hoof, or horn allotted,  
wild in the fields, or tamed by the yoke,  
with this contagious pestilence is rotten,  
So vniuersall's the Almighty's stroke.  
The goodly horse of hot and fiery strain  
In his high courage hardly brooked his food,  
That ditch nor mound not lately could contain  
On the firm ground so scornfully that stood,  
Crest-fallen hangs down his hardly managed head  
Lies where but late disdainfully he trod,  
His quick eye fixed heavily and dead,  
Stirs not when pricked with the impulsive goad.  
The Swine which Nature secretly doth teach,  
Only by fasting sicknesses to cure.  
Now but in vain is to itself a Leech  
whose sudden end infallably is sure.  
Where frugal shepherds reckoning wool and lamb,  
Or who by Herds hoped happily to win,  
Now sees the young one perish with the dame,  
Nor dare his hard hand touch the poisoned skin.  
Those fertile pastures quickly overspread  
with their dead cattle, where the birds of pray  
Gorged on the garbage (woefully bestead)  
poisoned fall down as they would fly away.  
And hungry dogs the tainted flesh refrained,  
whereon their Master gurmondized of late,  
what Nature for man's appetite ordained,  
The creature that's most ravenous doth hate.  
Thus all that breathes and kindly hath increase,  
Suffer for him that proudly did offend,  
Yet in this manner here it shall not cease,  
In Beasts begun, in wretched man to end.  
To whom it further violently can 
The 6. plague.   
Not by th'almighty limited to slake,  
As beast is plagued for rebellious man,  
Man in some measure must his pain partake.  
Those dainty breasts that opened lately were,  
Which with rich veins so curiously did flow,  
With biles & blains most loathsome do appear,  
Which now the Dam'zell not desires to show.  
Features disfigured only now the fair  
(All are deformed) most ill-favoured be,  
Where beauty was most exquisite and rare,  
There the least blemish easiliest you see.  
For costly garments fashioned with device  
To form each choice part curious eyes to please,  
The sick man's Gown is only now in price  
To give their bloched and blistered bodies ease.  
It is in vain the Surgeon's hand to prove,  
Or help of physic to assuage the smart,  
For why the power that ruleth from above  
Crosseth all means of industry and Art.  
Egypt is now an Hospital forlorn,  
Where only Cripples and diseased are,  
How many Children to the world are borne,  
So many Lazars thither still repair.  
When those proud Magis as opposed to Fate,  
That durst high Heaven in every thing to dare,  
Now in most vile and miserable state  
As the meanest caitiff equally do far.  
Thus stands that man so eminent alone,  
Armed with his power that governeth the sky,  
Now when the Wizards lastly overthrown,  
groveling in sores before his feet do lie.  
Not one is found unpunished escapes  
So much to do his hungry wrath to feed,  
Which still appeareth in as many shapes  
As Pharo doth in tyrannies proceed.  
Even as some grave wise Magistrate to find  
Out some vile treason, or some odious crime  
That beareth every circumstance in mind,  
Of place, of manner, instance, and of time:  
That the suspected strongly doth arrest,  
And by all means invention can devise  
By hopes or torture out of him to wrest  
The ground, the purpose, and confederacies,  
Now slacks his pain, now doth the same augment,  
Yet in his straight hand doth contain him still,  
Proportioning his allotted punishment  
As he's removed or pliant to his will.  
But yet hath Egypt somewhat left to vaunt,  
What's now remaining may her pride repair,  
But lest she should perhaps be arrogant,  
Till she be humbled he will never spare.  
These plagues seem yet but nourished beneath,  
And even with man terrestrially to move,  
Now Heaven his fury violently shall breathe,  
Rebellious Egypt scourging from above.  
Winter let lose, 
The 7. plague.  in his robustious kind  
Wildly runs raving through the airy plains,  
As though his time of liberty assigned  
Roughly now shakes off his imprisoning chains.  
The winds spit fire in one another's face,  
And mingled flames fight furiously together,  
Through the mild Heaven that one the other chase,  
Now flying thence and then returning thither.  
No light but lightning ceaselessly to burn  
Swifter than thought from place to place to pass,  
And being gone doth suddenly return  
E'er you could say precisely that it was.  
In one self moment darkness and the light  
Instantly borne, as instantly they die,  
And every minute is a day and night  
That breaks and sets in twinkling of an eye.  
Mountain and valley suffer one self ire,  
The stately Tower and lowly coat alike,  
The shrub and Cedar this impartial fire  
In one like order generally doth strike.  
On flesh and plant this subtle lightning prays,  
As through the pores it passage fitly finds,  
In the full womb the tender burden slays,  
Piercing the stiff trunk through the spongy rinds.  
Throughout this great and universal Ball  
The wrath of Heaven outrageously is thrown,  
As the lights quickening and Celestial,  
Had put themselves together into one.  
This yet continuing the bigbellied clouds,  
With heat and moisture in their fullness broke,  
And the stern thunder from the airy shrouds  
To the sad world in fear and horror spoke.  
The black storm bellows and the yearning vault,  
Full charged with fury as some signal given,  
Preparing their artillirie t'assault,  
Shoot their stern volleys in the face of Heaven.  
The bolts new winged with forked ethereal fire,  
Through the vast Region every where do rove,  
Goring the earth in their impetuous ire,  
Pierce the proudest building, rend the thickest Grove.  
When the breeme hail as rising in degrees  
Like ruffled arrows through the air doth sing,  
Beating the leaves and branches from the trees,  
Forcing an Autumn earlier than the Spring.  
The birds late shrouded in their safe repair,  
Where they were wont from Winter's wrath to rest,  
Left by the tempest to the open air  
Shot with cold bullets through the trembling breast.  
Whilst cattle grazing on the batfull ground,  
Finding no shelter from the shower to hide  
In ponds and ditches willingly are drowned,  
That this sharp storm no longer can abide.  
Windows are shivered to forgotten dust,  
The slates fall shatt'red from the roof above,  
Where any thing finds harbour from this gust,  
Now even as death it feareth to remove.  
The rude and most impenetrable rock  
Since the foundation of the world was laid,  
Never before stirred with tempestuous shock,  
Melts with this storm as sensibly afraid.  
Never yet with so violent a hand,  
A brow contracted and so full of fear,  
God scourged the pride of a rebellious Land,  
Since into kingdoms Nations gathered were,  
But he what Mortal was there ever known,  
So many strange afflictions did abide  
On whom so many miseries were thrown,  
Whom Heaven so oft and angrily did chide?  
Who but relenting Moses doth relieve?  
Taking off that which oft on him doth light,  
Whom God so oft doth punish and forgive,  
Thereby to prove his mercy and his might.  
So that eternal providence could frame  
The mean whereby his glory should be tried,  
That as he please miraculously can tame  
Man's sensual ways, his transitory pride.  
But Pharo bend to his rebellious will,  
His hate to Jsrael instantly renews,  
Continuing Author of his proper ill,  
When now the plague of Grasshoppers ensues.  
Long ere they fell, 
The 8. plague.  on'th face of Heaven they hung,  
In so vast clouds as covered all the skies,  
Colouring the Sunbeams piercing through their throng  
With strange distraction to beholding eyes.  
This idle creature that is said to sing  
In wanton Summer, and in Winter poor,  
Praising the Emmets painful labouring,  
Now eats the labourer and the heaped store.  
No blade of grass remaineth to be seen,  
Weed, herb, nor flower, to which the Spring gives birth,  
Yet every path even barren hills are green,  
With those that eat the greenness from the earth.  
What is most sweet, what most extremely sour,  
The loathsome Hemlock as the verdurous Rose,  
These filthy Locusts equally devour,  
So do the Heavens of every thing dispose.  
The trees all barckles nakedly are left  
Like people stripped of things that they did wear,  
By the enforcement of disastrous theft,  
Standing as frighted with erected hair.  
Thus doth the Lord her nakedness discover,  
Thereby to prove her stoutness to reclaim,  
That when nor fear, nor punishment could move her,  
She might at length be tempered with her shame.  
Disrobed of all her ornament she stands,  
Wherein rich Nature whilom did her dight,  
That the sad vierges of the neighbouring lands  
Seem with much sorrow wondering at the sight.  
But Egypt is so impudent and vile,  
No blush is seen that pity might compel,  
That from all eyes to cover her awhile,  
The Lord in darkness leaveth her to dwell.  
Over the great and universal face 
The 9 plague.   
Are drawn the Curtains of the horrid night,  
As it would be continually in place,  
That from the world had banished the light.  
As to the sight, so likewise to the tuch  
Th'appropriate object equally is dealt,  
Darkness is now so palpable and much,  
That as 'tis seen, as easily is felt.  
Who now it happed to travel by the way,  
Or in the field did chance abroad to room,  
Losing himself then wandered as a stray,  
Nor finds his hostrie nor returneth home.  
The Cock the Country horologe that rings,  
The cheerful warning to the suns awake,  
Missing the dawning scantles in his wings,  
And to his roost doth sadly him betake.  
One to his neighbour in the dark doth call,  
When the thick vapour so the air doth smother,  
Making the voice so hideous there withal,  
That one's afeard to go unto the other.  
The little Infant for the Mother shrieks,  
Then lies it down astonished with fear,  
Who for her Child whilst in the dark she seeks,  
Treads on the Babe that she doth hold so dear.  
Darkness so long upon the Land doth dwell,  
Whilst men amazed the hours are stolen away,  
Erring in time that now there's none can tell,  
Which should be night, & which should be the day.  
Three doubled nights the proud Egyptian lies  
With hunger, thirst, and weariness oppressed,  
Only relieved by his miseries,  
By fear enforced to forget the rest.  
Those lights and fires they laboured to defend  
With the foul damp that over all doth flow  
Such an eclipsed sullines doth send,  
That darkness far more terrible doth show.  
When this perplexed and astonished King  
Twixt rage and fear distracted in his mind,  
Jsrael to pass now freely limiting,  
Only their cattle to be staid behind.  
Commanding Moses to departed his sight,  
And from that time to see his face no more,  
Which this mild man doth willingly acquit  
That he well knew would come to pass before.  
That for the Droves the Jsraelites should leave,  
Forbidden by Pharo to be borne away:  
Jsrael shall Egypt of her sore bereave,  
To bear it with her as a violent prey.  
So wrought her God in the Egyptians thought,  
As he is only provident and wise,  
That he to pass for his choice people brought,  
More than man's wisdom ever might devise.  
Touching their soft breasts with a wounding love  
Of those who yet they enviously admired,  
Which doth the happy Jacobites behove,  
To compass what they instantly require.  
That every Hebrew borrowed of a friend,  
Some special jewel feignedly to use,  
Every Egyptian willing is to lend,  
Nor being asked can possibly refuse.  
Now Closets, Chests, and Cabinets are sought  
For the rich gem, the rarity, or thing,  
And they the happiest of the rest are thought,  
That the highest prized officiously could bring.  
Rings, chains, and bracelets, jewels for the ear,  
The perfect glorious, and most lustrous stone,  
The Carcanet so much requested there,  
The pearl most orient and a Paragon.  
What thing so choice that curious Art could frame,  
Luxurious Egypt had not for her pride?  
And what so rare an Jsralite could name,  
That he but ask was thereof denied?  
When God doth now the Passeover command,  
Whose name that sacred mystery doth tell,  
That he passed o'er them with a sparefull hand,  
When all the first borne of th' Egyptians fell,  
Which should to their posterity be taught,  
That might for ever memorise this deed,  
The fearful wonders he in Egypt wrought,  
For Abraham's offspring Saras promised seed.  
A Lamb unblemished, or a spotless Kid,  
That from the dam had waned out a year,  
Which he without deformity did bid,  
Held to himself a sacrifice so dear.  
Roasted and eaten with vnleau'ned bread,  
And with sour herbs such viands as became,  
Meat for the Evening, that prohibited  
The Morn ensuing partner of the same.  
Girding their loins, shoes fastened to their feet,  
staves in their hands, and passing it to take,  
In manner as to travailers is meet,  
A voyage forth immediately to make.  
Whose blood being put upon the utmost posts,  
whereby his chosen Jsraelites he knew,  
That night so dreadful, when the Lord of Hosts  
All the first borne of the Egyptians slew.  
Darkness invades the world when now forth went 
The 10. Plague.   
The spoiling Angel as the Lord did will,  
And where the door with blood was not besprent,  
There the first borne he cruelly did kill.  
Night never saw so tragical a deed,  
Thing so replete with heaviness and sorrow,  
Nor shall the day hereafter ever read,  
Such a black time as the ensuing morrow.  
The dawn now breaking and with open sight  
When every labouring and affrighted eye  
Beholds the slaughter of the passed night,  
The parting plague protracted misery.  
And to his neighbour hasts his heedless feet,  
To bring him home his heavy chance to see,  
And him he goes to by the way doth meet,  
As grieved and as miserable as he.  
Who out of door now hastily doth come,  
Thinking to howl and bellow forth his woe,  
Is for his purpose destitute of room,  
Each place with sorrow doth so overflow  
People awaked with this sudden fright  
Run forth their doors as naked as they be,  
Forget the day, and bearing candle light  
To help the Son their miseries to see.  
Who lost his first borne ere this plague begun,  
Is now most happy in this time of woe,  
Who mourned his eldest a daughter or a son,  
Is now exempt from what the rest must do.  
To one that feigns poor comfort to his friend,  
His Child was young and need the less be cared,  
Replies if his had lived the others end,  
withal his heart he could him well have spared.  
No eye can lend a mourning friend one tear,  
So busy is the general heart of moan,  
Such strange confusion sits in every ear,  
As wanteth power to entertain his own.  
Imparted woe (the heavy heart's relief)  
When it hath done the utmost that it may,  
Outright is murth'red with a second grief,  
To see one mute tell more than it can say.  
The greatest blessing that the heart could give,  
The joy of Children in the married state,  
To see his curse the parent now doth live,  
And none be happy but th'infortunate.  
Whilst some for burial of their Children stay,  
Others pass by with theirs upon the Beer,  
Which from the Church meet Mourners by the way,  
Others they find that yet are burying there.  
Afflicted London, in six hundred three  
When God thy sin so grievously did strike,  
And from th'infection that did spring from thee,  
The spacious Isle was patiented of the like.  
That sickly season when I undertook  
This composition faintly to supply,  
When thy affliction served me for a book,  
Whereby to model Egypt's miseries,  
When pallid horror did possess thy street,  
Nor knew thy Children refuge where to have,  
Death them so soon in every place did meet,  
Unpeopling houses to possess the grave.  
When woeful Egypt with a wounded heart  
So many plagues that suffered for their stay,  
Now on their knees entreat them to departed,  
And even impatient of their long delay.  
Six hundred thousand Israelites departed,  
Besides the Nations that they thence released,  
And Hebrew Babes the joy of many a heart,  
That Saras happy promises had blessed.  
After four hundred thirty years expired,  
(Measuring by minutes many a woeful hour)  
That day they came they thence again departed,  
By his eternal providence and power.  
With all the jewels Egypt could afford  
With them away that wisely they did bear,  
Th' Egyptians ask not to have back restored,  
All then so busy at their burials were:  
And joseph's bones precisely thence convey,  
Whose Tomb by Nyl's oft Inundations drowned, 
Comestor in Exod.   
(Yet the deceased straitly to obey)  
By Moses was miraculously found.  
Who did in gold that powerful word engrave, 
Petragrammaton.   
By which th'almighty fully is expressed,  
Which bore the metal floating on the wave,  
Till o'er his Coffin lastly it did rest.  
As by a sheep that show'd them to the same,  
To make them mindful of the reverent dead,  
Which Beast thenceforth they called by joseph's name,  
And when they went from Egypt with them led.  
But that he thus did find his burying place,  
As we tradition wisely may suspect,  
We only this as History embrace,  
But else in faith as fabulous neglect.    

The third Book.  

¶ THE ARGUMENT.  
God drowns th' Egyptians in his ire,  
Doth march before his host in fire,  
From the hard rocks strikes gushing springs,  
rains Quails and Manna, conquers Kings,  
And fearful plagues on them doth try,  
For murmuring and idolatry:  
Unto the promised Land them brought,  
When it they forty years had sought;  
Balaam to bless them he doth send,  
Their good success, mild Moses' end.   

THose which at home scorned Pharo & his force,  
And whose departure he did humbly pray,  
He now pursues with his Egyptian horse  
And warlike foot to spoil them on the way.  
Where his choice people strongly to protect,  
The only God of Empery and might,  
Before his host his standard doth erect,  
Aglorious pillar in a field of light,  
Which he by day in sable doth unfold,  
To dare the Son his Ardour to forbear;  
By night converts it into flaming gold,  
Away the coldness of the same to fear.  
Not by Philistia he his force will lead,  
Though the far nearer and the happier way,  
His men of war a glorious march shall tread  
On the vast bowels of the bloody Sea.  
And sends the winds as Currers forth before  
To make them way from Pharos power to fly,  
And to convey them to a safer shore,  
Such is his might that can make Ocean's dry.  
Which by the stroke of that commanding wand,  
Shoulder the rough seas forcibly together,  
Raised as Rampires by that glorious hand,  
(Twixt which they march) that did conduct them thither.  
The surly waves their Rulers will obeyed  
By him made up in this confused mass,  
Like as an Ambush secretly were laid,  
To set on Pharo as his power should pass.  
Which soon with wombs insatiably wide,  
Loosed from their late bounds by th'Almighties power,  
Come raging in, enclosing every side,  
And the Egyptians instantly devour.  
The sling, the swift bow, and the sharpened Lance,  
Floating confusedly on the waters rude,  
They which these weapons lately did advance,  
Perish in sight of them that they pursued.  
Clashing of Armours and the rumorous sound  
Of the stern billows in contention stood,  
Which to the shores do every way rebound,  
As doth affright the Monsters of the flood.  
Death is discerned triumphantly in Arms  
On the rough Seas his slaughterie to keep,  
And his cold self in breath of mortals warms,  
Upon the dimpled bosom of the deep.  
There might you see a Checkquered Ensign swim  
About the body of the envied dead,  
Serve for a hearse or coverture to him,  
Ere while did waft it proudly 'bout his head.  
The warlike Chariot turned upon the back  
With the dead horses in their traces tied,  
Drags their fat carcase though the fornie brack  
That drew itlate undauntedly in pride.  
There floats the bard Steed with his Rider drowned,  
Whose foot in his caparison is cast,  
Who late with sharp spurs did his Courser wound,  
Himself now ridden with his strangled beast.  
The waters conquer (without help of hand)  
For them to take for which they never toil,  
And like a Quarry cast them on the land,  
As those they slew they left to them to spoil.  
In eighty eight at Dover that had been,  
To view that Navy (like a mighty wood)  
Whose sails swept Heaven might eas'lie there have seen  
How puissant Pharo perished in the flood.  
When for a conquest strictly they did keep,  
Into the channel presently was poured,  
Castilian riches scattered on the deep,  
That Spain's long hopes had suddenly devoured.  
Th'afflicted English ranged along the Strand  
To wait what would this threatening power betide,  
Now when the Lord with a victorious hand  
In his high justice scourged th' Iberian pride.  
Hence three days march to Mara leads them on,  
Where Surs wild Deserts as the Army past  
Seemed as from their presence to have flone,  
The mountains stood so miserably aghast.  
Where for with drought they hardly are bestead,  
And the foul waters bitter as the gall,  
That they should through this Wilderness be led  
To thankless murmuring presently they fall.  
God pointeth Moses to a precious tree,  
Whose medc'nall branches cast into the lake,  
Of that rare virtue he approved to be,  
The waters sweet and delicate to make,  
Not that his hand stands any way in need  
Of mediate means his purposes to bring,  
But that in state his wisdom will proceed  
To show his power in every little thing.  
Nor metaphysics fully him confine,  
All measuring so immeasurably great,  
That doth in Nature every cause combine,  
This ALL in him so amply hath receipt.  
Which might have learned them in this helpless case,  
With tribulations willingly to meet,  
When men with patience troubles do embrace,  
How oftentimes it makes affliction sweet.  
And his free bounty fully now they found,  
As they from Mara for mount Sina made,  
Pitching in Elim in that plenteous ground  
Of pleasant fountains and delicious shade.  
But as at Sur, so they again at Sin,  
Before of thirst, of hunger now complain,  
Wishing they might in Egypt still have been,  
where never famine all their time did reign.  
When clouds of Quails from the Arabian shore  
Upon the Camp immediately are sent,  
which came so long and in such maru'lous store,  
That with their flight they smothered every Tent.  
This glads the Evening, each unto his rest,  
with souls even sated with these dainty Cates,  
And the great goodness of the Lord confessed,  
That in like measure each participates.  
The morn strews Manna all about the host  
(The meat of Angels) mortals to refresh,  
Candying the fresh grass, as the Winter's frost,  
Never such bread unto so dainty flesh.  
O Jsrael pamp'red with this heavenly food,  
Which else to Nations earthly he denies,  
To raise thy spirits, to rectify thy blood  
With these so rare celestial 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 only dullness, and gross humours bred.  
Yet in the sweetness and th'abundant store,  
His power not so conclusively expressed,  
But who took most not capable of more  
Than in his Gomer he that gathered least.  
By night corrupting, each day gathering new,  
But for the Sabbath what they did provide,  
That day descended not that heavenly dew,  
That as that day was only sanctified.  
Thence through those Deserts desolate and dry,  
They reach to Reph'dem where as they should pass,  
There was not found a fountain far nor nigh,  
Such want of water every where there was.  
Thither the Lord by Moses did them bring,  
His force the faithless Israelites might know,  
For even in the impossiblest thing,  
He most delights his wondrous might to show.  
far worse than Mara is this fruitless soil,  
For there were waters bitter (though they were)  
But here are non, though sought with ne'er such toil  
That they from murmuring longer not forbear.  
Commanding Moses 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 mystery of that miraculous wand  
He did to plagues and fearful things imply,  
That Aron yet ne'er took it in his hand,  
When work of mercy was achieved thereby.  
Therefore bids Moses to this high intent,  
The same to use, they visibly might see,  
That this which erst had been the instrument  
Of justice, so of clemency to be.  
Which with a blow the Cleeves in sunder cracked,  
As with an earthquake violently rend,  
Whence came so strong and rough a cateract,  
That in the stones wore gutters as it went.  
The Springs spout forth such plenty, that withal  
Down the slope sides it violently swept,  
So divers ways so various in the fall,  
Through every cranny the clear water crept.  
In Pails, Kits, Dishes, Basins, Pinboukes, Bowls,  
Their scorched bosoms merrily they baste,  
Until this very power their thirsty souls  
Never touched water of so sweet a taste.  
scarcely sufficed but in the very neck  
Of this, 'tis bruited by the watchful post,  
That the neere-bording envious Amaleck,  
Was marching towards them with a mighty host.  
When he forth Josua from the rest doth draw,  
A man selected, of courageous spirit,  
Which Moses with prophetic eye foresaw,  
Should be the man, his room 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 Army led.  
Whilst on rock Horeb with erected hand,  
Bearing the Rod up to the glorious sky,  
Twixt Hur and Aron amram's son doth stand,  
Whilst both the hosts for victory do try.  
When blades are brandished and the fight begun,  
Wars thundering horror trumpets do proclaim,  
With the reflection of the radiant Sun,  
Seems to beholders as a general flame.  
Much courage and dexterity that day  
On either part sufficiently is shown,  
And on the earth full many a Soldier lay,  
Thrusting through danger to make good his own.  
Hear men might see how many a strenuous guide  
Striveth to make his enemy to bleed,  
Now the fierce vaward, than the rearward plied,  
As he perceiveth the Battalians need.  
They fight the full day, he the Rod upheld,  
But when his strength by long continuing fails,  
Where as before the Jsraelites had quelled,  
The adverse proud Amalakite prevails.  
Whilst the two Hebrews provident of harms,  
Setting grave Moses down upon a stone,  
And by their force support his wearied arms,  
Until the foe was lastly overthrown.  
Jethro the just to whom report had told,  
Th'achievements wrought by his renowned son,  
That all the world did tributary hold,  
By deeds in Egypt God by him had done:  
This good old man to consummate their joys  
In happy hour his Son is come to see,  
Bringing his wife and his two little Boys,  
Moses sent back in Midian safe to be.  
Which by this time two proper Youths are grown,  
Bred by their Grandsire with exceeding care,  
In all the host there hardly could be shown,  
That with those Boys for beauty could compare.  
Such mirth and feasting as for them was seen,  
For this grave Father and this godly Dame,  
Unto this day in Jsrael had not been,  
Since to kind Joseph righteous Jacob came.  
The day mild Moses scarcely can suffice,  
To tell this man the troubles they had passed,  
The wonders God had acted in their eyes,  
Since they in Midian kindly parted last.  
Jethro that marked the pains that Moses took  
In rising early, and in resting late,  
That did himself into all causes look,  
And in his person censure each debate:  
This Princely Priest a man exceeding wise,  
And long experienced in this great affair,  
(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 thinkest 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 inferior Courts:  
Twixt the Plebeians and thyself to be,  
From them receive those matters by report,  
Speak thou to God, and let them speak to thee,  
In things important be thou still in place,  
In lesser causes leaving them to deal,  
So may you both your quietness embrace  
By an exact and perfect Commonweal.  
Now when to Sina they approached near,  
God calls up Moses to the mount above,  
And all the rest commandeth to forbear,  
Nor from the bounds assigned them to remove.  
For who those limits loosely did exceed,  
(Which were by Moses marked 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 frozen blood)  
Beheld their Leader openly in sight  
Pass to the Lord, where he in glory stood.  
Thunder and lightning led him down the air,  
Trumpets celestial sounding as he came,  
Which struck the people with astounding fear,  
Himself invested in a splendorous flame.  
Sina before him fearfully doth shake,  
Covered all over with a smouldering smoke,  
As ready the foundation to forsake  
On the dread presence of the Lord to look.  
Erect your spirits and lend attentive ear  
To mark at Sina what to you is said,  
Weak Moses now you shall not simply hear,  
The Son of Amram and of Jacobed,  
But he that Adam did imparadice,  
And lent him comfort in his proper blood,  
And saved No that did the Ark devise,  
When the old world else perished in the flood.  
To righteous Abraham Canaan frankly lent,  
And brought forth Isaac so extremely late,  
Jacob so fair and many Children sent,  
And raised chaste joseph to so high estate.  
He whose just hand plagued Egypt for your sake,  
That Pharos power so scornfully 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 days his pure abode did make,  
Whilst that great God in his Almighty will,  
With him of all his Ordinances broke.  
The Decalogue from which Religion took  
The Being: sin and righteousness began  
The different knowledge: and the certain book  
Of testimony betwixt God and man.  
The Ceremonial as judicial laws,  
From his high wisdom that received their ground,  
Not to be altered in the smallest clause,  
But as their Maker wondrously profound.  
The composition of that sacred fane,  
Which as a Symbol curiously did show,  
What all his six days workmanship contain,  
Whose perfect model his own finger drew.  
Whose absence thence gave leisure to their lust,  
Oppugning Aron, Idols them to frame,  
And by their power still strengthen this disgust,  
In him denouncing the Almighty's name.  
A gold-made God how durst you ever name,  
For him so long had led you from the sky,  
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 performed for thee,  
As made the world amazed at his might.  
Thy soul transpierced ne'er before thou feld'st,  
But like a Quarry it even clave thy breast,  
Coming from Sina when as thou beheld'st  
Th'Elected Jsrael kneeling to a Beast.  
Him sense forsook, his sinews strengthless are,  
He came so much amazed therewithal,  
The stony tables slipped him unaware,  
That with their own weight broke them in the fall.  
Down this proud lump ambitiously he fling  
Into base dust dissolving it with fire,  
That since they for variety did long,  
They should thereby even surfeit their desire.  
And sent the mineral through their hateful throats,  
Whence late those horrid blasphemies did fly  
On bestial figures when they fell to dote  
In prostitution to idolatry.  
Now when this potion that they lately took,  
This Chemic medicine (made them to prepare)  
Upon their beards, and on their bosom stuck,  
He doth their slaughter presently prepare.  
What's he himself to Levy could alley  
Before this Calf not sinfully did fall,  
Girds not his broad blade to his sinewy thy,  
When he hears Moses unto Arms to call?  
Killing not him appointed he should slay,  
Though they had slept in either's arms before,  
Though in one womb they at one burden lay,  
Yea when this dead, though that could be no more?  
You whom not Egypt's tyranny could wound,  
Nor Seas, nor rocks could any thing deny,  
That till this day no terror might astounded  
On the sharp points of your own swords to die?  
When Moses now those Tables to renew  
Of that essential Deity doth merit,  
(Which from his hands he dissolutely threw  
In the deep anguish of his grieved spirit.  
When forty days without all natural food)  
He on mount Sina fixed his abode,  
Retaining strength and fervour in his blood,  
Raped with the presence of that glorious God.  
Who in his high state whilst he passed by  
In the cloven rock that holy man did hide,  
Lest he should perish by his radiant eye,  
When Moses seeing but his glorious side  
Celestial brightness ceased on his face,  
That did the wondering Jsraelites amaze,  
When he returned from that sovereign place,  
His brows encircled with splendidious rays,  
That their weak sight beholding of the same,  
He after covered from the common eyes,  
Lest when for answer unto him they came,  
The lusting people should idolatrize.  
Might we the mustered Jsraelites admire  
From Plains of Sina mighty Moses led,  
Or else to view that opulence desire,  
To that rich Ark so freely offered.  
The marvelous model of that rarest piece  
Th'engravings, carvings, and embroideries tell,  
The cunning work and excellent device  
Of neat Aboliab, and Bezaliell.  
But we our Moses seriously pursue,  
And our strong nerves to his high praise apply,  
That through this maze shall guide us as a Clue,  
And may his virtues absolutely try.  
Whose charge being weary of their weighty Arms,  
And much offended they had marched so long,  
As oft disturbed with their stern Alarms,  
Suppose by Moses to have suffered wrong.  
When with the luggage such as lagged behind,  
And that were set the Carriages to keep,  
'Gainst God and Moses grievously repined,  
Wanting a little sustenance and sleep.  
Who with their murmuring moved in his ire,  
That they so soon his providence mistrust,  
Down from his full hand fling that forceful fire,  
Which in a moment bruised their bones to dust.  
Other the muttering Jsraelites among  
When now to Pharan having come so far  
For flesh, fish, salads, and for fruits do long,  
Manna (they say) is not for men of war.  
Their gluttonous stomachs loathe that heavenly bread,  
who with full Chargers hunger here relieves,  
As by the belly when they strongly fed  
On hearty Garlic and the flesh of beeves?  
Mild man, what fearefullagonie thee vexed,  
when thou thy God unkindly didst upbraid?  
How grievously thy suffering soul perplexed,  
when thou repinest the charge on thee was laid?  
With God to reason why he should dispose  
On thee that burden heavy to sustain,  
As though he did his purposes enclose  
Within the limits of man's shallow brain.  
To judge so many marching every day,  
That all the flesh of Forest and of flood,  
(When the wild Deserts scarcely yield them way)  
Should them suffice for competence of food.  
That thou shouldst wish that hand so full of dread,  
Thy linger breath should suddenly expire,  
Then that the clamorous multitude should spread,  
These wicked slanders to incite his ire.  
That God to punish whom he still did love,  
And in compassion of his frailties fear,  
The spirit he gave him lastly should remove  
To those his burden that should after bear.  
O wondrous man who paralleled thee ever,  
How large a portion didst thou inherit,  
That unto seventy he should it dissever,  
Yet all be Prophets only with thy Spirit?  
When lo a cloud comes sailing with the wind  
Unto these Rebels terrible to see,  
That when they now some fearful thing divined,  
A flight of Quails perceived it to be.  
A full days journey round about the host,  
Two Cubits thickness over all they flow,  
That when by Jsrael he was tempted most,  
His glory then most notably to show.  
The greedy people with the very sight  
Are filled before they come thereof to taste,  
That with such surfeit gluts their appetite  
Their queasy stomachs ready are to caste.  
Those for gross Beef in Gluttony did call  
Those the highest God his powerfulness to try,  
Cloys with the fowl that from the Heavens do fall,  
Until they stuff the stomach by the eye.  
But whilst the flesh betwixt their teeth they chew,  
And suck the fat so delicately sweet,  
(With too much plenty that even fulsome grew,  
That lies so common trodden with their feet.)  
That God impartial and so rightly just,  
When he had given them more than they desire,  
Duly to punish their insatiate lust,  
Pours down his plagues consuming as his fire.  
And with a strong hand violently struck  
Their blood, distempered with luxurious diet,  
That soon the sores in groins & armpits broke,  
Thus could the Lord scourge their rebellious riot.  
Aron and Miriam, all too much it were  
For grief good Moses' ready is to die;  
But you whom one womb happily did bear  
'Gainst your mild Brother needs must mutiny.  
O unkind Aaron when thou fond fram'dst  
That Beastlike Idol bowing Israel's knee,  
He then thee begged, that thou so basely blam'dst,  
And did divert the judgement due to thee.  
Immodest Miriam when the hand of might  
Left thee with loathsome leprosy defiled,  
Contemned and abject in the vilest sight,  
From the great host perpetually exiled:  
When thou hadst spit the utmost of thy spite,  
And for thy sin this plague on thee was thrown,  
He not forsook thee, but in heavy plight  
Kneeling to God obtained thee for his own.  
His wondrous patience ever was applied  
To those on him that causelessly complain,  
Who did with comely carelessness deride  
What happy men should evermore disdain.  
When now the Spials for the promised soil,  
For the twelve Tribes that twelve in number went,  
Having discovered forty days with toil,  
Safely returned as happily they went:  
Bringing the Figs, Pomegranates, and the Grapes,  
Whose verdurous clusters that with moisture swell,  
Seem by the taste and strangeness of the shapes,  
The place that bore them faithfully to tell.  
That well expressed the nature of the earth,  
So full of liquor and so wondrous great,  
That from such wished fruitfulness in birth,  
Sucked the sweet marrow of a plenteous teat.  
But whilst they stand attentively to hear  
The sundry soils wherein they late had been,  
Telling what Giants did inhabit there,  
What Towns of war that walled they had seen.  
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 supposed the Titanois to be.  
Their hearts sunk down, and though the fruits they saw  
By their rare beauty might allure their eyes,  
Yet this report their coward souls did awe,  
And so much daunt the forward enterprise  
That they their God do utterly refuse,  
Against just Moses openly exclaim,  
And were in hand a Captain them to choose  
To guide them back to Goshen whence they came.  
Not all the dread of th' Egyptian days,  
What by mild Moses he to pass had brought,  
Nor seen by him done at the purple Seas  
On their vile minds a higher temper wrought.  
Whom when of God he begged with bloody eyes,  
And against Heaven even obstinately strive,  
Obtained so hardly their immunities,  
whose sin seemed greater than he could forgive.  
Caleb and Josua you courageous men,  
When bats and stones against your breasts were laid,  
Oppose yourselves against the other ten,  
That expedition basely that dissuade.  
(Quoth they) to conquer as he did before  
No more than men: what praise his puissance yields,  
But he whose force the very rocks did gore,  
Can with the same hand cleave their brazen shields.  
He that foresaw that this should be our seat,  
And only knew the goodness of the same,  
Possessed the place with those that were so great  
For us to keep it safely till we came.  
For which the Lord did vow that not a man  
At Sina mustered where such numbers were,  
Should live to come to fruitful Canaan,  
Only those two so well themselves did bear.  
And for the baseness of those recreant Spies  
Whose melting minds this impious slander bred,  
And the vile people's incredulities,  
In that their God so strongly promised.  
For forty days discovery of the Land,  
They forty years in Wilderness shall waste,  
Consumed with plagues from his impetuous hand,  
Until that age be absolutely past.  
Which scarcely spoke, but quickly took effect  
For those so cold, and cowardly before,  
Hearing the censure of their base neglect,  
To make his vengeance and their sin the more.  
Entering the Land which Moses' them denies,  
Their  will no better can afford,  
Offering those lives they did so lightly prise  
Unto the vengeance of the Heath'nish sword.  
And in the host new factions daily grew,  
When Chores, Dathan, and Abiram rise,  
Two hundred men of special note that drew,  
Whose strength gave power to their confederacies.  
But the vast earth incontinently clave,  
And on the sudden hurried them to hell  
With the shrill screame the shrieking people gave,  
The fainting Host into a fever fell:  
The rest of the Conspirators were left  
(From the first's fall enforcing their retire,  
Of all the succours of the host bereft)  
Consumed to ashes with Heavens violent fire.  
And those th'abettors of this vile attempt  
That did mild Moses' cruelly pursue,  
From th'other's sin that could not be exempt,  
Them with the dreadful pestilence he slew.  
That had not Aron when all hope was fled  
With holy Incense their atonement wrought,  
Thrusting himself twixt th'living and the dead,  
All had to ruin utterly been brought.  
Where fourteen thousand & seven hundred sank  
Under the burden of their odious sin,  
Which now was waxed s'insufferably rank,  
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 blosomes bravely it doth flourish,  
Some budding, some as instantly but blown,  
As when the same the natural rind did nourish,  
For Moses' sake such miracles were shown.  
Forward to Cadesh they their journey cast,  
Where the good Miriam makes her latest hour,  
Meriam the fair, the excellent, the chaste,  
Meriam that was of womanhood the flower:  
Here bids her Brothers lovingly adieu,  
who at her parting kiss her closing eyes,  
whose wondrous loss sufficiently to rue,  
More is the grief that tears cannot suffice.  
Moystare their eyes, their lips are shrunk with heat,  
Their grief within, as outward it appears,  
Their want of water in that place as great,  
As it to them is plentiful of tears.  
They at one instant mutiny and mourn,  
Sorrows creep forth confusedly together,  
The tears for her incontinent they turn  
To words 'gainst Moses that did guide them thither.  
Who from the rock struck water with the wand,  
That man and beast might plenteously maintain,  
But he from rocks that fountains can command,  
Cannot yet stay the fountains of his brain.  
Much woe for Miriam these good men did make,  
whilst there were two, that might bewail this one,  
But two departing for their mutual sake,  
Moses remains to mourn himself alone.  
Aaron the auncient'st of the Hebrew line,  
Replete with natural comeliness and grace,  
(Godlike so far as man might be divine)  
Endeth his days in this predest'ned place.  
Which being forewarned to await his end,  
And here the Fate foretelling him to die,  
That the good hour doth only now attend,  
Willed to ascend the mountain (being nigh.)  
With Eleazar his dear Child he goes,  
Led by mild Moses as the Lord decreed,  
To his loved Son his garments to dispose,  
Him in the Priesthood pointed to succeed.  
When turning back to bid them all adiewe,  
who looked as fast to bid this Lord farewell,  
Fountains of late so fast from rocks not flew,  
As the salt drops down their sad bosoms fell.  
Not the obdurat'st, not the stoniest hearts,  
That in deep sorrow melting here forbears,  
Those to whom Nature not those drops imparts,  
Spent what in sighs the other did in tears.  
Sated with sobs, but hungry with his sight,  
Their watery eyes him earnestly pursue,  
When to discern him they no longer might  
Where their sight ends, their sorrows do renew.  
come to the top, to the appointed place,  
His Son in all his ornaments invested,  
Which the good Aron meekly doth embrace,  
And unto him his offices bequested.  
When they the time no longer could adjourn,  
After embraces and a flood of woes,  
(Which when one ceased the other took his turn,)  
From either's eyes that on the other flows.  
Now at the last point, at the gasp of death  
He whom the whole world hath but such another,  
Gives up his latest, his most blessed breath,  
In the dear arms of his beloved Brother.  
So wisely worketh that eternal Being  
By the still changes of their varying state,  
(As to the end through the beginning seeing)  
To build the frame of unavoided Fate.  
When those given up to their lascivious wills,  
Themselves in Midian wantonness that waste,  
Whose fleshly knowledge siped those sugared ills,  
Twenty four thousand slaughtered at the last.  
Of all that age in Sina numbered are,  
In plains of Moab mustered then again,  
Wasted by time, fire, pestilence, and war,  
Those promised two, and Moses did remain.  
The time expired that they for Aron mourned,  
New conquest now, new comfort them doth bring,  
Their former hope successively returned,  
That seemed before so sadly languishing.  
When they the glorious victory obtain  
The Plains of Horma scattered all with shields,  
where Arad and his Canaanites are slain,  
Not the least fight of many glorious fields.  
With Sehon's slaughter seconded again,  
And Ogs great fall of a Gigantic strength,  
whose bed of iron fash'oned to contain  
In breadth four Cubits, doubling it in length.  
The living remnant of the mighty race,  
Of big-boned Anack terrible and dread,  
which long time battening in that fertile place,  
Grew like the fat soil wherein they were bred.  
Not Poets fictions of the Phlaegrian fields,  
whereas the Giants up to Heaven would climb,  
Heaping on mountains not such wonder yields,  
As did the men that lived in that time.  
And five proud Kings fell in their recreant flight,  
Before armed Jsrael on the Midian plain,  
Zur, Hur, and Eui, men of wondrous might,  
Reba and Rekem valiantly slain.  
And as his strength crushed mighty Kings to dust,  
And cloven the helms that thunder proof were thought,  
That hand that helped them, scourged 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,  
Sharply to scourge their trustless murmurings,  
That still in infidelity did dwell.  
Rare in this creature was this wondrous might,  
That should effect the nature of the fire,  
Yet to recure the sorance by the sight,  
Sickness might seem the remedy t'admire.  
Only by metal miracles to work,  
That serpent's shape, the serpent's hurt should heal,  
To show in him the mysteries that lurk,  
And being so strange, as strangely doth reveal.  
That the forged figure of so vile a thing  
Should the disease so presently remotie,  
Only by th'eye a remedy to bring,  
Deep searching Magic leaveth to approve.  
As Balaams' beast did balack's hast delay,  
And the full purpose of the Prophet broke,  
When he beheld the Angel by the way,  
Burst out from beast, and to his Master spoke.  
Whose execration able to astound  
The sun, when he his summers 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 pass,  
Should be confounded by the thing most vile,  
By that base creature the dull worthless Ass,  
Ruling his mouth as with a Rider's bit,  
Bidden by Balaack to denounce their fall:  
Doth all his dreadful Minaces acquit,  
Sounding their blessing and their enemies fall.  
When this mild man that only did remain,  
Of those from Egypt that the Lord did bring,  
Which he in justice sundry ways had slain,  
For their false worship and their murmuring.  
Since he remiss at Meriba was proved,  
And there his zeal not ardently expressed,  
The Lord did swear (though him he dearly loved)  
He should not come to Canaan as the rest.  
And now approaching Abaris (the place)  
From whence he might that promised Country see,  
(So much the Lord good Moses pleased to grace)  
But there his days must consummated be.  
When this great Prophet zealously had blessed,  
Each several Tribe with a particular good,  
Whose parting, them with sorrow so oppressed,  
That shedding tears their eyes shed drops of blood.  
To Nebo seated admirably high,  
(The Spirit prepares him safely to retire)  
Which thrusts his head into the cloudy sky,  
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  
Suruayeth the imparalelled Land.  
Where goodly Gilead unto him he shows  
As far as ever he could look to Dan,  
The length and breadth that every way it goes,  
Till her brow kiss the calm Mediteran.  
where the sweet South lays forth her swelling breast,  
with a pleased eye he silently surveyed,  
To that fair City whose high Towers do rest  
Under the Palm trees more delicious shade.  
When this meek man approaching to his death,  
In death even pleased fair Canaan to behold,  
whilst he had use of his expiring breath,  
Thus his last farewell mildly doth enfold.  
Jsrael (quoth he) dear Jsrael, now adieu,  
Moses no more is, that your Leader was,  
Josua and Caleb none but only you,  
Of the last age must over Jordan pass.  
Th' Egyptian horrors yet 'twas I did see,  
And through those strange calamities did wade,  
And Israel's charge imposed was on me,  
When they (but then) had scarcely learned to dead.  
Forty two journeys have I straitly passed  
Since first this glorious Pilgrimage begun,  
In wrath or mercy where as first or last,  
Some wondrous thing hath happily been done.  
M'immortall Maker that so oft have seen  
(That God of wonder:) these complaints not boot,  
In yonder fields so delicate and green,  
That may not set my miserable foot.  
Thus leaning back against the rising cliff,  
Raising his faint hands to the hopeful skies,  
Meek as the morning never seen to strive,  
Greatest of the Prophets the good Moses dies.  
An hundred twenty hardly passed years,  
His natural vigour no whit did assuage,  
His eye as bright, his body then appears,  
As in the height and Summer of his age.  
Who being dissolved the Angels did inter  
near to Bethpeor in the valied ground,  
But yet so secret kept his Sepulchre,  
That it by mortal never should be found.  
Lest that his people (if the place were known)  
(Seeing by him the miracles were done,  
That ever to Idolatry were prone,)  
Unto his bones a worshipping should run.  
One that God graced so many sundry ways,  
No former age hath mentioned to be.  
Arrived at the period of his days  
The future time in Jsrael shall not see.   
FINIS.