Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE SONG OF JUDITH, PARAPHAS'D FROM THE APOCRYPHA, by THOMAS WARTON THE ELDER



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SONG OF JUDITH, PARAPHAS'D FROM THE APOCRYPHA, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Begin the song! To god the timbrels strike
Last Line: Roll'd in a deluge of sulphureous flame!
Subject(s): Bible; Death; Duty; God; Grief; Israel; Judith (bible); Revenge; Seduction; War; Women In The Bible; Dead, The; Sorrow; Sadness


BEGIN the Song! to God the Timbrels strike,
Tune a new Psalm, and let Jehovah's Name
Dreadfully glorious, from the Chorus burst
In full harmonious Majesty of Praise!

The Warrior's Prowess, and the Battle's Rage
GOD breaks and withers; his almighty Arm,
Shield, of the Righteous, in black Midnight's Shade,
In Safety led me thro' surrounding Hosts.

Assyria from the North her People pour'd
Lords of the rugged Mountains; Armies fraught
With Thousands and ten Thousands, as they pass'd,
Hid the high Hills, and stopt the Torrent-Floods.

Where are the Boasts of Vengeance, Spoils, and Deaths!
What-time they long'd to fee my blooming Fields,
Smoak under Volumes of the fiercest Flames
In sad Illumination; and to tear
The wondering Infant from the Mother's Breast
Hush'd into soft Repose, and on the Stones
Dash pityless: in vain they wish'd to tread
On mangled Youths, from the fond Husband's Side
Snatch the young Bride, and mad with lawless Lust
To make the violated Virgin shriek:
For lo! th' almighty Lord in Glory thron'd,
Girded with Strength, hath shewn his matchless Pow'r,
And deign'd to send a weak Vicegerent forth,
To crush their Insolence. No youthful Host,
Or towering Titan's Sons, with brawny Arms,
And Strength unquell'd, no Giant-Warrior strode
To the rough Combat, but a tender Maid
The soft-ey'd Judith, with her beauteous Form
O'ercame the rugged Hero, nor could Rage
Unmelted stand the Lightning of her Eye!

'Twas then unmindful of her private Grief,
When Israel mourn'd, the Widow's sable Garb
She cast away, and with the choicest Oils
Her Limbs anointed, call'd forth every Smile,
And every latent Grace, in Order bound
The braided Ringlets of her golden Hair,
Deckt in the brightest Robe her Form, and shone
In all the Charms of Nature and of Art.
How did the captivated Hero gaze
At every matchless Feature, gaz'd and sigh'd
By Turns, and own'd that all his Soul was Love!
That Instant in her Hands the Faulchion grasp'd
The female Warriour, and vigorous Stroke
Sever'd the haughty Satrap's Head. The Mede
At this astonied stood, the Persian Bands
In fearful Wonder ask; What GOD unseen
Such Pow'r bestow'd, and steel'd a Woman's Heart.
Not so revenging Israel—ev'ry Child
Of Sorrow starts into unusual Shouts
Of Joy and Gratulation. Assur bears
The fearful Tidings thro' his weeping Camp,
And trembles: But victorious Israel cries,
"Pursue, Pursue!"——The Lord in Battle strong
Nerv'd every Arm, and urg'd the vigorous Host,
Till sudden Death o'ertook the Painim Bands
Discomfited and fal'n, and all the Plains
Float with Effusions of Assyrian Blood.

Hence will I praise my GOD! high-thron'd in Heav'n,
Invincible in Strength and Pow'r; who said,
Let all Things be,—and all Things were.—Whose Touch
The Mountains and the Waters fly; whose Breath
Melts the hard Rock like Wax! yet ev'n this GOD
So great and glorious, deigns to bend his Ear,
To listen to the meek Man's Pray'r, and joins
Mercy with Terror, Tenderness with Pow'r.

What Off'rings can we pay to such a GOD,
What Incense can ascend to Heav'n, or Lamb
Be worthily accepted! yet an Heart
Pure and unspotted will the Lord receive
Well-pleas'd, and wrap it in eternal Peace.

But Wo! to those who meditating Wrongs
And Violence to Israel, slay her Sons
Or spoil her Lands: Jehovah's Self shall come
At the last vengeful Judgment, and shall say
Before his dread Tribunal—Hence to Hell
Ye Grinders of my People, there to feel
Th' undying Worm, to mourn, to toss, to yell,
Roll'd in a Deluge of sulphureous Flame!





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