BEGIN the Song! to God the Timbrels strike, Tune a new Psalm, and let @3Jehovah@1'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. @3Assyria@1 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 @3Titan@1'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 @3Judith,@1 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 @3Israel@1 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 @3Mede@1 At this astonied stood, the @3Persian@1 Bands In fearful Wonder ask; What GOD unseen Such Pow'r bestow'd, and steel'd a Woman's Heart. Not so revenging @3Israel@1—ev'ry Child Of Sorrow starts into unusual Shouts Of Joy and Gratulation. @3Assur@1 bears The fearful Tidings thro' his weeping Camp, And trembles: But victorious @3Israel@1 cries, @3"Pursue, Pursue!"@1——The Lord in Battle strong Nerv'd every Arm, and urg'd the vigorous Host, Till sudden Death o'ertook the @3Painim@1 Bands Discomfited and fal'n, and all the Plains Float with Effusions of @3Assyrian@1 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 @3Israel,@1 slay her Sons Or spoil her Lands: @3Jehovah@1'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! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO - (2) by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY ARCADIA: THE BARGAIN by PHILIP SIDNEY BOX-CAR LETTERS by KARLE WILSON BAKER MARTYRS TO THE MAN by WILLIAM ROSE BENET ENOUGH by CHARLES GRANGER BLANDEN |