THE CURSE OF CAIN. Gen. iv. 15, 16. KNOX. O THE wrath of the Lord is a terrible thing! Like the tempest that withers the blossoms of spring, And lo! like a deer in the fright of the chase, A vagabond smote by the vengeance of God. All nature to him has been blasted and banned, And the blood of a brother yet reeks on his hand; The groans of a father his slumber shall start, And the tears of a mother shall pierce to his heart, And the wife of his bosom-the faithful and fair- And his offering may blaze-unregarded by Heaven; THE TRANSLATION OF ENOCH. Gen. v. 24. MONTGOMERY. SUBLIME, ineffable, angelic grace The King leapt foremost from his throne ;he drew His battle-sword, as on his mark he flew; With an unerring, and tempestuous sound, The blade descended deep along the ground; The foe was fled, and, self-o'erwhelm'd, his strength Hurl'd to the earth his Atlantean length; But ere his Chiefs could stretch the helping arm, He sprung upon his feet in pale alarm; At midnight, and the following thunder- Headlong and blind with rage he searched crash, Ensued:-Anon, with universal cry, The Giants rush'd upon the prophet-"Die!" around, But Enoch walk'd with God, and was not found. THE DELUGE. Gen. vii. viii. ROBARTS. FROM the hill Stout timber Noah fell'd, and shap'd the ark food For cattle, or for man. God gave the word; Dilated, like one dark pavilion hangs, rage Collected: cataracts of smoking rain Swift hurricanes, hails, blasting vollies, land Sublim'd, with nitrous vapour from beneath White shine the breaking billows, silver The solid centre of the teeming Earth. foam, Prognosticating storm; the screaming mew, Night palpable; save where athwart the The glaring vollied lightning serv'd to shew The rock, and thence with haggard look Their wives, their panting children in mid Pursu❜d, or dash'd against the pointed cliff, bukes Lord of the roaring tempest, at thy voice Has burst its hinge, and on the continent storm Terror triumphant rides. The dismal dash Rent to her centre by a thousand shocks, The Spirit of the waters stalks abroad In hardy opposition. He with arm ing surge Impetuous rolls, and had a ship been there, mast To atoms piecemeal, or had blown it, light Full forty nights, and forty days, the rain ark Want sail, or steerage, by a hand divine And gopher, buoyant wood, she won her way The hulk, and close asphaltos, unctuous mass, cure. "Cease rain" pronounc'd th'Almighty ;— the rain ceas'd. Again the fleecy cloud with orient pearl Was sown, and glowing sapphire. High the sun Rode in meridian glory; and the waves Light courier; she nor green tree found nor To rest her printless foot, but hied her home with dew. What bodes her second embassy? a shoot Beam from the eye of Noah as he greets Again she prunes her wing; but not again She weaves, and warbles wild her artless notes, Or drinks ambrosial nectar from the rill. Now was all nature drest in freshest green, Pure from the dregs of grosser earth, which wind Fear not, O Earth: contentious waves no more With bitter blast shall sweep thy gallant sons, Of myrrh, and the sweet wilderness of balm Shed lucid fruitfulness; some aged spire Far o'er the horizon of the troubled sea, What time the storm retires, the bow shall dip Its woof in sky-grain'd tincture, from the Of some dun cloud emerging by degrees, And wave had swept away. Mild Zephyr Deep musing maid, shall oft at eve descry, sheds Refreshing breezes, which the meadows' down And with her crystal prism contract, dilate Impress not, as they blow; so brave a world Was etch'd the chronicle of month and day; tray Yon mystic characters, that stamp the cloud. In wasting waters; but by yon fair bow With mind uprais'd, and firm, not hasty Provoke his vengeance to let tempests loose step, The Patriarch disembarks: white shone his locks, The pride of reverend age; and white his As the fresh snow on Rhodope: his look Against this goodly earth. Hence in the clouds He checks the map of waters; hence re- The roaring sea, if haply his proud surge THE DEAD SEA. Gen. xix. 24. CROLY. THE wind blows chill across those gloomy waves ;- Yes, on that plain, by wild waves covered now, Lovely and splendid all,-but Sodom's soul Was stained with blood, and pride, and perjury; And still she mocked, and danced, and taunting, spoke It came ! The thunder on her slumber broke :- Yet, in her final night, amid her stood Immortal messenger, and pausing Heaven Her last hour waned, she scorned to be forgiven ! 'Twas done!-down pour'd at once the sulphurous shower, HAGAR IN THE DESERT. Gen. xxi. 14, 20. MRS. TIGHE. INJURED, hopeless, faint, and weary, Sad, indignant, and forlorn, Through the desert wild and dreary, Hagar leads the child of scorn. Who can speak a mother's anguish, Painted in that tearless eye, Which beholds her darling languish, Languish unrelieved, and die. Lo! the empty pitcher fails her, Perishing with thirst he lies, Death with deep despair assails, her, Piteous as for aid he cries. From the dreadful image flying, Now bereft of every hope, Cast upon the burning ground, Poor, abandoned soul! look up, Mercy have thy sorrows found. Lo! the Angel of the Lord, Comes thy great distress to cheer; "Care of Heaven! though man forsake thee, "Lift thine eyes, behold yon fountain, "In the hour of sore affliction, God hath seen and pitied thee; Cheer thee in the sweet conviction, Thou henceforth his care shalt be. "Be no more by doubts distressed, Mother of a mighty race! By contempt no more oppressed, Thou hast found a resting place ;" Thus from peace and comfort driven, Thou, poor soul, all desolate, Hopeless lay, till pitying Heaven, Found thee in thy abject state. O'er thy empty pitcher mourning See thy great deliverer nigh, From thine eye the mist dispelling, Future prospects, rich in blessing, JACOB AND PHARAOH. Gen. xlvii. 7-10. GRAHAME. PHARAOH, upon a gorgeous throne of state Was seated; while around him stood submiss His servants, watchful of his lofty looks. The Patriarch enters, leaning on the arm Of Benjamin. Unmoved by all the glare Of royalty, he scarcely throws a glance Upon the pageant show; for from his youth A shepherd's life he led, and viewed each night The starry host; and still, where'er he went, Before the aged man, and supplicates S |