XXVII.

Efau comes to meet Jacob. He fends a Prefent to appease him. He wrestles with an Angel: His name is called Ifrael.

TH

;

His Storm no fooner pafs'd but others rise, And with new Tumults fill the angry Skies; For now proud Selahs craggy Rock appears And Edoms Realms; the coufcious Jacob fears Fears his Supplanted Brother's Arms, and fent The diftant gath'ring Mifchief to prevent: His Meffengers ungrateful Tidings bring Returning fwift -- (Ill news is on the Wing, The Good comes flow behind with lazy Feet :) Fierce Efau with Four Hundred Men they meet, All on full march his Brother's Camp to find, Panting they come, and think him close behind. The Patriarch's with the doubtful news diftrefs'd, And various Paffions ftruggled in his Breaft: First Heav'n by Pray'r did on his Side engage, And then to melt his injur'd Brother's Rage Large Droves of Oxen, Sheep, and Camels brings, When joyn'd, a Prefent not unworthy Kings: Then o'r the Ford his num'rous Houshold fent, He only ftay'd behind, and kept his Tent; And as he ftorms high Heav'n with pious Pray'r, In Human Form an Angel enters there; Whom Jacob feiz'd, the heav'nly Warrior prefs'd, Nor wou'd he let him go, himself unbless'd : The Angel thus -- I grant thee thy Request: Facob no more, thy name fhall Ifrael be, For thou with God and Man haft gain'd the victory.

XXVII.

GENESIS, Chap. XXXII. Ver. 3. 6.9. 13. to 15. 22. 24. to 28.

53

v. 6. The messenger faid, thy brother Efau comes to meet thee, and four hundred men.

7. Then Jacob was greatly afraid, and took of that which came to his hand, a prefent for Efau his brother. 24. 25. There wrestled a man with Jacob, and when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh: and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joynt, as he wrestled with him.

28. And he faid, thy name fhall be called no more Jacob, but Ifrael: for as a prince haft thou power with God and with men, and haft prevailed.

XXVIII.

GENESIS, Chap. XXXIII. Ver. 1. 8,

to 11. 16.

The kind meeting of Efau and Jacob.

THE

HE Patriarch now affur'd of heavenly Aid
When first the Sun his radiant Face dif-
play'd

Croffes the murmuring Brook, no more affraid:
His Brother's Troops he fees, not unprepar'd,
He knew he had himself a Stronger Guard.
But pow'rful Heav'n had chang'd his Heart
before,

'Twas moulded new, revengeful now no more:
Fury and Murder, direful Forms remove,

Soft Pity them fucceeds, and mild fraternal Love:
He came to Guard and Velcome, not contend,
And only knew the Brother and the Friend.

When Foy wou'd give him leave his Thoughts to

vent,

He asks him what thofe Droves behind him meant? 'Tis only a fmall Prefent, he rejoyn'd,

Tho' far too mean, for you, my Lord, defign'd.
1 have enough, my Brother, fpare your coft
Replys the Prince; on me 'tis only loft:
So long he urg'd till he his Gifts receives,
And Jacob not difpleas'd, upon his Journey leaves.

XXIX.

GENESIS, Chap. XXXIV. Ver. 1. 2. 25. 26. 30. 31.

Dinah ravish'd, The Shechemites flain by

Simeon and Levi.

O Shalem's Fields did Jacob now repair, His Tent he pitch'd,and built an Altar there: The while young Dinah, innocent and fair, Of Home and rural Pleasures weary grown Steals from her Father's Tent to fee the Town, And with her Canaanitifh Friends refort To Hamor's Palace, and luxurious Court. Young Shechem faw, he treated and carefs'd, A lawless Fire inflam'd the Princes Breast, He feiz'd the struggling Maid,and all hiswift pofSimeon and Levi Leard, they both confpire, (lefs'd: (Enflam'd with Wrath, as Skechem with Defire,) Severe Revenge for this Affront to take, And kill the People for their Prince's fake: By guileful Arts they an Advantage gain, And the defencelefs Citizens are flain: Cover'd with Blood they to their Father come, And with 'em lead their mournful Sifter home: No Foy their Conqueft brought his peaceful Tent, Their rafh Revenge he chides, and dreads th' Event: His eager Sons, their Paffion fcarce allay'd, Defend the cruel Fact, and thus they said:

"Can ought for fucha Crime be too fevere: "It was too much, too much for Manto bear. "With his hot Blood we've purg'd that foul difgrace " The Ravisker has fix'd on us, and all our Race.

XXX.

GENESIS, Chap. XXXV. Ver. 16. 19.20.

Rachels Death. Her Burial, and Tomb.

AH, wife chuse

Or the dear charming Object ever lose!

Has Love itfelf no more of Bliss to give,
Or fears too foon we'd all our Foys outlive!
Thro' Want and Sorrow long the Patriarch ftrove,
And foftned all his Cares with virtuous Love;
The rugged Tempeft pafs'd, the Storms were o'r,
His Treafure's loft upon the wifh'd-for Shore:
His Rachel, his long Labor's happy Prize,
Joy of his Heart, and Light of his glad Eyes,
Himfelf the Caufe, in ling'ring Torments dies:
Scarce cou'd his Piety Defpair prevent,
Or make him with fo vaft a Lofs content.
What was the World to him when he was gone?
A Defert all, a Skie without a Sun.

Yet will he live, her Afbes to perfume,
And fcatter Tears and Rofes round her Tomb:
A Marble Pillar o'r her Duft he rears,
Which this infcrib'd to After-Ages wears.

2

"BEAUTY and LOVE are in this Vault enforin'd, "While he who loft 'em both stays languishing behind.