Poems written by A. Cowley.

The Plagues of Egypt.

1.

IS this thy Brav'ery Man, is this thy Pride? Rebel to God, and Slave to all beside! Captiv'ed by every thing! and onely Free To fly from thine own Libertie! All Creatures the Creator said Were Thine; No Creature but might since, say, Man is Mine! In black Egyptian Slavery we lie; And sweat and toil in the vile Drudgerie Of Tyrant Sin; To which we Trophees raise, and wear out all our Breath, In building up the Monuments of Death; We, the choice Race, to God and Angels Kin! In vain the Prophets and Apostles come To call us home, Home to the promis'ed Canaan above, Which does with nourishing Milk, and pleasant Honey flow; And ev'en i'th'way to which we should be fed With Angels tasteful Bread: But, we, alas, the Flesh-pots love, We love the very Leeks and sordid roots below.

2.

In vain we Iudgements feel, and Wonders see; In vain did God to descend hither da'ine, He was his own Ambassador in vaine, Our Moses and our Guide himself to bee. We will not let our selves to go, And with worse hardned hearts do our own Pharaohs grow; Ah, lest at last we perish so! Think, stubborn Man, think of th'Egyptian Prince, (Hard of Belief and Will, but not so hard as Thou) Think with what dreadful proofs God did convince The feeble arguments that humane pow'e•• could show; Think what Plagues attend on Thee. Who Moses God dost now refuse, more oft then Moses He.

3.

If from some God you come (said the proud King) 1 With half a smile and half a Frovvn; 2 (But vvhat God can to Egypt be unknovvn?) 3 What Sign, vvhat Powers, vvhat Credence do you bring? Behold his Seal, behold his Hand, Cryes Moses, and casts dovvn th' Almighty Wand.

Th' Almighty Wand scarce toucht the Earth, When with an undiscerned birth 4 Th' Almighty Wand a Serpent grew And his long half in painted folds behinde him drew. Upwards his threatning Tail he threw; Upwards he cast his threatning Head, He gap'ed and hist aloud; With flaming Eyes survey'd the trembling croud, And like a Basilisk almost lookt th'Assembly dead; 5 Swift fled th'Amazed King, the Guards before him fled.

4.

1 Iannes and Iambres stop their flight, And with proud words allay'd th'affright. The God of Slaves (said they) how can he be More powerful then their Masters Deitie▪ And down they cast their Rods, 2 And mutter'ed secret sounds that charm the servile Gods, The evil Spirits their charms obey▪ And in a subtle cloud they snatch the Rods away, 3 And Serpents in their place the airy Iuglers lay. Serpents in Egypts monstrous land, Were never not at hand, And ready all at the Old Serpents first command. And they too gap'ed, and they too hist, And they their threatning Tails did twist, But strait on both the Hebrew-Serpent flew▪ Broke both their active Backs, and both it slew, And both almost at once devour'ed, So much was over-powere'd By Gods miraculous Creation His Servant Natures slightly-wrought, and feeble Generation.

5.

1 On the fame'd bank the Prophets stood, Toucht with their Rod, and wounded all the Flood; Flood now no more, but a long Vein of putrid Blood▪ The helpless Fish were found In their strange Current drownd, The Herbs and Trees washt by the mortal Tide About it blusht and dye'd. Th'amazed Crocodiles made haste to ground; From their vast trunks the dropping gore they spied, Thought it their Own, and dreadfully aloud they cried. 2 Nor all thy Priests, nor Thou Oh King, couldst ever show From whence thy wandring Nile begins his course; Of this new Nile thou seest the sacred Sourse; And as thy Land that does oreflow, Take heed lest this do so.

3 What Plague more just could on thy Waters fall? The Hebrew Infants Murder stains them all. The kinde, instructing Punishment enjoy; Whom the Red River cannot Mend, the Red-sea shall Destroy.

6.

The River yet gave one Instruction more, 1 And from the rotting Fish and unconcocted Gore, Which was but Water just before, A loathsome Host was quickly made, That scale'd the Banks, & with loud noise did all the Country invade. As Nilus when he quits his sacred Bed 2 (But like a Friend he visits all the Land With welcome presents in his hand) So did this Living Tide the Fields orespread. In vain th'alarmed Countrey tries To kill their noisome Enemies, From th'unexhausted Sourse still new Recruits arise. Nor does the Earth these greedy Troops suffice, The Towns and Houses they posses, The Temples and the Palaces, Nor Pharaoh, nor his Gods they fear; Both their importune croakings hear. Unsatiate yet they mount up higher, Where never Sun-born Frog durst to aspire; And in the silken Beds their slimy Members place; A Luxurie unknown before to all the Watry Race.

7.

The Water thus her Wonders did produce; But both were to no use. As yet the Sorcerers mimick power serv'ed for excuse. Try what the Earth will do (said God) and, Lo? They stroke the Earth a fertile blow. And all the Dust did strait to stir begin; One would have thought some sudden Wind t'had bin; But, Lo, 'twas nimble Life was got within! And all the little Springs did move, And every Dust did an arm'ed Vermine prove, Of an unknown and new-created kinde, Such as the Magick-Gods could neither make nor finde. The wretched shameful Foe allow'ed no rest Either to Man or Beast. Not Pharaoh from th'unquiet Plague could bee, With all his change of Rayments free; The Devils themselves confest This was Gods Hand; and 'twas but just 1 To punish thus mans pride, to punish Dust with Dust.

8.

Lo the third Element does his Plagues prepare, And swarming Clouds of Insects fill the Aire. With sullen noise they take their flight, And march in Bodies infinite; In vain 'tis Day above, 'tis still beneath them Night. 1 Of harmful Flies the Nations numberless, Compos'ed this mighty Armies spacious boast; Of different Manners, different Languages; And different Habits too they wore, And different Arms they bore. And some, like Scythians, liv'ed on Blood, And Some on Green, and some on Flowry Food, 2 And Accaron, the Airy Prince, led on this various Host. Houses secure not Men, the populous ill Did all the Houses fill. The Country, all around, 3 Did with the cryes of tortured Cattel sound; About the fields enrag'ed they flew, And wisht the Plague that was t'ensue.

9.

1 From poysonous Stars a mortal Influence came (The mingled Malice of their Flame) A skilful Angel did th'Ingredients take, And with just hands the sad Composure make, And over all the Land did the full viol shake. Thirst, Giddiness, Faintness, and putrid Heats, And pining Pains, and Shivering Sweats, On all the Cattle, all the Beasts did fall; With deform'ed Death the Countrey's covered all. The labouring Ox drops down before the Plow; The crowned Victims to the Altar led Sink, and prevent the lifted blow: The generous Horse from the full Manger turns his Head; Does his Lov'ed Floods and Pastures scorn, Hates the shrill Trumpet and the Horn, Nor can his lifeless Nostril please, With the once-ravishing smell of all his dappled Mistresses. The starving Sheep refuse to feed, They bleat their innocent Souls out into aire; The faithful Dogs lie gasping by them there; Th'astonisht Shepherd weeps, and breaks his tuneful Reed.

10.

Thus did the Beasts for Mans Rebellion dy, God did on Man a Gentler Medicine try, And a Disease for Physick did apply. Warm ashes from the Furnace Moses took; The Sorcerers did with wonder on him look;

And smil'ed at th'unaccustom'ed Spell 1 Which no Egyptian Rituals tell. He flings the pregnant Ashes through the Aire, And speaks a mighty Prayer, Both which the Ministring Winds around all Egypt bear. As gentle western Blasts with downy wings Hatching the tender Springs To the'unborn Buds with vital whispers say, Ye living Buds why do ye stay? The passionate Buds break through the Bark their way. So wheresoere this tainted Wind but blew, Swelling Pains and Ulcers grew; It from the body call'ed all sleeping Poysons out, And to them added new; 2 A noysome Spring of Sores, as thick as Leaves did sprout.

11.

Heaven it self is angry next; Wo to Man, when Heav'en is vext. With sullen brow it frown'd, And murmur'ed first in an imperfect sound. Till Moses lifting up his hand, Waves the expected Signal of his Wand, And all the full-charg'ed clouds in ranged Squadrons move, And fill the spacious Plains above. Through which the rowling Thunder first does play, And opens wide the Tempests noisy way. And straight a stony shower Of monstrous Hail does downwards powre, Such as ne're Winter yet brought forth From all her stormy Magazins of the North. It all the Beasts and Men abroad did slay, 1 Ore the defaced corps, like Monuments, lay, The houses and strong-body'ed Trees it broke, Nor askt aid from the Thunders stroke. The Thunder but for Terror through it flew, 2 The Hail alone the work could do. The dismal Lightnings all around, Some flying through the Air, some running on the ground, Some swimming ore the waters face, Fill'd with bright Horror every place. One would have thought their dreadful Day to have seen, The very Hail, and Rain it self had kindled been.

12.

1 The Infant Corn, which yet did scarce appear, Escap'ed this general Massacer Of every thing that grew, And the well-stored Egyptian year

Began to cloath her Fields and Trees anew. 2 When, Lo, a scortching wind from the burnt Countrys blew, And endless Legions with it drew 3 Of greedy Locusts, who where ere With sounding wings they flew, Left all the Earth depopulate and bare, As if Winter it self had marcht by there. What ere the Sun and Nile Gave with large Bounty to the thankful soil, The wretched Pillagers bore away, And the whole Summer was their Prey. Till Moses with a prayer Breath'd forth a violent Western wind, Which all these living clouds did headlong bear (No Stragglers left behind) 4 Into the purple Sea, and there bestow On the luxurious Fish a Feast they nere did know. With untaught joy, Pharaoh the News does hear, And little thinks their Fate attends on Him, and His so near.

13.

What blindeness or what Darkness did there ere Like this undocile King's appear▪ What ere but that which now does represent And paint the Crime out in the Punishment? 1 From the deep, baleful Caves of Hell below, Where the old Mother Night does grow, Substantial Night, that does disclaime, Privation's empty Name, Through secret conduits monstrous shades arose, Such as the Suns whole force could not oppose, They with a Solid Cloud All Heavens Eclypsed Face did shrowd. Seem'd with large Wings spread ore the Sea and Earth To brood up a new Chaos his deformed birth. 2 And every Lamp, and every Fire Did at the dreadful sight wink and expire, To th'Empyrean Sourse all streams of Light seem'd to retire. The living Men were in their standing- houses buried; But the long Night no slumber knows, But the short Death findes no repose. Ten thousand terrors through the darkness fled, And Ghosts complain'd, and Spirits murmured. And Fancies multiplying sight View'd all the Scenes Invisible of Night.

14.

Of Gods dreadful anger these Were but the first light Skirmishes;

The Shock and bloody battel now begins, The plenteous Harvest of full-riponed Sins. 1 It was the time, when the still Moon Was mounted softly to her Noon, And dewy sleep, which from Nights secret springs arose, Gently as Nile the land oreflows. 2 When (Lo!) from the high Countreys of refined Day, The Golden Heaven without allay, Whose dross in the Credtion purg'ed away, Made up the Suns adulterace ray, 3 Michael, the warlike Prince, does downwards fly Swift as the jorneys of the Sight, Swift as the race of Light, And with his Winged Will cuts through the yielding sky. He past through many a Star, and as he past, Shone (like a star in them) more brightly there, Then they did in their Sphere On a tall Pyramids pointed Head he stopt at last, And a mild look of sacred Pity cast Down on the sinful Land where he was sent T'inflict the tardy panishment. Ah! yet (said He) yet stubborn King repent; Whilst thus unarm'ed I stand, Ere the keen Sword of God fill my commanded Hand; Suffer but yet Thy self, and Thine to live; Who would, alas! believe That it for Man (said He) So hard to be Forgiven should be, And yet for God so easie to Forgive!

15.

He spoke, and downwards flew, And ore his shining Form a well-cut cloud he threw Made of the blackest Fleece of Night, And close-wrought to keep in the powerful Light, Yet wrought so fine it hindred not his Flight. But through the Key-holes and the chinks of dores, And through the narrow'est Walks of crooked Pores, 1 He past more swift and free, Then in wide air the wanton Swallows flee. He took a pointed Pestilence in his hand, The Spirits of thousand mortal poysons made The strongly temper'd Blade, The sharpest Sword that ere was laid Up in the Magazins of God to scourge a wicked Land. Through Egypts wicked Land his march he took. 2 And as he marcht the sacred First born strook Of every womb; none did he spare; 3 None from the meanest Beast to Cenchres purple Heire.

16.

The swift approach of endless Night, Breaks ope the wounded Sleepers rowling Eyes▪ They'awake the rest with dying cries, And Darkness doubles the affright. The mixed sounds of scatter'd Deaths they hear, And lose their parted Souls 'twixt Grief and Fear, Louder then all the shreiking Womens voice Pierces this Chaos of confused noise As brighter Lightning cots a way Clear, and distinguisht, through the Day 1 With less complaints the Zoan Templess sound, 2 When the adored Haifer's drownd, And no true markt Successor to be found, Whilst Health, and Strength, and Oladuess does possesse The festal Hebrew Cottages; The blest Destroyer comes not there To interrupt the sacred cheare 3 That new begins their well reformed▪ Yeare. Upon their doors he read, and understood. Gods Protection writ in Blood, Well was he skild i'th' Character Divine▪ And though he past by it in haste, He bow'd and worshipt as he past, The mighty Mysterie through its humble Signe.

17.

The Sword strikes now too deep and near, Longer with it's edge to play; No Diligence or Cost they spare To haste the Hebrews now away, Pharaoh himself chides their delay; So kinde and bountiful is Fear! But, oh, the Bounty which to Fear we owe, Is but like Fire strook out of stone. So hardly got, and quickly gone, That it scarce out-lives the Blowe. Sorrow and fear soon quit the Tyrants brest; Rage and Revenge their place possest With a vast Host of Chariots and of Horse, And all his powerful Kingdoms ready force The travelling Nation he pursues; Ten times orecome, he still th'unequal war renewes, Fill'd with proud hopes, At least (said hee) Th' Egyptian Gods from Syrian Magick free Will now revenge Themselves and Mee; Behold what passless Rocks on either hand Like Prison walls about them stand! Whilst the Sea bounds their Flight before,

And in our injur'ed justice they must finde A worser stop then Rocks and Seas behinde. Which shall with crimson gore 1 New paint the Waters Name, and double dye the shore.

18.

He spoke; and all his Host Approv'ed with shouts th'unhappy boast, A bidden wind bore his vain words away, And drown'd them in the neighb'ring Sea. No means t'escape the faithless Travellers spie, And with degenerous fear to die, Curse their new-gotten Libertie. But the great Guide well knew he led them right, And saw a Fath hid yet from humane sight. He strikes the raging waves, the waves on either side Unloose their close Embraces, and divide; And backwards press, as in some solemn show The crowding People do (Though just before no space was seen) To let the admired Triumph pass between. The wondring Army saw on either hand The no less wondring Waves, like Rocks of Crystal stand. They marcht betwixt, and boldly trod The secret paths of God. And here and there all scatter'd in their way The Seas old spoils, and gaping Fishes lay Deserted on the sandy plain, The Sun did with astonishment behold The inmost Chambers of the opened Main, For whatsoere of old By his own Priests the Poets has been said, He never sunk till then into the Oceans Bed.

19.

Led chearfully by a bright Captain Flame, To th'other shore at Morning Dawn they came, And saw behinde th'unguided Foe March disorderly and slow. The Prophet straight from th'Idimaean strand Shakes his Imperious Wand. The upper waves, that highest crowded lie, The beckning Wand espie. Straight their first right-hand files begin to move, And with a murmuring wind Give the vvord March to all behind. The left-hand Squadrons no less ready prove, But vvith a joyful louder noise Ansvver their distant fellovvs voice, And haste to meet them make,

As several Troops do all at once a common Signal take. What tongue th'amazment and th'affright can tell 1 Which on the Chamian Army fell, When on both sides they saw the roaring Maine Broke loose from his Invisible Chaine? They saw the monstrous Death and watry war Come rowling down loud Ruine from afar. In vain some backward, and some forwards fly With helpless haste; in vain they cry 2 To their Coelestial Beasts for aid; In vain their guilty King they'upbraid, In vain on Moses he, and Moses God does call, With a Repentance true too late; They're compast round with a devouring Fate That draws, like a strong Net, the mighty Sea upon them All.

NOTES.

3:

1. LIke that of Virgil,

Subridens mistâ Mezentius irâ.

And Mezentius was like Pharaoh in his contempt of the Deity, contemptor{que} Deûm Mezentius, Exod. 5. 2. And (Pharaoh) answered, who is the Lord, that I should hear his voyce, and let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.

2. For no Nation under the Sun worshipt so many Gods as Egypt; so that probably Pha∣raoh would have known the name of any God but the true one, Iehovah.

3. That Pharaoh askt a sign; appears by Exod. 7. 9. And when Pharaoh shall say to you, Shew me a sign, &c.

4. Almighty, as it was the Instrument of the Almighty in doing wonders; for which it is called the Rod of the Lord, as well as of Moses and Aaron; and in this sense Fortune is rightly cal∣led by Virgil Omnipotens.

5. We may well suppose that the King and his Guards fled for fear at the sight, since Moses himself did so at first, Exod. 4. 2. And it was turned into a Serpent, so that Moses fled from it.

4.

1. So the Apostle calls the chief of Pharaohs Magicians, 2 Tim. 3. 8. but S. Hieron. translates their names Iohannes and Mambres; and they say there is a Tradition in the Talmud, that Iuhani And Mamre, chief of Pharaohs Magicians, said to Moses, Thou bringest straw into Aepraim, which was where abundance of corn grew; as if they should have said, to Bring your ma∣gical Arts hither, is to as much purpose, as to bring water to Nilus. Iannes was famous even among heathen Authors. Pliu. lib. 3. c. 1. Est & alia Magices factio, a Mose, & Ianne & Iotape Iudaeis pendens. and Numenius the Pythagorean names him in Euseb. 1. 9. Prapaerat. Evang. They here are called by several names, in several Translations, by the Septuag, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Venefici, Poisoners, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Incantatores, Enchanters; by Sulpitius Severus, Chaldaans, that is, Astrologers; by others, Sapientes & Malefici, Wisemen (that is, Men esteemed so among the Egyptians) Philosophers and Witches.

2. Fecerunt etiam ipsi per incantationes Aegyptiacos & arcana quaedam similiter. Their Gods may well be called Servile, for in all Enchantments we fiade them threatned by the Conjurers, and forced whether they will or no, by the power of Spelli, to do what they are commanded. Tiresias in the 4 Theb. because they did not obey him at first word, speaks to them like a Schoolmaster, with a rod in his hand,

—Et nobis saevire facultas:—An Scythicis quoties armata venenisColchis aget trepido pallebunt Tartara motu,Nostri cura minor? &c.

And Lucan says of Erichtho,

Omne nefas superi prima jam voce precantisConcedunt, carmen{que} timent audire secundum.

And the Witches used always some obscure murmurings in their charms. So of Erichth,

Tum vox Lethaeos cunctis pollentior herbisExcantare Deos, confundit murmura primumDissona, & humanae multum discordia Linguae.

3. There are four opinions concerning this action of the Magicians; the first, that their Rods appeared Serpents by an Illusion of the sight. This was Iosephus his opinion; for he says, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and Tertullian, Hierom, Gregory Nyssen, are cited for it too. Sedulius in lib. 4. Carm.

—Sed imagine falsaVisibus human is magicos tribuere figuras.

This I like not, by no means; for if the appearance of the Serpents was an Illusion, so was the devouring of them too by Moses his Serpent. Therefore the second opinion to salve this difficulty, says, that the Devil for the Magicians, did really on the sudden, make up some bodies that looked like true Serpents, but were not so, and those bodies were truly devoured by Moses his true Serpent. But it does not fully answer the objection; and besides, by this De∣ceipt, they might as well have imitated the other miracles. The third is, Thom. Aquinor, and Cajetans, and Delrios, and divers others, That they were true Serpents, not Created in an instant by the Devil (for that is granted by all to exceed his power) but Generated in a mo∣ment of Time by application of all things required to the generation of Serpents, which is Spontaneous sometimes. The fourth is of Peretius, Abulensis, and many more, that the Devil snatcht away the Rods. and had true Serpents there in readiness to put in their place, and this agrees better with the swiftness of the action, for which, and some other reasons, I fol∣low it.

5:

1. The Bank of Nilus, which is incomparably the most famous River in the world, whe∣ther we consider the greatness and length of it (for it runs about 900 German miles) or the things that it produces, or the miraculous flowing and ebbing of it. It is therefore called ab∣solutely in the Scripture, Machal Misraim, The River of Egypt. From whence the word Nile is not unnaturally derived Nahal, Naal, Neel, Neil; as Bahal, Baal, Bel, Βῆλος: and Pompon. Mela reports, 1. 5. c. 10. That the fountain of Nilus is called Nachul by the Ethiopians. Now whereas God says to Moses, Go to Pharaoh in the morning, when he shall go forth to the Water: I believe, as the Perfians worshipt every morning the rising Sun, so the Egyptians did Nile; and that this going forth of the King to the River, was a constant act of Devotion, Theodoret 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Nay I doubt whether Osyris (their great Deity) be not worshipped for Nilus. Seld. de Dils Syris.

2. The fountain of Nilus is now known to be in the mountains called Lunaemontes, and one of the Titles of Prester Iohn is, King of Goyome. Where Nile begins; but the ancients were totally ignorant of it, insomuch, that this was reckoned among the famous proprieties of Nilus, that it concealed its Spring, Fontium quicelat origines; of which see Lucan in the 10. Book; where, among other things, he says most admirably of Nilus.

—Vbicun{que} videris,Quaereris, & multi contingit gloria gentiVt Nilo sit laeta suo.

3. Theodoret upon Exodus, says thus of this change of Nilus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Being changed into Blood, it accused the Egyptians of the Insants murder; and the Book of Wisdom in Chap. 11. makes the same observation.

6.

1. Computruit fluvius; and before the Septuag. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 where the vulgar Edi∣tion says, Computrescent aqua; that is, fervebit, vel effervescet fluvius, relating perhaps to Blood, which when it corrupts Boils, and burns as it were in the veins: when the water had been corrupted in this manner, it is no wonder if it produced a great number of Frogs; but the wonder consists in that the number was so infinite, in that it was so suddenly produced upon the action of Aaron, and that contrary to their nature, they came to molest the Egypti∣ans in their very houses. The like judgement with this we finde in prosane Histories, and to be attributed to the same hand of God, though the Rod was Invisible. Athenaeus in his 8 Book, and 2 Ch. reports, that in Paonia and Dardanium (now called Bulgarie) there rained down so many Frogs from heaven (that is, perhaps they were suddenly produced after great showers) that they filled all the publike ways, and even private houses, that their domestical furni∣ture was convered with them, that they found them in the very pots where they boiled their meat; and that what with the trouble of the Living, and the smell of the Deadones, they were forced at last to forsake their Countrey. And Pliny reports in his 8. B. Ch, 29. That a whole City in Gallia hath been driven away by Frogs, and another in Afrique by Locusts; and many examples of this kinde might be collected.

2. Sen lib. 4. Quaest. Natur. c. 11. Nilus brings both Water and Earth too to the thirsty and sandy soil; for flowing thick and troubled, he leaves all his Lees, as it were, in the Clests of the parched ground, and covers the dry places with the fatness which he brought with him, so that he does good to the Countrey two ways, both by over flowing, and by manuring it. So that Herod. calls it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The Husbandman. Tibul. Te propter nullos Tellus tua postulat imbres, Arida necpluvio supplicat herba Iovi; for which reason Lucan says, that Egypt hath no need of Iupiter,

—Nihil indiga mercisAut Iovis, in solo tanta est fiducia Nile.

And one in Athenaus bolder, yet calls Nilus excellently well, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 thou Egyptian Iupiter: nay, it was termed by the Egyptians themselves, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The River that emulates and contends with Heaven.

7.

1. What kinde of Creature this was, no man can tell certainly. The Sept. translate it both here, and in the Psaim 105. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. And so Philo, and the vulgar edition retains the word, Sciniphes, Ciniphes, or Kniphes, seem to come from the word, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which signifies to Prick, and they were a kinde of Gnat: and Pliny renders them Culices muliones, and sometimes simply Culices; as likewise Columella. Dioscorid. cap. 112. terms them, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 And Hesych. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 So Isidor. 1. 12. Origin. and Oros. 7, 8. and so Origen. Yet Iunius and Tremell. and the French, and the Eng∣lish, and divers other Translations, render it by Lice, and Lice too might have wings; for Diod. Sicul. 1. 3. c. 3. speaking of the Acridophagi, or carer: of Locusts, says, that when they grow old, their bodies breed a kinde of uinged Lice, by which they are devoured. It seems to me most probab c, that it was some new kinde of creature, called analogically by an old known name, which is Pererius his conjecture, and is approved by River: And this I take to be the reason why the Magicians could not counterseit this miracle, as it was easie for them to do those of the Serpents, the Blood and the Frogs, which were things to be had every where. This I think may pass for a more probable cause then the pleasant sincy of the Hebrews, who say, that the Devils power is bounded to the producing of no creature less then a grain of Barley, or then S. Augustines allegorical reason, and too poetical even for Poetry, who affirms, that the Magicians sailed in the ibird Plague, to shew the defect of humane Philosophy, when it comes to the mysterie of the Trinity but, such pitiful allusions do more hurt then good in Divinity.

8.

1. A grievous Swarm of Flies—So our English Translation; St. Hier Omne genus musca∣rum. All sorts of Flies. The Septuag. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Canina Musca, a particular kinde of Fly, called a Dog-Fly, from his biting. If it be not to be read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which may signifie Aquila's, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Some translate this place, A mixture of Beasts. The French, une mes••••e de bestes. Iun. and Tremell. Colluviem: and it should seem that Iosephus understood it of se∣veral sorts of wilde Beasts that infested The Countrey. For he says, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; and Pagninus, Omne genus serarum; which is not very probable, for the punishments yet were rather troublesome then mortal, and even this punishment of Infinite num∣bers of small Tormentors, is so great a one, that God calls them his Armie, Ioel, 2. 25. nay, his Great Army, The Locust, the canker-worm, and the catterpillar, and the palmer worm, my great Army, which I sent among you.

2. The God of Flies, Belzebub, a Deity worshipped at Accaron, Iupiter, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, either from bringing or diving away of Swarms of Flies, Plin. lib. •••• c. 28. Those of Cyrene worship the God Achor, great multitudes of Flies causing there a Pestilence, which presently dye upon the sacrificing to this God; where Achor, I conceive, to be the same with Accaron, most of the sea-coasta of Afrique, being ancient Colonies of the Phoenicians. Clement reports, that in Acarnaniâ at the Temple of Actian Apollo, they sacrificed an Ox to Flies, And Aelian, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 de Animal c. 8. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Both, as I suppose, meaning that they sacrifiecd the Ox, not to the flies themselves, but to Apollo or Iupiter 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Pausan. l. •• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Eleans sacrifice to Iupiter 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for the driving away of Flies, from the Country of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The Romans called this God not Iupiter, but Hercules Apomyius, though we read not of the killing of Flies among his Labors. Plin. 1. 29. c. 6. No living creature has less of understanding, or is less 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (then flies) which makes it the more wonderful, that at the Olympique Games, upon the sacrificing of an Ox to the God whom they call Myiodes, whole clouds of them fly out of the Territory. And among the Trachinians, we read of Hercules. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Driver away of Gnats with the Erythraeans of Hercules 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the killer of worms, that hurt the Vines and many more Deities of the like honorable imployment are to be found among the ancients.

3. Many sorts of Flies molest the Castle, none so as the Afilus or Oestrus (the Gad-Fly)

Virg. Georg. 3.Oestrum, Graeci vertêre vacantes,Asper, acerba sonans, quo tota exterrita silvisDiffugiunt armenta

With the plague that was to ensue; that is, not in the sense that Claudian speaks of Pluto's Horses,

Crastina venturae exspectantes gaudia praeda

For how (as Scaliger says) could they know it) but simply, Wisht for death.

9.

1. (i.) Poisoning: The conjunction of which produce Poisons (1) Infectious diseases, ac∣cording to the received opinion of Astrologers. Virgil says, By the sick, or Diseased Heaven; that is, which causes diseases, but Heaven is there perhaps taken for the Air,

Hic quondam Morbo coeli miseranda coorta estTempestaa, toto{que} Autumni incanduit aestu, &c.

Where see his most incomparable description of a Pestilence.

10.

1. No Books or Writings of the Rites of Magick amongst the Egyptians.

2. It is called by Moses, Chap 9, 10. Vicus inflationum Germinans in homine, &c. Sptou'lng

out with blains, &c. which Iun. and Tremel. Erumpens multis pustulis. This in Deuteronomy is one of the curses with which the disobedience to God is threatned, Chap. 18. 27. The Lord shall smite thee with the botch of Egypt, &c. From hence, I believe, came the calumny, that Trog. Pompeius, Diod. Siculus, Tacitus, and other heathens cast upon the Hebrews, to wit, that they were expelled out of Egypt for being scabbed and leprous, which mistake was easie, in∣stead of being dismist for having brought those diseases upon the Egyptians.

11.

1. Not each one like a Monument, for that Metaphor would be too big; but many of them together, like a Monument, and the most ancient Monuments, we know, were heaps of stones, not great Tomb-stones.

12.

1. (i.) The Wheat and Rye. See Chap. 9. v. 32.

2. Ch. 10. v. 13. Our Translation has East-wind: And the Lord brought an East-wind upon the Lord all that day, and all the night, &c. The vulgar has Ventum urentem. The Septuagint a Southwind. and Eugub. says, There is no doubt but it was a South wind; which opinion I follow (though the Iews unanimously will have it to be an East-wind) because the Southern parts of Afrique were most insested with Locusts, where they are in some places, the chief sood of the inhabitants: so that from thence they might easily be sercht; for I cannot agree with some, who imagine, that the hot wind blowing all day and night, produced them.

3. Wonderful are the things which Authors report of these kinde of Armies of Locusts, and of the order and regularity of their marches. Aldroandus and Fincelius (as I finde them cited) say thus, That in the year 8 yr. they were seen to fly over twenty miles in Germany in a day, in manner of a formed Army, divided into several squadrons, and having their quarters apart when they rested. That the Captains, with some few, marcht a days journey before the rest, to choose the most opportune places for their camp. That they never re∣moved till Sun-rising, and just then went away in as much order as an Army of men could do. That at last having done great mischief wheresover they past; after prayers made to God, they were driven by a violent wind into the Belgique Ocean, and there drown'd, but being cast again by the sea, upon the shore, caused a great pestilence in the Countrey. Some adde, that they covered an hundred and sorty Acres at a time. St. Hier. upon Ioel, speaks thus. When the armies of Locusts came lately into these parts, and filled all the air, they flew in so great order, that slates in a pavement cannot be laid more regularly, neither did they ever stir one inch out of their ranks and files. There are reckoned thirty several sorts of Locusts, some in India (if we dare believe Plimy) three soot long. The same Author adds, of Locusts (Lib. 11. cap. 29.) That they pass in troops over great seas, enduring hunger for many days together in the search of foreign food. They are believed to be brought by the anger of the Gods; for they are seen sometimes very great. and make such a noise with their wings in flying, that they might be taken for Birds. They overcast the Sun, whilst people stand gazing with terror, lest they should fall upon their lands—out of Afrique chiefly they infest Italy. and the people are forced to have recourse to the Sybils Books, to enquire for a remedy. In the Countrey of Cyrene there is a Law to make war against them thrice a year, first by breaking their eggs, then by killing the young ones, and lastly, the old ones, &c.

4. The Red sea, which, methinks, I may better be allowed to call Purple, then Homer and Virgil to term any sea so.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

Virg.In Mare purpureum violentior influit amnis.

Pliny says, Purpuram irati maris faciem referre and Theophr. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

13.

1. Chap. v. Even darkness that may be felt. The Vulgar, Tam densae (tenebrae) ut palpari queant. Whether this darkness was really in the aire, or onely in their eyes, which might be blinded for the time: Or whether a suspension of Light from the act of Illumination in that Countrey; or whether it were by some black, thick, and damp vapor which possest all the air, it is impossible to determine. I fancy that the darkness of Hell below, which is called Utter Darkness, arose and overshadowed the Land; and I am authorized by the Wisdom of Solom. Chap. 17. v. 14. where he calls it a night that came upon them out of the bottoms of inevitable Hell, and therefore was the more proper to be (as he says after) An Image of that darkness which should afterwards receive them.

2. That all Fires and Lights went out, is to be plainly collected from the Text; for else how could it be truly said, that they could not see one another? and is confirmed by the Wisdom of Solony. Chap. 17. 5. No power of the fire might give them light. 3. See the above-cited, Chap. 17.

14.

1. Midnight, called also by the Latines Meridies noctis.

2. It is very much disputed what that Light was that was created the first day. That it was the Empyraean heaven, seems to me the most probable opinion, out of which the Sun, Moon and Stars were made the fourth day: and therefore before I say, that all Light seemed to be returned to the Empyrean or highest heaven from whence it came at first.

3. Some think that God inflicted this plague upon the Egyptions immediately himself, because he says, Chap. 11. v. 4. About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt. And to the

same effect, Chap. 12. 12. but it is an ordinary manner of speech, to attribute that to God, which is done by one of his Angels; and that this was an Angel, appears out of Chap. 12. 23. The Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the Destroyer to come into your houses to smite you. From which place, and Psalm 78. v. 49. where it is said (of the Egyptians) He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil Angels among them; Some collect, that God used here the ministry of an Evil or Evil Angels; but I cannot be∣lieve, that God and the Magicians had the same Agents, and that Text of the Psalm is per∣haps ill translated. Iun. and Tremel. understand by it Moses and Aaron, as Nuntios Malorum; and if we interpret it (as others) of Angels, it were better rendred in English, Destroying or Punishing Angels. Infficters of Evil upon them. I attribute this infliction to the Archangel Michael: first, because it was he (by name) who sought with the Dragon, and smore him and his Angels, Revel. 12. 7. Secondly, because in Daniel too he is mentioned as an Angel of War, Chap. 10. v. 13. And lastly, because the very name is said to signifie Percussio Dei. The Smiting of God. The Wisdom of Solomon, Chap. 18. v. 14. 15. 16. gives a little hint of the fancy of this Stance: For whilst all things were in quiet silence, and that the night was in the midst of her swist course, Thine Almighty Word, leapt down from heaven out of thy royal at Throne. as a fierce man of war into the midst of a Land of destruction: And brought thine unfergned com∣mand as a sharp sword, and standing up, filled all things with death, &c.

15.

1. That this Plague was a pestilence, is the opinion of Iosephus, and most Interpreters.

2. The Law of consecrating all first-borns to God, seems Exod. the 13. to be grounded upon this slaughter of the Egyptian First-born. But that was rather the addition of a new cause why the Hebrews should exactly observe it, then that it was the whole reason of it; for even by natural right, the First-born, and First-fruits of all things are Sacred to God; and therefore anciently, not onely among the Iews, but also other Nations, the Priesthood belonged to the Eldest Sons.

3. The Name of that Pharaoh who was drowned in the Red-sea There is great confusion in the succession of the Egyptian Kings, and divers named by some Chronologers, that are quite omitted by others; as Amenophis, whom Mercator, and some others, will have to be the King drowned in the Red sea; but that it was Cenchres, is the most probable, and most received opinion.

16.

1. That Zoan, or Tzoan, was the place where Moses did his miracles, and consequently the City where Pharaoh Cenchres lived, we have the authoritie of Psalm 78. 12. It was likewise called Tanis (by the Graecians) and from it that mouth of the Nile near which it stood, Ostium Taniticum. So that they are mistaken, who make Noph, or Moph, that is, Memphis, the place where Pharaoh kept his Court, for that was built afterwards, and lies more South∣ward.

2. The Adored Heifer. Apis, and Serapis, and Osyris (who was Misraim) I conceive to have been the same Deity among the Egyptians, known by other Nations by the names of Mithra, Baal, Tamuz, Adonis, &c. and signifying the Sun, the great lamentations for the disappearing or loss of Osyris, Tamuz, and Adonis, and rejoycing for their return, signify∣ing nothing but the Elongation by Winter, and re-approach of the Sun by Summer. The Egyptians under Apis, or Osyris, did likewise worship Nilus; and their 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signified the overflowing of Nilus, and return of it to the channel. Now owing all their sustenance to the Sun and Nilus for that reason they figured both under the shape of an Ox; and not, I believe, as Vossius, and some other learned men imagine, to represent Ioseph, who fed them in the time of the famine: Besides, the Images of this Ox (like that which Aaron made for the children of Israel, in the imitation of the Egyptian Idolatry) they kept a living one, and worshipped it with great reverence, and made infinite lamentations at the death of it, till another was found with the like marks, and then they thought that the old one was onely returned from the bottom of Nilus, whither they fancied it to retreat at the death or disappearing,

—Quo se gurgite NiliCondat adoratus trepidis pastoribus Apis. Stat.

The Marks were these. It was to be a black Bull, with a white streak along the back, a white mark like an Half-moon on his right shoulder, two hairs onely growing on his tail, with a square blaze in his forehead, and a bunch, called Cantharus, under his Tongue: By what art the Priests made these marks, is hard to guess. It is indifferently named Ox, Calf, or Heifer, both by the Hebrews, Greeks, and Latines. So that which Exodus terms a Calf, Psalm 106. renders an Ox.

3. See Chap. 12. 2. From this time the Heorews had two computations of the beginning of the year; the one common, the other Sacred: The Common began in Tisri, which answers to our September, at the Autumnal Aequinoctial; and all civil matters were regulated according to this, which was the old account of the year. The Sacred, to which all Festivals, and all Religious matters had relation, began at the vernal Aequinoctial, and was in stitured in com∣memoration of this deliverance.

17.

1. (i.) Give a new occasion for it to be called the Red-sea. Concerning the name of which, the opinions are very different; that which seems to me most probable is, that it

is denominated from Idumaea, and that from Edom, or Esau, that signifies Red; and the King Erithra, or Erythrun, from whence the Graecians derive it was Esau, and Erythraea his Countrey, Idumaea, both signifying the same thing in Hebrew and in Greek; but because that opinion of the Redness of the shore in some places, has bin most received, and is confirmed even to this day by some Travellers, and sounds most poetically, I allude to it here, whe∣ther it be true or not.

18.

1. Plutarch de Is. & Osyr. testifies, that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 was an ancient name of Egypt, and that it was called so long after by the most skilful of the Egyptian Priests; that is, the Countrey of Cham: As also, the Scripture terms it, Psalm 105. Et Iacob peregrinus fuit in terra Cham. From whose son it was afterwards named Misraim, and by the Arabians Mesre to this day.

2. Beasts that were deified by the Egyptians, who chose at first the figures of Beasts for the Symbols or Hieroglyphical signs of their Gods, perhaps no otherwise then as the Poets make them of Constellations, but in time the worship came even to be terminated in them.

FINIS.