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How am I Honour'd? In what high E∣steem is Balaam held? That Moabs Princes thus at∣tend his Morning wake, and Kings become his sup∣plicants? Did they know what little power I have to serve them, surely they would not be Solicitous at such a rate. Alas! Alas! my Curses in this case are fruitless. Iacobs God, at whose dread Name I Tremble; frustrates all my purposes, and by his power dispoyles me of those jugling Arts wherewith I blin••ed the delude•• Eyes of Godless Nations: Yet must I go and visit Balack▪ or the King will storm at my delay. Ha! Why stars my Ass? Why cro••ds she to the Wall, the Coa••t is clear: No dreadfull Apparition sure does represent it self to her Amaz∣ed Eyes. How's this? The more with Stripes I load her, the more she doth Recoile: My Heart misgives. Terror s••izes every part. Ha! now she's fallen, and I'm crushe••: But with redoubled Stripes I'll thus rev••••ge my self.
Wick••d and Sin bli••ded Man, what means this cruelty to me? Wh•••• h••ve I done to thee, that thou hast Sm••tten me th••se three times?
Ha! A••azment seizes me! What is't 〈◊〉〈◊〉 h••••r▪ or am••••••ur delad••d with t••e ••cho of s••me sou••d r••bo••••••ing ••••••m the Nei••••••ouring Hi••••s▪ ••or what st••ang▪ po••er can th•••• inspi••e a Brute with humane Voice, to sou•••• A••••••ul••t••? And y••t it seems no l••ss: W••at ••ave I ••one ••o th••e, that thou hast 〈◊〉〈◊〉 me th••se three ti••••s? Where not they the words▪ Yes, yes, they were: But y••t s••av, I'll try agai•• if any ••urth••r ••ou••d r••mai••s: ••hy have! Stricke•• thee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 t••••u? W••s th••re no•• a reason for i•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 t••ou ••••st 〈…〉〈…〉: and O that th••re were Swo••d In my 〈◊〉〈◊〉! ••or no•• woul•• I Kill th••e.
Am 〈…〉〈…〉 thine Ass, upon which thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ridde•• ever si••ce I was thi••e, to this day: And 〈…〉〈…〉 ever wont to do so unto thee?
Ha! Yet again: O s••••pendious and Ama••••ing;
what can this speaking prodigie in Nature signifie? or to what end tends it? Sure Angry Hea∣ven forbids my further pa••sage, and commands my swift return, least dire destr••ction meet with me in the way. Was I ever wont to do so unto thee, were n••t they the last words? Ay, they were: Why no thou di••est not, but 'tis now too soon: Yet sure ther's something further ment by those misterious senten∣ces. O miserable me! my Eyes are open now, and 'tis too to plain: The Ass was wiser th••n the Prophet. A bright Heavenly Warriour with a flaming Sword, wide wavering threatens me with present death. Wretch that I am! What shall I doe? But falling prostrate, strait implore his mercy.
Balaam, wherefore ••ast thou smitten thy Ass these three tim••s? Behol•• I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is preverse before me, and the Ass saw me and turn'd from me these three times. Vnless she h••d turne••, surely now also I had Killed thee, and sa∣ved her alive.
O mighty Lord sp••re me! poor wretched me! Who with a strange Co••fusion must confess, that through ignorance I have ••rovoked thy Anger, and th••s ••in••••d; for I kn••w not th•••• thou stoodest in the w••y against me. Now therefore if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
No, 'tis the Allmighty God of Jacobs will, you s••ou'd p••oceed, but only the words that I shall speak unto thee, that shalt thou speak; bewar thou degress not, le••st swift vengeance over••ake thee.
How sud••••inly the glorious Apparition's vani••h'd; now I know that Israel is bless'd; nor can my words prevail against them, nor must I Curse the chosen of the Lord, but bless them; Even so transcendant happy are all those that put their trust in him. But my Companions call, I must away, though my visit will be little pleasing to the King.