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THE

CHRISTIAN.

BOOK THE FIFTH.

WHEN
HEN Nero reign'd, that tyrant who disgrac'd
The human form, and who in wrath was plac'd
On Rome's imperial seat, to scourge mankind,
In whom most follies, vices, were combin'd,
He with Rome's gen'ral approbation chose,
Vespasian, the rebellious Jews t' oppose;
A man from early youth inur'd to war,
And who had spread his country's glory far,
Made haughty nations her dominion own,

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And bow, though sullen, to her daring throne. 10

This was the famous empire, which of old,

Daniel, belov'd and taught of heav'n, foretold

Should tread the nations of the earth in fight,

Terrific, irresistible in might.

Vespasian now to Alexandria sends

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Titus his son, while he to Syria bends,
Indignant of delay, his awful course,

Where met the Roman and confed'rate force.
The Jews who lately some advantage knew,
With eager valour to the contest flew.
Mutual the hatred, valor, were, and soon
The hoftile armies met at Askelon.
There full ten thousand Israelites were slain,
Were left unburied on the crimson plain.

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All Galilee was spread with fire and blood,

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'Twas scarcely known where once her cities stood.

For Titus now had join'd his warlike sire,

A son inheriting an equal fire,

With num'rous troops from Alexandria brought,

Troops for their faithfulness and valor sought. 30

Soon Gadara to their ambition fell,

No Jew was left its cruel fate to tell.

Nor did Samaria undisturb'd remain,

For almost each Samaritan was slain.
In mount Gerizim, which they sacred held,
They were surrounded, till by thirst compell'd,
Some to the foe went o'er, but stubborn, most
Died ere they yielded to the Roman host.
The castles of Jotapata then blaz'd,

And all the city from the earth was raz’d.
Next spurning homage Gamala revolts,

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And dares the vengeance of Rome's thunderbolts. For it was high erected on a rock,

Form'd to withstand of all assault the shock.

Its tow'rs, howe'er, th' intrepid Romans gain, 45

Yet with much slaughter quit those tow'rs again;
For never did the fierce invaders know,

So unforeseen, and so severe a blow.
It yields again, and its defenders brave,

Fall unexcepted in a common grave.

Titus was order'd Giscala to tame,

And make obedient to the Roman name';

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When John (who bore his surname from the place, Whom we shall after mention with disgrace) Pretending treaty, makes a secret flight,

With others to Jerusalem by night.

But those inhabitants who staid behind,

Left by their leaders and distrest in mind,
Strove by submission to disarm the foe,

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And found that mercy which they wish'd to know.

These awful judgments were pursu'd by worse,
For heav'n chastis'd the land with ev'ry curse.
A band of zealots, they Sicarii nam'd,
Whom mad enthusiasm for the law inflam'd,
Engedi storm'd, when busied in a feast,

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And laid, where'r they could, Judea waste.

Soon after this, the Romans follow'd those,
Who rather flight than loath'd submission chose,
And unto Jordan fled, with rains which swell'd,
The fugitives to an unwilling flight compell'd. 70
And here they met from their invet'rate foe,

A num'rous crew, a total overthrow.

Their bodies nearly chok'd old Jordan's flood,

To the dead sea which ran distain'd with blood.

Unhappy Jericho was sack'd and fir'd,

Ere from the place its citizens retir❜d.

It would be tedious, difficult, to tell,

What men, what cities, to the Romans fell;
Their bold decisive eagle flew where'er

Conquest attended on its dread career.

But hearing now of Nero's death at home,

Vespasian thinks of a return to Rome;

He quits the conquest of Jerusalem,
That he may gain th' imperial diadem;
And Titus is appointed to command

That army which had scourg'd the Holy Land.

O pious muse, in awful strains relate,

-Superb Jerusalem's predicted fate.

Behold the minister of wrath appears,

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And in his train in gloomy pomp he bears

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Line 89, &c. Most of the following particulars relative to the siege and destruction of Jerusalem,

are

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