V.

Far, far and fast, through all that night,
The vanquish'd urged their frantic flight;
And e'er the morrow's dawning light

Looked on that scene of wrath,

Beth-shittah saw the race of fear,
Still onwards in its mad career,
Rush past upon its path;

Nor till in Jordan's wave the sun

Had bath'd, the foremost, one by one,

(Abel-meholah's borders won,)3

Ventur❜d to pause, and dream at last,
Pursuit was baffled, danger past;
While many a straggler, far, far back,
Still heard the avenger on his track,
And struggled onwards faint and slow,
Or sank to meet the fatal blow.
For where a foe remained to kill,
Gideon and his three hundred still
Plied the avenging sword!
Stedfast in sunshine as in storm,
His hand relaxed not to perform

The labor of the Lord.

3 And, the host fled to Beth-shittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah unto Tabbath. Judges vii. 22.

VI.

"The fords of Jordan!-If the foe
Shall pass them, e'er another blow
Be struck to clench the first, they gain
The desert, and man tries in vain.
To crown what God has done!
Haste to Mount Ephraim! away-
Tell them to place them in array,
Full on the fords, in Midian's way,
And let them finish-if they may-
What Gideon has begun."

VII.

No rest for Midian! Ephraim's sword
Awakes to vengeance at the ford.
In vain they struggle! man and horse,
The living blended with the corse,
Are whelmed together in the flood,
Which crimsons at the work of blood.

Zeeb and Oreb long could tell 5

The spot where Midian's princes fell;

4 And Gideon sent messengers throughout all Mount Ephraim, saying, "Come down against the Midianites and take before them the waters unto Beth-barah and Jordan." Judges vii. 24.

5

And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb; and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan. Judges vii. 25.

But not a stone remained to say
What nameless thousands bled that day;
Till her dread work of slaughter o'er,
In triumph back to Israel's shore,
Her bleeding trophies Ephraim brought,
Glutted with death but sated not.
And now the conqueror must learn
How hard the task from men to earn
Of gratitude the meed,

And pause upon his glorious path,
To speak the words that soften wrath,
To those whom he had freed."

Think not the hero of the war

The only conqueror !-there are

More glorious triumphs still

For him, who hears the thankless chide,
Yet chains his tongue, can vanquish pride,
And mortify self-will.

VIII.

On in pursuit let others go,

Recount their triumphs o'er the foe,

Or slumber if they will;

6

And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? and they did chide with him sharply. And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi-ezer?......... Then their anger was abated toward him when he had said that. Judges viii. 1-3.

But Gideon and his faithful few

Leave not the work they have to do,
Faint, but pursuing still.

Devoted to the work of heaven,

While life remains, while strength is given,

Through faith in Him they serve,

'Mid perils of the wilderness,

'Mid cold and hunger, and distress,
They falter not nor swerve!
Succoth's proud princes may disdain
The way-worn stranger and his train',
Nor grant them bread,-an humble boon!-
The time shall come, and come too soon,
They shall, by bitter anguish torn,

Be taught to feel for those that mourns!
Penuel's cold sons the brave may spurn
Unpitied from her gate, or turn

In mockery to the foe";

Not her proud name,10 nor boasted tower

Shall save her in the evil hour

From retribution's blow !

7 And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give I pray you loaves of bread unto the people that are with me: for they be faint, &c. And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zeba and Zalmunna now in thine hand that we should give bread unto thy army, &c. Judges viii. 4—8.

8 And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth. Judges viii. 16.

9 And the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him. And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace I will break down this tower. Judges viii. 8, 9.

10 And Jacob called the name of the place Penuel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. Gen. xxii. 30.

Let Zeba and Zalmunna boast

That Gideon fears the war;

With triumph view the gallant host,
That rallies from afar :

And dream of victory again
Amid their desert countrymen 11.

In vain! The foe is on the way,
The bolt is in the air :

And scarce a man of all that lay
In fond security that day

At Karkor12, shall escape to say

How Gideon triumphed there !

IX.

The warrior now has sheathed his sword,
The patriot's task is o'er,

And from the votary the Lord

Demands not service more:

A moment now to self belongs,

To the man's griefs, the brother's wrongs.
"Bring forth the captive kings!" And lo,
They stand before their country's foe;
E'en at that hour with bearing high,
Prepared like desert chiefs to die!

11 Now Zeba and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, &c. Judges viii. 10.

12

And Gideon went up by way of them that dwelt in tents Nobah and Jogbehah and smote the host: for the host was secure.

on the east of Judges viii. 11.