Of Egypt, Baal next and Ashtaroth, And all th' idolatries of Heathen round, Befides their other worse than heath'nish crimes; Nor in the land of their captivity Humbled themselves, or penitent befought Like to themselves, distinguishable scarce 420 425 Unhumbled, Ahab's wife, who prompted him to all evil, was the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, thel and in Dan, and which the poet calls the deities of Egypt, for it is probable (as fome learned men have conjectured) that Jero. 1 Kings XVI. 31. And by the boam having converfed with the prophets of the groves 1 Kings Egyptians fet up these two calves XVIII. 19. Mr. Selden underin imitation of the two which the ftands the prophets of Ahtaroth or Egyptians worshipped, the one Afarte: and the groves under every I called Apis at Memphis the me- green tree 2 Kings XVII. 10. tropolis of the upper Egypt, and fhould be tranflated Ahtaroth unthe other called Mnevis at Hiera- der every green tree. See Selden polis the metropolis of the lower de Diis Syris Syntag. II. cap. 2. Egypt. Baal next and Afhtaroth. But for the wickedness and idolaAhab built an altar and a temple try of the Ifraelites, and their refor Baal, 1 Kings XVI. 32. and jection thereupon, and ftill contiat the fame time probably was in- nuing impenitent in their captivity, troduced the worship of Ahta- fee 2 Kings XVII. and the proroth, the Goddess of the Zidonians phets in feveral places. 1 Kings XI. 5. For Jezebel, 430. Head Unhumbled, unrepentant, unreform'd, Headlong would follow'; and to their Gods perhaps Of Bethel and of Dan? no, let them ferve 430. Headlong would follow; and to their Gods perhaps Of Bethel and of Dan?] There is fome difficulty and obfcurity in this paffage; and feveral conjec tures and emendations have been offer'd to clear it, but none, I think, entirely to fatisfaction. Mr. Sympfon would read Headlong would fall off and &c, or Headlong would fall, bow and i. c. bowing the A. Sax. participle. But Mr. Calton feems to come nearer the poet's meaning. Whom or what would they follow, fays he? There wants an accufative cafe; and what muft be understood to complete the fense, can never be accounted for by an elleipfis, that any rules or ufe of language will juftify. He therefore fufpects, that by fome ill accident or other a whole line may have been loft; and propofes one, which he fays may ferve for a commentary at leaft, to explain the fense, though it can't be allowed for an emendation. 431 435 While Their fathers in their old iniquities Headlong would follow; &c. Or is not the construction thus, Headlong would follow as to their ancient patrimony, and to their Gods perhaps &c ? 431. no, let them ferve Their enemies, who serve idols with God.] This is agreeable to God's conftant dealing with the Jewish nation as recorded in the old Teftament. Thyer. 436. And at their paffing cleave th' Affyrian food, &c] There are feveral prophecies of the reftoration of Ifrael: but in faying that the Lord would cleave th' Affyrian flood, that is the river Euphrates, at their return from Affyria, as he cleft the Red Sea and the river Jordan at their coming from Egypt, the poet feems particularly to allude to Rev. XVI. 12. And the fixth Angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the While to their native land with joy they haste, the way of the kings of the east might be prepared: and to Ifa. XI. 15, 16. And the Lord shall utterly deftroy the tongue of the Egyptian fea, and with his mighty wind fhall he shake his hand over the river, and fhall fmite it in the feven ftreams, and make men go over dry-shod: And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left from Affyria, like as it was to Ifrael in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt. The end of the Third Book. |
