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Paraphrase from Job.
AGAIN the Almighty from the whirlwind broke, | |
| And thus to Job, in stern continuance, spoke: | |
| “Didst thou the horse with strength unequall’d mould, | |
| Whose lofty neck the writhen thunders fold? | |
| And canst thou make the intrepid courser fly, | 5 |
| When steely dangers glitter in his eye? | |
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| “See all around him spreads the flamy cloud, | |
| Spurn’d from his nostrils, while he snorts aloud, | |
| Trembling with vigor, how he paws the ground, | |
| And hurls the thunder of his strength around! | 10 |
| Behold! he pants for war, and scorning flight, | |
| Collects his strength and rushes to the fight. | |
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| “When clouds of darts a sable horror spread, | |
| And the full quiver rattles o’er his head: | |
| To him no dread the sound of battle bears, | 15 |
| The clash of armor and the strife of spears; | |
| But o’er his neck his waving mane reclined, | |
| Spreads to the gale and wantons in the wind: | |
| He spurns the field, fierce, terrible, and strong, | |
| And rolls the earth back as he shoots along. | 20 |
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| “Lo! where the strife the distant warriors wage, | |
| The neighing courser snuffs the sanguine rage; | |
| While roaring trumpets and the dire affray | |
| Provoke his laughter on that dreadful day; | |
| More loud he snorts, more terrible he foams, | 25 |
| When nearer still the storm of battle comes; | |
| And mingling roars are dreadful on the heath, | |
| In shouts of victory, and groans of death.” | |
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