Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 17.djvu/38

32 Or if you represent the Creator denouncing war against the wicked, be sure not to omit one circumstance usual in proclaiming and levying war.

Envoys and agents, who by my command Reside in Palestina's land, To whom commissions I have given To manage there the interests of Heaven. Ye holy heralds, who proclaim Or war or peace, in mine your master's name, Ye pioneers of Heaven, prepare a road, Make it plain, direct and broad; For I in person will my people head; For the divine deliverer Will on his march in majesty appear, And needs the aid of no confed'rate pow'r.

Under the Article of the confounding we rank,

which raises so many images, as to give you no image at all. But its principal beauty is, when it gives an idea just opposite to what it seemed meant to describe. Thus an ingenious artist, painting the spring, talks of a snow of blossoms, and thereby raises an unexpected picture of winter. Of this sort is the following:

The gaping clouds pour lakes of sulphur down, Whose livid flashes sickning sunbeams drown.

What a noble confusion! clouds, lakes, brimstone, flames, sun-beams, gaping, pouring, sickning, drowning! all in two lines.

Thy head shall rise, tho' buried in the dust, And 'midst the clouds his glittering turrets thrust. Quære,