On _Æthiopia_, and the Southern-sands, The unfrequented Coasts, and parched Land, Whither the Sun too kind a heat doth send, (The Sun, which the worst Neighbour is, and the best Friend) Hither a mortal influence came, A fatal and unhappy flame, Kindled by Heavens angry beam. With dreadful frowns the Heavens scattered here Cruel infectious heats into the Air, Now all their stores of poyson sent, Threatning at once a general doom, Lavisht out all their hate, and meant In future Ages to be innocent, Not to disturb the World for many years to come. Hold! Heavens hold! Why should your Sacred Fire, Which doth to all things Life inspire, By whose kinde beams you bring Each year on every thing, A new and glorious Spring, Which doth th’ Original Seed Of all things in the Womb of Earth that breed, With vital heat and quick’ning seed, Why should you now that heat imploy, The Earth, the Air, the Fields, the Cities to annoy? That which before reviv’d, why should it now destroy? IV. Those _Africk_ Desarts strait were double Desarts grown, The rav’nous Beasts were left alone, The rav’nous beasts then first began To pity their old enemy Man, And blam’d the Plague for what they would themselves have done. Nor stay’d the cruel evil there, Nor could be long confin’d unto one Air, Plagues presently forsake The Wilderness which they themselves do make, Away the deadly breaths their journey take. Driven by a mighty wind, They a new booty and fresh forrage find. The loaded wind went swiftly on, And as it past was heard to sigh and groan. On _Ægypt_ next it seiz’d, Nor could but by a general ruine be appeas’d. _Ægypt_ in rage back on the South did look, And wondred thence should come th’ unhappy stroke, From whence before her fruitfulness she took. _Egypt_ did now curse and revile Those very Lands from whence she has her _Nile_; _Egypt_ now fear’d another _Hebrew_ God, Another Angels Hand, a second _Aarons_ Rod. V.