1791' HISTORICAL FRAGMEKTS—AlrfERieA. i^t 



lour, and that their armies ^vould be invincible — How- 

 beit, they often gave the command of them to men of 

 Belial ; — and children they appointed to rule over 

 them. 



3. They alfo vainly imagined, that they would ex- 

 tend their dnmini;.ns over the great deeps, and over the 

 ides of the fea ;-^and that the moft diflant lands would 

 yield obeifn.nce unto them. 



4. And th£y fent forth their fhips of war to the weft, 

 and to the eaft, and to the fouth, and fpread the tef- 

 ror of their name among the nations. 



5. Their armies alfo penetrated into far countries, 

 and deftruclion attended their paths. 



6. And though they were fometimes wholly over- 

 powered, and fweeped from, the field like grafshoppers, 

 3'et their numbers were renewed ; for the people de- 

 lighted in war. 



7. And their rulers fp^ke vain words, and they faid, 

 that if the people would fufFer themfelves to be plun- 

 dered, they Ihould become rich. 



8. And the fpirit of delulion that had overfpread the 

 land, prevailed to fuch a degree, that they believed in 

 thefe fayings, and they anfwered, verily thou hallfpok- 

 tn wifely t 



9. Neverthelcfs, the commanders abroad and the 

 rulers at home fought every man his own advantage, 

 and hov,' he might make gain to himfelf. 



10. And having found a defert walle of great extent 

 in a far diftant country, they took poffeffion of it ; and 

 they faid, let us plenilh it with our own people, and 

 nourifh it out of our own bowels. 



XI. For the king and his fervants reafoned thus : In 

 doing this, we fhall acquire fame among the people, 

 becaufe of the name of our extended dominions, and 

 we Ihall acquire wealth by the diftribution of fuch vaft 



Vol. III. N a 



