The Forlorn Hope.The Forlorne Hope.
pp. 16–3336 passages
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The Forlorn Hope.
The Forlorne Hope.
Was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? Was there? There was not: This question is a plain negative. Here is Defectus remedij, the want of help: great misery, but no remedy: not a Spear to offend; no, not a Shield to defend. War, and war in the Gates, and yet neither offensive nor defensive weapon? Miserrima privatio, quae omnem tollit ad habitum regressum. A miserable destitution, which admits of no restitution, that can never be restored to the former habit. It takes away all, both present possession, and future possibility; Rem & Spem, Help, and Hope.
Was there a shield or speare seene among fortie thousand in Israel? Was there? There was not: This question is a plaine negatiue. Here is Defectus remedij, the want of helpe: great miserie, but no remedie: not a Speare to offend; no, not a Shield to defend. Warre, and warre in the Gates, and yet neyther offensiue nor defensiue weapon? Miserrima priuatio, quae omnem tollit ad habitum regressum. A miserable destitution, which admits of no restitution, that can neuer be restored to the former habite. It takes away all, both present possession, and future possibilitie; Rem & Spem, Helpe, and Hope.
But suppose, that only some one company had wanted, yet if the rest of the forces had been armed, there were some comfort. No, not a shield nor spear among many, among a thousand, among many thousand, among forty thousand: An Host of men, and not a weapon? grievous exigent! If it had been any defect but of armour, or in any other time but the time of war, or only in one City of Israel, and not in all. But is there war, and war in the gates, and do many, even thousands, want? what, armour enough? so they might easily; nay, but one shield, one spear? miserable calamity!
But suppose, that onely some one companie had wanted, yet if the rest of the forces had beene armed, there were some comfort. No, not a shield nor speare among many, among a thousand, among many thousand, among fortie thousand: An Host of men, and not a weapon? grieuous exigent! If it had beene any defect but of armour, or in any other time but the time of warre, or onely in one Citie of Israel, and not in all. But is there warre, and warre in the gates, and doe many, euen thousands, want? what, armour enough? so they might easily; nay, but one shield, one speare? miserable calamitie!