of the earth, who dared to resist his power, to disobey his commands, or contend against him. And he immediately called together all the chief men of the neighbouring conquered countries, who were then in his camp, to question them concerning this extraordinary and courageous people. And when assembled, he said to them, "Who are these people that dwelleth in the hill country? and what are the cities that they inhabit? What is the multitude of their army, and wherein is their power and strength? What King is set over them, or captain of their army? and why have they determined not to come and meet me, more than all the inhabitants of the west ?"

Achior, the captain of the sons of Ammon, undertook to answer this enquiry of Holofernes's, and in his description of the Jews, gave their whole history, with such eloquence and truth, that it could not be abbreviated without great injury to its beauty; it is therefore put here in his own words, which must meet the admiration of every reader of reflexion and taste.

“And Achior said, let my lord now hear a word from the mouth of thy servant, and I will declare unto thee the truth concerning these people, which dwelleth near thee, and inhabit the hill countries; and there shall be no lie come out of the mouth of thy servant."

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"This people are descended of the Chaldeans, and they sojourned hitherto in Mesopotamia, because they would not follow the gods of their fathers, which were in the land of Chaldea."

"For they left the ways of their ancestors, and worshipped the God of Heaven, the God whom they knew; so they cast them out from the face of their Gods, and they fled into Mesopotamia, and sojourned there many days.”

"And their God commanded them to depart from the place where they sojourned, and to go into the land of Canaan, where they dwelt, and were encreased with gold and silver, and very much cattle."

"But when a famine covered all the land of Canaan, they went down into Egypt, and sojourned there, while they were nourished, and became there a great multitude, so that one could not number their nation.”

"Therefore the Kings of Egypt rose up against them, and dealt subtilly with them, and brought them low with labouring in bricks, and made them slaves."

"Then they cried unto their God, and he smote all the land of Egypt with incurable plagues, so the Egyptians cast them out of their sight." "And God dried the Red Sea before them." "And brought them to Mount Sina and Cades

Barne, and cast forth all that dwelt in the wilderness."

"So they dwelt in the land of the Ammonites, and they destroyed by their strength, all them of Escbon, and passing over Jordon, they possessed all the hill country."

"And whilst they sinned not before their God, they prospered, because the God that hated iniquity was with them.”

"But when they departed from the way which he appointed them, they were destroyed in many battles very sore, and were led captives into a land that was not theirs, and the temple of their God was cast to the ground, and their cities were taken by the enemies."

"But now they are returned to their God, and are come up from the places where they were scattered, and have possessed Jerusalem, where their sanctuary is, and are seated in the hill country, for it was desolate."

"Now therefore, my Lord and Governor, if there be any error in this people, and they sin against their God, let us consider that this shall be their ruin, and let us go up, and we shall overcome them."

"But if there be no iniquity in their nation, let my lord now pass by, lest their Lord defend them,

and their God be for them, and we become a reproach before the world."

Achior having finished this harangue, there was a general murmur of discontent throughout the whole assembly collected near Holofernes, all exclaiming with one voice against Achior, for the account he had given of the people of the hill country, and expressing, with vehemence, their strong desire to be led against them, convinced they could not withstand their force for one day.

As soon as the tumult occasioned by this discourse of Achior's, was a little subsided, Holofernes rose up in extreme displeasure, to express his sentiments also on this occasion, against the unfortunate captain of the Ammonites. "And who art thou Achior, and the hirelings of Ephraim," (he said in a voice of anger, which made all tremble who heard it), "that thou hast prophesied this day amongst us, not to make war with the people of Israel, because their God will defend them ?" And who is God but Nebuchodonosor ? Then with the most tremedous threats of what destruction he would bring on this devoted people, and telling him, that he should see his face no more until he had executed this vengeance, and that then he should be put to death, and fall amongst their slain. He ordered his attendants to take Achior to Bethulia, and deliver him up to

the people of Israel; the servants who waited in his tent instantly obeyed him, and brought Achior near to the fountains which were under Bethulia, but being observed approaching by the inhabitants of Bethulia, the men of the city prevented the enemy coming any nearer, by the use of their slings; nevertheless the servants of Holofernes contrived to bind Achior, and cast him down at the foot of the hill, where they left him to his fate, and returned to their lord. Whilst the Israelites observing from their station, that a man was left bound in a cruel manner, whose situation must be dreadful, some of them descended, released Achior from his bonds, and presented him to the governors of the city.

The news of Achior having been thus rescued from the power of Holofernes, soon collected together great numbers of people, of all degrees and ages, to hear what could have occasioned him to receive such ill treatment from that commander; when he recounted to them all which had taken place, and what he had said concerning them, that had given such offence to Holofernes, and who had in consequence condemned him to a lingering and cruel death. He then made known to them, the declaration of Holofernes against them, the threats he made use of for their overthrow, and added every information he could, respecting the