Philippi Melanthonis Epigrammatvm Libri Tres

In the region where the borders of the Arabs and the Sineia crags
Close in, and look upon high, uncultivated tracts.
The race born from the seeds of the father Isaac
Sought waters in the thirsty sands.
And although they dug up the scorched earth everywhere,
No large vein was found there.
And now they were breathing out their souls, dried by their lips,
While infants happened to pull at the breasts of their mothers:
And the mothers perish at the same time, and by the sad office
Of the grave, the maternal bosom itself performs the task.
Here again, new weariness of the common people enters their minds,
And it repents them to have deserted the Pharian Egyptian homes.
And they not only accuse Moses, but they add something greater,
That God holds the crime of oppressing the unworthy.
Indeed, this complaint is all too common among the miserable,
But the wrath of the Judge of God is always just.
And although He punishes the sources, yet among them
He preserves the remnants of His own army.
Therefore, He commands Moses to lead out large streams of water
For his people by striking the rock.
Moses obeys, but a new confusion troubles his mind,
And his hands stiffened as he approached.
And he whose breast had never trembled before,
If ever the commands of God had to be met,
Now, just as a ship dashed against rocks falls apart,
So, looking at the rock, he loses himself.
And he strikes, and he doubts, but soon he collects himself,
And the vigor which was in his breast before, returns.