University of Virginia Library

The first Booke. Absolons Sheep-shearing.

I tell the divers tryalls of the King,
Who hevenly hymns did to his Maker sing:
Blest Spirit that infus'd on him such skill,
Dispose aright thine humble servants quill
Now liv'd the King at home in happy peace
Free from all Wars and dangerous disease
Of civill broiles: For all Sauls house was slaine,
None but the lame Mephibosheth, remaine:
The Philistins are all brought downe so low,
They dare no other Lord than David know:
The Syrians in two battailes overthrowne,
Now make their peace and serve him as his own:
The Herald violating Ammonite,
Is strong enough to serve, but not to fight.
Two yeare are past since Thamars ravishment,
The Peeres and people free from discontent:
When thus becalm'd with peace, and newly rose
From meat, newes comes (thus fame by going growes)
That all his sonnes by Absolon were slaine,
Not one amongst the living did remaine;
This made him from his Cloth of state descend,
And teare his clothes, and dolefull cryes out send,
Lye on the earth whilst all his servants cry,
And with their clothes all rent, stand mourning by:
Till Jonadab begins thus to the King;
Take not, my Lord, so grievously this thing,
As if that all thy sonnes at once were dead,
Thine Amnon's onely slaine who ravished
His sister Thamar; Absolon this thing
E're since hath vow'd, and now to passe doth bring;
By faire pretence of making him a feast,
Thus hath hee slaine his Brother and his Guest.
By this the Watchman, looking up, descride
Much people comming on the Mountaines side,
When Jonadab; Lo, as thy servant said,
The Kings sonnes come, my Lord, be not dismaid;
They all are safe, scarce had hee made an end,
When downe the hill they saw them all descend,
Who as they neerer came still more lamented,
The King and all his servants hearts relented,
As when from Egypt with full sacks of graine,
Old Jacobs sonnes came to him home againe,
Because with Joseph, Simeon was left bound,
The Sonnes and Father make the valleys sound
With plaints & groans; and cause at home more mourning
For Simeons misse, than joy at their returning:
So was it here, King David and his Sonnes
Make all the Court to sound with plaints and groanes:
Meane while the guiltie murtherer Absolon,
Not daring stay to answer what was done,
In hast t'avoid the Lawes revenging hand,
To Geshur posts, his Mothers native land.
Geshur a Citie is in Syrias Fields
On Judahs borders, where old Talmaie wields
The Scepter, who for some respects of state,
When David yet o're Hebron onely sate,
To him had given his Daughter, from whose bed
Came Absolon and Thamar ravished.
It was no little pleasure to the King,
To see his goodly Nephew: but this thing
Amaz'd him much, great Davids Sonne to see
Attended with so small a companie:
But his sweet Beautie and brave personage,
Commended by the flower of his age,
So takes the good old King, his salutation
Was all compos'd of joy and admiration;
The hidden vigour of his lightning eye,
His rosie cheeks, his fronts sweet Majestie,
His Nose like Gnomon of a Diall faire,
His Lippes pure scarlet Ribbands, whereon haire
Arose like finest Downe, his Mouth not wide,
But open'd, did discover on each side,
An Ivorie range of Teeth, as even and sound
As twinned Lambs which on the Mountaines bound;
His Locks were like to twist of burnisht Gold,
Which did out-weigh, so oft as hee was pol'd,
The Ramm's faire Fleece, and to the Sun-beames turn'd,
Did seeme a flaming Bush that never burn'd:
In all the Kingdomes of the East not one
Was found, for Beauty like to Absolon;
From his foots sole up to his curled crowne,
No blemish could in Absolon be showne:
This made th' idolatrous vaine Syrian
Thinke him a God in likenesse of a man,
Beleeving Sol had left his Chariot bright
In Geshurs Court, one night to take delight;
Or warlike Mars resign'd his Sphere above,
To solace there in pleasing armes of Love:
The Priests themselves that were, or should be, wise,
Were ready even to offer Sacrifice:
When Talmai thus: my fairest Absolon,
Art thou my Nephew royall Davids Sonne?
Or dost thou from amongst the Gods descend,
Mee to admonish of my latter end?
Worship theres due unto a power divine,
And not Embracements; if that thou art mine,
Declare the cause that doth thee hither bring.
Then Absolon: My Parent and my King,
I duely here doe give upon my knee
The worship, which thou offerest to mee:
I am thy sonne and servant: But the King
Lets him not kneel, but whilst from's eyes doe spring
Teares mixt with joy, to's chaire of State doth guide,
Who thus begins, downe sitting by his side.
It hath, too oft, been prov'd to be deny'd,
That all things which on earth to men betide,
By heavenly Powers are guided to their end,
What ever Mortalls vainly may intend:
So as Church Policies, and Rules of State,
Are alwayes subject to eternall Fate.
When thou thy Daughter borne of Royall Seed
To David gav'st, hee of thine aide had need,
Against Sauls house, his Hebron to maintaine,
And other parts of Israels Land to gaine:
Who thought then that thy Daughters Progeny,
Should be subjected to strange soveraignty?
This baser Jesraelite to beare a Sonne
To disinherit Maachas Absolon.
But when I found my Fathers mind and fate
In this agree, contented with my state,
My life I in a Countrie Village led,
And like a Farmer Sheep and Bullocks fed.
In Court I saw no safety to remaine,
Where Envie and Ambition ever reigne,
With divers jealousies and strains of state,
To thrust downe vertue, not to emulate:
Yet feeling Royall Blood boile in a veine,
Which mee assur'd that I was borne to reigne,
And that to bee commanded was too base
For one descended of so Royall Race,
I rather chose to be the first in place,
Than second in the highest Monarchs grace;
My Sheep-hooke therefore I a Scepter feigne,
My Garland greene, a Crowne, and that small traine
Of Gallants that did on my person tend,
I call'd my Peeres. The Judges I did send,
To judge my subjects, which were flocks of sheep,
Were shepheards, who them did protect and keep,
And not as now wee see some Judges doe,
Their Fleeces pull, and take their Bodies too.
The Law I rul'd by, was my will and word,
A frowning looke my executing sword,
Nor did I lesse esteeme my fragrant Bowers,
Then Kings their high guilt, princely costly Towers:
My fields and flocks did yeeld as wholsome meat,
I ay a better stomacke had to eate;
And when I pleas'd to hunt, the little Hare
More pleasure yeelded than Roe Bucke or Beare.
I often, walking in my shady Groves,
Heard more sweet dainty Lays of heavenly Loves,
Than could be tun'd by Davids choisest Quire,
What more than I enjoy'd could one desire?
A Country life is too too full of blesse,
If country men knew their owne happinesse,
But ah! poore wretches, all admire gay showes
Of Court and Citie, but alas who knowes
Their base dissemblings, jealousies and cares?
Forswearing, lying, flattering and feares:
Whereas their clothes, they seeke to change the bed,
And to account the stolne for sweetest bread,
That dying, few doe know for whom they toild,
If for their owne or for anothers child:
The while the Country-man, at home alone,
Enjoyes his wife his own deare flesh and bone,
And sees even in his sons and Nephewes faces,
Their parents native features, looks and graces.
And though such shows they make not on their table,
Yet is their chear as good and acceptable;
Yea even their Offerings and Sacrifice,
Assoone to Heaven may from these Cells arise,
As those that Kings on stateliest Altars lay,
And send their Hecatombs up night and day.
Thus as a King I liv'd amongst my Peeres,
And wanted nothing but their cares and feares,
Free from the envie of the Prince and Court,
Who never did regard my meaner port,
Untill the Heavens or some malicious fate,
Who better knew, than they, my happy state,
Even in the swimming fulnesse of my gladnesse,
Me interrupted with this cause of sadnesse.
Besides her sonne, thy servant Absolon,
Maacha had a daughter, and but one
By David, of such comely modest grace,
She was the light and glory of our race,
Surmounting common beauties of the Court,
As Suns bright beames the Starrs of meaner sort;
With which some Courtiers playing, as the Flyes
With flaming Lamps, burnt both their wings and eyes:
Of which was Amnon, whom experience try'd,
That he indeed was not true Eagle-ey'd,
For dazled with her beames, most pure and bright,
Against Gods Lawes and Natures common light,
He lusted after his owne Sisters bed,
A wickednesse not to be uttered.
But as the more conceal'd, the more the fire
Consumes, so this unnaturall desire
Most fearing it should be to mortalls showne,
(Nere dreading God, to whom it all was knowne)
Consumes his marrow, and his body dryes,
So as on bed all languishing he lyes,
No meanes he saw his lawlesse lust to gain,
For she a Virgin liv'd, pure, free from stain.
When Jonadab my fathers brothers son,
(As subtile ones who fairest rising Sun
Ay worship, and think nothing vile or base,
That may possesse them of a Princes grace)
Observing Amnons pulse, doth plainly finde
His sicknesse not of body, but of minde:
And saith, my Lord, Art thou not Davids son,
The kingdoms heire? thou knowst their breaths, not one
From Sihors Floud to great Euphrates sands,
That cheerfully observes not thy commands.
Thou art the life and comfort of our State,
Why dost thy self and us then macerate?
Let but thy servants know what thou desir'st,
And they will more effect than thou requir'st.
Ah! Cosin Jonadab saith Amnon, I
Think better my desires with me should dye:
To make them known it is as bootlesse vain,
As wicked to affect: I will not feign,
Nor hide the secrets of my heart from thee,
I love my Sister Thamar: but what hee
Advis'd the lustfull Prince was never known,
Till thus the cause was by the issue shown.
One Summers evening walking, when Sols light
was giving way unto the Queen of night:
I, on a Mule by Moon-light, did descry
A Lady, with small train, who comming nigh,
Falls to the ground, and with a piteous groan,
With sighs and sobs doth testifie her moan:
Her hand, alas, she laid upon her head,
Which was with ashes all besprinkeled,
Her partie-colour'd garments all were rent,
That I her piteous case did even lament,
Before I her discover'd by the face,
To be our Thamar: Ah! saith she, alas!
Most miserable wight, yet why should I
Make known my grief, and see no remedy?
Had any foe done me this foule despight,
I could have over-past my grief more light,
But my neere friend hath me dishonoured,
My elder Brother Amnon ravished.
You can but wonder, noble Absolon,
How he a Virgin Maid could finde alone:
Ah! dearest Brother, by a subtill wile,
Me and my Father both he did beguile;
Himself he feigning sick upon his bed,
Soon as he by the King was visited,
Most humbly of him doth intreat the grace,
That I (ah me) might come before his face,
And in his Chamber make some dainty meat,
Which of my hand it might be he could eat:
The King commanded, I forthwith was sent,
Without the least suspecting his intent,
Me to dishonour, and my family,
And violate my chaste virginity.
But he, alas! when I had bak'd him meat,
Two dainty cakes, which he desir'd to eat,
Commanded all his men out of the roome,
And bade me into his bed-chamber come;
Where he would be refreshed at my hand,
I that did simply all things understand,
Brought in the Cakes, and offer'd him to eat,
But found my honour was his long'd-for meat.
For holding fast my hand, he doth begin,
With these faire words me to his lust to win.
Pure heavenly Star of my Nativity!
By whose benign aspect, I live or dye,
Sweet Soveraign Leech! of my souls long disease,
No Physick but thy self my grief can ease:
Thy onely heat can quench my hot desire,
As Sunnes bright shining beames extinguish fire.
I care not for these Cakes, thy candid hand
Hath more enrich'd, than Pearles calcin'd to sand,
Were it my pleasure onely to obtain,
And that thou shouldst more honour loose, than gain,
Thou mightst deny: But Amnon seeks thy grace,
And humbly supplicates thy sweet embrace;
Aske half my birth-right, onely with me lye,
My dearest Sister, else for love I dye.
When I, deare Brother! let not Gods choise nation,
Be guilty of so foule abhomination;
By strength a Sister to base lust compell,
Such sin was never known in Israel:
Lo! all thy people thee for this will blame,
And where shall I ah hide my head for shame?
If thou dost love me, as thou dost pretend,
(Such foule beginnings never well can end)
Before thou force me, aske me of the King,
Not that I foule incestuous guilt would bring
Upon my Land, or had the lest intent
To move the King to give us his consent,
(For what can be a lowder crying sin
Than blood to joyne to blood and kin to kin)
I onely sought to win him to forbeare,
But I my charmes tun'd to deaf Adders eare.
As when a Wolf hath seized for his prey
A little Lamb, that went aside to play,
The Lamb doth bleat and struggle all in vaine,
So I as little by my striving gaine,
For by his strength and power he me opprest,
Oh shame forbids me to reveale the rest.
But as if malice more than raging lust,
Had him invited to this fact unjust,
Soon as his pleasure thus was satisfide
He could not in his presence me abide,
But as a Strumpet vile or common Whore,
Commands me straight to get me out of doore,
And when I, loth to publish this disgrace,
By my foule usage, and my blubber'd face;
Him on my knees besought he would forbeare
To doe this second wrong, he would not heare:
But with a furious hatred, farre above
The raging passion of his lustfull love,
Calls he his servant in, and storming more,
Commands him put me out and shut the doore.
Talmai at this amaz'd streight up doth stand,
And cryes, are these your fruits of holy Land?
What other King yet ever gave consent
To such a base incestuous Ravishment?
Where he the King his father did defraud,
And made him to incestuous lust a Bawd:
Oh had it been mine onely Sonne and heire,
I would have hangd the wretch up by the haire,
Or with wild horses torn his joynts in sunder,
Had God forborn to strike him down with Thunder.
But what said David when he heard this thing?
Did he th' offender punish? No, O King,
Saith Absolon, he onely seem'd displeas'd
At first with Amnon, but was soon appeas'd;
For neither good nor bad to him was said,
As if he to displease him were afraid.
Th' offence he hated, and th' offender lov'd,
But love it seemes for more than anger mov'd.
The Sun hath finish't twice his annuall course,
Since Thamar thus was ravished by force,
Whil'st in my house she liv'd disconsolate,
Forlorn of all, for feare of Amnons hate,
But never any word thereof durst mutter,
For feare we should but our disgraces utter,
We knew the King unwilling to repaire
His daughters losse, with hazarding his heire;
Nor did I shew at all my discontent,
Lest his distrust should my revenge prevent,
But covertly my hate dissembeled,
Till opportune Revenge were offered.
And now approach'd the season of the yeere,
That I my Sheep on Hazors plaines did sheare,
Where I prepar'd a sumptuous Royall Feast,
And did invite the King to be my Guest;
But he unwilling me to over-charge,
Said, Nay my Son, we will not so much charge
Thee, at thy house, us all to entertaine,
Nor would he goe, although I urg'd againe.
Then said I, yet let Amnon go with me,
Ah, saith the King, why should he go with thee?
More than thy presence nothing mighty King,
Would to thy servant grace and honour bring;
But since thou art not pleas'd with me to go,
That honour thou deny'st, let Amnon do.
So I him urg'd, he promis'd in the end,
That he with Amnon all his Sonnes would send.
Was never Wood-man gladder, when at hand
He spyes the Stag come faire upon his stand,
Than I, at comming of my wished guest,
For whom indeed I did provide the Feast:
In coolest vault, whose sweeter Northern light,
Was freed from hotter gleams of Sun-shine bright,
My servants had the Table covered,
For Davids sonnes, whilst Thamar ravished,
In covert close for shame her head did hide,
Whom Amnon could not in his sight abide.
When all were come, and at the Table set,
And, as their stomacks lik'd, fell to their meat,
Two of my servants, as I did command,
Who closely waiting did by Amnon stand,
So soon as I gave them a secret signe,
And that his heart was merry grown with wine,
Down smote him dead, which service bravely done,
Shall never be forgot by Absolon:
The Kings sonnes all with sudden horrour scar'd,
As if like cheare had been for them prepar'd,
Haste to their Mules; to thee forthwith I fled
On swiftest coursers ready sadeled,
I nothing of the truth from thee conceale,
And now my King and Father I appeale
Unto thy Justice, where if guilty I
Be judg'd of Amnons blood, then let me dye.
I would not put my life upon the rude
And violence of furious multitude,
Nor on the Justice of an angry King,
Time may again me into favour bring:
I then shall plainly prove that Absolon
Hath done no more than David should have done:
And when Kings suffer such sinnes in their Land,
God will revenge them by anothers band.
Lo thus he ends: When Talmai; valiant son
I do commend this act so bravely done,
In answering this foule base indignity,
Thou hast reveng'd thy Sister, self and me:
No generous brave spirit could have born
So great dishonour, and so foule a scorn:
Be confident in this, my son, that I
Will in this quarrell, live with thee and dye.
The rather for that thou thy self hast shew'd,
As just in punishing a crime so lewd;
So also politick in cutting down
That Tree, which stopt thy way unto the Crown.
O grand exploit! which fairly both wayes tends
To publike Justice, and to private ends.
Some reach at Crowns by shedding guiltlesse blood
But thou by being great, and seeming good.
Thus shall my Absolon get thanks and praise,
As popular in that which must him raise.
Then Talmai rose, and looking round about,
Perceiv'd that all his servants were gone out,
For well-bred Courtiers thought it no fit thing,
Uncall'd, to heare the secrets of a King:
But soon as they their Master walking heare,
All in his presence readily appeare,
Where he commands them all, they do their best,
To entertain his sonne, so goes to rest.