Divine poems Containing The History of Ionah. Ester. Iob. Sampson. Sions Sonets. Elegies. Written and newly augmented, by Fra: Quarles |
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 | Divine poems |  |
The righteous Counsel (having heard the cause)
Adviz'd a while, with respite of a pause,
Till Memucan (the first that silence brake)
Vnseal'd his serious lips, and thus bespake:
Adviz'd a while, with respite of a pause,
Till Memucan (the first that silence brake)
Vnseal'd his serious lips, and thus bespake:
The Great Assuerus Sov'raigne Lord and King,
(To grace the period of his banquetting)
Hath sent for Vashti; Vashti would not come,
And now it rests in us to give the doome.
But left that too much rashnesse violate
The sacred Iustice of our happy state,
We first propound the height of her offence,
Next, the succeeding inconvenience,
Which through the circumstances does augment,
And so discend to th'equall punishment;
Th'offence propounded, now we must relate
Such circumstances that might aggravate,
And first the Place, (the Palace of the King,)
And next the Time, (the Time of Banquetting)
Lastly, the Persons, (Princes of the Land)
Which witnesse the contempt of the command;
The Place, the Persons present, and the Time,
Make foule the fault, make foule the Ladies crime;
Nor was her fault unto the King alone,
But to the Princes, and to every one,
For when this speech divulg'd about shall be,
Vashti the Queene withstood the Kings Decree,
Woemen (that soone can an advantage take
Of things, which for their private ends doe make)
Shall scorne their coward husbands, and despise
Their deare requests within their scornfull eyes,
And say, if we deny your bests, then blame not,
Assuerus sent for Vashti, but she came not;
By Vashties patterne others will be taught;
Thus her example's fouler then her fault:
Now therefore if it like our gracious King,
(Since he refers to us the censuring)
Let him proclaime (which untransgressed be)
His royall Edict, and his just Decree,
That Vashti come no more before his face,
But leave the titles of her Princely place:
Let firme divorce unloose the Nuptiall knot,
And let the name of Queene be quite forgot,
Let her estate and Princely dignity,
Her Royall Crowne, and seat assigned be
To one whose sacred Vertue shall attaine
As high perfection, as her bold disdaine;
So when this Royall Edict shall be fam'd,
And through the severall Provinces proclaim'd,
Disdainfull wives will learne, by Vashties fall,
To answer gently to their Husbands call.
Thus ended Memucan; the King was pleas'd;
(His blustring passion now at length appeas'd)
And soone apply'd himselfe to undertake,
To put in practice what his Counsell spake:
(To grace the period of his banquetting)
Hath sent for Vashti; Vashti would not come,
And now it rests in us to give the doome.
But left that too much rashnesse violate
The sacred Iustice of our happy state,
We first propound the height of her offence,
Next, the succeeding inconvenience,
Which through the circumstances does augment,
And so discend to th'equall punishment;
107
Such circumstances that might aggravate,
And first the Place, (the Palace of the King,)
And next the Time, (the Time of Banquetting)
Lastly, the Persons, (Princes of the Land)
Which witnesse the contempt of the command;
The Place, the Persons present, and the Time,
Make foule the fault, make foule the Ladies crime;
Nor was her fault unto the King alone,
But to the Princes, and to every one,
For when this speech divulg'd about shall be,
Vashti the Queene withstood the Kings Decree,
Woemen (that soone can an advantage take
Of things, which for their private ends doe make)
Shall scorne their coward husbands, and despise
Their deare requests within their scornfull eyes,
And say, if we deny your bests, then blame not,
Assuerus sent for Vashti, but she came not;
By Vashties patterne others will be taught;
Thus her example's fouler then her fault:
Now therefore if it like our gracious King,
(Since he refers to us the censuring)
Let him proclaime (which untransgressed be)
His royall Edict, and his just Decree,
That Vashti come no more before his face,
But leave the titles of her Princely place:
Let firme divorce unloose the Nuptiall knot,
And let the name of Queene be quite forgot,
Let her estate and Princely dignity,
Her Royall Crowne, and seat assigned be
To one whose sacred Vertue shall attaine
As high perfection, as her bold disdaine;
So when this Royall Edict shall be fam'd,
And through the severall Provinces proclaim'd,
108
To answer gently to their Husbands call.
Thus ended Memucan; the King was pleas'd;
(His blustring passion now at length appeas'd)
And soone apply'd himselfe to undertake,
To put in practice what his Counsell spake:
So, into every Province of the Land,
He sent his speedy Letters, with command,
That Husbands rule their wives, & beare the sway,
And by subjection teach their Wives t'obey.
He sent his speedy Letters, with command,
That Husbands rule their wives, & beare the sway,
And by subjection teach their Wives t'obey.
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