Divine poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

Now when the year had turn'd his course about
And fully worne his weary howers out,
And left his circling travell to his heire,
That now sets onset to th'ensuing yeare,
Proud Haman (pain'd with travell in the birth,
Till after-time could bring his mischiefe forth)
Casts Lots, from month to month, from day to day,
To picke the choycest time, when Fortune may,
Be most propitious to his damned plot;
Till on the last month fell th'unwilling Lot:
So Haman guided by his Idoll Fate,
(Cloaking with publike good his private Hate)
In plaintiffe tearmes, where Reason forg'd a rellish
Vnto the King, his speech did thus imbellish:
Vpon the limits of this happy Nation,
There flotes a skumme, an off-cast Generation,
Disperst, despis'd, and noysome to the Land,
And Refractory to the Lawes, to thy Command.

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Not stooping to thy Power, but despising
All Government, but of their owne devising,
Which stirs the glowing embers of division,
The hatefull mother of a States perdition,
The which (not soone redrest by Reformation)
Will ruine breed to thee, and to thy Nation,
Begetting Rebels, and seditious broyles,
And fill thy peacefull Land, with bloody spoyles:
Now therefore, if it please my gracious Lord,
To right this grievance with his Princely sword,
That Death, and equall Iustice may o'rewhelme
The secret Ruiners of thy sacred Realme,
Vnto the Royall Treasure of the King,
Ten thousand silver Talents will I bring.
Then gave the King, from off his heedlesse hand
His Ring to Haman, with that Ring command,
And said: Thy proffer'd wealth possesse,
Yet be thy just Petition ne'rthelesse
Entirely granted. Loe, before thy face
Thy vassals lye, with all their rebel race;
Thine be the people, and the power thine,
T'allot these Rebels their deserved Fine.
Forthwith the Scribes were summon'd to appeare,
Decrees were written, sent to every Shire;
To all Lieutenants, Captaines of the Band,
And all the Provinces throughout the Land,
Stil'd in the name and person of the King,
And made authentick with his Royall Ring;
By speedy Post men were the Letters sent;
And this the summe is of their sad content:

Assvervs Rex.

Let ev'ry Province in the Persian Land,
(Vpon the Day prefixt) prepare his hand,
To make the Channels flow with Rebels blood,

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And from the earth to roote the Jewish brood:
And let the softnesse of no partiall heart,
Through melting pitie, love, or false desert,
Spare either young or old, or man, or woman,
But like their faults, so let their plagues be common.
Decreed, and signed by our Princely Grace,
And given at Sushan, from our Royall Place.

So Haman fill'd with joy (his fortunes blest
With faire successe of his so foule request)
Laid care aside to sleepe, and with the King,
Consum'd the time in jolly banquetting:
Meane while the Iewes, (the poore afflicted Iewes
Perplext, and startl'd with the new-bred newes)
With drooping heads, and selfe-imbracing armes,
Wept forth the Dirge of their ensuing harmes.