Emblemes (1635) and Hieroglyphikes (1638) [in the critical edition by John Horden] |
 |
 | 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. | XII. JOB XIV. XIII. |
|
| 12. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
|
 | Emblemes (1635) and Hieroglyphikes (1638) |  |
XII. JOB XIV. XIII.
O that thou wouldst hide me in the grave, and thou wouldst keepe me secret untill thy wrath be past.
O whether shall I flee? what path untrod
Shall I seeke out, to scape the flaming rod
Of my offended, of my angry God?
Shall I seeke out, to scape the flaming rod
Of my offended, of my angry God?
Where shall I sojourne? What kind sea will hide
My head from Thunder? where shall I abide,
Untill his flames be quench'd, or laid aside!
My head from Thunder? where shall I abide,
Untill his flames be quench'd, or laid aside!
What if my feet should take their hasty flight,
And seeke protection in the shades of night?
Alas, no shades can blind the God of Light:
And seeke protection in the shades of night?
Alas, no shades can blind the God of Light:
What, if my soule should take the wings of day,
And find some desart; if she spring away,
The wings of vengeance clip as fast as they:
And find some desart; if she spring away,
The wings of vengeance clip as fast as they:
What if some solid Rock should entertaine
My frighted soule? Can solid Rocks restraine
The stroke of Justice, and not cleave in twaine?
My frighted soule? Can solid Rocks restraine
The stroke of Justice, and not cleave in twaine?
Nor Sea, nor Shade, nor Shield, nor Rock, nor Cave,
Nor silent desarts, nor the sullen grave,
Where flame-ey'd fury meanes to smite, can save.
Nor silent desarts, nor the sullen grave,
Where flame-ey'd fury meanes to smite, can save.
The Seas will part; graves open; Rocks will split;
The shield will cleave; the frighted shadowes flit;
Where Justice aimes, her fiery darts must hit.
The shield will cleave; the frighted shadowes flit;
Where Justice aimes, her fiery darts must hit.
No, no, if sterne-brow'd vengeance meanes to thunder,
There is no, place, beneath, nor under,
So close, but will unlocke, nor rive in sunder.
There is no, place, beneath, nor under,
So close, but will unlocke, nor rive in sunder.
'Tis vaine to flee; 'Tis neither here nor there
Can scape that hand untill that hand forbeare;
Ah me! where is he not, that's every where?
Can scape that hand untill that hand forbeare;
Ah me! where is he not, that's every where?
'Tis vaine to flee; till gentle mercy show
Her better eye, the farther off we go,
The swing of Justice deales the mightier blow:
Her better eye, the farther off we go,
The swing of Justice deales the mightier blow:
Th'ingenious child, corrected, does not flie
His angry mothers hand, but clings more nigh,
And quenches, with his teares, her flaming eye.
His angry mothers hand, but clings more nigh,
And quenches, with his teares, her flaming eye.
Shadowes are faithlesse, and the rockes are false;
No trust in brasse; no trust in marble wals;
Poore Cotts are ev'n as safe as Princes Hals:
No trust in brasse; no trust in marble wals;
Poore Cotts are ev'n as safe as Princes Hals:
Great God, there is no safety here below;
Thou art my Fortresse, though thou seem'st my foe,
'Tis thou, that strik'st the stroke, must guard the blow:
Thou art my Fortresse, though thou seem'st my foe,
'Tis thou, that strik'st the stroke, must guard the blow:
Thou art my God; by thee I fall or stand;
Thy Grace hath giv'n me courage to withstand
All tortures, but my Conscience, and thy Hand.
Thy Grace hath giv'n me courage to withstand
All tortures, but my Conscience, and thy Hand.
I know thy Justice is thy selfe; I know,
Just God, thy very selfe is mercy too;
If not to thee, where? whether should I go?
Just God, thy very selfe is mercy too;
If not to thee, where? whether should I go?
Then work thy will; If passion bid me flee,
My Reason shall obey; my wings shall be
Stretcht out no further than from Thee to Thee.
My Reason shall obey; my wings shall be
Stretcht out no further than from Thee to Thee.
S. AUGUST. in Psal. 30.
Whether flie I? To what place can I safely flie? To what mountaine? To what den? To what strong house? What Castle shall I hold? What wals shall hold me? Whethersoever I go, myself followes me: For whatsoever thou flyest, O man, thou mayst, but thy owne Conscience: wheresoever O Lord I go, I find thee, if angry, a Revenger; if appeas'd, a Redeemer: What way have I, but to flee from thee, to thee: That thou maist avoid thy God, address thee to thy Lord.
EPIGRAM 12.
[Hath vengeance found thee? Can thy feares command]
Hath vengeance found thee? Can thy feares commandNo Rocks to shield thee from her thundring hand?
Know'st thou not where to scape? Ile tell thee where;
My soule make cleane thy Conscience; Hide thee there.
| Emblemes (1635) and Hieroglyphikes (1638) | |