Du Bartas His Divine Weekes And Workes with A Compleate Collectio[n] of all the other most delight-full Workes: Translated and written by yt famous Philomusus: Iosvah Sylvester |
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Bvt, can it be (How can it other be?)
But that the Times of the Divine Decree
Concerning Iudgements more or less severe;
When, Why, and Who, and How, and What, and Where)
Hidden with God, and hidden from his Owne;
Should to the World, and wicked be vnknowne?
But that the Times of the Divine Decree
Concerning Iudgements more or less severe;
When, Why, and Who, and How, and What, and Where)
Hidden with God, and hidden from his Owne;
Should to the World, and wicked be vnknowne?
They shift the Land-marks from their ancient seat:
They take by force mens Flocks, to feed, or eat:
They driue away the silly Orphans Asse:
They take for Pledge the Widowes Ox (alas!):
They turn the Needy form their neerest Way:
They make the Poor together hide them aye:
Lo, Like wilde Asses in the Wilderness,
They ramp about their brutish Business:
Rising betimes for Boot (like Free-booters):
The Desart Field yeelds Food for them and theirs.
They reap them Each a Crop, from Others Crop:
They gather Each a wicked Vintage vp:
They cause the Naked without Clothes to lie,
Quivering for Cold, no Covering but the Skie;
Washt with the Showers that from the Mountains shed;
Embracing Clifts, for Shelter; Rocks for Bed:
They pluck the Pupill from the tender Brest:
They take from Poor a Pawne of all their best;
They leaue them Naked; Nay, the Hungry soule
Even of his Sheaf, and gleaned handfulls poule:
Yea; Labourers, that in Their service toyle;
That tread their Wine-press, and that make their Oyle,
That trudge and drudge in their Affairs; in fine
They let them starue, and even for thirst to pine.
They take by force mens Flocks, to feed, or eat:
They driue away the silly Orphans Asse:
They take for Pledge the Widowes Ox (alas!):
They turn the Needy form their neerest Way:
They make the Poor together hide them aye:
Lo, Like wilde Asses in the Wilderness,
They ramp about their brutish Business:
Rising betimes for Boot (like Free-booters):
The Desart Field yeelds Food for them and theirs.
They reap them Each a Crop, from Others Crop:
They gather Each a wicked Vintage vp:
They cause the Naked without Clothes to lie,
Quivering for Cold, no Covering but the Skie;
Washt with the Showers that from the Mountains shed;
Embracing Clifts, for Shelter; Rocks for Bed:
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They take from Poor a Pawne of all their best;
They leaue them Naked; Nay, the Hungry soule
Even of his Sheaf, and gleaned handfulls poule:
Yea; Labourers, that in Their service toyle;
That tread their Wine-press, and that make their Oyle,
That trudge and drudge in their Affairs; in fine
They let them starue, and even for thirst to pine.
The Citie grones vnder their Wicked Thrall:
Th'oppressed, slain, and wounded, cry, and call:
Yet, 'tis apparant (as the Sun is cleer)
God doth not alwaies smite (nor cite) them heer.
Th'oppressed, slain, and wounded, cry, and call:
Yet, 'tis apparant (as the Sun is cleer)
God doth not alwaies smite (nor cite) them heer.
Yet, These are Those that aye the Light abhor:
Know not her Way, nor keep, nor care it for:
The Murd'rer rises (early) yer the Light;
To kill the Poor: and robbeth (late) at Night:
Th'Adulterer's Eye doth for the Twy-light wait;
And, muffled, thinks, None sees my quaint Deceit:
They (Burglars) digge through houses in the Dark,
Which, in the Day, they for their owne did mark.
But, Light they loath: Morning to Them is death:
Death's Terror, Day; which all discovereth:
On Waters swim they light and swift, for Fear:
On Earth, as Vagrants, fly they heer and there
(Their cursed portion) every-where vndon:
By-waies they seek, and the High-waies they shun.
Know not her Way, nor keep, nor care it for:
The Murd'rer rises (early) yer the Light;
To kill the Poor: and robbeth (late) at Night:
Th'Adulterer's Eye doth for the Twy-light wait;
And, muffled, thinks, None sees my quaint Deceit:
They (Burglars) digge through houses in the Dark,
Which, in the Day, they for their owne did mark.
But, Light they loath: Morning to Them is death:
Death's Terror, Day; which all discovereth:
On Waters swim they light and swift, for Fear:
On Earth, as Vagrants, fly they heer and there
(Their cursed portion) every-where vndon:
By-waies they seek, and the High-waies they shun.
As Heat and Drought, dissolve and drink the Snow;
The wicked-one the Graue shall swallow so.
The Womb that bare him, shall him quite forget;
And, to the Worm he shall be well-com Meat.
He shall, with Men, no more remembred be:
But broken-off, as is a withred Tree.
He weds the Barren that brings never forth;
And, if a Widowe, leaues her nothing worth.
Yet, by his power, He drags the Mighty down;
And none is safe, if He in Fury frown:
No; though, with Presents they his Patience buy,
And build on it; on Them he casts an eye.
The wicked-one the Graue shall swallow so.
The Womb that bare him, shall him quite forget;
And, to the Worm he shall be well-com Meat.
He shall, with Men, no more remembred be:
But broken-off, as is a withred Tree.
He weds the Barren that brings never forth;
And, if a Widowe, leaues her nothing worth.
Yet, by his power, He drags the Mighty down;
And none is safe, if He in Fury frown:
No; though, with Presents they his Patience buy,
And build on it; on Them he casts an eye.
Such, for a little, are aloft: Anon
As lowe as Others; as All others, gon:
Soon taken hence, shut-vp, cut-off, and shorn
As (with the Haile) the tufted ears of Corn.
If Thus it be not, Who will (I desire)
Disproue my Speech; and proue me now a Lyer.
As lowe as Others; as All others, gon:
Soon taken hence, shut-vp, cut-off, and shorn
As (with the Haile) the tufted ears of Corn.
If Thus it be not, Who will (I desire)
Disproue my Speech; and proue me now a Lyer.
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