The rewarde of Wickednesse Discoursing the sundrye monstrous abuses of wicked and vngodlye worldelinges: in such sort set downe and written as the same haue beene dyuersely practised in the persones of Popes, Harlots, Proude Princes, Tyrauntes, Romish Byshoppes, and others. With a liuely description of their seuerall falles and finall destruction. Uerye profitable for all sorte of estates to reade and looke vpon. Nevvly compiled by Richard Robinson |
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The two Iudges for slaundering
of Susanna: and bearing false witnesse
against hir, be rewarded for
the same most terribly. |
 | The rewarde of Wickednesse |  |
The two Iudges for slaundering of Susanna: and bearing false witnesse against hir, be rewarded for the same most terribly.
Fyrst
to this place when happed vs to hytte,
A roome we founde where best we myght beholde
Of euery side that stinking Stygion pitte,
That all the rest excelde a thousande folde,
Stuft full to'th top it was of young and olde,
(But as I sayde before) a couple there we see,
Whose tongues behind were halde with hookes full hie.
A roome we founde where best we myght beholde
Of euery side that stinking Stygion pitte,
That all the rest excelde a thousande folde,
Stuft full to'th top it was of young and olde,
(But as I sayde before) a couple there we see,
Whose tongues behind were halde with hookes full hie.
Before their faces with trumpet hoarse and dimme,
To powting mouth a monster fell doth set,
Whose voyce increaseth care that be the hearing in,
With foming iawe, his teeth beginnes to whet.
His gloring eyes with sparkes of fire fret,
He casteth vnder clowdes, and stints his trumpet streite,
And with a ratling speech declares these words on heite.
To powting mouth a monster fell doth set,
Whose voyce increaseth care that be the hearing in,
With foming iawe, his teeth beginnes to whet.
His gloring eyes with sparkes of fire fret,
He casteth vnder clowdes, and stints his trumpet streite,
And with a ratling speech declares these words on heite.
(Quoth he) sith slaunder is committed to my charge,
And that it pleaseth Pluto my seruice to accept,
Within this pitte mine office wide and large,
His lawes and statutes streight shall be full truely kept.
And there withall aloft anon he lept,
From the gibbet cuts their tongues wherby they hange,
And like a madde man in a rage into a furnasse flange.
And that it pleaseth Pluto my seruice to accept,
Within this pitte mine office wide and large,
His lawes and statutes streight shall be full truely kept.
And there withall aloft anon he lept,
From the gibbet cuts their tongues wherby they hange,
And like a madde man in a rage into a furnasse flange.
Where molten brasse doth boyle as redde as gleedes,
Iblende with sulfer, pitche and stincking tarre,
And scaldes the scoffered tongues that wounded bleedes.
whose fyring streame may well be spied a farre,
From bottome low which mounth from height to harre.
And dims the christall skies, & beames of glering light,
But that we stoode so nie else had we lost the sight.
Iblende with sulfer, pitche and stincking tarre,
And scaldes the scoffered tongues that wounded bleedes.
whose fyring streame may well be spied a farre,
From bottome low which mounth from height to harre.
But that we stoode so nie else had we lost the sight.
Tartarus hath this pitte to proper name,
Which is in hell most yrksome place indeede,
And is appoynted wicked tongues to tame,
That doe delight in sclaunders to proceede,
Who brueth bate that well doth after speede?
Who staines the vertuous man by false surmised way,
That in the ende least pennie doth not paye?
Which is in hell most yrksome place indeede,
And is appoynted wicked tongues to tame,
That doe delight in sclaunders to proceede,
Who brueth bate that well doth after speede?
Who staines the vertuous man by false surmised way,
That in the ende least pennie doth not paye?
For mightie Ioue that doth in heauens sitte,
To forge commaundes Vulcanus fast to hye,
Newe thundring boltes to make for euery pitte,
Whereas these slaundrous wretched verlettes lie.
Who many thousands wrought, and downe sende by & by,
Which boltes the cruell Iaylor in sturdy Bow doth set,
And cruelly flinges, with heades full sharpe iwhet.
To forge commaundes Vulcanus fast to hye,
Newe thundring boltes to make for euery pitte,
Whereas these slaundrous wretched verlettes lie.
Who many thousands wrought, and downe sende by & by,
Which boltes the cruell Iaylor in sturdy Bow doth set,
And cruelly flinges, with heades full sharpe iwhet.
Into the mouth and through the tongues they flie,
Of eyther of these lyther slaunderous mates:
Where as consuming coales as red as serpents eye,
Doe euer lodge as porters of the gates,
Two serpentes euer sate vpon their pelled pates.
And euer through the skull they pell the braine,
Yet alwayes as it wasted it still increast againe.
Of eyther of these lyther slaunderous mates:
Where as consuming coales as red as serpents eye,
Doe euer lodge as porters of the gates,
Two serpentes euer sate vpon their pelled pates.
And euer through the skull they pell the braine,
Yet alwayes as it wasted it still increast againe.
In shooting thunderboltes and arrowes as I saide,
At these false accusers, and breeders of vnrest,
That ougly Geylor chaunst holde vp his heade,
And Morpheus spide, whome then he did request,
To come and see how lyers there were drest.
For this the place (quod hee) that slaunder doth reward,
Though many thousandes not the same regard.
At these false accusers, and breeders of vnrest,
That ougly Geylor chaunst holde vp his heade,
And Morpheus spide, whome then he did request,
To come and see how lyers there were drest.
For this the place (quod hee) that slaunder doth reward,
Though many thousandes not the same regard.
And then with filthy forke their iawes abroade he set,
Within whose mouthes were broodes of scorpions hatcht,
Whose hunger not slackt but they might alwayes get
Some part of wicked lime, thus at his tongue they snatch:
And yet it doth encrease, their greedie guttes to hatche.
Yet they bee neuer filde, nor hee consumde no deale,
Loe, thus they taste of woe, that sclanderous lyes do tel.
Within whose mouthes were broodes of scorpions hatcht,
Whose hunger not slackt but they might alwayes get
And yet it doth encrease, their greedie guttes to hatche.
Yet they bee neuer filde, nor hee consumde no deale,
Loe, thus they taste of woe, that sclanderous lyes do tel.
I saye come neare, this Iayler sayd againe,
And what thou seest among thy friendes report:
Though sclaunder bee torment with double paine,
Yet euery daye thou seest I haue resorte:
No doubte I trowe, they thinke it but a sporte.
For els theyr tongues from lyes they would applie,
To mightie Ioue they ought for mercye crye.
And what thou seest among thy friendes report:
Though sclaunder bee torment with double paine,
Yet euery daye thou seest I haue resorte:
No doubte I trowe, they thinke it but a sporte.
For els theyr tongues from lyes they would applie,
To mightie Ioue they ought for mercye crye.
For if they doe not mende in haste, bee sure
I will mine office yeeld (quoth hee) no doubte:
Elles a larger dominion, I meane for to procure,
For this is full you see, already round about:
And now such sclanderers come, that bee so stout
And with so Clarkly cunning, their matter forge & fain,
That certainely I can yeeld them equal paine.
I will mine office yeeld (quoth hee) no doubte:
Elles a larger dominion, I meane for to procure,
For this is full you see, already round about:
And now such sclanderers come, that bee so stout
And with so Clarkly cunning, their matter forge & fain,
That certainely I can yeeld them equal paine.
But chiefly who be these (quod Morpheus) would I know
That thus aboue the rest, so cruelly bee vsed?
(Quoth hee) twoo Iudges in Israell long agoe,
That sclandered Susanna, whome they would abused,
By fleshly deedes they thought to haue misused,
This vertuous wife and noble worthy Dame,
Whom when she would not, accusde her with the same.
That thus aboue the rest, so cruelly bee vsed?
(Quoth hee) twoo Iudges in Israell long agoe,
That sclandered Susanna, whome they would abused,
By fleshly deedes they thought to haue misused,
This vertuous wife and noble worthy Dame,
Whom when she would not, accusde her with the same.
But bide a while (quoth hee) them selues shal make report,
And when thou hearest them, Iudge as thou thinkest best:
And with these wordes out of that filthy sort,
With crooked hooke, hee halde them by the breast:
Whome when I vewed, with hande my selfe I blest.
If I should tell of their deformed lookes,
The rediest tongue, would tyre to reade the Bookes.
And when thou hearest them, Iudge as thou thinkest best:
And with these wordes out of that filthy sort,
With crooked hooke, hee halde them by the breast:
Whome when I vewed, with hande my selfe I blest.
If I should tell of their deformed lookes,
The rediest tongue, would tyre to reade the Bookes.
When vp they cast their eyes, & Morpheus there behelde,
With woefulste looke, that euer eye did vewe:
For very sorrow with whorsy noise they yelde,
And crying sayde, oh happy dayes adewe.
Woe worth the daye alas, that Father vs begot,
And cursed bee our byrth, our mother slewe vs not.
For very sorrow with whorsy noise they yelde,
And crying sayde, oh happy dayes adewe.
Woe worth the daye alas, that Father vs begot,
And cursed bee our byrth, our mother slewe vs not.
Wee twoo in Israel whilome Iudges were,
That al thing rulde among the Iewishe Nation:
In Babilon one Ioachim, dwelling there,
And then among the Iewes in mighty estimation,
By meanes whereof to our contentation,
No house so fitte as his, for vs to lye and bee,
Of whome againe no man more glad then hee.
That al thing rulde among the Iewishe Nation:
In Babilon one Ioachim, dwelling there,
And then among the Iewes in mighty estimation,
By meanes whereof to our contentation,
No house so fitte as his, for vs to lye and bee,
Of whome againe no man more glad then hee.
Which Ioachim one Susanna tooke to wife,
The onely Daughter of Helchia Iust:
That liued chaste and vertuous all her life,
Who in the Lorde did euer put her trust:
Whose ardent beawty, styrred vp our lust
So flamingly that like a gleyde wee broild,
This noble Dames chaste life to haue defilde.
The onely Daughter of Helchia Iust:
That liued chaste and vertuous all her life,
Who in the Lorde did euer put her trust:
Whose ardent beawty, styrred vp our lust
So flamingly that like a gleyde wee broild,
This noble Dames chaste life to haue defilde.
As in the thirteenth of Daniel, there it doth appeare,
What sleyght wee vsed burning in her loue:
To come by our purpose, wee brought her in dispayre,
For thus wee sweare by al the Gods aboue:
Except shee did consent that shee should hastely proue,
For that wee had her there, we sayde wee would accuse her
In filthy fornication we found aman abuse her.
What sleyght wee vsed burning in her loue:
To come by our purpose, wee brought her in dispayre,
For thus wee sweare by al the Gods aboue:
Except shee did consent that shee should hastely proue,
For that wee had her there, we sayde wee would accuse her
In filthy fornication we found aman abuse her.
Wee stealing in before the Orcharde doores were bard,
The rather then wee thought our purpose to haue had:
But naked though shee stoode our talke shee not regarde,
O Lorde (quoth shee) nowe am I hard bee stad:
Alas shee sayd, these ylles are bothe twoo bad.
Yet had I rather byde these Tyrants accusation,
Then for to yeelde and worke abhomination.
The rather then wee thought our purpose to haue had:
But naked though shee stoode our talke shee not regarde,
O Lorde (quoth shee) nowe am I hard bee stad:
Alas shee sayd, these ylles are bothe twoo bad.
Yet had I rather byde these Tyrants accusation,
Then for to yeelde and worke abhomination.
Which when we saw with open mouthes we cryed,
Fye vpon this woman, an adulteresse (quod we)
At the which al the seruauntes hasted fast and hyed,
And vp they brake the doores, and in with speede they flee:
Wee accusing her, reported this wee see.
Wherat the seruants sad, made sorrow for the same,
For why before, no man could staine her name.
Fye vpon this woman, an adulteresse (quod we)
At the which al the seruauntes hasted fast and hyed,
And vp they brake the doores, and in with speede they flee:
Wee accusing her, reported this wee see.
Wherat the seruants sad, made sorrow for the same,
For why before, no man could staine her name.
Upon the morrowe before the elders all,
Wee falselye did accuse her there, vpon the same:
But shee in prayer, vpon her knees did fall,
And calde vpon the Lord, in praysing of his name:
Whose eares heard wel her plaint: for shee from shame,
By God deliuered was: and wee to thraldome brought,
The same wee had, as wee this Lady thought.
Wee falselye did accuse her there, vpon the same:
But shee in prayer, vpon her knees did fall,
And calde vpon the Lord, in praysing of his name:
Whose eares heard wel her plaint: for shee from shame,
By God deliuered was: and wee to thraldome brought,
The same wee had, as wee this Lady thought.
For by an Infauntes mouth, sturde vp by God,
The verye truth of all our thoughtes reuealde:
And in a worthy sentence, divulgate al abroade,
So that there was no Iote nor title once concealde:
And that wee both, sith then haue sore bewailde.
Daniel was his name, the Prophete of the Lord,
That sau'de his seruaunt, according to his worde.
The verye truth of all our thoughtes reuealde:
And in a worthy sentence, divulgate al abroade,
So that there was no Iote nor title once concealde:
And that wee both, sith then haue sore bewailde.
Daniel was his name, the Prophete of the Lord,
That sau'de his seruaunt, according to his worde.
And thus wee were reprooued of our false intent,
Susanna, set at libertye with ioye and triple praise:
Daniel vpon vs, gaue his cruel iudgement,
Loe, thus at mischiefe ended wee our dayes:
The Gods condempne vs, heare to lye alwayes.
In paines perpetuall, whose endles woe no tongue
Is able to describe, that wee haue suffered long.
Susanna, set at libertye with ioye and triple praise:
Daniel vpon vs, gaue his cruel iudgement,
Loe, thus at mischiefe ended wee our dayes:
The Gods condempne vs, heare to lye alwayes.
In paines perpetuall, whose endles woe no tongue
Is able to describe, that wee haue suffered long.
And world with worlds, withouten ende and ends,
Shall here bewaile our wilfull sclaunderous tongues:
And yet on earth are some that in the same offendes,
And thinke the Gods forget, because they suffer long:
(No no Morpheus) they doe reuenge eache wrong.
And sclaunder scapeth not, but heare is double quitte.
Bee iudge, that seest vs thus tormented in this pitte.
Shall here bewaile our wilfull sclaunderous tongues:
And yet on earth are some that in the same offendes,
And thinke the Gods forget, because they suffer long:
(No no Morpheus) they doe reuenge eache wrong.
And sclaunder scapeth not, but heare is double quitte.
Bee iudge, that seest vs thus tormented in this pitte.
This odious vale throughout thou shalt not see,
The like to vs, our plagues so faste increase:
Wishe al thy friendes therefore, like sclander for to flee,
For heare theyr paines loe, neuer haue release.
Crye therfore betime, their tongues from sclander ceasse.
He that from one or other theyr honest name doth take,
Before the Gods a great offence doth make.
The like to vs, our plagues so faste increase:
Wishe al thy friendes therefore, like sclander for to flee,
For heare theyr paines loe, neuer haue release.
Crye therfore betime, their tongues from sclander ceasse.
He that from one or other theyr honest name doth take,
Before the Gods a great offence doth make.
For wee vnhappy wretches so much desired,
To haue the vse of this sayd noble Dame:
That like a gleide our inward sprites were fyred,
Our purpose to obtaine, wee forst no sinne nor shame:
But when wee were denied, wee falsely layde the blame
Upon that vertuous wight, that neuer did offend,
For our reward therefore behold the ende.
To haue the vse of this sayd noble Dame:
That like a gleide our inward sprites were fyred,
Our purpose to obtaine, wee forst no sinne nor shame:
But when wee were denied, wee falsely layde the blame
Upon that vertuous wight, that neuer did offend,
For our reward therefore behold the ende.
Some thinke theyr heeles be hoist, where head shall neuer come,
Whose eyes be bleard in glory vaine & valde,
And in theyr doultes conceyts, they thinke to geue ye dome,
Where they were neuer yet to counsel calde,
Whose purpose miste, theyr wilful blood doe scalde.
Theyr Lordly heartes mand vp with beggers purse,
Doth worke the thing which afterward they curse.
Whose eyes be bleard in glory vaine & valde,
And in theyr doultes conceyts, they thinke to geue ye dome,
Where they were neuer yet to counsel calde,
Whose purpose miste, theyr wilful blood doe scalde.
Theyr Lordly heartes mand vp with beggers purse,
Doth worke the thing which afterward they curse.
But yet at mischiefe the sclandering tongue doth ende,
The proofe is plaine, if grace might guide the way:
The Gods doe still theyr seruauntes true defende,
The wicked man doth euer lose his praye:
And in his pride comes sonest to decaye.
Hee falleth through his owne imagination,
As here by vs the ende doth make probation.
The proofe is plaine, if grace might guide the way:
The Gods doe still theyr seruauntes true defende,
The wicked man doth euer lose his praye:
And in his pride comes sonest to decaye.
Hee falleth through his owne imagination,
As here by vs the ende doth make probation.
O sclaunder, sclander, alas, woe worth the time,
That euer wee from hateful heart let flee:
By trifling tongue, those wicked dartes of thine,
To wounde theyr states that liued vertuouslye.
Take heede therefore al you that sclaunderers bee.
Though our faulte therfore with you bee not regarded,
Assure you yet, with vs you are rewarded.
That euer wee from hateful heart let flee:
By trifling tongue, those wicked dartes of thine,
To wounde theyr states that liued vertuouslye.
Take heede therefore al you that sclaunderers bee.
Though our faulte therfore with you bee not regarded,
Assure you yet, with vs you are rewarded.
And with these wordes the cruell Iaylor straight,
With horrible gromeling noyse his trumpet soundes:
Where at like Cadmus seede they brawle and fight,
With crooked hookes eche one an other woundes.
To whome comes Alecto and scowling frownes,
With greater plagues for to rewarde these lyers,
And with hir breath settes all on flaming fiers.
With horrible gromeling noyse his trumpet soundes:
Where at like Cadmus seede they brawle and fight,
With crooked hookes eche one an other woundes.
To whome comes Alecto and scowling frownes,
With greater plagues for to rewarde these lyers,
And with hir breath settes all on flaming fiers.
Whereas I blest me to beholde their paines,
Rauisht of my witte almost, I went awaye.
Then when I thought how many here remaines,
Which practise nothing more then slaunder night & daye:
Thought I tis best from slaunder that you staye.
Accuse not true Susanna, the Lorde protects hir still,
His seruaunt he defends and you shal want your will.
Rauisht of my witte almost, I went awaye.
Then when I thought how many here remaines,
Which practise nothing more then slaunder night & daye:
Thought I tis best from slaunder that you staye.
Accuse not true Susanna, the Lorde protects hir still,
His seruaunt he defends and you shal want your will.
Away (quod Morpheus) I heare a meruels crye,
It seemes not farre, I wonder what it is:
With seeking vp and downe, at length did there espie,
A nother was rewarded for his wickednesse,
I long (quoth Morpheus) to know what noyse is this,
And so we stayde, whereas we heard one saye,
Lo wicked men your iust rewarde for aye.
It seemes not farre, I wonder what it is:
With seeking vp and downe, at length did there espie,
A nother was rewarded for his wickednesse,
I long (quoth Morpheus) to know what noyse is this,
And so we stayde, whereas we heard one saye,
Lo wicked men your iust rewarde for aye.
The Aucthor to the twoo Iudges.
Whose tongue hath beene defylde with slaunders heretofore,That humbly weepes not like a chyld, with great repēting sore.
O wicked wretches fye, your Guerdon now is quit:
In Tartarus loe where you lie, that did in iudgement sit
Take heede you boasting blabbes, that Innocentes defyle:
You shall be whipt with cruell roddes, within this little while.
VVhat sinfull deede is this, that woman to accuse,
That neuer yet was knowne amisse, hir body to abuse?
Howe dare you be so bolde, your neyghbors for to spoyle,
Of greater treasure then of golde, or fieldes of fertill soyle?
Nor yet king Alexanders welth, to sell not halfe so deare
As is the honest name, whome euill tongues deuoure,
Er now, that neuer yerned blame, are blotted in an houre.
But you that slaunderers bee, to minde Susanna call:
And prayse the Lorde, so shall you see Gods vengaunce on them fall.
For Jacob was accusde, poore man that thought none ill:
Alas how long hath spite bene vsde, of them that want their will?
The slaundering tongue is such, if thought doe wag awry:
To winne the wager heele not grutche, thus to proclayme and cry:
That this or that I might, and will, and pleaseth mee:
And thu. I ought to haue of right, and sweres it so to bee.
Thus haue I done sayth hee, when truth is nothing so:
Or else he sayth that this I see, to worke the parties wo.
And thus accused are, it pitieth me to heare,
Susannas that be guiltlesse, a thousande in a yeare.
Therefore you filthie Iudges your ende I ioye to see:
Now lye without refuge in hell eternallie.
You sprang of Cadmus seede, your nature plaine doth sho:
But yet the Goddes at length doe weede, all such his seruauntes fro.
VVith Joachim I doe reioyce, Susanna thus to see
Elected by Goddes holie voyce, with Aungels for to bee.
| The rewarde of Wickednesse | |