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 |
 |
 | 1. |
| 2. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 | Du Bartas |  |
Here-at, my Heart trembles for inward Feare,
As if remov'd from it owne place it were:
Hark, hark with heed vnto the hideous Noyce,
The horrid Rumbling of his dreadfull Voyce,
Which, with his Lightning, he directeth forth,
Vnder whole Heav'n, and over all the Earth.
After the Flash, a Clash there roareth high;
He thunders-out his Voyce of Maiestie:
And then no longer will He keep them back,
When that is heard over our heads to crack.
As if remov'd from it owne place it were:
Hark, hark with heed vnto the hideous Noyce,
The horrid Rumbling of his dreadfull Voyce,
Which, with his Lightning, he directeth forth,
Vnder whole Heav'n, and over all the Earth.
After the Flash, a Clash there roareth high;
He thunders-out his Voyce of Maiestie:
And then no longer will He keep them back,
When that is heard over our heads to crack.
God, with his Voyce, doth thunder wondrously,
And works great things that we cannot discry:
He bids the Snow to cover Hill and Plain;
So, drizling Showers; and so, his Mighty Rain;
Whereby, From Field-works He seals-vp mens hands,
That they may know His works how He commands.
Then, to their Den the Savage Heards do hie;
And for a season in their Covert lie.
And works great things that we cannot discry:
He bids the Snow to cover Hill and Plain;
So, drizling Showers; and so, his Mighty Rain;
Whereby, From Field-works He seals-vp mens hands,
That they may know His works how He commands.
Then, to their Den the Savage Heards do hie;
And for a season in their Covert lie.
From Southern Chambers the hot Whirl-wind coms:
From Northren Cels, That which with Cold benumbs.
The Frost is given vs, by the breath divine;
When Crusts of Crystall spreading Floods confine.
The blackest Clowd He doth exhaust of waters:
And, his bright Clowd (the Lightnings shroud) he scatters.
And (by the Counsaile of his Providence)
All This, by Turns, in round Circumference
Is turn'd about: and ready at his Call,
Throughout the World, to do his will, in all.
For, He commands them come, for Punishment,
Or Loue to His; or else Indifferent.
From Northren Cels, That which with Cold benumbs.
The Frost is given vs, by the breath divine;
When Crusts of Crystall spreading Floods confine.
The blackest Clowd He doth exhaust of waters:
And, his bright Clowd (the Lightnings shroud) he scatters.
And (by the Counsaile of his Providence)
All This, by Turns, in round Circumference
Is turn'd about: and ready at his Call,
Throughout the World, to do his will, in all.
For, He commands them come, for Punishment,
Or Loue to His; or else Indifferent.
Harken to This, O Iob; stand still, and ponder
The Works of God, so full of waight and wonder.
Know'st Thou (alas!) when He disposed them;
Or caus'd the Light out of his Lump to beam?
Know'st Thou the Clowd's iust Poize (the high or lower)
And wondrous works of the All-perfect Knower?
How, when He calms the Earth with Southern puff,
Thy thinnest Clothes thou findest warm enough.
Hast Thou, with Him, spred forth the spangled Skie,
That (liquid Crystall-like) strong Canopie?
The Works of God, so full of waight and wonder.
Know'st Thou (alas!) when He disposed them;
Or caus'd the Light out of his Lump to beam?
943
And wondrous works of the All-perfect Knower?
How, when He calms the Earth with Southern puff,
Thy thinnest Clothes thou findest warm enough.
Hast Thou, with Him, spred forth the spangled Skie,
That (liquid Crystall-like) strong Canopie?
If so; then shew vs, what to say to Him:
For, what to say, we are (alas!) too dim.
Should I mis-speak, needs any Him inform?
Nay, should I not be swallowed vp (in storm)?
For, what to say, we are (alas!) too dim.
Should I mis-speak, needs any Him inform?
Nay, should I not be swallowed vp (in storm)?
None fixly can (when clowds be clear'd away)
Behold the bright and shining Lamp of Day.
From out the North stream goodly Beams of gold:
With God is Light more bright by manifold,
More pure, more pearcing, past a mortall Eye;
More dreadfull farre. His glorious Maiestie
(Dwelling aboue, in Splendors inaccessible)
For vs to find out, is a poynt impossible.
Hee's excellent in Prudence: passing Strong:
Plentious in Iustice: and doth No man wrong.
Therefore Men fear him: Yet, for Their desert,
Regards not He those that are Wise of heart.
Behold the bright and shining Lamp of Day.
From out the North stream goodly Beams of gold:
With God is Light more bright by manifold,
More pure, more pearcing, past a mortall Eye;
More dreadfull farre. His glorious Maiestie
(Dwelling aboue, in Splendors inaccessible)
For vs to find out, is a poynt impossible.
Hee's excellent in Prudence: passing Strong:
Plentious in Iustice: and doth No man wrong.
Therefore Men fear him: Yet, for Their desert,
Regards not He those that are Wise of heart.
Where? Who is He, that (to Himselfe so holy)
Darkens my Counsailes, with contentious Folly?
Come, gird thy loynes, prepare thee, play the Man;
I will oppose thee: answer, if thou can.
Darkens my Counsailes, with contentious Folly?
Come, gird thy loynes, prepare thee, play the Man;
I will oppose thee: answer, if thou can.
Why! Where wert Thou, tell (if thou know'st, dis-maid)
When the Foundations of the Earth I laid?
Who marked first the Measure of it out?
Or (canst Thou tell) Who stretcht the Line about?
What Bases had it; and fixt Where-upon?
Or, Who thereof layd the first Corner-stone,
When Morning-Stars for Ioy together sang,
And all God's Children cheerfull eccho rang?
Or, Who with Doores, shut-in the Sea so streight,
When from the Womb it rushed with such weight?
When as I made the Clowd a Clowt for it,
And blackest Darkness as a Swathe-band fit:
And Cradled it, in mine appointed place,
With Bars about, and Doores at every pace:
And sayd vnto it; Hitherto extend;
And farther, not: Heer, thy proud Waues be pend.
When the Foundations of the Earth I laid?
Who marked first the Measure of it out?
Or (canst Thou tell) Who stretcht the Line about?
What Bases had it; and fixt Where-upon?
Or, Who thereof layd the first Corner-stone,
When Morning-Stars for Ioy together sang,
And all God's Children cheerfull eccho rang?
Or, Who with Doores, shut-in the Sea so streight,
When from the Womb it rushed with such weight?
When as I made the Clowd a Clowt for it,
And blackest Darkness as a Swathe-band fit:
And Cradled it, in mine appointed place,
With Bars about, and Doores at every pace:
And sayd vnto it; Hitherto extend;
And farther, not: Heer, thy proud Waues be pend.
Hadst Thou the Morning from thy birth, at beck?
Mad'st thou the Dawn in his due place to break;
That it might reach the Earth's Circumference,
And that the wicked might be shaken thence:
To stamp it (various, as the Potters Clay)
With many Formes, in manifold array,
When as th'Vngodly shall be all descry'd;
That Iustice hand may break the armes of Pride?
Hast Thou gon down into the Sea it selfe;
Walkt in the Bottom; searched every Shelfe;
Survaid the Springs? Or have the Gates of Death
Been opened to Thee; and those Dores beneath
Death's gastly shadows? Know'st Thou (to conclude)
(Tell, if thou know'st) the Earth's iust Latitude?
Mad'st thou the Dawn in his due place to break;
That it might reach the Earth's Circumference,
And that the wicked might be shaken thence:
944
With many Formes, in manifold array,
When as th'Vngodly shall be all descry'd;
That Iustice hand may break the armes of Pride?
Hast Thou gon down into the Sea it selfe;
Walkt in the Bottom; searched every Shelfe;
Survaid the Springs? Or have the Gates of Death
Been opened to Thee; and those Dores beneath
Death's gastly shadows? Know'st Thou (to conclude)
(Tell, if thou know'st) the Earth's iust Latitude?
Which is the way where louely Light doth dwell?
And as for Darkness, where hath Shee her Cell;
That Thou should'st Both, in both their bounds comprise;
And know their dwellings, and their Paths, precise?
Needs must Thou know them: Thou wert born yer than:
No doubt Thou wert, Thou art so old a man.
And as for Darkness, where hath Shee her Cell;
That Thou should'st Both, in both their bounds comprise;
And know their dwellings, and their Paths, precise?
Needs must Thou know them: Thou wert born yer than:
No doubt Thou wert, Thou art so old a man.
Hast Thou the Treasures of the Snow survay'd?
Or seen the Store-house of my Hail (vp-layd
And hid in heaps, against a time of need)
For War-like Battry, where I haue decreed?
Or seen the Store-house of my Hail (vp-layd
And hid in heaps, against a time of need)
For War-like Battry, where I haue decreed?
Which is the way whence Lightning flasheth out,
Scattering th'vnhealthy Eastern Gales about?
Who hath dispos'd the vpper Spouts and Gutters,
Whereby the Aire his over-burthen vtters?
Or given the Lightning and the Thunder way,
To cause it rain on places parcht away;
On thirstie Desarts, where no People pass;
On barren Mountains, to reviue the Grass?
Scattering th'vnhealthy Eastern Gales about?
Who hath dispos'd the vpper Spouts and Gutters,
Whereby the Aire his over-burthen vtters?
Or given the Lightning and the Thunder way,
To cause it rain on places parcht away;
On thirstie Desarts, where no People pass;
On barren Mountains, to reviue the Grass?
Had Rain a Father? Or, begot by whom
Was pearly Deaw? Or, from what pregnant Womb
Came crystall Ice? Or, canst Thou rightly render,
Who did the hard and hoary Frosts ingender,
When Waters creep vnder a Stone-like cover,
And th'Oceans surface is thick-glased over?
Was pearly Deaw? Or, from what pregnant Womb
Came crystall Ice? Or, canst Thou rightly render,
Who did the hard and hoary Frosts ingender,
When Waters creep vnder a Stone-like cover,
And th'Oceans surface is thick-glased over?
Canst Thou restrain the pleasant Influing
Of Pleiades (the Vshers of the Spring)?
Or, canst Thou lose Orion's Icie Bands
(Who rules the Winter with his chill Commands)?
Canst Thou bring forth (the soultry Summers Guide)
Bright Mazaroth (or Dog-star) in his Tide?
Or canst thou lead Arcturus (and his Train,
Th'Autumnall Signes) his Sons or Charls his Wain)?
Of Pleiades (the Vshers of the Spring)?
Or, canst Thou lose Orion's Icie Bands
(Who rules the Winter with his chill Commands)?
Canst Thou bring forth (the soultry Summers Guide)
Bright Mazaroth (or Dog-star) in his Tide?
Or canst thou lead Arcturus (and his Train,
Th'Autumnall Signes) his Sons or Charls his Wain)?
Know'st Thou the Statutes of the Heav'ns aboue?
Or canst Thou (here) them in their order moue?
Wilt Thou command the Clowds, and Rain shall fall?
Will Lightning come, and answer, at thy call?
Or canst Thou (here) them in their order moue?
Wilt Thou command the Clowds, and Rain shall fall?
Will Lightning come, and answer, at thy call?
Who hath infus'd Wisedom in th'inner part?
Or Vnderstanding who hath given the hart?
Who can sum-vp the Clowds, or clear the Sky?
Or ope Heav'ns bottles, when the Earth is dry?
To steep the Dust, and knead the clotted Clay,
Yerst over-baked with too-hot a Ray?
Or Vnderstanding who hath given the hart?
945
Or ope Heav'ns bottles, when the Earth is dry?
To steep the Dust, and knead the clotted Clay,
Yerst over-baked with too-hot a Ray?
| Du Bartas | |