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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A CVP OF CONSOLATION for the Christian in his Conflict. |
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 | Du Bartas |  |
1124
A CVP OF CONSOLATION for the Christian in his Conflict.
Why, silly Man, sick of exceeding Grief,
What boots it Thee, vncertain of thy Life,
Of thy disease to make so much adoo?
Thou coward Souldier, and vntoward too,
Away with Fear: defie both Death and Hell:
Meet Arms with Arms, and Darts with Darts repell:
So, the first On-set, in this furious Fray,
Shall towards Heav'n make thee an easie Way;
And open wide those Gates so hardly won,
Where Snowie-winged Victory doth wun:
Thou must bee valiant, and with dant-less brest
Rush through the thickest, Run vpon the best
Of braving Foes; and, on their Flight and Foil,
Reare noble Trophies of triumphant Spoil.
For, This World's Prince, dark Limboe's Potentate,
Drifts Man's Destruction, and with deadly Hate
(Still Strife-full) labours, and by all means seeks
To trouble All, and Heav'n with Hell to mix.
What boots it Thee, vncertain of thy Life,
Of thy disease to make so much adoo?
Thou coward Souldier, and vntoward too,
Away with Fear: defie both Death and Hell:
Meet Arms with Arms, and Darts with Darts repell:
So, the first On-set, in this furious Fray,
Shall towards Heav'n make thee an easie Way;
And open wide those Gates so hardly won,
Where Snowie-winged Victory doth wun:
Thou must bee valiant, and with dant-less brest
Rush through the thickest, Run vpon the best
Of braving Foes; and, on their Flight and Foil,
Reare noble Trophies of triumphant Spoil.
For, This World's Prince, dark Limboe's Potentate,
Drifts Man's Destruction, and with deadly Hate
(Still Strife-full) labours, and by all means seeks
To trouble All, and Heav'n with Hell to mix.
Great War within ther is, great War without;
With Flesh and Blood, and with the World about.
On this Side, smiling Hope (with smoothest brow)
False-promiseth long Peace and Plenty too:
On that Side, sallow Fear (with fainting breath)
Checks those proud thoughts with threats of War & Death;
And (weary of it Selfe) it Self distrusts,
It Self destroyes, and to Confusion thrusts;
And ignorant of it Selfe's Good (yer Triall)
In jealous Rage it even betraies the loyall.
With Flesh and Blood, and with the World about.
On this Side, smiling Hope (with smoothest brow)
False-promiseth long Peace and Plenty too:
On that Side, sallow Fear (with fainting breath)
Checks those proud thoughts with threats of War & Death;
And (weary of it Selfe) it Self distrusts,
It Self destroyes, and to Confusion thrusts;
And ignorant of it Selfe's Good (yer Triall)
In jealous Rage it even betraies the loyall.
Heer, Cloud-browd Sorrow, Whirl-winde-like, it hies
Th'amated Minde to tosse and tyrannize:
There, dimpled Ioy nimbly enringeth round
Her gawdy Troops that stand vpon no ground;
Whose brittle gloss and glory lasts and shines
As Stubble-Fire, and Dust before the Windes.
Th'amated Minde to tosse and tyrannize:
There, dimpled Ioy nimbly enringeth round
Her gawdy Troops that stand vpon no ground;
Whose brittle gloss and glory lasts and shines
As Stubble-Fire, and Dust before the Windes.
1125
What should I speak of all the snarefull Wiles,
And cunning Colours of my sterious Guiles,
Wherewith Death's Founder, and thy Life's drad Fo,
Improvident Mankinde doth overthrowe?
And cunning Colours of my sterious Guiles,
Wherewith Death's Founder, and thy Life's drad Fo,
Improvident Mankinde doth overthrowe?
Yet, bee Courageous, yeeld not vnto Evill:
Resist Beginnings, and defie the Divell.
For sure Defence amid these fell Alarms,
Quick buckle-on these ay-victorious Arms:
Resist Beginnings, and defie the Divell.
For sure Defence amid these fell Alarms,
Quick buckle-on these ay-victorious Arms:
First, gird thy Loins with Truth, thy Bosom dress
In the sure Brest-plate of pure Righteousnes:
Put, on thy Head, the Helmet of Salvation:
Vpon thy Feet, Shooes of the Preparation
Of Heav'ns Glad-tidings: Bear vpon thine Arm
The Shield of Faith (Shot-free from every harm).
Hell's fiery Darts repell thou with the same;
And, through its splendor, quench their Flame with Flame:
Take in thy hand the bright two-edged Sword
Of God's Soule-parting, Marrow-pearcing, Word.
In the sure Brest-plate of pure Righteousnes:
Put, on thy Head, the Helmet of Salvation:
Vpon thy Feet, Shooes of the Preparation
Of Heav'ns Glad-tidings: Bear vpon thine Arm
The Shield of Faith (Shot-free from every harm).
Hell's fiery Darts repell thou with the same;
And, through its splendor, quench their Flame with Flame:
Take in thy hand the bright two-edged Sword
Of God's Soule-parting, Marrow-pearcing, Word.
Thus compleat arm'd from God's owne Arcenal,
And watching duly for his Aid to call,
Thou without doubt shalt quickly overcom
The World, the Flesh, Sin, Death and Hell (in sum).
And so (through Christ, thy Captain and thy King)
Of Sin, thy Self, and Satan triumphing,
Thou shalt (in fine) the Happy Crown obtain,
And in th'Eternall Promis'd Kingdom raign.
And watching duly for his Aid to call,
Thou without doubt shalt quickly overcom
The World, the Flesh, Sin, Death and Hell (in sum).
And so (through Christ, thy Captain and thy King)
Of Sin, thy Self, and Satan triumphing,
Thou shalt (in fine) the Happy Crown obtain,
And in th'Eternall Promis'd Kingdom raign.
FINIS.
| Du Bartas | |