[The Courte of Vertu contaynynge many holy songes, Sonettes, psalmes and ballettes] [by John Hall] |
 |
|
Iudith .16.
|
 | [The Courte of Vertu |  |
Iudith .16.
On
tabrets to the lorde let vs
our thankfull songes begin,
Upon the simbals let vs syng
a new songe vnto hym.
our thankfull songes begin,
Upon the simbals let vs syng
a new songe vnto hym.
With ioyfull thankes his name to prayse,
And call vpon the same:
It is the lorde that warres doth cease,
Yea the lorde is his name.
And call vpon the same:
It is the lorde that warres doth cease,
Yea the lorde is his name.
[58]
Which pitched hath his tentes of strēgth
His people all among:
Us to delyuer from the handes
Of all our enmies strong.
His people all among:
Us to delyuer from the handes
Of all our enmies strong.
For from the mountaynes of the northe
Came the Assirian,
And many thousandes myght we see,
Within his army than.
Came the Assirian,
And many thousandes myght we see,
Within his army than.
His multitude had shut the streames
In all our coastes throughout,
And with his horsmen couerd were
The valleys all about.
In all our coastes throughout,
And with his horsmen couerd were
The valleys all about.
My markes & boundes he sayd he wold
Consume with burning fyre,
To kyll my young men with the sworde
Was also his desyre:
Consume with burning fyre,
To kyll my young men with the sworde
Was also his desyre:
To brayne my suckyng babes, and geue
Myne infantes for a praye.
My maydens and my virgins pure
He thought to dryue awaye.
Myne infantes for a praye.
My maydens and my virgins pure
He thought to dryue awaye.
But through the lorde omnipotent
Suche grace we vnderstande,
Of their purpose they are decevd,
Euen by a womans hande.
Suche grace we vnderstande,
Of their purpose they are decevd,
Euen by a womans hande.
For with the hardes of yoūg mē strong
He truly was not slayne:
Nor they that were of Tytan borne
To kyll hym toke no payne.
He truly was not slayne:
Nor they that were of Tytan borne
To kyll hym toke no payne.
59
Nor gyant great: but Iudith lo
Daughter of Merari.
For with hyr face she scattred them
And with hyr great beutye.
Daughter of Merari.
For with hyr face she scattred them
And with hyr great beutye.
Hir wydowes clothes, hir morninge wede,
She gan thē to forbeare:
And did on suche as she was wonte
On holy dayes to weare.
She gan thē to forbeare:
And did on suche as she was wonte
On holy dayes to weare.
To helpe the wofull Israelites,
Whom ieopardie had hent:
Hir vertuous face she did anoynte,
With oyntment excellent.
Whom ieopardie had hent:
Hir vertuous face she did anoynte,
With oyntment excellent.
And with an hone she trimde hyr heare,
Hir worke thus could she weaue:
She ware a lȳnen stole also,
Thus did She him deceaue.
Hir worke thus could she weaue:
She ware a lȳnen stole also,
Thus did She him deceaue.
Hir slypers rauished his eyes,
Hir beutie eke his mynde:
And through his necke his own sworde went
Suche ende lo did he fynde.
Hir beutie eke his mynde:
And through his necke his own sworde went
Suche ende lo did he fynde.
The Persians weare in doubt & feare
At hir audacitie,
The Medes dyd maruell very muche,
Hir bouldnes suche to be.
At hir audacitie,
The Medes dyd maruell very muche,
Hir bouldnes suche to be.
The humble folke reioyced then,
They Ioyde that erste dyd crye:
And they dyd feare that bragd before
And fayne were nowe to flye.
They Ioyde that erste dyd crye:
And they dyd feare that bragd before
And fayne were nowe to flye.
[59]
Our womens sonnes then killed them,
Lyke slaues they ran away:
The seruantes of the lorde my God
Thus caused them to straye.
Lyke slaues they ran away:
The seruantes of the lorde my God
Thus caused them to straye.
A song of prayse vnto the Lorde
To syng I will procure:
Thy glory lorde and strength also
Inuincible and pure.
To syng I will procure:
Thy glory lorde and strength also
Inuincible and pure.
For eche thing yt thy hande hath made
Doth serue thee in his kynde:
Thou didst commaūde & straight it was,
Thy worde so strong we fynde.
Doth serue thee in his kynde:
Thou didst commaūde & straight it was,
Thy worde so strong we fynde.
Thyne holy sprite thou sentest out,
And strayght wayes it was made:
For nothyng can resist thy word,
Whiche dures and doth not fade.
And strayght wayes it was made:
For nothyng can resist thy word,
Whiche dures and doth not fade.
For mountaynes they shall moued be
With water from their springes,
And in thy sight harde thinges shal melt,
As wexe and liquid thynges.
With water from their springes,
And in thy sight harde thinges shal melt,
As wexe and liquid thynges.
And yet to them that doe thee feare
Thy mercy doth extende:
From the fyrste tyme to this present,
And euer without ende.
Thy mercy doth extende:
From the fyrste tyme to this present,
And euer without ende.
| [The Courte of Vertu | |