[The Courte of Vertu contaynynge many holy songes, Sonettes, psalmes and ballettes] [by John Hall] |
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Ieremie .ix.
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 | [The Courte of Vertu |  |
Ieremie .ix.
O who
wyll geue my head,
Of water perfecte store:
And to mine eyes a wel of teares
To flow for euer more?
Of water perfecte store:
And to mine eyes a wel of teares
To flow for euer more?
So should myne outward acte
Expresse myne inwarde payne,
To wepe and wayle both nyght and day,
My people that are slayne.
Expresse myne inwarde payne,
To wepe and wayle both nyght and day,
My people that are slayne.
Would God I had elswhere
A cottage in some place,
That from the people I myght be
A farre distance and space.
A cottage in some place,
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A farre distance and space.
That I myght leaue my folke
And be from their resorte,
Adulterers because they be
And eke a shrynkyng sorte.
And be from their resorte,
Adulterers because they be
And eke a shrynkyng sorte.
Lyke bowes they bende their tongues,
Wherwith they shoote out lyes:
And grow on earth, for why the worlde
Doth alwayes truthe despyse.
Wherwith they shoote out lyes:
And grow on earth, for why the worlde
Doth alwayes truthe despyse.
From wickednes they goe
To wickednes agayne,
And wyll not knowe me sayth the lorde,
Nor in my lawes remayne:
To wickednes agayne,
And wyll not knowe me sayth the lorde,
Nor in my lawes remayne:
One from an other nowe
Abstayn and shurnish muste:
For no man in his brother may
With saftie put his truste.
Abstayn and shurnish muste:
For no man in his brother may
With saftie put his truste.
Men doe their brethern seke,
To wrong and vnder mynde:
Disemblyng styll they practise guyle,
No truthe in them I fynde.
To wrong and vnder mynde:
Disemblyng styll they practise guyle,
No truthe in them I fynde.
Their tongues they exercyse,
To lye and eke to fayne:
And mischiefe so they may commyt,
They force not for great payne.
To lye and eke to fayne:
And mischiefe so they may commyt,
They force not for great payne.
[63]
Why doe I then remayne,
In this despitfull throng?
Whiche doe dissemble, and nought els
But falshod them among.
In this despitfull throng?
Whiche doe dissemble, and nought els
But falshod them among.
They wyll not knowe the lorde,
But wander styll awry:
Therfore thus sayth the lorde of hostes,
I wyll them melte and try.
But wander styll awry:
Therfore thus sayth the lorde of hostes,
I wyll them melte and try.
For what should els be done
To suche a people vyle:
Whose tongues are like to arowes sharpe,
To vtter fraude and guyle.
To suche a people vyle:
Whose tongues are like to arowes sharpe,
To vtter fraude and guyle.
For with their mouthes they speake,
As though they ment but peace:
To hurte their neyghbour priuily
Yet wyll they neuer cease.
As though they ment but peace:
To hurte their neyghbour priuily
Yet wyll they neuer cease.
Should I not punysh them
For this thyng (sayeth the lorde)
Or should not I aduenged be
Of people so abhorde?
For this thyng (sayeth the lorde)
Or should not I aduenged be
Of people so abhorde?
I shall them cause therfore
On mountaynes to lament:
The desertes and the plesant playnes
To mourning shall be bent.
On mountaynes to lament:
The desertes and the plesant playnes
To mourning shall be bent.
For burned shall they be,
Their cattell and their store:
Of byrde or beaste there shall no voyce
Be heard there any more.
Their cattell and their store:
Of byrde or beaste there shall no voyce
Be heard there any more.
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