The Historie of Ivdith in Forme of a Poeme Penned in French, by the Noble Poet, G. Salust. Lord of Bartas. Englished by Tho. Hudson |
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| 6. | THE SIXTH BOOKE OF Ivdith. |
 | The Historie of Ivdith in Forme of a Poeme |  |
THE SIXTH BOOKE OF Ivdith.
THE SOMMARIE OF THE VI. BOOK.
Iudith hauing escaped the perill of her chastitie, is brought to a sumpteous banquet prepared by Holophernes for the intertainement of her, and farder prouocation of his filthie lust: In which the abhominable vice of gluttonie is by the Poet viuely descriued, and sharply reprehended. And whereas the Tyrant thought by such excesse to ouercome the chaste widow: himselfe is so ouercome with wine, that vpon a verie simple delay he lets her goe till he was in his bed. And here is noted that the snares that the wicked layes for others, they fall in them their selfs. Whiles the Tyrant contemplated his lust, Iudith in trouble called vpon her God, who made way for her worke through the Tyrants owne wickednesse: who he aping sin vpon sinne, approched at last to the end of his tragedie, and mounting vpon the skaffold of the yre of God, falles a sleepe in his sinfull bed, and is by Iudith beheaded in his beastly dronkennes. True it is that in this execution she felt her great infirmitie, but likewise she found that God was able to strengthen the most feeble for the execution of his Iustice. And as before she was preserued in the midst of her enemies: so the Lord to make a miraculous end of his worke, brings her safe home to her people. The Bethulians giues thankes to God. The Ammonit rauished with this miracle, embraced the true religion. The head of Holophernes (that Iudiths seruant brought) being set vp for a terrible spectakle to the Heathen, encouraged the Cittezens to giue assault vpon the camp. Bagos, who had bene an instrument of the tyrants wickednes, is the first that finds his musters headles Carkas, and putts the camp in such affray, that they fled all before Israell, in such sort that scarse one was left to bring newes to Niniuè, of the fortune of the battell. And that was Gods Iustice, that those that had followed this tyrant in his wickednesse, should be companions of his death. Iudith last of all celebrates the deliuerance of God with a song, to the honour and glorie of his almightie name.
Before the Pagan had his purpose ended,
the night obscure frō mōtains high descēded
And sewers set the bord with costly meate,
Of passing price, so delicate to eate,
that Holopherne vnto his ioyous feast
Aperd t'haue cald the kings of west and East.
the night obscure frō mōtains high descēded
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Of passing price, so delicate to eate,
that Holopherne vnto his ioyous feast
Aperd t'haue cald the kings of west and East.
O glutton throtes, ô greedy guts profound,
the chosen meats within the world his bound
By th' Abderois inuented may not staūche,
Nor satisfie your foule deuouring paūche:
But must in Moluke seeke the spices fine.
Canarie suger and the Candy wine.
Your appetits (O gluttons) to cōtent,
the sacred brest of Thetis blew is rent:
the Aire must be dispeopled for your mawes
the Phœnix sole can skarse escape your iawes.
‘O plague, O poyson to the warriour state,
‘thou maks the noble harts effeminate,
‘while Rome was rulde by Curioes and Fabrices,
‘who fed on roots and sought not for delices,
‘and when the onely Cresson was the foode
‘most delicate to Persia, then they stoode
‘in happy state, renowmde in peace and warre,
‘& throu the world, their triumphes spred afarre:
‘But when they after in th' Assyrian hall,
‘Had learnd the lessons of Sardanapall.
‘and when the other, giuen to belly cheare,
‘By Galbaes, Veroes, Vitells gouernd weare,
‘who gloried more to fill a costly plate,
‘then kill a Pyrrhus or a Mythridate:
‘then both of them were seene for to be sacked
‘by natiōs poore, whō they before had wracked.
the chosen meats within the world his bound
By th' Abderois inuented may not staūche,
Nor satisfie your foule deuouring paūche:
But must in Moluke seeke the spices fine.
Canarie suger and the Candy wine.
Your appetits (O gluttons) to cōtent,
the sacred brest of Thetis blew is rent:
the Aire must be dispeopled for your mawes
the Phœnix sole can skarse escape your iawes.
‘O plague, O poyson to the warriour state,
‘thou maks the noble harts effeminate,
‘while Rome was rulde by Curioes and Fabrices,
‘who fed on roots and sought not for delices,
‘and when the onely Cresson was the foode
‘most delicate to Persia, then they stoode
‘in happy state, renowmde in peace and warre,
‘& throu the world, their triumphes spred afarre:
‘But when they after in th' Assyrian hall,
‘Had learnd the lessons of Sardanapall.
‘and when the other, giuen to belly cheare,
‘By Galbaes, Veroes, Vitells gouernd weare,
‘who gloried more to fill a costly plate,
‘then kill a Pyrrhus or a Mythridate:
‘then both of them were seene for to be sacked
‘by natiōs poore, whō they before had wracked.
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Of litle nature liues superfluous meate,
‘But duls the sprite, and doth the stomack freate,
When they were set, then throw that Royall rout,
the Maluesie was quaffed oft about.
One drinks out of an Alabaster Cuppe,
one out of Christall doth the Nectar suppe:
Some out of curious shells of Vnicorne:
Some spills the wine, & some to beds were borne:
But namely there the Vizroy would not tyre,
But more he drank, the more he had desyre:
Like to the Ocean-Sea, though it resaues
All Nilus floods, yet all fresh water craues
From East to West, yet growes he not a graine,
But still is ready forasmuch againe.
One glas drawes on another glas, and whan
the butler ment to cease he but began,
to skinck good Bacchus: thus this dronken wight,
Among his dronkards tippled till midnight,
then ech of them with stackring steps out went,
And groping hands retyring to his tent.
This tyrant wisht them oft away before,
to whome ech moment seemd to be a skore.
‘But duls the sprite, and doth the stomack freate,
When they were set, then throw that Royall rout,
the Maluesie was quaffed oft about.
One drinks out of an Alabaster Cuppe,
one out of Christall doth the Nectar suppe:
Some out of curious shells of Vnicorne:
Some spills the wine, & some to beds were borne:
But namely there the Vizroy would not tyre,
But more he drank, the more he had desyre:
Like to the Ocean-Sea, though it resaues
All Nilus floods, yet all fresh water craues
From East to West, yet growes he not a graine,
But still is ready forasmuch againe.
One glas drawes on another glas, and whan
the butler ment to cease he but began,
to skinck good Bacchus: thus this dronken wight,
Among his dronkards tippled till midnight,
then ech of them with stackring steps out went,
And groping hands retyring to his tent.
This tyrant wisht them oft away before,
to whome ech moment seemd to be a skore.
Assoone as they were gone, then gan he prease,
the trembling Iudith. Cease great prince ô cease
the widow sayd: what hast neede you to make
to reap the flowre that none other cā frō you take?
My Lord go to your bed & take your ease,
wher I your sweet embracings will complease,
Assoone as I my garments may remoue,
that binds my body brunt with ardent loue.
the trembling Iudith. Cease great prince ô cease
the widow sayd: what hast neede you to make
to reap the flowre that none other cā frō you take?
My Lord go to your bed & take your ease,
wher I your sweet embracings will complease,
Assoone as I my garments may remoue,
that binds my body brunt with ardent loue.
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Now if that sober wits and wylie brains
Cannot auoyde the female tricks & trains.
Abash not reader though this reckles Roy
(Bewitcht by Semels sonne, and Venus boy)
was thus beguilde: considring both these twaine,
Confounds the force of those that them retaine.
Cannot auoyde the female tricks & trains.
Abash not reader though this reckles Roy
(Bewitcht by Semels sonne, and Venus boy)
was thus beguilde: considring both these twaine,
Confounds the force of those that them retaine.
So letting Iudith slide out of his arme,
He gins to lose his garments soft and warme:
But throw his hast, his hand came lesser speed,
And though he was deceivd, yet tooke no heed,
But wening well t'vntrus his peuish points,
He knits them twyfold with his trembling ioints:
so long till he with anger discontent,
cuts me them all, and off his clothes he rent,
And naked went to bed. Then as ye see
the bloodie bowman stand behind a tree,
who warely watches for the wandring deare:
to euerie part, where he doth thinke to heare
Some trembling bush, some beast or Lezard smal,
that mocion maks, so turneth he withall
His face, and hand to shoot, but all in vaine
for to relieue his long aspecting paine:
Euen so, this foolish tyrant when he hard
some rat or mouse, then thought he to himward:
His Mistris came: and when he hard no more,
yet thought (she came) whome most he did adore.
VVhile vp he lifts his head, while lets it fall:
while lookes about, while counts the paces all,
that she should passe, to come vnto his bed.
Thus turning oft, as ardent lust him led:
he thoght his bed was sown with pricking thorne:
but now the drink that he had drōk beforne,
Brewd in his braine, and from his minde it tooke,
the sweete remembrance of her louing looke.
So fell on sleepe: and then to him appears
Ten thousand flames, ten thousand dinns he hears,
and dreames of Deuils, and Dæmons dark & dim
Medusas, Minotaurs, and Gorgons grim.
He gins to lose his garments soft and warme:
But throw his hast, his hand came lesser speed,
And though he was deceivd, yet tooke no heed,
But wening well t'vntrus his peuish points,
He knits them twyfold with his trembling ioints:
so long till he with anger discontent,
cuts me them all, and off his clothes he rent,
And naked went to bed. Then as ye see
the bloodie bowman stand behind a tree,
who warely watches for the wandring deare:
to euerie part, where he doth thinke to heare
Some trembling bush, some beast or Lezard smal,
that mocion maks, so turneth he withall
His face, and hand to shoot, but all in vaine
for to relieue his long aspecting paine:
Euen so, this foolish tyrant when he hard
some rat or mouse, then thought he to himward:
His Mistris came: and when he hard no more,
yet thought (she came) whome most he did adore.
VVhile vp he lifts his head, while lets it fall:
while lookes about, while counts the paces all,
that she should passe, to come vnto his bed.
Thus turning oft, as ardent lust him led:
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but now the drink that he had drōk beforne,
Brewd in his braine, and from his minde it tooke,
the sweete remembrance of her louing looke.
So fell on sleepe: and then to him appears
Ten thousand flames, ten thousand dinns he hears,
and dreames of Deuils, and Dæmons dark & dim
Medusas, Minotaurs, and Gorgons grim.
This while the hart of Iudith gan to beat
Incessantly beset with battell great:
Onewhile her feare refeld her first entent:
onewhile her action Iust her courage lent.
Incessantly beset with battell great:
Onewhile her feare refeld her first entent:
onewhile her action Iust her courage lent.
Then sayd she Iudith, now is tyme, go to it,
And saue thy people: Nay, I will not do it.
I will, I will not, Go, feare not againe:
wilt thou the sacred gestning then prophaine?
Not it prophane, but holyer it shall stand,
when holy folke are helped by my hand.
And saue thy people: Nay, I will not do it.
I will, I will not, Go, feare not againe:
wilt thou the sacred gestning then prophaine?
Not it prophane, but holyer it shall stand,
when holy folke are helped by my hand.
But shamefull liues the traitour euermore,
No traitour she who doth her towne restore:
But murdrers all, are of the heavne forsaken?
No traitour she who doth her towne restore:
But murdrers all, are of the heavne forsaken?
All murder-is not for murder alwayes taken.
Alas are they not murdrers sleys their Prince?
Alas are they not murdrers sleys their Prince?
This tyrant is no prince of my prouince:
But what if God will haue vs vnder his-awe?
Hees not of God that fights against his lawe.
For then should Ahud, Iahell, and Iehewe,
Be homicids, because thy tyrants slewe.
But what if God will haue vs vnder his-awe?
Hees not of God that fights against his lawe.
For then should Ahud, Iahell, and Iehewe,
Be homicids, because thy tyrants slewe.
But what? they were commanded of the lord,
to such an act, my hart should soone accord.
to such an act, my hart should soone accord.
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Alas my hart is weak for such a deed,
th' are strong ynough whom God doth strength at need
But when t'is dune who shall my warrant be?
God brought me here, God will deliuer me.
VVhat if the Lord leaue thee in Heathen hands?
were this Duke dead, I feare no death nor bands.
but what if they polute thee like a slaue?
my body with my hart they shall not haue.
th' are strong ynough whom God doth strength at need
But when t'is dune who shall my warrant be?
God brought me here, God will deliuer me.
VVhat if the Lord leaue thee in Heathen hands?
were this Duke dead, I feare no death nor bands.
but what if they polute thee like a slaue?
my body with my hart they shall not haue.
Thus she resolued in her mind at last,
Her hands and eyes vnto the heavne she cast,
And with an humble voyce to God she prayde,
Her hands and eyes vnto the heavne she cast,
And with an humble voyce to God she prayde,
O gratious God that alwayes art the ayde
to thy beloued Izak, I thee pray,
to strength my hand, euen my right hād this day,
that I may make this bloodie tyrant dye,
that to discepter thee would skale the skye.
But since thy goodnesse hath preserued me,
& brought my bote so neare the shoare to be:
Graunt that some sleepie drink I may prouide,
To dull this tyrants hart and daunt his pride,
to thend that I may free thy congregation
Vnto thy honour, and our consolation.
to thy beloued Izak, I thee pray,
to strength my hand, euen my right hād this day,
that I may make this bloodie tyrant dye,
that to discepter thee would skale the skye.
But since thy goodnesse hath preserued me,
& brought my bote so neare the shoare to be:
Graunt that some sleepie drink I may prouide,
To dull this tyrants hart and daunt his pride,
to thend that I may free thy congregation
Vnto thy honour, and our consolation.
This prayer done, she looked round about,
And hard this dronken prince in sleeping rout,
then stept she to his sword that by him stood,
which oft had bathd the world with humain blood
But as she preast this tyrant for to quell,
Feare, reft the sword from her, & down she fell,
and lost at once the strength of hart and corse.
And hard this dronken prince in sleeping rout,
then stept she to his sword that by him stood,
which oft had bathd the world with humain blood
But as she preast this tyrant for to quell,
Feare, reft the sword from her, & down she fell,
and lost at once the strength of hart and corse.
O God (quoth she) now by thy mightie forse,
Restore my strength. This said (with pale annoy)
she rudly rose, and stroke this sleeping Roy
so fell, that from his shoulders flew his powle,
and from his body fled his Ethnique sowle
hye way to hell. His bulk all blood bestaind
Lay still, his head in Iudiths hand remaind.
The which her mayd put vp into a sack,
thus throw the camp they close away do pack
Empecht of none. For those that had her seene,
Suposde she went (as she had wonted bene
the nights before) vnto the valley wheare,
they thought she went to serue Diana cleare.
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she rudly rose, and stroke this sleeping Roy
so fell, that from his shoulders flew his powle,
and from his body fled his Ethnique sowle
hye way to hell. His bulk all blood bestaind
Lay still, his head in Iudiths hand remaind.
The which her mayd put vp into a sack,
thus throw the camp they close away do pack
Empecht of none. For those that had her seene,
Suposde she went (as she had wonted bene
the nights before) vnto the valley wheare,
they thought she went to serue Diana cleare.
Whē Iudith chast came near the Hebrew wall:
Let in (quoth she) for our great god of all
hath broke this night the whole Assyrian powre,
and raisd the horne of Izak at this howre.
Let in (quoth she) for our great god of all
hath broke this night the whole Assyrian powre,
and raisd the horne of Izak at this howre.
Then men amazde of her vnhoped state,
About her ran assembling at the gate,
where holy Iudith on a hill was mounted,
And all her chaunce frō point to point recounted,
And there, discovring drew out of the sack,
The bloody head of th' enmie of Izak,
About her ran assembling at the gate,
where holy Iudith on a hill was mounted,
And all her chaunce frō point to point recounted,
And there, discovring drew out of the sack,
The bloody head of th' enmie of Izak,
The Citezins that saw how she did stand
with th' ead of Assurs head in her right hand:
they praised God who by her hand had slaine,
& punished that traitour inhumaine.
with th' ead of Assurs head in her right hand:
they praised God who by her hand had slaine,
& punished that traitour inhumaine.
‘But most of all Duke Ammon did admyre
‘the work of God. Then he t'escape the yre
‘of Iacobs God who aydes the weakest part:
‘he shortly Circuncisde his flesh and hart.
‘the work of God. Then he t'escape the yre
‘of Iacobs God who aydes the weakest part:
‘he shortly Circuncisde his flesh and hart.
93
‘O God that rightly by foresight deuine,
‘repels the purpose of all mens engine,
‘who for to lead th' elect to destnyed health,
‘Euē whē it seemes them fardest frō their wealth.
‘of ill, thou drawes the good, and some in ill
‘thou letst them runne thy Iustice to fulfill.
‘(O lord) the vile desire of blood and sak,
‘made Holopherne to warre vpon Izak.
‘But where that he would Izaks blood haue shed,
‘he lost his owne for Izak on his bed.
‘Thus thy good grace hath made his vaine inuenciō,
‘to take effect contrarie his intencion.
‘So Paull became a Saint, who was a Pherisee,
‘and of a tyrant, teacher of thy veritee:
‘So was the theef that hong with our Messias,
‘(for all his sinne) preserued with Elias:
‘his vitious corps could haue no life here downe,
‘his soule by grace yet got a heavnly crowne.
‘repels the purpose of all mens engine,
‘who for to lead th' elect to destnyed health,
‘Euē whē it seemes them fardest frō their wealth.
‘of ill, thou drawes the good, and some in ill
‘thou letst them runne thy Iustice to fulfill.
‘(O lord) the vile desire of blood and sak,
‘made Holopherne to warre vpon Izak.
‘But where that he would Izaks blood haue shed,
‘he lost his owne for Izak on his bed.
‘Thus thy good grace hath made his vaine inuenciō,
‘to take effect contrarie his intencion.
‘So Paull became a Saint, who was a Pherisee,
‘and of a tyrant, teacher of thy veritee:
‘So was the theef that hong with our Messias,
‘(for all his sinne) preserued with Elias:
‘his vitious corps could haue no life here downe,
‘his soule by grace yet got a heavnly crowne.
‘Change thē (ô God) the harts of christiā princes
‘who sheds the faithfuls blood in their prouinces.
‘Let thou that sword that thou giues thē to guide
‘vpon thy enmies onely be applyde.
‘Vpon those tyrants whose vnrighteous horne
‘deteins the land where thy dear son was borne.
‘not on the backs of those who with humilitie,
‘Adores the Triple one great God in vnitie.
‘who sheds the faithfuls blood in their prouinces.
‘Let thou that sword that thou giues thē to guide
‘vpon thy enmies onely be applyde.
‘Vpon those tyrants whose vnrighteous horne
‘deteins the land where thy dear son was borne.
‘not on the backs of those who with humilitie,
‘Adores the Triple one great God in vnitie.
Then at commandement of this widow chaste,
A soldier tooke the tyrants head in haste,
And for to giue the Hebrews hart withall,
He fixed it vpon the foremost wall.
There, fathers came, and sonns, & wiues, & mayds,
who erst had lost amongst the Heathen blayds,
There sonnes, their parents, maks, & louers deare,
with heauie harts & furious raging cheare.
They pilde & paird his beard of paled hew,
Spit in his space & out his toung they drew,
which vsde to speak of God great blasphemies,
And with their fingers poched out his eyes.
The rife remembrance of so late an ill,
Made vulgar folke such vengeance to fulfill.
A soldier tooke the tyrants head in haste,
And for to giue the Hebrews hart withall,
He fixed it vpon the foremost wall.
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who erst had lost amongst the Heathen blayds,
There sonnes, their parents, maks, & louers deare,
with heauie harts & furious raging cheare.
They pilde & paird his beard of paled hew,
Spit in his space & out his toung they drew,
which vsde to speak of God great blasphemies,
And with their fingers poched out his eyes.
The rife remembrance of so late an ill,
Made vulgar folke such vengeance to fulfill.
This while Aurora ceased to embrace,
Her ancient loue and rose with ruddy face,
Vpon the Indian heavne, the warriours strong,
that kept the towne: now sorted forth in throng.
Enarmed all, with such a hideous sound:
as seemde the elements foure for to confound.
And break the bāds that keeps thē in their border,
Retyring them vnto their old disorder.
Her ancient loue and rose with ruddy face,
Vpon the Indian heavne, the warriours strong,
that kept the towne: now sorted forth in throng.
Enarmed all, with such a hideous sound:
as seemde the elements foure for to confound.
And break the bāds that keeps thē in their border,
Retyring them vnto their old disorder.
The Pagan watches next the Citties side
(Awaked with this din) start vp and cryde:
Alarme, Alarme, like fearefull men agast,
then through the Camp, the whote Alarum past.
Some takes his neighbours armour first he finds,
And wrong on armes the bracels both he binds.
Some takes a staf for hast, and leaues his launce:
Some madling runnes, some trembles in a traūce:
Some on his horse ill sadled ginnes to ryde,
And wants his spurres, some boldly do abyde:
Some neither wakes nor sleeps, but mazing stāds:
Some braue in words, are beastly of their hands.
This brute from hand to hand, from man to man,
Vnto the Pagans court at last it ran.
Then Bagos Eunuch sadly forth he went
t'awake the sleeping Ethnique in his tent,
& knockt once, twise, or thrise with trembling hād
But such eternall sleep his temples band,
that he had past already (miserable)
Of Styx so black the flood irrepassable.
(Awaked with this din) start vp and cryde:
Alarme, Alarme, like fearefull men agast,
then through the Camp, the whote Alarum past.
Some takes his neighbours armour first he finds,
And wrong on armes the bracels both he binds.
Some takes a staf for hast, and leaues his launce:
Some madling runnes, some trembles in a traūce:
Some on his horse ill sadled ginnes to ryde,
And wants his spurres, some boldly do abyde:
Some neither wakes nor sleeps, but mazing stāds:
Some braue in words, are beastly of their hands.
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Vnto the Pagans court at last it ran.
Then Bagos Eunuch sadly forth he went
t'awake the sleeping Ethnique in his tent,
& knockt once, twise, or thrise with trembling hād
But such eternall sleep his temples band,
that he had past already (miserable)
Of Styx so black the flood irrepassable.
Yet Bagos hearing Izaks crye encrease,
He with his foote, the dore began to prease:
And entred where the bed he did beholde
All bled with Holophernes carcasse colde:
He tore his haire & all his garments rent,
and to the heavne his houling cryes he sent.
But when he mist the Hebrew-Dame away
then raging he began a gastly fray.
And from the bloody tent as he ran out,
Among the Heathen thus he gan to shout.
Woe, woe to vs, a slaue (they Iudith call)
In sleaing Holopherne hath slaine vs all:
That daunted all the world. These nouels last,
Ioynde the former feare that lately past,
Affrighted so the soldiers one and all,
that pike and dart, and target they let fall,
And fled through mōtains, valeis, & throw heaths
where evrie chaunce, procurde thē worser deaths.
He with his foote, the dore began to prease:
And entred where the bed he did beholde
All bled with Holophernes carcasse colde:
He tore his haire & all his garments rent,
and to the heavne his houling cryes he sent.
But when he mist the Hebrew-Dame away
then raging he began a gastly fray.
And from the bloody tent as he ran out,
Among the Heathen thus he gan to shout.
Woe, woe to vs, a slaue (they Iudith call)
In sleaing Holopherne hath slaine vs all:
That daunted all the world. These nouels last,
Ioynde the former feare that lately past,
Affrighted so the soldiers one and all,
that pike and dart, and target they let fall,
And fled through mōtains, valeis, & throw heaths
where evrie chaunce, procurde thē worser deaths.
Then all th' assieged folk in flocks descended,
& on their enmies backs their bowes they bēded.
Both parties ran, but th' one that other chased,
The wearie flyers flight, themselfs defaced.
The Hebrewes there, in fight not one they loste,
But they bet downe and slew the Heathen hoste,
As doth a Lyon of Getulia woode
Bespred the land with woried beasts & bloode
So long as he may find a beast abide,
that dare oppone him to his cruell pride.
& on their enmies backs their bowes they bēded.
Both parties ran, but th' one that other chased,
The wearie flyers flight, themselfs defaced.
96
But they bet downe and slew the Heathen hoste,
As doth a Lyon of Getulia woode
Bespred the land with woried beasts & bloode
So long as he may find a beast abide,
that dare oppone him to his cruell pride.
Some headlong throwes themselfs frō craggie Rocks,
& breaks their bones & al their brains out knocks
Some hath forgot that Parcas euerie wheare,
waits on their end that drowne in water cleare:
But if that any skapt by some great hap,
He skapte the first, but not the after clap:
fore all the straits and passages were set,
that none should scape aliue wher they were met:
Yea scarsly one was left to tell the king,
At Niniuè of all this wondrous thing.
& breaks their bones & al their brains out knocks
Some hath forgot that Parcas euerie wheare,
waits on their end that drowne in water cleare:
But if that any skapt by some great hap,
He skapte the first, but not the after clap:
fore all the straits and passages were set,
that none should scape aliue wher they were met:
Yea scarsly one was left to tell the king,
At Niniuè of all this wondrous thing.
This battell done, all those whose Sex and age
withheld at home (their dolours to asswage)
Came forth out of their fort to see and heare,
what God had done for them his people deare.
They found some men dismēbred hauing breath,
that cride in vaine a hundreth tymes for death.
Another gnashes with his teeth in paines
some dead, in face their former rage retains.
And some is shot directly throw the hart
Ech soule departs to his appointed part,
According to the valew, or the chaunce,
that fortunde them to dye on sword or launce.
In short to see this sight so dreadfull was,
That euen the Hebrews would haue said alas:
If they had vanquisht any enmie els,
This while amongst the corses infidels,
Among a hundreth thousand there was found,
the cheftains carcas rent with many-a wound,
Of speare and sword, by th' Hebrewes in their yre.
There was no sinew, Arter, vaine, nor lyre,
that was not mangled with their vulgar rage,
No time nor moment might their yre asswage.
If Holophern had bene like Atlas long:
Or like in limmes vnto Briarius strong,
Yet should his body bene to small a praye,
to satisfie their fury evrie waye.
For in that camp was not so small a knaue,
but of his flesh some collup he would haue.
withheld at home (their dolours to asswage)
Came forth out of their fort to see and heare,
what God had done for them his people deare.
They found some men dismēbred hauing breath,
that cride in vaine a hundreth tymes for death.
Another gnashes with his teeth in paines
some dead, in face their former rage retains.
And some is shot directly throw the hart
Ech soule departs to his appointed part,
According to the valew, or the chaunce,
that fortunde them to dye on sword or launce.
In short to see this sight so dreadfull was,
That euen the Hebrews would haue said alas:
95
This while amongst the corses infidels,
Among a hundreth thousand there was found,
the cheftains carcas rent with many-a wound,
Of speare and sword, by th' Hebrewes in their yre.
There was no sinew, Arter, vaine, nor lyre,
that was not mangled with their vulgar rage,
No time nor moment might their yre asswage.
If Holophern had bene like Atlas long:
Or like in limmes vnto Briarius strong,
Yet should his body bene to small a praye,
to satisfie their fury evrie waye.
For in that camp was not so small a knaue,
but of his flesh some collup he would haue.
O tyrant now (quod they) giue thy right hand,
to the Cilicians, and to Media land,
leaue thou thy left. And to Celea sweete,
to Ismaell and Ægypt leaue thy feete,
to thend that all the world by thee offenced
with such a present may be recompenced.
But here I faile thy corps thus to deuise
In Attomy for it will not suffise.
to the Cilicians, and to Media land,
leaue thou thy left. And to Celea sweete,
to Ismaell and Ægypt leaue thy feete,
to thend that all the world by thee offenced
with such a present may be recompenced.
But here I faile thy corps thus to deuise
In Attomy for it will not suffise.
This thankfull widow then, who neuer thought
to smore this wōdrous work that god had wrought,
Entunde her vearse and song to sweet confort
Of instruments & past with gratious port
Before the chosen Dames and virgins thair,
that were esteemde for honest chast and fair.
to smore this wōdrous work that god had wrought,
Entunde her vearse and song to sweet confort
Of instruments & past with gratious port
Before the chosen Dames and virgins thair,
that were esteemde for honest chast and fair.
Sing sing with hart & voyce & soūding strings,
And praise the Lord of lords, and king of kings,
who doth disthrone the great, and in their place
Erects the poore that leanes vpon his grace.
Who would haue thought that in a day one town
Could ouercome a camp of such renown?
who daunted all the world whose pride was felt
From Indian shore to where the Calpees dwelt?
Great God who will beleeue that Holopherne,
who did a hundreth famous princes derne,
should be disceptred, slaine, left in a midow,
by no great Gyant, but a feeble widow?
great God who will beleue that he who raind,
From north to south, & in his hands retaind
Both East and West: now gets not grace to haue
An ynch of Gazon ground to be his graue?
This Conqurour that came with no armie small,
now lyes on ground abandond of them all.
Not sole: for those companions him in death,
that followde him while he had life and breath.
Not now the groūd, but Reauens hunger sterude,
Are now his tombe as he hath well deserude.
No vaults of Marble, rich nor Porphyr pure,
that he had built could be his sepulture.
Euen so good Lord from henceforth let vs finde,
thee, not our Iudge, but for our father kinde.
But let all Tyrants that against thee gather,
finde thee their Iudge, but not their louing father.
Here Iudith ends. And also heare I staye
With thanks to God. So for his state I praye,
At whose command I vndertooke this deed,
To please his Grace, and those that will it reed.
And praise the Lord of lords, and king of kings,
96
Erects the poore that leanes vpon his grace.
Who would haue thought that in a day one town
Could ouercome a camp of such renown?
who daunted all the world whose pride was felt
From Indian shore to where the Calpees dwelt?
Great God who will beleeue that Holopherne,
who did a hundreth famous princes derne,
should be disceptred, slaine, left in a midow,
by no great Gyant, but a feeble widow?
great God who will beleue that he who raind,
From north to south, & in his hands retaind
Both East and West: now gets not grace to haue
An ynch of Gazon ground to be his graue?
This Conqurour that came with no armie small,
now lyes on ground abandond of them all.
Not sole: for those companions him in death,
that followde him while he had life and breath.
Not now the groūd, but Reauens hunger sterude,
Are now his tombe as he hath well deserude.
No vaults of Marble, rich nor Porphyr pure,
that he had built could be his sepulture.
Euen so good Lord from henceforth let vs finde,
thee, not our Iudge, but for our father kinde.
But let all Tyrants that against thee gather,
finde thee their Iudge, but not their louing father.
Here Iudith ends. And also heare I staye
With thanks to God. So for his state I praye,
At whose command I vndertooke this deed,
To please his Grace, and those that will it reed.
FINIS.
| The Historie of Ivdith in Forme of a Poeme | |