University of Virginia Library

Mobal
Iephte though we can not deny but thou art Galaads sonne
a Galaadite, & lusty warrier, whose valure is well knowne
to vs thy brethren & thy countrymen, yet syth thou art
a Harlotts sonne, & not our mothers, thou must from hence depart
& no inheritance haue wt h vs, wc h to legittimate children
of right belonges, & not to such as basely are begotten.

Iephte.
Brothers I sory am to leaue my fathers house & country
by th'Ammonits perplexed thus: But syth there ys no other remedy
I'l both forsake, & to the land of Tob go, & there dwell
an other land's as good for me as this. So fare you well.

Gryphus.
So now we are rydd of this Harlotts bratt: yf that we were
as well shutt of the sonnes of Ammon we might lyue out of feare:
But how that may be brought to passe I hardly can deuyse
because their number's very greate, & they are potent enemyes.

polax
Yt's true: & yet to free our selues · yt standeth vs vpon
wherefore about yt to consult let's forth wt h hence begone

Iephte.
Now am I in the Land of Tob aryu'd where I do fynde
the people vnto me (though lately come) frendly & kynde
& many of them willinge are to serue me in the warres
(though of the Baser sort) whom I haue intertayn'd as Souldiers
& will do mo, yf they make suite, for I shall haue imployment
I hope for them: wherefore I'l go, & geue mo intertaynment.

Nuncius
Since Iair the Galaadite dyed who twenty two yeares Israell iudged
& was wt h thirty sonnes princes of thirty cettyes blessed
The Israelits as you haue heard, are fallen to Idolatry
agayne, & our Lord god forsaken haue, for wc h they bee
by hym into the philisthimes & the Ammonits hands deliuered
by whome they haue the space of Eightene yeares bene sore oppressed
wc h hath inforct them to repent, & cry to god for mercy
& what successe their suite will haue shall straight apparent bee
yf you will but geue eare a while, & listen wt h attention.
to what shall be here after sayd. And so I will be gone

Ardellio, Mobal, Burbo, Gryphus et ceteri.
Lord wt h one heart & voyce we prostrate here before thee fall
confessinge our synne in forsakeinge thee, & seruinge Baal

God.
Haue you not bene oppressed both by th'Amorrheits & th'Ægiptians
& by the Ammonits Phylisthins, Amelec, Chananits & Sidonians?
& when you cry'd to mee, out of their hands I you deliuered,
& yet you haue forsaken mee, & other strange gods worshipped.
Wherefore I will deliuer you no more. Go now & call
vpon the gods wc h for me you haue chosen Astoroth & Baal
Let them saue & deliuer you in the tyme of your distresse

Ardellio, Mobal et ceteri.
Lord we haue sinn'd: render to vs what s'euer doth the please.
only deliuer vs now, & wee'l cast our strange gods away
out of our coasts & serue our Lord for euer & for ay
Lo Lord all th'Idolls of strange gods away we haue now hurled

God
And for your miseries I am sory: & you shall be releeued.

Mobal, Burbo et ceteri.
Thankes Lord.

Ardellio.
Princes & Neighbours now let's go agaynst our enemies
syth god's our frende, & promised hath for to releeue our myseryes.
And let hym be Duke of our people that first begins to fight
& shall incounter wt h our foe & aduersary the Ammonite
who in our country Galaad hath allready pitcht his Tent

Burbo
By my aduise let's go & fetch to vs Iephte incontinent
agayne out of the Land of Tob, for hee's a gallant souldier
& none's so fitt amongst vs all as he to be our Leader
yf we can hym persuade to come agayne backe to his country

Ardellio, Moball et ceteri.
Your counsayle's good, we lyke yt well, Let's go send for hym presently
Come Iephte be our prince, & fight agaynst children of Ammon

Iephte.
Are not you they that hated mee? & did you not abandon
& dryue me from my fathers house? And forced by necessity
are you come to me now for ayde & help in your extremity?

Mobal
for this cause we are come to thee, that thou mayst wt h vs go
agaynst children of Ammon for to fight our mortall foe.
& be the captayne of our people that in galaad dwell

Iephte
Yf vnto mee you be sincerely come to craue my counsell
& help agaynst children of Ammon, yf our lord should deliuer
them vp into your hands, Shall I then be your prince & leader?

Ardellio
Our Lord that heareth all these thinges hym selfe shall witnesse bee
that we will faythfully performe all that we haue now promis'd thee

Iephte.
Then will I wt h you go & Ammon send a messenger
some questions to propose to hym ere wt h hym I incounter.
In the meane space we'l ready make all things that needfull bee
for the resistinge of so potent & so stronge an enemy

Legatus
Great kinge of Ammon I am come to thee for to demaund
in Iephte prince of Galaads name why thou dost waist his land?

Kinge of Ammon
Because Israel my land tooke when as out of Ægypt hee
ascended, wc h from Arnon to Iaboc & Iordan lye
wherefore let hym wt h peace now of the same make restitution

Legatus.
Israel tooke not the land of Moab nor the childrens of Ammon
But when he out of Ægypt came he through the desert walked
vnto the redd sea & to cades, & thence messengers directed
vnto the kinge of Edom sayinge: Let me passe through thy land.
The lyke request he made to Moab: but neyther his demaund
would graunt: wherefore he stay'd in cades; & afterward he compassed
the Lands of Edom & of moab, & beyond Arnon camped
where on Moab borders, & he would not into Moab enter.
He sent to Sehon kinge of th'Amorrheits also, who would not suffer
hym to passe through his land but rays'd agaynst hym a great army
& our Lord vnto Israel deliuered hym & his country.
And wilt thou now possesse his land wc h god to hym deliuered?
Are not those things due to the wc h chamos thy god possessed?
why then shall not these things be ours wc h god obtaynd as conquerour?
vnlesse perhaps thou better be then Balac sonne of sephor
the kinge of Moab, or canst shew that he agaynst Israel wrangled
or fought wt h hym whylst he in ye litle Towns of Hesebon dwelled
or in all the citties nere to Iordan for three hundred yeares
in all wc h tyme thou hast not yt reclaym'd as appeares
& therefore he in keepinge yt no wronge at all doth offer thee
but in denouncinge vniust warrs thou dost to hym great iniury.
Our lord be Arbiter this day betwene Israel, & Ammon.

Kinge of Ammon.
What we haue done we will mantayne: & so thou may be gone
& vnto Iephte signify so much in Ammons name,
who not wt h standinge his prescription agayne those countries clayme,
where now he dwells, & will them repossesse by dint of sword
in spyte of Iephte & the Israelits: So bringe them word
from mee: & tell hym I his message scorne, & so adewe

Legatus.
Ammon I will, & thou perhaps this thy contempt may rewe.
To Iephte Iudge of Israel now this message I'l go beare.
But stay in as fitt tyme as I could wish he cometh here
Iephte most valiant prince thy worthy message Ammon scorneth
& sayth the land wc h you possesse to hym self apperteyneth
& hautely vnto your honour he sendes by me this worde
that in dispite of you he'l winne the same by dint of sworde

Iephte
He might haue sayd yf god will hym permitt, whose powerfull spyrit
imboldneth me wt h out delay hym in the field to meete.
And to our Lord I make a vow yf he graunt me the victory
& make the sonnes of Ammon in these warres subiect vnto mee
who s'euer first out of the dores of my house comes & meetes mee
in peace returninge, to our lord shall sacrificed bee
in token of my thankfull mynd, for I assured am
that yf I gett the victory yt's god that geues the same
In whom puttinge my confidence agaynst Amon I'l go
although my Army is but smale, & he a potent foe
I see thou neuer fayles them lord who do relye vpon thee
& I most humble thankes vnto thee render for this victory
agaynst the sonnes of Ammon, whom thou by thy mighty power
subdued hast, for wc h thy holy name be prays'd for euer
And the vow that I made to thee I'l faythfully performe
by sacrificinge the first thinge I meete at my returne
that out of my house dore shall come. Alas & wayle a day
first out at dores my daughter comes before me for to play
vpon her timbrell wt h her maydes, who dauncinge follow after
in token of the ioy they haue conceiued for the slaughter
of th'Ammonitts, wc h I haue made, & for my glorious victory.
Alas pore soule shee litle dreames that shee must dye so shortly.
Yf my owne death would satisfy my vow I would dye for her:
But shee yt ys that meetes me first that must dye & no other.
for sorrow I can not choose but rent the garments of my backe:
syth no meanes there ys lefte to saue her lyffe, alack, alack.
my vow ys made & that to god who looketh for performance
there of, & yf I breake yt may iustly take on me vengeance.
Offence yt ys wt h the performance of my vow to linger
& griefe yt will be to vs both yf I there wt h acquaint her.
But rather then I'l god offend, my lyfe I hazard will
& for a sacrifice to god myne only daughter kill.

filia Iephte
Lord god of hosts for euer more let thy name praysed bee
who to my father geuen hast so glorious a victory
agaynst children of Ammon who are now quite ouerthrowne
for wc h through all coasts of the world thy fame shall be made knowne

Iephte
If that I were not comfortlesse this musicke would delight mee
shee plays so well, obserues such tyme, & singeth so melodiously.
Yf I geue eare there to a while I shall my self forgett
wherefore the tyme no longer I'l delay, but forth wt h lett
her vnderstand what I haue done. Daughter thou hast deceiu'd mee
& art deceiu'd thy self, for my word's past to god almighty
that who so euer mett me first returninge back wt h victory
(as thou hast done) vnto our lord should sacrificed bee
and the word may not be recald that to our lord ys passed

filia Iephte
father vnto mee do what s'euer you to god haue promised
Syth he hath graunted you the victory ouer your enemyes
only I one petition do request of you, wc h ys
that in the mountaynes wt h my fellowes I may suffred bee
for the space of two monthes to go & bewayle my virginity

Iephte
Daughter I'l geue the leaue to go, & that wt h all my heart
& when that tyme's expird returne to mee: so hence depart
garments for mourninge to prepare for thee & all thy followers
& I'l returne vnto my campe, & see my wearyed souldiers
who ventred haue their lyues wt h me agaynst the sonnes of Ammon
whom vtterly we ouerthrew & brought to our subiection,
& twenty citties taken haue that vnto them belonged
wt h losse of few our owne men: for wc h gods name be praysed:
yet all this will not make my ioy complete, when I remember
& thinke vpon the death that's imminent of myne only daughter,
who now hath but two monthes to lyue, & bewayle her virginity
wt h her companions in the mountaynes, & then returne vnto mee
for to receiue the fatall stroke wc h I haue vow'd to geue.
But I'l no longer talke there of for yt doth mee but greeue,
& will do her no good: wherefore these thoughts for to expell
I into Maspha will returne to the children of Israel.

filia Iephte
fellow virgins you acquainted are how the case standeth wt h me
& I haue chosen you for companions to bewayle my virginity
here in the mountaynes, for yt is opprobrious to be barren
& to depart out of thys world before that one haue children
as yt must be my happ to do, for my father hath vowed
that after two monthes space I must vnto our lord be sacrificed
for I mett hym the first of all returninge home wt h victory
wc h me more comfort brought then my owne death doth make me sory
for I was borne wt h bond to make of my lyfe restitution
& by my death I also shall discharge the obligation
where wt h my father tyed hym self: & we shall both be free
he for to lyue wt h Israell, & I wt h god almighty
& besyds that our country ys from th'Amonits deliuered
by whom in former tymes exceedinge sore yt was oppressed
So that although yt be my happ for to bringe forth no children
yet many in my country may be borne of other women
to recompence my barrennes, wc h to haue come to passe
but that my father gott this victory vnlykly was
& he the conquest had not wonne perhaps but that he vowed
out of his zeale, that the first thinge that mett hym should be offred
by hym in sacrifice to god: & therefore yt's conuenient
that he the couenant should performe he made to god omnipotent.
And the dearer I am to hym so much more loue he sheweth
to god in that he will not spare me whom he so much loueth.
And lykewyse I will shew my loue both to god & my father
& death at their goodwill & pleasure most willingly will suffer
for satisfaction of the debt wc h to them both I owe
to th'one by reason of my sinne, to th'other for his vow
Wherefore till these two monthes be past I'l wt h you virgins mourne
here in the hills, & then vnto my father backe returne.
& to expresse our sorrowfull hearts some dolefull tune lett's play
vpon our instruments there wt h to passe the tyme away.
So now the tyme of my returne's expir'd, I will be gone
vnto my father whom I lefte makeinge for me greate mone

Iephte
Daughter I pray thee patience haue, & take death in good parte
as I do hope thou wilt syth for the same prepar'd thou art

filia Iephte
father performe your vow to god, & that wt h all alacrity
for vnto me death welcome ys syth you haue gott the victory
agaynst your foes by gods good help, who lookes that you lykewyse
accordinge to your vow should offer me to hym in sacrifice.
wherefore no longer make delay for to dye I am willinge
& for your last farewell father bestow on me your blessinge

Iephte
Thy words sweete daughter pearce my heart & make me for to sheede
teares from myne eyes, & will not lett my hands performe this deede.

filia Iephte.
What father will you not performe the vow to god you made,
who was the cause so good successe agaynst your foes you had?
So may you god offend: & thinkeinge my lyfe for to saue
both loose yt & your owne, & all the subiects els you haue,
as in the late warres you had done, but that god fought for you,
& lykely ys you shall here after yf you breake your vow
Wherefore deare father courage take, for I am no whit daunted
wt h death, but wish wt h all my heart your vow may be obserued

Iephte.
Thy resolution daughter's great: & glad I am to see
(a thinge rare in the femal sexe) the willinge for to dye
& syth thou art resolued so to do, lyke wyse I will
the offer vp in sacrifice my vow for to fulfill
where fore prepare thy selffe.

Daught[er].
father, I will. Now I am ready

Iephte.
Then here ly downe.

Daught[er].
Wt h all my heart: now father do your duty

Iephte
God lord receiue this sacrifice of this my only daughter
whom as a token of my thankfulnes to the I offer
for that thou hast the Ammonits into my hands deliuered
by whom for many yeares together my country was oppressed
& for this conquest thy fame shall throughout the world be blowne
syth but for thy assistance lord we had bene ouerthrowne
& the daughters of Israel shall assembled be together
once euery yeare, & mourne foure days for the death of my daughter
wc h I my self, & those that in my place succeede shall see
perform'd in memory of my daughters death & my great victory.
And that this custome may the better be obseru'd, I'l go
& here wt h both acquaint the peares & people of Israel also

Nuncius
Now Iephtes vow you haue both heard & seene yt also executed
& some amongst you may perhaps there at be scandalized
thinkinge that yt was rashly made, & perform'd vnaduisedly
but in your censures of hym I could wish you to be wary
for though in vowinge for to sacrifice who or what s'euer
first mett hym comminge home wt h victory (wc h by hap was his daughter
Syth he no speciall warrant had from god) yt's very probable
he did offend: for some thinges were by the Law not sacrificable
of wc h sort men & women bee, yet all this not wt h standinge
he synned not but rather gods wrath pacifie'd by performinge
his vow, whose will for punishment of his synne yt sem'd to bee
that he should sacrifice his owne daughter, whom he did loue so dearly
syth by his diuine prouidence she mett hym the first of all,
whose lyfe yf he had spar'd he might haue bene thought to be partiall
rather out of his naturall loue & fatherly affection
vnto his only child, then for th'vnlawfulnes of th'action
Sith god before this tyme had Abraham commanded lykwyse
vnto hym for to offer vp his only sonne in sacrifice
though afterward he would not yt permit for to be done
when he his promptnes saw to put the same in execution
but in his place an other host he out of hand prepared
though here not so. And by her death no iniury she sustayned
but rather profitt got there by, for all mankynd must dye
through Adams synne, at gods appoynted tyme: & from much misery
here in this world shee's freed. And she died wt h her owne consent
(wc h seemes to be by gods instinct) & shee was also innocent
& there fore now her blessed soule ys in a ioyfull place:
where as yf she had longer lyu'd, though but a litle space
she might haue fallen into synne, beinge prone there to by nature
& both in this world & the next haue lost gods loue & fauour.
And though her father did offend by vowinge vnaduisedly
as his repentance meetinge first his daughter shewed playnly:
yet hym wt h godly feare & dreede god did permitt & suffer
to his owne bitter payne, to sacrifice his only daugther
& for to institute for her a yearly lamentation
to th'ende that others might make their vowes wt h more circumspection
And her promptnes in offeringe of her selffe for to be sacrificed
her fathers fault did much extenuat, or his fact wholly iustified
Where fore I wish ech one to iudge indifferently of his action
& leaue yt vnto god to whom the secret'st thinges are knowne
& shall reuealed be, & iustly as they haue deserued
receiue rewarde, in their due tyme & place by god appoynted
So hopinge you your censures will suspend, or iudge the best
I will be gone & leaue to tyme discouery of the rest.