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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

Sylvester, Josuah (1563-1618)

[section]

Anagammata Regia: Regi.

Iacobvs Stvart: Iusta Scrutabo.

CORONA DEDICATORIA.

[These laureat Temples which the Laurel grace]

EPIGRAM. To M. Iosuah Sylvester.

In praise of the Translator.

To M. Iosvah Sylvester, of his Bartas Metaphrased.

To my good friend, M. Sylvester, in honour of this sacred Work.

To M. Iosvah Sylvester. A SONNET.

Flexanimo Salustij du Bartus interpreti, Ios. Sylvesteri, carmen Encomiasticon.

In Commendation of du Bartas, and his Translator, M. Iosvah Sylvester. A Sonnet.

In Commendation of this worthie Worke.

An Acrostick Sonnet, to his friend M. Iosva Sylvester.

To the Same.

Du BARTAS His FIRST WEEK, OR BIRTH OF THE WORLD:

Du BARTAS HIS SECOND WEEKE, DISPOSED (After the proportion of his First) Into Seaven Dayes: (viz.)

[dedication]

1. Sonnet.

2. Sonnet.

TO THE RIGHT EXCELLENT, and most hopefull young Prince, Henry, PRINCE of WALES.

TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE, the Lord High Chancelor of England.

TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE, the Earle of Salisbury, Lord high Threasurer of England.

TO THE RIGHT HONOBLE, the Earle of Dorset (late) Lord high Threasurer of England.

TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE, the Earle of Pembroke.

TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE the Earle of Essex, Earle Marshall of England, &c.

TO THE SAME RIGHT Honourable Earle of ESSEX, &c.

TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE Charles Lord Mount-ioy, Earle of Deuonshire.

TO THE SAME RIGHT Honourable Earle of Deuonshire, &c.

TO THE SAME RIGHT Honourable the Earle of Deuonshire, &c.

TO THE HONORABLE, learned, and religious Gentleman, Sir Peter Yovng of Seton, Knight, Almoner of Scotland, and one of his Maiesties Priuy Councell there.

TO THE RIGHT VERTVOVS (fauourer of Vertue, furtherer of Learning) Sir Thomas Smith (of London) Knight, (late) Lord Embassadour for his Maiesty, to the Emperour of Rvssia.

TO THE MOST HONORABLE, learned, and religious Gent. Mr. Anthony Bacone.

TO THE SAME MOST Honourable Gentleman, Master Anthony Bacone.

TO MY EVER-MOST HONOVRED MISTRESS, Mris Essex, wife to the right worthy, William Essex of Lamborn, Esquier; and eldest Daughter of the right valiant, and Nobly-descended, Sir Walter Harecourt of Stanton-Hare-court, Knight Baron of Ellen-Hall.

TO VERTVES PATTERNE, AND BEAVTIES Paragon, Mris Ione Essex: now wife to the right worthy, William Anderson Esquier (second Son of the late Lord Anderson) and only Sister of the Honorably-descended William Essex of Lamborn, Esquire.

VRANIA. OR The Heauenly Muse.

THE TRIVMPH OF FAITH

TETRASTICHA. OR THE QVADRAINS OF GVY DE FAVR, Lord of Pibrac.

SONNETS Vpon THE LATE MIRACVLOVS PEACE IN FRANCE.

A DIALOGVE VPON THE TROVBLES PAST:

AN ODE OF THE LOVE AND BEAVTIES OF ASTRÆA.

EPIGRAMS & EPITAPHES vpon Warre and Peace.

THE PROFIT OF IMPRISONMENT.

LITTLE BARTAS:

Micro-cosmo-graphia: THE LITTLE-WORLDES DESCRIPTION; OR THE MAP OF MAN

CERTAIN EPIGRAMS of the same Mr. H. S.

THE MAIDENS BLVSH:

THE PARLIAMENT OF VERTVES ROYALL:

A DIVINE & TRVE TRAGI-COMEDY; IOB TRIVMPHANT in his Triall:

BETHVLIANS RESCVE.

A HYMN OF ALMS: OR THE BEGGERS BELL; heard, from beyond THE CHARTER-HOVSE,

MEMORIALS OF MORTALITIE.

St. LEWIS; THE KING:

HENRIE THE GREAT (The Fourth of that Name) LATE King of France and Navarr: HIS Tropheis and Tragedie. Written in French By Piere Mathiev.

THE BATTAIL OF YVRY:

SIMILE NON EST IDEM: Seeming is not the Same.

A GLIMSE OF HEAVENLY IOYES:

AVTO-MACHIA: OR The Self-Conflict of a Christian.

TOBACCO BATTERED;

LACRYMÆ LACRYMARVM:

AN ELEGIAC-EPISTLE Consolatorie.

HONOR'S FARVVEL To Her Honorable Friends: Or The Ladie Hay's Last Will

A FVNERAL ELEGIE

To Gods Glory. IN PIOVS MEMORY OF the nobly vertuous and religious Matrone, Margarite, Wife of Robert Hill, Dr. of Divinity, and Pastor of this Parish.

Vxor Felix. Loquitur post funera virtus.

A HOLY PREPARATION to a ioifull Resurrection.

THE MYSTERIE OF MYSTERIES.

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Arm-arming Trumpets, lofty Clarions,
Rock-batt'ring Bumbards, Valour-murdering Guns,
Think you to drown with horror of your Noise
The choice sweet accents of my sacred Voice?
Blowe (till you burst) roar, rend the Earth in sunder;
Fill all with Fury, Tempest, War and Thunder,
Dire Instruments of Death, in vain yee toil:
For, the loud Cornet of my long-breath'd stile
Out-shrills yee still; and my Stentorian Song,
With warbled Ecchoes of a silver tongue,
Shall brim be heard from India even to Spain,
And then from thence even to the Artik Wain.

Yet, 't is not I, not I in any sort;
My side's too-weak, alas! my breath's too-short
It is the spirit-inspiring Spirit, which yerst
On th'eldest Waters mildely moved first,

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That furnishes and fills with sacred winde
The weak, dull Organs of my Muse and minde.

So, still, good Lord, in these tumultuous times,
Giue Peace vnto my Soule, soule to my Rimes:
Let me not faint amid so faire a course:
Let the World's end be th'end of my Discourse:
And, while in France fell Mars doth all devour,
In lofty stile (Lord) let me sing thy Powr.

All-Changing Time had cancell'd and supprest
Ioseph's Deserts: his Master was deceast,
His Sons were dead; when currish Envie's strife
Lays each-where ambush for poor Israel's life:
Who, notwithstanding, doth far faster spread

Comparison.

And thicker spring, than, in a fruitfull Mead
Moted with Brooks, the many-leaved locks
Of thriving Charvel; which the bleating Flocks
Can with their daily hunger hardly mowe
So much as daily doth still newly growe.

This Monster wuns not in the Cel she wont,

Description of the Palace of Envy.

Sh' hath rear'd her Palace on the steepest Mount,
Whose snowy shoulders with their stony pride
Eternally do Spain from France divide:
It hath a thousand loop-holes every-way;
Yet never enters there one sunny ray:
Or if that any chance so far to pass,
'Tis quickly quenched by her cloudy face:
At euery Loop, the Work-man wittily
Hath plaç't a long, wide, hollow Trunk, wher-by
Prattling Renowne and Fame with painted wing,
News from all corners of the World do bring,
Buzzing there-in: as, in a Sommer Even,

Simile.

From clefts of Medows that the Heat hath riven,
The Grass-hoppers, seeming to fain the voyces
Of little Birds, chirp-out ten thousand noyses.

It frotun'd now that a swift-flying Fame,

To whom Fame reports Israels prosperity.

Which (lately but) from stately Memphis came,
Sweating, and dusty, and nigh breath-less, fills
With this Report one of her listening Quills:
O curious Nymph (lives there a Wit with vs,
Acute and quick, that is not curious?)
Most wakefull Goddess, Queen of mortall hearts,
Consort of Honor, Wealth, and High-Deserts,
Doo'st thou not knowe, that happy Israel
(Which promiseth, the Conqueror of Hell,
That twice-borne King, here-after to bring-forth,
Who dead shall liue again; and by his Worth
Wipe-out Man's Forfait, and God's Law fulfill,
And on his Cross th'envy of Envy kill)

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Doth (even in sight) abundantly increase?
That Heav'n and Earth conspire his happiness?
That seaventy Exiles, with vn-hallowed Frie
Couer the face of all the World well-nigh?
And, drunk with wealth, waigh not thy force a iot?
Envie, thou seest it, but fore-seest it not.

Envy incenseth Pharaoh to oppress them.

Swolne like a Toad, between her bleeding iaws
Her hissing Serpents wriggling tails she chaws:
And, hasting hence, in ISIS form she iets;
A golden vessell in one hand she gets,
In th'other a sweet Instrument; her hood
Was Peacocks feathers mixt with Southernwood;
A siluer crescent on her front she set,
And in her bosom many a fostering teat:
And, thus disguis'd, with pride and impudence
She presses-in to the Bubastik Prince;
Who, slumbring then on his vn-quiet Couch,
With Israel's greatness was disturbed much:
Then she (the while, squinting vpon the lustre
Of the rich Rings which on his fingers glister;
And, snuffing with a wrythed nose the Amber,
The Musk and Civet that perfum'd the Chamber)
'Gan thus to greet him: Sleep'st thou? sleep'st thou, son?
And see'st thou not thy self and thine vn-don;
While cruell Snakes, which thy kinde brest did warm,
Sting thee to death, with their vngratefull swarm?
These Fugitiues, these out-casts do conspire.
Against rich Egypt, and (ingrate) aspire
With odious Yoak of bondage to debase
The noble Pharaoh's, God's immortall Race.

With these last words, into his brest she blowes
A banefull ayr whose strength vnfeltly flowes
Through all his veins; and, having gain'd his heart,
Makes Reason stoop to Sense in every part:

Simile.

So th'Aspick pale (with too-right aim) doth spet
On his bare face, that coms too neer to it,
The froth that in her teeth to bane she turns;
A drowzy bane, that inly creeps, and burns
So secretly, that without sense of pain,
Scar, wound, or swelling, soon the Partie's slain.
What shall I farther say? This Sorrow's-Forge,
This Rack of Kings, Care's fountain, Courtier's scourge,

Envies two Twins.

Besides her sable poyson, doth inspire
With Hate and Fear the Princes fell desire.

Hence-forth therefore, poor Israel hath no peace,
Not one good day, no quiet nap, no ease;
Still, still opprest, Tax vpon Tax arose,
After Thefts, Threats, and after Threats com blowes.

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The silly wretches are compell'd som-while

Slauery of the Israelites.

To cut new chanels for the course of Nile:
Somtimes som Cities ruins to repair
Somtimes to build huge Castles in the air:
Somtimes to mount the Parian Mountains higher
In those proud Towrs that after-worlds admire;
Those Towrs, whose tops the Heav'ns have terrified:
Those Towrs, that scuse th'audacious Titan's pride
(Those Towrs, vain Tokens of a vast expense;
Tropheis of Wealth, Ambition's Monuments)
To make with their owne sweat and blood their morter:
To be at-once Brick-maker, Mason, Porter.
They labour hard, eat little, sleeping less,
No sooner layd, but thus their Task-lords press;
Villains, to work: what? are ye growne so sloth?
Wee'll make yee yeeld vs wax and hony both.

In breefe, this Tyrant, with such servitude,

Pharao his vain policy.

Thought soone to waste the sacred multitude;
Or, at the least, that overlayd with woe,
Weakned with watching, worn with toyling so,
They would in time becom less service-able
In Venvs Battails, and for breed less able
(Their spirits disperst, their bodies over-drid,
And Cypris sap vn-duly qualified):
But, when he saw this not succeed so well,
But that the Lord still prosper'd Israel;
Inhumane, he commands (on bloudy Pain)

His cruell Edict against the male children.

That all their male babes in their birth be slain:
And that (because that charge had don no good)
They should be cast, in Cairo's siluer Food.

O Barbarisme, learned in Hel belowe!
Those, that (alas!) nor steel nor stream do knowe,
Must die of steel or stream: cruell Edicts!
That, with the Infant's blood, the Mother's mix;
That, Childe and Mother both at once cut-off;
Him with the stroke, her with the griefe therof:
With two-fould tears Iews greet their Native Heav'n:
The day that brings them life their life hath reav'n.

But, Iochebed would fain (if she had durst)
Her deer son Moses secretly haue nourç't:
Yet thinking better, her sweet Babe forgo,
Than Childe and Parents both to hazard so,
At length she layes it forth, in Rush-boat weaves-it,
And to God's Mercy and the Flood's she leaves-it.

Though Rudder-less, nor Pilot-less, this Boat
Among the Reeds by the Floods side did float,
And saues from wrack the future Legislator,
Lighting in hands of the Kings gracious Daughter:

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His Daughter finding Moses exposed, causeth him to be princely brought vp.

Who opening it, findes (which with ruth did strike-her)
A lovely Babe (or little Angel liker)
Which with a smile seem'd to implore the ayd
And gentle pity of the Royall Mayd.
Love, and the Graces, State and Maiesty,
Seem round about the Infants facc to fly,
And on his head seem'd (as it were) to shine
Presagefull rayes of som-what more diuine.

She takes him vp, and rears him royal-like;
And, his quick Spirit, train'd in good Arts, is like

2 Similes.

A wel breath'd Body, nimble, sound, and strong,
That in the Dance-schoole needs not teaching long:
Or a good Tree set in as good a soyl,
Which growes a-pace, without the Husband's toyl.

In time, he puts in Practice what he knowes;
With curteous Mildeness, manly Courage showes:
H'hath nothing vulgar: with great happiness,
In choice discourse he doth his mind express;
And as his Soul's-type his sweet tongue affoords,
His gracefull Works confirm his gracious Words:
His Vertues make him even the Empire's heir:
So means the Prince; such is the peoples prayer.

Gods prouidence in his preseruation.

Thus 'while o're-whelmed with the rapid course
Of Mischief's Torrent (and still fearing worse)
Israel seems help-less and even hope-less too
Of any help that Mortall hand can doo:
And, while the then-Time's hideous face and form
Boads them (alas!) nothing but wrack and storm,
Their Castor shines, their Saviour's sav'd: and Hee
That with high hand shall them from bondage free,
Scourging with Plagues, scarring with endless shame
Th'Egyptian Court, is raised by the same.

For, though him there they as a God adore,

Moses affection & duty toward his Parents and care of his Brethren.

He scorns not yet his friends and kinred poor:
He feels their Yoak, their mournings he laments:
His word and sword are prest in their defence;
And, as ordain'd for their Deliverance,
And sent express by Heav'ns pre-ordinance,
Seeing a Pagan (a proud Infidell,
A Patagon, that tasted nought so well
As Israel's blood) to ill-intreat a Iew,
Him bold incounters, and him bravely slew.

He flies out of Egypt.

But, fearing then lest his inhumane Prince
Should hear of it, young Moses flyes from thence:
And, hard by Horeb, keeping Iethro's sheep,
He Fasts and Prayes; with Meditations deep
His vertuous zeal he kindles more and more,
And prudently he lays-vp long-before

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Within his Soule (his spirituall Armory)
All sacred Weapons of Sobriety,
Where-with t'incounter, conquer, and suppress
All Insurections of Voluptuousness.
Also, not seldom some deep Dream or Transe

God talketh to him in the Wilderness.

Him suddainly doth even to Heav'n advance:
And Hee, that whilom could not finde the Lord
On plentious shoars of the Pelusian Foord,
In walled Cities with their Towred Ports,
In learned Colledges, nor sumptuous Courts;
In Desart meets him; greets him face to face,
And on his brows bears tokens of his Grace.

For, while he past his sacred Prentiship

Moses vision of the flaming bush.

(In Wilderness) of th'Hebrews Shepheardship;
In driving forth to kiss-cloud Sina's foot
His fleecy Flock, and there attending too't,
He suddain sees a Bush to flame and fume,
And all a-fire, yet not at all consume;
It flames and burns not, cracks and breaks not in,
Kisses, but bites not, no not even the skin:
True figure of the Church, and speaking Signe
Which seemeth thus to, of it selfe, define:
What (Amram's son) Doth Iacob's bitter Teen
Dismay thee so? Behould, this Haw-thorn green
Is even an Image of thine Israel,
Who in the Fire of his Afflictions fell
Still flourishes, on each side hedged round.
With prickly Thorns, his hatefull Foes to wound:
This Fire doth seem the Spirit Omnipotent,
Which burns the wicked, tries the Innocent:
Who also addeth to the sacred Signe,
The more to move him, his owne Word Divine.

I AM I that I am, in me, for me, by me:

The voice of the Lord speaking out of the Bush.

All Beings else Be not (or else vn-selfly be)
But, from my Beeing, all their Beeing gather;
Prince of the World, and of my Church the Father:
Onely Beginning, Midst, and End of all;
Yet sans Beginning, Midst, and End at all:
All in my selfe compris'd, and all comprising
That in the World was, is, or shall be rising:
Base of this Vniverse: th'vniting Chain
Of th'Elements: the Wisedom Soveraign:
Each-where, in Essence, Powr and Providence;
But in the Heav'ns, in my Magnificence:
Fountain of Goodness: ever-shining Light:
Perfectly Blest: the One, the Good, the Bright:
Self-simple Act, working in frailest matter:
Framer of Forms: of Substances Creator:

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And (to speak plainer) even that God I AM
Whom so long since religious Abraham,
Isaac, and Iacob, and their Progenies
Haue worshipped and prays'd in humble wise.

God hath pity on his People afflicted in Egypt.

My sacred ears are tyred with the noyse
Of thy poor Brethren's iust-complayning voyce:
I haue beheld my Peoples burdens there;
Moses, no more I will, nor can, forbear:
Th'haue groan'd (alas!) and panted all too-long
Vnder that Tyrants vn-relenting wrong.

He ordaineth Moses for their Deliverer, & giues him commission to goe to Pharao.

Now, their Deliuerer I authorize thee,
And make thee Captain of their Colony;
A sacred Colony, to whom (as mine);
I haue so oft bequeath'd rich Palestine.
Therefore from me command thou Pharao
That presently he let my People go
Into the Dry-Arabian Wilderness,
Where far from sight of all profane excess
On a new Altar they may sacrifice
To Me the Lord, in whom their succour lies:
Haste, haste (I say)) and make me no excuse
On thy Tongue's rudenes (for the want of vse)
Nor on thy weaknes, nor vnworthiness
To vnder-go so great a Business.
What? cannot He, that made the lips and tongue,
Prompt Eloquence and Art (as doth belong)
Vnto his Legat? and, who every thing
Of Nothing made, and All to nought shall bring;
Th'Omnipotent, who doth confound (for His)
By weak the strong; by what is not, what is,
(That in his wondrous Iudgements, men may more
The Work-man then the Instruments adore)
Will he forsake, or leave him vn-assisted,
That in his seruice duly hath insisted?
Sith faithfull Servant, to do-well affected,
Can by his Master never be reiected.

Moses (accompanied with his brother Aaron) sets forward in his high Embassage.

No sooner this, the Divine Voice had ended,
And vp to Heav'n the Bushy Flame ascended,
But Moses, with (his fellow in Commission)
His Brother Aaron, wends with expedition
First to his People, and to Pharao then,
The King of Egypt (cruellest of Men):
And inly filled with a zealous flame,
Thus, thus he greets him, in th'Almighties name;
Great Nilvs Lord, thus saith the Lord of Hoasts,
Let go my People out of all the Coasts,
Mine Israel (Pharao) forth-with release,
Let them depart to Horeb's Wildernes;

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That vnto me, without offence or fear,
Their Hearts and Heifers they may offer there.

Base Fugitive, proud slaue (that art return'd

Pharaos proud answere.

Not to be whipt, but rather hangd, or burn'd)
What Lord, said Pharao? ha! what Soveraign?
O seaven-horn'd Nile! O hundred-pointed Plain!
O City of the Sun! O Thebes! and Thou
Renowned Pharos, do ye all not bow
To vs alone? Are ye not onely Ours?
Ours at a beck? Then, to what other Powrs
Owes your great Pharao homage or respect?
Or by what Lord to be controul'd and checkt?

I see the Drift. These off-scums all at once
Too idlely pampred, plot Rebellions:
Sloth marrs the slaves; and vnder fair pretence
Of new Religion (Traytours to their Prince)
They Would Revolt. O Kings! how fond are we
To think by Favours and by Clemency,
To keep men in their duty! To be milde,
Makes them be mad, proud, insolent and wilde:
Too-much of Grace, our Scepters doth dis-grace,
And smooths the path to Treason's plots a-pace.
The dull Asse, numbers with his stripes his steps:
Th'Ox, over-fat, too-strong, and resty, leaps
About the Lands, casteth his yoak, and strikes;
And waxen wilde, even at his Keeper kicks.

The true Anatomy of a Tyrant.

Well: to enioy a People, through their skin
With scourges slyç't, must their bare bones be seen:
We must still keep them short, and clip their wings,
Pare neer their nails and pull out all their stings;
Loade them with Tribute, and new Towle, and Tax,
And Subsidies vntill we break their backs;
Tire them with trauel, flay-them, pole-them, pil-them,
Suck bloud and fat, then eat their flesh, and kil-them.
'Tis good for Princes to haue all things fat,
Except their Subiects: but, beware of that.
Ha, Miscreants! ha, rascal excrements,
That lift your heel against your gracious Prince;
Hence-forth you get of wood or straw no more,
To burn your Bricks as you haue had before:
Your selues shall seek it out; yet shall you still
The number of your wonted task fulfill.

I haue Commission from the King of Kings,

Moses reply.

Maker, Preseruer, Ruler, of all things,
Replies the Hebrew that (to knowe the Lord)
Thou feel his hand, vnless thou fear his word.

In th'instant, Aaron on the slippery sand

Aaron casteth down his Rod: which immediately turns into a Serpent.

Casts down his Rod; and boldly thus began:

356

So shall thy golden Scepter down be cast,
So shall the Iudgements of the Lord at last
(Now deemed dead) reviue, to daunt thy powr:
So Israel shall Egypts wealth devour,
If thou confess not God to be the Lord:
If thou attend not, nor obserue his Word:
And if his People thou do not release,
To goe and serue him in the Wilderness.

Before that Aaron this Discourse had done,
A green-gold-azure had his Rod put-on,
It glistered bright: and in a fashion strange,
Into a Serpent it did wholly change;
Crawling before the King, and all along
Spetting and hissing with his forked tongue.

The Magicians of Egypt counterfet that miracle, and bewitch the eyes of the King.

The Memphian Sages then, and subtill Priests,
T'vphold the Kingdom of their Osiris,
Vpbraid them thus: Alas! is this the most
Your God can do, of whom so much you boast?
Are these his Wonders? Go, base Monte-banks,
Go shew else-where your sleights and iuggling pranks.
Such tricks may blear som vulgar innocents,
But cannot blinde the Councell of a Prince;
Who, by the gods instructed, doth contain
All Arts perfection in his sacred brain.
And, as they spake, out of their cursed hands
They all let-fall their strange-inchanted Wands;
Which instantly turn into Serpents too,
Hissing and spetting, crawling to and fro.
The King too much admires their cunning Charms:
The place with Aspicks, Snakes and Serpents, swarms;
Creeping about: as an ill-Huswife sees
The Maggots creeping in a rotten Cheese.

Simile.

You, you are Iugglers, th'Hebrew then repli'd:
You change not Nature, but the bare out-side;
And your Enchantments onely doo transform
The face of things, not the essentiall form.
You, Sorcerers, so mock the Princes ey,
And his Imagination damnifie,
That common Sense to his externall, brings
(By re-percussion) a false shape of things.
My Rod's indeed a Serpent, not in showe,
As heer in sight your selves by proof shall knowe.
Immediately his Dragon rear'd his head,
Rowl'd on his brest; his body wriggelled
Somtimes aloft in length; somtimes it sunk
Into it self, and altogether shrunk:
It slides, it sups the air, it hisses fell,
In steed of eyes two sparkling Rubies swell:

357

And all his deadly baens, intrenched strong
Within his trine Teeth and his triple Tongue,
Call for the Combat: and (as greedy) set

Moses rod-Serpent deuoureth the Serpents of the Egyptians.

With sodain rage vpon those Counterfet,
Those seeming-Serpents, and them all devour:
Even as a Sturgeon, or a Pike, doth scour
The Creeks and Pills in Rivers where they lie,
Of smaller Fishes and their feeble Fry.

But, at high Noon, the Tyrant wilfull-blind,

Pharao and his people hardned: Therefore God plagued Egypt.

And deafe to his owne good, is more inclin'd
To Satans tools: the people, like the Prince,
Prefer the Night before Light's excellence.
Wherefore the Lord, such proud contempts to pay,
Ten sundry plagues vpon their Land doth lay:
Redoubling so his dread-full strokes, that there,
Who would not love him milde, him rough should fear.

Smiting the Waves with his Snake-wanded wood,

1. By turning their Waters into blood.

Aaron anon converts the Nile to blood;
So that the stream, from fruitfull Meroe,
Runs red and bitter even vnto the Sea.
The Court re-courst to Lakes, to Springs, and Brooks;
Brooks, Springs, and Lakes had the like taste and looks:
Then to the Ditches; but, even to the brink
There flow'd (alas!) in steed of Water, Ink:
Then, to the likeliest of such weeping ground
Where, with the Rush, pipe-opening Fern is found:
And there they dig for Water: but (alas!)
The wounded soyl spets blood into their face.
O iust-iust Iudgement! Those proud Tyrants fell,
Those bloudy Foes of mourning Israel;
Those that delighted, and had made their game
In shedding blood, are forç't to drink the same:
And those, that ruth-less had made Nile the slaughter
Of th'Hebrew Babes, now die for want of Water.

Anon, their Fields, Streets, Halls and Courts he loads

2. Covering their Land with Frogs.

With foul great Frogs, and vgly croking Toads;
Which to the tops of highest Towrs do clamber
Even to the Presence, yea the priuy Chamber;
As starry Lezards in the Sommer time
Vpon the walls of broken houses clime.
Yea; even the King meets them in every dish
Of Privy-diet, be it Flesh or Fish:
As at his Boord, so on his royall Bed;
With stinking Frogs the silken quilts be spred.

The Priests of Pharao seem to do the same:

The Magicians counterfait the same, but their deceits are vain.

Aaron alone in the Almighties Name,
By Faith almighty: They for instruments
Vse the black Legions of the Stygian Prince:

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He by his Wonders labours to make knowen
The true Gods glory; onely they their owne:
He seeks to teach; they to seduce awry:
He studies to build vp; they to destroy:
He, striking Strangers, doth His people spare;
They spoile their own, but cannot hurt a hair
Of the least Hebrew: they can onely wound;
He hurts, and heals: He breaks, and maketh sound:
And so, when Pharao doth him humbly pray,
Re-cleers the Floods, and sends the Frogs away.

The King eased of his punishmēt is again hardned.

But (as in Heau'n there did no Iustice raign)
The Kings repentance endeth with his pain.
He is re-hardned: like a stubborn Boy
That plies his Lesson (Hypocritely-coy)
While in his hand his Master shakes the Rod;
But, if he turn his back, doth flowt and nod.
Therefore the Lord, this Day, with loathsom Lice

Therefore 3. Aegypt is plagued with Lyce.

Plagues poor and rich, the nastie and the nice,
Both Man and beast; For, Aaron with his wand
Turns into Lice the dust of all the Land.
The morrow after, with huge swarms of Flies,

4. With Flies &c..

Hornets and Wasps, he hunts their Families
From place to place, through Medows, Fens and Floods,
Hills, Dales, and Desarts, hollow Caves and Woods.

Tremble therfore (O Tyrants) tremble ay,
Poor worms of Earth, proud Ashes, Dust and Clay:
For, how (alas!) how will you make defence
'Gainst the tri-pointed wrathfull violence
Of the drad dare, that flaming in his hand,
Shall path to powder all that him withstand?
And 'gainst the rage of flames eternal-frying,
Where damned soules ly euer-neuer-dying:
Sith the least Flies, and Lice, and Vermine too
Out-braue your braues, and triumph ouer you.

Man caānot hide him from the hand of God, nor auoid his vengeance.

Gallop to Anian, sail to Iucatan,
Visit Botongas, diue beyond the Dane.
Well may you fly, but not escape him there:
Wretches, your halters still about, you bear.
Th'Almighties hand is long, and busie still;
Hauing escap't this Rod, his Sword you feel:
He seems somtimes to sleep and suffer all;
But calls at last for Vse and Principall:
With hundred sorts of Shafts his Quiuer's full,
Som passing keen, som som-what sharp, som dull,
Som killing dead, som wounding deep, som light;
But all of them do alwaies hit the White,
Each after other. Now th'Omnipotence
At Egypt shoots his shafts of Pestilence:

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Th'Ox falls-down in his yoak, Lambs bleating dy,

5. With the Plague of Pestilence.

The Bullocks as they feed, Birds as they fly.

Anon he couers Man and Beast with cores
Of angry Biles, Botches, and Scabs, and Sores;

6. With Vlcers and grieuous Scabs or Murrain.

Whose vlcerous venoms, all inflaming spread
O're all the body from the foot to head.

Then, Rain, and Hail, and flaming Fire among
Spoyl all their fields: their Cattell great with young

7. With haile & fire from heauen.

All brain'd with hail-stones: Trees with tempest cleft,
Robd of their boughs, their boughes of leaues berest.
And, from Heav'ns rage, all, to seek shelter, glad;
The Face of Egypt is now dradly-sad:
The Söan Virgins tear their Beauties honour;

Egyptians amazed at the extraordinary scourge.

Not for the waste, so much, as for the manner.

For, in that Country neuer see they Clowd,
With waight of Snowes their trees are neuer bow'd,
They know no Ice: and though they haue (as we)
The Yeare intire, their Seasons are but three:
They neither Rain-bowe, nor fat Deaws expect,
Which from else-where Sol's thirsty rayes erect:
Rain-less, their soyl is wet, and Clowd-less, fat;

The naturall fruitfulness & prosperity of Egypt in its selfe maruellous.

Itself's moist bosom brings in this and that:
For, while else-where the Riuer's roaring pride
Is dryed-vp; and while that far and wide
The Palestine seeks (for his thirsty Flock)
Iordan in Iordan, Iabboc in Iabboc;
Their floud o'reflowes, and parched Misraim
A season seems in a rich Sea to swim,
Niles billows beat on the high-dangling Date;
And Boats do slide, where Ploughs did slice of late.

Steep snowy Mounts, bright Stars Etesian gales,
You cause it not: no, those are Dreams and Tales:
Th'Eternall-Trine who made all compassly,
Makes th'vnder waues, the vppers want supply;
And, Egypts Womb to fill with fruits and Flowrs,
Gives swelling Nile th'office of heauenly Showrs.

Then the Thrice-Sacred with a sable Clowd
Of horned Locusts doth the Sun be-clowd,
And swarmeth down on the rebellious Coast
The Grass-hoppers lean, dam-deuouring Hoast,

8 The are vexed with Grasshoppers.

Which gleans what Hail had left, and (greedy) crops
Both night and Day the Husband's whole-year's hopes.

Then, gross thick Darkness over all he dight,
And three fair Dayes turns to one fearfull Night:

9 Wih palpable darkness.

With Ink-like Rheum the dull Mists drouzy vapours
Quench their home Fires, and Temple-sacred Tapers.
If hunger driue the Pagans from their dens,
Ones 'gainst a settle breaketh both his shins;

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Another, groping vp and down for bread,
Falls down the stayrs, and there he lies for dead.

But, though these works surmount all Natures might,
Though his owne Sages them of guile acquight,
Though th'are not casuall (sith the holy-man

The Israelites in all these plagues vntoucht, yet Pharao still hardned.

Fore-tels perfixtly What, and Where and When)
And though that (liuing in the midst of His)
The Israelites be free from all of This,
Th'incensed Tyrant (strangely obstinate)
Retracts the Leave he granted them of late.

For, th'Ever-One, who with a mighty hand
Would bring his people to the plentious Land
Of Palestine: Who prouidently-great,
Before the eyes of all the World would set
A Tragedy, where wicked Potentates
Might see a Mirror of their owne estates:
And, who (most-iust) must haue meet Arguments,
To showe the height of his Omnipotence;
Hardens the King, and blinding him (selfe-blinde)
Leaues him to Lusts of his owne vicious minde.
For, God doth neuer (euer purely bent)
Came sin, as sin; but, as Sin's Punishment.

10. Therefore all the first borne of Egypt are slain in one night by the Angell.

For, the last Charge, an Angell in one night,
All the first born through all the Land doth smite;
So that from Sues Port to Birdene Plain,
Ther's not a House, but hath som body slain,
Saue th'Israelites, whose doors were markt before,
With sacred Pass-Lamb's sacramentall gore.
And therfore euer-since on that same day,
Yeerly, the Iewes a Yearling Lamb must stay;
A token of that Passage, and a Type
Of th'Holy-Lamb, which should (in season ripe)
By powring-forth the pure and plentious Flood
Of his most precious Water-mixed Blood,
Preserue his People from the drad Destroyer,
That fries the wicked in eternall fier.

Through all the Land, all in one instant cry,
All for one cause, though yet all know not why.
Night heaps their horrors: and the morning showes
Their priuat griefs, and makes them publike woes.

After so many grieuous plagues the Egyptians cry out vpon their King to let the Israelites goe.

Scarce did the glorious Gouernour of Day
O're Menphis yet his golden tress display,
When from all parts, the Maydens and the Mothers,
Wiues, Husbands, Sons, and Sires, Sisters, and Brothers,
Flock to the Court, where with one common voice
They all cry-out, and make this mournfull noyse:

O stubborn stomach! (cause of all our sadnes)
Dull Constancy! or rather, desperat Madnes!

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A Flood of Mischiefs all the Land doth fill:
The Heav'ns still thunder; th'Air doth threaten still:
Death, ghastly death, triumpheth every-where,
In every house; and yet, without all fear,
Without all feeling, we despise the Rod,
And scorn the Iudgements of the mighty God.
Great King, no more bay with thy wilfullings
His Wrath's dread Torrent. He is King of kings;
And in his fight, the Greatest of you all
Are but as Moats that in the Sun doo fall:
Yeeld, yeeld (alas!) stoop to his powrfull threat;
He's warn'd enough that hath been ten-times beat.

Go, get you gon: hence, hence, vn-lucky Race;

They hasten and importune them to be gon.

Your eyes bewitch our eyes, your feet this Place,
Your breath this air: Why haste you not away?
Hebrews, what lets you? wherfore do you stay?
Step to our houses (if that ought you lack)
Choose what you like, and what you like go take,
Gould, Plate, or Iewels, Ear-rings, Chains, or Ouches,
Our Girdles, Bracelets, Carkanets, or Brouches,
Bear them vnto your gods, not in the sands
Where the Heav'n-kissing Cloud-brow'd Sina stands;
But much, much farther; and so far, that heer
We never more your odious news may hear:
Go, Hebrews, go, in God's Name thrive amain;
By losing you, we shall sufficient gain.

With the Kings leave, then th'Hebrews Prince collects

After their departure Pharao immediately pursves them.

His Legions all, and to the Sea directs.
Scarce were they gon, when Pharaoh doth retract,
And arms all Egypt to go fetch them back;
And, camping neer them, execrably-rude,
Threatens them Death, or end-less Servitude.

Even as a Duck, that nigh som crystall brook

Simile.

Hath twice or thrice by the same Hawk been strook,
Hearing aloft her gingling silver bells,
Quivers for fear, and looks for nothing else
But when the Falcon (stooping thunder-like)
With sudden souse her to the ground shall strike;
And with the stroak, make on the sense-less ground
The gut-less Quar, once, twice, or thrice, rebound:
So Israel, fearing again to feel
Pharaoh's fell hands, who hunts them at the heel,
Quivers and shivers for despair and dread;
And spets his gall against his godly Head.

O base ambition! This false Politick,

The Israelites fear, and murmur against Moses.

Plotting to Great himself, our deaths doth seek:
He mocks vs all, and makes vs (fortune-less)
Change a rich Soil for a dry Wilderness;

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Allur'd with lustre of Religious showes,
Poor soules, He sels vs to our hatefull Foes:
For, O! what strength? alas! what stratagem?
Or how (good God) shall we encounter them?
Or who is it? or what is it shall save-vs
From their fell hands that seek to slay, or slave-vs?
Shall we, disarmed, with an Army fight?
Can we (like Birds) with still-steep-rising flight
Surmount these Mountains? have we Ships at hand
To pass the Sea (this half a Sea, half sand)?
Or, had we Ships, and Sails, and Owers, and Cable;
Who knowes these Waters to be navigable?
Alas! som of vs shall with Scithes be slasht;
Som, with their Horse-feet all to peeces pasht;
Som, thrill'd with Swords, or Shafts, through hundred holes
Shall ghastly gasp out our vntimely soules.
Sith die we must, then die we voluntary:
Let's run, our selves, where others would vs carry;
Com, Israelites, com, let vs dy together,
Both men and women: so we shall (in either)
Prevent their rage, content their avarice,
And yeeld (perhaps) to Moses even his Wish.

Moses instruction to enourage them, with assured confidence in God.

Why, brethren? knowe ye not (their Ruler saith)
That in his hand God holdeth life and death?
That he turns Hils to Dales, and Seas to Sands?
That he hath (prest) a thousand winged Bands
T'assist his Children, and his Foes t'assail?
And that he helps not, but when all helps fail?
See you this mighty Hoast, this dreadfull Camp,
Which dareth Heav'n, and seems the Earth to damp;
And all inrag'd, already chargeth ours,

Simile.

As thick, or thicker then the Welkin pours
His candi'd drops vpon the ears of Corn,
Before that Ceres yellow locks be shorn?
It all shall vanish, and of all this Crew
(Which thinks already to have swallow'd you)
Of all this Army, that (in Armour bright)
Seems to out-shine the Sun, or shame his light;
There shall to-morrow not a man remain:
Therfore be still; God shall your side sustain.

Calling vpō God he parts the Red Sea so that the people passe through as on dry land.

Then (zealous) calling on th'immortall God,
He smote the Sea with his dead-living Rod:
The Sea obay'd, as bay'd: the Waves, controul'd,
Each vpon other vp to Heav'n do fould:
Between both sides a broad deep Trench is cast,
Dri'd to the bottom with an instant blast:
Or rather, 't is a Valley paved (else)
With golden sands, with Pearl, and Nacre-shels,

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And on each side is flanked all along
With wals of crystall, beautifull and strong.
This flood-less Foord the Faithfull Legions pass,
And all the way their shoo scarce moisted was.
Dream we, said they? or is it true we try?
The Sea start at a stick? The Water dry?
The Deep a Path? Th'Ocean in th'Air suspending?
Bulwarks of Billows, and no drop descending?
Two Wals of Glass, built with a word alone?
Afrik and Asia to conioyn in one?
Th'all-seeing Sun new bottoms to behould?
Children to run where Tunnies lately roul'd?

Th'Egyptian Troops pursue them by the track;

The Egyptians following them are swallowed in the Sea.

Yet waits the patient Sea, and still stands back;
Till all the Hoast be marching in their ranks
Within the lane between his crystall banks.
But, as a wall, weakned with mining-vnder,

Simile.

The Piles consum'd fall suddenly asunder,
O'r-whelmeth all that stand too neer the breach,
And with his Ruines fills-vp all the ditch:
Even so God's finger, which these Waters bay'd;
Beeing with-drawn, the Ocean swell'd and sway'd;
And, re-conioyning his congealed Flood,
Swallows in th'instant all those Tyrants wood.

Heer, one by swimming thinks himself to save:
But, with his scarf tangled about a Nave,
He's strangled straight; and, to the bottom sinking,
Dies; not of too-much drink, but for not drinking;
While that (in vain) another with lowd lashes
Scours his prowd Coursers through the scarlet Washes:
The streams (whereon more Deaths then Waves do swim)
Bury his Chariot; and his Chariot, him:
Another, swallowed in a Whirl-Whales womb,
Is laid a-live within a living Toomb:
Another, seeing his Twin-brother drowning;
Out of his Coach, his hand (to help him) downing;
With both his hands grasping that hand, his Twin
Vnto the bottom hales him head-long in;
And instantly the water covers either:
Right Twins indeed; born, bred and dead, together.

Nile's stubborn Monarch, stately drawn vpon

Pharao profanely blaspheming & proudly braving Moses and the Sea, is notwithstanding drowned with the rest.

A curious Chariot, 'chaç't with pearl and stone,
By two proud Coursers, passing snowe for colour;
For strength, the Elephants; Lions, for valour;
Curseth the Heav'ns, the Air, the Windes and Waves;
And, marching vp-ward, still blaspheams and braves:
Heer, a huge Billow on his Targe doth split;
Then coms a bigger, and a bigger yet,

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To second those: The Sea growes ghastly great;
Yet stoutly still he thus doth dare and threat:
Base roaguing Iuggler, think'st thou with thy Charms
Thou shalt preuail against our puissant arms?
Think'st thou, poor shifter, with thy Hel-spels thus
To cross our Counsels, and discomfit Vs?
And, O proud Sea! false, traiterous Sea, dar'st thou,
Dar'st thou conspire 'gainst thine own Neptune now?
Dar'st thou presume 'gainst Vs to rise and roar?
I charge thee cease: be still, I say: no more:
Or, I shall clip thine arms in Marble stocks,
And yoak thy shoulders with a Bridge of Rocks;
Or banish thee from Etham far, for ay,
Through som new Chanell to go seek thy way.

Heer-at the Ocean, more than ever, frets,
All topsie-turvy vp-side-down it sets;
And a black billow, that aloft doth float
With salt and sand; stops his blaspheamous throat.
What now betides the Tyrant? Waters now
Have reft his neck, his chin, cheeks, eyes and brow,
His front, his fore-top: now ther's nothing seen
But his proud arm, shaking his Fauchin keen:
Wherewith he seems, in spite of Heav'n and Hell,
To fight with Death, and menace Israel.
At last he sinks all vnder water quite,
Spurning the sand: again he springs vpright;
But, from so deep a bottom to the top,
So clogg'd with arms, can cleave no passage vp:

Simile.

As the poor Partridge, cover'd with the net,
In vain doth strive, struggle, and bate, and beat;
For, the close meshes, and the Fowler's craft,
Suffer the same no more to whurre aloft.

I to your selves leave to conceive the ioy
Of Iacob's heirs thus rescu'd from annoy;
Seeing the Sea to take their cause in hand,
And their dead Foes shuffled vpon the sand;
Their shields, and staves, and chariots (all-to-tore)
Floating about, and flung vpon the shoar:
When thus th'Almighty (glorious God most high)
For them without them, got the Victory,
They skip and dance; and, marrying all their voices
To Timbrels, Hawboys, and loud Cornets noises,
Make all the shoars resound, and all the coasts,

2. Part of this Tract: where is discoursed of the estate of the people of Israel in the Wlderness, vntill the death of Moses.

With the shrill Praises of the Lord of Hoasts.

Eternall issue of eternall Sire,
Deep Wisdom of the Father, now inspire
And shew the sequell that from hence befell,
And how he dealt with his dear Israel,

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Amid the Desart, in their Pilgrimage
Towards the Promis'd plentious Heritage:
Tell, for (I knowe) thou know'st: for, compast ay
With Fire by Night, and with a Cloud by Day,
Thou (my soule's hope) wert their sole Guide and Guard,
Their Meat and Drink in all their Iourney hard.

Marching amid the Desart, nought they lack:
Heav'n still distils an Ocean (for their sake)
Of end-less good: and every Morn doth send
Sufficient food for all the day to spend.
When the Sun riseth, and doth haste his Race
(Half ours, half theirs that vnderneath vs pase)
To re-behould the beauty, number, order,
And prudent Rule (preventing all mis-order)
Of th'awfull Hoast lodg'd in the Wilderness,
So favour'd by the Sun of Righteousnes;
Each coms but forth his Tent, and at his dore
Findes his bread ready (without seeking more):
A pleasant bread, which from his plentious clowd,
Like little Hail, Heav'ns wakefull Steward strow'd.
The yellow sands of Elim's ample Plain

God gives them Manna.

Were heaped all with a white sugred grain,
Sweet Corianders; Iunkets, not to feed
This Hoast alone, but even a World (for need).
Each hath his part, and every one is fed
With the sweet morsels of an vn-bought bread.
It never rains for a whole yeer at-once,

It is given from day to day.

But daily for a day's provisions:
To th'end, so great an Hoast, so curbed straight,
Still on the Lord's wide open hand should wait,
And every Dawning have due cause to call
On him their Founder, and the Fount of all:
Each, for his portion hath an Omer-full;
The sur-plus rots, mould, knead it how they will.
The Holy-One (iust Arbitrer of wrong)
Allows no less vnto the weak, than strong:
On Sabbath's Eve, he lets sufficient fall
To serve for that day, and the next withall;
That on his Rest, the sacred Folk may gather,
Not Bodie's meat, but spirituall Manna rather.

Thou, that from Heav'n thy daily White-bread hast,
Thou, for whom Harvest all the yeer doth last,
That in poor Desarts rich aboundance heap'st,
That sweat-less eat'st, and without sowing reap'st,
That hast the Air for farm, and Heav'n for field
(Which, sagred Mel, or melled sugar yeeld)
That, for taste changing doost not change thy cheer,
God's Pensioner, and Angel's Table-peer:

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It is a liuely figure of Christ the true bread of life.

O Israel! see in this Table-pure,
In this fair glass, thy Saviour's pourtraiture,
The Son of God, Messias promised,
The sacred seed, to bruize the Serpents head:
The glorious Prince, whose Scepter ever shines,
Whose Kingdom's scope the Heav'n of Heav'ns confines;
And, when He shall (to light thy sin-full load)
Put Man-hood on, dis-knowe him not for God.

The same demonstrated by particular conscience.

This Grain is small, but full of substance though:
Christ strong in working, though but weak in showe.
Manna is sweet: Christ as the Hony-Comb.
Manna from high: and Christ from Heav'n doth come.
With that, there falls a pleasant pearly deaw:
Christ coming down doth all the Earth be-streaw
With spiritual gifts. That, vnto great and small,
Tastes to their tastes: and Christ is all to all:
(Food to the hungry, to the needy wealth,
Ioy to th'afflicted, to the sickly health,
Pardon to those Repent, Prop to the bow'd,
Life's sauour to the Meek, Death's to the Prowd).
That's common good: and Christ communicate.
That's purely white: and Christ immaculate.
That gluts the wanton Hebrews (at the last)
Christ and his Word the World doth soon distaste.
Of that, they eat no less that have one measure,
Than who have hundred: and in Christ his treasure
Of Divine Grace, the faith-full Proselyte
Hath no less part, than Doctors (deep of sight).
That's round: Christ simple, and sincerely-round.
That in the Ark: Christ in his Church is found.
That doth (with certain) stinking worms becom:
Christ th'Ever-Word) is scandall vnto som.
That raineth not, but on the sacred Race:
Christ to his Chosen doth confine his Grace.
That's broken, every Grain: Christ (Lamb of God)
Vpon his Cross-press is so torn and trod,
That of his Blood the pretious Flood hath purl'd
Down from Mount Sion over all the World.

The people lust for flesh.

Yet glutted now with this ambrosiall Food,
This Heav'nly bread, so holy and so good,
Th'Hebrews do lust for flesh: a fresh South-winde
Brings shoals of Fowls to satisfie their minde;

God sends them Quails.

A cloud of Quails on all the Camp is sent,
And every one may take to his content:
For, in the Hoast, and all the Country by,
For a day's-iourney, Cubit-thick they ly.

But, though their Commons be thus delicate,
Although their eyes can scarce look out for fat,

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Although their Bellies strout with too-much meat,
Though (Epicures) they vomit as they eat,
Yet still they howl for hunger; and they long

They long for the Garlick & Onions of Egypt.

For Memphian hotch-potch, Leeks, and Garlick strong:
As Childe-great Women, or green Maids (that miss

Simile.

Their Terms appointed for their florishes)
Pine at a Princely feast, preferring far,
Red-Herrings, Rashers, and (som) sops in Tar;
Yea, coals, and clowts, sticks, stalks, and dirt, before
Quail, Pheasant, Partridge, and a hundred more:
So, their fantastick wearisom disease
Distastes their tastes, and makes them strange to please.

But, when the Bull, that lately tost his horn
In wanton Pride, hangs down his head, forlorn
For lack of Water, and the Souldier bleak
Growes (without Arms) for his own waight too-weak:
When fiery Thirst through all their veins so fierce
Consumes their blood, into their bones doth pearce,
Sups-vp their vitall humour, and doth dry
Their whilom-beauties to Anatomy;
They weep and wail, and but their voice (alas!)
Is choakt already that it cannot pass
Through the rough Straights of heir dry throats; they would

They murmur for want of water, with grieuous imputation to their good Guide.

Roar-out their grief, that all men hear them should.
O Duke! (no Hebrew, but an Ethnick rather)
Is this (alas!) the guerdon that we gather
For all the service thou hast had of vs?
What have we don, that thou betray'st vs thus?
For our obedience, shall we evermore
With Fear and Want be hanted at our door?
O windy words! O periur'd promises!
O gloze, to gull our honest simpleness!
Escap't from Hunger, Thirst doth cut our throat:
Past the Red-Sea, heer vp and down we float
On firm-less sands of this vast Desart heer,
Where, to and fro we wander many a yeer:
Looking for Liberty, we finde not Life;
No, neither Death (the welcom end of strife)
Envy not vs, dear Babes: we envy you,
You happy ones, whom Egypt's Tyrant slue;
Your Birth and Death cam hand in hand together,
Your end was quick nay't was an Entry rather
To end-less Life: We wretches, with our age
Increase our Woes in this long Pilgrimage:
We hope no Harbour where we may take breath:
And Life to vs is a continuall Death.
You blessed live, and see th'Almighties face:
Our Daies begin in tears, in toils they pass,

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And end in dolours (this is all we doo):
But Death concludes tears, toils, and dolours too.

Moses reproues them, & smites the Rock, from whence issues plenty of water.

Stiff-necked People, stubborn Generation,
Egypt doth witnes (in a wondrous fashion)
God's goodnes (to thee): all the Elements
Expound vnto thee his Omnipotence:
And doost thou murmur still? and dar'st thou yet
Blaspheam his promise, and discredit it?
Said Moses then; and gave a sudden knock
With his dear Scepter on a mighty Rock:
From top to toe it shakes, and splits with-all,
And wel-nigh half vnto the ground doth fall,
As smit with Lightning: then, with rapid rush,
Out of the stone a plentious stream doth gush,
Which murmurs through the Plain; proud, that his glass,
Gliding so swift, so soon re-yongs the grass;
And, to be gaz'd-on by the wanton Sun,
And through new paths so brave a course to run.

Simile.

Who hath not seen (far vp within the Land)
A shoal of Geese on the dry-Sommer sand
In their hoarse language (somtimes lowely-lowd)
Suing for succour to som moist-full clowd;
How, when the Rain descends, their wings they beat,
(With the first drops to cool their swelting heat)
Bib with their Bill, bouz with their throats, and suck,
And twenty-times vnto the bottom duck?
Such th'Hebrews glee: one, stooping down, doth sup
The clear quick stream; another takes it vp
In his bare hand; another in his hat;
This, in his buskin; in a bucket, that
(Well fresht himself) bears fom vnto his Flock;
This fils his pitcher-full; and that, his Crock:
And other-som (whose Thirst is more extream)
Like Frogs ly paddling in the crystall stream.

They march toward Mount Sina, where god deliuereth them his LAW.

From Rephidim, along the Desart Coast,
Now to Mount Sina marcheth all the Hoast;
Where, th'everlasting God, in glorious wonder,
With dreadfull voice his fearfull Lavv doth thunder;
To showe, that His rev'rend, Divine Decrees
(Wherto all hearts should bow, and bend all knees)
Proceed not from a Politick Pretence,
A wretched Kingling, or a petty Prince
(Nymph-prompted Nvma, or the Spartans Lord,
Or him that did Cecropian strifes accord)
Nor from the mouth of any mortall man;
But from that King, who at his pleasure can
Shake Heav'n, and Earth, and Air, and all therin:
That Israel shall finde him (if they sin)

369

As terrible with Vengeance in his hand,
As dreadfull now in giving the Command:
And, that the Text of that drad Testament,
Grav'n in two Tables for vs impotent,
Hath in the same a sadder load compriz'd,
And heavier yoak, then is the yoak of Christ.
That, that doth showe vs Sin, threats, wounds and kils:
This offers Grace, Balm in our sores distils.

Redoubled Lightnings dazle th'Hebrews eies;

With what dreadfull Majesty it was delivered.

Cloud-sund'ring Thunder roars through Earth and Skies,
Louder and louder in careers and cracks,
And stately Sina's massie centre shakes,
And turneth round, and on his sacred top
A whirling flame round like a Ball doth wrap:
Vnder his rocky ribs, in Coombs belowe,
Rough-blust'ring Boreas, nurst with Riphean snowe,
And blub-cheekt Avster, puft with fumes before,
Met in the midst, iustling for room, do roar:
A cloak of clouds, all thorough-lin'd with Thunder,
Muffles the Mountain both aloft and vnder:
On Pharan now no shining Pharvs showes.
A Heav'nly Trump, a shrill Tantara blowes,
The winged Windes, the Lightning's nimble flash,
The smoaking storms, the whirl-fire's crackling clash,
And deafning Thunders, with the same do sing
(O wondrous consort!) th'everlasting King
His glorious Wisdom, who doth give the Law
To th'Heav'nly Troops, and keeps them all in aw.
But, as in Battell we can hear no more

Simile.

Small Pistol-shot, when once the Canons roar:
And as a Cornet soundeth cleer and rife

Simile.

Above the warbling of an Alman Fife;
A dradder voice (yet a distincter voice)
Whose sound doth drown all th'other former noise,
Roars in the Vale, and on the sacred Hill,
Which thrills the ears, but more the heart doth thrill
Of trembling Iacob: who, all pale for fear,
From God's own mouth these sacred words doth hear;

Hark, Israel: O Iacob, hear my Law:
Hear it, to keep it (and thy self in aw).
I am IEHOVA, I (with mighty hand)
Brought thee from bondage out of Egypt Land:
Adore Me only for thy God and Lord,

The Decalogue.

With all thy heart, in every Deed and Word.
Make thee none Image (not of any sort)
To thy own Works My Glory to transport.
Vse not my Name without respect and fear,
Never Blaspheam, neither thy self for-swear.

370

Six days vvork for thy food: but then (as I)
Rest on the Seaventh, and to my Temple hy.
To those that gave thee life, due Reverence give,
If thou desire long in the Land to live.
Imbrve thou not thy hand in hvmane blood.
Stain not anothers bed. Steal no mans good.
Bear no false vvitnes. Covet not to have
Thy Neighbours Wife, his Oxe, his Asse, his Slave,
His House, his Land, his Cattell, or his Coin,
His Place, his Grace, or ought that is not Thine.

The excellency of the Law of God.

Eternall Tutor, O Rule truely right
Of our frail life! our foot-steps Lanthorn bright:
O Soule's sweet Rest! O biting curb of Sin!
Which Bad despise, the Good take pleasure in:
Reverend Edicts vpon Mount Sina given,
How-much-fould sense is in few words contriven!
How wonder-full, and how exceeding far!
How plain, how sacred, how profound you are!
All Nations else, a thousand times (for cause)
Have writ, and raç't, and chopt, and chang'd their Laws;
Except the Iews: but they, although their State
With every Moon almost did innovate
(As somtimes having Kings, and somtimes none)
In all their changes kept their Law still One.

The inconstancy and vanity of Humane Lawes.

What resteth at this day of Salaminian,
Laconian Lavvs, or of the Carthaginian?
Yea Rome, that made even all the World one City,
So strong in Arms, and in States-Art so witty;
Hath, in the Ruines of her Prides rich Babels,
Left but a Relique of her Twice-Six-Tables.

Stability and authority of the Law of God.

But, since in Horeb the High-Thundring ONE
Pronounç't This Law, three-thousand times the Sun
Hath gallopt round Heav'ns golden Bandeleer,
Imbost with Beasts, studded with stars so cleer:
And yet one title hath not Time bereft;
Although the People vnto whom 'twas left,
Be now no People, but (expulst from home)
Through all the corners of the World do roam:
And though their State, through euerie Age almost,
On a rough Sea of Mischiefs hath been tost.

A Butt, a Brook, a Torrent doth confine
All other Lawes: Megarian Discipline
Hath nought of th'Attick: nor the Coronan
Of Theban Rites: nor Thebes of Cadmean:
But, this set Lavv, given Iacob's Generations,
Is the true Law of Nature and of Nations,
Which (sacred) sounds where-ever (to descry)
Th'all-searching Sun doth cast his flaming ey.

371

The Turks imbrace, the Christians honour it,
And Iews with Fear do euen adore it yet.

I only, I (Great God) thy Lavvs do spurn

How all men transgresse the same at euery part.

With my foul feet, I do thy Statutes scorn:
Puft in my Soule with extream Pride, before,
Nay in thy stead, I do my self Adore.
I Serue no wooden gods, nor Kneel to Stones;
But Couetous, I worship Golden ones.
I Name thee not, but in vain Blasphemy,
Or (Achab-like) in sad Hypocrisie.
I Rest the Sabbath: yet I break thy Lavv,
Seruing (for thee) mine idle Mouth and Maw.
I Reuerence Superiors, but in showe;
Not out of Loue, but as compelled so.
I Murder none: yet doth my Tongue too-rife
VVound others Fame, and my Hearts-hate their life.
I Ciuilize, left that I seem Obscœne:
But Lord (Thou know'st) I am Vnchast, vnclean.
I seem no Theef: yet tempted with my Want,
I take too oft the Fruit I did not plant.
I speak not much: yet in my little Talk,
Much Vanity, and many Lies do walk.
I Wish too-earnest, and too-oft (in fine)
For others Fortunes, male-content with mine.

Heer lie I naked: lo th'Anatomie

Remedy for all our sinnes.

Of my foul Heart, O Humane-Deity!
O Christ! th'Almightie's like All-mighty Word,
O put-me-on Thy Robe! as whilom (Lord)
Thou putst-on Mine: me in Thy Blood be-lave;
And in my Soule thy sacred Lawes ingraue.

While with the Duke, th'Eternall did deuise,
And to his inward sight did modulize
His Tabernacle's admirable Form,
And prudently him (faithfull) did inform
In a new Rubrick of the Rytes Diuine,
To th'end the Heirs of promis'd Palestin
After their fancy should not worship him,
Nor (Idol-prone) example leading them,
Into his sacred TEMPLE introduce
The Sacrifices that the Heathen vse;
But, by their Rytes to guide their spirituall eye
To Christ, the Rock on whom their hopes should lie;
Beholde (alas!) frail Aaron, Deputied

In Moses absence Aaron makes the golden Calfe.

During his absence, all the Flock to guide,
Dumb coward Curr, barks not against their ill;
But giuing way to the mad Peoples will,
Casteth a Goulden Calf, and sets it vp,
For them to worship, and vnto it stoop:

372

Gold, Rings and Iewels, which the Lord of Heav'n
Had (as Love-tokens) lately to them given,
Are cast into a Mould; and (which is worse)
Iacob, to wed a Calf, doth God divorce.
Those Feet, that dry-shod past the Crimsin Gulf,
Now dance (alas!) before a Molten Calf:
That Voice, which late on Etham sands had rung
Th'Almightie's glory, now to Satan sung.

Moses sharply reproves Aaron, breaks the Idol, and punisheth the idolaters.

The zealous Prophet, with iust fury moov'd,
'Fore all the Hoast, his Brother sharp reproov'd:
And pulveriz'd their Idol; and eft soons,
Flankt by olde Levie's most religious Sons,
Throngs through the Camp, and each wher strowes his way
With blood and slaughter, horror and dismay:

Simile.

As half a score of Reapers nimbly-neat,
With cheerfull ey choosing a plot of Wheat,
Reap it at pleasure, and of Ceres locks
Make hand-fulls sheaves, and of their sheaves makes shocks;
And through the Field from end to end do run,
Working a-vie, till all be down and don.

Simile.

Or, as so many Canons shot at-once
A front a Camp; th'Earth with the Thunder grones,
Heer flees a broken arm, and breaks another;
There stands th'one half of a halv'd body, th'other
Falls-down a furlong thence: heer flees a shield;
And deep-wide windows make they in the field.

Aaron & Mary (or Miriam) murmur against Moses.

All these sure signes of God's dear estimate
Cannot confirm the Hebrew Magistrate
In his Authority: euen Aaron spites-it,
And Miriam (his Sister) too back-bites-it.
But suddainly, on her in his Defence,
Foul Leprosie did punish this Offence.

Nadab and Abihu for offring of strange Fire, are kild by Fire from Heaven.

His Nephews, scorning his Command, aspire
Before the Lord to offer forrain Fire:
But on them soon a heav'nly Flame down-falling
(As in the Sommer som hot-dry Exhaling,
Or Blazing-Star with suddain flash doth fall
At Palmers feet, and him affright with-all:)
Fires instantly their beards and oyled hair,
And all the sacred vestiments they wear;
Exhales their blood, their Bodies burns to ashes,
Their Censers melts with heat of Lightning flashes,
Their coals are quenched all, and sacred Flame
Th'vnhallow'd Fire devour'd and over-came.

Core, Dathan and Abiram, their conspiracy.

His Kins-man Core then (with Dathan ioyn'd,
And with Abiram) murmur'd and repin'd:
O see, saith he, how many a subtil gin
The Tyrant sets to snare our Freedomins!

373

How we, abus'd with Oracles most vain,
(Which Moses and his brother Aaron fain)
For idle hopes of promis'd Signories,
Do simply lose our sweetest Liberties!
See, how they do ingross between them two,
Into one House, Scepter and Ephod too:
See, how they dally, and with much delay
Prolong their Iorney to prolong their Sway:
And (to conclude) see how sly Course they take,
To build their Greatness on our grievous wrack.
Hear'st thou me (Moses) if thou chiefly ioy
To see thy Brethren's torments and annoy,
'Twer good to walk vs yet for ten years more
About these Mountains in these Desarts poor:
Keep vs still Exiles; Let vs (our Desire)
Languish, wax-olde, and in these Sands expire,
Where cruell Serpents haunt vs still at hand,
A Fruit-less, Flood-less, yea a Land-less Land.
If, rear'd from Youth in Honour, thine Ambition
Cannot com down to priuat mens condition,
Be Captain, Duke and King: for, God approves-thee,
Thy Vertues guard, the Peop'e fears and loves-thee.
But as for Aaron, What is his desert?
What High exploit, what Excellence, what Art
Gain'd him th'High-Priesthood? O good God, what shame?
Alas! hath he for any thing got fame
But Horebs Horn-God? for despising thee,
And thy Commands; and for Conspiracie?

The morrow next, before the Sacred Tent
This Mutiner with sacred Censer went
Adorn'd, selfe-gazing, with a lofty ey,
His faction present; Aaron also by.

Lord shield thy Cause, approve thee veritable,
Let not thy Name be to the Lewd a Fable:
Oint thine Anointed publikely: by Miracle,
Showe whom thou hast selected for thine Oracle,
Said Moses then; and even as yet he spake,
The groaning Earth began to reel and shake,
A horrid Thunder in her bowels rumbles,
And in her bosom vp and down it tumbles,

Their dreadfull punishment.

Tearing her Rocks, Vntill she Yawn a way
To let it out, and to let-in the Day:
Heav'n sees to Hell, and Hell beholdeth Heav'n,
And Divels dazled with the glistring leav'n
Of th'ancient Sun, yet lower fain would diue;
But chain'd to th'Centre all in vain they striue.
Core, round compast with his Rebel friends,
Offers to Belzebvb and to the Fiends:

374

His bodie's batter'd with Rocks falling down,
And arms of Trees there planted vp-side-down:
He goes with Noyse down to the Silent Coast,
Intoombd alive, without all Art or cost.
And all the rest that his proud side assum'd,
Scaping the Gulf, with Lightning are consum'd.

Aarons charge is confirmed by miracle.

And Aaron's Office is confirm'd by God,
With wondrous Signes of his oft-quickned Rod,
Which dead, re-buds, re-blooms, and Almonds bears;
When all his Fellows have no life in theirs.

Sundry victories of the Israelites, vnder the conduct and direction of Moses.

Now, shall I sing, through Moses prudent Sway,
How Israel doth Amalec dismay,
Arad and Og (that of huge Giants springs)
Proud Hesebon, and the fiue Madian Kings,
With the false Prelat, who profanely made
Of Prophets-gifts a sacrilegious trade;
Who false, sayes true; who striving (past all shame)
To force the Spirit, is forced by the same:
Who, snaring th'Hebrews with frail Beauties graces,
Defiles their bodies, more their soules defaces?
Doubt-less his Deeds are such, as would I sing
But halfe of them, I vnder-take a thing
As hard almost, as in the Gangic Seas
To count the Waues, or Sands in Euphrates;
And, of so much, should I a little say,
It were to wrong him, and his Praise betray.

Reseruing the Wars for another Discourse, our Poet hasteth to the death of Moses.

His Noble Acts we therefore heer suspend,
And skip vnto his sweet and happy End:
Sith, th'End is it whereby we iudge the best
(For either Life) how Man is Curst or Blest.

Feeling his vigour by degrees to waste,
And, one Fire quencht, another kindling fast,
Which doth his Spirit re-found, his Soule refine,
And raise to Heav'n, whence it was sent divine;

By his example Men are warned not to defer to make their Will til it be too late to be troubled with the business of this World.

He doth not (Now) study to make his Will,
T'Entail his Land to his Male-Issue still:
Wisely and iustly to divide his Good,
To Sons and Daughters, and his neerest Blood:
T'assigne his Wife a Dowry fair and fit,
A hundred times to adde, and alter it:
To quittance Friendships, with frank Legacies:
To guerdon Service with Annuities,
To make Executors, to Cancel som,
T'appoint himselfe a Palace for a Tomb.
I praise a care to settle our estate:
But, when Death threats vs, then it is too-late.
A seemly Buriall is a sacred Rite:
But let the living take that charge of right.

375

He (lifting higher his last thoughts) besides
The Common-Weale's care, for the Church prouides,
And grauing his discourse with voyce devout,
Bids thus Farwell to all that stand about:

O Iacob's seed (I might say, my deer sons)

He pronounceth the blessing and the curses written in Leuit. 26. & Deutero. 28. where vnto the people say Amen.

Y'are sense-less more then metalls stocks or stones,
If y'haue forgot the many-many Miracles
Wher-with the Lord hath seal'd my sacred Oracles;
And all the Favours (in this sauage Place)
In forty yeers receiued of his grace.
Therefore (O Israel) walk thou in his fear,
And in thy hearts-hart (not in Marble) beare
His ever-lasting Lavv: before him stand,
And to his Service consecrate thy hand.

If this thou do, thy Heav'n-blest fleecie Flocks

Blessings on those that obey.

Shall bound about thy Pastures, Downs and Rocks,
As thick as skip in Sommer, in a Mead,
The Grass-hoppers, that all with Deaw are fed:
Thy fruitfull Eaws, fat Twins shall bring thee euer
And of their Milk shall make a plentious Riuer:
Th'olde Tyrant loads not with so-many loans,
Toules, Taxes, Succours, Impositions,
The panting Vassalls to him Tributary,
As thy rich Fields shall pay thee voluntary:
Thy children and thy children's children, set
About thy Table side by side at meat,
Shall flourish like a long and goodly rowe
Of pale-green Olives that vprightly growe
About a ground, and (full of Fruit) presage
Plenty of Oyl vnto their Master sage:
Sons of thy sons shall serue thy reuerend Eld:
Thou shalt die quiet, thou shalt liue vnqueld:
Blessed at home, and blessed in the Plain:
The blessed God shall send thee timely Rain,
And holsom windes, and with his keyes of grace
Open Heav'ns store-house to thy happy Race:
Thy proud fell Foes with Troops of armed men
Shall charge thee one way, but shall flie thee ten;
The Peace-Plant Olive, or Triumphant Bay
Shall shade thy gates: Thy valour shall dismay
And daunt the Earth: and with his sacred aw
Thy Sauiour-King shall giue the World the Law.

If other-wise; the Megrim, Gowt, and Stone,

Curses on the Disobedient.

Shall plague thee fell with thousand pangs in one
Thy numbry Flocks in part shall barren be,
In part shall bring abortives vnto thee:
Accurst at home, accursed in the Plain,
Thy labour boot-less, and thy care in vain:

376

Thy Field shall be of steel, thy Heav'n of brass,
Thy Fountains dry: and God displeas'd (alas!)
In steed of holsom showrs, shall send down flashes
Of Lightning, Fire, Hail, Sulphur, Salt, and ashes:
Thou shalt reap little where thou much hast shed,
And with that little shall thy Foe be fed;
He shall the fattest of thy Heard devour
Before thy face, and yet thou must not lowr:
Thou shalt build fair, another haue thy Place:
Thou wed a wife, another 'fore thy face
Shall lose her Bride-belt: God with rage shall smite
Thy stubborn heart, with blindness and affright;
So that a wagging leaf, a puff, a crack,
Yea, the least creak shall make thee turn thy back:
Thou never shalt thine adverse Hoast survay,
But to be beaten, or to run away.
A People stout, for strength and number ample,
Which th'Eagle hath for Ensigne and Example,
With a new Wall thine ancient Wall shall dam,
And make thee (Famisht) thy voyd bowels cram
With thine owne bowels, and for want of meat
Thine owne deer Children's trembling flesh to eat.
And then, thy Remnant (far disperst from home)
O'r all the Corners of the Earth shall roam:
To shew their Curse, they shall no Countrey ow'ne,
And (which is worse) they shall not be their Owne.

AMEN, said all the Hoast. Then (like the Swan)
This dying Song, the Man of GOD began: