University of Virginia Library

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156

40
The beginning of Mr du Bartas Eden

Thou mightie God, that of the worlde the birth did make me see
Vnfolde her credle also now, her childehoode showe to me:
And make my spirit to walke athort the turning florish'd wayes
Of sauourie gardens, where into still crooked but anie stayes
Of riuers foure the courses quicke: declare me what offence
From Edens both, chas'd Adams selfe and seede for his pretense:
And tell who of immortall did him selfe an mortall make,
To bring from heauen the antidote to ws which we did take.
Giue thou me grace the storie of the Church to sing aright,
And als the storie of the Kings; and grante that by thy might
I guide the worlde unto her graue, my purpose making leste
Euen from the first of Sabboths all vnto the hinmest rest.
Well knowe I that this surgie sea is lacking marche or grounde
Bot ô thou holie pilote greate will guide me safe and sounde,
Vnto the hauen of my desire, where droucked then I shall;
Extoll thy mercies maniefolde and paye my uowes withall.

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157

O sacred floure du lis whose youth does promise to ws all,
That euen thy famous laurells greene matche Alexanders shall;
Since that for to obeye thy will I flie into the skies,
Conuoye my course with louing eye, and helpe the faults rise
From my to blounted fruictles pen; in Pampelone so sume daye
Maye thou winne home thy croune againe the which was reft awaye:
So of thy neighbours euermore may thou the honour be,
The loue of all thy subiects true, and foes to feare for the:
So neuer may the heauen against the showe his wrathefull face,
Bot the Eternall be thy arme, his Spirit thy guiding trace;
So with my shearing sworde in hand and fighting at thy side
May I ou'rclothed with bloode and stoure so boldlie by the bide,
As for to cleaue the Spaignoll hoaste, or force sume seaged toune
The combatt done for Virgill serue to publish thy renoune.

God did not onlie (Soueraigne Prince) the whole command bestowe
On our forefather Adam of this earthe and all belowe
In making subiect to his yoake the scalie swimming race,
Who with there litle finns doe cleaue the froathie seas apace;
And these that haue no other holde bot horrour of deserts
And these that bricole through the vaste of aire that feathers partis:
Bot choosed him als an dwelling place which happie was and more,
With climat temperate and faire, the which the dentie Flore

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158

With variant ameling paimented
Did payment with the aimeling. faire. of springing floures most sweete,
Adorned with Pomones fruicts, and als with Zephyrs smells repleete:
Where God him selfe did lauell iust the alles with his line,
Ou'rcouer all the hills with trees, with haruest the vallies sine;
And with the sounde of thousand brookes adiourned the sweetest sleepe;
Made cabinets faire at proofe of Sunne which out his beames did keepe,
He squar'd a garden, and als he did plante, cleange, and labour sine
The euerliuing fairenesse of an fertle orchard fine:
The sacred riuers courses als he parted here and there,
And with a thousand coulours peints the face of meddowes faire.