University of Virginia Library

THE EXORD, OR PREFACE OF THE SECOND VVEEK OF DV BARTAS.

Thou mightie God that of the worlde
The birth did make me see,
Vnfold her cradle also now,
Her childhead show to me:
And make my Spreit to walke athort
The turning flourisht wayes
Of sauorie Gardens, whereinto
Still crookt but any staies
Of Riuers foure the courses quick:
Declare me what offence,
From Edens both chas'd ADAMS selfe
And seed for his pretence:
And tell who of immortall did
Himself a mortall macke
To bring from heauen the Antidote
To vs which we did lacke:
Giue thou me grace the storie of
The Church to sing aright,
And als the storie of the Kings,
And graunt that by thy might
I guide the world vnto her graue,
My purpose making lest,
Euen from the first of Sabboths all,
Vnto the hindmost rest.
Well know I that this surgie sea,
Is lacking march or ground,
But ô thou holie Pilote great,
Will guide me safe and sound
Vnto the port of my desire,
Where drouked then I shall
Extoll thy mercies manifolde,
And pay my vowes withall.
O SACRED Floure-delis whose youth
Doth promise to vs all,
That euen thy famous Lawrels greene
Match Alexanders shall,
Since that (for to obey thy will,)
I flie vnto the skies,
Conuoy my course with louing eie,
And help the faultes that rise
From my too blunted frutelesse pen,
In Pampeloun so some day,
Mot thou win home thy crowne againe,
The which was reft away:
So of thy neighbours euermore
Mot thou the honour be,
The loue of all thy subiects true,
And foes to feare for thee:
So neuer mot the heauen against
Thee shew his wrathfull face,
But the Eternall be thy arme,
His Spirit thy guiding trace:
So with thy shearing sword in hand
And fighting at thy side,
Mot I ore cled with blood and stoure
So boldlie by the bide.
As for to cleaue the Spanish Host,
Or force some sieged Towne,
And combat done for Virgill serue
To publish thy renowne.
GOD did not onelie (soueraigne Prince)
The whole command bestow,
On our forefather ADAM of
This earth, and all below:
In making subject to his yoak
The skealie swimming race,
Who with their little finnes do cleaue,
The frothie Seas apace:
And those that haue no other hold,
But horrour of deserts:
And those that bricoll through the waist
Of aire that fedders parts:
But chus'd him als a dwelling place,
Which happie was, and more
With climat temperate and faire,
The which the deintie flore
With variant ameling paimented
Of springing floures most sweet,
Adornd with Pomons fruicts, and als
With Zephyrs smells repleet:
Where God himself did leuell just,
The allees with his lyne,
Ore-couered all the hilles with trees,
With Haru'st the vallies syne.
And with the sound of thousand brookes
Adiorned the sweetest sleepe
Made cabinets faire at proofe of Sunne
Which out his beames did keep:
He squared a yard, and als he did,
Plant, clenge, and labour syne
The euerliuing fairnesse of
A fertill Orchard fine:
The Sacred Riuers courses als
He parted here and there.
And with a thousand collours paints
The face of Meddowes faire.