The Betraying of Christ Ivdas in despaire. The seuen Words of our Sauior on the Crosse. With Other Poems on the Passion [by Samuel Rowlands] |
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Mulier ecce Filius tuus.
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 | The Betraying of Christ |  |
Mulier ecce Filius tuus.
Woman
true map of greefes, obiect of vvoes,
Behold thy sonne, sinnes heauy burden beares,
Thy vveeping eies, Sorrows right methode shows,
Sonne bath'd in blood, and Mother vvashd in teares,
A dying Sonne, repleat vvith fathers hate,
A pensiue Mother most disconsolate.
Behold thy sonne, sinnes heauy burden beares,
Thy vveeping eies, Sorrows right methode shows,
Sonne bath'd in blood, and Mother vvashd in teares,
A dying Sonne, repleat vvith fathers hate,
A pensiue Mother most disconsolate.
Of all affections that the soule admits,
On vvhich loues fauours doe most firmly build,
That loue in place of supreme soundnesse sits,
Which is deriu'd from parent to the child,
Then losse of that must needs proue heartiest greefe,
That from the heart takes place and offspring cheefe.
On vvhich loues fauours doe most firmly build,
That loue in place of supreme soundnesse sits,
Which is deriu'd from parent to the child,
Then losse of that must needs proue heartiest greefe,
That from the heart takes place and offspring cheefe.
If Dauid lou'd his Absolon so vvell,
That he vvith vveeping vvishd t'haue died for him,
Who false and disobedient did rebell,
Yet did his loue no vvhit the more abhorre him,
Or reuerent Iacob, teares aboundant shed,
To heare his sonnes but faine their brother dead,
That he vvith vveeping vvishd t'haue died for him,
Who false and disobedient did rebell,
Yet did his loue no vvhit the more abhorre him,
Or reuerent Iacob, teares aboundant shed,
To heare his sonnes but faine their brother dead,
If holy Iob himselfe so patient bore,
To giue meeke eare to many a greeuous crosse,
Destruction of his cattell, flockes, and store,
Vntill he heard his deerest childrens losse,
And then his greefes extreamest did abound,
Renting his garments, falling on the ground.
To giue meeke eare to many a greeuous crosse,
Destruction of his cattell, flockes, and store,
Vntill he heard his deerest childrens losse,
And then his greefes extreamest did abound,
Renting his garments, falling on the ground.
Needs must (in mournfull sorrow's dire complaints)
The blessed Virgin farre excell all other,
What soule (vvith dolours euer so acquaints)
As this most carefull comfort wanting Mother,
To see her God, life, father, loue and sonne,
By bitt'rest torments vnto death be donne.
The blessed Virgin farre excell all other,
What soule (vvith dolours euer so acquaints)
As this most carefull comfort wanting Mother,
To see her God, life, father, loue and sonne,
By bitt'rest torments vnto death be donne.
No earthly loue on such perfection grounded,
But that the same may be defectiue proued,
Loue of the sonne to mother vvas vnbounded,
Sonne of the mother, vvas the like beloued.
All power of Angels, powrelesse only proues,
To vveigh or measure those vnmeasur'd loues.
But that the same may be defectiue proued,
Loue of the sonne to mother vvas vnbounded,
Sonne of the mother, vvas the like beloued.
All power of Angels, powrelesse only proues,
To vveigh or measure those vnmeasur'd loues.
Of loue, vvith vvoes by crosse she vveping stood,
There sending sighs to heav'n, and teares to ground,
Of loue, vvith paines on crosse he streamed blood,
There death he conquer'd, hell he did confound.
Such vvas his loue that lou'd vvhen vve vvere hatefull,
To die for loue, vvhen sinne vvas most vngratefull.
There sending sighs to heav'n, and teares to ground,
Of loue, vvith paines on crosse he streamed blood,
There death he conquer'd, hell he did confound.
Such vvas his loue that lou'd vvhen vve vvere hatefull,
To die for loue, vvhen sinne vvas most vngratefull.
FINIS.
| The Betraying of Christ | |