The Historie of Ivdith in Forme of a Poeme Penned in French, by the Noble Poet, G. Salust. Lord of Bartas. Englished by Tho. Hudson |
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| 5. | THE FIFTH BOOKE OF Ivdith. |
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 | The Historie of Ivdith in Forme of a Poeme |  |
THE FIFTH BOOKE OF Ivdith.
THE SOMMARIE OF THE V. BOOK.
Holophernes being surprised with the sweete language, and excellent beutie of the chaste Iudith becommeth altogether negligent of his charge & gouernement. Wherein is represented the vnhabilitie of the reprobate, who can not withstand such temptations as the lord sendeth vpon them. But as they become slaues to their owne affections, so by the same they are enforced to fall into perdition. In place of some faithfull seruant to warne him of his vyces, Holophernes conferreth with Bagos an Eunuch, who feedeth him in his humour, and bringeth Iudith to his Tent. And here the Poet reproues all flatterers & bawdes with the vyces of all Courts in Generall. Iudith seing her chastisse in perill, and the time vnmeete to execute her enterprise: Subtly drawes the Tyrant to talke of other affaires. He thinking to insinuate himself the more into her fauour, taketh pleasure to crack of his conquests and of his speciall worthinesse: discoursing so long till suppertyme aproached and she auoided the inconuenience: And here is to be noted that whilest the tyrants boste of their crueltie against the Church, God prouideth for his owne and preserueth them for that worke, that he hath orderned by them to be done.
In stead of mary-in bone, and blood in vaines,
Great Holopherne doth feed his cruell paines:
He bootlesse flees, and feeles, but he ne knowes
the quenched fire that of his ashes growes.
For so the charming Image of this Dame,
the onely mark wherat his soule did ame,
Transported him in passions of dispare,
that of his mightie camp he quits the care,
And goes no more his matters to dispatch,
Nor vewes his corpsgard, nor relieues his watch,
Nor counsell calls, nor sent to spye the coste,
Nor vewes the quarters of his spacious hoste.
But as the sheep that haue no hirde nor guide,
But wandring strayes along the riuers side:
Throu burbling brookes, or throu the forests grene
Throw medows, closures, or throu shadows shene:
Right so the Heathen hoste, without all bridle,
Runns insolent, to vicious actions ydle,
where none obeyes ech one commanding speaks,
Eche one at pleasure from his bāner breaks:
What do you Hebrews now within your wall?
Now time to fight, or neuer time at all,
To pay these Pagans, whose confused corse,
Combats against themselfs with deadly forse.
Nay, stay a while, of such a great victorie,
Your onely God will haue the onely glorie.
Great Holopherne doth feed his cruell paines:
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the quenched fire that of his ashes growes.
For so the charming Image of this Dame,
the onely mark wherat his soule did ame,
Transported him in passions of dispare,
that of his mightie camp he quits the care,
And goes no more his matters to dispatch,
Nor vewes his corpsgard, nor relieues his watch,
Nor counsell calls, nor sent to spye the coste,
Nor vewes the quarters of his spacious hoste.
But as the sheep that haue no hirde nor guide,
But wandring strayes along the riuers side:
Throu burbling brookes, or throu the forests grene
Throw medows, closures, or throu shadows shene:
Right so the Heathen hoste, without all bridle,
Runns insolent, to vicious actions ydle,
where none obeyes ech one commanding speaks,
Eche one at pleasure from his bāner breaks:
What do you Hebrews now within your wall?
Now time to fight, or neuer time at all,
To pay these Pagans, whose confused corse,
Combats against themselfs with deadly forse.
Nay, stay a while, of such a great victorie,
Your onely God will haue the onely glorie.
Before this tyrant was with loue yblent
To winne the towne, he plyde his whole entent:
But now both night & day his mynd doth frame
to conquer, this most chast vnconquest Dame.
So lust him led: th' vndaunted Theban knight,
with weightie mace had neuer him affright:
But now a womans looke his hart enfeares,
And in his brest the curelesse wound he beares.
Ambition erst, so had him ouercumme,
that made him dayly ryse by sound of drumme.
Now Cupid him awaks with whote allarmes,
That him witholds to do the Hebrewes harmes.
Before he rulde aboue both prince and king,
now can he not himself in order bring.
To winne the towne, he plyde his whole entent:
But now both night & day his mynd doth frame
to conquer, this most chast vnconquest Dame.
So lust him led: th' vndaunted Theban knight,
with weightie mace had neuer him affright:
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And in his brest the curelesse wound he beares.
Ambition erst, so had him ouercumme,
that made him dayly ryse by sound of drumme.
Now Cupid him awaks with whote allarmes,
That him witholds to do the Hebrewes harmes.
Before he rulde aboue both prince and king,
now can he not himself in order bring.
Alas (quod he) what life is this I haue
Becomming captiue to my captiue slaue?
(vnhappie chance) what life is this I say?
My vertue gone, my forces falls away.
Nay sure no life, it is more paine I feele,
Then Ixion torne vpon th' Eternall wheele:
My life is like the theefes that stoale the fire
On whose mortall hart doth alwayes tire.
A rauenous fowle that gnaues him to the bone,
Reuiuing still bound to the Scythian stone,
what serues it me t'haue won wher I haue haūted?
what serues my victor arme for to haue daunted?
The people situate tweene Hydaspe large,
And port wher Cydnus doth in sea discharge?
Since I am vanquisht by the feeble sight,
Of captiue Iudith what auaills my might?
My targe of steele, my Burguinet of Brasse,
My guard of warriours stout where so I passe,
Since her sweete eye hath sent the pointed dart
Throgh men & weapōs pearcing throu my hart.
What serues my coursers, who with swiftnes light
Exceeds the swallow swiftest bird of flight:
since I on him cannot auoide one ynch,
the care that night and day my hart doth pinch.
Then chāge (ô Hebrews) chāge your tears in song,
And triumphe ore-my hoste and army strong.
I am no more that Duke whose name allone,
hath made great wariours quake both lim & bone
But I am he, whose hart was sometime braue:
Now lesse then nought, the slaue but of a slaue.
I come not here your Izak to annoy,
with fire and sword, your houses to distroy:
But to require your Iudith her to render
More milde to me. What is my wit so slender
(berapt with loue) haue I not here my ioye.
that onely may relieue me from annoye?
yet neuerthelesse I clieue the aire in vaine,
with plaints and makes myne eyes but fountaines twaine
Becomming captiue to my captiue slaue?
(vnhappie chance) what life is this I say?
My vertue gone, my forces falls away.
Nay sure no life, it is more paine I feele,
Then Ixion torne vpon th' Eternall wheele:
My life is like the theefes that stoale the fire
On whose mortall hart doth alwayes tire.
A rauenous fowle that gnaues him to the bone,
Reuiuing still bound to the Scythian stone,
what serues it me t'haue won wher I haue haūted?
what serues my victor arme for to haue daunted?
The people situate tweene Hydaspe large,
And port wher Cydnus doth in sea discharge?
Since I am vanquisht by the feeble sight,
Of captiue Iudith what auaills my might?
My targe of steele, my Burguinet of Brasse,
My guard of warriours stout where so I passe,
Since her sweete eye hath sent the pointed dart
Throgh men & weapōs pearcing throu my hart.
What serues my coursers, who with swiftnes light
Exceeds the swallow swiftest bird of flight:
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the care that night and day my hart doth pinch.
Then chāge (ô Hebrews) chāge your tears in song,
And triumphe ore-my hoste and army strong.
I am no more that Duke whose name allone,
hath made great wariours quake both lim & bone
But I am he, whose hart was sometime braue:
Now lesse then nought, the slaue but of a slaue.
I come not here your Izak to annoy,
with fire and sword, your houses to distroy:
But to require your Iudith her to render
More milde to me. What is my wit so slender
(berapt with loue) haue I not here my ioye.
that onely may relieue me from annoye?
yet neuerthelesse I clieue the aire in vaine,
with plaints and makes myne eyes but fountaines twaine
I wretch am like the wretched man indeed:
the more he hath the greater is his need.
Although he deeply plonge in water cleare,
To quenche his thirst: yet is he not the neare,
for so do I respect the heavnly grace,
that largely is bestowde vpon hir face,
that with mine eyes I dare not her behold,
My toung doth stay & in the pallet folde.
the more he hath the greater is his need.
Although he deeply plonge in water cleare,
To quenche his thirst: yet is he not the neare,
for so do I respect the heavnly grace,
that largely is bestowde vpon hir face,
that with mine eyes I dare not her behold,
My toung doth stay & in the pallet folde.
Why haue not I a hart of Chrystall cleare,
Transparant through to let my paine appeare?
that there she might of all my torments reed,
Which loue withholds within my hart in dreed?
Transparant through to let my paine appeare?
that there she might of all my torments reed,
Which loue withholds within my hart in dreed?
Now since, that Iudith to this camp aryvde,
the light of heavn had thrise his course revyvde,
And darkned thrise, and gan with saffron hewe
to light the Ynds, the fourth day to renewe:
when thus the Duke who left repast and rest
Vnto his Eunuch this like porpos drest.
the light of heavn had thrise his course revyvde,
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to light the Ynds, the fourth day to renewe:
when thus the Duke who left repast and rest
Vnto his Eunuch this like porpos drest.
O Bagos sonne adoptife not by chaunce,
whome I haue chose of nought thee to aduance
By speciall grace, and made thee (though I boste)
first of my hart, and second of myne Hoste:
I rage, I burne, I dye in desprate thought,
Throgh loue by this same strāgers beutie broght.
Go seeke her then, and shortly to her saye,
what secrete flame torments me day by day:
shew that I shall her to such honours bring,
As he that beares the Scepter of a King:
But chiefly see thy talke be framed thus,
that she do come this night and suppe with vs.
Now should it not to me be folly and shame,
to haue within my holde the fairest dame,
That ground doth beare, if I dare not aspire,
to quench the burning flame of my desire?
I should but serue my soldiers for a Ieast,
And Iudith faire wold count me but a beast.
whome I haue chose of nought thee to aduance
By speciall grace, and made thee (though I boste)
first of my hart, and second of myne Hoste:
I rage, I burne, I dye in desprate thought,
Throgh loue by this same strāgers beutie broght.
Go seeke her then, and shortly to her saye,
what secrete flame torments me day by day:
shew that I shall her to such honours bring,
As he that beares the Scepter of a King:
But chiefly see thy talke be framed thus,
that she do come this night and suppe with vs.
Now should it not to me be folly and shame,
to haue within my holde the fairest dame,
That ground doth beare, if I dare not aspire,
to quench the burning flame of my desire?
I should but serue my soldiers for a Ieast,
And Iudith faire wold count me but a beast.
Then Bagos well acquaint with such a cast
He fed the lamp that brunt but ouerfast.
If priuate men (quoth he) and people poore,
that goes not ouer the threshold of their doore,
But spends their dayes in trauell and debate,
And neuer seeks to win a better state:
Liues not content, if that the Cyprian Dame
Do not sometime their frozen harts enflame?
what slaues are those then on whose baks ar drest
The burdens of this world? who takes no rest,
for Publike weale: but wakes with Argus eyes
For others ease that to no care applyes:
If they among so many great vexations,
May not receiue in loue some recreations?
Pursue your loue my Lord, and make no let,
to take the fish that els is in your net.
And as ere this you haue me faithfull found,
In like Ambassades when ye them propound
So shall you find me in this loue of new,
To be as faithfull secret trest and trew.
He fed the lamp that brunt but ouerfast.
If priuate men (quoth he) and people poore,
that goes not ouer the threshold of their doore,
But spends their dayes in trauell and debate,
And neuer seeks to win a better state:
Liues not content, if that the Cyprian Dame
Do not sometime their frozen harts enflame?
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The burdens of this world? who takes no rest,
for Publike weale: but wakes with Argus eyes
For others ease that to no care applyes:
If they among so many great vexations,
May not receiue in loue some recreations?
Pursue your loue my Lord, and make no let,
to take the fish that els is in your net.
And as ere this you haue me faithfull found,
In like Ambassades when ye them propound
So shall you find me in this loue of new,
To be as faithfull secret trest and trew.
Alas how many such are in our tymes
In princes Courts that high to honour clymes,
More for their handling such an enterprise,
Then for their being valiant learnde or wise?
Sōtimes the Courts of kings were verteous skooles
now find we nought in Court but curious fooles.
O you whose noble harts cannot accord,
to be the sclaues to an infamous lord:
And knowes not how to mixe with perlous art,
the deadly poyson with the Amorus dart:
whose natures being free wills no constraint,
Nor will your face with flattring pensile paint,
for well nor wo, for pittie, nor for hyre,
Of good my Lords their fauours to acquyre:
Go not to court if yee will me beleue:
For in that place where ye think to retreue,
the honour due for vertue, ye shall find
nought but cōtēpt, which leaues good mē behind.
In princes Courts that high to honour clymes,
More for their handling such an enterprise,
Then for their being valiant learnde or wise?
Sōtimes the Courts of kings were verteous skooles
now find we nought in Court but curious fooles.
O you whose noble harts cannot accord,
to be the sclaues to an infamous lord:
And knowes not how to mixe with perlous art,
the deadly poyson with the Amorus dart:
whose natures being free wills no constraint,
Nor will your face with flattring pensile paint,
for well nor wo, for pittie, nor for hyre,
Of good my Lords their fauours to acquyre:
Go not to court if yee will me beleue:
For in that place where ye think to retreue,
the honour due for vertue, ye shall find
nought but cōtēpt, which leaues good mē behind.
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Ye worthy Dames, that in your brests do beare
Of your Al-seing God no seruile feare:
ye that of honour haue a greater care,
then sights of Courts I pray you come not thare.
Let men that in their purse hath not a myte,
Cloth them like kings, and play the hypocryte,
And with a lying tale and feined cheare,
Courtcozen them whom they wold see on beare:
Let their, the Pandar sell his wife for gaine,
with seruice vyle, his noblesse to attaine.
Let him that serues the time, chaunge his entent,
VVith saith vnconstant saile at euerie vent.
Of your Al-seing God no seruile feare:
ye that of honour haue a greater care,
then sights of Courts I pray you come not thare.
Let men that in their purse hath not a myte,
Cloth them like kings, and play the hypocryte,
And with a lying tale and feined cheare,
Courtcozen them whom they wold see on beare:
Let their, the Pandar sell his wife for gaine,
with seruice vyle, his noblesse to attaine.
Let him that serues the time, chaunge his entent,
VVith saith vnconstant saile at euerie vent.
Ye sonnes of craft, beare ye as many faces,
As Proteus taks among the Marine places,
And force your naturs all the best ye can
to counterfait the grace of some great man:
Camelion like, who taks to him ech hewe
Of black or white, or yellowe greene or blew,
that comes him next. So you that finds the facion
to hurt the poore, with many-a great taxacion:
you that do prease to haue the princes eare,
to make your names in Prouinces appeare,
ye subtill Thurims, sell your fumish wind,
to wicked wights whose sences ye do blind.
As Proteus taks among the Marine places,
And force your naturs all the best ye can
to counterfait the grace of some great man:
Camelion like, who taks to him ech hewe
Of black or white, or yellowe greene or blew,
that comes him next. So you that finds the facion
to hurt the poore, with many-a great taxacion:
you that do prease to haue the princes eare,
to make your names in Prouinces appeare,
ye subtill Thurims, sell your fumish wind,
to wicked wights whose sences ye do blind.
Ye fearefull Rocks, ye ymps of Achelois,
who wracks the wisest youth with charming vois:
ye Circes, who by your enchantment straunge,
In stones and swine, your louers true do chaunge:
ye Stimphalids, who with your youth vptaks,
ye rauens that from vs our riches raks:
Ye who with riches art, and painted face,
For Priams wife, puts Castors sister-in place:
ye Myrrhas, Canaces, and Semirames,
And if there rest yet mo defamed dames,
Come all to Court, and there ye shall resaue
A thousand gaines vnmeete for you to haue.
There shall you sell the gifts of great prouinces,
there shall you sell the grace of graceles princes.
who wracks the wisest youth with charming vois:
ye Circes, who by your enchantment straunge,
In stones and swine, your louers true do chaunge:
ye Stimphalids, who with your youth vptaks,
ye rauens that from vs our riches raks:
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For Priams wife, puts Castors sister-in place:
ye Myrrhas, Canaces, and Semirames,
And if there rest yet mo defamed dames,
Come all to Court, and there ye shall resaue
A thousand gaines vnmeete for you to haue.
There shall you sell the gifts of great prouinces,
there shall you sell the grace of graceles princes.
Stay heare my muse, it thee behoues to haue
Great constancie and many-a Hercles braue
to purge this age, of vyces more notable,
then was the stals of foule Ægeans stable.
Great constancie and many-a Hercles braue
to purge this age, of vyces more notable,
then was the stals of foule Ægeans stable.
Returne to Iudith, who to bring to passe,
Her high atempt, before her sets her glasse
And ginnes to deck her hair like burnisht gold,
whose beutie had no pere for to behold.
Then went she to his tent where she espide,
the gorgious tappestries on euerie side,
Of Persian Kings, of Meds, and Syrian stories,
How Ninus first (prict forth with great vainglories)
Subdewde the East Then next in order came
(disguisde in kinde) his wife Quene Semirame:
who tooke the Scepter and with tourrets hye
great Babylon erected to the skye.
Lo, how a Prince with fingers white and fine
In womans weede the tender twist doth twine,
who bare a Rock in sted of Royall mace,
And for a man with woman changeth grace
In gesturs all, hee frisles and he fards,
He oynts, he bathes, his visage he regards
In Christall glasse, which for his sword he wore,
And lost his crowne without all combat more.
Amongst his vertugals for ayde he drew
from his Leutenant who did him pursew,
And wan his Scepter. Yet with feeble yre,
He brunt himself, and ended his empyre.
Behold a Bitch then feeds a sucking childe,
Amongst the pricking thornes and brambles wild
who grew so great & was of such a fame,
that bond, and free, his waged men became,
And afterward subuerted to his lawe,
the Median scepter vnder Persians awe.
But what is he that so deformed goze
Before the camp and want his eares and noze?
that was that seruant true, who by that slight,
Brought Babylon againe in Darius might.
Her high atempt, before her sets her glasse
And ginnes to deck her hair like burnisht gold,
whose beutie had no pere for to behold.
Then went she to his tent where she espide,
the gorgious tappestries on euerie side,
Of Persian Kings, of Meds, and Syrian stories,
How Ninus first (prict forth with great vainglories)
Subdewde the East Then next in order came
(disguisde in kinde) his wife Quene Semirame:
who tooke the Scepter and with tourrets hye
great Babylon erected to the skye.
Lo, how a Prince with fingers white and fine
In womans weede the tender twist doth twine,
who bare a Rock in sted of Royall mace,
And for a man with woman changeth grace
In gesturs all, hee frisles and he fards,
He oynts, he bathes, his visage he regards
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And lost his crowne without all combat more.
Amongst his vertugals for ayde he drew
from his Leutenant who did him pursew,
And wan his Scepter. Yet with feeble yre,
He brunt himself, and ended his empyre.
Behold a Bitch then feeds a sucking childe,
Amongst the pricking thornes and brambles wild
who grew so great & was of such a fame,
that bond, and free, his waged men became,
And afterward subuerted to his lawe,
the Median scepter vnder Persians awe.
But what is he that so deformed goze
Before the camp and want his eares and noze?
that was that seruant true, who by that slight,
Brought Babylon againe in Darius might.
While Iudith fed her eyes with figurs vaine,
Her hart replete with passions and with paine:
the Genrall came, and with a visage gent,
Saluted her, and by the hand her hent,
And caused her sit downe vpon a chare,
the more at ease to vew her beuties rare.
Then when he saw himself so neare his pleasure,
He brunt in hart & scarse could byde the leasure,
Till Venus with her garland shewde in sight
On his Horizon to renue the night.
Her hart replete with passions and with paine:
the Genrall came, and with a visage gent,
Saluted her, and by the hand her hent,
And caused her sit downe vpon a chare,
the more at ease to vew her beuties rare.
Then when he saw himself so neare his pleasure,
He brunt in hart & scarse could byde the leasure,
Till Venus with her garland shewde in sight
On his Horizon to renue the night.
This widow finding then the tyme vnmete,
Gods iust determination to complete
Made much delay, and fand full many-a skuse,
with sundrie talke this tyrant to abuse:
And sayd my Lord, I pray you shewe to me,
what furie iust hath movde your maiestie,
what haue our people done (please it your grace)
By whome or when that Izaks holy race,
Might so prouoke a Prince to wrackfull warre
In toungs, and lawes, so seprate from vs farre?
Gods iust determination to complete
Made much delay, and fand full many-a skuse,
with sundrie talke this tyrant to abuse:
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what furie iust hath movde your maiestie,
what haue our people done (please it your grace)
By whome or when that Izaks holy race,
Might so prouoke a Prince to wrackfull warre
In toungs, and lawes, so seprate from vs farre?
Then sayd the Duke, vncourteous should I be
If I denye (ô faire) to answer thee.
Now as the heavne two Sunnes cannot containe,
So in this earth two kings cannot remaine
Of equall state. So doth ambition craue,
One king will not another equall haue.
My Prince is witnesse who at warrs did fall,
with king Arphaxat cause he raisde his wall
Of Ecbatane so high that it did shame
to Niniué, and Babell feard the same:
For which, he vndertooke to spoyle his throne,
And race his Scepter to the lowest stone:
with spite, his buildings braue, he cast adowne.
Arphaxat then, a man of great renowne,
And worthie of his Scepter and his state,
thought better in the field to make debate,
Then beare a scorne, his Meds to battell drew.
Thus tweene them two did cruell warre ensewe.
Arphaxat armed all the yles of Greece,
where Iason was, but sought no golden fleece,
But golden lingots with aboundant gaine,
wher Phasis streame bedewes the pleasant plaine.
The Harmastans, and Albans, strong, and wise,
that sowes but once, and haue their haruest thrise.
The men that neare to Oxus banks abydes,
And those that Antitaurus horns deuydes.
And those that mans the mount vpon whose brest
the shipt that scapt the genrall flood did rest:
And those that are (not hyd) within the Reame,
wher proude Iaxartes flowes with furious streame.
In short: the Meds brought men to ayde their plea
From Pontus farre beyond the Caspian sea:
And of this Hoste Arphaxat was commander
with hope and hart more high then Alexander.
If I denye (ô faire) to answer thee.
Now as the heavne two Sunnes cannot containe,
So in this earth two kings cannot remaine
Of equall state. So doth ambition craue,
One king will not another equall haue.
My Prince is witnesse who at warrs did fall,
with king Arphaxat cause he raisde his wall
Of Ecbatane so high that it did shame
to Niniué, and Babell feard the same:
For which, he vndertooke to spoyle his throne,
And race his Scepter to the lowest stone:
with spite, his buildings braue, he cast adowne.
Arphaxat then, a man of great renowne,
And worthie of his Scepter and his state,
thought better in the field to make debate,
Then beare a scorne, his Meds to battell drew.
Thus tweene them two did cruell warre ensewe.
Arphaxat armed all the yles of Greece,
where Iason was, but sought no golden fleece,
But golden lingots with aboundant gaine,
wher Phasis streame bedewes the pleasant plaine.
The Harmastans, and Albans, strong, and wise,
that sowes but once, and haue their haruest thrise.
76
And those that Antitaurus horns deuydes.
And those that mans the mount vpon whose brest
the shipt that scapt the genrall flood did rest:
And those that are (not hyd) within the Reame,
wher proude Iaxartes flowes with furious streame.
In short: the Meds brought men to ayde their plea
From Pontus farre beyond the Caspian sea:
And of this Hoste Arphaxat was commander
with hope and hart more high then Alexander.
My prince desirous then to winne or dye,
Left nought vndone that furthred to supplye:
His troubled state. He armed Syttacene,
And waged Archers out of Osrohene:
ye lords of lands that yelds the hundreth corne,
Leaue Euphrates & bounds where ye were borne:
ye Carmans bolde that all on fish do feede,
And of their pelts do make your warlike weede:
Leaue Hytan bounds, go seeke the golden sands,
ye Parths, ye Cosses, Arabs, and ye lands,
That of your Magi Prophets thinks ye know,
their spells deuine, your self for pikmen show,
Left nought vndone that furthred to supplye:
His troubled state. He armed Syttacene,
And waged Archers out of Osrohene:
ye lords of lands that yelds the hundreth corne,
Leaue Euphrates & bounds where ye were borne:
ye Carmans bolde that all on fish do feede,
And of their pelts do make your warlike weede:
Leaue Hytan bounds, go seeke the golden sands,
ye Parths, ye Cosses, Arabs, and ye lands,
That of your Magi Prophets thinks ye know,
their spells deuine, your self for pikmen show,
O Calde, chaunge thine Astrolab and square
To speare and shield: for, we no wight will spare
Of able age, of high or lowe degrie,
that trails the pik or launce layes on his thie.
Let women, Children, and the burghers olde
At home alone, let them their houses holde.
To speare and shield: for, we no wight will spare
Of able age, of high or lowe degrie,
that trails the pik or launce layes on his thie.
Let women, Children, and the burghers olde
At home alone, let them their houses holde.
VVe somond eke the Persians and Phœnicians,
the soft Ægyptians, Hebrewes, and Cilicians:
to come in hast. & ioyne their force to ours:
But they disdainfully deteind their powrs:
And with their wicked hands and words vnsage,
They did our sacred messengers outrage.
the soft Ægyptians, Hebrewes, and Cilicians:
77
But they disdainfully deteind their powrs:
And with their wicked hands and words vnsage,
They did our sacred messengers outrage.
My maister for a time, put vp this wrong,
Attending tyme, to quite these enmies strong,
with purpose more at leasure to prouyde,
t'abate this sacrilegious peoples pride.
Attending tyme, to quite these enmies strong,
with purpose more at leasure to prouyde,
t'abate this sacrilegious peoples pride.
Two greater kings were neuer seene beforne,
Then camped was in Ragau field at morne,
with hautie harts enarmed all in yre:
Ech soldier set an other so on fire,
that scarsly they could keep them in their bound
till pype or Cymball or the trumpets sound,
Denounce the choke: but with ther furious faces,
they thret their foes afarre with fell menaces,
And strokes at hand, two thousand Lads forlorne,
(to blunt the sword) were downe in battell borne.
Vpon their flanks flew feruently the stones,
that bet their bucklers to their brused bones,
The squadrons then, steps sternly to the strokes,
with harts in humain all the battell yokes,
And are supplyde with many mightie bands,
Some counters them, and sternly them withstands,
with foote to foote ech other ouer plyes,
Both Meds and Caldes clasp with gastly cryes,
Like Nilus streame that frō the rocks doth rōble,
Or Encelade when he in tombe doth tomble.
Then camped was in Ragau field at morne,
with hautie harts enarmed all in yre:
Ech soldier set an other so on fire,
that scarsly they could keep them in their bound
till pype or Cymball or the trumpets sound,
Denounce the choke: but with ther furious faces,
they thret their foes afarre with fell menaces,
And strokes at hand, two thousand Lads forlorne,
(to blunt the sword) were downe in battell borne.
Vpon their flanks flew feruently the stones,
that bet their bucklers to their brused bones,
The squadrons then, steps sternly to the strokes,
with harts in humain all the battell yokes,
And are supplyde with many mightie bands,
Some counters them, and sternly them withstands,
with foote to foote ech other ouer plyes,
Both Meds and Caldes clasp with gastly cryes,
Like Nilus streame that frō the rocks doth rōble,
Or Encelade when he in tombe doth tomble.
Here some lyes headles: some that cannot stand,
trails on his wombe & wants both foote & hand,
cut off with stroks, some perst throu plate & mails,
Some shoulder slasht, some panched in th' entrails.
Some brains outbet, some in the guts were gorde,
Some dying vomit blood, & some were smorde.
Some neither quicke nor dead do yet attend,
what place it pleaseth god their soules to send:
So loth the litle life that doth abyde,
Is from the dying body to deuyde.
The ground that erst was yellow, grene, & blew
Is ouercled with blood in purpure hew.
While this man giues some one his deadly baine,
He of another gets the like againe.
The rage encreasing growes with yrefull flame,
the field is spred with bodies dead and lame.
trails on his wombe & wants both foote & hand,
78
Some shoulder slasht, some panched in th' entrails.
Some brains outbet, some in the guts were gorde,
Some dying vomit blood, & some were smorde.
Some neither quicke nor dead do yet attend,
what place it pleaseth god their soules to send:
So loth the litle life that doth abyde,
Is from the dying body to deuyde.
The ground that erst was yellow, grene, & blew
Is ouercled with blood in purpure hew.
While this man giues some one his deadly baine,
He of another gets the like againe.
The rage encreasing growes with yrefull flame,
the field is spred with bodies dead and lame.
Like as ye see the wallowing sea to striue,
Flood after floode, and waue with waue to driue,
Then waues with waues the floods with floods do chace
And eft returns vnto their former place:
Or like the crops of corne in mids of May,
(blowne with the westren wind) aside doth sway:
Both to and fro, as force doth them constraine,
And yet their tops redresseth vp againe:
So whiles the Syrians, are by Meds displaced,
And whiles the Meds, by Syrians are rechaced.
Flood after floode, and waue with waue to driue,
Then waues with waues the floods with floods do chace
And eft returns vnto their former place:
Or like the crops of corne in mids of May,
(blowne with the westren wind) aside doth sway:
Both to and fro, as force doth them constraine,
And yet their tops redresseth vp againe:
So whiles the Syrians, are by Meds displaced,
And whiles the Meds, by Syrians are rechaced.
Then like two raging floods that down doe fall
From two contrarie mutine mountaines tall:
Downe bearing bridge & bank, and all destroyes,
And striues which one may do the most annoyes:
So these two kings in force and courage stout,
Exceld the rest with slaughter them about,
VVherso they preast, they left on either side,
Behind them two long opned wayes and wide:
for all their bucklers Morions and Quiraces,
were of no proofe against their peisant maces.
Yet (for the time) the Meds so fearcely fought,
that they th' Assyrian bands in terrour brought,
And pauld their soldiers harts & brak their might:
Who (ouercome) tooke them to shamefull flight.
The Meds pursewde and wounded in that chace,
ten thousand men, but none vpon the face.
From two contrarie mutine mountaines tall:
Downe bearing bridge & bank, and all destroyes,
And striues which one may do the most annoyes:
So these two kings in force and courage stout,
Exceld the rest with slaughter them about,
79
Behind them two long opned wayes and wide:
for all their bucklers Morions and Quiraces,
were of no proofe against their peisant maces.
Yet (for the time) the Meds so fearcely fought,
that they th' Assyrian bands in terrour brought,
And pauld their soldiers harts & brak their might:
Who (ouercome) tooke them to shamefull flight.
The Meds pursewde and wounded in that chace,
ten thousand men, but none vpon the face.
In short, this day our Scepter had depriued,
Had I not like the thunder dint arriued
In battels brunt. Their male & their vantbras,
Their helme and shield, before my Coutelas,
Were fraile as glas: and neuer a stroke I lent,
But deadly was, and them more terrour sent,
then all our camp. The soldier then in feare
with trēbling hand could scarsly weild his speare.
the palhewd knight with hart in brest that quakes
His thyes in sadle, and feete in stirrops shakes
for dread of me. There some with trenchant glaiue
From hight of head, to midle downe I claiue.
And some so farre I foyned through the Iack:
the blade aperde a foote behind his back:
So that the Meds afrayd at such a thing,
In heat of fight they fled & left their king,
who seing himself betrayd: his clothes he rent,
And bloodie towards Ragau towne he went,
where we him met, yet (Braue) did him defend,
And sought amongst his foes a famous end.
As doth the Tyger wilde who sees her den
Beset about with hunters dogs and men,
that turns her feare to furious raging rife
& will not vnreuenged lose her life:
So he them thunderbet wherso he went,
that neuer-a stroke in vaine his righthand spent:
But er with murdring blade they could him quell,
Full many-a bold precursor-he sent to hell.
Had I not like the thunder dint arriued
In battels brunt. Their male & their vantbras,
Their helme and shield, before my Coutelas,
Were fraile as glas: and neuer a stroke I lent,
But deadly was, and them more terrour sent,
then all our camp. The soldier then in feare
with trēbling hand could scarsly weild his speare.
the palhewd knight with hart in brest that quakes
His thyes in sadle, and feete in stirrops shakes
for dread of me. There some with trenchant glaiue
From hight of head, to midle downe I claiue.
And some so farre I foyned through the Iack:
the blade aperde a foote behind his back:
So that the Meds afrayd at such a thing,
In heat of fight they fled & left their king,
who seing himself betrayd: his clothes he rent,
And bloodie towards Ragau towne he went,
where we him met, yet (Braue) did him defend,
And sought amongst his foes a famous end.
80
Beset about with hunters dogs and men,
that turns her feare to furious raging rife
& will not vnreuenged lose her life:
So he them thunderbet wherso he went,
that neuer-a stroke in vaine his righthand spent:
But er with murdring blade they could him quell,
Full many-a bold precursor-he sent to hell.
At last Arphaxat gan of slaughter tyre
And (wounded sore) left both his life and yre:
And fell, as doth some huge high planted oak,
that long hath byde the winds, & many-a stroak
Of many an axe: yet stoutly doth sustaine
their trauels long and frustrats all their paine,
The roote doth sigh, the dale doth roring sound,
And to the heavne the noyse doth high rebound,
his head now here, now there, seemes to encline,
& threats them here & there with great ruine:
Yet stands vpright aboue the highest okes,
till, vanquisht with a thousand thousand strokes,
He falls at last & brings with him to ground
Both trees & cattell to the plaine profound.
So with Arphaxat fell the Meas empyre:
And (wounded sore) left both his life and yre:
And fell, as doth some huge high planted oak,
that long hath byde the winds, & many-a stroak
Of many an axe: yet stoutly doth sustaine
their trauels long and frustrats all their paine,
The roote doth sigh, the dale doth roring sound,
And to the heavne the noyse doth high rebound,
his head now here, now there, seemes to encline,
& threats them here & there with great ruine:
Yet stands vpright aboue the highest okes,
till, vanquisht with a thousand thousand strokes,
He falls at last & brings with him to ground
Both trees & cattell to the plaine profound.
So with Arphaxat fell the Meas empyre:
My king, the king of kings then in his yre
Ras'd Ecbatan, and now growes weed & herbe,
where sometime stood his palaces superbe.
So that where erst the lute and lowde Haubois,
were wont to sound with sweete concordant nois,
Now shriking owles and other monsters moe
In funerall sound fulfils the place with woe.
Ras'd Ecbatan, and now growes weed & herbe,
where sometime stood his palaces superbe.
So that where erst the lute and lowde Haubois,
were wont to sound with sweete concordant nois,
Now shriking owles and other monsters moe
In funerall sound fulfils the place with woe.
81
My potent Prince when all this warre was ceast
Consumed moneths foure in Royall feast,
In Niniué the great, which banket done,
He me commanded to assemble sone,
His Royall hoste, to punish all and some,
that to his former ayd disdaind to come:
And that I shortly should with sword and flame
Reuenge his honour, but alas Madame
Full farre am I from that I would pursewe,
for comming here thy nation to subdewe:
I vāquisht am by thee, so that deaths might,
shall shortly close mine eyes with endles night:
If you not (with a louing kisse) to me
Restore my life. O worthie Prince, quoth she,
Continue your discours, and to me tell,
what great aduentures to your Hoste befell.
Consumed moneths foure in Royall feast,
In Niniué the great, which banket done,
He me commanded to assemble sone,
His Royall hoste, to punish all and some,
that to his former ayd disdaind to come:
And that I shortly should with sword and flame
Reuenge his honour, but alas Madame
Full farre am I from that I would pursewe,
for comming here thy nation to subdewe:
I vāquisht am by thee, so that deaths might,
shall shortly close mine eyes with endles night:
If you not (with a louing kisse) to me
Restore my life. O worthie Prince, quoth she,
Continue your discours, and to me tell,
what great aduentures to your Hoste befell.
Then he retooke his tale he left a late,
And made a long discours of all his state:
Part true, part fals, as do some warriours braue,
who speaking of their Acts will lye and raue.
And made a long discours of all his state:
Part true, part fals, as do some warriours braue,
who speaking of their Acts will lye and raue.
My camp assembled, then gan I t'enflame
My soldiers harts thus for to win them fame.
Companions now, if euer ye pretend
To winne renoume that neuer shall haue end.
Go forwards now, plague these inhumain lands,
that on our sacred legats layd their hands.
Reuenge, reuenge, ye men your most hie prince,
that euer Scepter bare in rich prouince,
that euer came adowne with mightie arme.
From circled starres. Alarm' soldats alarme:
Take blades in hand, & brands of burning yre,
to wast the westren world with sword and fyre,
with bloody seas bedewe ech mount and wood,
And make your horses fearce to swimme in blood.
Receiue the Scepter great & crowne of might,
of all this world which is to you behight.
Receiue this laude that for your conquest braue,
shall draw your fames from the forgetfull graue:
Receiue ye valiant men the noble spoyle
of many-a land that ye shall put to foyle.
Let men behold that sees you day by daye,
How ye are cloyde with honour spoyle & pray,
thus ended I. And as my words were spent
They bet their bucklers, showing them content
with courage bolde, to fight with me and byde.
Then sixscore thousand men I had to guide,
Or moe: and so from Niniuè we past
And marched vnto (Bectile) at last,
I through Edessi, Amidi, and Carran came,
where somtime dwelt your father Abrahame:
I wan the mount whose thwarting hornes deuyds
All Asie, and serues for bounds on sundrie syds,
to many great Empyrs: I slewe, I brent
All in my way. My fellon soldiers went
Like maowers with their sithes in sowple hands,
who leaues not after them a straw that stands:
But ample swathes of grasse on ground doth cast,
& showes what way their sharped siths haue past.
All Lydia knowes, that nought now growes in it
but weeds. And Phuli-and Tharsis feeles it yit.
I was welneare the straits that closeth all,
Phœnice and th' Ishique Rouers, like a wall,
when Rosea, Solea, Mops, Anchiali and Iscia,
And sweete Egei: and (short) the whole Cilicia,
This passage took before and lay in wait,
to stay my Armie for to passe this strait.
If I the harmes and hassards all should tell
of all th' affairs and bloody frayes that fell
and succours sent: the day would slide away
Before my tale. For that Cilicia I say,
through great auantage of their groūd so narrow
Defended them from both the speare & arrow:
So that my Hoste that gaue before the chace,
to puissant kings: now fled with great disgrace.
Then foming in dispite, dispaire, and yre,
I cast my self where shot flew like the fyre,
and though they hurt me in a hundreth parts,
And though my Buckler bare a wood of darts:
yet left not I, but with audacious face:
I brauely fought, & made them all giue place.
My Armie followde where my arme made way
with trenching blade, on bodies dead that lay.
The greatest coward that my captains led,
Pursewd & slew, the most of them that fled.
The Cidnus streame (who for his siluer flood
Esteemd a king ran now with humaine blood.
The Pyram fearce, in seas discharged than
Full many-a helm, & sword and worthie man.
In short as your owne riuer seemes to rest
with swelling tyds and frothy floods represt
within his bank: yet furiously him wreaks
with weightie force & banks and bridges breaks,
& stroyes the plaines, and maks for many-a day
More wrak, then if his channels open lay:
In semble sort their bands I did enchace,
that kept the entrance of that craggie place.
I brunt, I slew, cast downe, all that I fand,
And Asia spoild, I entred th' easter land.
I wan Celei, and raged pittie les
Vpon the frutefull shore of Euphrates.
I bet the desart Rapse, & Eagria land,
who knowes the vertue of my conquering hand.
From thence to seaward sewing mine entent
I wasted Madian. Northward then I went
to Liban ward, Damascus ouerrinning,
with other towns, Abilia & Hippas winning.
Frō thence, with curious mind my standerds styes,
the hill, where sunne is sene to set and ryes.
And so from thence I forward led mine hoste,
To th' Occident on the Phœnician coste.
Then Sidon, Bible, Beryte, Tyre, & Gaze,
with Ascalon, and Assot, in a maze,
For feare, sent humblie to my sacred seat,
wise messengers, my fauour to entreat.
We come not here, my lord sayd they, with armes
for to resist the chok of thy Gensd'armes:
But Prince, we come, of thee for to resaue,
Both life and death, & what lawe we shall haue,
Our townes ar thine, our citties & our hills,
Our fields, our flocks, our wealth is at your wills.
Our seruice, and our treasures, great and small,
Our selfs, our wyues, and our faire children all:
Now onlie rests to thee, if so thee please
to take vs thus. O God what greater ease:
O god what greater good may vs befall,
Then vnto such a chiefe for to be thrall?
who weilds the valiant lance & ballance right,
with vertue like the Gods of greatest might
My soldiers harts thus for to win them fame.
Companions now, if euer ye pretend
To winne renoume that neuer shall haue end.
Go forwards now, plague these inhumain lands,
that on our sacred legats layd their hands.
Reuenge, reuenge, ye men your most hie prince,
that euer Scepter bare in rich prouince,
that euer came adowne with mightie arme.
From circled starres. Alarm' soldats alarme:
82
to wast the westren world with sword and fyre,
with bloody seas bedewe ech mount and wood,
And make your horses fearce to swimme in blood.
Receiue the Scepter great & crowne of might,
of all this world which is to you behight.
Receiue this laude that for your conquest braue,
shall draw your fames from the forgetfull graue:
Receiue ye valiant men the noble spoyle
of many-a land that ye shall put to foyle.
Let men behold that sees you day by daye,
How ye are cloyde with honour spoyle & pray,
thus ended I. And as my words were spent
They bet their bucklers, showing them content
with courage bolde, to fight with me and byde.
Then sixscore thousand men I had to guide,
Or moe: and so from Niniuè we past
And marched vnto (Bectile) at last,
I through Edessi, Amidi, and Carran came,
where somtime dwelt your father Abrahame:
I wan the mount whose thwarting hornes deuyds
All Asie, and serues for bounds on sundrie syds,
to many great Empyrs: I slewe, I brent
All in my way. My fellon soldiers went
Like maowers with their sithes in sowple hands,
who leaues not after them a straw that stands:
But ample swathes of grasse on ground doth cast,
& showes what way their sharped siths haue past.
All Lydia knowes, that nought now growes in it
but weeds. And Phuli-and Tharsis feeles it yit.
83
Phœnice and th' Ishique Rouers, like a wall,
when Rosea, Solea, Mops, Anchiali and Iscia,
And sweete Egei: and (short) the whole Cilicia,
This passage took before and lay in wait,
to stay my Armie for to passe this strait.
If I the harmes and hassards all should tell
of all th' affairs and bloody frayes that fell
and succours sent: the day would slide away
Before my tale. For that Cilicia I say,
through great auantage of their groūd so narrow
Defended them from both the speare & arrow:
So that my Hoste that gaue before the chace,
to puissant kings: now fled with great disgrace.
Then foming in dispite, dispaire, and yre,
I cast my self where shot flew like the fyre,
and though they hurt me in a hundreth parts,
And though my Buckler bare a wood of darts:
yet left not I, but with audacious face:
I brauely fought, & made them all giue place.
My Armie followde where my arme made way
with trenching blade, on bodies dead that lay.
The greatest coward that my captains led,
Pursewd & slew, the most of them that fled.
The Cidnus streame (who for his siluer flood
Esteemd a king ran now with humaine blood.
The Pyram fearce, in seas discharged than
Full many-a helm, & sword and worthie man.
In short as your owne riuer seemes to rest
with swelling tyds and frothy floods represt
84
with weightie force & banks and bridges breaks,
& stroyes the plaines, and maks for many-a day
More wrak, then if his channels open lay:
In semble sort their bands I did enchace,
that kept the entrance of that craggie place.
I brunt, I slew, cast downe, all that I fand,
And Asia spoild, I entred th' easter land.
I wan Celei, and raged pittie les
Vpon the frutefull shore of Euphrates.
I bet the desart Rapse, & Eagria land,
who knowes the vertue of my conquering hand.
From thence to seaward sewing mine entent
I wasted Madian. Northward then I went
to Liban ward, Damascus ouerrinning,
with other towns, Abilia & Hippas winning.
Frō thence, with curious mind my standerds styes,
the hill, where sunne is sene to set and ryes.
And so from thence I forward led mine hoste,
To th' Occident on the Phœnician coste.
Then Sidon, Bible, Beryte, Tyre, & Gaze,
with Ascalon, and Assot, in a maze,
For feare, sent humblie to my sacred seat,
wise messengers, my fauour to entreat.
We come not here, my lord sayd they, with armes
for to resist the chok of thy Gensd'armes:
But Prince, we come, of thee for to resaue,
Both life and death, & what lawe we shall haue,
Our townes ar thine, our citties & our hills,
Our fields, our flocks, our wealth is at your wills.
85
Our selfs, our wyues, and our faire children all:
Now onlie rests to thee, if so thee please
to take vs thus. O God what greater ease:
O god what greater good may vs befall,
Then vnto such a chiefe for to be thrall?
who weilds the valiant lance & ballance right,
with vertue like the Gods of greatest might
So weare to me, as gracious to beholde
Their townes & Citties both, for yong and olde
with crownes, and presents of the Flora sweete,
& costly odours, humbly did me greete.
At sounds of hornes & pypes they dauncing went
with goods and bodyes me for to present.
Their townes & Citties both, for yong and olde
with crownes, and presents of the Flora sweete,
& costly odours, humbly did me greete.
At sounds of hornes & pypes they dauncing went
with goods and bodyes me for to present.
Then I abusing not the law of armes
Entreated them, and did to them no harmes,
nor to their lands. But first their forts I mand,
with men of mine, and theirs tooke in my band.
For where that I, my people farthest drew,
My camp in bands, from bands, to armies grew,
As doth the Danow which begins to flow
By Raurak fields with snakish crangling slow,
then swels his floods with sixtie riuers large,
that in the Golfe Euxinus doth discharge:
I wende Madame that Izrell like the rest,
would yeald to me, that I should not be strest
Against their brest to moue my murdring speare,
But as I came the Scythique rampier neare
(the Tombe of her whose milk had such a hap
To feede the twice borne Denis in her lap)
I hard their wilfull rage first in that place,
which doubtles will distroye all Abrahms race.
Entreated them, and did to them no harmes,
nor to their lands. But first their forts I mand,
with men of mine, and theirs tooke in my band.
For where that I, my people farthest drew,
My camp in bands, from bands, to armies grew,
As doth the Danow which begins to flow
By Raurak fields with snakish crangling slow,
then swels his floods with sixtie riuers large,
that in the Golfe Euxinus doth discharge:
I wende Madame that Izrell like the rest,
would yeald to me, that I should not be strest
Against their brest to moue my murdring speare,
But as I came the Scythique rampier neare
(the Tombe of her whose milk had such a hap
To feede the twice borne Denis in her lap)
86
which doubtles will distroye all Abrahms race.
FINIS.
| The Historie of Ivdith in Forme of a Poeme | |