The Mirrour of Mutabilitie or Principall part of the Mirrour for Magistrates. Describing the fall of diuers famous Princes, and other memorable Personages. Selected out of the sacred Scriptures by Antony Munday, and dedicated to the Right Honorable the Earle of Oxenford |
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 | The Mirrour of Mutabilitie |  |
THE COMPLAINT of King Dauid, (by Gods permission) annointed King of Israel, sorovvfully from the bottome of his hart, bemoning his vnbrideled Lust of Lecherye, committed vvith BERSABA the VVife of VRIAS, and for the procuring of her Husbands death, therby obtayning his purpose.
Caput. 4.
Did
Adam fall for breaking Gods behest,
From tipe of ioy to den of wayling woe?
And did his fact deserue to be supprest?
Then Dauids deed, deserueth treble so.
From tipe of ioy to den of wayling woe?
And did his fact deserue to be supprest?
Then Dauids deed, deserueth treble so.
Did Cayne offend when he his Brother slue,
And was subornd from presence of Gods face?
And if his fact did force his hart to rue,
O Dauid, then thy deed deserues like case.
And was subornd from presence of Gods face?
And if his fact did force his hart to rue,
O Dauid, then thy deed deserues like case.
What greater sinne then seeke the guiltlesse Blood?
What greater shame then loathsome Lecherye?
The World my fact hath open vnderstood,
My cruell deed of lawlesse libertie.
What greater shame then loathsome Lecherye?
The World my fact hath open vnderstood,
My cruell deed of lawlesse libertie.
O Bersaba which so did blinde mine eyes.
That I forgot my rule and Princely sway:
Her seemely shape did force me to deuise,
A thousand thoughts my purpose to assay.
That I forgot my rule and Princely sway:
Her seemely shape did force me to deuise,
A thousand thoughts my purpose to assay.
O when as thou didst laue thy body white,
As in my windowe thee I did beholde:
Me thought I saw a Gem of rare delight,
A Phenix faire stampt out of beaten Golde.
As in my windowe thee I did beholde:
Me thought I saw a Gem of rare delight,
A Phenix faire stampt out of beaten Golde.
Then that I might my purpose bring about,
On thy sweet shape to mittigate my payne:
To bloody Warres I sent thy husband out,
With giuing charge that there he should be slain.
On thy sweet shape to mittigate my payne:
To bloody Warres I sent thy husband out,
With giuing charge that there he should be slain.
Then did I gayne my long desired trust,
Thee Bersaba for to suffise my will:
But I a wretch to deale with lawlesse Lust,
Thee to defile, and husband thine to kill.
Thee Bersaba for to suffise my will:
But I a wretch to deale with lawlesse Lust,
Thee to defile, and husband thine to kill.
O wicked deed, me thinks I still doo heare,
Vrias blood for vengeaunce on me call:
O mazed man, where was thy heauenly feare?
What, didst thou think there was no God at all?
Vrias blood for vengeaunce on me call:
O mazed man, where was thy heauenly feare?
What, didst thou think there was no God at all?
O yes (my God) but sore deceiu'd was I,
Before thy face so wretchedly to sinne:
Thy mercy milde (O Lord) doo not deny,
That yet I may thy dwellings enter in.
Before thy face so wretchedly to sinne:
Thy mercy milde (O Lord) doo not deny,
That yet I may thy dwellings enter in.
O Bersaba, forgiuenes I doo craue,
For that I wretch thy body did defile:
Unlawfully desiring thee to haue,
To spot thy name by such an vnkinde guyle.
For that I wretch thy body did defile:
Unlawfully desiring thee to haue,
To spot thy name by such an vnkinde guyle.
And thou Vrias through my deed was slayne,
O where remaind the bounds of Princely sway:
That for my Lust should so desire thy payne,
And to thy foes vniustly thee betray.
O where remaind the bounds of Princely sway:
That for my Lust should so desire thy payne,
And to thy foes vniustly thee betray.
Thy dolefull death in hart I doo Lament,
And sory am for this my wicked deed:
Beholde (O Lord) my fact I doo repent,
Whereon to think dooth make my hart to bleed.
And sory am for this my wicked deed:
Beholde (O Lord) my fact I doo repent,
Whereon to think dooth make my hart to bleed.
You Princes great that rule in regall state,
Beholde how I did blindly run astray:
And brought my self vnto destructions gate,
But that my God redeemd me thence away.
Beholde how I did blindly run astray:
And brought my self vnto destructions gate,
But that my God redeemd me thence away.
Take heed how you doo lawlesse looue require,
Fly from such vice as from a Serpent vile:
In feare of God your pleasures doo require,
Then shall you not seduced be with guyle.
Fly from such vice as from a Serpent vile:
In feare of God your pleasures doo require,
Then shall you not seduced be with guyle.
Be warnd by me who am your preter past,
See how I fell that neuer thought to fall:
Gods mercy yet receiued me at last,
And sorowing teares did make a mends for all.
See how I fell that neuer thought to fall:
Gods mercy yet receiued me at last,
And sorowing teares did make a mends for all.
Direct your wayes as Iustice dooth beseeme,
Assure you, then you can not walke a stray:
And of this crime none can you guiltie deeme,
Remember me, and thus I haste away.
Assure you, then you can not walke a stray:
And of this crime none can you guiltie deeme,
Remember me, and thus I haste away.
FINIS.
| The Mirrour of Mutabilitie | |