Divine poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

So Mardocheus throughout all the Land
Dispers'd his Letters, with a strickt command
To celebrate these two dayes memory
With Feasts, and gifts, and yeerely jollity,
That after ages may record that day,
And keepe it from the rust of time, that they
Which shall succeed, may ground their holy mirth
Vpon the joyes, those happy dayes brought forth,
Which chang'd their sadnes, and black nights of sorrow,
Into the brightnesse of a gladsome morrow;
Whereto the Iews (to whom these letters came)
Gave due observance, and did soone proclame
Their sacred Festivalls, in memory
Of that dayes joy, and joyfull victory:
And since the Lots, (that Haman did abuse,
To know the dismall day, which to the Iewes
Might fall most fatall, and, to his intent,
Least unpropitious) were in th'event
Crost with a higher Fate, than blinded Chance,
To worke his ruine, their deliverance:
They therefore in remembrance of the Lot
(Whose hop'd-for sad event succeeded not)
The solemne feasts of Purim did invest,
And by the name of Purim call'd their Feast;

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Which to observe with sacred Complement,
And ceremoniall rites, their soules indent,
And firmly' inroll the happy memory
Ith' hearts of their succeeding Progeny,
That time (the enemy of mortall things)
May not with hov'ring of his nimble wings,
Beat downe the deare memoriall of that time,
But keepe it flowring in perpetuall prime.

Now, lest this shining day in times progresse
Perchance be clouded with forgetfulnesse,
Or lest the gauled Persians should debate
The bloody slaughter, and re-ulcerate
In after-dayes, their former misery,
And blurre the glory of this dayes memory,
The Queene and Mordecai sent Letters out
Into the Land, dispersed round about
To re-confirme, and fully ratifie
This feast of Purim, to eternity;
That it to after-ages may appeare,
When sinners bend their hearts, heav'n bowes his eare.