Divine poems Containing The History of Ionah. Ester. Iob. Sampson. Sions Sonets. Elegies. Written and newly augmented, by Fra: Quarles |
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 | Divine poems |  |
When Time (that endeth all things) did asswage
The burning Fever of Assuerus rage,
And quiet satisfaction had assign'd
Delightfull lu'lips to his troubled minde,
He call'd his old remembrance to account
Of Vashti, and her Crimes that did amount
To th'summe of her divorcement: In his thought
He weigh'd the censure of her heedlesse fault:
His fawning servants willing to prevent him,
Lest too much thought should make his love repent him,
Said thus: (If it shall please our gracious Lord
To crowne with audience his servants word)
Let strict inquest, and carefull Inquisition
Jn all the Realme be made, and quicke provision
Throughout the Medes and Persians all along
For comely Virgins, beautifull and young,
Which (curiously selected) let them bring
Into the Royall Palace of the King;
And let the Eunuchs of the King take care
For Princely Robes, and Vesture, and prepare
Sweet Odors, choyce Perfumes, and all things meet,
To adde a greater sweetnesse to their sweet;
And she, whose perfect beames shall best delight,
And seeme most gracious in his Princely sight;
To her be given the conquest of her face,
And be enthron'd in scornfull Vashties place.
The project pleas'd the King, who straight requires
That strict performance second their desires:
Within the walls of Shusa dwelt there one,
By breeding and by birth a Iew, and knowne
By th'name of Mordecai, of mighty kin,
Descended from the Tribe of Benjamin,
(Whose necke was subject to the slavish yoke,
When Ieconiah was surpriz'd and tooke,
And caried captive into Babels Land,
With strength of mighty Neb'chadnezzars hand;)
Within his house abode a Virgin bright,
Whose name was Ester or Hadassa hight,
His brothers daughter, whom (her parents dead)
This Iew did foster, in her fathers stead;
She wanted none, though father she had none,
Her Vncles love assum'd her for his owne?
Bright beames of beauty streamed from her eye,
And in her cheeke sate maiden modesty;
Which peerelesse beauty lent so kind a rellish
To modest Vertue, that they did imbellish
Each others ex'lence, with a full assent,
In her to boast their perfect complement.
The burning Fever of Assuerus rage,
And quiet satisfaction had assign'd
Delightfull lu'lips to his troubled minde,
He call'd his old remembrance to account
Of Vashti, and her Crimes that did amount
To th'summe of her divorcement: In his thought
He weigh'd the censure of her heedlesse fault:
His fawning servants willing to prevent him,
Lest too much thought should make his love repent him,
Said thus: (If it shall please our gracious Lord
To crowne with audience his servants word)
Let strict inquest, and carefull Inquisition
Jn all the Realme be made, and quicke provision
Throughout the Medes and Persians all along
For comely Virgins, beautifull and young,
Which (curiously selected) let them bring
Into the Royall Palace of the King;
And let the Eunuchs of the King take care
For Princely Robes, and Vesture, and prepare
Sweet Odors, choyce Perfumes, and all things meet,
To adde a greater sweetnesse to their sweet;
And she, whose perfect beames shall best delight,
And seeme most gracious in his Princely sight;
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And be enthron'd in scornfull Vashties place.
The project pleas'd the King, who straight requires
That strict performance second their desires:
Within the walls of Shusa dwelt there one,
By breeding and by birth a Iew, and knowne
By th'name of Mordecai, of mighty kin,
Descended from the Tribe of Benjamin,
(Whose necke was subject to the slavish yoke,
When Ieconiah was surpriz'd and tooke,
And caried captive into Babels Land,
With strength of mighty Neb'chadnezzars hand;)
Within his house abode a Virgin bright,
Whose name was Ester or Hadassa hight,
His brothers daughter, whom (her parents dead)
This Iew did foster, in her fathers stead;
She wanted none, though father she had none,
Her Vncles love assum'd her for his owne?
Bright beames of beauty streamed from her eye,
And in her cheeke sate maiden modesty;
Which peerelesse beauty lent so kind a rellish
To modest Vertue, that they did imbellish
Each others ex'lence, with a full assent,
In her to boast their perfect complement.
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