Du Bartas His Divine Weekes And Workes with A Compleate Collectio[n] of all the other most delight-full Workes: Translated and written by yt famous Philomusus: Iosvah Sylvester |
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BETHVLIANS RESCVE.
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 | Du Bartas |  |
953
BETHVLIANS RESCVE.
The First Booke.
I sing the Vertues and the valiant Deed
Of th'Hebrew Widow, that so brauely freed
Bethulian Doores from Babylonians Dread,
And with iust Fauchin did behead their Head.
Thou, that to saue, from Pagans seruile Rigor,
Thine Isaac's Heirs, didst steele with manly vigor
Weake Ivdith's hart, my feeble hart aduance;
Raise, raise my Thoughts in high and holy Transe:
Vpon my Spirit, O! let thy Spirit reflect:
Grant I may handle in a stile select
So sacred Stuff; that whoso reads This Story,
May Profit reap, I Comfort, and Thou Glory.
Of th'Hebrew Widow, that so brauely freed
Bethulian Doores from Babylonians Dread,
And with iust Fauchin did behead their Head.
Thou, that to saue, from Pagans seruile Rigor,
Thine Isaac's Heirs, didst steele with manly vigor
Weake Ivdith's hart, my feeble hart aduance;
Raise, raise my Thoughts in high and holy Transe:
Vpon my Spirit, O! let thy Spirit reflect:
Grant I may handle in a stile select
So sacred Stuff; that whoso reads This Story,
May Profit reap, I Comfort, and Thou Glory.
And You great Comfort of Great-Britan's King,
Whose Vertues here I vnder Ivdith sing;
Thrice-royall Anne, vouchsafe auspicious Rayes
Of Princely Fauour on These Pious Layes
(Compos'd first vpon a Queen's Command,
Disposed next into a Queen's on ne hand,
Transposed now to a more Queen's Protection:
As most peculiar to all Queen's Perfection.)
Great-gracious Lady, let it not distaste,
That Ivdith made not (as she ought) more haste
To kisse Your Hands; nor deeme, nor doubt, the worst,
Though Shee haue seen Your Royall Spouse the first:
It was her Truch-man, much against Her minde,
Betrayd her so to goe against Her Kinde.
For which Offence, with other mo, to Her,
Sh' hath got her now a new Interpreter;
Shee hopes, more faithfull (wishes, more discreet)
To say and lay Her Seruice at Your Feet:
To giue Du Bartas (at the last) His Due,
In Her behalfe; and in Her, honour You.
Whose Vertues here I vnder Ivdith sing;
Thrice-royall Anne, vouchsafe auspicious Rayes
Of Princely Fauour on These Pious Layes
(Compos'd first vpon a Queen's Command,
Disposed next into a Queen's on ne hand,
Transposed now to a more Queen's Protection:
As most peculiar to all Queen's Perfection.)
Great-gracious Lady, let it not distaste,
That Ivdith made not (as she ought) more haste
To kisse Your Hands; nor deeme, nor doubt, the worst,
Though Shee haue seen Your Royall Spouse the first:
It was her Truch-man, much against Her minde,
Betrayd her so to goe against Her Kinde.
For which Offence, with other mo, to Her,
Sh' hath got her now a new Interpreter;
Shee hopes, more faithfull (wishes, more discreet)
To say and lay Her Seruice at Your Feet:
To giue Du Bartas (at the last) His Due,
In Her behalfe; and in Her, honour You.
954
While Israel a happy Peace inioyd,
And, dangerlesse, with diligence imployd
The fruitfull Soile, which seuenty yeeres vnsow'n
Had ly'n before, with Thistles over-grow'n;
The Lord, Who often, by some Stroak seuere
Of iust Correction, wakes his Owne (for feare
Least too-long Resting make them like the Horse,
Which standing still too-long, doth lose his Force,
Forgets to manege; and, too-pamperd, growes
Vnruly, restiue; and his Rider throwes)
Covers their Country with so huge an Hoste,
That clowds of Arrowes darkned all the Coast,
Pikes, Bills and Darts, seemd, as they stirr'd, or stood,
A moouing Forest, or a mighty Wood:
And, of all sorts of Souldiers, rankly-rude,
Vnder their Ensignes marcht such multitude,
As euen drew dry the Rivers where they past
Through rich Iudea; so that, at the last,
Cleer Iordan's Selfe, in his dry oazie Bed,
Blushing for shame, was fain to hide his head;
Because (flat Bankrupt) hee no more could pay
One Tribute-stream, of all hee ought the Sea.
And, dangerlesse, with diligence imployd
The fruitfull Soile, which seuenty yeeres vnsow'n
Had ly'n before, with Thistles over-grow'n;
The Lord, Who often, by some Stroak seuere
Of iust Correction, wakes his Owne (for feare
Least too-long Resting make them like the Horse,
Which standing still too-long, doth lose his Force,
Forgets to manege; and, too-pamperd, growes
Vnruly, restiue; and his Rider throwes)
Covers their Country with so huge an Hoste,
That clowds of Arrowes darkned all the Coast,
Pikes, Bills and Darts, seemd, as they stirr'd, or stood,
A moouing Forest, or a mighty Wood:
And, of all sorts of Souldiers, rankly-rude,
Vnder their Ensignes marcht such multitude,
As euen drew dry the Rivers where they past
Through rich Iudea; so that, at the last,
Cleer Iordan's Selfe, in his dry oazie Bed,
Blushing for shame, was fain to hide his head;
Because (flat Bankrupt) hee no more could pay
One Tribute-stream, of all hee ought the Sea.
The sun-burnt Reaper had yet scarcely rid
The ridged Acres of their richest Weed:
The needie Gleaner scarce had gathred clean
The scatterd Ears the Binder left, to glean:
And scarce, as yet the Flayls vpon the Floores
Began to groan: When Iacob at his Doors,
Sees Holofernes his weak Frontires spoile;
In bloudy Rivers drowne his fertile Soile;
Not sparing fel the tender Female-kind,
Nor hoarie haires (already short confin'd)
Nor Sucklings, swaddled in their Mothers arms,
From insolence of his insulting Arms.
The ridged Acres of their richest Weed:
The needie Gleaner scarce had gathred clean
The scatterd Ears the Binder left, to glean:
And scarce, as yet the Flayls vpon the Floores
Began to groan: When Iacob at his Doors,
Sees Holofernes his weak Frontires spoile;
In bloudy Rivers drowne his fertile Soile;
Not sparing fel the tender Female-kind,
Nor hoarie haires (already short confin'd)
Nor Sucklings, swaddled in their Mothers arms,
From insolence of his insulting Arms.
Then, as a Flock of Sheep, which sees their Foe
Come forth a Wood (who oft hath scar'd them so)
Minds no Defence; but, scudding to be gon,
Makes, in an instant, hundred Flocks of one:
Th'Isaacians seized with a suddain Feare,
Thinking his Hoast behind them euery where,
Disperst and scatterd (like those silly Sheep)
Fly into Woods, in Rocks and Caues they creep.
Come forth a Wood (who oft hath scar'd them so)
Minds no Defence; but, scudding to be gon,
Makes, in an instant, hundred Flocks of one:
Th'Isaacians seized with a suddain Feare,
Thinking his Hoast behind them euery where,
Disperst and scatterd (like those silly Sheep)
Fly into Woods, in Rocks and Caues they creep.
Th'affrighted Swaines, neglecting Fields and Flocks,
To saue their liues, clime steepest Hills and Rocks:
Artificers, leauing their Tooles to play,
Gain-greedy Chap-men, laying Trades away,
Hie them to hide them, in securer sort
In mossie Caues, then in a martiall Fort.
And greatest Lords hold Denns of Wolues and Bears
A safer Hold then Gold-lyn'd Walls of theirs.
To saue their liues, clime steepest Hills and Rocks:
Artificers, leauing their Tooles to play,
Gain-greedy Chap-men, laying Trades away,
Hie them to hide them, in securer sort
In mossie Caues, then in a martiall Fort.
955
A safer Hold then Gold-lyn'd Walls of theirs.
Feare, lending wings to th'Aged, makes them ply
With lustie speed vp to the Mountains nigh:
Feare makes the Mother, all forlorn and lost,
Lug their deer Cradles to the Clowds almost:
Fear makes the Children (like so many Lambs)
Craule on all foure after their dabbled Dams:
Ther's nothing heard but hideous Cryes and Plaints,
Sad Lamentations, pitifull Complaints.
With lustie speed vp to the Mountains nigh:
Feare makes the Mother, all forlorn and lost,
Lug their deer Cradles to the Clowds almost:
Fear makes the Children (like so many Lambs)
Craule on all foure after their dabbled Dams:
Ther's nothing heard but hideous Cryes and Plaints,
Sad Lamentations, pitifull Complaints.
O Lord! (say they) wilt thou, for euer, Thus
Thrill down the Darts of thy fierce Wrath on vs?
Shall the Chaldean Idolists again
Thy Chosen Flock in seruile Yoak enchain?
Shall our sad Houses, turnd to Heaps of stone,
With Weeds and Thorns again be ouer-grow'n?
Shall sacrilegious Fire again presume
Thy sacred House, thine Altar to consume?
Thrill down the Darts of thy fierce Wrath on vs?
Shall the Chaldean Idolists again
Thy Chosen Flock in seruile Yoak enchain?
Shall our sad Houses, turnd to Heaps of stone,
With Weeds and Thorns again be ouer-grow'n?
Shall sacrilegious Fire again presume
Thy sacred House, thine Altar to consume?
But Ioachim, High-Priest of God, that tide,
And of the Hebrews then the chiefest Guide,
Followes the stout and expert Pilots guise,
Who, when hee sees a suddain Storm arise,
Adds not more Feare, with His Feare, to his fellowes,
Nor leaues his Ship to mercy of the Billowes;
But, hiding his distrust, opposes braue
His Arm and Art against the Winde and Waue:
For, quick dispatching (hourely) Post on Post,
To all the Coverts of the Able-most
For Pate, Prowes, Purse; commands, prayes, presses them
To come with speed vnto Iervsalem.
And of the Hebrews then the chiefest Guide,
Followes the stout and expert Pilots guise,
Who, when hee sees a suddain Storm arise,
Adds not more Feare, with His Feare, to his fellowes,
Nor leaues his Ship to mercy of the Billowes;
But, hiding his distrust, opposes braue
His Arm and Art against the Winde and Waue:
For, quick dispatching (hourely) Post on Post,
To all the Coverts of the Able-most
For Pate, Prowes, Purse; commands, prayes, presses them
To come with speed vnto Iervsalem.
Since first th'Eternall gaue his sacred Law,
Vpon Mount Sinai (in so dreadfull Awe)
Th'Ark, which contained, in Two leaues of stone,
Much more sound Wisedom, in it selfe alone;
Then subtile Greece, or Rome (renownd for Wise)
In Worlds of Volumes euer could comprise;
Wandred from Tribe to Tribe, from Race to Race,
Throughout all Iury, without Resting-place,
Yea, somtimes too (O too audacious Theft!)
The sacrilegious Philistins it reft:
Till th'happy day when Iesse's holy Stem
Lodg'd it for euer, in Iervsalem.
Vpon Mount Sinai (in so dreadfull Awe)
Th'Ark, which contained, in Two leaues of stone,
Much more sound Wisedom, in it selfe alone;
Then subtile Greece, or Rome (renownd for Wise)
In Worlds of Volumes euer could comprise;
Wandred from Tribe to Tribe, from Race to Race,
Throughout all Iury, without Resting-place,
Yea, somtimes too (O too audacious Theft!)
The sacrilegious Philistins it reft:
Till th'happy day when Iesse's holy Stem
Lodg'd it for euer, in Iervsalem.
But, sith as yet, great Dauids hands were red
With bloud of Thousands he had slaughtered;
The King of Peace would haue a peacefull Prince
In Peacefull dayes, with all Magnificence
To build his Temple; whose high Battlement
Seemd Earth to scorne, and threat the Firmanent,
Till th'hapless Day wherein a hatefull King
(In name and nature, iust resembling
This Tyrant's Lord) with execrable Blaze,
Did burne it downe, and the Foundation raze.
A long-while after, Abr'ham's sacred Stems,
Returnd from Shores of Tyrant Tygris streams;
Beset with Fears, with Perill, and with Pain,
Re-builded Heer God's glorious House again.
Which, though (alas!) That first no more it matcht,
Then a Kings Palace a poore Cottage thatcht;
In Bignes yet, Beauty, and Height, obscur'd
All Pagan Wonders which most Fame procur'd;
Th'Assyrian Queen-king's (sometime) sumptuous Bowers,
Th'Ephesian Temple, the Egyptian Towers,
The Pharians Pharus, Carians costly Toomb,
Rhodes high Colossus, the huge Heaps of Rome—
For, for admired Art, This glorious Temple
Seru'd Ctesiphon for Model and Example;
Lent rare Apelles curious Pensill Light,
And led Lycippus cunning Chizel right.
With bloud of Thousands he had slaughtered;
The King of Peace would haue a peacefull Prince
In Peacefull dayes, with all Magnificence
To build his Temple; whose high Battlement
Seemd Earth to scorne, and threat the Firmanent,
956
(In name and nature, iust resembling
This Tyrant's Lord) with execrable Blaze,
Did burne it downe, and the Foundation raze.
A long-while after, Abr'ham's sacred Stems,
Returnd from Shores of Tyrant Tygris streams;
Beset with Fears, with Perill, and with Pain,
Re-builded Heer God's glorious House again.
Which, though (alas!) That first no more it matcht,
Then a Kings Palace a poore Cottage thatcht;
In Bignes yet, Beauty, and Height, obscur'd
All Pagan Wonders which most Fame procur'd;
Th'Assyrian Queen-king's (sometime) sumptuous Bowers,
Th'Ephesian Temple, the Egyptian Towers,
The Pharians Pharus, Carians costly Toomb,
Rhodes high Colossus, the huge Heaps of Rome—
For, for admired Art, This glorious Temple
Seru'd Ctesiphon for Model and Example;
Lent rare Apelles curious Pensill Light,
And led Lycippus cunning Chizel right.
Thither by Troops, th'Isaacian Tribes deuout,
Returnd to Salem slockt from all about:
As, when the Heav'ns, opening their Sluces wide,
Poure suddain Showers, surrounding euery side;
The gurgling Rills with rapid Course descend
From sundry Hills, and to some Riuer tend.
Returnd to Salem slockt from all about:
As, when the Heav'ns, opening their Sluces wide,
Poure suddain Showers, surrounding euery side;
The gurgling Rills with rapid Course descend
From sundry Hills, and to some Riuer tend.
But, sad-sweet Ivdith in the midst (almost)
Shined as Cynthia 'mid the Nightly Hoast:
For, God (it seem'd) her Beauties Form had cast
In rarest Mould of Nature (first or last).
Shined as Cynthia 'mid the Nightly Hoast:
For, God (it seem'd) her Beauties Form had cast
In rarest Mould of Nature (first or last).
Th'High Primate then, assisted with the Ligne
Of Eleazar (Priests, whose sacred Crine
Felt neuer Razor) on his oyled head
A pearly Mirre sadly setteled;
His sacred Body also soon hee heals
With sacred Vesture, fring'd with golden Bells:
Then burns for Offring, slayes for Sacrifice,
Kidds, Lambs, Calues, Heifers, in abundant wise;
Th'horns of the Altar with their blood bedying,
And lowely-lowd, thus to th'Almighty crying:
Of Eleazar (Priests, whose sacred Crine
Felt neuer Razor) on his oyled head
A pearly Mirre sadly setteled;
His sacred Body also soon hee heals
With sacred Vesture, fring'd with golden Bells:
Then burns for Offring, slayes for Sacrifice,
Kidds, Lambs, Calues, Heifers, in abundant wise;
Th'horns of the Altar with their blood bedying,
And lowely-lowd, thus to th'Almighty crying:
Wee come not heere, O dreadfull Lord of Hoasts,
To plead a Roule of Meritorious Boasts;
Nor to protest, that, in these Punishments,
Thou wrongst thy Iustice, and our Innocence:
No; wee confesse, our foule and frequent Crimes
Worthy worse Plagues then these, a thousand times;
Could'st thou forget Thy deer authentik Pact
With Abraham, or would'st thou (so exact)
Forcing thy Mercy in thy Iustice Scale,
Our Waight of Sins with Iudgements countervaile.
To plead a Roule of Meritorious Boasts;
Nor to protest, that, in these Punishments,
Thou wrongst thy Iustice, and our Innocence:
No; wee confesse, our foule and frequent Crimes
Worthy worse Plagues then these, a thousand times;
Could'st thou forget Thy deer authentik Pact
With Abraham, or would'st thou (so exact)
957
Our Waight of Sins with Iudgements countervaile.
Remoue our Cause, wee therefore (Lord) intreat,
From Iustice Barr, vnto thy Mercy-Seat:
O! holy Father, pardon vs (wee pray)
And turn from vs this fearfull Storm away.
From Iustice Barr, vnto thy Mercy-Seat:
O! holy Father, pardon vs (wee pray)
And turn from vs this fearfull Storm away.
Alas! what boots vs, that thy mighty hand
Hath brought vs home from Tigris hatefull strand,
Free from the Yoak, which wee so long (before)
Vnder th'Assyrian cruell Tyrants bore;
If these fat Fields, we haue but new re-tild,
If these faire Frames, we doe but now re-build,
If these (O Dolor!) our deere louing Wiues,
Our Babes, Sons, Daughters (deerer then our liues)
Must serue the Chaldes, Ammonites for Pay,
And be the Persians and fel Parthians Prey;
If This thine Altar, if these hallowed rooms,
Be re-profan'd with Heathen Hecatombs?
Hath brought vs home from Tigris hatefull strand,
Free from the Yoak, which wee so long (before)
Vnder th'Assyrian cruell Tyrants bore;
If these fat Fields, we haue but new re-tild,
If these faire Frames, we doe but now re-build,
If these (O Dolor!) our deere louing Wiues,
Our Babes, Sons, Daughters (deerer then our liues)
Must serue the Chaldes, Ammonites for Pay,
And be the Persians and fel Parthians Prey;
If This thine Altar, if these hallowed rooms,
Be re-profan'd with Heathen Hecatombs?
O! if thou wilt not pittie Vs, abhord;
At least, be Iealous of Thy Glory, Lord:
At least, haue pitty on This Holy Place,
Where, to no God, but to Iehova's Grace,
Is Incense burnt, nor any Sacrifice,
But to thy Selfe, of all the Deities.
Lord! therefore turn, O turn the Chaldean Torches
From these rich Cedar Roofs, these stately Porches:
Preserue these Plates, this pretious Furniture,
From sacrilegious Pilferers impure:
And let our Sorrow, and our Sacrifice,
Vnto thy Iustice, for our Sinnes suffice.
At least, be Iealous of Thy Glory, Lord:
At least, haue pitty on This Holy Place,
Where, to no God, but to Iehova's Grace,
Is Incense burnt, nor any Sacrifice,
But to thy Selfe, of all the Deities.
Lord! therefore turn, O turn the Chaldean Torches
From these rich Cedar Roofs, these stately Porches:
Preserue these Plates, this pretious Furniture,
From sacrilegious Pilferers impure:
And let our Sorrow, and our Sacrifice,
Vnto thy Iustice, for our Sinnes suffice.
The Seruice done, Each doth his way depart,
And Ioachim instantly calls apart
The States of Iuda; and thus, sadly-sweet,
Consults with Them, how with this Storm to meet.
And Ioachim instantly calls apart
The States of Iuda; and thus, sadly-sweet,
Consults with Them, how with this Storm to meet.
Graue Peers (said he) if your braue Zeale, of old,
Be not quite quenched, be not yet key-cold:
If Care of Wiues, if tender Childrens loue,
Had euer Power Your Soules deer Soules to moue:
If in your Brests rests any noble Worth,
Now, now or neuer, bring it, brauely forth:
For, but God aide, and your auspicious Speed,
Wee are vndone, Wee and our wretched Seed:
And neuer more shall the Immortall see
This Altar Smoaking to his Maiestie.
Be not quite quenched, be not yet key-cold:
If Care of Wiues, if tender Childrens loue,
Had euer Power Your Soules deer Soules to moue:
If in your Brests rests any noble Worth,
Now, now or neuer, bring it, brauely forth:
For, but God aide, and your auspicious Speed,
Wee are vndone, Wee and our wretched Seed:
And neuer more shall the Immortall see
This Altar Smoaking to his Maiestie.
While th'Aire is mute, so that it scarce can make,
In Summer dayes, an Aspen leafe to shake:
While Seas be calm, so that, with Streamers braue,
A thousand Saile slide on the sleeping Waue:
While all the Winds be mew'd vp in their Cell,
'Tis hard to say, which Pilot doth excell.
But, when a Tempest, one-while sinks a Ship
Down to the Bottom of th'infernall Deep;
Another-while, with swelling Fury driuen,
Tilts with her Tops against the Stars of Heav'n;
Raking a Shelfe now, and a Rock anon;
Then, and but then, is a Good Maister know'n.
In Summer dayes, an Aspen leafe to shake:
While Seas be calm, so that, with Streamers braue,
A thousand Saile slide on the sleeping Waue:
958
'Tis hard to say, which Pilot doth excell.
But, when a Tempest, one-while sinks a Ship
Down to the Bottom of th'infernall Deep;
Another-while, with swelling Fury driuen,
Tilts with her Tops against the Stars of Heav'n;
Raking a Shelfe now, and a Rock anon;
Then, and but then, is a Good Maister know'n.
Therefore (alas!) let now no carnall Care
Of goods, liues, honors (for your priuate Share)
Make you forget your Common-Country's Loue,
This Sacred Place, th'Honor of God aboue:
But humbly all into His hands resigning
Your Soules whole Sway, and all your Spirits refining
In sacred Flame, from Drosse and Mists impure,
Which too-too-oft the cleerest Eyes obscure;
Aduise (I pray) the best, in likely-hood,
Most pleasing God, most for the Publique Good.
Of goods, liues, honors (for your priuate Share)
Make you forget your Common-Country's Loue,
This Sacred Place, th'Honor of God aboue:
But humbly all into His hands resigning
Your Soules whole Sway, and all your Spirits refining
In sacred Flame, from Drosse and Mists impure,
Which too-too-oft the cleerest Eyes obscure;
Aduise (I pray) the best, in likely-hood,
Most pleasing God, most for the Publique Good.
An aged Traytor then, whose breath distill'd
Sweet Hony Words whose brest with Gall was filld,
VVringing false Tears from his dissembling Eyes,
His cursed Drift did in These Tearms disguise:
Sweet Hony Words whose brest with Gall was filld,
VVringing false Tears from his dissembling Eyes,
His cursed Drift did in These Tearms disguise:
My Spirits faint, my Speech doth faile me quight,
My frostie haires for horror stand vpright,
When I consider how This Tyrant fel,
With Bloud-floods drowning where he coms to quell,
Drawes neer Vs; threatning to our Houses Flames,
Death to our Selues, dishonor to our Dames:
But, when (on th'other side) to minde I call
This mighty Princes milde Receipt of All
(Not only such, as, rude and Reason-less,
Serue (like him Selfe (dumb Idols) Blockes, and Beasts:
But such, as matching our Zeal's holy Heighth,
Are Abrah'ms Seed, both in their Flesh and Faith;
Which wisely haue (and timely) turn'd (submiss)
The deadly Edge of his drad Vengeances)
I praise the Lord for such a Foe; so meek
To yielding Lambes, to Lyons Lyon-like;
As flexible to humble Tears, as fel
To Resolutions that (in vain) rebell.
My frostie haires for horror stand vpright,
When I consider how This Tyrant fel,
With Bloud-floods drowning where he coms to quell,
Drawes neer Vs; threatning to our Houses Flames,
Death to our Selues, dishonor to our Dames:
But, when (on th'other side) to minde I call
This mighty Princes milde Receipt of All
(Not only such, as, rude and Reason-less,
Serue (like him Selfe (dumb Idols) Blockes, and Beasts:
But such, as matching our Zeal's holy Heighth,
Are Abrah'ms Seed, both in their Flesh and Faith;
Which wisely haue (and timely) turn'd (submiss)
The deadly Edge of his drad Vengeances)
I praise the Lord for such a Foe; so meek
To yielding Lambes, to Lyons Lyon-like;
As flexible to humble Tears, as fel
To Resolutions that (in vain) rebell.
Sith therefore, yet we may haue Choise (for Iurie)
Of War, or Peace, his Fauor, or his Furie;
Winking in Dangers, let's not VVilfully
Follow our Fathers stubborn Sur-cuidry:
But, striking Saile in such Storms violence,
Let's liue secure vnder so good a Prince.
Of War, or Peace, his Fauor, or his Furie;
Winking in Dangers, let's not VVilfully
Follow our Fathers stubborn Sur-cuidry:
But, striking Saile in such Storms violence,
Let's liue secure vnder so good a Prince.
Yet, None mis-take, that I this Counsaile giue,
To saue my Stake, as one too-faine to liue:
Alas! my Years are of them Selues of age
To dye alone, without Assyrians Rage;
Without the help of their keen Dart or Pole,
To launce my Hart, or to let out my Soule:
Where, were my Youth's Spring now re-flowr'd again,
And heatefull blood boyling in euery vein,
My Zeale to GOD, and to my Country's Good
Should shew me well no Niggard of my blood,
Might (Samson-like) My Death bring Death to all
The Pagan Hoast and their proud General.
But, more I feare, least, with a Zeal too-Yong,
We, fighting for the Law, the Law impugne;
Inciting so the Soldiers Insolence,
Incensing so the Fury of the Prince,
That they by Conquest of one Day vndoo
Deer Izrael, and drown GOD's Glory too.
For, Wee bereft, What People, in This Place,
Truly-religious shal implore His grace?
Who, of all Nations that dispersed, Wun
From Shores of Indus, to the Setting Sun;
And from the farthest Hyperborean Coasts,
To those whose Clime continuall Summer roasts,
Hath chosen only Iacob for his Owne,
And on This Mount His drad-deer Glory showne.
To saue my Stake, as one too-faine to liue:
959
To dye alone, without Assyrians Rage;
Without the help of their keen Dart or Pole,
To launce my Hart, or to let out my Soule:
Where, were my Youth's Spring now re-flowr'd again,
And heatefull blood boyling in euery vein,
My Zeale to GOD, and to my Country's Good
Should shew me well no Niggard of my blood,
Might (Samson-like) My Death bring Death to all
The Pagan Hoast and their proud General.
But, more I feare, least, with a Zeal too-Yong,
We, fighting for the Law, the Law impugne;
Inciting so the Soldiers Insolence,
Incensing so the Fury of the Prince,
That they by Conquest of one Day vndoo
Deer Izrael, and drown GOD's Glory too.
For, Wee bereft, What People, in This Place,
Truly-religious shal implore His grace?
Who, of all Nations that dispersed, Wun
From Shores of Indus, to the Setting Sun;
And from the farthest Hyperborean Coasts,
To those whose Clime continuall Summer roasts,
Hath chosen only Iacob for his Owne,
And on This Mount His drad-deer Glory showne.
But, good old Cambris (else the mildest Prince)
Groanes, griev'd and pale with Passions vehemence;
And, interrupting That, with This Discourse
Hartens the heartless Peers and Counsellors:
Groanes, griev'd and pale with Passions vehemence;
And, interrupting That, with This Discourse
Hartens the heartless Peers and Counsellors:
Rather, O Earth (for which our Earthlings strive)
Gape vnder me and swallow Me alive:
Rather, iust Heav'ns, with sulphury Fire and Fume
(As Sodom yerst) Me sodainly consume,
Than I should (Saint with-out, within Malitious)
Give Izrael a Counsail so pernicious.
Gape vnder me and swallow Me alive:
Rather, iust Heav'ns, with sulphury Fire and Fume
(As Sodom yerst) Me sodainly consume,
Than I should (Saint with-out, within Malitious)
Give Izrael a Counsail so pernicious.
Were it, the Head of this inhumane Band
Meant but our Bodies only to command,
Though with our Birth, to this faire Light we brought
Sweet Liberty (so sweet and deer, that nought,
No Hopes, no Heaps may be compar'd to it:)
The Temple sav'd, I might perhaps submit.
But, sith this Tyrant, puft with foolish Pride,
With heavier Gyves to load our Soules (beside)
Which (only Vassals of the Thunder-Thrower)
Nor knowe, nor owe, to Any Sceptres lower;
Would that (forgetting Him who made vs All,
And of all People chose vs principall,
And fatherly provides vs every thing,
And shields vs ay with Shadow of his wing)
We take for GOD, His proud ambitious Prince,
VVho Nimrod-like, with hellish Insolence,
Would climbe to Heav'n, although his life be such,
As merits not the Name of Man, by much.
Let's beard him boldly, bravely stand we to't,
Arms against Arms, Man to Man, Foot to Foot.
Victory lies not in vain-glorious hearts,
Number of Horses, nor of Pikes, and Darts:
These be but Instruments th'Eternal moves,
To crown with Conquest whom his Goodnes loves.
Yet, should the Lord now suffer Heathen's rage
To over-run his sacred Heritage,
Because in life his Name we so dishonour;
In Death, at least, in Death, let's doo him Honor:
And, if we cannot Assur over-come,
Let's win, by Patience, Crowns of Martyrdom.
Meant but our Bodies only to command,
Though with our Birth, to this faire Light we brought
Sweet Liberty (so sweet and deer, that nought,
No Hopes, no Heaps may be compar'd to it:)
The Temple sav'd, I might perhaps submit.
But, sith this Tyrant, puft with foolish Pride,
With heavier Gyves to load our Soules (beside)
Which (only Vassals of the Thunder-Thrower)
Nor knowe, nor owe, to Any Sceptres lower;
Would that (forgetting Him who made vs All,
And of all People chose vs principall,
And fatherly provides vs every thing,
And shields vs ay with Shadow of his wing)
960
VVho Nimrod-like, with hellish Insolence,
Would climbe to Heav'n, although his life be such,
As merits not the Name of Man, by much.
Let's beard him boldly, bravely stand we to't,
Arms against Arms, Man to Man, Foot to Foot.
Victory lies not in vain-glorious hearts,
Number of Horses, nor of Pikes, and Darts:
These be but Instruments th'Eternal moves,
To crown with Conquest whom his Goodnes loves.
Yet, should the Lord now suffer Heathen's rage
To over-run his sacred Heritage,
Because in life his Name we so dishonour;
In Death, at least, in Death, let's doo him Honor:
And, if we cannot Assur over-come,
Let's win, by Patience, Crowns of Martyrdom.
And, could, our Foes (as fel as Lestrigons)
From off the Earth extirp our Tribes at-once;
They could not though GOD's glorious Name interr
(As these Apostates falsly would inferr).
For, He that with so sundry Nations stor'd
Th'vnpeopled World, from one Man; and restor'd
(Long after that) by one smal Bark the waste
The Flood had made, when it had All defaç't;
Is not He able even of stones to raise
A People Zealous of his glorious Praise?
Is not He able once again to ope
Old Sara's Wombe, and giue her Spouse (past hope)
More Sonnes, then Sands on Lybian shores be cast,
By ruffling Boreas, lowd, Cloud-chasing Blast;
Or twinkling Spangles nightly brightly roule
On sabled Circles of the whirling Pole:
Which, with more sacred Voice, more humble Awe,
Shall sound his Praises, and observe his Law?
From off the Earth extirp our Tribes at-once;
They could not though GOD's glorious Name interr
(As these Apostates falsly would inferr).
For, He that with so sundry Nations stor'd
Th'vnpeopled World, from one Man; and restor'd
(Long after that) by one smal Bark the waste
The Flood had made, when it had All defaç't;
Is not He able even of stones to raise
A People Zealous of his glorious Praise?
Is not He able once again to ope
Old Sara's Wombe, and giue her Spouse (past hope)
More Sonnes, then Sands on Lybian shores be cast,
By ruffling Boreas, lowd, Cloud-chasing Blast;
Or twinkling Spangles nightly brightly roule
On sabled Circles of the whirling Pole:
Which, with more sacred Voice, more humble Awe,
Shall sound his Praises, and observe his Law?
Then rather, Fathers (foule befall You else)
Let vs die Hebrews, then liue Infidels.
Let's not preferre, too-base, and too-too-blame,
Profit to Duty, idle Feare to Shame.
Let vs die Hebrews, then liue Infidels.
Let's not preferre, too-base, and too-too-blame,
Profit to Duty, idle Feare to Shame.
Cambris Oration was no sooner done,
But all th'Assembly (as all ioyn'd in one)
Confirm'd His Counsail both with voice and gest:
And Ioachim, (Ioy-rapt, above the rest)
Lifting to Heav'n-ward reverent hands and face,
Said, Lord wee thank thee, that thy speciall grace
Hath steeld our hearts, and linkt our Wils no less:
A hopefull Signe of happy good Successe.
But all th'Assembly (as all ioyn'd in one)
Confirm'd His Counsail both with voice and gest:
And Ioachim, (Ioy-rapt, above the rest)
Lifting to Heav'n-ward reverent hands and face,
Said, Lord wee thank thee, that thy speciall grace
Hath steeld our hearts, and linkt our Wils no less:
A hopefull Signe of happy good Successe.
Then, to the Princes he the Charge commits
Of Townes and Provinces, as Each befits:
Lest any, spurr'd by Envie or Ambition,
In Izrael should kindle new Sedition.
So, Each with-drawes, and bravely-bold prepares
To front the worst that martiall Fury dares.
Of Townes and Provinces, as Each befits:
961
In Izrael should kindle new Sedition.
So, Each with-drawes, and bravely-bold prepares
To front the worst that martiall Fury dares.
Who th'Arist'æan busie Swarmes hath seen
On Hybla's Top; Whether, with Launcets keen,
Charging the Drones which over-neer their homes
Come humming out to rob their fragrant Combes:
Whether, collecting their delicious Deaw
From various Thyme, and other Flowers not few:
Whether, extending, in rare Symmetrie,
With wondrous Art, their Waxen Canapey;
And arching even, so many Thousand Cells,
So quick, so thick; so like, as Nothing else:
Whether, conducting their too-full Supplies
Els-where, to plant their goodly Colonies;
Which keep, still constant, in their new Plantation,
Their Mother Citie's Manners, Lawes, and Fashion:
Hath seen the Iewes as busie Diligence,
And quick Desire to put them in Defence.
On Hybla's Top; Whether, with Launcets keen,
Charging the Drones which over-neer their homes
Come humming out to rob their fragrant Combes:
Whether, collecting their delicious Deaw
From various Thyme, and other Flowers not few:
Whether, extending, in rare Symmetrie,
With wondrous Art, their Waxen Canapey;
And arching even, so many Thousand Cells,
So quick, so thick; so like, as Nothing else:
Whether, conducting their too-full Supplies
Els-where, to plant their goodly Colonies;
Which keep, still constant, in their new Plantation,
Their Mother Citie's Manners, Lawes, and Fashion:
Hath seen the Iewes as busie Diligence,
And quick Desire to put them in Defence.
Some stop the Breaches made by Art or Age;
By the Heav'ns anger, or the Heathens rage:
Some, lest the Ram, butting with boisterous Fals,
Should pash to powder their too-feeble Wals,
With Bastions, Bulwarks, Rampiers, Ravelins, Forts,
Flank on all sides their Cities where imports:
Some to and fro trudging with Baskets fill'd,
In places needfull sodain Sconces build:
Some wanting time, or meanes their Town to wall,
With broad deep Trenches soon begirt it all:
And from a River neer they cut a Rill
The hollow bosom of their Dike to fill.
By the Heav'ns anger, or the Heathens rage:
Some, lest the Ram, butting with boisterous Fals,
Should pash to powder their too-feeble Wals,
With Bastions, Bulwarks, Rampiers, Ravelins, Forts,
Flank on all sides their Cities where imports:
Some to and fro trudging with Baskets fill'd,
In places needfull sodain Sconces build:
Some wanting time, or meanes their Town to wall,
With broad deep Trenches soon begirt it all:
And from a River neer they cut a Rill
The hollow bosom of their Dike to fill.
While Armorers, in order, beating quick
Hot sparkling Steel on Anvils hard and thick,
Transform it soon to Corslets, Curtellaxes,
Helms, Gorgets, Gantlets, Bills and Battail-axes;
And some, for need (to furnish and set-out
Th'vntrained Shepheard, Neatheard, and the Lowt)
Ground the ground-slycing Coultar to a Blade,
And of the Sickle a straight Weapon made:
None Yong and healthy took Repast or Rest:
One on his back, another on his Beast,
Others in Waggons carryed-in apace
Corn, Wine, and Food to some importing Place:
Hot sparkling Steel on Anvils hard and thick,
Transform it soon to Corslets, Curtellaxes,
Helms, Gorgets, Gantlets, Bills and Battail-axes;
And some, for need (to furnish and set-out
Th'vntrained Shepheard, Neatheard, and the Lowt)
Ground the ground-slycing Coultar to a Blade,
And of the Sickle a straight Weapon made:
None Yong and healthy took Repast or Rest:
One on his back, another on his Beast,
Others in Waggons carryed-in apace
Corn, Wine, and Food to some importing Place:
Even so, in Summer (as the Wise-man tels)
Th'Emmets by Troupes haste from their hollow Cels
To get-in Harvest graving where they gone
Their Diligence even in a path of Stone:
The lustiest Swarmes for their Provision range,
The sick and old wait at their thrifty Grange
T'vnloade the Burthens, and lay-vp their Store
In their great Garnier byting yet before
Of every Graine, least kept so warme belowe
Amid the Molde, it after sprout and growe.
Th'Emmets by Troupes haste from their hollow Cels
To get-in Harvest graving where they gone
Their Diligence even in a path of Stone:
962
The sick and old wait at their thrifty Grange
T'vnloade the Burthens, and lay-vp their Store
In their great Garnier byting yet before
Of every Graine, least kept so warme belowe
Amid the Molde, it after sprout and growe.
The end of the first Booke.
The Second Booke.
Now
Holofernes in the Scythick Fort.
Had pight his Standards; and in various Sport
His Youthfull Pagans did them still delight;
Nought less expecting then Affront, or Fight:
When he had newes, The Iewes stood brauely out,
Defy'd his Pride, and fortifi'd about.
Shall then (said He) shall then a sort of Slaves,
A sort of Clownes & Shepheards, arm'd with Staves,
With Slings and Stones, presume to stop the Course
Of Mine exploits: Which, nor the roaring scource
Of rapid Tigris and swift Euphrates,
Nor snowie Tops of Taure and Niphatés,
Conspir'd, could stay? You Chiefs of Moabites,
Of valiant Ephraim, and fierce Ammonites;
You that as Neighbours (hauing long converst)
Knowe all the Nations on these Hills disperst,
Say, from what People had they their Descent?
What lies their Strength in? What's their Gouernment?
For, He that wisely knowes his Foe (they say)
Hath, in a manner gotten half the Day.
Had pight his Standards; and in various Sport
His Youthfull Pagans did them still delight;
Nought less expecting then Affront, or Fight:
When he had newes, The Iewes stood brauely out,
Defy'd his Pride, and fortifi'd about.
Shall then (said He) shall then a sort of Slaves,
A sort of Clownes & Shepheards, arm'd with Staves,
With Slings and Stones, presume to stop the Course
Of Mine exploits: Which, nor the roaring scource
Of rapid Tigris and swift Euphrates,
Nor snowie Tops of Taure and Niphatés,
Conspir'd, could stay? You Chiefs of Moabites,
Of valiant Ephraim, and fierce Ammonites;
You that as Neighbours (hauing long converst)
Knowe all the Nations on these Hills disperst,
Say, from what People had they their Descent?
What lies their Strength in? What's their Gouernment?
For, He that wisely knowes his Foe (they say)
Hath, in a manner gotten half the Day.
Then Ammon's Prince, bending his humble knee,
Thus to the Duke reply'd right prudently
(For though in hart a Pagan, born and bred;
Against his Minde, his Tongue diuinely led
By that same Spirit which did the Se'er compell,
Which came to curse, to blesse his Izrael;
Of th'Hebrewes State did such Relation make,
As if in Him Moses and Esdras spake;)
Thus to the Duke reply'd right prudently
963
Against his Minde, his Tongue diuinely led
By that same Spirit which did the Se'er compell,
Which came to curse, to blesse his Izrael;
Of th'Hebrewes State did such Relation make,
As if in Him Moses and Esdras spake;)
My Lord, I shall, sith You so please, recite
Th'Isacians Story; and will follow right
Th'ingenious Bees, which wont not to devoure
All Sweet they meet, nor suck of every Flower;
But even of those they chuse, take but the Crops.
This People (Sir) vpon the Mountaine Tops
Encamped heere, originally came
From forth the Loines of famous Abraham,
Who, to obey the GOD of Gods, most High
Maker of All; of All Support, Supply;
Came to This Countrey (then, in Occupation
Of Cananites, the rich and native Nation)
Where that same GOD not only heaps with Gold
And Goods, his House; but also (though He old
An hundred years; a third part lesse, his Wife;
And, till that season, barren all her life)
Sent him a Son; swearing, His seed should sway:
Triumphant Sceptres many, many a-day:
But, when good Abraham's old-old Age expects
This happy Promise in the sweet effects,
Th'Immortall Voice (O pitiòus Mysteries!)
Commands that He his Isaac sacrifice.
Th'Isacians Story; and will follow right
Th'ingenious Bees, which wont not to devoure
All Sweet they meet, nor suck of every Flower;
But even of those they chuse, take but the Crops.
This People (Sir) vpon the Mountaine Tops
Encamped heere, originally came
From forth the Loines of famous Abraham,
Who, to obey the GOD of Gods, most High
Maker of All; of All Support, Supply;
Came to This Countrey (then, in Occupation
Of Cananites, the rich and native Nation)
Where that same GOD not only heaps with Gold
And Goods, his House; but also (though He old
An hundred years; a third part lesse, his Wife;
And, till that season, barren all her life)
Sent him a Son; swearing, His seed should sway:
Triumphant Sceptres many, many a-day:
But, when good Abraham's old-old Age expects
This happy Promise in the sweet effects,
Th'Immortall Voice (O pitiòus Mysteries!)
Commands that He his Isaac sacrifice.
Euen as a Ship, vpon the raging Sea
Between Two Windes Cross-tossed euery-way,
Vncertain knowes not in what Course to set-her,
Till one of them, striving to get the better,
Doubles his bellowes, and with boisterous blast
Driues her (at random) where he list, at last:
So, the Hebrew, feeling in-ward War (that season)
T'wixt Loue and Duty, betwixt Faith and Reason,
Doubts what to doo; and his Perplexities
Leane now to that hand, and anon to this:
Til th'heav'nly loue he ought his GOD had won
The earthly love he bore his only Son.
Then, having ready Fire and Fagot laid,
And on the Altar his deer Son displayd;
The knife he drawes with trembling hand, and had
Even heav'd his arme about to strike the Lad,
When GOD, in th'instant staies the Instrument
Ready to fall on th'humble Innocent:
As satisfied with so sufficient Trial
Of Abraham's Faith; to Him his GOD so loyal.
Between Two Windes Cross-tossed euery-way,
Vncertain knowes not in what Course to set-her,
Till one of them, striving to get the better,
Doubles his bellowes, and with boisterous blast
Driues her (at random) where he list, at last:
So, the Hebrew, feeling in-ward War (that season)
T'wixt Loue and Duty, betwixt Faith and Reason,
Doubts what to doo; and his Perplexities
Leane now to that hand, and anon to this:
Til th'heav'nly loue he ought his GOD had won
The earthly love he bore his only Son.
Then, having ready Fire and Fagot laid,
And on the Altar his deer Son displayd;
The knife he drawes with trembling hand, and had
Even heav'd his arme about to strike the Lad,
When GOD, in th'instant staies the Instrument
Ready to fall on th'humble Innocent:
As satisfied with so sufficient Trial
Of Abraham's Faith; to Him his GOD so loyal.
964
From Isaac, Iacob; and from Iacob sprung
Twelue sturdy Sons; who with sore Famine wrung,
Forsaking Canaan, for a great-good-while
Had happy Biding by the Banks of Nile:
Where their blest Issue multiply'd so fast,
That they became th'Egyptian's Feare, at last:
Yea, though (alas!) their bodies had no rest,
And though their backs with burthens were opprest;
Like noble Palm-Trees, mounting stifly-strait,
The more, the more, they be surcharg'd with waight.
Twelue sturdy Sons; who with sore Famine wrung,
Forsaking Canaan, for a great-good-while
Had happy Biding by the Banks of Nile:
Where their blest Issue multiply'd so fast,
That they became th'Egyptian's Feare, at last:
Yea, though (alas!) their bodies had no rest,
And though their backs with burthens were opprest;
Like noble Palm-Trees, mounting stifly-strait,
The more, the more, they be surcharg'd with waight.
Therfore the Tyrant which then held the Raines
Of that rich Soile where sad Heav'n never raines,
Commands that all male Hebrew Infants found
(Poore Innocents!) be quickly kill'd, or drown'd,
As soon as Wombes had them delivered;
That one same day might see them born and dead.
Of that rich Soile where sad Heav'n never raines,
Commands that all male Hebrew Infants found
(Poore Innocents!) be quickly kill'd, or drown'd,
As soon as Wombes had them delivered;
That one same day might see them born and dead.
O Tiger! thinkst thou? thinks that Rage of thine
To cut-off quite Isaac's Immortall Ligne?
Well may it reave the scarce-born Life of those
New-hatched Babes, and them of Light fore-close:
But notwithstanding, Iacob's swarming Race
Within few Years shall cover Canaan's Face;
And, thine owne Issue even the first shall be
To break (and iustly) thine vniust Decree.
To cut-off quite Isaac's Immortall Ligne?
Well may it reave the scarce-born Life of those
New-hatched Babes, and them of Light fore-close:
But notwithstanding, Iacob's swarming Race
Within few Years shall cover Canaan's Face;
And, thine owne Issue even the first shall be
To break (and iustly) thine vniust Decree.
Pharoa's faire Daughter, with a noble Train,
For Blood and Beauty rarely matcht again,
One Evening, bathing in the Crystall Brook
Which thorough Gossen crawls with many a Crook,
Hears in the reeds a ruefull Infants voyce;
But thinking it some of the Hebrewes Boyes
(As 'twas indeed) her Fathers bloody Law
Stopt for a while her tender eares with Awe.
But, at the last, marking the Infants face
(I woat not what vnvsuall Tracts of Grace
And Types of Greatnes sweetly shining there)
Love vanquisht Duty, Pity conquer'd Feare:
For, She not only takes him vp from thence,
But brings him vp, and breeds him as a Prince,
Yea, as Her owne. O Babe belov'd of God!
O Babe ordain'd to lighten th'Hebrew's Load!
To lead their Bodies, to direct their Mindes:
First, best most Wrighter, in all sacred Kindes:
Thou hadst but now no Mother (to be seen)
And now for Mother, Thou hast found a Queen.
For Blood and Beauty rarely matcht again,
One Evening, bathing in the Crystall Brook
Which thorough Gossen crawls with many a Crook,
Hears in the reeds a ruefull Infants voyce;
But thinking it some of the Hebrewes Boyes
(As 'twas indeed) her Fathers bloody Law
Stopt for a while her tender eares with Awe.
But, at the last, marking the Infants face
(I woat not what vnvsuall Tracts of Grace
And Types of Greatnes sweetly shining there)
Love vanquisht Duty, Pity conquer'd Feare:
For, She not only takes him vp from thence,
But brings him vp, and breeds him as a Prince,
Yea, as Her owne. O Babe belov'd of God!
O Babe ordain'd to lighten th'Hebrew's Load!
To lead their Bodies, to direct their Mindes:
First, best most Wrighter, in all sacred Kindes:
Thou hadst but now no Mother (to be seen)
And now for Mother, Thou hast found a Queen.
Lo, thus (my Lord) could their wise God extract
Good out of Euill, and convert the act
Of Persecution (bent against the blood
And Life of His) vnto their greater good.
So Ioseph's Brethren, by their Envious Drift
To ouer-throwe him, to a Throne him lift:
So did proud Haman's deadly Hatred, lend
Sad Mordecay a Ladder to ascend
To Honors Top, and trimd his neck (past Hope)
With gracefull Chain, in steed of shamefull Rope.
Good out of Euill, and convert the act
Of Persecution (bent against the blood
And Life of His) vnto their greater good.
965
To ouer-throwe him, to a Throne him lift:
So did proud Haman's deadly Hatred, lend
Sad Mordecay a Ladder to ascend
To Honors Top, and trimd his neck (past Hope)
With gracefull Chain, in steed of shamefull Rope.
One day, this Hebrew, driving Iethro's Sheep
Vpon Mount Horeb (where he vs'd to keep)
Sawe on the sodaine a bright blazing Flame
Burne in a Bush, and yet not burne the same;
From whence, anon he heard (with Fear and Wonder)
A Voice, might shake both Heav'n and Earth in sunder.
Vpon Mount Horeb (where he vs'd to keep)
Sawe on the sodaine a bright blazing Flame
Burne in a Bush, and yet not burne the same;
From whence, anon he heard (with Fear and Wonder)
A Voice, might shake both Heav'n and Earth in sunder.
I, I that (only), Am-Was-Shal-Be, Who
Made All of Nothing; and can All vn-doo,
When pleaseth Me: I-Am, The Holy-One,
The Great, The Good, The Iust; Whose hand alone
Sustaines, maintaines, and rules the World: I-Am,
Th'Omni-potent, The GOD of Abraham;
Fierce to my Foes with my Revenging Rod:
But vnto Those that worship Me for GOD,
Me sole, and whole in Thought, in Word, and Deed,
Most Mercifull; to Them and all their Seed.
Then doo my Will: dispatch thee speedy hence;
Go, say from Mee, to that vnhallowed Prince
Which ruleth Memphis, and the fertile Plaine
Where swelling Nilus serves in steed of Rain,
That he dismisse my People: and lest He,
Incredulous, distrust thine Embassie;
Cast-down thy Rod, thy Message to confirm:
It to a Serpent shall eft-soons transform.
Made All of Nothing; and can All vn-doo,
When pleaseth Me: I-Am, The Holy-One,
The Great, The Good, The Iust; Whose hand alone
Sustaines, maintaines, and rules the World: I-Am,
Th'Omni-potent, The GOD of Abraham;
Fierce to my Foes with my Revenging Rod:
But vnto Those that worship Me for GOD,
Me sole, and whole in Thought, in Word, and Deed,
Most Mercifull; to Them and all their Seed.
Then doo my Will: dispatch thee speedy hence;
Go, say from Mee, to that vnhallowed Prince
Which ruleth Memphis, and the fertile Plaine
Where swelling Nilus serves in steed of Rain,
That he dismisse my People: and lest He,
Incredulous, distrust thine Embassie;
Cast-down thy Rod, thy Message to confirm:
It to a Serpent shall eft-soons transform.
He throwes it down, and instantly withall
Sees it begin to liue, to move, to craule,
With hideous head before, and tail behinde,
And body wriggling (after Creepers kinde).
Re-take it vp, his GOD commands him then;
Which, taken, takes the former Form agen:
And, past Mans Reason (by the power of GOD)
Of Rod turns Serpent, and of Serpent Rod.
Sees it begin to liue, to move, to craule,
With hideous head before, and tail behinde,
And body wriggling (after Creepers kinde).
Re-take it vp, his GOD commands him then;
Which, taken, takes the former Form agen:
And, past Mans Reason (by the power of GOD)
Of Rod turns Serpent, and of Serpent Rod.
Arm'd with this Wand, wherewith he was to quel
The sceptred Pride of many an Infidel,
He many a time importunes Pharao,
In GOD's great Name, to let the Hebrews go
Into the Desart, at their liberties
To serve the Lord, and offer Sacrifice.
The sceptred Pride of many an Infidel,
He many a time importunes Pharao,
In GOD's great Name, to let the Hebrews go
Into the Desart, at their liberties
To serve the Lord, and offer Sacrifice.
But Pharao, deaf vnto his sacred Word,
Stifly withstands the Message of the Lord:
Who then, by Moses working many Miracles,
Authorized His Orator and Oracles.
Stifly withstands the Message of the Lord:
Who then, by Moses working many Miracles,
Authorized His Orator and Oracles.
966
First, He not only turned into Blood
Nile's seav'n-fold VVaves, and every other Flood
That fattens Egypt; but euen every Spring,
Whose captive Crystall, golden Pipes do bring
To serve the Court: so that the King is forç't
With that red liquor to allay his Thirst.
Nile's seav'n-fold VVaves, and every other Flood
That fattens Egypt; but euen every Spring,
Whose captive Crystall, golden Pipes do bring
To serve the Court: so that the King is forç't
With that red liquor to allay his Thirst.
Then, from the Fens, from puddly Ponds and Lakes
Millions of Millions of foule Frogges he makes
To cover Memphis with their ougly Frie,
And not forbeare the Kings owne Canapy.
Millions of Millions of foule Frogges he makes
To cover Memphis with their ougly Frie,
And not forbeare the Kings owne Canapy.
Then, of all Ages, of all sorts, and sexes,
With burning Vlcers, and hot Biles he vexes;
So that th'Egyptians, in vncessant anguish,
Of vnknow'n Poyson, on their Couches languish:
Nor can their Leaches their owne Leaches be,
In their vnheard-of, hidden Malady.
With burning Vlcers, and hot Biles he vexes;
So that th'Egyptians, in vncessant anguish,
Of vnknow'n Poyson, on their Couches languish:
Nor can their Leaches their owne Leaches be,
In their vnheard-of, hidden Malady.
Then on their Cattle; Flocks, and Heards, and Droves
In Downes and Dales, Fens, Forrests, Fields and Groues,
A strong Contagion suddainly he spred;
Which took so quickly both their heart and head,
That silly Shepheards neer the Rivers side,
Their Cattle dead, sooner then sicke, espi'd.
In Downes and Dales, Fens, Forrests, Fields and Groues,
A strong Contagion suddainly he spred;
Which took so quickly both their heart and head,
That silly Shepheards neer the Rivers side,
Their Cattle dead, sooner then sicke, espi'd.
Then turns the Earths Dust into Swarmes of Lice:
Then dims the Aier with dusky Clouds of Flies,
Of Drones, Wasps, Homers, humming day and night
In every place, with every face to fight,
And fixing deep in every Pagans skin
Th'vnvsual anger of their steeled Pin.
Then dims the Aier with dusky Clouds of Flies,
Of Drones, Wasps, Homers, humming day and night
In every place, with every face to fight,
And fixing deep in every Pagans skin
Th'vnvsual anger of their steeled Pin.
Then (when appeer'd no Threat of troubled Aier,
No signe of Tempest) at his Servants Prayer
Th'Eternall thundred down such Storms of Hail,
As with the noise and stroak did stoutest quail:
Heer falls a Bul, brain'd with a Hail-stones rap;
There sprawles a Childe, split with a Thunder-Clap:
Heer a huge Forrest, lately all a Clowd
Of tufted Armes, hath neither Shade nor Shrowd:
And, if the native Sap again re-suit
The naked Trees with comely Leaues and Fruit,
Again (alas!) the Caterpiller crops,
Within few houres, the Husbands yearely hopes.
No signe of Tempest) at his Servants Prayer
Th'Eternall thundred down such Storms of Hail,
As with the noise and stroak did stoutest quail:
Heer falls a Bul, brain'd with a Hail-stones rap;
There sprawles a Childe, split with a Thunder-Clap:
Heer a huge Forrest, lately all a Clowd
Of tufted Armes, hath neither Shade nor Shrowd:
And, if the native Sap again re-suit
The naked Trees with comely Leaues and Fruit,
Again (alas!) the Caterpiller crops,
Within few houres, the Husbands yearely hopes.
Then with gross Darknes vailing close the Skies,
He so field-vp stubborn Egyptians eyes,
That for three dayes with fearfull foot and hand
They groapt their way (except in Gossen-land):
And Titan, tir'd in his long Course, for ease,
Seem'd then to rest him with th'Antipodes.
He so field-vp stubborn Egyptians eyes,
That for three dayes with fearfull foot and hand
They groapt their way (except in Gossen-land):
And Titan, tir'd in his long Course, for ease,
Seem'd then to rest him with th'Antipodes.
But, as the same Sun, the same instant, makes
The Mud to harden; and to melt, the Wax;
So had These Works, so full of admiration,
On diuers Subiects, diuerse Operation.
The humble Hebrews, God's great hand adore;
But wilfull Pharao spurns it more and more:
Euen as a Corselet, when 'tis cold enough,
The more 'tis beaten growes the harder Proofe.
The Mud to harden; and to melt, the Wax;
967
On diuers Subiects, diuerse Operation.
The humble Hebrews, God's great hand adore;
But wilfull Pharao spurns it more and more:
Euen as a Corselet, when 'tis cold enough,
The more 'tis beaten growes the harder Proofe.
Yet, at the sad Newes of the Prince, His Son,
And all their Heires, all in one Night vndone;
Hee was so daunted, that he early bod
The Hebrews goe to serue the Lord their God:
Who, in a Piller of a Clowd by Day,
Of Fire, by Night, directed right their Way.
And all their Heires, all in one Night vndone;
Hee was so daunted, that he early bod
The Hebrews goe to serue the Lord their God:
Who, in a Piller of a Clowd by Day,
Of Fire, by Night, directed right their Way.
But, soon retracting his extorted Grant,
The stubborn Tyrant strangely arrogant,
Arms all his Egypt, and in post pursews
The Arm-lesse Legions of the harm-lesse Iews,
Then lodg'd secure along the sandy shore,
Where the Erythræan ruddy Billowes rore.
The stubborn Tyrant strangely arrogant,
Arms all his Egypt, and in post pursews
The Arm-lesse Legions of the harm-lesse Iews,
Then lodg'd secure along the sandy shore,
Where the Erythræan ruddy Billowes rore.
Was not such Noise, when, tearing Gibraltar,
Th'Herculian Sea came first to spred so far
Twixt Calpe and Abile; nor when Oenotrie
Sad-sighing lost her deer neer Trinacrie;
As in both Armies: Th'one insulting proud;
Th'other in skrieches, and sad cryes, as lowd,
Deafned the Shores: while Fifes, Horns, furious Horse,
With Noise and Neighes, did euen the VVelkin force.
Th'Herculian Sea came first to spred so far
Twixt Calpe and Abile; nor when Oenotrie
Sad-sighing lost her deer neer Trinacrie;
As in both Armies: Th'one insulting proud;
Th'other in skrieches, and sad cryes, as lowd,
Deafned the Shores: while Fifes, Horns, furious Horse,
With Noise and Neighes, did euen the VVelkin force.
Cursed Seducer (cry'd the Iewes) what Spight
Moou'd thee to alter our Liues happy plight?
What! are we Fishes that we heere should swim
Through these deep Seas? Or, are we Fowls to skim
Ouer the steepest of these Mountains tall?
Were there not Graues in Egypt for vs all?
In our deer Gossen? but wee needs must come
In this Red-Sea to seeke our rewfull Tombe?
Moou'd thee to alter our Liues happy plight?
What! are we Fishes that we heere should swim
Through these deep Seas? Or, are we Fowls to skim
Ouer the steepest of these Mountains tall?
Were there not Graues in Egypt for vs all?
In our deer Gossen? but wee needs must come
In this Red-Sea to seeke our rewfull Tombe?
Yet, mildest Moses, with his dead-liue Wand,
Strikes th'awfull Streams: which, yielding to his hand,
Discouer Sands the Sun had neuer spy'd,
And Walld the same with Waues on either side:
Between the which (dread-less and danger-less)
The Hebrews dry-shod past the Crimsin Seas.
But, when the Tyrant rashly them pursues,
Marching the Way was made but for the Iewes;
The Sea returns, and over-turns his Force,
Him Selfe, his Men, his Chariots, and his Horse.
Strikes th'awfull Streams: which, yielding to his hand,
Discouer Sands the Sun had neuer spy'd,
And Walld the same with Waues on either side:
Between the which (dread-less and danger-less)
The Hebrews dry-shod past the Crimsin Seas.
But, when the Tyrant rashly them pursues,
Marching the Way was made but for the Iewes;
The Sea returns, and over-turns his Force,
Him Selfe, his Men, his Chariots, and his Horse.
O happy People, for whom God (so kind)
Arms Fire, and Aire, and Clowds, and Waues, and Wind!
Whom All things serue: which hast All things in Pay,
O! neuer let Time's File to fret away
So rare a Fauour? rather let the Tongue
Of All thine Aged tell it to Their Yong;
They to their Seed, and They to theirs again;
Eternally These Wonders to retaine.
Arms Fire, and Aire, and Clowds, and Waues, and Wind!
Whom All things serue: which hast All things in Pay,
O! neuer let Time's File to fret away
968
Of All thine Aged tell it to Their Yong;
They to their Seed, and They to theirs again;
Eternally These Wonders to retaine.
Them, forty yeers, God in the Desart fed
With Angells Food, with a celestiall Bread;
And from a Rock (as dry as Pumice first)
Made Riuers gush, to satisfie their Thirst:
Kept (euen) their Shooes, and all their Garments there,
As good, the last, as the first day they were:
And, sith our Soules will faint for want of Food,
Most liberall in All, for all their Good,
Gaue (on Mount Sinai) in his Sacred Lawe,
Soule to their Soules, through sharp-sweet filial Awe:
Teaching them all (as dutie All doth binde)
To loue Him first, and next to Him, Man-kinde;
That We might neuer break That sacred Twine
Which Man to Man, and Man to God doth ioyne.
With Angells Food, with a celestiall Bread;
And from a Rock (as dry as Pumice first)
Made Riuers gush, to satisfie their Thirst:
Kept (euen) their Shooes, and all their Garments there,
As good, the last, as the first day they were:
And, sith our Soules will faint for want of Food,
Most liberall in All, for all their Good,
Gaue (on Mount Sinai) in his Sacred Lawe,
Soule to their Soules, through sharp-sweet filial Awe:
Teaching them all (as dutie All doth binde)
To loue Him first, and next to Him, Man-kinde;
That We might neuer break That sacred Twine
Which Man to Man, and Man to God doth ioyne.
Graue Mases dead, braue Iosuah's rule began;
Whose happy Sword soon conquered Canaan;
And in fewe yeeres into subiection brings
The Liues and States of one and thirty Kings.
At His command, more powerfull then the Thunder,
The firmest Rocks and Rampiers fall in-sunder;
Without the Shock of Tortoise or of Ram,
To batter Breaches where his Armie came:
For, but with bellowing of hoarse Trumps of Horn,
As with an Engine, prowdest Towers are torn:
As at his Beck, the Heav'ns obey his will;
The Fire-foot Coursers of the Sun stand still,
To lengthen Day, lest vnder wings of Night,
His Heathen Foes should saue themselues by Flight.
Whose happy Sword soon conquered Canaan;
And in fewe yeeres into subiection brings
The Liues and States of one and thirty Kings.
At His command, more powerfull then the Thunder,
The firmest Rocks and Rampiers fall in-sunder;
Without the Shock of Tortoise or of Ram,
To batter Breaches where his Armie came:
For, but with bellowing of hoarse Trumps of Horn,
As with an Engine, prowdest Towers are torn:
As at his Beck, the Heav'ns obey his will;
The Fire-foot Coursers of the Sun stand still,
To lengthen Day, lest vnder wings of Night,
His Heathen Foes should saue themselues by Flight.
This scourge of Pagans, in a good old age
(To liue in Heav'n) leauing this Earthly Stage,
Israel had many Magistrates of Name,
Whose Memories liue euer fresh in Fame.
Who knowes not Ahud, Sangar, Samuel,
Debora, Barac, and Othoniel?
Who hath not heard of mighty Samsons Coile,
Who, sole, and Arm-less, did an Army foile?
What Praise with Iepthe's might haue wel compar'd
Had but his Rashnes his deer Daughter spar'd?
VVhat Clime, what Time, what Riuer, Dale or Down
But rings of Gedeon, and his high Renown?
(To liue in Heav'n) leauing this Earthly Stage,
Israel had many Magistrates of Name,
Whose Memories liue euer fresh in Fame.
Who knowes not Ahud, Sangar, Samuel,
Debora, Barac, and Othoniel?
Who hath not heard of mighty Samsons Coile,
Who, sole, and Arm-less, did an Army foile?
What Praise with Iepthe's might haue wel compar'd
Had but his Rashnes his deer Daughter spar'd?
VVhat Clime, what Time, what Riuer, Dale or Down
But rings of Gedeon, and his high Renown?
After the Iudges; Kings (some good, some bad)
The sacred Helm of th'Hebrew Vessell had:
Had I their Dauid's holy Harp and Skill,
Nothing but Dauid would I warble still:
But as (my Lord great Dauid's Deeds, could none
(Yer-while) atchieue, but Dauid's Selfe alone;
Can none but Dauid's Harp, and Dauid's Hymne
Resound aright the Honors due to Him:
I will not therefore, with vnworthy Layes,
Seeming to praise him, derogate his Praise.
The sacred Helm of th'Hebrew Vessell had:
Had I their Dauid's holy Harp and Skill,
Nothing but Dauid would I warble still:
969
(Yer-while) atchieue, but Dauid's Selfe alone;
Can none but Dauid's Harp, and Dauid's Hymne
Resound aright the Honors due to Him:
I will not therefore, with vnworthy Layes,
Seeming to praise him, derogate his Praise.
But, shall I balk his Son, whom Heav'ns adorn
With Health, Wealth, Wisedom, and All-Plenties horn:
Whose prudent Problems, touching euery Theam,
Draw thousand Sophists to Iervsalem,
Arabians, Indians, Africans, among;
Chain'd by the Charms of his All-Skilfull Tongue?
Or Him, whose Zeale the Idols so defac't;
Re-purg'd God's Temple, and his Rites re-plac't?
Or Him, that sawe a heau'nly Hoast descend
To succour Sion, and his Foes offend?
Or Him, whose Army, neer to Gerar, yerst,
Proud Ethyopians swarming Troops disperst?
Or Him, who praying for Heav'ns aide, to fight
'Gainst Ammon, Moab, and Mount-Sëirite;
Saw, dy Themselues, his sad Request ful-filld,
When, Self-incenst, Them-Selues they enter-killd?
With Health, Wealth, Wisedom, and All-Plenties horn:
Whose prudent Problems, touching euery Theam,
Draw thousand Sophists to Iervsalem,
Arabians, Indians, Africans, among;
Chain'd by the Charms of his All-Skilfull Tongue?
Or Him, whose Zeale the Idols so defac't;
Re-purg'd God's Temple, and his Rites re-plac't?
Or Him, that sawe a heau'nly Hoast descend
To succour Sion, and his Foes offend?
Or Him, whose Army, neer to Gerar, yerst,
Proud Ethyopians swarming Troops disperst?
Or Him, who praying for Heav'ns aide, to fight
'Gainst Ammon, Moab, and Mount-Sëirite;
Saw, dy Themselues, his sad Request ful-filld,
When, Self-incenst, Them-Selues they enter-killd?
But Chaldei's King, by Their's Captiuity,
Put (late) an End vnto That Monarchy.
Yet did Great Cyrus Them again restore
To Liberty; and gaue them furthermore
Leaue to elect Two Rulers of their Race:
Whereof the One (who yet supplies the place)
Was Ioachim; who, for his holy Life,
Prowesse, and Prudence, is respected rife,
Not sole in Sion; but with Ammonites,
Syrians, Sydonians, Madians, Moabites.
Put (late) an End vnto That Monarchy.
Yet did Great Cyrus Them again restore
To Liberty; and gaue them furthermore
Leaue to elect Two Rulers of their Race:
Whereof the One (who yet supplies the place)
Was Ioachim; who, for his holy Life,
Prowesse, and Prudence, is respected rife,
Not sole in Sion; but with Ammonites,
Syrians, Sydonians, Madians, Moabites.
Thus was (my Lord) the Prime, this the Progression,
Of Israel, through euery Times succession:
And Thus the Lord hath lift them (nigh) to Heau'n
Som-times; som-times, them (euen) to Hell hath driv'n.
Of Israel, through euery Times succession:
And Thus the Lord hath lift them (nigh) to Heau'n
Som-times; som-times, them (euen) to Hell hath driv'n.
But, whether Princely-Priest, or Iudge, or King,
Of th'Hebrew Tribes haue had the Gouerning;
So long as They obseru'd the sacred Pact
God with their Fathers did by Oath contract;
Ay prosperous, tryumphantly they troad
On proudest Foes: and all the World abroad,
Conspir'd in Spight, could nothing Them annoy,
Much lesse distract them; least of all, destroy:
On th'other side, soon as they haue infreng'd
His Ordinance, their God (to be aveng'd)
Hath thrall'd them, now, to cruell Moabites,
Anon to Edom, then to Ammonites,
Then Philistins: and ay his Wrath hath bin
Heauy vpon them, when they hap to sin.
Of th'Hebrew Tribes haue had the Gouerning;
So long as They obseru'd the sacred Pact
God with their Fathers did by Oath contract;
Ay prosperous, tryumphantly they troad
On proudest Foes: and all the World abroad,
Conspir'd in Spight, could nothing Them annoy,
Much lesse distract them; least of all, destroy:
On th'other side, soon as they haue infreng'd
His Ordinance, their God (to be aveng'd)
Hath thrall'd them, now, to cruell Moabites,
Anon to Edom, then to Ammonites,
970
Heauy vpon them, when they hap to sin.
If so be therefore, any their Offence
The iealous Iustice of their God incense;
Mine not their Mounts, nor vndermine their Bowers,
Nor bring thy Rams against their rampir'd Towers,
Nor scale their Walls, nor lead thy Legions
(With Resolution) to assault them once:
For, let them heap, on Carmel Libanus;
On Liban, Niphate; there-on Emmaus:
Yea, in one Chanel let them muster hither
Indus and Rhone, Nilus and Rhine together,
Tiber and Iber too, to fence their Coast:
They cannot scape from thy victorious Hoast.
The iealous Iustice of their God incense;
Mine not their Mounts, nor vndermine their Bowers,
Nor bring thy Rams against their rampir'd Towers,
Nor scale their Walls, nor lead thy Legions
(With Resolution) to assault them once:
For, let them heap, on Carmel Libanus;
On Liban, Niphate; there-on Emmaus:
Yea, in one Chanel let them muster hither
Indus and Rhone, Nilus and Rhine together,
Tiber and Iber too, to fence their Coast:
They cannot scape from thy victorious Hoast.
But, if they haue not broke the Covenant
Which God to Abraham and his Seed did grant:
Beware (my Lord) beware how you come neer
This Holy Nation, to their God so deer.
For should swart Auster him dispeople quight
To furnish Thee with all His, fit to fight:
Should swarming Boreas from His vtmost end
All His tall Souldiers to Thy seruice send:
Should Zephyrus add to Thy dreadfull Power
His martiall Legions, all Hesperians Flower:
Should (lastly) Eurius send Thee for Supplyes
His Troops which first see Phœbus Rayes arise:
All These, all-daring, all-devouring Swarms,
This armed World, or all This World of Arms
Could neuer conquer (in a thousand yeere)
The least, worst, weakest, of these Cities heer;
Because Their God will be Their sure Defence:
That God almighty, whose Omnipotence
Can with a breath confound all Kings that dare
(As Thou doost now) 'gainst Him make open War.
Which God to Abraham and his Seed did grant:
Beware (my Lord) beware how you come neer
This Holy Nation, to their God so deer.
For should swart Auster him dispeople quight
To furnish Thee with all His, fit to fight:
Should swarming Boreas from His vtmost end
All His tall Souldiers to Thy seruice send:
Should Zephyrus add to Thy dreadfull Power
His martiall Legions, all Hesperians Flower:
Should (lastly) Eurius send Thee for Supplyes
His Troops which first see Phœbus Rayes arise:
All These, all-daring, all-devouring Swarms,
This armed World, or all This World of Arms
Could neuer conquer (in a thousand yeere)
The least, worst, weakest, of these Cities heer;
Because Their God will be Their sure Defence:
That God almighty, whose Omnipotence
Can with a breath confound all Kings that dare
(As Thou doost now) 'gainst Him make open War.
As th'Oceans Billowes swell not by and by,
When (first) the Winds begin to bellow high;
But, first begin to foam, and then to fume
Higher, and higher, till their Rage presume
To chide the Earth, and check the Welkins Front,
And bandy Hills against the Heav'nly Mount:
Euen so, the Princes of this Pagan Rout,
Hearing God's prayses, forth-with break not out
In ragefull Furie; but as th'Ammonite
Growes in Discourse, so grow they in Despight;
Till at the last, with loud, proud murmurings,
They euen blaspheme the glorious King of Kings.
When (first) the Winds begin to bellow high;
But, first begin to foam, and then to fume
Higher, and higher, till their Rage presume
To chide the Earth, and check the Welkins Front,
And bandy Hills against the Heav'nly Mount:
Euen so, the Princes of this Pagan Rout,
Hearing God's prayses, forth-with break not out
In ragefull Furie; but as th'Ammonite
Growes in Discourse, so grow they in Despight;
Till at the last, with loud, proud murmurings,
They euen blaspheme the glorious King of Kings.
Kill (cry they) kill; let's heaw and hale in peeces
The subrile Traytor, that with wylie Speeches,
To saue his Hebrews from Rhamnusias Rod,
Would fright vs with a false and idle God.
The subrile Traytor, that with wylie Speeches,
971
Would fright vs with a false and idle God.
Renowned Generall, send but out a score
Of All thy Troops, and they shall soon run-o're
Those rascall Rebels; and reduce them all
Prostrate and humble at Thy feet to fall:
Ah Coward, Villain. But the Vice-Roy then,
Stopping their lowd outrageous Storms again,
Began him Selfe Thus to the Ammonite;
Of All thy Troops, and they shall soon run-o're
Those rascall Rebels; and reduce them all
Prostrate and humble at Thy feet to fall:
Ah Coward, Villain. But the Vice-Roy then,
Stopping their lowd outrageous Storms again,
Began him Selfe Thus to the Ammonite;
O, impudent Impostor! Tell Mee (right)
What Fiend, what Fury hath inspir'd these Spels:
What Trevet told thee, or what Sibyl else
Made thee belieue the Syrians shall not quell
Th'Isaacian Troop, but stoope to Israel,
Whose God is but their Dreame, or Fansie vain,
Or meer Deuice of Moses subtile brain;
Neither, of power to giue them Victorie,
Nor from Our hands to rescue Them nor Thee.
What God haue we, but the great King of Kings,
Nabvchadnezzar? whose drad puissance rings
O're all the Earth: who couering far and nigh,
The Plains with Horse, Hills with Infanterie,
Shall raze these Runnagates; which, fled from Nile,
Haue heer vsurped Others Right yer-while,
Die therefore, Villain, die; take the desert
Of thy false Tongue, and of thy treacherous heart.
What Fiend, what Fury hath inspir'd these Spels:
What Trevet told thee, or what Sibyl else
Made thee belieue the Syrians shall not quell
Th'Isaacian Troop, but stoope to Israel,
Whose God is but their Dreame, or Fansie vain,
Or meer Deuice of Moses subtile brain;
Neither, of power to giue them Victorie,
Nor from Our hands to rescue Them nor Thee.
What God haue we, but the great King of Kings,
Nabvchadnezzar? whose drad puissance rings
O're all the Earth: who couering far and nigh,
The Plains with Horse, Hills with Infanterie,
Shall raze these Runnagates; which, fled from Nile,
Haue heer vsurped Others Right yer-while,
Die therefore, Villain, die; take the desert
Of thy false Tongue, and of thy treacherous heart.
What said I, fond? No, Dastard, I disdain
My valiant Blade in Thy base bloud to stain:
Thou shalt so quickly not receiue the meed
Of thy disloyall and detested Deed
(For, a quick Death is Wretches blisse, wee know;
Them quickly ridding both of Life and Woe)
But, with thy Dayes thy Dolors to protrack,
Thou shalt from hence vnto Bethulia pack,
Where still thou shalt, through infinite dismay,
Vndying, die a thousand times a day;
Vntill, with Those invincible (thou saist)
With thousand wounds a wretched End thou hast.
Why tremblest Thou? why doth thy colour faile?
Why seems thy heart for horror so to quaile?
If so Their God be God (as thou hast vanted)
Now, by thy Face witnesse thy faith, vndanted.
My valiant Blade in Thy base bloud to stain:
Thou shalt so quickly not receiue the meed
Of thy disloyall and detested Deed
(For, a quick Death is Wretches blisse, wee know;
Them quickly ridding both of Life and Woe)
But, with thy Dayes thy Dolors to protrack,
Thou shalt from hence vnto Bethulia pack,
Where still thou shalt, through infinite dismay,
Vndying, die a thousand times a day;
Vntill, with Those invincible (thou saist)
With thousand wounds a wretched End thou hast.
Why tremblest Thou? why doth thy colour faile?
Why seems thy heart for horror so to quaile?
If so Their God be God (as thou hast vanted)
Now, by thy Face witnesse thy faith, vndanted.
Then, the Lord Marshall, in Authoritie
Vnder the Vice-Roy, not in crueltie,
Transporteth speedy, neer Bethulias side
Th'vn-pagan Pagan, hand and foot fast ty'd;
Leauing His Troops wounded with wondrous griefe
To be depriued of so braue a Chiefe:
Euen so the Puttock in his croked Serrs
The peeping Chicken through the Welkin bears;
While the poore Dam, below cluck-clucking thick,
Cryes, but in vain, and calles her rapted Chick.
Vnder the Vice-Roy, not in crueltie,
Transporteth speedy, neer Bethulias side
Th'vn-pagan Pagan, hand and foot fast ty'd;
Leauing His Troops wounded with wondrous griefe
To be depriued of so braue a Chiefe:
972
The peeping Chicken through the Welkin bears;
While the poore Dam, below cluck-clucking thick,
Cryes, but in vain, and calles her rapted Chick.
The Citizens, seeing the approach of Foes,
Soon in alarm them all to Arm dispose;
And, with meet Number of their Men of worth,
And choice Commanders, brauely sally forth;
Faster then Torrents, gushing from the Hills,
Run hopping downe into the lower Fields.
The Foe, retiring to their mightier Bands,
Leaues captiue Ammon in the Hebrews hands;
Whom with a forced foot, though free in thought,
And Will right willing, to their Town they brought
Where, round-environd with a curious Crowde,
Lifting to Heav'n his hands and eyes, aloude
Thus hee began: O Thou great God, the Guide
Of Heau'n and Earth, and All that is beside;
VVhose liuing Spirit (spred in, and over All)
Giues All things Life, Breath, Growth, Originall,
I giue thee, Lord, a thousand Thanks deuout,
That thou hast daign'd, yer death, to take me out
Of my wilde Stock, to graft me in the Stem
Of th'happy Tree, deaw'd with thy Gracious stream;
Which (maugre Blasts, and Blastings, rough and rife)
Of All the Trees, bears onely Fruit of Life.
Soon in alarm them all to Arm dispose;
And, with meet Number of their Men of worth,
And choice Commanders, brauely sally forth;
Faster then Torrents, gushing from the Hills,
Run hopping downe into the lower Fields.
The Foe, retiring to their mightier Bands,
Leaues captiue Ammon in the Hebrews hands;
Whom with a forced foot, though free in thought,
And Will right willing, to their Town they brought
Where, round-environd with a curious Crowde,
Lifting to Heav'n his hands and eyes, aloude
Thus hee began: O Thou great God, the Guide
Of Heau'n and Earth, and All that is beside;
VVhose liuing Spirit (spred in, and over All)
Giues All things Life, Breath, Growth, Originall,
I giue thee, Lord, a thousand Thanks deuout,
That thou hast daign'd, yer death, to take me out
Of my wilde Stock, to graft me in the Stem
Of th'happy Tree, deaw'd with thy Gracious stream;
Which (maugre Blasts, and Blastings, rough and rife)
Of All the Trees, bears onely Fruit of Life.
And, good Isacians, for God's sake, I pray
Miss-doubt me not, as comming to betray,
Or vnder-mine by wylie Stratagem,
Your Strength or State; or wrong Iervsalem.
No: God doth knowe, I suffer This, for You,
For witnessing before yon wicked Crew,
God's mighty Arm for Your Fore-Fathers shown,
As ready still, to saue and shield his Own.
Miss-doubt me not, as comming to betray,
Or vnder-mine by wylie Stratagem,
Your Strength or State; or wrong Iervsalem.
No: God doth knowe, I suffer This, for You,
For witnessing before yon wicked Crew,
God's mighty Arm for Your Fore-Fathers shown,
As ready still, to saue and shield his Own.
Feare not therefore Their mighty multitude,
Whose sight (almost) so many hath subdewd,
Nor let their Boasts, nor brauing Menaces,
Kill, quaile, or coole, your holy Courages:
For, should the whole Earth send her Sonnes, in swarms,
Against you onely, all to carry Arms;
So that your Trust be fixt in God alone,
Not in an Arme of Flesh, not in your Own;
You shall, no doubt, make ruddy, Mocmur's Flood,
With Idolist Assyrian Armies blood:
You shall, no doubt, of Fearfull, Fierce become,
Your strong Assailants stoutly ouer-come.
Th'Almighties hand, so ready bent to smight,
Is, but to humble, not destroy you quight;
And, but to shew you, that in all Distress,
Hee, only Hee, can give you quick Redress.
Whose sight (almost) so many hath subdewd,
Nor let their Boasts, nor brauing Menaces,
Kill, quaile, or coole, your holy Courages:
For, should the whole Earth send her Sonnes, in swarms,
Against you onely, all to carry Arms;
So that your Trust be fixt in God alone,
Not in an Arme of Flesh, not in your Own;
You shall, no doubt, make ruddy, Mocmur's Flood,
With Idolist Assyrian Armies blood:
You shall, no doubt, of Fearfull, Fierce become,
Your strong Assailants stoutly ouer-come.
Th'Almighties hand, so ready bent to smight,
Is, but to humble, not destroy you quight;
973
Hee, only Hee, can give you quick Redress.
As from a Bramble springs the sweetest Rose;
As from a Weed the whitest Lilly growes:
Even so, divinest Sighes, devoutest Tears,
Demurest Life, are Fruits Affliction bears.
For, heer the Faithfull are much like the Earth,
Which, of it Selfe (alas!) brings nothing forth
But Thorns and Thistles, if the Plough she lack,
With daily wounds to launce her bunchy back.
But yet the Lord (who alwaies doth relent,
So soon as Sinners earnestly repent,
And, in his time, his sharp hand doth retire,
And cast, at last, his Rods into the Fire)
Will rid your dangers, and restore you rest,
Even in an houre, when you can hope it least.
As from a Weed the whitest Lilly growes:
Even so, divinest Sighes, devoutest Tears,
Demurest Life, are Fruits Affliction bears.
For, heer the Faithfull are much like the Earth,
Which, of it Selfe (alas!) brings nothing forth
But Thorns and Thistles, if the Plough she lack,
With daily wounds to launce her bunchy back.
But yet the Lord (who alwaies doth relent,
So soon as Sinners earnestly repent,
And, in his time, his sharp hand doth retire,
And cast, at last, his Rods into the Fire)
Will rid your dangers, and restore you rest,
Even in an houre, when you can hope it least.
Then, courage, Friends: let's vanquish God with Tears;
And then Our Arms shall quickly conquer Theirs,
Their World of Men. And, if as yet in Mee
Rest any Strength; if any Courage bee;
If mine Experience may in ought availe:
If with mine Age, all be not old and fraile:
I vow it all, and All that else is Mine,
To your Defence, and for the Law divine.
And then Our Arms shall quickly conquer Theirs,
Their World of Men. And, if as yet in Mee
Rest any Strength; if any Courage bee;
If mine Experience may in ought availe:
If with mine Age, all be not old and fraile:
I vow it all, and All that else is Mine,
To your Defence, and for the Law divine.
The end of the second Booke.
974
The Third Booke.
Flame-snorting
Phlegon's ruddy breath began,
Reducing Day, to gild the Indian;
When early wakened with their ratling Drums,
Each Heathen Souldier from his Caban comes,
Takes-vp his Arms; and marching in Array,
Towards Bethulia tends the ready way.
Reducing Day, to gild the Indian;
When early wakened with their ratling Drums,
Each Heathen Souldier from his Caban comes,
Takes-vp his Arms; and marching in Array,
Towards Bethulia tends the ready way.
In May, the Meads are not so py'd with Flowers,
Of sundry Figures, Colours, Savours, Powers;
As was this Hoast, with Squadrons, different
In Language, Maners, Arms, and Ornament:
So that th'old Chäos (wombe of th'Vniverse)
Was never made of Members more diverse.
Yet, heer-in All agreed, for all their Ods,
To warre against th'Eternall God of Gods,
Whose breath, whose beck, makes both the Poles to shake,
And Caucasus and Libanus to quake.
Of sundry Figures, Colours, Savours, Powers;
As was this Hoast, with Squadrons, different
In Language, Maners, Arms, and Ornament:
So that th'old Chäos (wombe of th'Vniverse)
Was never made of Members more diverse.
Yet, heer-in All agreed, for all their Ods,
To warre against th'Eternall God of Gods,
Whose breath, whose beck, makes both the Poles to shake,
And Caucasus and Libanus to quake.
Heer, cold Hyrcania's bold and braving Seed,
Mixt with (Their neighbours) both Armenias Breed,
Wave wanton Crests. There, Parthian Archers try
Backward to shoot, the while they forward fly.
The Persian, there, proud of th'Imperiall state,
With golden scales scalops his Armed plate.
Heer would the Mede show, that for want of Hap,
Not Heart, He lost His (late) Imperiall Cap.
And that, nor Pomp of his too sumptuous Suits;
His painted Cheeks, his Phrygik Layes and Lutes;
His crisped Bush, not his long, borrowed Lock,
Had ever power his Manly mind to smock:
Happy-Arabians, who their Fern-thatcht Townes
Tumble in Tumbrels vp and downe the Downes:
The subtle Tyrians, who did first invent,
Our winged words, in Barks of Trees to print:
The men of Moab, and the Ammonites,
The Iduméans, and the Elamites,
Learned Ægyptians: Those that neer confine
The swelting Coasts of swartest Abyssine:
In briefe; All Asia was immur'd almost
Within the Trenches of This mighty Hoast;
Wherein, wel-neer as many Nations clustred,
As th'Hebrews Army single Souldiers mustred.
Mixt with (Their neighbours) both Armenias Breed,
Wave wanton Crests. There, Parthian Archers try
Backward to shoot, the while they forward fly.
The Persian, there, proud of th'Imperiall state,
With golden scales scalops his Armed plate.
Heer would the Mede show, that for want of Hap,
Not Heart, He lost His (late) Imperiall Cap.
And that, nor Pomp of his too sumptuous Suits;
His painted Cheeks, his Phrygik Layes and Lutes;
His crisped Bush, not his long, borrowed Lock,
Had ever power his Manly mind to smock:
Happy-Arabians, who their Fern-thatcht Townes
Tumble in Tumbrels vp and downe the Downes:
The subtle Tyrians, who did first invent,
Our winged words, in Barks of Trees to print:
975
The Iduméans, and the Elamites,
Learned Ægyptians: Those that neer confine
The swelting Coasts of swartest Abyssine:
In briefe; All Asia was immur'd almost
Within the Trenches of This mighty Hoast;
Wherein, wel-neer as many Nations clustred,
As th'Hebrews Army single Souldiers mustred.
But, of all These, none plagu'd the Israelites,
More, then their owne Apostate Ephraimites;
Who, not to seem of kin to Israel,
Rag'd with more fury, fought more deadly fell.
As, in the Spring time, while a Poole is still,
And smooth aloft, the Froggs lye croaking shrill;
But if the least Stone that a Child can fling
But stir the water, straight they cease to sing:
So, while a happy Peace Ivdea blest,
The Constancy of These stood with the best
Among the Saints; and the Lord's sacred Praise
Was in their mouthes daily and many waies;
So that they seem'd like burning Lamps to shine
Amid the Flock, devoutly-most-divine:
But, at the Noyse of Holofernes Name,
Their famous Faith nothing but ayre became;
Their Mouth is stopr, the Zeale they did presume
So highly hot, is vanisht into Fume.
Nay, turned Pagans (for som Profits sake)
They, worse then Pagans, their poor Brethren rake.
More, then their owne Apostate Ephraimites;
Who, not to seem of kin to Israel,
Rag'd with more fury, fought more deadly fell.
As, in the Spring time, while a Poole is still,
And smooth aloft, the Froggs lye croaking shrill;
But if the least Stone that a Child can fling
But stir the water, straight they cease to sing:
So, while a happy Peace Ivdea blest,
The Constancy of These stood with the best
Among the Saints; and the Lord's sacred Praise
Was in their mouthes daily and many waies;
So that they seem'd like burning Lamps to shine
Amid the Flock, devoutly-most-divine:
But, at the Noyse of Holofernes Name,
Their famous Faith nothing but ayre became;
Their Mouth is stopr, the Zeale they did presume
So highly hot, is vanisht into Fume.
Nay, turned Pagans (for som Profits sake)
They, worse then Pagans, their poor Brethren rake.
O! what a Number of such Ephraimites
Are now-adayes (Deceitfull Hypocrites!)
With-in the Church, the while a prosperous winde,
With gentle Gales, blowes fair and full behinde;
Which seem with Zeal the Gospel to imbrace,
While that it yeelds them either Gain, or Grace:
But, if the Chance change; if it hap to puffe
But halfe afront; if She be fain to luffe;
Faint-hearted, then forth-with they cast about:
And, with th'Almighty playing banque-rout,
With greater Rage his Law they persecute,
Then yerst with Zeal they did it prosecute;
And in their Malice growe more fierce and furious,
Then Iulian yerst, or Celsus, or Porphyrius.
Are now-adayes (Deceitfull Hypocrites!)
With-in the Church, the while a prosperous winde,
With gentle Gales, blowes fair and full behinde;
Which seem with Zeal the Gospel to imbrace,
While that it yeelds them either Gain, or Grace:
But, if the Chance change; if it hap to puffe
But halfe afront; if She be fain to luffe;
Faint-hearted, then forth-with they cast about:
And, with th'Almighty playing banque-rout,
With greater Rage his Law they persecute,
Then yerst with Zeal they did it prosecute;
And in their Malice growe more fierce and furious,
Then Iulian yerst, or Celsus, or Porphyrius.
Soon as the Hebrews from their Turrets spy
So many Ensignes waving in the Sky;
And such an Hoast, marching in such Array,
Begirt a farre their Citie every way:
They faint for dread; not having where to run,
Save to the GOD their Grandsires trusted on.
So many Ensignes waving in the Sky;
And such an Hoast, marching in such Array,
Begirt a farre their Citie every way:
They faint for dread; not having where to run,
Save to the GOD their Grandsires trusted on.
976
O Father (cry they) Father of Compassion,
Whose wing is wont to be our strong Salvation;
Sith now against vs all the World doth swarm,
O! Cover vs with thine Almighty arm.
Whose wing is wont to be our strong Salvation;
Sith now against vs all the World doth swarm,
O! Cover vs with thine Almighty arm.
Thus having pray'd, the Carefull Gouernour
To Charge his Watches doth him quick bestir;
And when the Sun in his moist Cabin dives,
With hundred Fires the Day again revives;
Watches himselfe amid the Court of Guard;
Walks oft the Round: and weens, that over-hard
Phœbe's black Coachman drives his sable Steeds,
Hebrews neer Ruine hasting more then needs;
While, opposite, the Pagans think her fast
With her Endymion, in a slumber cast:
But, Mens frail wishes have (alas!) no force,
To hold, or hasten, the Heav'ns settled Course.
To Charge his Watches doth him quick bestir;
And when the Sun in his moist Cabin dives,
With hundred Fires the Day again revives;
Watches himselfe amid the Court of Guard;
Walks oft the Round: and weens, that over-hard
Phœbe's black Coachman drives his sable Steeds,
Hebrews neer Ruine hasting more then needs;
While, opposite, the Pagans think her fast
With her Endymion, in a slumber cast:
But, Mens frail wishes have (alas!) no force,
To hold, or hasten, the Heav'ns settled Course.
Soon as the saw Aurora's saffron ray
On their Horizon to renew the Day;
The Vice-Roy makes a thousand Trumpets sound,
T'assemble all his scatter'd Troops around;
Which from all parts with speedy pases went
Environing their Chief-Commanders Tent:
As round about a Huntsman, in a morn,
The Hounds do throng when once they hear his horn.
On their Horizon to renew the Day;
The Vice-Roy makes a thousand Trumpets sound,
T'assemble all his scatter'd Troops around;
Which from all parts with speedy pases went
Environing their Chief-Commanders Tent:
As round about a Huntsman, in a morn,
The Hounds do throng when once they hear his horn.
Having, in vain, summon'd the Town; he tries
A hundred wayes, it (wrathfull) to surprise:
Heer, th'Enginer begins his Ram to reare;
Heer mounts his Trepan, and his Scorpion there;
Bends heer his Bricol, there his boysterous Bowe;
Brings heer his Fly-Bridge, there his batt'ring Crowe:
Besides high Timber-Towers, on rowling Feet
Mov'd and remov'd; contorlling every Street.
A hundred wayes, it (wrathfull) to surprise:
Heer, th'Enginer begins his Ram to reare;
Heer mounts his Trepan, and his Scorpion there;
Bends heer his Bricol, there his boysterous Bowe;
Brings heer his Fly-Bridge, there his batt'ring Crowe:
Besides high Timber-Towers, on rowling Feet
Mov'd and remov'd; contorlling every Street.
Heer, Pioners are put the Ditch to fill;
To levell Mounts, to make a Hole a Hill:
To play the Moules, to dig a secret way,
Into the Town their Souldiers to convay.
To levell Mounts, to make a Hole a Hill:
To play the Moules, to dig a secret way,
Into the Town their Souldiers to convay.
Heer, others must their Ladders raise the while,
And quick surprise the Sentinels, by wile:
Others must vnder-mine: others aspire,
With matter fitting, every Gate to fire.
And quick surprise the Sentinels, by wile:
Others must vnder-mine: others aspire,
With matter fitting, every Gate to fire.
But the most part stand ready in Array
To give Assault, soon as they see their Way
Made meet and easie by the battering Thunder
Of all their Engines pashing Wals in sunder.
To give Assault, soon as they see their Way
Made meet and easie by the battering Thunder
Of all their Engines pashing Wals in sunder.
Tower-tearing Mars, Bellona thirsting-blood,
Fill there the faintest with their Furious-mood:
There fiery Steeds, stamping and neighing loud;
There Pagans fell, braving and raving proud,
With hideous noise make th'Heav'nly Vault resound,
The Earth to eccho; and even Hell astound.
Fill there the faintest with their Furious-mood:
There fiery Steeds, stamping and neighing loud;
There Pagans fell, braving and raving proud,
977
The Earth to eccho; and even Hell astound.
But He that keeps eternall Sentinell
On Heav'ns high Watch-Tower, for His Israel
Pittying his People, alters, in a trice,
The Tyrants purpose, by a new Advice;
Causing the Captains of brave Moabites,
Strong Iduméans, and stout Ammonites,
Thus to advise: Most noble Generall,
Terror of Kings, redoubted Scourge of All;
We would not wish (my Lord) in any sort,
You bring Your brave Bands to assault this Fort:
For, neither Pike, Dart, Sling, Bowe, Sword, nor Shield,
So back the Foe, or make them slack to yeeld;
As these proud Rocks, which, by wise Natures grace,
Rampire the Rampires of this wretched Place:
Which yer You scale, vndoubtedly will cost
Ladders of Bodies; and even Tythe your Hoast.
The Victor is no Victor, if his Gain
Pass not his Loss; nor th'Honor droun the Stain.
Wise-valiant Prince, that Fisher, Fool we hold,
Who for a Gull, venters a Line of Gold:
And, ill doth th'Honor of a Crown beseem
Th'inhumane, bloody, barbarous, Head of Him
Who rather would the Death of many Foes,
Then Life and Safety of one Friend, to chose.
On Heav'ns high Watch-Tower, for His Israel
Pittying his People, alters, in a trice,
The Tyrants purpose, by a new Advice;
Causing the Captains of brave Moabites,
Strong Iduméans, and stout Ammonites,
Thus to advise: Most noble Generall,
Terror of Kings, redoubted Scourge of All;
We would not wish (my Lord) in any sort,
You bring Your brave Bands to assault this Fort:
For, neither Pike, Dart, Sling, Bowe, Sword, nor Shield,
So back the Foe, or make them slack to yeeld;
As these proud Rocks, which, by wise Natures grace,
Rampire the Rampires of this wretched Place:
Which yer You scale, vndoubtedly will cost
Ladders of Bodies; and even Tythe your Hoast.
The Victor is no Victor, if his Gain
Pass not his Loss; nor th'Honor droun the Stain.
Wise-valiant Prince, that Fisher, Fool we hold,
Who for a Gull, venters a Line of Gold:
And, ill doth th'Honor of a Crown beseem
Th'inhumane, bloody, barbarous, Head of Him
Who rather would the Death of many Foes,
Then Life and Safety of one Friend, to chose.
You may (my Lord) you may, with-out Assault,
Or Loss of Man, reduce them all to nought,
If in yon Hillocks you but seize the Springs,
Whence hollow Lead the Hebrews Water brings;
Who, so by Thirst distrest, and so put to't,
Will come and cast them haltred at your Foot.
Or Loss of Man, reduce them all to nought,
If in yon Hillocks you but seize the Springs,
Whence hollow Lead the Hebrews Water brings;
Who, so by Thirst distrest, and so put to't,
Will come and cast them haltred at your Foot.
The noble Lion never sets-vpon
Base fearfull Beasts, but on the noblest one:
Iove's sulphury Darts He seld or never thrils
But on Mount Atlas, or the Ryphean Hills:
And stormfull Auster, ever rather smote
Clowd-cleaving Turrets then a lowly Cote:
No more, no more let your drad Arms assail
So faint a Foe as of himself will quail.
Base fearfull Beasts, but on the noblest one:
Iove's sulphury Darts He seld or never thrils
But on Mount Atlas, or the Ryphean Hills:
And stormfull Auster, ever rather smote
Clowd-cleaving Turrets then a lowly Cote:
No more, no more let your drad Arms assail
So faint a Foe as of himself will quail.
It is not Fear (my Lord) and much-less Pittie;
(Fear of our Selves, or Fauour to the Citie)
Makes vs oppose vs to Thy Purpose yet:
For, yer that We Thy happy Standards quit:
For Thee will We defie th'immortall Gods:
For Thee Wee 'll break their Altars all to Clods:
For Thee will We march with vnweary soles,
Beyond the Artik and Antartik Poles:
For Thee will We with winged Arms go fetch
Iove's Aigle down; and Neptune's Trident snatch:
For Thee, the Sonne shall not his Sire forbear,
Nor Sire the Sonne; nor Brother, Brother spare.
(Fear of our Selves, or Fauour to the Citie)
Makes vs oppose vs to Thy Purpose yet:
For, yer that We Thy happy Standards quit:
For Thee will We defie th'immortall Gods:
For Thee Wee 'll break their Altars all to Clods:
For Thee will We march with vnweary soles,
Beyond the Artik and Antartik Poles:
978
Iove's Aigle down; and Neptune's Trident snatch:
For Thee, the Sonne shall not his Sire forbear,
Nor Sire the Sonne; nor Brother, Brother spare.
The Generall, who for Avail revolves,
Peizes this Counsail; and re-peiz'd, resolves:
Dispatching speedy a selected Force,
To seize the Waters, and divert their Course.
Peizes this Counsail; and re-peiz'd, resolves:
Dispatching speedy a selected Force,
To seize the Waters, and divert their Course.
Th'Hebrews, Their Drift, and their Owne Danger see
In that Attempt: so sally instantly
To stop the Foe from stopping of the Stream
Which should deriue Liquor and Life to Them.
In that Attempt: so sally instantly
To stop the Foe from stopping of the Stream
Which should deriue Liquor and Life to Them.
Then Pagans fighting for ambitious Fame;
Iewes, not to die with vn-revenged Shame;
Bravely incounter with so fell Disdain,
That now the Pagan flyes, now fights again;
Followes his Flying Foe: and now the Iew,
Nigh foiled, faints; now doth the Fight renew:
So that fair Victory seems long to waver,
As it were, doubtfull whether side to fauour:
Till (at the last) th'Hebrews, all over spread
With Clowds of Shot, back to their Bulwark fled:
Even as a Pilgrim, in the naked Plain
Meeting a Storm of mighty Hail or Rain,
Runs dropping wet some hollow Rock to finde,
Or other Covert built by Nature kinde.
Pagans pursue them, and pel-mel among
Enter almost the Citie in the Throng.
Then every where did dreadfull Noise arise:
From street to street th'amazed Vulgar flyes;
Tearing their haire, beating their brest and face:
As if the Foe had euen possest the Place.
Iewes, not to die with vn-revenged Shame;
Bravely incounter with so fell Disdain,
That now the Pagan flyes, now fights again;
Followes his Flying Foe: and now the Iew,
Nigh foiled, faints; now doth the Fight renew:
So that fair Victory seems long to waver,
As it were, doubtfull whether side to fauour:
Till (at the last) th'Hebrews, all over spread
With Clowds of Shot, back to their Bulwark fled:
Even as a Pilgrim, in the naked Plain
Meeting a Storm of mighty Hail or Rain,
Runs dropping wet some hollow Rock to finde,
Or other Covert built by Nature kinde.
Pagans pursue them, and pel-mel among
Enter almost the Citie in the Throng.
Then every where did dreadfull Noise arise:
From street to street th'amazed Vulgar flyes;
Tearing their haire, beating their brest and face:
As if the Foe had euen possest the Place.
Why flie ye Cowards? Whither? Doe you knowe?
What Fortress have you, if you This forgoe?
Or, in this Citie seek you for a stronger,
To gard you better, or preserve you longer?
If now (alas!) you dare not beare you stout
Against the Foe, while he is yet with-out;
How will you dare resist his violence,
Were he once Master of your weak Defence?
What Fortress have you, if you This forgoe?
Or, in this Citie seek you for a stronger,
To gard you better, or preserve you longer?
If now (alas!) you dare not beare you stout
Against the Foe, while he is yet with-out;
How will you dare resist his violence,
Were he once Master of your weak Defence?
The People, chid thus by their prudent Chief,
Som-what re-heart'ned, rescue with relief
Cambris and Carmis; who, the while like Towers,
Had in the Gate witstood the Assaulting Stowers
Of almost all the furious Infidels.
For Lance, a long Mast, either strongly welds,
For Arms an Anvile; each a massie Targe
Of steel about his neck, as long as large:
Adown their shoulders from their Helms did wave
Thick Plumie Clowds of Colours-brightly brave:
Both like, in Age, in Courage, Name, and Nature;
Both like, in bulk, both like in Strength and Stature.
Both, like two Popplars which (on either side
Some silver Brook) their tressie Tops do hide
Amid the Clouds; and shaken by the winde,
Oft kiss each other, like Two Brethren kinde.
Som-what re-heart'ned, rescue with relief
Cambris and Carmis; who, the while like Towers,
Had in the Gate witstood the Assaulting Stowers
Of almost all the furious Infidels.
For Lance, a long Mast, either strongly welds,
For Arms an Anvile; each a massie Targe
Of steel about his neck, as long as large:
979
Thick Plumie Clowds of Colours-brightly brave:
Both like, in Age, in Courage, Name, and Nature;
Both like, in bulk, both like in Strength and Stature.
Both, like two Popplars which (on either side
Some silver Brook) their tressie Tops do hide
Amid the Clouds; and shaken by the winde,
Oft kiss each other, like Two Brethren kinde.
The Heathen, seeing still fresh Troops descend
From every side, the Citie to defend;
Leave-off their On-set: and welnigh disbanded,
Gladly retreat whither their Heads commanded.
From every side, the Citie to defend;
Leave-off their On-set: and welnigh disbanded,
Gladly retreat whither their Heads commanded.
When I consider the extream distress
Which thirty Dayes did the Bethulians press;
Song sad enough I hardly can invent,
So deadly Plight lively to represent:
My hand for horror shakes, and can no more
Guide on this page my Pen as heretofore:
Yet doo mine Eyes with Tears bedeaw it so,
It well appears a subiect full of Woe.
Which thirty Dayes did the Bethulians press;
Song sad enough I hardly can invent,
So deadly Plight lively to represent:
My hand for horror shakes, and can no more
Guide on this page my Pen as heretofore:
Yet doo mine Eyes with Tears bedeaw it so,
It well appears a subiect full of Woe.
Thou Spirit which doost all Spirits vivifie;
Which didst vnloose the Tongue of Zacharie;
And, through the World thy sacred Name to preach,
Thy Messengers so sundry Tongues didst teach:
Direct my wearie Quill, my Courage raise,
That I, This Work may finish to Thy Praise.
Which didst vnloose the Tongue of Zacharie;
And, through the World thy sacred Name to preach,
Thy Messengers so sundry Tongues didst teach:
Direct my wearie Quill, my Courage raise,
That I, This Work may finish to Thy Praise.
Though th'Hebrews saw their Town, on every part,
Not with an Hoast, but with a World begirt,
Yet had they Hope the long Siege would no less
Consume th'Assyrians, then themselues distress:
But when the Foe had all the Pipes depriv'd,
Whence, Water yerst the sacred Town deriv'd,
Alas! their Hope and even their heart did shrink,
As quite cut-off, and dry'd vp with their Drink.
Not with an Hoast, but with a World begirt,
Yet had they Hope the long Siege would no less
Consume th'Assyrians, then themselues distress:
But when the Foe had all the Pipes depriv'd,
Whence, Water yerst the sacred Town deriv'd,
Alas! their Hope and even their heart did shrink,
As quite cut-off, and dry'd vp with their Drink.
The Rulers though (yer Bondage, Death to take)
Give to the People what Themselves did lack:
To wit, a hope, Water enough to keep
In private Troughs, and publike Cesterns deep;
Both Citizens and Souldiers to suffice,
So that they would be moderate and wise.
Give to the People what Themselves did lack:
To wit, a hope, Water enough to keep
In private Troughs, and publike Cesterns deep;
Both Citizens and Souldiers to suffice,
So that they would be moderate and wise.
So: th'Officers divide in silver measures,
To all, of all sorts, of these liquid Treasures,
This welcom Liquor; which might serve (at first)
To keep their life a while, not quench their Thirst.
To all, of all sorts, of these liquid Treasures,
This welcom Liquor; which might serve (at first)
To keep their life a while, not quench their Thirst.
Their Cesterns dry'd, they seek in every sink:
Of every Gutter greedily they drink;
T'appease their Thirst awhile, not please their taste,
With Drink whose stink was oft the Drinkers last.
O wretched Men! O wondrous Misery!
Little, or much; drink, or not drink; they dy.
Plenty and Lack of Liquor, in extreme
Though Contraries, concurr to murder them:
With-in whose Bodies warreth Thirst, as fell
As outwardly th'outrageous Infidell.
Of every Gutter greedily they drink;
T'appease their Thirst awhile, not please their taste,
With Drink whose stink was oft the Drinkers last.
980
Little, or much; drink, or not drink; they dy.
Plenty and Lack of Liquor, in extreme
Though Contraries, concurr to murder them:
With-in whose Bodies warreth Thirst, as fell
As outwardly th'outrageous Infidell.
Street, Lane, nor Alley had this wofull Citie,
Where-in the Sisters, Enemies to Pitie,
Invented not some new and vncouth guise
To murder Hebrews; and from firmest eyes
(In signe of Sorrow) showers to extract
Of pearly Tears, of bitter brine compact;
'Mid all Degrees; if rested any-where
But so much moysture as could make a Teare.
Where-in the Sisters, Enemies to Pitie,
Invented not some new and vncouth guise
To murder Hebrews; and from firmest eyes
(In signe of Sorrow) showers to extract
Of pearly Tears, of bitter brine compact;
'Mid all Degrees; if rested any-where
But so much moysture as could make a Teare.
There, an Old man complaineth that a Lad
Hath new snatcht from him all the Drink he had:
But Thirst contracts his Throat, his voyce, and vains;
And ends at once his Life, his Plaint, and Pains:
A Souldier heer re-swils again (and gladder)
Th'vnsavory Water which had sweld his bladder:
There th'wofull Mother, on her Couching-Settle,
Her half-dead Childe reviveth with her Spettle:
Heer the sad Lover sighes her latest breath
With the last Sighes of her deer Love, in Death.
For, cruell Thirst, comn from Cyrenian Strand
(Where ay Shee lives amid the burning Sand,
Perpetuall panting for continuall Drouth,
Hanging her Tongue a foot without her Mouth,
Her Face all wrinkled, both her Eyes deep sunk,
Her Body leane and light, her Bowels shrunk,
Her Brest transparent, and her Veins repleat
With Brimstone, all, in steed of Blood's moist Heat)
Blowes from her rotten Lungs a loathsome breath
Through all the Town; infusing Fumes of Death
In th'Hebrews Artires; causing every Porch
Obscurely shine with some Funereall Torch.
So that the Heav'ns, seeing so many Woes,
Could hold no longer; but would faine with those
Sad-weeping Hebrews Their sad Tears have meld,
Save that their Tears the Lord of Hoasts with-held.
And, I my Self, that drown mine Eyes with Theirs,
Vnable though well to express those Tears,
Will with my Silence vaile their Countenance;
Following that Painters learned Ignorance,
Who well conceiving that his live-less Colours
Could not to life express the deadly Dolours
Of Agamemnon at his Daughters End,
Cover'd his sad Face with a sable Bend.
Hath new snatcht from him all the Drink he had:
But Thirst contracts his Throat, his voyce, and vains;
And ends at once his Life, his Plaint, and Pains:
A Souldier heer re-swils again (and gladder)
Th'vnsavory Water which had sweld his bladder:
There th'wofull Mother, on her Couching-Settle,
Her half-dead Childe reviveth with her Spettle:
Heer the sad Lover sighes her latest breath
With the last Sighes of her deer Love, in Death.
For, cruell Thirst, comn from Cyrenian Strand
(Where ay Shee lives amid the burning Sand,
Perpetuall panting for continuall Drouth,
Hanging her Tongue a foot without her Mouth,
Her Face all wrinkled, both her Eyes deep sunk,
Her Body leane and light, her Bowels shrunk,
Her Brest transparent, and her Veins repleat
With Brimstone, all, in steed of Blood's moist Heat)
Blowes from her rotten Lungs a loathsome breath
Through all the Town; infusing Fumes of Death
In th'Hebrews Artires; causing every Porch
Obscurely shine with some Funereall Torch.
So that the Heav'ns, seeing so many Woes,
Could hold no longer; but would faine with those
Sad-weeping Hebrews Their sad Tears have meld,
Save that their Tears the Lord of Hoasts with-held.
And, I my Self, that drown mine Eyes with Theirs,
Vnable though well to express those Tears,
Will with my Silence vaile their Countenance;
Following that Painters learned Ignorance,
Who well conceiving that his live-less Colours
Could not to life express the deadly Dolours
Of Agamemnon at his Daughters End,
Cover'd his sad Face with a sable Bend.
981
Mean-while, the few that of this Wrack remain,
Against their sad Chiefs murmur and complain:
The Lord, say they, in Iustice recompence
Your wilfull Malice, and Our Innocence:
The Lord, look down vpon the wretched Teen
Your wicked Counsails have heer plung'd vs in:
For, had you yeelded to the Foes demand,
Yer hee had entred on the Holy Land,
We, happy we, had never seen our Friends
So hap-lesse brought to so vntimely Ends.
Alas! What Comfort rests? O wretched City!
Those that besiege thee round would show thee Pity;
Thine Owne are Cruell: Foes would fain preserve-thee:
Thy Friends destroy thee: Those would fain reserve-thee,
Would save thy Children; thine owne Children rather
Run headlong all on willfull Death together.
Against their sad Chiefs murmur and complain:
The Lord, say they, in Iustice recompence
Your wilfull Malice, and Our Innocence:
The Lord, look down vpon the wretched Teen
Your wicked Counsails have heer plung'd vs in:
For, had you yeelded to the Foes demand,
Yer hee had entred on the Holy Land,
We, happy we, had never seen our Friends
So hap-lesse brought to so vntimely Ends.
Alas! What Comfort rests? O wretched City!
Those that besiege thee round would show thee Pity;
Thine Owne are Cruell: Foes would fain preserve-thee:
Thy Friends destroy thee: Those would fain reserve-thee,
Would save thy Children; thine owne Children rather
Run headlong all on willfull Death together.
Lord, well we know, our wicked Deeds have made
Thee (iust displeas'd) to drawe the keenest Blade
Of thy fierce-kindled ire, which iustly sheads
Thy deadliest Darts on our disloyall heads.
Yet, Thou, which dost not long thy Wrath retain,
(Against thine Owne) O turn to Vs again:
Lord, change the purpose of our wilfull Lords,
Who 'gainst our Bosomes whet the Pagan Swords:
Or grant (at least) with thousand Arrowes thrill'd,
We rather may by Heathen hands be kill'd;
Then longer Languor of this banefull Thirst
To linger vs in living Death accurst.
Thee (iust displeas'd) to drawe the keenest Blade
Of thy fierce-kindled ire, which iustly sheads
Thy deadliest Darts on our disloyall heads.
Yet, Thou, which dost not long thy Wrath retain,
(Against thine Owne) O turn to Vs again:
Lord, change the purpose of our wilfull Lords,
Who 'gainst our Bosomes whet the Pagan Swords:
Or grant (at least) with thousand Arrowes thrill'd,
We rather may by Heathen hands be kill'd;
Then longer Languor of this banefull Thirst
To linger vs in living Death accurst.
Deer Brethren, 'tis our only Duty bindes,
Their Rulers said (not our sinister mindes
Of vndermining, or of pyning Ours)
Thus to hold out against these Heathen Powers.
If You have Pain, We have our Portion too;
We are imbarkt in the same Ship with you:
On the same Deep we the same Danger run;
Our Cross is common, and our Loss is one:
As common shall our comfort be, when GOD
Shall please to ease vs of th'Assyrians Rod:
As sure he will, if Your Impatiency
Stop not the Course of his kinde Clemency.
Their Rulers said (not our sinister mindes
Of vndermining, or of pyning Ours)
Thus to hold out against these Heathen Powers.
If You have Pain, We have our Portion too;
We are imbarkt in the same Ship with you:
On the same Deep we the same Danger run;
Our Cross is common, and our Loss is one:
As common shall our comfort be, when GOD
Shall please to ease vs of th'Assyrians Rod:
As sure he will, if Your Impatiency
Stop not the Course of his kinde Clemency.
Then, strive not with th'All-Perfect; but depend
On God alone: Whose Actions all do tend
To profit His: Who, in his Season, ever
(Almighty) can and will His Church deliver.
Somtimes the Archer lets his Bowe, vnbent,
Hang idly by; that, when it is re-bent
With boysterous Armes, it may the farther cast
His winged shafts, and fix them far more fast:
So, oft the Lord seems, in his Bosom, long
To hold his hand; and after (as more strong)
To hammer Those whose impious Impudence
Mis-spends the Treasure of his Patience,
Which (at first sight) gives all Impunity
(As think the Lewd) to all Iniquity.
But, at the last, his heavy Vengeance paies
Them home, for all his Iustice long Delaies:
As th'Vsurer, forbearing of his poor
And needy Debtors, makes his Debt the more.
On God alone: Whose Actions all do tend
To profit His: Who, in his Season, ever
(Almighty) can and will His Church deliver.
Somtimes the Archer lets his Bowe, vnbent,
Hang idly by; that, when it is re-bent
With boysterous Armes, it may the farther cast
His winged shafts, and fix them far more fast:
982
To hold his hand; and after (as more strong)
To hammer Those whose impious Impudence
Mis-spends the Treasure of his Patience,
Which (at first sight) gives all Impunity
(As think the Lewd) to all Iniquity.
But, at the last, his heavy Vengeance paies
Them home, for all his Iustice long Delaies:
As th'Vsurer, forbearing of his poor
And needy Debtors, makes his Debt the more.
What though th'high Thunderer, in his Fury dread,
Strike not in th'instant this proud Vice-Roy dead?
Can all th'Amass of Waters which he pent
Above and vnder th'ample Firmament,
Seditious, so shake off his Soverain Power,
As not to send the thirstie Earth a Shower?
No, no: though Heav'ns, on every side so cleer,
Boad nothing less then Rain, or moysture neer:
They with their Tears shall shortly soak the Plain,
As on the Day when Saul began to raign:
For, all the Heav'ns, the Stars, and Elements,
Must execute his high Commandements.
Strike not in th'instant this proud Vice-Roy dead?
Can all th'Amass of Waters which he pent
Above and vnder th'ample Firmament,
Seditious, so shake off his Soverain Power,
As not to send the thirstie Earth a Shower?
No, no: though Heav'ns, on every side so cleer,
Boad nothing less then Rain, or moysture neer:
They with their Tears shall shortly soak the Plain,
As on the Day when Saul began to raign:
For, all the Heav'ns, the Stars, and Elements,
Must execute his high Commandements.
But still the Plebe, with Thirst and Fury prest,
Thus roaring, raving, 'gainst their Chiefs contest:
O, holy Nation! shall we, shall We die,
Their Elderships grave Sights to satisfie?
O! shall we die to please These foolish-wise,
Who make themselves rich by our Miseries;
And with our Bloods would purchase them a Name,
To live for ever in the Role of Fame?
No, no: Let's rather break their servile bands
Which hold vs in: let's take into our hands
Our Cities Helm; that freeing it from Sack,
We wisely so may free our Selves from Wrack.
Thus roaring, raving, 'gainst their Chiefs contest:
O, holy Nation! shall we, shall We die,
Their Elderships grave Sights to satisfie?
O! shall we die to please These foolish-wise,
Who make themselves rich by our Miseries;
And with our Bloods would purchase them a Name,
To live for ever in the Role of Fame?
No, no: Let's rather break their servile bands
Which hold vs in: let's take into our hands
Our Cities Helm; that freeing it from Sack,
We wisely so may free our Selves from Wrack.
As the Physician, by the Patient Prest,
Who, on his Bed (vnruly) will not rest;
Permits somtimes what Art prohibiteth:
Osias so, importun'd, promiseth
To yeeld the Town, if in five Dayes appear
No certain Signe of divine Succour neer.
Who, on his Bed (vnruly) will not rest;
Permits somtimes what Art prohibiteth:
Osias so, importun'd, promiseth
To yeeld the Town, if in five Dayes appear
No certain Signe of divine Succour neer.
The People then, their woefull past estate,
Their present pain, and future Fears, forgate:
Sith though it should not hap as most they thirst;
At least, they should of Evils scape the worst.
Their present pain, and future Fears, forgate:
Sith though it should not hap as most they thirst;
At least, they should of Evils scape the worst.
But Ivdith (who the while incessant Showres
From her sad eyes, in signe of Sorrow poures)
With mournfull voyce now cals vpon the Lord;
Anon, her sad Soule comforts in his Word:
Prayers were her Stairs, the highest Heav'ns to clime;
God's Word, a Garden, where (in needfull time)
Shee found her Simples (in Examples pure)
The Carefull Passion of her Heart to cure.
From her sad eyes, in signe of Sorrow poures)
With mournfull voyce now cals vpon the Lord;
Anon, her sad Soule comforts in his Word:
983
God's Word, a Garden, where (in needfull time)
Shee found her Simples (in Examples pure)
The Carefull Passion of her Heart to cure.
There, Ivdith reading (then not casually,
But by God's will, which still works certainly)
Light on the place where the left handed Prince,
Who, griev'd for Israels grievous Languishments
Vnder the Heathen; to deliver them
Slew Moabs's Eglon, by a Stratagem.
The more she reads, she marks it, and admires
That Act of Ahud, and in Zeale desires
To imitate his valour. But frail flesh
With thousand Reasons would her purpose dash;
Proposing, now, the Facts foule odiousnes;
Then, Fear of Death; then, Dangers numberless,
Where-to she puts her Honor: and that (though,
For Israels sake, God should the Act allow)
Behoves a Man's hand, not a Woman's (there)
Much fitter for a Spindle than a Speare.
But by God's will, which still works certainly)
Light on the place where the left handed Prince,
Who, griev'd for Israels grievous Languishments
Vnder the Heathen; to deliver them
Slew Moabs's Eglon, by a Stratagem.
The more she reads, she marks it, and admires
That Act of Ahud, and in Zeale desires
To imitate his valour. But frail flesh
With thousand Reasons would her purpose dash;
Proposing, now, the Facts foule odiousnes;
Then, Fear of Death; then, Dangers numberless,
Where-to she puts her Honor: and that (though,
For Israels sake, God should the Act allow)
Behoves a Man's hand, not a Woman's (there)
Much fitter for a Spindle than a Speare.
While Ivdith thus with Ivdith doubts doth wage,
A sudden Puff turns-over that same Page:
And, that which followes showes, how Iabel yerst
Courageously the sleeping temples perç't
Of that fell Pagan, who from th'Hebrews flying,
Accursed found in his Defence his dying:
To teach all Tyrants in all Times to-come,
That they may fly, but not out-fly their Doome.
A sudden Puff turns-over that same Page:
And, that which followes showes, how Iabel yerst
Courageously the sleeping temples perç't
Of that fell Pagan, who from th'Hebrews flying,
Accursed found in his Defence his dying:
To teach all Tyrants in all Times to-come,
That they may fly, but not out-fly their Doome.
This last Example did so fortifie
The fearfull Widow, that even by and by
Shee would with Engine of Revenge endevour
So wicked Soule's and Bodie's knot to sever.
The fearfull Widow, that even by and by
Shee would with Engine of Revenge endevour
So wicked Soule's and Bodie's knot to sever.
But while apart Shee plots, and plots anew
Some wylie way her purpose to pursue;
She hears reported, by a neighbour Dame,
The Townes Decree, much grieved at the same:
So: to prevent Mischiefs so neer at hand,
She sends forth-with for Those of Chiefe Command,
Whom sharpely sweet She thus begins to chide:
Some wylie way her purpose to pursue;
She hears reported, by a neighbour Dame,
The Townes Decree, much grieved at the same:
So: to prevent Mischiefs so neer at hand,
She sends forth-with for Those of Chiefe Command,
Whom sharpely sweet She thus begins to chide:
Why! How-now, Lordings, shall the Lord be ty'd
Vnto your Terms? Will you th'Almightie's Arms
Chain with your Counsails? limit with your Charms?
O! vniudicious Iudges, will you Thus
Giue law to God, who giues it Heav'n and Vs?
Will you subiect, to Times confined Stayes,
Th'Author of Times, Months, Moments, Years and Daies?
Be not deceiv'd; The sacred Power Divine
No Circumstance can compass or confine:
God can do, what he will; will, what he ought:
Ought loue his righteous (whom his love hath bought)
This (Fathers) This my dead Hopes most reviues,
That, in our Citie not a man surviues
Who lifts his hands (after the Heathen fashions)
Vnto the dumb, dead Idols of the Nations.
All Sins are Sins: but That foule Sin, alone
Exceeds all blinde or bold transgression
That we have heapt 'gainst sacred Heav'n: for, that
Seems to degrade God of his Soverain State;
To give his Glory to a Wedge of Gold,
Or Block, or Stock, or Stone of curious mold.
Vnto your Terms? Will you th'Almightie's Arms
Chain with your Counsails? limit with your Charms?
O! vniudicious Iudges, will you Thus
Giue law to God, who giues it Heav'n and Vs?
Will you subiect, to Times confined Stayes,
Th'Author of Times, Months, Moments, Years and Daies?
Be not deceiv'd; The sacred Power Divine
No Circumstance can compass or confine:
984
Ought loue his righteous (whom his love hath bought)
This (Fathers) This my dead Hopes most reviues,
That, in our Citie not a man surviues
Who lifts his hands (after the Heathen fashions)
Vnto the dumb, dead Idols of the Nations.
All Sins are Sins: but That foule Sin, alone
Exceeds all blinde or bold transgression
That we have heapt 'gainst sacred Heav'n: for, that
Seems to degrade God of his Soverain State;
To give his Glory to a Wedge of Gold,
Or Block, or Stock, or Stone of curious mold.
Sith then That Sin doth not our Conscience taint,
Of God's deer Succour let vs never faint:
Let's think (alas!) how now all Iuda's Eyes,
Agast, are cast vpon Our Constancies:
Let's think, that All will (over all the Land)
By our Example, either stoop or stand:
Let's think, that All these Altars, Houses, Goods,
Stand (after God) on our couragious-Moods:
Let's think, We keep the Gate of Israel;
And that, so soon opening to th'Infidell
(Who hates so deadly all our Abramides)
Wee shall be held Traytors and Paricides.
Of God's deer Succour let vs never faint:
Let's think (alas!) how now all Iuda's Eyes,
Agast, are cast vpon Our Constancies:
Let's think, that All will (over all the Land)
By our Example, either stoop or stand:
Let's think, that All these Altars, Houses, Goods,
Stand (after God) on our couragious-Moods:
Let's think, We keep the Gate of Israel;
And that, so soon opening to th'Infidell
(Who hates so deadly all our Abramides)
Wee shall be held Traytors and Paricides.
We cannot, neither will we now deny
But that our Counsaile (Thus the Chiefe reply)
Was foolish, and offensive to the Lord:
But now (alas!) we cannot break our word.
But, if Thou rew our Common miseries;
And canst not see our Tears with tear-less Eyes;
Weep night and day: O! weep and sigh so much,
That thy sad Sighs and Tears with ruth may touch
Th'Eternall Iudge; whose gentle Eare is ay
Open to All that to Him humbly pray.
But that our Counsaile (Thus the Chiefe reply)
Was foolish, and offensive to the Lord:
But now (alas!) we cannot break our word.
But, if Thou rew our Common miseries;
And canst not see our Tears with tear-less Eyes;
Weep night and day: O! weep and sigh so much,
That thy sad Sighs and Tears with ruth may touch
Th'Eternall Iudge; whose gentle Eare is ay
Open to All that to Him humbly pray.
I shall, said Shee, and (if God say Amen)
Dis-siege this City, yer we meet again.
Sound me no further, but expect th'Event
Of Mine (I hope) happy as high Intent:
And, soon as Night hath spred her dusky Damp,
Let Me go forth into the Heathen Camp.
Dis-siege this City, yer we meet again.
Sound me no further, but expect th'Event
Of Mine (I hope) happy as high Intent:
And, soon as Night hath spred her dusky Damp,
Let Me go forth into the Heathen Camp.
Go on, in God's Name: and where-ere thou art,
God guide (say They) thy Foot, thy Hand, thy Hart.
God guide (say They) thy Foot, thy Hand, thy Hart.
The end of the third Booke.
985
The Fovrth Booke.
Ivdith, the while, trils Rivers from her Eyes,
Atterrs her knees, tends toward th'arched Skyes
Her harm-less hands: then Thus, with voyce devout,
Her very Soule to God she poureth out:
Atterrs her knees, tends toward th'arched Skyes
Her harm-less hands: then Thus, with voyce devout,
Her very Soule to God she poureth out:
Lord! that didst once my Grandsire Simeon arm
With Iustice Sword, t'avenge his Sisters harm;
Daign Me that Sword, that I may punish (iust)
This Tyrant fell, far passing Sichem's Lust:
Who, not suffis'd with Virgins Ravishment,
And Rape of Wives; is execrably bent
To root Thy Name out from the Earth around;
And raze Thy Temple, levell with the ground.
Presumptuous Prince! whose whole Affiance stands
In Hundred-thousand Souldiers He commands,
In Hundred-thousand Horse, which (thirsting-fight)
With lofty Bounds the lowely Earth do smite:
Without Belief, that Thou alone (O Lord)
Bind'st Heads or Hands; with either Crown or Cord:
Strengthenest the Feeble, quickly foylst the Strong;
And lay'st the Power of proudest Kings along.
With Iustice Sword, t'avenge his Sisters harm;
Daign Me that Sword, that I may punish (iust)
This Tyrant fell, far passing Sichem's Lust:
Who, not suffis'd with Virgins Ravishment,
And Rape of Wives; is execrably bent
To root Thy Name out from the Earth around;
And raze Thy Temple, levell with the ground.
Presumptuous Prince! whose whole Affiance stands
In Hundred-thousand Souldiers He commands,
In Hundred-thousand Horse, which (thirsting-fight)
With lofty Bounds the lowely Earth do smite:
Without Belief, that Thou alone (O Lord)
Bind'st Heads or Hands; with either Crown or Cord:
Strengthenest the Feeble, quickly foylst the Strong;
And lay'st the Power of proudest Kings along.
Grant therefore, grant, good God, his charmed brain
The curious tramels of my Tress may chain:
Let every look of mine be as a Dart
With amorous Breach to wound his willing heart:
O! let the little grace of Face and Form
Thou hast vouchsaft mee, calm his furious storm:
Let the smooth cunning of my soothing Lips
Surprise the fell Fox in his Suttleships:
But, chiefly, Lord, let my victorious hand
Be Scourge and Hammer of this Heathen Band:
That all this All may knowe, that Abram's Race
Is ever covered with thy Shield of Grace;
And that no Tyrant ever toucht thy Iury,
But felt in fine the Rigor of thy Fury.
Let not, good Lord, O let not one of These
Return to taste Hytane or Euphrates.
The curious tramels of my Tress may chain:
Let every look of mine be as a Dart
With amorous Breach to wound his willing heart:
O! let the little grace of Face and Form
Thou hast vouchsaft mee, calm his furious storm:
Let the smooth cunning of my soothing Lips
Surprise the fell Fox in his Suttleships:
But, chiefly, Lord, let my victorious hand
Be Scourge and Hammer of this Heathen Band:
That all this All may knowe, that Abram's Race
Is ever covered with thy Shield of Grace;
986
But felt in fine the Rigor of thy Fury.
Let not, good Lord, O let not one of These
Return to taste Hytane or Euphrates.
Thus Ivdith prayes: and in the steed of stops,
With thousand Sighes her words She interrupts.
Then, from her sad sole Chamber, late she packs,
Adorn'd with Ophir-Gold, and Serean knacks.
With thousand Sighes her words She interrupts.
Then, from her sad sole Chamber, late she packs,
Adorn'd with Ophir-Gold, and Serean knacks.
O! silver-browd Diana, Queen of Night,
Dar'st thou appear, while heer below, so bright
Shines such a sacred Star, whose radiant flame
Would even at Noon thy Brothers splendor shame?
Though, as vnknown, to passe vnshown she ween,
Her Odors made her smelt, her Iewels seen;
Musk, Ambergris, and Civet, where she went,
Left all along on odoriferous Sent:
A Carbuncle shin'd on her Brow so bright,
That with the Rayes it clarified the Night:
A silver Tincel waving in the winde,
Down from her head hung light and loose behinde:
Gold bound her golden Tress; her Ivory Neck
Rubies and Saphirs, counter-chang'd in check:
At either Eare, a richer Pearle then yerst
Ægypts proud Princesse in her Cup disperst:
Her soft white Bosome (as with Curtains drawn)
Transparent coverd vnder Cob-web Lawne:
Her Robe, Sky-colour'd Silk, with curious Caul
Of golden Twist, benetted over all.
The rest she wore, might haue beseem'd for Tires
The stately Foundress of th'Euphratean Spires.
Dar'st thou appear, while heer below, so bright
Shines such a sacred Star, whose radiant flame
Would even at Noon thy Brothers splendor shame?
Though, as vnknown, to passe vnshown she ween,
Her Odors made her smelt, her Iewels seen;
Musk, Ambergris, and Civet, where she went,
Left all along on odoriferous Sent:
A Carbuncle shin'd on her Brow so bright,
That with the Rayes it clarified the Night:
A silver Tincel waving in the winde,
Down from her head hung light and loose behinde:
Gold bound her golden Tress; her Ivory Neck
Rubies and Saphirs, counter-chang'd in check:
At either Eare, a richer Pearle then yerst
Ægypts proud Princesse in her Cup disperst:
Her soft white Bosome (as with Curtains drawn)
Transparent coverd vnder Cob-web Lawne:
Her Robe, Sky-colour'd Silk, with curious Caul
Of golden Twist, benetted over all.
The rest she wore, might haue beseem'd for Tires
The stately Foundress of th'Euphratean Spires.
For, though her Selfe were Modesty it selfe;
T'intice this Pagan to the wrackfull Shelfe,
Besides her Owne, sh' had borrowed Ornaments
Of other Ladies of most Eminence.
T'intice this Pagan to the wrackfull Shelfe,
Besides her Owne, sh' had borrowed Ornaments
Of other Ladies of most Eminence.
Achior, watching in the Court of Guard,
Seeing her pass so late, and so prepar'd;
Enquires of Carmis (who then watched too)
What, Whence, She was, and what she went to doo:
So brave a Gallant, trickt and trimmed so;
In such a Time, in such a Place of Wo.
Seeing her pass so late, and so prepar'd;
Enquires of Carmis (who then watched too)
What, Whence, She was, and what she went to doo:
So brave a Gallant, trickt and trimmed so;
In such a Time, in such a Place of Wo.
Yer-while, said Carmis, in our Citie dwell'd
Merari; a man heer high in Honor held:
To whom, for Seed, God but this Daughter sent:
His House's Ioy, This Citie's Ornament.
Merari; a man heer high in Honor held:
To whom, for Seed, God but this Daughter sent:
His House's Ioy, This Citie's Ornament.
Gain-greedy Fathers, now-adayes turmoyle
Bodies and Soules, Heap vpon Heap to pile:
But, have no care with the Mind's Goods to grace
Th'heires of their Goods (which after melt apace):
Much like a Man that keepeth in his Chest
His costly Garment, folded fair and prest,
But lets his Body, it was made to serue,
Naked the while, in Wet and Cold to starue.
Bodies and Soules, Heap vpon Heap to pile:
But, have no care with the Mind's Goods to grace
Th'heires of their Goods (which after melt apace):
987
His costly Garment, folded fair and prest,
But lets his Body, it was made to serue,
Naked the while, in Wet and Cold to starue.
But, as the Farmer spares no pains, nor cost,
In husbanding his Land; but carefull most,
Now rids the stones, anon rips-vp the Ridges,
Heer casts a Ditch; there plants, there plashes hedges;
And never is his hand or toole there-fro:
But chiefly careth there good Seed to sowe,
That when the Summer shall haue ryp't his Plains,
His Crop may pay him for his Cost and Pains:
Or, as som Damsell, having speciall Care
Of som fair Flower, which puts-out early-rare
Th'Incarnat Bud; weeds, waters every-houre
The fertill Plot that feeds her Gilli-flower;
That, one-day blown, it may som Sunday-morn
Her lilly Bosom, or her head adorn:
So wise Merari did endevour fair
To form the Maners of his tender Heir;
That, in his Age, he thence again might gather
Th'Honor and Comfort worthy such a Father.
For soon as ever, stutting yet and weak,
Her tender Tongue did but begin to speak;
He taught her not (as many Fathers doo:
Too-many now) vein words, and wanton too,
But som good Prayer, or God's Ten-fold Law;
That, with her Milk, she might even suck the Aw
Of the Almighty: which not vain appears;
For that the Damsell brought forth, in few yeers,
Fruits worthy of such Seed: whence did ensew,
That this her Nurture to a Nature grew.
So doth a Vessell long retain the Sent
Of the first Liquor we have settled in 't:
So doth a Bough bend ever (when 'tis big)
To the same side that it was bent, a Twig:
So, Bears, Wolves, Lions; and our wildest Game,
Bred tame with vs, with vs continue tame.
In husbanding his Land; but carefull most,
Now rids the stones, anon rips-vp the Ridges,
Heer casts a Ditch; there plants, there plashes hedges;
And never is his hand or toole there-fro:
But chiefly careth there good Seed to sowe,
That when the Summer shall haue ryp't his Plains,
His Crop may pay him for his Cost and Pains:
Or, as som Damsell, having speciall Care
Of som fair Flower, which puts-out early-rare
Th'Incarnat Bud; weeds, waters every-houre
The fertill Plot that feeds her Gilli-flower;
That, one-day blown, it may som Sunday-morn
Her lilly Bosom, or her head adorn:
So wise Merari did endevour fair
To form the Maners of his tender Heir;
That, in his Age, he thence again might gather
Th'Honor and Comfort worthy such a Father.
For soon as ever, stutting yet and weak,
Her tender Tongue did but begin to speak;
He taught her not (as many Fathers doo:
Too-many now) vein words, and wanton too,
But som good Prayer, or God's Ten-fold Law;
That, with her Milk, she might even suck the Aw
Of the Almighty: which not vain appears;
For that the Damsell brought forth, in few yeers,
Fruits worthy of such Seed: whence did ensew,
That this her Nurture to a Nature grew.
So doth a Vessell long retain the Sent
Of the first Liquor we have settled in 't:
So doth a Bough bend ever (when 'tis big)
To the same side that it was bent, a Twig:
So, Bears, Wolves, Lions; and our wildest Game,
Bred tame with vs, with vs continue tame.
When as twelue times She twelue new Moons had past,
This vertuous Pattern all Perfection grac't.
For, th'expert Pilot is not more precise
To shun, in Sayling, all the Ieopardies
Of Cyane Streight, of hatefull Syrtes Sand,
Charibdis Gulf, and of Capharean Strand,
Then was wise Ivdith to avoyd the Dames
Never so little spotted in their Names:
Knowing that long conversing with the light,
Corrupts the sobrest; or at least, though right,
Right safe th'Honor be sav'd; the Names not so,
From common Bruit (though often false) we know.
For, haunting Good, good are we holden ay:
Bad, with the Bad: Like will to like, we say.
This vertuous Pattern all Perfection grac't.
For, th'expert Pilot is not more precise
To shun, in Sayling, all the Ieopardies
Of Cyane Streight, of hatefull Syrtes Sand,
Charibdis Gulf, and of Capharean Strand,
Then was wise Ivdith to avoyd the Dames
Never so little spotted in their Names:
Knowing that long conversing with the light,
Corrupts the sobrest; or at least, though right,
988
From common Bruit (though often false) we know.
For, haunting Good, good are we holden ay:
Bad, with the Bad: Like will to like, we say.
Shee, ever modest, never vs'd to stay
Abroad till midnight at a Mask or Play:
Nor trip from Feast to Feast, nor Street-webs span,
To see, and to be seen of every man.
But rather, knowing that such fond desire
To gaze and to be gaz'd-on (Flax and Fire)
Vndid light Dina, and such gadding Dames
A thousand more; their Noble Houses Shames;
She wisely kept at home, where, Morn and Even,
Daily she call'd vpon the God of Heav'n.
Abroad till midnight at a Mask or Play:
Nor trip from Feast to Feast, nor Street-webs span,
To see, and to be seen of every man.
But rather, knowing that such fond desire
To gaze and to be gaz'd-on (Flax and Fire)
Vndid light Dina, and such gadding Dames
A thousand more; their Noble Houses Shames;
She wisely kept at home, where, Morn and Even,
Daily she call'd vpon the God of Heav'n.
The rest of every day in dutious course
She serv'd her Nursers for a tender Nurse:
As wont the Storks kinde and officious Brood
For their old Parents to go gather Food;
And on som high Firre (far-off having flow'n)
Bring life to Those from whom they had their owne.
She serv'd her Nursers for a tender Nurse:
As wont the Storks kinde and officious Brood
For their old Parents to go gather Food;
And on som high Firre (far-off having flow'n)
Bring life to Those from whom they had their owne.
If in the Day, from Houswifes needfull care,
She had perhaps an houre or two to spare,
She spent them reading of the Sacred Book,
Where faithfull Soules for spirituall Manna look.
Somtimes on Cloth sh' embroydered cunningly
Som Beast, or Bird, or Fish, or Worm, or Fly.
Somtime she wrought with silver needle fine
On Canvas-web som History divine.
She had perhaps an houre or two to spare,
She spent them reading of the Sacred Book,
Where faithfull Soules for spirituall Manna look.
Somtimes on Cloth sh' embroydered cunningly
Som Beast, or Bird, or Fish, or Worm, or Fly.
Somtime she wrought with silver needle fine
On Canvas-web som History divine.
Heer Lot, escap't from that drad Flame, from High
Which burnt his Town with winged Feet doth fly
To little Zoar: while his Wife (alack!)
Incredulous, and curious, looking back;
God in the instant smiting for that Fault,
Transforms her Bodie to a Bulk of Salt.
Which burnt his Town with winged Feet doth fly
To little Zoar: while his Wife (alack!)
Incredulous, and curious, looking back;
God in the instant smiting for that Fault,
Transforms her Bodie to a Bulk of Salt.
Heer, chaste Susanna (slandred of dishonor)
Seems led to Death, People seem prest to stone her:
But, Truth appearing, soon they seem at-once
To turn on th'Elders all their storm of stones.
Seems led to Death, People seem prest to stone her:
But, Truth appearing, soon they seem at-once
To turn on th'Elders all their storm of stones.
Heer loyall Ioseph rather leaues behinde
His cloak then heart with his too-Lady-kinde:
And rather chooseth (by her false disgrace)
His Irons, then her Arms, him to imbrace.
His cloak then heart with his too-Lady-kinde:
And rather chooseth (by her false disgrace)
His Irons, then her Arms, him to imbrace.
Heer, rash, rough Iephthe in vnsacred slaughter
Imbrews his owne Blade in his only Daughter;
By private and improvident Annoy,
Troubling the Publique and the generall Ioy.
Imbrews his owne Blade in his only Daughter;
By private and improvident Annoy,
Troubling the Publique and the generall Ioy.
Wearie of Work, on her sweet Lute she playes,
And sings withall som holy Psalm of Praise;
Not following such as by lascivious Dances,
Lavish Expences, light and wanton Glances,
Seek to be sought, courted, and lov'd of most:
But, as the Fisherman, that baits the Coast
With poysony Pastes, may haue a greater draught,
And (though less wholesom) hath more Fishes caught
Then those that only vse their Hook, or Net:
So may these Gallants them more Lovers get,
Then modest Maids; But, their immodest flame
Fires none but Fools, Frantikes, or Voyds of shame.
And sings withall som holy Psalm of Praise;
989
Lavish Expences, light and wanton Glances,
Seek to be sought, courted, and lov'd of most:
But, as the Fisherman, that baits the Coast
With poysony Pastes, may haue a greater draught,
And (though less wholesom) hath more Fishes caught
Then those that only vse their Hook, or Net:
So may these Gallants them more Lovers get,
Then modest Maids; But, their immodest flame
Fires none but Fools, Frantikes, or Voyds of shame.
Vertue alone begins, begets, conceiues,
A perfect Love; which, though it slowe receiues
His Form and Life, nor is so soon afire:
So, neither doth it halfe so soon expire.
Straw kindles quickly, and is quickly past:
Iron heats but slowely, and it's heat doth last.
A perfect Love; which, though it slowe receiues
His Form and Life, nor is so soon afire:
So, neither doth it halfe so soon expire.
Straw kindles quickly, and is quickly past:
Iron heats but slowely, and it's heat doth last.
Now Ivdith's fair Renown through Iuda rings
In every City; and great Suters brings
(From All-form Fashions, from fair painted Faces,
From Powdred Tresses, from forc't Apish Graces,
From Prince-fit Pompe; from Peacocks strutting by
With Bosoms naked to the Navel nigh)
To woo Her Vertue. But, Loves burning Dart
Could neither harm, nor warm her Icie heart.
For, as hard Hammers, harder Diamant;
She harder did resist Loves grace to grant;
Having resolved, sole and single, rather
To spend her dayes with her deer-loved Father.
But at the last, importun'd long, and prest
By her deer Parents, carefull of her Rest;
She took Manasses, one of Noble blood;
Rich, in the Mind's, Nature's, and Fortune's Good.
In every City; and great Suters brings
(From All-form Fashions, from fair painted Faces,
From Powdred Tresses, from forc't Apish Graces,
From Prince-fit Pompe; from Peacocks strutting by
With Bosoms naked to the Navel nigh)
To woo Her Vertue. But, Loves burning Dart
Could neither harm, nor warm her Icie heart.
For, as hard Hammers, harder Diamant;
She harder did resist Loves grace to grant;
Having resolved, sole and single, rather
To spend her dayes with her deer-loved Father.
But at the last, importun'd long, and prest
By her deer Parents, carefull of her Rest;
She took Manasses, one of Noble blood;
Rich, in the Mind's, Nature's, and Fortune's Good.
Their Mariage then was neither stoln, nor packt,
Nor posted; to prevent som Pre-contract,
To cheat som Heire, some Avarice to choak,
To cover Others, or their owne Sin cloak:
But duly past, modest, and reverent,
With Either's Parents knowledge and consent.
Dina's Disasters to this day do prove
The sad successes of prepost'rous Love;
Of priuy Choyce, close Matches, and vnkend;
Which seldom bring Lovers to happy end:
And that our Selves ought not our Selves bestow,
But Those from whom our Birth and Breeding grow.
Nor posted; to prevent som Pre-contract,
To cheat som Heire, some Avarice to choak,
To cover Others, or their owne Sin cloak:
But duly past, modest, and reverent,
With Either's Parents knowledge and consent.
Dina's Disasters to this day do prove
The sad successes of prepost'rous Love;
Of priuy Choyce, close Matches, and vnkend;
Which seldom bring Lovers to happy end:
And that our Selves ought not our Selves bestow,
But Those from whom our Birth and Breeding grow.
This happy Match begun thus holily,
And holy carried, did so firmly tie
This chaste young Couple, in so mutuall loue,
That both their bodies seems one soule to moue.
Th'one never wisht but what the other would:
Both by one Organ their one-minde vnfould:
And, as a Hurt on the Right side (we see)
Reacheth the Left; even so, by sympathie,
Her Husbands Sorrows did sad Ivdith share,
And Ivdith's Sorrows her sad Husband bare.
And holy carried, did so firmly tie
This chaste young Couple, in so mutuall loue,
That both their bodies seems one soule to moue.
990
Both by one Organ their one-minde vnfould:
And, as a Hurt on the Right side (we see)
Reacheth the Left; even so, by sympathie,
Her Husbands Sorrows did sad Ivdith share,
And Ivdith's Sorrows her sad Husband bare.
The Husband did not his deer Wife controule,
As Tyrants rule: but, as the tender Soule
Commands the Bodie; not the same to grieue,
But comfort rather, cherish and relieue.
Him Ivdith lov'd as Brother (or more, rather)
Fear'd as her Lord, and honour'd as her Father.
As Tyrants rule: but, as the tender Soule
Commands the Bodie; not the same to grieue,
But comfort rather, cherish and relieue.
Him Ivdith lov'd as Brother (or more, rather)
Fear'd as her Lord, and honour'd as her Father.
Their House, for Order so religious,
Seem'd more a Temple than a private House:
There, did no Mayd, with merry-tricks, intice
The bashfull Stripling to lascivious vice:
There, did no drunken Groom sick Healths disgorge,
Nor against Heav'n blasphemous Oathes re-forge:
There, no broad Ieaster, no bold common Lyer,
No Gamester, Theef, Rogue, Ruffin, Apple-squire,
Had ever harbor: but all Servants, there,
To their graue Rulers Rules conformed were.
Seem'd more a Temple than a private House:
There, did no Mayd, with merry-tricks, intice
The bashfull Stripling to lascivious vice:
There, did no drunken Groom sick Healths disgorge,
Nor against Heav'n blasphemous Oathes re-forge:
There, no broad Ieaster, no bold common Lyer,
No Gamester, Theef, Rogue, Ruffin, Apple-squire,
Had ever harbor: but all Servants, there,
To their graue Rulers Rules conformed were.
Manasses, knowing what a Flood of Crimes
Surrounded all, in His enormous Times;
Especially, what Evils Confluence
Had even corrupted sacred Gouernments
(So that, for favour, or for Mony (more)
Fools, Knaves, Boyes, Basest, highest Burthens bore)
He modestly refus'd all Publike Charge:
Holding him happy so, free and at large,
Farre from the Courts of State and Iustice too,
Quiet at Home, his Houshold dues to doo.
Surrounded all, in His enormous Times;
Especially, what Evils Confluence
Had even corrupted sacred Gouernments
(So that, for favour, or for Mony (more)
Fools, Knaves, Boyes, Basest, highest Burthens bore)
He modestly refus'd all Publike Charge:
Holding him happy so, free and at large,
Farre from the Courts of State and Iustice too,
Quiet at Home, his Houshold dues to doo.
Yet notwithstanding, knowing too that none
Was ever born so for himselfe alone,
But that the best part of our dayes (though few)
T'our Countrey, Kinred, and our Friends is due;
No Magistrate, Hee daily serv'd the State
More then a hundred that in Office sate.
For, in His House did sacred Iustice live,
And from his Lips would Shee her Sentence give.
Was ever born so for himselfe alone,
But that the best part of our dayes (though few)
T'our Countrey, Kinred, and our Friends is due;
No Magistrate, Hee daily serv'd the State
More then a hundred that in Office sate.
For, in His House did sacred Iustice live,
And from his Lips would Shee her Sentence give.
He ever was th'afflicted Poors Protector,
Widows Supporter, Silly-ones Director,
Orphans kinde Father: Every Age, Sex, Sort,
Had from his hand some kinde of kinde Support.
Widows Supporter, Silly-ones Director,
Orphans kinde Father: Every Age, Sex, Sort,
Had from his hand some kinde of kinde Support.
Never vain Thirst of the 'curs't Earth of Inde,
Made Him wound Water, neither woo the Winde:
Never did Avarice his Life endanger,
With mercenarie Sword to serve the Stranger:
Never did He, to Adverse-Clyents, fell
A double Breath, blowing to Heav'n and Hell;
But, strife-less, vsing harmless Husbandry,
Took of his Land both Stock and Vsury
Of his lent labours. For, somtimes, by Line,
He plants an Orchard; which he orders fine,
With equi-distant Trees, in Rowes direct,
Of Plums, of Pears, and Apples most select:
Heer-there, He Crab-stocks sets, then grafts thereon
Som stranger Slip: inocculates anon:
Anon with keen Share the kinde Earth he shreds:
Anon the Vine vnto the Elm he weds:
Anon he prunes-off the superfluous shoots:
Anon the Bodies pares, then bares the roots.
For, neither Dog-Dayes, nor December's Ice,
Could keep Him Prisoner in his Chamber, nice.
Made Him wound Water, neither woo the Winde:
Never did Avarice his Life endanger,
With mercenarie Sword to serve the Stranger:
991
A double Breath, blowing to Heav'n and Hell;
But, strife-less, vsing harmless Husbandry,
Took of his Land both Stock and Vsury
Of his lent labours. For, somtimes, by Line,
He plants an Orchard; which he orders fine,
With equi-distant Trees, in Rowes direct,
Of Plums, of Pears, and Apples most select:
Heer-there, He Crab-stocks sets, then grafts thereon
Som stranger Slip: inocculates anon:
Anon with keen Share the kinde Earth he shreds:
Anon the Vine vnto the Elm he weds:
Anon he prunes-off the superfluous shoots:
Anon the Bodies pares, then bares the roots.
For, neither Dog-Dayes, nor December's Ice,
Could keep Him Prisoner in his Chamber, nice.
But, as one-day, his Reapers he beheld,
Who, swelting, swift the yellow handfuls feld;
Sol, from his head, caus'd a Catarrh descend,
Which shortly after caus'd Manasses End.
Who, swelting, swift the yellow handfuls feld;
Sol, from his head, caus'd a Catarrh descend,
Which shortly after caus'd Manasses End.
He that can number, in November, all
The withered Leaves that in the Forrests fall:
He hat can number all the Drops, in Showers,
Which Hyades, Pleiades, and moist Orion poures
Vpon the Plains: may tell the Tears She shed,
For her deer Husband so vntimely dead.
The Wealth and Treasure he had left her, kinde,
In steed of easing, more afflicts her Minde:
Th'vse of his Goods still sets before her eyes
Their good old Owners sweet and gracefull guise.
Had Shee had all the Gold was gather'd ever
On all the shoal Sands of the Lydian River,
Sh' had not been Rich, being bereft of Him,
Without whom, Wealth doubled her Woes extream:
And, with whom, glad she would have born the crosses
Of wretched Iob's, sad, sudden, many Losses.
The withered Leaves that in the Forrests fall:
He hat can number all the Drops, in Showers,
Which Hyades, Pleiades, and moist Orion poures
Vpon the Plains: may tell the Tears She shed,
For her deer Husband so vntimely dead.
The Wealth and Treasure he had left her, kinde,
In steed of easing, more afflicts her Minde:
Th'vse of his Goods still sets before her eyes
Their good old Owners sweet and gracefull guise.
Had Shee had all the Gold was gather'd ever
On all the shoal Sands of the Lydian River,
Sh' had not been Rich, being bereft of Him,
Without whom, Wealth doubled her Woes extream:
And, with whom, glad she would have born the crosses
Of wretched Iob's, sad, sudden, many Losses.
Phœbus had thrice through all the Zodiak past,
Since His Decease: Yet Time, which all doth waste
And cures all Cares, could not her Griefs recover,
For Loss of Him, her deerest Lord and Lover.
Since His Decease: Yet Time, which all doth waste
And cures all Cares, could not her Griefs recover,
For Loss of Him, her deerest Lord and Lover.
Still therefore, cover'd with a sable Shrowd
Hath She kept home; as all to Sorrow vow'd:
For, for the most part, solitarie sad,
Tears in her eyes, sack on her back she had,
Grief in her heart: so, on the wither'd Spray
The Widow-Turtle sighes her mournfull Lay;
Sole, and exil'd from all Delights, that move;
Chastly resolv'd t'accept no Second Love.
Hath She kept home; as all to Sorrow vow'd:
For, for the most part, solitarie sad,
Tears in her eyes, sack on her back she had,
Grief in her heart: so, on the wither'd Spray
The Widow-Turtle sighes her mournfull Lay;
Sole, and exil'd from all Delights, that move;
Chastly resolv'd t'accept no Second Love.
992
If any time Ivdith went out of Doore
(As Dutie bindes) is was to see some Poore:
Som woefull Woman in deep Passions toyld
For sudden Loss of her deer only Childe:
Some long-Sick bodie, or some needy soule,
With needfull Comforts of her Bag, or Boule:
Or else to go (as GOD commanded Them)
To Pray and Offer at IERVSALEM.
(As Dutie bindes) is was to see some Poore:
Som woefull Woman in deep Passions toyld
For sudden Loss of her deer only Childe:
Some long-Sick bodie, or some needy soule,
With needfull Comforts of her Bag, or Boule:
Or else to go (as GOD commanded Them)
To Pray and Offer at IERVSALEM.
Thus, deer Companion, have I briefly show'n
Fair Ivdith's Story: on whose Worth alone
All eyes are cast, but cannot tell you out
Whither she goes; less, what she goes about.
But, if we may, from former things infer
A ghesse of future; We may hope from Her
Some Happiness: and sure, me thinks, her Cheer,
So pleasant chang'd, boads some good fortune neer.
With this Discourse, the wakefull Hebrew Knight,
Walking between, wore-out the weary Night.
Fair Ivdith's Story: on whose Worth alone
All eyes are cast, but cannot tell you out
Whither she goes; less, what she goes about.
But, if we may, from former things infer
A ghesse of future; We may hope from Her
Some Happiness: and sure, me thinks, her Cheer,
So pleasant chang'd, boads some good fortune neer.
With this Discourse, the wakefull Hebrew Knight,
Walking between, wore-out the weary Night.
Ivdith the while, her Handmaid with her, hies
Towards the Trenches of the Enemies.
Yer from the Fort Shee had a furlong gon,
The Heathen Scouts descry'd her, and anon
Bespake her Thus: O! more than humane Beauty,
Whence? What are You? What cause hath hither brought ye
Into th'Assyrian Camp? Alas! I am
(Sighing, quoth Shee) a wofull Hebrew Dame,
Who, to escape so many Deaths, or Thrall,
Come heer to yeeld me to your Generall.
Towards the Trenches of the Enemies.
Yer from the Fort Shee had a furlong gon,
The Heathen Scouts descry'd her, and anon
Bespake her Thus: O! more than humane Beauty,
Whence? What are You? What cause hath hither brought ye
Into th'Assyrian Camp? Alas! I am
(Sighing, quoth Shee) a wofull Hebrew Dame,
Who, to escape so many Deaths, or Thrall,
Come heer to yeeld me to your Generall.
Then to the Duke they lead her. Who-so-e're
Hath seeen, in Cities, how they flock, to hear
Som prating Montibank; or see som Monster
New brought from Africk, or from Inde; may conster
What press of Souldiers from all parts did throng,
About his Tent; and even prest in among
To see that compleat Shee, so comly deem'd;
Who, the more look't on, the more louely seem'd.
Hath seeen, in Cities, how they flock, to hear
Som prating Montibank; or see som Monster
New brought from Africk, or from Inde; may conster
What press of Souldiers from all parts did throng,
About his Tent; and even prest in among
To see that compleat Shee, so comly deem'd;
Who, the more look't on, the more louely seem'd.
Her waved Locks, som dangling loose, som part
In thousand rings curld-vp, with art-less art;
With gracefull Shadowes sweetly did set-out
Her broad high Fore-head, smooth as Ice, about:
Two slender Bowes of Ebene, equall bent
Over two Stars (bright as the Firmament)
Two twinkling Sparks, Two sprightfull Ietty Eyes
(Where subtle Cupid in close Ambush lyes,
To shoot the choysest of his golden Darts
Into the chariest of the chastest hearts):
'Twixt these Two Suns, down from this liberall Front,
Descendingly ascends a prety Mount;
Which, by Degrees, doth neer those Lips extend,
Where Momus Lips could nothing discommend:
Her ruddy, round Cheeks seem'd to be composed
Of Roses Lillied, or of Lillies-Rosed:
Her musky Mouth (for shape and size so meet,
Excelling Saba's pretious Breath, for sweet)
A swelling Welt of Corall round behemms,
Which smiling showes two Rowes of orient Gemms:
Her Ivory Neck, and Alabaster Brest
Ravish the Pagans more then all the rest:
Her soft, sleek, slender hands, in Snowe bedipt,
With purest Pearl-shell had each Finger tipt.
In brief, so passing Her Perfections were,
That, if rare Zeuxis had but found Her there,
Or such another; when from curious Cull
Of Croton Dames so choisely Beautifull,
By many Beauties (severally met)
His cunning Pencill drew the Counterfait
Of Her for Whom Europe and Asia fought;
This only Piece had he sufficient thought.
In thousand rings curld-vp, with art-less art;
With gracefull Shadowes sweetly did set-out
Her broad high Fore-head, smooth as Ice, about:
Two slender Bowes of Ebene, equall bent
Over two Stars (bright as the Firmament)
Two twinkling Sparks, Two sprightfull Ietty Eyes
(Where subtle Cupid in close Ambush lyes,
To shoot the choysest of his golden Darts
Into the chariest of the chastest hearts):
'Twixt these Two Suns, down from this liberall Front,
Descendingly ascends a prety Mount;
993
Where Momus Lips could nothing discommend:
Her ruddy, round Cheeks seem'd to be composed
Of Roses Lillied, or of Lillies-Rosed:
Her musky Mouth (for shape and size so meet,
Excelling Saba's pretious Breath, for sweet)
A swelling Welt of Corall round behemms,
Which smiling showes two Rowes of orient Gemms:
Her Ivory Neck, and Alabaster Brest
Ravish the Pagans more then all the rest:
Her soft, sleek, slender hands, in Snowe bedipt,
With purest Pearl-shell had each Finger tipt.
In brief, so passing Her Perfections were,
That, if rare Zeuxis had but found Her there,
Or such another; when from curious Cull
Of Croton Dames so choisely Beautifull,
By many Beauties (severally met)
His cunning Pencill drew the Counterfait
Of Her for Whom Europe and Asia fought;
This only Piece had he sufficient thought.
Ivdith no sooner came within the Tent,
But both her Cheeks a bashfull Blush besprent,
Trembling for Fear: vntill, inviting neerer,
The courteous General's gentle words re-cheer-her.
But both her Cheeks a bashfull Blush besprent,
Trembling for Fear: vntill, inviting neerer,
The courteous General's gentle words re-cheer-her.
Sweet hart I am not, I am not so fell
As false Report hath told fond Israel:
Who Me for Father, I for Children take;
I love whom love my Lord their God to make:
And who doe both, may be assur'd to have
What ever Good, Mans heart can hope, or crave:
Which Israel well should finde, would they give eare
To that Kings Favour, whose drad Power they feare:
Then fear not Thou, my Love; but tell me free
The happy Cause that hither bringeth thee.
As false Report hath told fond Israel:
Who Me for Father, I for Children take;
I love whom love my Lord their God to make:
And who doe both, may be assur'd to have
What ever Good, Mans heart can hope, or crave:
Which Israel well should finde, would they give eare
To that Kings Favour, whose drad Power they feare:
Then fear not Thou, my Love; but tell me free
The happy Cause that hither bringeth thee.
O Prince! said Shee (with, then, firm Countenance)
Supreme, for Fortune, Wisedom, Valiance,
Of all that ever had Command in Field,
Or ever manag'd martiall Sword and Shield:
Although my frail Sex, and weak bodie's state,
No longer could endure the wretched fate;
Wants, Labours, Dangers, and the deep Affright
My fellow Towns-folk suffer day and night:
Yet is not That the Cause that drives me thence,
Nor That which drawes me to Your Excellence:
But, 'tis a never-never-dying Worm
Which gnawes my Conscience; a continuall Storm,
A holy Fear, least I be forç't to eat
(Among my People) som vnlawfull meat.
For, I foresee (Sir) that our Folk, yer long,
With cruell Famine so extreamly wrung,
Will be constrain'd to fill, and 'file them too
With vnclean Flesh, which God forbids vs doo:
And that the Lord (who strikes, with iust Revenge
Whom-ever dare his drad iust Lawes infrenge)
Will then, without Fight, give Thee vp their Place;
And one of Thine Thousands of Them shall chase.
Therefore (my Lord) God's Wrath and yours to fly,
Out of Bethvlia, to your Camp come I;
Beseeching humbly, for your Honors sake,
That heer no Rigour, neither Wrong I take.
Hee's more than Wit-less that him wilfull throwes
(Winking) in Dangers that he well fore-knowes;
And when he may live, pain-less, and secure;
In Toil-full Fears will his owne Death procure.
Supreme, for Fortune, Wisedom, Valiance,
Of all that ever had Command in Field,
Or ever manag'd martiall Sword and Shield:
Although my frail Sex, and weak bodie's state,
No longer could endure the wretched fate;
Wants, Labours, Dangers, and the deep Affright
My fellow Towns-folk suffer day and night:
Yet is not That the Cause that drives me thence,
Nor That which drawes me to Your Excellence:
But, 'tis a never-never-dying Worm
Which gnawes my Conscience; a continuall Storm,
A holy Fear, least I be forç't to eat
(Among my People) som vnlawfull meat.
994
With cruell Famine so extreamly wrung,
Will be constrain'd to fill, and 'file them too
With vnclean Flesh, which God forbids vs doo:
And that the Lord (who strikes, with iust Revenge
Whom-ever dare his drad iust Lawes infrenge)
Will then, without Fight, give Thee vp their Place;
And one of Thine Thousands of Them shall chase.
Therefore (my Lord) God's Wrath and yours to fly,
Out of Bethvlia, to your Camp come I;
Beseeching humbly, for your Honors sake,
That heer no Rigour, neither Wrong I take.
Hee's more than Wit-less that him wilfull throwes
(Winking) in Dangers that he well fore-knowes;
And when he may live, pain-less, and secure;
In Toil-full Fears will his owne Death procure.
Now: please thee grant me, in this Vale (away
From noyse and number) nightly to go pray;
Hebrews no sooner shall God's Wrath incense,
But I, inspir'd, shall shew thine Excellence:
And then shall I thy valiant Legions lead
Over all Iuda; and thy Standards spread
Shall swell in Sion, where not one shall dare
Lift Lance against thee, nor Defence prepare:
No, not a Dog so much as bark at Thine
Arms-clashing Army nor their Armors Shine.
Thy Name alone shall tame the stoutest Troup:
To Thee the Hils their proudest Tops shall stoup:
Rivers, for Thee, their rapid Course shall stay,
To yeeld Thine Hoste a new vn-wonted way.
From noyse and number) nightly to go pray;
Hebrews no sooner shall God's Wrath incense,
But I, inspir'd, shall shew thine Excellence:
And then shall I thy valiant Legions lead
Over all Iuda; and thy Standards spread
Shall swell in Sion, where not one shall dare
Lift Lance against thee, nor Defence prepare:
No, not a Dog so much as bark at Thine
Arms-clashing Army nor their Armors Shine.
Thy Name alone shall tame the stoutest Troup:
To Thee the Hils their proudest Tops shall stoup:
Rivers, for Thee, their rapid Course shall stay,
To yeeld Thine Hoste a new vn-wonted way.
The Prince replies: O, Worlds sole Ornament!
Lady, as fair as wise and eloquent;
Right-Welcom are You: and we wish you ever
In all Contentment with vs to persever.
And, if you prove in Truth and Loyalty,
As you are pleasing to mine Eare and Eye;
I shall from henceforth worship evermore
The mighty God you Hebrews do adore:
You shall from henceforth only Lady be
Both of my Sceptre, of my Soule, and Me:
Henceforth your Name with high Renown shall ring
Where Heber, Ister, Nile, and Ganges spring.
Lady, as fair as wise and eloquent;
Right-Welcom are You: and we wish you ever
In all Contentment with vs to persever.
And, if you prove in Truth and Loyalty,
As you are pleasing to mine Eare and Eye;
I shall from henceforth worship evermore
The mighty God you Hebrews do adore:
You shall from henceforth only Lady be
Both of my Sceptre, of my Soule, and Me:
Henceforth your Name with high Renown shall ring
Where Heber, Ister, Nile, and Ganges spring.
With Licence then, soon as the Moon with light
Of silver Rayes began to cleer the night,
The Widow hies to a dark Vale apart;
Where first she bathes her hands, and then her heart:
Then, from her Eyes a luke-warme Rill she showres:
Then, from her Soule this fervent Prayer powres:
Of silver Rayes began to cleer the night,
The Widow hies to a dark Vale apart;
Where first she bathes her hands, and then her heart:
Then, from her Eyes a luke-warme Rill she showres:
Then, from her Soule this fervent Prayer powres:
995
Lord God, no longer now Thine Aide deny
To those that only on Thine Aide rely.
Lord rescue Those that ready are to spend
Their bloods and goods, Thine Honor to Defend.
Lord, let our Infants sad and cease-less Mones,
Our wofull Elders deep and dismall Grones,
Our Matron's Scrieches, Cries of Virgins fair,
Our sacred Levit's Day-and-nightly Prayer,
Pearce to Thy Throne, to wake thy slumbring Ey.
Drad God of Iustice, glorious Father; Why
Do sulphury Bolts of thy best Thunder light
On Carmel's Top, and little Hermon smite:
And let th'Heav'n-threatning Sons of Earth alone;
On proudest Ossa, prouder Pelion?
To those that only on Thine Aide rely.
Lord rescue Those that ready are to spend
Their bloods and goods, Thine Honor to Defend.
Lord, let our Infants sad and cease-less Mones,
Our wofull Elders deep and dismall Grones,
Our Matron's Scrieches, Cries of Virgins fair,
Our sacred Levit's Day-and-nightly Prayer,
Pearce to Thy Throne, to wake thy slumbring Ey.
Drad God of Iustice, glorious Father; Why
Do sulphury Bolts of thy best Thunder light
On Carmel's Top, and little Hermon smite:
And let th'Heav'n-threatning Sons of Earth alone;
On proudest Ossa, prouder Pelion?
Alas! What said I? Ah! forgive me, Lord,
This idle, rash, and vnadvised Word;
Which, in frail Passion, my fond Lips did borrow
From fervent Zeale of mine vnfained Sorrow.
No: O, Our Lignes sole Pillar dearly dread,
I knowe, Thou shortly wilt their Head behead.
I knowe, This hand, by Thy right hand led out,
Shall at one Blowe, This Heathen Army rout,
This idle, rash, and vnadvised Word;
Which, in frail Passion, my fond Lips did borrow
From fervent Zeale of mine vnfained Sorrow.
No: O, Our Lignes sole Pillar dearly dread,
I knowe, Thou shortly wilt their Head behead.
I knowe, This hand, by Thy right hand led out,
Shall at one Blowe, This Heathen Army rout,
The end of the fourth Booke.
996
The Fift Booke.
For blood and marrow, in his veins and bones,
The Vice-Roy feeds new Pains, new Passions;
Which, while he shuns, hee seeks; feels, yet not knowes,
A dead-live Fire, which of Selfe's Cinders growes.
For, th'Hebrew Lady's rapting Rarities
Being now sole Obiect of his Soule's dim Eyes;
Sad, peevish pale, soft, drowsie, dream-awake,
Care of his Hoast he doth no longer take:
Goes no more out, a-nights, to set his Watches,
And Courts of Guard about, on all Approches:
Comes not to Counsail, neither gives The Word:
Nor viewes the Quarters of his Camp: nor stir'd.
The Vice-Roy feeds new Pains, new Passions;
Which, while he shuns, hee seeks; feels, yet not knowes,
A dead-live Fire, which of Selfe's Cinders growes.
For, th'Hebrew Lady's rapting Rarities
Being now sole Obiect of his Soule's dim Eyes;
Sad, peevish pale, soft, drowsie, dream-awake,
Care of his Hoast he doth no longer take:
Goes no more out, a-nights, to set his Watches,
And Courts of Guard about, on all Approches:
Comes not to Counsail, neither gives The Word:
Nor viewes the Quarters of his Camp: nor stir'd.
As Sheep, that miss their wonted Gard and Guide,
Dispersed stray; now, by some Rivers side,
Or gurgling Brook; now, vp and down the Downes;
Now, in the Groves; now, on the Fallow grounds:
So th'Ethnik Army, without Rule or Reine,
Pursue their Pleasures, violent, or vaine:
None will obey; None but will now Command;
Each, as him listeth, dares him now dis-band.
Dispersed stray; now, by some Rivers side,
Or gurgling Brook; now, vp and down the Downes;
Now, in the Groves; now, on the Fallow grounds:
So th'Ethnik Army, without Rule or Reine,
Pursue their Pleasures, violent, or vaine:
None will obey; None but will now Command;
Each, as him listeth, dares him now dis-band.
Hebrews, Why stay you now mew'd in your Citie?
Now, now or never, doth the Time befit-ye
To sally on the Foe; whose rank Disorder
Among themselves, themselves (in Fight) will murder.
Now, now or never, doth the Time befit-ye
To sally on the Foe; whose rank Disorder
Among themselves, themselves (in Fight) will murder.
Nay; bouge not though: of such a Victory
God will the Honor have, and Author be.
God will the Honor have, and Author be.
Yer that blinde Cupid did this Tyrant blinde,
To take the Town was Day and Night his minde;
Now, day and night he mindes but how to gain
A Lady's grace; Who, taken, is not taen
(Her Soule being temper'd more then Fancy-proofe):
Yer-while, th'vndanted mighty Theban rough
Could not have fear'd Him, with his massie Mace;
Now, but a Glance of a weak Woman's Grace
Dismaies him, daunts him, nay even wounds him deep,
Past care of Cure; and doth him Captive keep:
Yer-while Ambition, with Drums rattling Din,
Awakt him early, yer the Day peept-in;
Now Love awakes him; and with His Alarms
Makes him neglect the Hebrews and their Arms:
Yer-while, he had Princes and Kings at bay;
Now, of Him Selfe hath neither Power nor Sway.
To take the Town was Day and Night his minde;
Now, day and night he mindes but how to gain
A Lady's grace; Who, taken, is not taen
(Her Soule being temper'd more then Fancy-proofe):
Yer-while, th'vndanted mighty Theban rough
997
Now, but a Glance of a weak Woman's Grace
Dismaies him, daunts him, nay even wounds him deep,
Past care of Cure; and doth him Captive keep:
Yer-while Ambition, with Drums rattling Din,
Awakt him early, yer the Day peept-in;
Now Love awakes him; and with His Alarms
Makes him neglect the Hebrews and their Arms:
Yer-while, he had Princes and Kings at bay;
Now, of Him Selfe hath neither Power nor Sway.
Alas! alas! Vnhappy Change, said Hee:
Must I live Captive to my Captive-Shee?
Is This (alas!) to live: the Body base't;
The minde as brute; and both their Powers defac't!
This is not Life: or is worse Life to feel,
Then sad Ixion's, on the brazen Wheel
Eternall turning: or a life (in brief)
Most like the Life of that celestiall Thief,
Whose ever-never-dying heart and liver
On Scythian Rocks feed a fel Vulture ever.
Must I live Captive to my Captive-Shee?
Is This (alas!) to live: the Body base't;
The minde as brute; and both their Powers defac't!
This is not Life: or is worse Life to feel,
Then sad Ixion's, on the brazen Wheel
Eternall turning: or a life (in brief)
Most like the Life of that celestiall Thief,
Whose ever-never-dying heart and liver
On Scythian Rocks feed a fel Vulture ever.
What boots me, t'have subdew'd so many Lands?
What, to have tam'd with my victorious hands
All Nations lodg'd betwixt Hydaspes large,
And th'Haven where Cydnus doth in Sea discharge?
Sith I am vanquisht, by the feeble Might
Of Captive Ivdith's Glance. What boots my bright
Strong steeled Targe? my brazen Burguinet?
My martiall Gard about my Body set?
Sith the keen Shot which her quick eye doth dart,
Through Steel, and Brass, and Gard, doth wound my hart.
VVhat boots my Courser swifter then the VVinde,
Leaving the Swallowes in his speed behind?
Sith, on his back flying, I cannot flie
The willing Chaines of my Captivitie.
Change, change then, Hebrews, into Smiles your tears;
Triumph of Me, mine Hoste, Arms, Swords and Spears:
I am no more the Duke, whose Name alone
Yerwhile with Terror shook you every-one:
No: I am He whose Courage, late so brave,
Is now become but Slave vnto my Slave:
I am not come, to Warr with Israel,
To burne your Cities, or your Selues to quell:
But to intreat You, to intreat (for Me)
Your match-less Ivdith, that She milder be.
What, to have tam'd with my victorious hands
All Nations lodg'd betwixt Hydaspes large,
And th'Haven where Cydnus doth in Sea discharge?
Sith I am vanquisht, by the feeble Might
Of Captive Ivdith's Glance. What boots my bright
Strong steeled Targe? my brazen Burguinet?
My martiall Gard about my Body set?
Sith the keen Shot which her quick eye doth dart,
Through Steel, and Brass, and Gard, doth wound my hart.
VVhat boots my Courser swifter then the VVinde,
Leaving the Swallowes in his speed behind?
Sith, on his back flying, I cannot flie
The willing Chaines of my Captivitie.
Change, change then, Hebrews, into Smiles your tears;
Triumph of Me, mine Hoste, Arms, Swords and Spears:
I am no more the Duke, whose Name alone
Yerwhile with Terror shook you every-one:
No: I am He whose Courage, late so brave,
Is now become but Slave vnto my Slave:
I am not come, to Warr with Israel,
To burne your Cities, or your Selues to quell:
But to intreat You, to intreat (for Me)
Your match-less Ivdith, that She milder be.
But whither, Wit-less, whither am I born
By Loves fond Fury; wilfully forlorne?
Have I not Her heer in my Patronage,
That can the Anguish of my Soule asswage?
And yet with idle Plaints I pearce the Skyes;
And thus vn-Manly melt me at mine Eyes.
By Loves fond Fury; wilfully forlorne?
Have I not Her heer in my Patronage,
That can the Anguish of my Soule asswage?
998
And thus vn-Manly melt me at mine Eyes.
Vnhappy Me! my wretched Case is such
As His, who wants most what he hath too-much;
A Crystall River flowing to his Lip;
Yet dies for Thirst, and cannot drink a sip:
For, so do I respect her Excellence,
Her Heav'n-given Graces; that, for Reverence,
Mine eyes dare scarce behold her, and my Tongue,
In steed of suing, to my roof is clung.
O that my Brest transparent Crystall were,
That She might see my hearts dire Torment there;
And there read plainely, what my Loves excess
(Alas!) permits not my sad voice t'express.
As His, who wants most what he hath too-much;
A Crystall River flowing to his Lip;
Yet dies for Thirst, and cannot drink a sip:
For, so do I respect her Excellence,
Her Heav'n-given Graces; that, for Reverence,
Mine eyes dare scarce behold her, and my Tongue,
In steed of suing, to my roof is clung.
O that my Brest transparent Crystall were,
That She might see my hearts dire Torment there;
And there read plainely, what my Loves excess
(Alas!) permits not my sad voice t'express.
Since Ivdith first came to th'Assyrian Camp,
Thrice had the Heav'ns light and put-out their Lamp;
And now Aurora, with a saffron Ray,
Began, in Inde, to kindle the fourth Day:
When as the Duke, who Food and Rest forsakes,
This heauy Moan, to 's Eunuke Bagos, makes:
Thrice had the Heav'ns light and put-out their Lamp;
And now Aurora, with a saffron Ray,
Began, in Inde, to kindle the fourth Day:
When as the Duke, who Food and Rest forsakes,
This heauy Moan, to 's Eunuke Bagos, makes:
Bagos, my Sonne adopted, not by Chance;
Bagos, whom I, still studying to advance,
Have made, of Meanest and neglected most,
First in my heart, and Second in mine Hoste,
Bagos, I burn, I raue, I rage, I die
Of wounds receiu'd from that faire Strangers Eie.
Go, seek her out: go quickly: tell her Thou
My loving Languor: tell her, that I vow
To make her equal, nay above the best
Of greatest Dames whom royall Crowns invest:
Especially, insinuate so, that She
Be pleas'd this night to come and sup with Me.
Wer 't not a Folly, nay a Madnes meer,
In Me, to have the rarest Beauty heer
This Age hath bred; and yet, too-faint a Foole,
I should not dare my hearts hot Thirst to coole?
Would not my Soldiers laugh at it apace?
Nay: would not Ivdith blush at My Disgrace?
Bagos, whom I, still studying to advance,
Have made, of Meanest and neglected most,
First in my heart, and Second in mine Hoste,
Bagos, I burn, I raue, I rage, I die
Of wounds receiu'd from that faire Strangers Eie.
Go, seek her out: go quickly: tell her Thou
My loving Languor: tell her, that I vow
To make her equal, nay above the best
Of greatest Dames whom royall Crowns invest:
Especially, insinuate so, that She
Be pleas'd this night to come and sup with Me.
Wer 't not a Folly, nay a Madnes meer,
In Me, to have the rarest Beauty heer
This Age hath bred; and yet, too-faint a Foole,
I should not dare my hearts hot Thirst to coole?
Would not my Soldiers laugh at it apace?
Nay: would not Ivdith blush at My Disgrace?
Bagos, too-apt, too-vs'd to such a Turn;
Thus oyles the Fire, which but too-fast did burn:
My Lord, if Priavte men (whose otious Care
Scarce passe the Threshold of their owne Door dare;
Whose Mindes, content with their vnhappy Hap,
For other Grace or Greatnes never gape)
Liue not content (alas!) vnless some-while
Venus warme Comforts their chill Cares beguile:
How-more vnhappy then, are Those that beare
An Atlas Burthen: Those that Rest forbeare,
For Others Rest: Those that (like Argus) wake
While Others, fear-less, their full Naps doo take:
If, among all their Gall, their Toil, their Teen,
Some (Cupids) Hony be not mixt between?
Thus oyles the Fire, which but too-fast did burn:
My Lord, if Priavte men (whose otious Care
Scarce passe the Threshold of their owne Door dare;
Whose Mindes, content with their vnhappy Hap,
For other Grace or Greatnes never gape)
Liue not content (alas!) vnless some-while
Venus warme Comforts their chill Cares beguile:
How-more vnhappy then, are Those that beare
An Atlas Burthen: Those that Rest forbeare,
999
While Others, fear-less, their full Naps doo take:
If, among all their Gall, their Toil, their Teen,
Some (Cupids) Hony be not mixt between?
Then, Sir, pursue your Love: lose not the Game,
Which of it self comes to your Net, so tame.
And, if in like Imployments, heertofore
Y' haue found Me fit and faithfull evermore;
In This new Trust, you shall by speedy Trial,
Finde me more secret, diligent, and loyall.
Which of it self comes to your Net, so tame.
And, if in like Imployments, heertofore
Y' haue found Me fit and faithfull evermore;
In This new Trust, you shall by speedy Trial,
Finde me more secret, diligent, and loyall.
Alas! How-many BAGOS's, in our Time
In Princes Courts, to highest Honors climbe,
More, for their Cunning in such Embassies,
Then for Repute of learned, stout, or wise:
Whilom, great Courts were Vertue's Academs;
Now, Schools of Vice: now (rather) Sinks of Realms.
In Princes Courts, to highest Honors climbe,
More, for their Cunning in such Embassies,
Then for Repute of learned, stout, or wise:
Whilom, great Courts were Vertue's Academs;
Now, Schools of Vice: now (rather) Sinks of Realms.
You, who, Great-minded, cannot be content
To be close-Brokers for th'Incontinent:
Who cannot brew (with too-too-dangerous Skill)
Both a Love-Potion, and a Cup to kill:
VVho cannot, noble, your free Natures strain,
With flattering pencil on your Face to fain
A Face of frownes, or Smiles; of Wrath, or Ruth;
To please the Great (rather with Tales then Truth):
Come not at Court; if I may counsail you.
For, There, in steed of Grace and Honor, dew
Vnto your Vertues; you shall nothing gain,
But that which There still haunts the Good; Disdain.
To be close-Brokers for th'Incontinent:
Who cannot brew (with too-too-dangerous Skill)
Both a Love-Potion, and a Cup to kill:
VVho cannot, noble, your free Natures strain,
With flattering pencil on your Face to fain
A Face of frownes, or Smiles; of Wrath, or Ruth;
To please the Great (rather with Tales then Truth):
Come not at Court; if I may counsail you.
For, There, in steed of Grace and Honor, dew
Vnto your Vertues; you shall nothing gain,
But that which There still haunts the Good; Disdain.
You, Noble Ladies, in whose heart is graven
A filial Feare of th'All-see GOD of Heaven:
You that more prize your Honor's pure Report,
Then Love of Princes: keep yee from the Court.
A filial Feare of th'All-see GOD of Heaven:
You that more prize your Honor's pure Report,
Then Love of Princes: keep yee from the Court.
But You, who, hauing neither Land nor Money,
Out-brave the bravest: Who with words of Hony,
And Friend-like Face, Dissemblers, humbly greet
VVhom your false harts wish in their winding sheet:
Who, lavish, sel your Wives for Offices:
Who make you Noble, by base Services:
Who, seruing Time, can set your Faith to sale;
Shift your Religion; saile with euery Gale:
Who, Parasites, can put more Faces on
Then euer Proteus in the Seas hath show'n:
Who, forcing Nature, can your Manners fit
To my Lords Humor; and so humor it;
Like a Chameleon, which, heer blew, there black,
Heer gray, there green, doth with his Obiect take:
Who can invent new Toules, new Taxes finde,
To charge the People, and the Poore to grinde:
Who, fayning to possesse your Princes Eare,
Make Sutors crouch, and court you euery-where;
And, subtle Shifters, sell them deere your Smoak,
Blinding the Wretches with a wilie cloake.
Out-brave the bravest: Who with words of Hony,
And Friend-like Face, Dissemblers, humbly greet
VVhom your false harts wish in their winding sheet:
Who, lavish, sel your Wives for Offices:
Who make you Noble, by base Services:
Who, seruing Time, can set your Faith to sale;
Shift your Religion; saile with euery Gale:
Who, Parasites, can put more Faces on
Then euer Proteus in the Seas hath show'n:
Who, forcing Nature, can your Manners fit
To my Lords Humor; and so humor it;
Like a Chameleon, which, heer blew, there black,
Heer gray, there green, doth with his Obiect take:
Who can invent new Toules, new Taxes finde,
To charge the People, and the Poore to grinde:
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Make Sutors crouch, and court you euery-where;
And, subtle Shifters, sell them deere your Smoak,
Blinding the Wretches with a wilie cloake.
You, warbling Sirens, whose delicious Charms
Draw wariest youth into your wrackfull Armes:
You Circes, you whose powerfull Spells transmute
Your Loues to Stones, Hogs, Dogs, and euery Brute:
You Stymphalides, whose Auarice deuoures
The richest Treasure of Youth's freshest Flowers:
You, you, whose Painting, and Pearl-golden-glister,
Of Priam's old Wife, make yong Castor's Sister:
You Myrrha's you Canaces, Semi-ram's:
And, if there be any more odious Dames:
Come You to Court: come quickly: There, on You
A hundred Honors shal be heapt, vn-dew;
You, there shall sell Iustice, Preferments, Places:
Yea, you shall sell mis-gouernd Princes Graces.
Draw wariest youth into your wrackfull Armes:
You Circes, you whose powerfull Spells transmute
Your Loues to Stones, Hogs, Dogs, and euery Brute:
You Stymphalides, whose Auarice deuoures
The richest Treasure of Youth's freshest Flowers:
You, you, whose Painting, and Pearl-golden-glister,
Of Priam's old Wife, make yong Castor's Sister:
You Myrrha's you Canaces, Semi-ram's:
And, if there be any more odious Dames:
Come You to Court: come quickly: There, on You
A hundred Honors shal be heapt, vn-dew;
You, there shall sell Iustice, Preferments, Places:
Yea, you shall sell mis-gouernd Princes Graces.
But, Muse, it boots not: Hadst Thou thousand-fold
The Strength and Stomack of Alcides bold,
Thou couldst not clense These Sin-proud shining Halls,
Fouler by far then foule Augeas Stalls.
The Strength and Stomack of Alcides bold,
Thou couldst not clense These Sin-proud shining Halls,
Fouler by far then foule Augeas Stalls.
Let's back to Ivdith; who to bring about
Her hard deseign, survayes her, sets her out,
Be-curles her Tresses; makes her Crystall cleer
Her Beauties Iudge, which had in Earth no peer.
Her hard deseign, survayes her, sets her out,
Be-curles her Tresses; makes her Crystall cleer
Her Beauties Iudge, which had in Earth no peer.
Then comes she to the Tent, rich hanged round
With curious Arras, from the top to ground;
Where Art-full fingers, for a Web of glory,
Had wov'n Medes, Persians, Syrian Princes Story.
With curious Arras, from the top to ground;
Where Art-full fingers, for a Web of glory,
Had wov'n Medes, Persians, Syrian Princes Story.
There Ninus first, pusht by vain Prides amisse,
Vsurps the East: heer comes Simiramis,
VVho, fayning Her a Man, th'Assyrians swayes
And to the Clowds her Babylon doth raise.
Vsurps the East: heer comes Simiramis,
VVho, fayning Her a Man, th'Assyrians swayes
And to the Clowds her Babylon doth raise.
See, see a Prince, with soft white fingers fine,
Effeminate, sits spinning Flaxen Twine:
And, for a Launce, bearing a Distaffe, showes
That more to Female then to Male he owes:
See, how he poats, paints, frizzles, fashions him;
Bathes, basks, anoints, viewes, and re-views his Trim
Within his Glass, which for a Glaiue he weares.
See, how he shifts to hide his Shame and Fears:
From Vardingale to Vardingale, he flyes
His braue Lieutenant, least Hee him suprize.
Yer, see, at last (to act one Manly thing)
Hee burns himselfe, not to out-live a King.
Effeminate, sits spinning Flaxen Twine:
And, for a Launce, bearing a Distaffe, showes
That more to Female then to Male he owes:
See, how he poats, paints, frizzles, fashions him;
Bathes, basks, anoints, viewes, and re-views his Trim
Within his Glass, which for a Glaiue he weares.
See, how he shifts to hide his Shame and Fears:
From Vardingale to Vardingale, he flyes
His braue Lieutenant, least Hee him suprize.
Yer, see, at last (to act one Manly thing)
Hee burns himselfe, not to out-live a King.
See, heer an Infant sucking of a Bitch
Vnder a Hedge, and in a shallow Ditch;
Who grown a Man, heer musters in his Train
Both bond and free, the Souldier and the Swain;
Subdues the East, and into Persia drawes
The Medes proud Sceptre; & he giues them Lawes.
Vnder a Hedge, and in a shallow Ditch;
1001
Both bond and free, the Souldier and the Swain;
Subdues the East, and into Persia drawes
The Medes proud Sceptre; & he giues them Lawes.
But who's That marches so dis-figured there,
Before an Army, without Nose, and Eare?
'Tis that good Servant, who reduç't, alone,
Vnder Darius, Rebell Babylon.
Before an Army, without Nose, and Eare?
'Tis that good Servant, who reduç't, alone,
Vnder Darius, Rebell Babylon.
While, with these Showes sad Ivdith entertaind
Her Eyes, but not her hart (too-inly-paind)
In comes the Duke: and with right courteous cheere
Kindely salutes her, hands her hand; and neere
Causing her sit in a rich easie Chaire,
Himselfe, at ease, viewes and re-viewes her Faire.
Then, seeing him so nigh his wished Pleasure,
His hart's a-fire: not hath he longer leasure
To stay for Venus, till, Star-crowned bright,
On their Horizon Shee bring back the Night.
Her Eyes, but not her hart (too-inly-paind)
In comes the Duke: and with right courteous cheere
Kindely salutes her, hands her hand; and neere
Causing her sit in a rich easie Chaire,
Himselfe, at ease, viewes and re-viewes her Faire.
Then, seeing him so nigh his wished Pleasure,
His hart's a-fire: not hath he longer leasure
To stay for Venus, till, Star-crowned bright,
On their Horizon Shee bring back the Night.
The VVidow, knowing Time and Place, as yet,
For God's Decree, and her Deseign, vnfit;
Findes still Delayes: and, to delude his Loue,
Shee (wylie) still Speech vpon Speech doth moue.
For God's Decree, and her Deseign, vnfit;
Findes still Delayes: and, to delude his Loue,
Shee (wylie) still Speech vpon Speech doth moue.
My Lord, pray tell me, What so great Offence
So grievously your Fury could incense;
What? When? Where? Why? How? and by Whom our Folk
Could so the Wrath of such a Prince provoke,
So separate, in Language, Land, and Law;
Who neuer Vs; and Whom we neuer saw?
So grievously your Fury could incense;
What? When? Where? Why? How? and by Whom our Folk
Could so the Wrath of such a Prince provoke,
So separate, in Language, Land, and Law;
Who neuer Vs; and Whom we neuer saw?
Vnciuil were He (Sweet) replyes the Prince,
Could ought deny to such an Excellence.
Then: as the Heav'ns cannot Two Suns sustaine:
No more can Earth Two Kings at once contain,
Of equall Power and State: for, Souerantie
Brooks no Co-partner, no Equality.
Witnes my Souerain: who, offended at
The Power and Pomp of mighty Arphaxat,
Who, high aspire, and farre to spred began,
And to the Clowds had built his Echatane,
Ninive's Shame, and dread of Babylon:
Brauely end euours of supplant His Throne,
Bereaue his Sceptre, sack, raze, ruinate,
His goodly Cities, and himselfe dis-State.
Could ought deny to such an Excellence.
Then: as the Heav'ns cannot Two Suns sustaine:
No more can Earth Two Kings at once contain,
Of equall Power and State: for, Souerantie
Brooks no Co-partner, no Equality.
Witnes my Souerain: who, offended at
The Power and Pomp of mighty Arphaxat,
Who, high aspire, and farre to spred began,
And to the Clowds had built his Echatane,
Ninive's Shame, and dread of Babylon:
Brauely end euours of supplant His Throne,
Bereaue his Sceptre, sack, raze, ruinate,
His goodly Cities, and himselfe dis-State.
But Arphaxat, as valorous as sage
(And both, right worthy of his Crown and Age)
Would rather venture Media's Royall Rings,
Then vaile to Anie. So between Two Kings,
Two stout, and stirring Spirits (whereof the-one
Could brook no Peer, th'other, Superior none)
Began a dreadfull and right deadly War,
Lasting (alas!) too-long, spreading too-far.
(And both, right worthy of his Crown and Age)
Would rather venture Media's Royall Rings,
Then vaile to Anie. So between Two Kings,
Two stout, and stirring Spirits (whereof the-one
Could brook no Peer, th'other, Superior none)
1002
Lasting (alas!) too-long, spreading too-far.
Arphaxat arms Those, where the Flower of Greece
Fetcht, not the Locks of an old Golden Fleece,
But massie Ingots, which doe richly pave
The happy Plains great Phasis Streams belave:
The Harmastans, th'Albanians, wont to mowe
Three times a yeer, where onely once they sowe:
Whom Oxus boundeth with his swelling Tide:
Whom Anti-Taurus double Horns diuide:
Those on the Mountain, whose high-lowely back
Bow'd to the Vessell which preseru'd from wrack
The Worlds Abbridgement: Those along the Shores
Where proud Iaxartes rapid Current rores:
In short, besides his Medes he had in Pay,
All, neere the Pontike and the Caspian Sea.
So that, already, This great King-Commander,
Had Hopes as high as euer Alexander.
Fetcht, not the Locks of an old Golden Fleece,
But massie Ingots, which doe richly pave
The happy Plains great Phasis Streams belave:
The Harmastans, th'Albanians, wont to mowe
Three times a yeer, where onely once they sowe:
Whom Oxus boundeth with his swelling Tide:
Whom Anti-Taurus double Horns diuide:
Those on the Mountain, whose high-lowely back
Bow'd to the Vessell which preseru'd from wrack
The Worlds Abbridgement: Those along the Shores
Where proud Iaxartes rapid Current rores:
In short, besides his Medes he had in Pay,
All, neere the Pontike and the Caspian Sea.
So that, already, This great King-Commander,
Had Hopes as high as euer Alexander.
My Prince, resolv'd to conquer, or to die,
Omits no point of Opportunitie
For his Affaires: Hee armeth Sittacen,
Levies the Archers of all Osrolen:
Those, whose rich Plain hundred for one repay,
From Euphrates and Tigris much away:
Fish-fed Carmanians (who with Seal-skin Iacks,
In sted of Iron, arme their warlike Backs)
Gold sanded Hytan's natiue Shores forgo:
You, Parthians, Cossians and Arabians too,
By your sage Magis deep prophetike Charmes
Sacredly counsail'd, take you all to Armes:
And Thou, Chaldea, turn'st to Swords, and Spears
And Shields, Thy Rules, Squires, Compasses and Sphears.
For, of his Subiects spares he not a man
That beare a Launce or Pike, or Crosbow can:
Wiues, Beldams Babes, Gray-heads (& Sickly, some)
Through all his Countries onely kept at home.
Omits no point of Opportunitie
For his Affaires: Hee armeth Sittacen,
Levies the Archers of all Osrolen:
Those, whose rich Plain hundred for one repay,
From Euphrates and Tigris much away:
Fish-fed Carmanians (who with Seal-skin Iacks,
In sted of Iron, arme their warlike Backs)
Gold sanded Hytan's natiue Shores forgo:
You, Parthians, Cossians and Arabians too,
By your sage Magis deep prophetike Charmes
Sacredly counsail'd, take you all to Armes:
And Thou, Chaldea, turn'st to Swords, and Spears
And Shields, Thy Rules, Squires, Compasses and Sphears.
For, of his Subiects spares he not a man
That beare a Launce or Pike, or Crosbow can:
Wiues, Beldams Babes, Gray-heads (& Sickly, some)
Through all his Countries onely kept at home.
He also sends for Persians and Phœnicians;
For soft Egyptians, Hebrews, and Cilicians,
Quickly to come, and kindly take his Part:
But Neuters, They (more Friends in face, then hart)
Reiect his earnest Sute, Himselfe neglect;
And vse his Legats but with small respect.
For soft Egyptians, Hebrews, and Cilicians,
Quickly to come, and kindly take his Part:
But Neuters, They (more Friends in face, then hart)
Reiect his earnest Sute, Himselfe neglect;
And vse his Legats but with small respect.
My Lord dissembles for a while This wrong,
Till hauing tryumpht of a Foe more strong,
Hee may with more ease, and with danger lesse,
Their Sacrilege and surly Pride represse.
Till hauing tryumpht of a Foe more strong,
Hee may with more ease, and with danger lesse,
Their Sacrilege and surly Pride represse.
In Ragau's ample Plain, one Morning, met
These Royall Armies, of two Kings, as great
As ever Mars with steele and Furie arm'd,
Fury and Pride so Eithers Souldier warm'd,
That hardly could they stay till Trumpets shrill
Denounce the Battaile, and giue leaue to kill:
But with stern Looks, and brauing Threats, afar;
At hand, with Blowes; they had begun to war;
Exchanging wounds. Two thousand Perduz first
Giue brauely th'Onset: and not much disperst,
From suddain whirle-wind of their nimble Slings,
So thick a storm of humming Pebbles sings
So-sad a Dirge of Deaths, that they suppose,
That not one Troop, but All, had bin at Blowes.
To second Those, then, in good ordinance,
With waving Ensignes, thousand Troops aduance:
Both Armies ioyne. Now fiercely fall they to 't,
Mede vpon Chalde, pressing foot to foot;
Incount'ring felly with a furious noise
Of clashing Arms, and Angry-braving Voice,
Lowder then Nile, rushing from Rocky-Coomb;
Or then Encélade, when he shakes his Toomb.
Heer lyes one head-lesse: foot-lesse there (alas!)
Another craules among the gorie Grasse:
One's shoulder hangs: another hangs his Bowels
About his neck (but new bound vp in towells):
This, in the Face, That in the Flank is hurt:
This, as he dyes, a Floud of Blood doth spurt:
That, neither liues nor dyes; but sees at once
Both vpper Iove's and neather's diverse Thrones;
Because, some little spirit (too-stubborn-stout)
Still, in the Body, will not yet come out.
These Royall Armies, of two Kings, as great
1003
Fury and Pride so Eithers Souldier warm'd,
That hardly could they stay till Trumpets shrill
Denounce the Battaile, and giue leaue to kill:
But with stern Looks, and brauing Threats, afar;
At hand, with Blowes; they had begun to war;
Exchanging wounds. Two thousand Perduz first
Giue brauely th'Onset: and not much disperst,
From suddain whirle-wind of their nimble Slings,
So thick a storm of humming Pebbles sings
So-sad a Dirge of Deaths, that they suppose,
That not one Troop, but All, had bin at Blowes.
To second Those, then, in good ordinance,
With waving Ensignes, thousand Troops aduance:
Both Armies ioyne. Now fiercely fall they to 't,
Mede vpon Chalde, pressing foot to foot;
Incount'ring felly with a furious noise
Of clashing Arms, and Angry-braving Voice,
Lowder then Nile, rushing from Rocky-Coomb;
Or then Encélade, when he shakes his Toomb.
Heer lyes one head-lesse: foot-lesse there (alas!)
Another craules among the gorie Grasse:
One's shoulder hangs: another hangs his Bowels
About his neck (but new bound vp in towells):
This, in the Face, That in the Flank is hurt:
This, as he dyes, a Floud of Blood doth spurt:
That, neither liues nor dyes; but sees at once
Both vpper Iove's and neather's diverse Thrones;
Because, some little spirit (too-stubborn-stout)
Still, in the Body, will not yet come out.
Yer-while the ground was yellow, green, & blew;
Now onely couerd with a Crimsin hew:
While one doth (heer) another deadly thrill,
Another Him, Another Him doth kill:
Still Rage increases: still doth Fury spread,
Till all the Field be but a Heap of Dead.
Now onely couerd with a Crimsin hew:
While one doth (heer) another deadly thrill,
Another Him, Another Him doth kill:
Still Rage increases: still doth Fury spread,
Till all the Field be but a Heap of Dead.
One-while the Syrians by the Medes are chas't;
Anon the Medes by Syrians are re-chas't:
As one-while, from the Sea vnto the Shore,
Surge after Surge, VVaue after Waue doth rore.
Another-while, from Shore to Sea they ply
VVaue after Waue, Surge after Surge to fly:
Or as (we see) the Flowery Ears, in May
(When Zephyrus with gentle Puffs doth play)
Sway to and fro; forward and backward bend;
Now stoop a little; and now, stand an end.
Anon the Medes by Syrians are re-chas't:
As one-while, from the Sea vnto the Shore,
Surge after Surge, VVaue after Waue doth rore.
Another-while, from Shore to Sea they ply
VVaue after Waue, Surge after Surge to fly:
Or as (we see) the Flowery Ears, in May
(When Zephyrus with gentle Puffs doth play)
Sway to and fro; forward and backward bend;
Now stoop a little; and now, stand an end.
Both Kings the-while, whose Force and Fortitude
Far past their Subiects, so their Blades imbrewd
In Bloud and Slaughter, that an open Glade
Where-e'r they came, in either Camp they made:
So that, nor Casks, Cuirets, nor Shields could saue
From mighty Stroaks their massie Weapons gaue:
Much like two Torrents, which with headlong fall
From two opposed Hils, downe-bearing all,
Banks, Bridges, Trees, Corn, Cattell; seeme to vy
Whether of either shall most damnifie.
Especially, the Medes King thundred so
Vpon our Battailes, that our Bravest, tho,
Began to shrink, and with that shameful sight,
Our Hoast dis-ord'red, fell to shamefull flight:
The Foe pursues, slayes, slashes (swift as wind)
Millions of wounds, and every one behind.
Far past their Subiects, so their Blades imbrewd
1004
Where-e'r they came, in either Camp they made:
So that, nor Casks, Cuirets, nor Shields could saue
From mighty Stroaks their massie Weapons gaue:
Much like two Torrents, which with headlong fall
From two opposed Hils, downe-bearing all,
Banks, Bridges, Trees, Corn, Cattell; seeme to vy
Whether of either shall most damnifie.
Especially, the Medes King thundred so
Vpon our Battailes, that our Bravest, tho,
Began to shrink, and with that shameful sight,
Our Hoast dis-ord'red, fell to shamefull flight:
The Foe pursues, slayes, slashes (swift as wind)
Millions of wounds, and every one behind.
In briefe, that Day had Niniue bin downe,
Her King vndone (dead, and depriv'd of Crowne)
Had not I (full of Force and Furie) quick
Like Lightning, rusht where deadly Blowes were thick.
Mails, Murrions, Corselets, Iron, Steele and Brasse,
Before My Sword were brittle all, as Glasse,
And onely I, My hand alone, which lent
More deaths then blowes, brought more astonishment
Vnto Their Camp, then all Our Camp beside.
Their Foot no longer could my Brunt abide:
Their Horsmen, fainting, in their Saddles shake;
Arms on their Backs, halts in their Bellies quake.
Heer, with a down-right Blowe, from top to twist,
I cleaue in sunder one that dar'd resist:
There, I so deep dive in Another's minde,
That neer two handfulls peers my Sword, behinde;
So, that the Medes, now more then wauering,
In th'heat of Fight, abandon All their King.
Who, seeing him so betray'd, his Tresses tore,
Retir'd to Ragau, all besmeard with gore:
There, over-taen by Ours, He brauely fought;
Mid thickest Darts a glorious Death he sought;
Heawes, thunders, thrills, and of his Manly blowes
Not one in vaine, not one amisse bestowes:
But, yer He die, with quick, keen, Fauchin fel,
He sends before, thousand stout Soules to Hell:
So the fierce Tigre, compast every where
With Men and Dogs, to Fury turns his Feare;
Fights where he findes the greatest dangerly;
Tears, tosses, kills; not, vnreueng'd to die.
Her King vndone (dead, and depriv'd of Crowne)
Had not I (full of Force and Furie) quick
Like Lightning, rusht where deadly Blowes were thick.
Mails, Murrions, Corselets, Iron, Steele and Brasse,
Before My Sword were brittle all, as Glasse,
And onely I, My hand alone, which lent
More deaths then blowes, brought more astonishment
Vnto Their Camp, then all Our Camp beside.
Their Foot no longer could my Brunt abide:
Their Horsmen, fainting, in their Saddles shake;
Arms on their Backs, halts in their Bellies quake.
Heer, with a down-right Blowe, from top to twist,
I cleaue in sunder one that dar'd resist:
There, I so deep dive in Another's minde,
That neer two handfulls peers my Sword, behinde;
So, that the Medes, now more then wauering,
In th'heat of Fight, abandon All their King.
Who, seeing him so betray'd, his Tresses tore,
Retir'd to Ragau, all besmeard with gore:
There, over-taen by Ours, He brauely fought;
Mid thickest Darts a glorious Death he sought;
Heawes, thunders, thrills, and of his Manly blowes
Not one in vaine, not one amisse bestowes:
But, yer He die, with quick, keen, Fauchin fel,
He sends before, thousand stout Soules to Hell:
So the fierce Tigre, compast every where
With Men and Dogs, to Fury turns his Feare;
Fights where he findes the greatest dangerly;
Tears, tosses, kills; not, vnreueng'd to die.
But, at the last, the vainly Valiant King,
Wearie of killing, and of conquering,
Thrilld with a thousand Darts, and wounded rife,
Ended at once his lofty Rage and Life:
And, falling, fares as doth a mighty Oake,
Which, planted high vpon a massie Rock,
A thousand times hath felt the Winds to beat,
And thousand Axes, it a Fall to threat;
So that the Root groan'd, and the Valley nigh
Eccho'd the noyse vnto the steepest Sky,
While that the Top still reeling to and fro,
Now, These, now Those, threatens with overthrow
Yet, still it stands in spight of all their spight,
Till at the last, all vnder-mined quight
With million stroaks, it falls; and with the Fall,
Bears to the ground, Trees, Rocks, Corn, Cattell, All.
Wearie of killing, and of conquering,
Thrilld with a thousand Darts, and wounded rife,
Ended at once his lofty Rage and Life:
1005
Which, planted high vpon a massie Rock,
A thousand times hath felt the Winds to beat,
And thousand Axes, it a Fall to threat;
So that the Root groan'd, and the Valley nigh
Eccho'd the noyse vnto the steepest Sky,
While that the Top still reeling to and fro,
Now, These, now Those, threatens with overthrow
Yet, still it stands in spight of all their spight,
Till at the last, all vnder-mined quight
With million stroaks, it falls; and with the Fall,
Bears to the ground, Trees, Rocks, Corn, Cattell, All.
For, Arphaxat extinct, extinct with-all
Was Median's glory: and, My Lord of All
Raz'd Ecbatane; and now grow VVeeds and Grass
VVhere, late, His lofty, rare-rich Palace was:
Where, late the Lute, and the loud Cornets noise
In curious Consort warbled sweet their voice;
The voice of Scriech-Owles, and Night-Ravens is heard,
And euery fatall and affrighting Bird.
Was Median's glory: and, My Lord of All
Raz'd Ecbatane; and now grow VVeeds and Grass
VVhere, late, His lofty, rare-rich Palace was:
Where, late the Lute, and the loud Cornets noise
In curious Consort warbled sweet their voice;
The voice of Scriech-Owles, and Night-Ravens is heard,
And euery fatall and affrighting Bird.
My King-God, weary of Warrs tedious toile,
In Ninive the great, for foure months-while
Made Publique Feasts: and, when the Feast was don,
Commaunds Mee leavie a huge Hoast, anon,
Of chiefest Men; to goe and chastise Those
That had disdaignd him Aide against his Foes:
And that, on All that dar'd His Hests infrenge,
VVith Fire and Sword his Honor I avenge;
And that with speed. But, Madam, see (alas!)
How farre I am from bringing this too-passe:
For, comming heere, your Nation to subdue,
My Selfe am conquer'd and subdu'd by You:
So that (alas!) Death's draddest Tyrannies
In endlesse Night will soon siel-vp mine eyes,
Except the powerfull sole Preservatiue
Of thy sweet Kisses keepe mee yet aliue.
Nay: good My Lord, said Shee, Tell-on (I pray)
Your good Successe and Service, by the VVay.
In Ninive the great, for foure months-while
Made Publique Feasts: and, when the Feast was don,
Commaunds Mee leavie a huge Hoast, anon,
Of chiefest Men; to goe and chastise Those
That had disdaignd him Aide against his Foes:
And that, on All that dar'd His Hests infrenge,
VVith Fire and Sword his Honor I avenge;
And that with speed. But, Madam, see (alas!)
How farre I am from bringing this too-passe:
For, comming heere, your Nation to subdue,
My Selfe am conquer'd and subdu'd by You:
So that (alas!) Death's draddest Tyrannies
In endlesse Night will soon siel-vp mine eyes,
Except the powerfull sole Preservatiue
Of thy sweet Kisses keepe mee yet aliue.
Nay: good My Lord, said Shee, Tell-on (I pray)
Your good Successe and Service, by the VVay.
Then Holofernes, where he left, began
A long Narration how He playd the Man;
Halfe Truth, halfe Tales: For, tis great Souldiers guise
To bumbast oft their Own Exploits with Lyes
A long Narration how He playd the Man;
Halfe Truth, halfe Tales: For, tis great Souldiers guise
To bumbast oft their Own Exploits with Lyes
Mine Hoast all mustered and together brought,
T'inflame their harts with martial Heat I sought:
Fellowes (said I) if euer Your Desires
Haue thirsted Fame, to liue when Life expires;
Go w' now to punish that presumptuous Crew
Which rudely (late) our sacred Legats slew:
Go w', to avenge our drad-deer Soverain Liege
Of that fel Outrage, nay, foule Sacrilege
Against the Greatest God came euer downe
From Heav'nly Spheares to sway an Earthly Crown
Arm, arm you, braue Blouds, arm your either hand;
This, with a Blade; That, with a Fier-brand,
With Fire and Sword to over-run the West,
To lay it waste, to bear away the best:
To sink it all vnder a Crimsin Flood;
Or make (at least) your Horses swim in blood:
Go w', take possession of Your Valors due,
The whole Worlds Crown, which yeelds it all to you:
Take you This Honor; which, in Time-to-come,
Shall keep your braue Names from th'obliuious Tomb:
Take, take your pleasures of the richest spoils
Of richest Cities in a hundred Soiles
VVhich you shal sack. So, may you once in Health
Come laden home with Honor and with VVealth.
T'inflame their harts with martial Heat I sought:
Fellowes (said I) if euer Your Desires
Haue thirsted Fame, to liue when Life expires;
Go w' now to punish that presumptuous Crew
Which rudely (late) our sacred Legats slew:
1006
Of that fel Outrage, nay, foule Sacrilege
Against the Greatest God came euer downe
From Heav'nly Spheares to sway an Earthly Crown
Arm, arm you, braue Blouds, arm your either hand;
This, with a Blade; That, with a Fier-brand,
With Fire and Sword to over-run the West,
To lay it waste, to bear away the best:
To sink it all vnder a Crimsin Flood;
Or make (at least) your Horses swim in blood:
Go w', take possession of Your Valors due,
The whole Worlds Crown, which yeelds it all to you:
Take you This Honor; which, in Time-to-come,
Shall keep your braue Names from th'obliuious Tomb:
Take, take your pleasures of the richest spoils
Of richest Cities in a hundred Soiles
VVhich you shal sack. So, may you once in Health
Come laden home with Honor and with VVealth.
I ceast: and soon they second, all, my voice
With Caps cast-vp, with clapped hands; and noyse
Of generall Ioy, to haue Me Generall.
With Caps cast-vp, with clapped hands; and noyse
Of generall Ioy, to haue Me Generall.
Some six-score Thousand was Mine Hoast in all,
Or som-what-more: with which from Ninive,
But three-dayes march I made to Bectileh;
Thence past I forward by Hierapolis,
Then by Amida, then by Nisibis.
And thence to Charan (at the length) I came,
Once happy seat of your great Abraham.
Then wan I th'Hill, whose oblique Horns divide
All Asia neer, and limite farre and wide
Many large Empires: Where, I sack, I slay,
I burn, I raze, what-euer in my way:
My Souldiers seem so many Mowers, right,
Which in a Mead leaue not a blade vpright;
But, by long Swathes of their degraded Grasse,
Well showe the way their sweeping Sythes did passe:
This, Phul, and Tharsis, and all Lydia knowes,
In whose waste Fields now only Bramble growes.
Or som-what-more: with which from Ninive,
But three-dayes march I made to Bectileh;
Thence past I forward by Hierapolis,
Then by Amida, then by Nisibis.
And thence to Charan (at the length) I came,
Once happy seat of your great Abraham.
Then wan I th'Hill, whose oblique Horns divide
All Asia neer, and limite farre and wide
Many large Empires: Where, I sack, I slay,
I burn, I raze, what-euer in my way:
My Souldiers seem so many Mowers, right,
Which in a Mead leaue not a blade vpright;
But, by long Swathes of their degraded Grasse,
Well showe the way their sweeping Sythes did passe:
This, Phul, and Tharsis, and all Lydia knowes,
In whose waste Fields now only Bramble growes.
Com'n neer the Straight which serues for Wall and Fort
To soft Phœnicians, and Thiefe Issians Port:
The Rosians, Soleans Mopsians, Tharsians, Issia,
Anchials, Ægœans; briefely, all Cilicia,
Take-vp this Gate, with all their Power; in hope
To stay my Passage, and my Course to stop.
To soft Phœnicians, and Thiefe Issians Port:
The Rosians, Soleans Mopsians, Tharsians, Issia,
Anchials, Ægœans; briefely, all Cilicia,
Take-vp this Gate, with all their Power; in hope
To stay my Passage, and my Course to stop.
Should I heer tell the dangerous Enterprises
Braue Charges, Rescues, Sallyes, Shocks, Surprises,
Which there befell, the day would faile (I feare)
Before my Speech: for, the Cilicians were
So fortifi'd by fauour of the Place,
That little could wee there preuaile, a space:
Nay, all mine Hoast, which had so often chas't
So many greater Hoasts; now stood agast;
Till in despight, and full of desperate rage,
In thickest dangers, I my Selfe ingage;
Where, round assaild, and wounded in all parts,
My Shield thick bristled with a Groue of Darts,
I neuer shrunk: but so be-stirr'd mee round,
That I alone made All their Hoast giue ground.
Braue Charges, Rescues, Sallyes, Shocks, Surprises,
Which there befell, the day would faile (I feare)
Before my Speech: for, the Cilicians were
1007
That little could wee there preuaile, a space:
Nay, all mine Hoast, which had so often chas't
So many greater Hoasts; now stood agast;
Till in despight, and full of desperate rage,
In thickest dangers, I my Selfe ingage;
Where, round assaild, and wounded in all parts,
My Shield thick bristled with a Groue of Darts,
I neuer shrunk: but so be-stirr'd mee round,
That I alone made All their Hoast giue ground.
Mine Army then, followes the way amain
Mine Arm had made, and paved thick with Slain:
Now our most Cowards (late) for Fear, adying;
Wound most, kil most, and most pursue them flying.
Cydnus, yer while for his pure silver Flood,
Cald King of Waters, wallowes now in blood:
And rapid Pyram (past his wonted Toule)
To Neptune, Shields, Helms, Horse and Men doth roule.
In brief, as heer your Mocmur stopt a while
By some new Bridge, or some vnusuall Pile;
Roars, rises, fomes, fumes, threats, beats, rages, raves,
Against his new Bank; and with waighty Waves
Waighty and strong, beares down at last the Bay,
And for a time, out-lashing every-way,
Tears, over-turns, and vndermines, much worse
Then when he freely hath his natiue Course:
Even so my Force, having the Force repeld,
Which in these Straights the struggling Passage held;
Burns, kils, confounds, what meets it most and least.
Mine Arm had made, and paved thick with Slain:
Now our most Cowards (late) for Fear, adying;
Wound most, kil most, and most pursue them flying.
Cydnus, yer while for his pure silver Flood,
Cald King of Waters, wallowes now in blood:
And rapid Pyram (past his wonted Toule)
To Neptune, Shields, Helms, Horse and Men doth roule.
In brief, as heer your Mocmur stopt a while
By some new Bridge, or some vnusuall Pile;
Roars, rises, fomes, fumes, threats, beats, rages, raves,
Against his new Bank; and with waighty Waves
Waighty and strong, beares down at last the Bay,
And for a time, out-lashing every-way,
Tears, over-turns, and vndermines, much worse
Then when he freely hath his natiue Course:
Even so my Force, having the Force repeld,
Which in these Straights the struggling Passage held;
Burns, kils, confounds, what meets it most and least.
Asia, laid waste: returning to the East,
I conquer'd Cœle, spoyling, pityless,
The fruitfull Verge of famous Euphrates:
Rapsis I raz'd and Agræa, overthrow'n,
The Vertue of my mighty Arm hath know'n.
I conquer'd Cœle, spoyling, pityless,
The fruitfull Verge of famous Euphrates:
Rapsis I raz'd and Agræa, overthrow'n,
The Vertue of my mighty Arm hath know'n.
Thence, keeping still by the Sea coast, I spoile
The Madianites: then, marching North a-while,
Towards double Liban, I Damascus race,
VVith her neer Towns, Gaane, Abyle, Hypæpas:
Thence came I (curious) to that Hill, from whence
The Sun, by Night, is seen; and seen from thence
Also to Rise: Thence, towards the Western Realms
Continual beaten with Phœnician Streams.
The Madianites: then, marching North a-while,
Towards double Liban, I Damascus race,
VVith her neer Towns, Gaane, Abyle, Hypæpas:
Thence came I (curious) to that Hill, from whence
The Sun, by Night, is seen; and seen from thence
Also to Rise: Thence, towards the Western Realms
Continual beaten with Phœnician Streams.
Then, Those of Gaze, Tyre, Sydon, Ascalon,
Azotus, Byblus, Ioppa, every-one,
Fear'd with my Fame; in greatest humblenes,
Dispatch their Legates to My Mightiness.
We come not heer with Force and Arms (say They)
To bid thee Battail, or to barre thy Way:
But rather, Mightiest Prince, in humblest awe,
To yeeld vs Thine, to accept Thy Will for Law;
Of Life, or Death. Thine are our Fields and Forts;
Thine are our Cities: Thine our Ships, our Ports,
Our Lands, our Goods, our Cattail, Corn, and Wine;
Thine are our Children, and our Selues are Thine:
Only be pleas'd (Sir) to accept vs so,
And so esteem vs: and right happy tho
Shall we esteem our Selues, to haue a Lord
Can wield so well the Sceptre and the Sword,
The Lance and Balance; and, besides, excels
Men, equals Gods in euery Vertue else.
Azotus, Byblus, Ioppa, every-one,
Fear'd with my Fame; in greatest humblenes,
Dispatch their Legates to My Mightiness.
We come not heer with Force and Arms (say They)
To bid thee Battail, or to barre thy Way:
1008
To yeeld vs Thine, to accept Thy Will for Law;
Of Life, or Death. Thine are our Fields and Forts;
Thine are our Cities: Thine our Ships, our Ports,
Our Lands, our Goods, our Cattail, Corn, and Wine;
Thine are our Children, and our Selues are Thine:
Only be pleas'd (Sir) to accept vs so,
And so esteem vs: and right happy tho
Shall we esteem our Selues, to haue a Lord
Can wield so well the Sceptre and the Sword,
The Lance and Balance; and, besides, excels
Men, equals Gods in euery Vertue else.
Nor did their People, nor their States disproue
Their Embassies; but by all signes of Loue
Both Yong and Old, crown'd all with Flora's Fauors,
Of hundred Colours and of hundred Sauors;
Came Dancing out with Musiks cheerfull Moods,
To offer Me their Bodies and their Goods.
Their Embassies; but by all signes of Loue
Both Yong and Old, crown'd all with Flora's Fauors,
Of hundred Colours and of hundred Sauors;
Came Dancing out with Musiks cheerfull Moods,
To offer Me their Bodies and their Goods.
Nor did I then a Victor's Right abuse;
But with all Kindness them as Friends I vse:
Leaue them their Land: but first, their Forts I mand
With some of Mine; with some of Theirs, my Band.
For (Madame) still the farther that I go,
My Camp, in Bands; my Bands in Soldiers growe:
Euen as Danubius, first, beginning small
Through Raurak Plains with shallow course to craule,
Still swelling more and more, with three-score Riuers,
To th'Euxin Sea his Sea-like Self deliuers.
But with all Kindness them as Friends I vse:
Leaue them their Land: but first, their Forts I mand
With some of Mine; with some of Theirs, my Band.
For (Madame) still the farther that I go,
My Camp, in Bands; my Bands in Soldiers growe:
Euen as Danubius, first, beginning small
Through Raurak Plains with shallow course to craule,
Still swelling more and more, with three-score Riuers,
To th'Euxin Sea his Sea-like Self deliuers.
I hop't, as These, so also Israel
Would yeeld themselues; and not at all compel
My iust Reuenge to threat Extreamities:
But, when I came heer to Scythopolis
(The Toomb of Her whose happy Milk had yerst
The twice-born Dennis in his Cradle nourç't)
I was aduertis'd of this stubborn Folly;
Which will, no doubt, vndoo the Hebrews wholly.
Would yeeld themselues; and not at all compel
My iust Reuenge to threat Extreamities:
But, when I came heer to Scythopolis
(The Toomb of Her whose happy Milk had yerst
The twice-born Dennis in his Cradle nourç't)
I was aduertis'd of this stubborn Folly;
Which will, no doubt, vndoo the Hebrews wholly.
The end of the fift Booke.
1009
The Sixt Booke.
Yer that the Pagan could his Story end,
From highest Hils did dusky Night descend:
And now the Steward full the Table fraights
With all, most pretious, most delicious Meats;
As if the Vice-Roy, to This Iouiall Feast,
Had bid the Kings both of the West and East.
From highest Hils did dusky Night descend:
And now the Steward full the Table fraights
With all, most pretious, most delicious Meats;
As if the Vice-Roy, to This Iouiall Feast,
Had bid the Kings both of the West and East.
O greedy-guts! O Gulphs insatiate!
A thousand Worlds, with all their delicate
And various Cates deuis'd by th'Abderite,
Cannot suffize your bound-less Appetite.
O Belly-gods! for You (at any price)
To the Moluques, must we trudge for Spice;
To the Canaries, for your Sugars fine;
To (Ioves-Crete) Candy for your choysest Wine.
To please your Tastes, your Palats to content,
Seas sacred Bosome is profanely rent;
Aire is dispeopled; yea right hardly can
The only Phœnix scape the Iawes of Man.
A thousand Worlds, with all their delicate
And various Cates deuis'd by th'Abderite,
Cannot suffize your bound-less Appetite.
O Belly-gods! for You (at any price)
To the Moluques, must we trudge for Spice;
To the Canaries, for your Sugars fine;
To (Ioves-Crete) Candy for your choysest Wine.
To please your Tastes, your Palats to content,
Seas sacred Bosome is profanely rent;
Aire is dispeopled; yea right hardly can
The only Phœnix scape the Iawes of Man.
O Poison! worse then Plague to Martiall states,
Which brauest mindes basely effeminates
While Rome, for Heads, had Curio's and Fabricio's,
Whom Roots suffiz'd for dainties most delicious:
While Persia was with Sallets sole content;
They flourisht Both, admir'd and Eminent;
And Eithers Arms, triumphing euery-where,
Fill'd all the Earth with Tropheis and with Fear:
But, since that This, from soft Assyrians took
His vast Excesse of Kitchin and of Cook;
And, since that That fel vnder the Dispose
Of Galba's, Neros, and Vitellios
(More glorying to exceed Others Excess
Then conquer Pyrrhus or Mithridates)
Both haue bin oft and iustly sackt and spoil'd
By pettie Nations, whom they oft had foil'd.
Nature's suffiz'd with Little: Ouer-ful
Deadeth the Courage, and the Wits doth dull.
Which brauest mindes basely effeminates
While Rome, for Heads, had Curio's and Fabricio's,
Whom Roots suffiz'd for dainties most delicious:
While Persia was with Sallets sole content;
They flourisht Both, admir'd and Eminent;
And Eithers Arms, triumphing euery-where,
Fill'd all the Earth with Tropheis and with Fear:
But, since that This, from soft Assyrians took
His vast Excesse of Kitchin and of Cook;
And, since that That fel vnder the Dispose
Of Galba's, Neros, and Vitellios
(More glorying to exceed Others Excess
Then conquer Pyrrhus or Mithridates)
1010
By pettie Nations, whom they oft had foil'd.
Nature's suffiz'd with Little: Ouer-ful
Deadeth the Courage, and the Wits doth dull.
Each being set; anon, full filled-out
In massie Boules the Molmsey walks about:
One drinks deuoutly in an Estridge Egge;
One in a Lute, another in a Legge;
One in a Ship, another in a Shell;
Another takes a broad deep siluer Bell,
To ring his Peal: but so his hand doth sway
And shake, that half he sheds it, by the way.
In massie Boules the Molmsey walks about:
One drinks deuoutly in an Estridge Egge;
One in a Lute, another in a Legge;
One in a Ship, another in a Shell;
Another takes a broad deep siluer Bell,
To ring his Peal: but so his hand doth sway
And shake, that half he sheds it, by the way.
But, aboue all, the Prince him so behau'd,
That, now, the more he drank the more he crau'd:
Much like the Sea; which, though it take this-while
Twin-named Ister, and Seauen-mouthed Nile;
Neuer increases, nor is full therefore;
But euer ready for as many more.
Cup calls for Cup; and when the Skinker weens
T'haue done his Seruice, he afresh begins
To fill them Liquor: for, till Midnight past,
Among the Guests this Tippling game did last.
And then away, with much adoo, they went
(Feeling, and reeling) Each vnto his Tent;
By th'amorous Tyrant often vrg'd before,
Who thought each minute now a yeare and more.
That, now, the more he drank the more he crau'd:
Much like the Sea; which, though it take this-while
Twin-named Ister, and Seauen-mouthed Nile;
Neuer increases, nor is full therefore;
But euer ready for as many more.
Cup calls for Cup; and when the Skinker weens
T'haue done his Seruice, he afresh begins
To fill them Liquor: for, till Midnight past,
Among the Guests this Tippling game did last.
And then away, with much adoo, they went
(Feeling, and reeling) Each vnto his Tent;
By th'amorous Tyrant often vrg'd before,
Who thought each minute now a yeare and more.
When they were gon, Hee 'gan embrace and busse
The trembling Lady; who besoothes him Thus:
Nay: leaue (my Lord) such haste what need you make
To reap the Fruit which from you none can take?
Get you to bed: and, if you leaue me roome,
I will not faile you by and by to come,
So soon as I haue but disburthened
My Load of Cloathes, and made me fit for Bed.
The trembling Lady; who besoothes him Thus:
Nay: leaue (my Lord) such haste what need you make
To reap the Fruit which from you none can take?
Get you to bed: and, if you leaue me roome,
I will not faile you by and by to come,
So soon as I haue but disburthened
My Load of Cloathes, and made me fit for Bed.
If suttlest Wits, and if the sobrest Brains,
Haue hardly scaped Womens wylie Trains,
Maruaile not, Reader, if One, fool'd at-once
By Semele's and Cytherea's Sonnes,
Be thus beguil'd: sith Either of the Two
Bereaues the Bodie's and the Mindes Force, too.
Haue hardly scaped Womens wylie Trains,
Maruaile not, Reader, if One, fool'd at-once
By Semele's and Cytherea's Sonnes,
Be thus beguil'd: sith Either of the Two
Bereaues the Bodie's and the Mindes Force, too.
Then, letting her slide from his arms away,
He goes about himselfe to dis-aray:
Now he vnbuttons, now pulls-off his hose;
But, his heat hinders, and his haste foreslowes;
For (sleep-awake, blinde-seeing) while he plyes
T'vntrusse his Points, them (fumbling) faster ties:
Till, ouer come with Rage, and Longing, more,
He cuts his knots, and off his Cloathes he tore;
And then to Bed. Where (as the Crosse-bowe-man,
Who, for his pleasure, watcheth now and than,
By some Cross-path, some Coney, or some Hare;
At euery Noise, on euery side doth stare
Where stirs a Leaf; and leuels thither-ward,
At the least Wren, or the least Worm that stird
Neer where he stands, still in a Hopefull-Doubt
Turning his Body and his Bowe about)
The lustfull Tyrant, if he hear a Mouse
Neuer so little stir about the house;
Shivering for Ioy, he thinks his Mistresse there:
Nay, though he nothing heare, his flattring Eare
Thinks it hears something, which can nothing be
But this admired most desired Shee:
Lifts vp, layes-down, and vp again re-lifts
His heauie Noule: from side to side he shifts;
Casting the Distance, counting in his head,
How many steps will bring her to his Bed,
The which the-while he full of Thorns doth think.
He goes about himselfe to dis-aray:
Now he vnbuttons, now pulls-off his hose;
But, his heat hinders, and his haste foreslowes;
For (sleep-awake, blinde-seeing) while he plyes
T'vntrusse his Points, them (fumbling) faster ties:
Till, ouer come with Rage, and Longing, more,
He cuts his knots, and off his Cloathes he tore;
1013
Who, for his pleasure, watcheth now and than,
By some Cross-path, some Coney, or some Hare;
At euery Noise, on euery side doth stare
Where stirs a Leaf; and leuels thither-ward,
At the least Wren, or the least Worm that stird
Neer where he stands, still in a Hopefull-Doubt
Turning his Body and his Bowe about)
The lustfull Tyrant, if he hear a Mouse
Neuer so little stir about the house;
Shivering for Ioy, he thinks his Mistresse there:
Nay, though he nothing heare, his flattring Eare
Thinks it hears something, which can nothing be
But this admired most desired Shee:
Lifts vp, layes-down, and vp again re-lifts
His heauie Noule: from side to side he shifts;
Casting the Distance, counting in his head,
How many steps will bring her to his Bed,
The which the-while he full of Thorns doth think.
But, now the Fume of his aboundant Drink,
Drouzing his Brain, beginneth to deface
The sweet Remembrance of her louely Face:
Alreadie wheels his Bed, alreadie shine
A thousand Rayes before his slumbring Eyne:
Alreadie in his Eares (now waxen numme)
A thousand Drones with buzzing Noise do humme:
He sees Chiméras, Gorgons, Mino-Taures,
Medusas, Haggs, Alectos, Semi-Taures.
Drouzing his Brain, beginneth to deface
The sweet Remembrance of her louely Face:
Alreadie wheels his Bed, alreadie shine
A thousand Rayes before his slumbring Eyne:
Alreadie in his Eares (now waxen numme)
A thousand Drones with buzzing Noise do humme:
He sees Chiméras, Gorgons, Mino-Taures,
Medusas, Haggs, Alectos, Semi-Taures.
But Ivdith's heart still beating thick with-in,
Felt a fell Combat in it self begin;
Now, causing Fear her sacred Fervour quash;
Anon, her Fervour her faint Fear to dash.
Felt a fell Combat in it self begin;
Now, causing Fear her sacred Fervour quash;
Anon, her Fervour her faint Fear to dash.
Ivdith said She, Thy Iacob to deliuer,
Now, is the Time; Now to-it. Do-it neuer.
O! Yes. O! No. I will. I will not, I:
Now, is the Time; Now to-it. Do-it neuer.
O! Yes. O! No. I will. I will not, I:
Shall I profane kinde Hospitality?
Nay, rather shall I sanctifi't the more,
When by the same I shall the Saints restore.
Nay, rather shall I sanctifi't the more,
When by the same I shall the Saints restore.
But, Traitors euer bear Dishonors, brand.
Traitors be Those betray; not save, their Land.
Traitors be Those betray; not save, their Land.
But, Murderers Heau'ns righteous Iudge abhors.
Why? all Man-killers are not Murtherers.
Why? all Man-killers are not Murtherers.
But Hee's a Murderer who his Prince hath slain.
This is a Tyrant; not My Soverain.
This is a Tyrant; not My Soverain.
But, GOD hath now bequeath'd him vs for Lord.
Hee's not of GOD that wars against his Word.
Hee's not of GOD that wars against his Word.
Why, then, may All their Tyrants kill and rid?
So Ahod Iahel, and so Iehu did.
So Ahod Iahel, and so Iehu did.
1012
Yea, but from Heau'n had They autentik Warrant.
So hath my Soule (approued and apparant.)
So hath my Soule (approued and apparant.)
But, ah! how weake art Thou this Work to act!
Whom God assisted, neuer strength hath lackt.
Whom God assisted, neuer strength hath lackt.
But, hadst thou done, the Sequel's more to doubt.
GOD brought me in: and GOD will bring me out.
GOD brought me in: and GOD will bring me out.
What if He please leaue thee in Heathen's hands?
Their Chieftain dead, I fear nor Death, nor Bands.
Their Chieftain dead, I fear nor Death, nor Bands.
But to their Lust thou shalt be lest a Pray.
Neuer my Minde; my Body force they may.
Neuer my Minde; my Body force they may.
Then, in this point thus sacredly confirm'd;
With hands heav'd vp, her eies on Heav'n she firm'd;
And softly, Thus poures to the Lord her Prayer:
With hands heav'd vp, her eies on Heav'n she firm'd;
And softly, Thus poures to the Lord her Prayer:
O gracious GOD, who with paternal Care
Hast euer kept thine Israel, strengthen Thou
Mine Arm with Thine, that it may nimbly now
Cut-off this Tyrant, who thus dares presume,
To scale the Heav'ns; Thy Sceptre to assume.
And, sith thy grace, through thousand storms and more,
Hath brought my Bark in sight of wished shore,
O, let it land: with Poppie's sleepiest sap
This Tyrant's sense benum in end-less Nap;
That I may raise this Siege, Thy Thralls release,
Return Thee Praise; and to thy SION, Peace.
Hast euer kept thine Israel, strengthen Thou
Mine Arm with Thine, that it may nimbly now
Cut-off this Tyrant, who thus dares presume,
To scale the Heav'ns; Thy Sceptre to assume.
And, sith thy grace, through thousand storms and more,
Hath brought my Bark in sight of wished shore,
O, let it land: with Poppie's sleepiest sap
This Tyrant's sense benum in end-less Nap;
That I may raise this Siege, Thy Thralls release,
Return Thee Praise; and to thy SION, Peace.
Her Praier done, the Drunken Prince she heares
Snorting aloud. Then faire and soft She neeres
His Palle's side, and quickly takes the Sword
Which had so oft the groaning Earth begor'd.
Snorting aloud. Then faire and soft She neeres
His Palle's side, and quickly takes the Sword
Which had so oft the groaning Earth begor'd.
But, euen about the fatal Blowe to giue;
Fear, from her hand did the fel VVeapon reaue:
Her hart did faint, her strength did fail her quite.
O GOD (then said She) strengthen by Thy Might
My timerous heart's and trembling hand's Consent.
Then on the Duke so stitle a stroake she lent,
As happily, tri-parted (at the poule)
Th'Head from the Body, Body from the Soule.
His Soule to Hell: his Body on the Bed:
In Ivdith's hand his grim and ghastly Head;
Which soon her Handmaid in her Night-bag hid.
Fear, from her hand did the fel VVeapon reaue:
Her hart did faint, her strength did fail her quite.
O GOD (then said She) strengthen by Thy Might
My timerous heart's and trembling hand's Consent.
Then on the Duke so stitle a stroake she lent,
As happily, tri-parted (at the poule)
Th'Head from the Body, Body from the Soule.
His Soule to Hell: his Body on the Bed:
In Ivdith's hand his grim and ghastly Head;
Which soon her Handmaid in her Night-bag hid.
Then speeding thence, suspect-less, or vnspi'd;
Without Impeach the Pagan Hoste they past.
For if that any saw them trip so fast,
Heav'n-blinde, they thought She went but (as before)
Into the Vale, bright Diane to adore.
Without Impeach the Pagan Hoste they past.
For if that any saw them trip so fast,
Heav'n-blinde, they thought She went but (as before)
Into the Vale, bright Diane to adore.
Now, when chaste Ivdith came to th'Hebrews Tower,
Ope open (said She): for the God of Power,
Th'Assyrian Forces hath this Night forlorn,
And lifted vp his chosen Iacob's Horn.
Ope open (said She): for the God of Power,
Th'Assyrian Forces hath this Night forlorn,
And lifted vp his chosen Iacob's Horn.
1013
The Town, amaz'd at her Return vn-hop't,
Presse to the Port; which instantly they op't,
Thronging about her: who a Tarras mounts,
And her Exploit from point to point recounts.
Then, from her Bag, for Proof of what she said,
She pulls the-while the dreadfull Pagans Head.
Presse to the Port; which instantly they op't,
Thronging about her: who a Tarras mounts,
And her Exploit from point to point recounts.
Then, from her Bag, for Proof of what she said,
She pulls the-while the dreadfull Pagans Head.
The Citizens, when in her hand they sawe
Th'Assyrian's Head's Head; full of humble Awe,
Extoll th'Almighty, who so mighty Foe
By a weak Woman had subdewed so.
Th'Assyrian's Head's Head; full of humble Awe,
Extoll th'Almighty, who so mighty Foe
By a weak Woman had subdewed so.
But, most of all did Ammons Prince admire
GOD's dreadfull Iudgement: and to scape His ire,
Who Israel thus, of vanquisht, victoriz'd;
His Flesh and Heart he sodain circumciz'd.
GOD's dreadfull Iudgement: and to scape His ire,
Who Israel thus, of vanquisht, victoriz'd;
His Flesh and Heart he sodain circumciz'd.
How sweetly, Lord, Thy sacred Prouidence,
Mens suttlest Wisdome, in their Plots, preuents!
For, thine Elected vnto Life, to guide
Into thy Fold (when most they seem beside)
Good out of Ill thou draw'st; making their Sin,
Means ('gainst their minds) their Goodnes to begin.
Mens suttlest Wisdome, in their Plots, preuents!
For, thine Elected vnto Life, to guide
Into thy Fold (when most they seem beside)
Good out of Ill thou draw'st; making their Sin,
Means ('gainst their minds) their Goodnes to begin.
Lord! foule desire of Murther and of Spoile
Brought this (late) Pagan to th'Isacian Soile;
VVhere, meaning (first) Thy Peoples bloud to spill,
Now, spend his Owne for their deer sakes he will:
Thy mercy so from his maligne Affect,
Maugre his minde, brought forth a good Effect.
Brought this (late) Pagan to th'Isacian Soile;
VVhere, meaning (first) Thy Peoples bloud to spill,
Now, spend his Owne for their deer sakes he will:
Thy mercy so from his maligne Affect,
Maugre his minde, brought forth a good Effect.
So, neer Damascus, mad'st thou, by thy Call,
Of Wolf a Shepheard, of a Saule a Paule;
Of Persecutor, an Apostle; (brief)
Of Chief of Sinners, among Saints the Chief:
So sodainly, that all the Saints about
Admir'd his Doctrine; Yet, his Deeds did doubt.
Of Wolf a Shepheard, of a Saule a Paule;
Of Persecutor, an Apostle; (brief)
Of Chief of Sinners, among Saints the Chief:
So sodainly, that all the Saints about
Admir'd his Doctrine; Yet, his Deeds did doubt.
So, the Saint- Thief, which suffered with our Sauior,
Was led to Life by his Death-dew Behauior:
And, when no longer Earth could bear his Sin,
Was, in a Moment, made Heau'ns Citizen.
(O feareful-hopeful Precedent of Grace!
Such as, but One, GOD's holy Books imbrace:
One, that None (humbled) should despaire of Pardon:
But One, that None presume in Sin to harden.)
Was led to Life by his Death-dew Behauior:
And, when no longer Earth could bear his Sin,
Was, in a Moment, made Heau'ns Citizen.
(O feareful-hopeful Precedent of Grace!
Such as, but One, GOD's holy Books imbrace:
One, that None (humbled) should despaire of Pardon:
But One, that None presume in Sin to harden.)
So, turn, good Lord, O turn the hearts of Princes,
Whose Rage their realms with Saints deer bloud berinses:
O! let the Sword, Thou in their hand hast put,
None but Thy Foes, none but Those Tyrants cut,
Who cursedly Thee or Thy CHRIST blaspheme
(Vsurping IVDA and IERVSALEM,
And all Thy Goulden Candlesticks beside;
Threating the West, too, with their Power and Pride):
Not Those, who humbly, only, euermore,
Thee, TRINITY in VNITY, adore.
Whose Rage their realms with Saints deer bloud berinses:
O! let the Sword, Thou in their hand hast put,
None but Thy Foes, none but Those Tyrants cut,
Who cursedly Thee or Thy CHRIST blaspheme
(Vsurping IVDA and IERVSALEM,
And all Thy Goulden Candlesticks beside;
Threating the West, too, with their Power and Pride):
1014
Thee, TRINITY in VNITY, adore.
Then, as the braue Virago ordered,
A Soldier takes th'Assyrian Tyrants Head;
And, for the Hebrews more Encouragement,
Glad sets it vp vpon the Battlement.
A Soldier takes th'Assyrian Tyrants Head;
And, for the Hebrews more Encouragement,
Glad sets it vp vpon the Battlement.
There, Parents, Children, Maids, and VVidowes sad,
Whom Pagan Swords but new bereaued had
Of Children, Parents, Louers, Husbands deer,
Twixt Grief and Anger, as distracted neer,
Pull-off his Beard, pull out his hatefull Tongue,
(Which had blasphemed Heau'n and Earth so long)
Spet in his Face, scratch and poach-out his Eyes;
And all, that Hate and Fury can deuise.
For, lyue Remembrings of their wrongs, them make,
On his dead Head, this dead Reuenge to take.
Whom Pagan Swords but new bereaued had
Of Children, Parents, Louers, Husbands deer,
Twixt Grief and Anger, as distracted neer,
Pull-off his Beard, pull out his hatefull Tongue,
(Which had blasphemed Heau'n and Earth so long)
Spet in his Face, scratch and poach-out his Eyes;
And all, that Hate and Fury can deuise.
For, lyue Remembrings of their wrongs, them make,
On his dead Head, this dead Reuenge to take.
Aurora, weary of the cold Embrace
Of her old Spouse, began in Iude apace
To paint her Portal of an Opal hew;
When, of Bethulians all the brauest Crew
Issue in Armes: and such a Noise withall,
(Such Shouts and Cries) as if, in th'antike Braule,
All th'Elements, breaking the bands of Order,
Were by the Eares; and in their old Disorder.
Of her old Spouse, began in Iude apace
To paint her Portal of an Opal hew;
When, of Bethulians all the brauest Crew
Issue in Armes: and such a Noise withall,
(Such Shouts and Cries) as if, in th'antike Braule,
All th'Elements, breaking the bands of Order,
Were by the Eares; and in their old Disorder.
The Court of Guard (that night vnusuall strong,
Towards the Town) hearing such Noise, so long,
Start from their Sleep; and crying Arm, arm, arm,
Giue sodainly to all their Host Alarm.
Towards the Town) hearing such Noise, so long,
Start from their Sleep; and crying Arm, arm, arm,
Giue sodainly to all their Host Alarm.
One, for his owne, his Fellowes Helm puts-on:
One, his right Vantbras on left arm doth don:
One, on his neck, for Launce, a Libbet takes:
One speeds him quick: another scarce awakes:
One mounts his Horse, yer he be curb'd, or girt;
And, without Spurs: Others, to shew more heart,
Would make a Stand: some neither wake nor sleep:
Some, braue in Word; in Deed, as faint as Sheep.
One, his right Vantbras on left arm doth don:
One, on his neck, for Launce, a Libbet takes:
One speeds him quick: another scarce awakes:
One mounts his Horse, yer he be curb'd, or girt;
And, without Spurs: Others, to shew more heart,
Would make a Stand: some neither wake nor sleep:
Some, braue in Word; in Deed, as faint as Sheep.
Now, by degrees, this Noise comes to the Eares
Of Holophernez Houshold Officers:
So that sad Bagos hies him in all hast
Vnto the Tent where th'Ethnick slept his last.
With trembling hand, once, twice, or thrice he knockt:
But an eternall Sleep the Doors had lockt
Of his Lord's eares; who had already crost
The Stygian Ferry, not to be re-crost.
Of Holophernez Houshold Officers:
So that sad Bagos hies him in all hast
Vnto the Tent where th'Ethnick slept his last.
With trembling hand, once, twice, or thrice he knockt:
But an eternall Sleep the Doors had lockt
Of his Lord's eares; who had already crost
The Stygian Ferry, not to be re-crost.
Then, hearing still th'Isacians lowder shout,
He makes the Doore fly-open with his Foot;
And, entring, findes, in gorie Bed, lowe shrunk,
Not Holofernez, but his Head-less Trunk.
Then did he teare his haire, and rent his Clothes,
And to the Clowds roars out in yelling Oathes:
Especially, when Ivdith there he mist,
Whom now the Murdress of his Lord he wist.
Then, ragefull rushing from the bloody Tent,
This hideous Cry through all the Camp he sent:
He makes the Doore fly-open with his Foot;
And, entring, findes, in gorie Bed, lowe shrunk,
Not Holofernez, but his Head-less Trunk.
1015
And to the Clowds roars out in yelling Oathes:
Especially, when Ivdith there he mist,
Whom now the Murdress of his Lord he wist.
Then, ragefull rushing from the bloody Tent,
This hideous Cry through all the Camp he sent:
Woe, woe to vs! Alas! this cursed Night,
A cursed Captiue hath confounded quight
Our awefull Army, and vndone vs All,
By treacherous slaughter of our GENERAL.
A cursed Captiue hath confounded quight
Our awefull Army, and vndone vs All,
By treacherous slaughter of our GENERAL.
This new Affright, redoubled on the first,
The stoutest harts doth so dis-hart and burst,
That all (at-once abandoning their Armes,
Pikes, Swords, and Shields, Darts, Arrowes, all) by swarms,
Betake them to their heels; o'r Hill and Dale,
Flying from one death, on a worse to fall.
The stoutest harts doth so dis-hart and burst,
That all (at-once abandoning their Armes,
Pikes, Swords, and Shields, Darts, Arrowes, all) by swarms,
Betake them to their heels; o'r Hill and Dale,
Flying from one death, on a worse to fall.
Then the Besieged, in great Troops descend,
And on their backs revenging Bowes they bend.
Both run apace; Those fly; These follow fast:
But those that fly, make lesse good speed then haste.
For, without losse of Man, th'Hebrews, at will,
The flying Pagans slaughter, thrash and thrill:
Euen as a Lyon, in Getulian Lawnes,
Bestreawes the soile with fearfull Kids and Fawnes;
Where, not a beast his Furie dares abide,
Nor lift a horne against his awefull pride.
And on their backs revenging Bowes they bend.
Both run apace; Those fly; These follow fast:
But those that fly, make lesse good speed then haste.
For, without losse of Man, th'Hebrews, at will,
The flying Pagans slaughter, thrash and thrill:
Euen as a Lyon, in Getulian Lawnes,
Bestreawes the soile with fearfull Kids and Fawnes;
Where, not a beast his Furie dares abide,
Nor lift a horne against his awefull pride.
One, from a Rock himselfe doth headlong dash,
And all to peeces all his parts doth pash:
Other, forgetting that in deepest depth
Fate findes vs out, into a Riuer leap'th.
But, if by speed, or some good hap, perhaps
This Mornings first fel Fury any scapes,
He scapes not though those Hebrews outrages,
Who kept (about) the Straits and Passages:
So that scarce one of such a Rout could bring,
To Niniue, the Newes vnto the King.
And all to peeces all his parts doth pash:
Other, forgetting that in deepest depth
Fate findes vs out, into a Riuer leap'th.
But, if by speed, or some good hap, perhaps
This Mornings first fel Fury any scapes,
He scapes not though those Hebrews outrages,
Who kept (about) the Straits and Passages:
So that scarce one of such a Rout could bring,
To Niniue, the Newes vnto the King.
The Battaile (rather, th'Execution) don,
Out of the Citie flocked euery one
Whom Sex or Age had hitherto restrain'd;
To see the drad Revenge the Lord had rain'd
So suddainly, and past all Expectation,
On those fell Foes of His deer Holy Nation.
Out of the Citie flocked euery one
Whom Sex or Age had hitherto restrain'd;
To see the drad Revenge the Lord had rain'd
So suddainly, and past all Expectation,
On those fell Foes of His deer Holy Nation.
One, full of Wounds, yet gasping calls in vain
On lazie Death, to end his lingering paine:
One, grinning gastly, in his visage grim,
Showes, dead, the Rage that liuing sweld in him:
Some mangled heer, some there, some round about:
And euery Soule a sundry way went out:
Accordingly as Valor, Sleight, or Chance,
Led the dead-doing Sword, or Dart, or Launce.
In short, This sight so truly tragick was,
That even the Victors would haue sigh't, alas,
Had they so vanquisht any Foe but This.
On lazie Death, to end his lingering paine:
One, grinning gastly, in his visage grim,
Showes, dead, the Rage that liuing sweld in him:
Some mangled heer, some there, some round about:
And euery Soule a sundry way went out:
1016
Led the dead-doing Sword, or Dart, or Launce.
In short, This sight so truly tragick was,
That even the Victors would haue sigh't, alas,
Had they so vanquisht any Foe but This.
But rifling long, among the Carcases,
At last the Body of the Duke they found
(Though head-less, known best, by that only wound).
Thither they throng; That, euery blade must thrill,
And euery one that Corps againe would kill:
A hundred Swords, a hundred Pikes, and Darts,
Are euery moment goring all his parts;
And euery Nerue, Vein, Muscle, Ioynt they hack;
Till room (at last) their Vulgar Rage doth lack.
For, were his Bulk as big as Atlasses,
His Limbes as many as Encelades,
And strong Briareus; yet, yet think I, all,
Their dire Revenge would still, still think too small.
For, of the Iewes, none so base Clown there is
But would a Gobbet of that Flesh of His.
At last the Body of the Duke they found
(Though head-less, known best, by that only wound).
Thither they throng; That, euery blade must thrill,
And euery one that Corps againe would kill:
A hundred Swords, a hundred Pikes, and Darts,
Are euery moment goring all his parts;
And euery Nerue, Vein, Muscle, Ioynt they hack;
Till room (at last) their Vulgar Rage doth lack.
For, were his Bulk as big as Atlasses,
His Limbes as many as Encelades,
And strong Briareus; yet, yet think I, all,
Their dire Revenge would still, still think too small.
For, of the Iewes, none so base Clown there is
But would a Gobbet of that Flesh of His.
Giue, Tyrant, giue thy Right hand to Cilicians,
Thy Left to Medes: giue one Arme to Phœnicians,
Th'other to Ismael: and divide thy Feet
Between th'Egyptian and the Cœlianite;
That euery Nation, whom Thine Arms offenç't,
May, by some Part, be partly recompenç't.
Alas! I erre: for, all in Atomies
Wert Thou divided, all would not suffise.
Thy Left to Medes: giue one Arme to Phœnicians,
Th'other to Ismael: and divide thy Feet
Between th'Egyptian and the Cœlianite;
That euery Nation, whom Thine Arms offenç't,
May, by some Part, be partly recompenç't.
Alas! I erre: for, all in Atomies
Wert Thou divided, all would not suffise.
But Ivdith, nor forgetful, nor ingrate,
Would neither bury, nor Selfe-arrogate
The sacred honor for Assistance given
In This great Work, by th'All-work hand of Heav'n:
But, tyming meet her Feet to Timbrells noise,
This Hymn she sings with glad-sad warbling voice;
Follow'd by all the Flower of Hebrew Dames
(Maids, Widowes, Wiues) of Faultless Forms and Fames.
Would neither bury, nor Selfe-arrogate
The sacred honor for Assistance given
In This great Work, by th'All-work hand of Heav'n:
But, tyming meet her Feet to Timbrells noise,
This Hymn she sings with glad-sad warbling voice;
Follow'd by all the Flower of Hebrew Dames
(Maids, Widowes, Wiues) of Faultless Forms and Fames.
Laude, laude we, lowd with verse, with voice and strings,
The GOD of GOD's, the glorious King of Kings:
Whose Power, alone, pulls Tyrants down, and reareth
Meek in their Room, who HIM ay-faithfull feareth.
The GOD of GOD's, the glorious King of Kings:
Whose Power, alone, pulls Tyrants down, and reareth
Meek in their Room, who HIM ay-faithfull feareth.
For, who would thinke, one Citie, in one Day,
So suddainly could such an Hoast dismay,
Whose high Exploits had all the World astounded,
And, from the Indes, to Iapheths Inns resounded?
So suddainly could such an Hoast dismay,
Whose high Exploits had all the World astounded,
And, from the Indes, to Iapheths Inns resounded?
1017
Lord! who would think, that Holofernes, late
Proud Conqueror of many a Potentate,
Should lose his Life (for all his Selfe-affiance)
By one weak Woman, not a Troop of Giants?
Proud Conqueror of many a Potentate,
Should lose his Life (for all his Selfe-affiance)
By one weak Woman, not a Troop of Giants?
Who, who would thinke, that HE, who late possest
(At least, had power) from farthest East to West,
From Pole to Pole stretching his arms all-over,
Should not haue, left, one Inch of Turfe, for Cover?
(At least, had power) from farthest East to West,
From Pole to Pole stretching his arms all-over,
Should not haue, left, one Inch of Turfe, for Cover?
That stately Prince, so thick attended-on,
Now dead (alas!) lyes, aboue ground alone;
Yet, not alone: for, Those that seru'd him, living;
Consort him, dead; Proofe of their Duties giving:
Now dead (alas!) lyes, aboue ground alone;
Yet, not alone: for, Those that seru'd him, living;
Consort him, dead; Proofe of their Duties giving:
Nor yet, aboue ground; for, the Ravens become
His mingled Bodie's better-worthy Toomb,
Then pretious Marble, let, and Iacynth gilded;
Which, for his Bones Himselfe had proudly builded.
His mingled Bodie's better-worthy Toomb,
Then pretious Marble, let, and Iacynth gilded;
Which, for his Bones Himselfe had proudly builded.
So so (good Lord) from Hence-forth let vs finde
Thee, not our Iudge, but as our Father kinde;
And so, Hence-forth the Foes of SION rather
Feele Thee their Iudge then their propitious Father.
Heere Ivdith ends: Heer also end will I,
Thee, not our Iudge, but as our Father kinde;
And so, Hence-forth the Foes of SION rather
Feele Thee their Iudge then their propitious Father.
With thanks to GOD; and to Your Maiestie.
To GOD, for bringing This my Work about:
To You, for daigning to haue read it out.
FINIS.
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