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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The Second Booke.
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 | Du Bartas |  |
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.
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