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 Sixt Booke.
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 | Du Bartas |  |
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.
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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:
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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.
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