The grand Tryal or, Poetical Exercitations upon the book of Job. Wherein, Suitable to each Text of that sacred Book, a modest Explanation, and Continuation of the several Discourses contained in it, is attempted by William Clark |
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| I. |
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| II. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| III. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| IV. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| V. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. | Cap. XLI. |
| XLII. |
 | The grand Tryal |  |
Cap. XLI.
Thus having shown thee how I do command
All things that have their beeing on the land:
Now I'le inform thee of my pow'r at Sea,
And show thee what vast Creatures too there be
Within that District, which though they appear
To thee, and others, to be Soveraign there;
And by their bulks, to those, who Plow the Seas
Would something like unlimit power express,
Yet they are but my Vassals, and are even
Subject to th'Admirality of Heaven,
As well as all the smallest Fishes are,
That swiming in the Ocean appear.
To give you then for all, one notable,
And famous instance, as most suitable
To my intent: I'd have thee seriously
Observe (but with a meditating eye)
The Princely Leviathan, such a creature,
As shall hereafter furnish no small matter
Of dispute in your solemn Homilies,
What this same Leviathan signifies.
But whatsoe're it be, it is a thing
Of such a force, beyond all reasoning,
As all the force of man cannot subdue,
And where it swimes is yet but known to few.
Canst draw this Leviathan then, with ease
By simple hook, or line out of the Seas,
Like other Fishes? hale him on the Land,
By force of rops, and kill him on the sand?
All things that have their beeing on the land:
Now I'le inform thee of my pow'r at Sea,
And show thee what vast Creatures too there be
Within that District, which though they appear
To thee, and others, to be Soveraign there;
And by their bulks, to those, who Plow the Seas
Would something like unlimit power express,
Yet they are but my Vassals, and are even
Subject to th'Admirality of Heaven,
As well as all the smallest Fishes are,
That swiming in the Ocean appear.
To give you then for all, one notable,
And famous instance, as most suitable
To my intent: I'd have thee seriously
Observe (but with a meditating eye)
The Princely Leviathan, such a creature,
As shall hereafter furnish no small matter
Of dispute in your solemn Homilies,
What this same Leviathan signifies.
But whatsoe're it be, it is a thing
Of such a force, beyond all reasoning,
356
And where it swimes is yet but known to few.
Canst draw this Leviathan then, with ease
By simple hook, or line out of the Seas,
Like other Fishes? hale him on the Land,
By force of rops, and kill him on the sand?
Canst thou with angle catch this Fish? canst thou,
When catch'd, as men with lesser Fishes do,
String him upon a hook, a thorn, or cleck,
And bear him lightly home upon thy back?
When catch'd, as men with lesser Fishes do,
String him upon a hook, a thorn, or cleck,
And bear him lightly home upon thy back?
Dost think, if thou should catch him, that he'll cry,
To thee for quarter, and degeneratly
Offer to be thy slave, as th'Elephant,
To thee for quarter, and degeneratly
Offer to be thy slave, as th'Elephant,
And all the other beasts will covenant
To save their lives? or will he offer thee,
As others do, a ransom to be free?
Dost think he'll supplicat, and speak thee fair,
That thou forsooth in pity shouldst him spare,
And not with Hatchet cut him down to pieces,
And of his bulk make havock, as thou pleases?
To save their lives? or will he offer thee,
As others do, a ransom to be free?
Dost think he'll supplicat, and speak thee fair,
That thou forsooth in pity shouldst him spare,
And not with Hatchet cut him down to pieces,
And of his bulk make havock, as thou pleases?
Canst tame him so by art, as thou canst make
Thy boys in playing with him pleasure take,
As they with other beasts are us'd to do,
And birds of several species? canst thou,
As with a pretty linnet, with him dandle?
And make him gentle for thy girles to handle?
Thy boys in playing with him pleasure take,
As they with other beasts are us'd to do,
And birds of several species? canst thou,
As with a pretty linnet, with him dandle?
And make him gentle for thy girles to handle?
Upon him shalt thou, and thy partners feast,
And of his fat, and oily bulk make waste?
Gobbets of him to friends, as tokens send,
And to each merchant give his dividend?
And of his fat, and oily bulk make waste?
Gobbets of him to friends, as tokens send,
And to each merchant give his dividend?
Dar'st thou with barbed Irons boldly fall
Upon this Fish, as men do on a Whale,
And when his body is stuck full of these,
Let him at ropes-end tumble in the Seas;
Till overcome with pain, he forcibly
Doth rush his belly on the shore, and dy?
Upon this Fish, as men do on a Whale,
And when his body is stuck full of these,
Let him at ropes-end tumble in the Seas;
Till overcome with pain, he forcibly
Doth rush his belly on the shore, and dy?
Do—lay thy hands upon him, then thou'lt see
By sad experience, he is not to be
So tamely catch'd: thou'lt see what he can do,
What cunning art he will practise, and how
To save his life, he'll all his force assemble,
And make the very stoutest of you tremble.
By sad experience, he is not to be
So tamely catch'd: thou'lt see what he can do,
What cunning art he will practise, and how
To save his life, he'll all his force assemble,
And make the very stoutest of you tremble.
Then, as thou wouldst desire to live, forbear
T'assault this war-like thing with hook or spear:
That man who thinks to catch him, is not wise,
For he can kill one with his very eyes.
T'assault this war-like thing with hook or spear:
That man who thinks to catch him, is not wise,
For he can kill one with his very eyes.
Since then there's none of you, who dares attacque
This mortal creature, which my hands did make:
Since no man dares contend with him: who's he
That lives on Earth, and dares contend with me?
This mortal creature, which my hands did make:
Since no man dares contend with him: who's he
That lives on Earth, and dares contend with me?
Who's he amongst you all, that dares contend
With me? who's he of you, that dares pretend
By any merit t'have oblig'd me so,
That I should to him any kindness show?
Fools that you are! doth even the best of you,
By all your tears, good works, and fastings too,
Or any thing that man on Earth can doe
Suppose you can of Heaven a purchase make,
Or of your God, in gratitude expect,
Not as a favour, but as a reward,
What I have from Eternity prepar'd,
For such of you as I intend to blesse,
After this life, with so much happinesse.
A happinesse to which no man can claim,
And those are fools, that confidently dream,
They by their art of living can attain,
What all, without my aid, attempt in vain.
Nor am I oblig'd in this Earth to show
Kindnesse to any of you, or bestow
A foot of ground upon the best of you,
For any good, you by your selves can do,
No all you do possesse: all you design,
Your property on Earth is simply mine:
And what you think your own inheritance,
Is only yours by my pure tollerance.
I do to this man a large portion give,
To th'other hardly whereupon to live,
I do allow: from this man I do take
What I have given, and I do quickly make
The other rich, for all that you can see
Under the tract of Heavens, belongs to me,
So that,—
If what I give, I do assume again,
Who's he, that of me justly can complain?
When only I dispose of what's my own,
As I think fit, as being bound to none
For any favour and what all of you,
In your own triffling matters daily do.
With me? who's he of you, that dares pretend
By any merit t'have oblig'd me so,
That I should to him any kindness show?
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By all your tears, good works, and fastings too,
Or any thing that man on Earth can doe
Suppose you can of Heaven a purchase make,
Or of your God, in gratitude expect,
Not as a favour, but as a reward,
What I have from Eternity prepar'd,
For such of you as I intend to blesse,
After this life, with so much happinesse.
A happinesse to which no man can claim,
And those are fools, that confidently dream,
They by their art of living can attain,
What all, without my aid, attempt in vain.
Nor am I oblig'd in this Earth to show
Kindnesse to any of you, or bestow
A foot of ground upon the best of you,
For any good, you by your selves can do,
No all you do possesse: all you design,
Your property on Earth is simply mine:
And what you think your own inheritance,
Is only yours by my pure tollerance.
I do to this man a large portion give,
To th'other hardly whereupon to live,
I do allow: from this man I do take
What I have given, and I do quickly make
The other rich, for all that you can see
Under the tract of Heavens, belongs to me,
So that,—
If what I give, I do assume again,
Who's he, that of me justly can complain?
When only I dispose of what's my own,
As I think fit, as being bound to none
For any favour and what all of you,
In your own triffling matters daily do.
And now that I may further evidence,
Besides the bulk, the worth, and excellence
Of this great Leviathan: I wil show,
What of this creature yet thou dost not know.
Besides the bulk, the worth, and excellence
Of this great Leviathan: I wil show,
What of this creature yet thou dost not know.
Who's he so bold, as dares cut off his sin?
Sieze on his body, flea him of his skin?
Make a rude bit reverberat his tooth?
Or make a double bridle rule his mouth?
Sieze on his body, flea him of his skin?
Make a rude bit reverberat his tooth?
Or make a double bridle rule his mouth?
He, who by main force, can his lips unfold,
And underprop his jaws, may there behold,
How like a Princes Court his mouth doth show,
Where teeth, like Halbardiers, stand all arow
To guard the tongue, which there doth ly in state,
And under th'arched palate keeps its seat.
And underprop his jaws, may there behold,
How like a Princes Court his mouth doth show,
Where teeth, like Halbardiers, stand all arow
To guard the tongue, which there doth ly in state,
And under th'arched palate keeps its seat.
Like a strong shield of proof his scales appear
So that he doth not any mortal fear,
Covered with these, but doth in them confide,
And shows in these a great part of his pride.
So that he doth not any mortal fear,
Covered with these, but doth in them confide,
And shows in these a great part of his pride.
For they together are indented so,
As 'twixt their junctures no sharp air can blow.
As 'twixt their junctures no sharp air can blow.
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They stick together so conglutinate
By nature, as no art can separate
Those clinging scales, which altogether make
A figure, as if he upon his back
Did wear a Coat of Steel, of Brass, or Iron,
And tempered Mettals did him all environ.
By nature, as no art can separate
Those clinging scales, which altogether make
A figure, as if he upon his back
Did wear a Coat of Steel, of Brass, or Iron,
And tempered Mettals did him all environ.
But when at any time he doth appear
Above the Water, what a horrid fear
Spreads he upon the Seas, both far and near.
For, when from Top-mast, Mariners descry
This floating Mountain, they do by and by
Steer to the weather-hand, to shun his wake,
With all the Sail, they for their lives can make,
Because, as if he neez'd, he often throws
Such quantity of Waters from his nose,
Above the Water, what a horrid fear
Spreads he upon the Seas, both far and near.
For, when from Top-mast, Mariners descry
This floating Mountain, they do by and by
Steer to the weather-hand, to shun his wake,
With all the Sail, they for their lives can make,
Because, as if he neez'd, he often throws
Such quantity of Waters from his nose,
Up in the Air, which by the Suns reflex
Appear at distance, like a flame convex:
As no Ships dare approach him, out of fear,
He'd overwhelm them, if they should draw near.
For from his mouth,—
The broken waters flee, like sparks of fire,
Which causes the Sea-faring-man admire
What Creature this must be, that with such ease
Can raise a tempest in the calmest Seas.
Appear at distance, like a flame convex:
As no Ships dare approach him, out of fear,
He'd overwhelm them, if they should draw near.
For from his mouth,—
The broken waters flee, like sparks of fire,
Which causes the Sea-faring-man admire
What Creature this must be, that with such ease
Can raise a tempest in the calmest Seas.
Smoak from his Nostrils issues out so hot,
As from a Cauldron, or a boyling Pot,
When he doth belch out no small quantity,
Of thick, and fulsome vapours in the sky.
As from a Cauldron, or a boyling Pot,
When he doth belch out no small quantity,
Of thick, and fulsome vapours in the sky.
Yes, for he's able by his breath to blow
Fire out of Coals, and out of darkness show
A flaming light: for from his mouth, by turns,
As at first kindling, when a Coal-fire burns,
Now sulph'rous smoak, then flames do issue out,
And fill with terrour all the Seas about.
Fire out of Coals, and out of darkness show
A flaming light: for from his mouth, by turns,
As at first kindling, when a Coal-fire burns,
Now sulph'rous smoak, then flames do issue out,
And fill with terrour all the Seas about.
In his thick neck such strength and vigour lyes,
As all the force of Iron he defyes:
For all the power of man he doth not care,
And laughs at things which other creatures fear.
As all the force of Iron he defyes:
For all the power of man he doth not care,
And laughs at things which other creatures fear.
The fibres of his flesh are joyn'd together
So firmly, that none can distinguish either:
So solidly compacted, and comprest
Each within other, as nor Fish, nor Beast
Can show the like, so strongly grain'd, and fresh,
As it doth rather look like Oak, then Flesh.
So firmly, that none can distinguish either:
So solidly compacted, and comprest
Each within other, as nor Fish, nor Beast
Can show the like, so strongly grain'd, and fresh,
As it doth rather look like Oak, then Flesh.
Now as for strength, he's wonderfully made,
So he in courage all things doth exceed
That ever life enjoy'd: he knows no fear,
But doth a heart of resolution bear:
A heart so firm, and so unmoveable
By any threats, as 'tis incapable
Of that weak passion, with which others are
Infected, so well known by name of fear.
So he in courage all things doth exceed
That ever life enjoy'd: he knows no fear,
But doth a heart of resolution bear:
A heart so firm, and so unmoveable
By any threats, as 'tis incapable
Of that weak passion, with which others are
Infected, so well known by name of fear.
For he's so far from being capable
Of fear himself, that he's intolerable
In his insults, and able too to raise
Such terrour 'mongst th'inhabitants o'th' Seas,
As by one look he can make all, that's there
Yea, even the swiming Oak, to sweat for fear,
And shrewdly damps the stoutest Mariner.
For all a-board a Ship, when from the Deck
They see the Waters at great distance break:
By which, as by an usual Sign, they guess,
The Leviathan tumbles in the Seas,
As if their death approach'd, do quickly fall
Upon their knees, and to Devotion all
Apply themselves, because they sadly think
He'll by his Water-spout their Vessels sink.
Of fear himself, that he's intolerable
In his insults, and able too to raise
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As by one look he can make all, that's there
Yea, even the swiming Oak, to sweat for fear,
And shrewdly damps the stoutest Mariner.
For all a-board a Ship, when from the Deck
They see the Waters at great distance break:
By which, as by an usual Sign, they guess,
The Leviathan tumbles in the Seas,
As if their death approach'd, do quickly fall
Upon their knees, and to Devotion all
Apply themselves, because they sadly think
He'll by his Water-spout their Vessels sink.
Or if there's any of the Crew so bold,
As thinks upon this creature to lay hold,
By force of Arms they do attempt in vain,
For this undaunted thing will not be tane
At any rate: the Sword, Dart, Javelin,
Do but make such a noise upon his skin,
As one with Steel would strike upon a Bell,
And, 'stead of piercing, make it only knell.
But where he doth assault, there's no defence
Against his blows, with so great violence
He rushes on, as he doth soon prevail
Against your cuirass, or through Coat of Mail.
As thinks upon this creature to lay hold,
By force of Arms they do attempt in vain,
For this undaunted thing will not be tane
At any rate: the Sword, Dart, Javelin,
Do but make such a noise upon his skin,
As one with Steel would strike upon a Bell,
And, 'stead of piercing, make it only knell.
But where he doth assault, there's no defence
Against his blows, with so great violence
He rushes on, as he doth soon prevail
Against your cuirass, or through Coat of Mail.
Iron, as Chaff, and Straw he doth contemn,
And Brass, as rotten Wood he doth esteem.
And Brass, as rotten Wood he doth esteem.
The force of Arrows cannot make him fly,
Though th'Archer on him his best skill should try:
No Engine can prejudge him, life, or limb,
Stones from the Sling are but Boyes-play to him.
Though th'Archer on him his best skill should try:
No Engine can prejudge him, life, or limb,
Stones from the Sling are but Boyes-play to him.
Your pointed Darts, which men do at him throw,
And think, by force, and art to catch him so,
He doth no more, then Straws, or Rushes fear,
And laughs aloud at shaking of your Spear.
And think, by force, and art to catch him so,
He doth no more, then Straws, or Rushes fear,
And laughs aloud at shaking of your Spear.
Then for his Lodgings, where do you suppose
This creature makes his bed? not in the Ouze,
As other Fishes, or in muds or mires,
Not he, for he no softer quilt desires
Then sharpest Rocks in bottom of the Seas,
Where, as on Bed of Douns he sleeps with ease.
This creature makes his bed? not in the Ouze,
As other Fishes, or in muds or mires,
Not he, for he no softer quilt desires
Then sharpest Rocks in bottom of the Seas,
Where, as on Bed of Douns he sleeps with ease.
When he doth swim, his motion is so strong,
That one would think the Ocean all along,
Where he doth move, by the great scum of Oyl,
Appears about him, really did boyl.
That one would think the Ocean all along,
Where he doth move, by the great scum of Oyl,
Appears about him, really did boyl.
Yes, where he moves, he leaves a foaming line
Behind him, on the surface of the Brine,
Which doth, like flames, at a great distance shine.
The Waves are with its froath so pouldered,
As one would think the deep a hoary head.
Behind him, on the surface of the Brine,
Which doth, like flames, at a great distance shine.
The Waves are with its froath so pouldered,
As one would think the deep a hoary head.
In fine, he doth in strength so much excell,
The spacious earth has not his parallell.
At his approach, the trembling Seas make way,
And with profound submission obey
His transient orders: furnish him with all
What he for his convenience doth call;
Where e're he marches, and allow for meat,
What of their subjects he thinks best to eat.
The spacious earth has not his parallell.
At his approach, the trembling Seas make way,
And with profound submission obey
His transient orders: furnish him with all
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Where e're he marches, and allow for meat,
What of their subjects he thinks best to eat.
All other creatures, with disdainful eye
He views: no creature in conceit so high,
Inhabits under Heavens Canopy.
For all that in the Ocean do swim,
Daily, and hourly tribute pay to him:
They pay whatever they're by him assess't,
And dare not whisper that they are oppress't:
For if upon their grievances they fall,
And of their laws, and priviledges bawl,
He'll at one break-fast, soon devour them all.
Never let crowned head with him dispute,
No King on Earth can be so absolute.
He views: no creature in conceit so high,
Inhabits under Heavens Canopy.
For all that in the Ocean do swim,
Daily, and hourly tribute pay to him:
They pay whatever they're by him assess't,
And dare not whisper that they are oppress't:
For if upon their grievances they fall,
And of their laws, and priviledges bawl,
He'll at one break-fast, soon devour them all.
Never let crowned head with him dispute,
No King on Earth can be so absolute.
| The grand Tryal | |