The VI. Chapter.
IOb answered, and sayde: O that my misery weere weyed, and my punysh∣ment [ A] layed in the balaunces: for then shulde it be heuyer, then the sonde of the see. This is the cause, that my wordes are so so∣roufull.
For the allmighty hath shott at me with his arowes, whose indignacion hath dronc∣ke vp my sprete, and ye terrible feares of God fight agaynst me. Doth the wilde asse roare when he hath grasse? Or crieth the oxe,* 1.1 whē he hath fodder ynough? Maye a thynge be eaten vnseasoned, or without salt? What taist hath ye whyte within the yoke an egg? The thinges that sometyme I might not a waye withall, are now my meate for very so¦row. O that I might haue my desyre: O ye God wolde graunte me the thynge, that I longe for: That he wolde begynne and smy¦te me: that he wolde let his honde go, & hew me downe. Thē shulde I haue some cōforte: yee I wolde desyre him in my payne, that he shulde not spare, for I will not be agaynst ye wordes of the holy one.
What power haue I to endure? Or▪ what [ B] is myne ende, that my soule might be paciēt? Is my strength the strength of stones? Or, is my flesh made of brasse? Am I able to hel¦pe my self▪ Is not my strength gone fro me, like as yf one withdrewe a good dede from his frende, and forsoke the feare of God: My¦ne owne brethren passe ouer by me as the wa¦terbroke, that hastely runneth thorow ye val¦leys. But they that feare the horefrost,* 1.2 the snowe shal fall vpon them.