Du Bartas his deuine weekes and workes translated: and dedicated to the Kings most excellent Maiestie by Iosuah Syluester

DAVID. The FOVRTH DAY Of The SECOND WEEK; (Book 4)

Containing

• 1. THE TROPHEIS,
• 2. THE MAGNIFICENCE,
• 3. THE SCHISM,
• 4. THE DECAY.

Translated & Dedicated

To Prince HENRY his Highness.

[illustration]

Acceptam refere.

To Prince HENRY his Highness.

A SONNET.

HAuing new-mustred th' HOAST of all this ALL: Your Royall Father In our Fore ward stands; Where (Adam-like) Himself alone Commands A WORLD of Creatures, ready at his Call. Our Middle-ward doth not vnfitly fall To famous Chiefs, whose graue-braue heads & hands In Counsail'd Courage so Conduct our Bands, As (at a brunt) affront the force of Baal. Our Rere-Ward (Sir) shalbe your Princely Charge, Though last, not least (sith it most Honour brings) Where Honour's Field before you lies more large: For, Your Command is of a Camp of KINGS, Some good, some bad: Your Glory shall be, heer To Chuse and Vse the good, the bad Cassier.

A STANZA.

IEwel of NATVRE, Ioy of ALBION, To whose perfection Heav'n and Earth conspire: That, in Time•• fulnes, Thou mayst bless this▪ Throne (Succeeding in the Vertues of thy Sire) As happily thou hast begun, goe-on; That, as thy Youth, we may thine Age admire; Acting our Hopes (which shall revive our hearts) Pattern & Patron both of Arms & Arts.

Iosuah Syluester.

THE TROPHEIS. THE FIRST BOOKE OF the fourth Day of the second Week, of BARTAS.

THE ARGVMENT.

Saul's fall from Fauour, into Gods Disgrace. Dauid design'd Successor in his Place; Brauing Goliah, and the Philistins He brauely foyles: He flyes his furious Prince. Seem-Samuel rais'd: Saul routed; Selfely-slain. King-Dauids TROPHEIS, and triumphant Raign: His heauenly Harp- skill (in King IAMES renewd): His humane frailty, heauily pursewd. Bersabé batheing: Nathan bold-reprouing: Dauid repenting (Our REPENTANCE moouing).

HEröike force, and Prince-fit forme withall,* 1.1 Honor the Scepter of courageous Saul; Successe confirmes it: for the power Diuine Tames by his hand th' outrageous Philistine, Edom, and Moab, and the Ammonite, And th' euer-wicked, curst Amalekite: O too-too-happy! if his arrogance Had not transgrest Heauens sacred Ordinance: But therefore, God in's secret Counsell (iust) Him euen alreadie from his Throne hath thrust, Degraded of his gifts: and in his steed (Though priuily) anointed Iesse's Seed,

Th' honour of Iacob, yea of th' Vniuerse, Heav'ns darling DAVID, Subiect of my Verse.

Lord, sith I cannot (nor I may not once)* 1.2 Aspire to DAVIDS Diadems and Thrones; Nor lead behind my bright Tryumphal-Car So many Nations Conquered in War: Nor (DAVID-like) my trembling Asps adorn With bloody TROPHEIS of my Foes forlorn: Vouch safe mee yet his Verse, and (Lord) I craue Let me his Harp-strings, not his Bowe-strings haue; His Lute, and not his Launce, to worthy-sing Thy glorie, and the honour of thy King. For, none but DAVID can sing DAVID's worth: Angels in Heav'n thy glory sound; in Earth, DAVID alone; whom (with Heav'ns loue surpriz'd) To praise thee there, thou now hast Angeliz'd. Giue mee the Laurel, not of War, but Peace; Or rather giue mee (if thy grace so please) The Ciuik Garland of green Oaken boughes, Thrice-three times wreath'd about my glorious browes, To euer-witnes to our after-frends How I haue reskew'd my con-Citizens, Whom profane Fames-Thirst day and night did moue To be be-slav'd to th' yoake of wanton Loue: For, (not to mee, but to thee, Lord, be prayse) Now, by th' example of my Sacred Layes, To Sacred Loues our noblest spirits are bent, And thy rich Name's their only Argument.

HEE WHOM in priuat wals, with priuie signe, The great King-maker did for King assigne, Begins to showe himself: a fier so great Could not liue flame-les long: nor would God let So noble a spirits nimble edge to rust In Sheapheards idle and ignoble dust.

My Son, how certain we that Saying proue,* 1.3 That doubtfull Fear still wayts on tender Loue? DAVID (saith Iesse) I am full of fears For thy deer Brethren: Each Assault, salt tears

Draws from mine eyes; mee thinks each point doth stab Mine Eliab, Samna, and Aminadab. Therefore goe visite them, and with this Food Beare them my Blessing; say I wish them good; Beseeching God to shield and them sustain, And send them (soon) victorious home again.

Gladly goes DAVID, and anon doth spie Two steep high Hils where the two Armies lie,* 1.4 A Vale diuides them; where, in raging mood (Colossus-like) an armed Giant stood: His long black locks hung shagged (slouen-like) A down his sides: his bush-beard floated thick; His hands and arms, and bosom bristled were (Most Hedge-hog-like) with wyer insteed of haire. His foul blasphemous mouth, a Caues mouth is; His eyes two Brands, his belly an Abysse: His legs two Pillers; and to see him go, Hee seemd some steeple reeling to and fro. A Cypresse-Tree of fifteen Summers old, Pyramid-wise waues on his Helm of gold. Whose glistring brightnes doth (with rayes direct) Against the Sun, the Sun it self reflect: Much like a Comet blazing bloodie-bright* 1.5 Ouer some City, with new threatfull light, Presaging down-fall, or some dismal fate, Too-neer approaching to some ancient State. His Launce a Loom-beam, or a Mast (as big) Which yet he shaketh as an Osier twig; Whose harmful point is headed stifly-straight With burnisht Brasse aboue an Anuils waight: Vpon whose top (in stead of Bannaret) A hissing Serpent seems his foes to threat: His brazen Cuirasse, not a Squire can carrie; For 'tis the burthen of a Dromedarie: His Shield (where Cain his brother Abel slaies, Where Chus his son, Heav'n-climbing Towrs doth raise; Where th' Ark of God, to th' Heathen captiuate, To Dagon's House is led with scorne and hate)

Is like a Curtain made of double planks To saue from shot some hard-besieged Ranks. His threatfull voice is like the stormefull Thunder When hot-cold Fumes teare sulphury clowds asunder.

O Fugitiues! this is the fortieth day* 1.6 (Thus barkes the Dog) that I haue stalked aye About your fearefull Hoast: that I alone Against your best and choisest Champion, In single Combat might our Cause conclude, To shun the slaughter of the multitude. Come then, who dares; and to be slaine by mee, It shall thine honour and high Fortune bee. Why am I not lesse strong? my common strength Might find some Braue to cope with at the length. But, fie for shame, when shall we cease this geare? I to defie, and you to flie for feare? If your hearts serue not to defend your Lot, Why are you arm'd? why rather yeeld you not? Why rather doe you (sith you dare not fight) Not proue my mildnesse, than prouoke my might? What needed Coats of brasse and Caps of steele For such as (Hare-like) trust but to their heele? But, sith I see not one of you (alas!) Alone dares meete, nor looke me in the face, Come tenne, come twenty, nay come all of you, And in your ayde let your great God come too: Let him rake Hell, and shake the Earth in sunder, Let him be arm'd with Lightning and with Thunder: Come, let him come and buckle with me heer: Your goodly God, lesse then your selues, I feare.

Thus hauing spewd, the dreadfull Cyclop stirr'd His monstrous Limbes; beneath his feet he reard A Clowd of dust: and, wheresoe're he wend, Flight, Feare, and Death, his ghastly steps attend.

Euen as a payr of busie chattering Pies,* 1.7 Seeing some hardie Tercell, from the skies To stoop with rav'nous seres, feele a chill feare, From bush to bush, wag-tayling here and there;

So that no noyse, nor stone, nor st••••ke can make The timorous Birds their Couert to forsake: So th' Hebrew Troopes this brauing Monster shun; And from his sight, some here, some there, doo run. In vain the King commands, intreats, and threats; And hardly three or foure together gets.

What shame (saith he) that our victorious Hoast* 1.8 Should all be daunted with one Pagans boast? Braue Ionathan, how is thy courage quaild Which, yerst at Boses, all alone aslaild Th' whole Heathen Hoast? O Worthy Abner too, What chance hath cut thy Nerues of Valour now? And thou thy self (O Saul) whose Conquering hand Had yerst with Tropheis filled all the Land, As far as Tigris, from the Iap••ean Sea: Where is thy heart? how is it fall'n away? Saul is not Saul: O •• then, what Izraelice Shall venge God's honor and Our shame acquight? Who, spurrd with anger, but more stirrd with Zeale, Shall foile this Pagan, and free Izrael? O! who shall being me this Wolf's howling head, That Heav'n and Earth hath so vn-hallowed? What e're he be, that (lauish of his soule) Shall with his blood wash-out this blot so foule, I will innoble him, and all his House; He shall inioy my Daughter for his Spouse: And euer shall a Deed so memorable Be (with the Saints) sacred and honorable. •••• Yet, for the Duel no man dares appeer: All wish the Prize; but none will win't so deer: Big-looking Minions, braue in vaunts and vows, Lions in Court, now in the Camp be Cows: But, euen the blast that cools their courage so, That makes my DAVID's valiant rage to glowe.

My Lord (saith He) behold, this hand shall bring* 1.9 Th' heav'n-scorning head vnto my Lord the King.

Alas, my Lad, sweet Shepheard (answers Saul) Thy heart is great; although thy limbs be small:

High flie thy thoughts; but wee haue need of more, More stronger Toyles to take so wilde a Boare: To tame Goliah, needs som Demi-god, Some Nimrod, rather then a Shepheard-Lad Of slender growth, vpon whose tender Chin The budding doun doth scarcely yet begin. Keep therefore thine owne Rank, and draw not thus Death on thy self, dis-honor vpon vs, With shame and sorrow on all Izrael, Through end-les Thral dom to a Fo so fel.

The faintest Harts, God turns to Lions fierce,* 1.10 To Eagles Doues, Vanquisht to Vanquishers: God, by a Womans feeble hand sub dews Iabins Lieutenant, and a Iudge of Iews. God is my strength: therfore (O King) forbear, For Izrael, for Thee, or Mee, to fear: No self-presumption makes me rashly braue; Assured pledge of his prowd head I haue.

Seest thou these arms (my Lord) these very arms (Steeld with the strength of the great God of Arms) Haue bath'd Mount Bethlem with a Lions blood: These very arms, beside a shady Wood, Haue slain a Bear, which (greedy after prey) Had torn and born my fattest sheep away. My God is still the same: this sauage Beast, Which in his Fold would make a Slaughter-feast, All-ready feels his furie, and my force; My foot al-ready tramples on his Corps: With his owne sword his cursed length I lop, His head al-ready on the geound doth hop.

The Prince beholds him, as amaz'd and mute, To see a mind so yong, foresolute: Then son (saith he) sith so confirmd thou art, Go, and Gods blessing on thy valiant hart; God guide thy hand, and speed thy weapon so, That thou return triumphant of thy Fo. Hold, take my Corslet, and my Helm, and Launce, And to the Heav'ns thy happy Prowes aduance.

The faithfull Champion, being furnisht thus, Is like the Knight, which twixt Eridanus And th' heav'nly Star-Ship, marching brauely-bright (Hauing his Club, his Casque, and Belt bedight With flaming studs of many a twinkling Ray) Turns Winters night into a Summers day. But, yer that hee had half a furlong gon, The massie Launce and Armour hee had on Did load him so, he could not freely mooue His legs and arms, as might him best behooue. Euen so, an Irish Hobby, light and quick* 1.11 (Which on the spur ouer the bogs they prick In highest speed) If on his back he feel Too-sad a Saddle, plated all with steel, Too-hard a Bit with in his mouth; behind, Crooper and Trappings him too-close to binde; He seems as lame, he flings, and will not go; Or, if he stir, it is but stiff and slowe. DAVID therefore lays-by his heauie load, And, on the grace of the great glorious GOD (Who by the weakest can the strongest stoop) Hee firmly founding his victorious hope, No Arrows seeks, nor other Arcenall; But, by the Brooke that runnes amid the Vale, Hee takes fiue Pebbles and his Sling, and so, Courageously incounters with his Foe.

What Combat's this? On the one side, I see A moouing Rocke, whose looks do terrifie Euen his owne Hoast; wbose march doth seem to make The Mountaine tops of Sucoth euen to shake: On th' other side, a slender tender Boy Where grace and beautie for the prize doo play: Shaue but the doun that on his Chin doth peer, And one would take him for Anchises Pheer: Or, change but weapons with that wanton E••••, And one would think that it were Cupids self. Gold on his head, skar••er in either Cheek, Grace in each part and in each gest, alike;

In all so louely, both to Foe and Friend, That very Enuy cannot but commend His match-les beauties: and though ardent zeale Flush in his face against the Infidel, Although his Fury fume, though vp and down He nimblie trauerse, though he fiercely frown, Though in his breast boyling with manly heat, His swelling heart do strongly pant and beat; His Storme is Calm, and from his modest eyes Euen gratious seems the grimmest flash that flies.

Am I a Dog, thou Dwarf, thou Dandiprat, To be with stones repell'd and palted at? Or art thou weary of thy life so soon? O foolish boy! fantasticall Baboone! That never saw'st but sheep in all thy life; Poore sotte, 'tis heer another kind of strife: We wrastle not (after your Shepheards guise) For painted Sheep-hooks, or such pettie Prize, Or for a Cage, a Lamb, or bread and cheese: The Vanquisht Head must be the Victors Fees. Where is thy sweatie dust? thy sun-burnt scars, (The glorious marks of Soldier strain'd in Warres) That make thee dare so much? O Lady-Cow, Thou shalt no more be-star thy wanton brow With thine eyes rayes: Thy Mistress shall no more Curl the quaint Tresses of thy Golden ore: I'll trample on that Gold; and Crowes and Pyes Shall peck the pride of those sweet-smiling eyes: Yet, no (my guirle-boy) no, I will not file My feared hands with blood so faintly-vile: Go seek thy match, thou shalt not dy by me, Thine honor shall not my dishonor be▪ No (silly Lad) no, wert thou of the Gods, I would not fight at so vn-knightly ods.

Come barking Curre (the Hebrew taunts him thus) That hast blasphem'd the God of Gods, and vs; The ods is mine (villain, I scorne thy Boasts) I haue for Aide th' almighty Lord of Hoasts.

Th' Ethnik's a-fier▪ and from his goggle eyes▪ All drunk with rage and blood, the Lightning flies: Out of his beuer, like a Boare he foames: A hellish Fury in his bosom roames: As mad, he marcheth with a dreadfull pase, Death and destruction muster in his face; He would a-fresh blaspheam the Lord of Lords With new despights; but in the steed of words* 1.12 He can but gnash his teeth. Then, as an Oxe Straid twixt the hollow of steep Hils and Rocks, Through craggie Coombs, through dark & ragged turnings▪ Lowes hideously his solitary Moornings: The Tyrant so from his close helmet blunders With horrid noise, and this harsh voice he thunders:

Thy God raignes in his Ark, and I on Earth: I Chalenge Him, Him (if he dare come forth) Not Thee, base Pigme. Villain (saies the Iew) That blasphemy thou instantly shalt rue, If e'r you saw (at Sea) in Summer weather,* 1.13 A Galley and a Caraque cope togither; (How th' one steers quick, and th' other veers as slowe▪ Lar-boord and star-boord from the poop to prowe; This, on the winde; that, on her Owres relies; This daunteth most; and that most damnifies) You may conceaue this Fight: th' huge Polypheme Stands stifly shaking his steel-pointed beam: Dauid dooth trauerse (round about him) light, Forward and back, to th' left hand, and the right, Steps in and out; now stoops, anon he stretches; Then he recoyls, on either hand he reaches; And stoutly-actiue, watching th' aduerse blowes, In euery posture dooth himself dispose.

As, when (at Cock-pit) two old Cocks doo fight,* 1.14 (Bristling their plumes, and (red with rage) do smight With spurs and beak, bounding at euery blowe, With fresh assaults freshing their fury so, That, desperate in their vn yeelding wrath, Nothing can end their deadly fewd but death)

The Lords about, that on both sides do bet, Look partially when th' one the Field shall get, And, trampling on his gaudie plumed pride, His prostrate Fo with bloody spurs bestride, With clanging Trumpet and with clapping wing, Triumphantly his Victory to sing: So th' Hebrew Hoast, and so the Heathen stranger (Not free from fear, but from the present danger) Behold with passion these two Knights, on whom They both haue wagerd both their Fortunes sum: And either side, with voice and gesture too, Hartens and cheers their Champion well to doo; So earnest all, that almost euery one Seems euen an Actor, not a looker-on: All feel the Skirmish twixt their Hope and Fear: All cast their eyes on this sad Theater: All on these two depend, as very Founders Of their good Fortune, or their Fates Confounders.

O Lord, said DAVID (as he whirld his Sling) Be bowe and Bowe-man of this shaft I fling.

With sudden flerk the fatal hemp lets go The humming Flint, which with a deadly blowe Pearç't instantly the Pagans ghastly Front, As deep as Pistol-shot in boord is wont. The villain's sped (cries all the Hebrew band)* 1.15 The Dog, the Atheist feels Gods heauy hand.

Th' Isacian Knight, seeing the blowe, stands still. Fro th' Tyrants wound his ruddy soule doth trill, As from a crack in any pipe of Lead (That conuoyes Water from some Fountaines head)* 1.16 Hissing in th' Aire, the captiue Stream doth spin▪ In siluer threds her crystall humorthin.

The Giant, wiping with his hand his wound, Cries, tush, 'tis nothing: but eft soones the ground▪ Sunk vnder him, his face grew pale and wan, And all his limbs to faint and fail began: Thrice heaues he vp his head; it hangs as fast, And all a-long lies Isaac's dread at last,

Couering a rood of Land; and in his Fall,* 1.17 Resembles right a lofty Tower or Wall, Which to lay leuel with the humble soil A hundred Miners day and night doo toil; Till at the length rushing with thundrous roar, It ope a breach to th' hardy Conquerour.

Then, two lowd cries, a glad and sad were heard: Wherwith reviv'd, the vaunting Tyrant stird, Re-summoning vnder his weak Controule The fainting Remnants of his flying Soule; And (to be once more buckling yer he dies, With blowe for blowe) he striues in vain to rise. Such as in life, such in his death he seems; For euen in death he curses and blasphemes: And as a Curre, that cannot hurt the flinger,* 1.18 Flies at the stone and biteth that for anger; Goliah bites the ground, and his owne hands As Traytors, false to his fel hearts commands. Then the Hebrew Champion heads the Infidel With his own sword, and sends his soule to Hell.

Pagans disperse; and the Philistian swarms Haue armes for burthen, and haue flight for armes; Danger behinde, and shame before their face: Rowting themselues, although none giue them chase▪

Armi-potent, Omnipotent, my God,* 1.19 O let thy Praise fill all the Earth abroad; Let Izrael (through Thee, victorious now) Incessant songs vnto thy Glory vow: And let me Lord (said DAVID) euer chuse Thee sole, for subiect of my sacred Muse. O wondrous spectacle! vnheard-of-Sight! The Monster's beaten-down, before the Fight: A Dwarf, a Sheepheard, conquers (euen vn-armd) A Giant fell, a famous Captain, armd. From a fraile Sling this Battery neuer came, But 'twas the Breach of a Tower-razing Ram: This was no cast of an vncertain Slinger, 'T was Crosse-bow-shot: rather it was the finger

Of the All-mightie (not this hand of mine) That wrought this work so wondrous in our eyne: This hath Hee done, that by a woman weake Can likewise stone the stout Abimelech: Therefore, for euer, singing sacred Layes, I will record his glorious Power and Praise.

Then, Iacob's Prince him ioyfully imbraces, Prefers to honours, and with fauours graces, Imployes him farre and nigh; and farre and neere, From all sad cares he doth his Soueraigne cleere. In Camp he curbs the Pagans arrogance: In Court he cures the Melancholy Trance That toyls his soule; and, with his tunefull Lyre,* 1.20 Expels th' ll Spirit which doth the body tyre. For, with her sheath, the soule commerce frequents, And acts her office by his instruments; After his pipe she dances: and (againe) The body shares her pleasure and her paine; And by exchange, reciprocally borrowes Some measure of her solace and her sorrowes. Th' Eare (doore of knowledge) with sweete warbles pleas'd, Sends them eft soones vnto the Soule diseas'd, With darke black rage, our spirits pacifies, And calmly cools our inward flame that fries.

So, O Tyrtéus, changing Harmonie,* 1.21 Thy Rowt thou changest into Victorie. So, O thrice-famous, Princely Pellean, Holding thy hart's re••nes in his Tune-full hand▪ Thy Timothie with his Melodious skill Armes and dis-armes thy Worlds-drad arme (at will), And with his Phrygian Musicke, makes the same As Lion fierce; with Dorik, milde as Lambe. So, while in Argos the chaste Violon For's absent Soueraigne doth graue-sweetly groan, Queen Clytemnestra doth resist th' alarmes Of lewd Aegysthus, and his lustfull Charmes. So, at the sound of the sweet-warbling brasse; The Prophet rapting his soule's soule a space,

Refines him selfe, and in his fantasie Graues deep the seal of sacred Prophesie. For, if our Soule be Number (some so thought) It must with number be refreshed oft; Or, made by Number (so I yeeld to sing) We must the same with some sweet Numbers bring To some good Tune: euen as a voice (sometime)* 1.22 That in its Part sings out of tune and time, Is by another voice (whose measur'd straine Custome and Arte confirms) brought in again. It may be too, that DAVIDS sacred Ditty Quickned with Holy-Writ, and couched witty, Exorcist-like, chaç't Natures cruel Fo, Who the Kings soule did tosse and torture so. How e'r it were, He is (in euery thing) A profitable seruant to the King: Who enuious yet of his high Feats and Fame, His Faith, and Fortitude, distrusts the same: And, the diuine Torch of his Vertues bright Brings him but sooner to his latest Night; Saue that the Lord still shields him from on hy, And turnes to Triumph all his Tragedy.

O bitter sweet! I burst (thus raues the King) To hear them all, in Camp and Court to sing,* 1.23 SAVL he hath slain a thousand, DAVID ten, Ten thousand DAVID. O faint scorn of men! Lo, how, with Lustre of his glorious parts, Hee steals-away the giddy peoples harts; Makes lying Prophets sooth him at a beck; Thou art but King in name, Hee in effect: Yet thou endur'st it; haste thee, haste thee (Sot) Choak in the Cradle his aspiring Plot; Preuent his hopes, and wisely-valiant Off with his head that would thy foot supplant. Nay, but beware; his death (belov'd so wel) Will draw thee hatred of all Izrael. Sith then so high his heady valour flies, Sith common glory cannot him suffice,

Sith Danger vpon Danger hee pursews, And Victory on Victory renewes; Let's put him to 't: Let's make him Generall, Feed him with winde, and hazard him in all: So shall his own Ambitious Courage bring For Crown a Coffin to our Iunior King: Yea, had hee Sangars strength, and Sampsons too, Hee should not scape the taske I'll put him to.

But yet, our DAVID more then all archieues, And more and more his grace and glory thriues: The more he doos, the more he dares adventure, His rest-les Valour seeks still new Aduenture. For, feeling him armd with th' Almighty's Spirit, He recks no danger (at the least to fear it). Then, what doos Saul? When as he saw no speed By sword of Foes so great a Fo to rid, Hee tries his owne: and one-while throwes his dart, At vn-awares to thrill him to the hart: Or treacherously hee layes som subtill train, At boord, or bed, to haue him (harm-les) slain: On nothing else dreams the disloyall wretch, But Dauids death; how Dauid to dispatch. Which had bin don, but for his Son the Prince, (Who deerly tenders Dauids Innocence,* 1.24 And neerly marks and harks the Kings Designes, And warns the Iessean by suspect-les signes) But for the kinde Courageous Ionathan, Who (but attended onely with his man) Neer Senean Rocks discomfited, alone, The Philistines victorious Garison. About his eares a Shower of Shafts, dooth fall; His Shield's too-narrow to receiue them all: His sword is duld with slaughter of his Foes, Wherefore the dead he at the liuing throwes, Head-lined helmes, heawn from their trunks he takes, And those his vollies of swift shot he makes. The Heathen Hoast dares him no more affront, Late number-les; but easie now to count.

Dauid therefore, flying his Princes Furie, From end to end flies all the land of ••urie: But now to Nob; t' Adullam then, anon To Desart Zif, to Ke••lah, M••aor, Hauing for roof heav'ns arches starry-seeld, And, for rep••st what wauing woods doe yeeld. The Tyrant (so) frustrate of his intent, Wreakes his fell rage vpon the innocent; If any winke, as willing t' haue not seen-him, Or if (vnweeting what's the oddes between-him And th' angry king) if any had but hid-him, He dies for it (if any haue but spid him): Yea the High-Priest, that in Gods presence stands, Escapeth not his paricidiall hands; Nor doth he spare, in his vnbounded rage, Cattle, nor Curre, nor state, nor sexe, nor age.

Contrariwise, Dauid doth good for ill, He hates the haters of his Soueraigne still. And though he oft incounter Saul lesse strong Than his owne side; forgetting all his wrong, He shewes him, aye, loyall in deede and word Vnto his Liege, th' Anointed of the Lord; Respects and honors him, and mindes no more The Kings vnkindnesse that had past before.

One day as Saul (to ease him) went aside Into a Caue, where Dauid wont to hide, Dauid (vn-seen) seeing his Foe so neer And all alone, was strooke with suddaine feare, As much amaz'd and musing there-vpon; When whispering thus his Consorts egge him on:

Who sought thy life is fall'n into thy lap; Doo'st thou not see the Tyrant in thy Trap? Now therefore pull this Thorne out of thy foote: Now is the Time if euer thou wilt doo't: Now by his death establish thine estate: Now hugge thy Fortune, yer it be too-late: For, he (my Lord) that will not, when he may, Perhaps he shall not, when he would (they say).

Why tarriest thou? what doost thou trifle thus? Wilt thou, for Saul, betray thy self and vs?

Wonne with their words, to kill him he resolues: But, by the way thus with himself revolues. He is a Tyrant; true: But now long since,* 1.25 And still, he bears the mark of lawfull Prince: And th' Ever-King (to whom all Kings doe bow) On no pretext, did ever yet allow That any Subiest should his hand distain In sacred blood of his owne Soveraign. He hunts me cause-les; true: but yet, Gods word Bids me defend, but not offend my Lord. I am anointed King; but (at Gods pleasure) Not publikely: therfore I waite thy leasure. For, thou (O Lord) regardest Thine, and then Reward'st, in fine, Tyrants and wicked men.

Thus having sayd, he stalkes with noise-les foot Behind the King, and softly off doth cut A skirt or lap of his then-vpper clothing; Then quick avoydes: and, Saul, suspecting nothing, Comes forth anon: and Dauid afterward From a high Rock (to be the better heard) Cries to the King (vpon his humble knee) Come neer (my Liege) com neer, and fear not me, Fear not thy seruant Dauid. Well I knowe, Thy Flatterers, that miss-inform thee so, With thousand slanders dayly thee incense Against thy Seruants spot-les innocence: Those smooth-sly Aspicks, with their poysony sting Murder mine honour, me in hatred bring With thee and with thy Court (against all reason) As if Convicted of the Highest-Treason: But, my notorious Loyalty (I hope) The venom of their viperous tongues shall stop; And, with the splendor of mine actions bright, Disperse the Mists of Malice and Despight. Behold, my Lord, (Trueth needeth no excuse) What better witnesse can my soule produce

Of faithfull Loue, and Loyall Vassalage, To thee, my Liege, than this most certain gage: When I cut-off this lappet from thy Coat, Could I not then as well haue cut thy throat? But rather (Soveraign) thorow all my veins Shall burning Gangrens (spreading deadly pains) Benum my hand, then it shall lift a sword Against my Liege, th' anointed of the Lord; Or violate with any insolence, Gods sacred Image, in my Soveraign Prince. And yet (O King) thy wrath pursews me still; Like silly-Kid, I hop from hill to hill; Like hated Wolues I and my Souldiers starue: But, iudge thy self, if I thy wrath deserue.

No (my Sonne Dauid) I haue don thee wrong: Good God requight thy good: there doth belong A great Reward vnto so gratious deed. Ah, well I see it is aboue decreed That thou shalt sit vpon my Seat supream, And on thy head shalt wear my Diadem: Then, ô thou sacred and most noble Head, Remember Mee, and mine (when I am dead) Be gratious to my Blood, and raze not fell My Name and Issue out of Israel.

Thus sayd the King; and tears out-went his words: A pale despair his heavy hart still-girds: His feeble spirit praesaging his Miss-fortune, Doth every-kinde of Oracles importune; Suspicious, seeks how Clotho's Clew doth swell; And, cast of Heav'n, wil needs consult with Hell.

In Endor dwelt a Beldam in those dayes;* 1.26 Deep-skild in Charms (for, this weak sex always▪ Hath in all Times ben taxt for Magik Tricks, As pronest Agents, for the Prince of Styx: Whether, because their soft, moist, supple brain, Doth easie print of every seal retain: Or, whether wanting Force and Fames desert, Those Wyzards ween to winn it by Black-Art.)

This Stygian scum, the Furies fury fell, This Shop of Poysons, hideous Type of Hell, This sad Erinnys, Milcom's Fauourite, Chamosh his Ioye, and Belzebubs delight, Delights alonely for her exercise In secret Murders, soudain Tragoedies; Her drink, the blood of Babes; her dainty Feast Mens Marrow, Brains, Guts, Livers (late deceast). At Weddings aye (for Lamps) she lights debates; And quiet Loue much more then Death she hates: Or if she reak of Love, 'tis but to trap Som severe Cato in incestuous Lap: Somtimes (they say) she dims the Heav'nly Lamps, She haunts the Graues, she talks with Ghosts, she stamps And Cals-vp Spirits, and with a wink controules Th' infernal Tyrant, and the tortur'd Soules.

Arts admiration, Izraels Ornament, That (as a Queen) Command'st each Element, And from the Toomb deceased Trunks canst raise, (Th' vnfaithfull King thus flatters her with prayse) On steepest Mountains stop the swiftest Currents, From driest Rocks draw rapid-rowling Torrents, And fitly hasten Amphitrites Flood, Or stay her Eb (as to thy self seems good): Turn day to night: hold Windes within thy hand, Make the Sphears moue, and the Sun still to stand: Enforce the Moon so with thy Charms som-times, That for a stound in a deep Swoun she seems: O thou al-knowing Spirit! daign with thy spell To raise-vp heer renowned Samuel, To satisfie my doubtfull soule, in sum, The issue of my Fortunes yet to com.

Importun'd twice or thrice, she, that before Resembled one of those grim Ghosts (of yore) Which she was was wont with her vn-holsom breath To re-bring-back from the black gates of death, Growes now more gastly, and more Ghost-like grim, Right like to Satan in his Rage-full Trim.

The place about darker then Night she darkes, Shee yelles, she roars, she houles, she brayes, she barkes, And, in vn-heard, horrid, Barbarian tearms, She mutters strange and execrable Charmes; Of whose Hell-raking, Nature-shaking Spell, These odious words could scarce be hearkned well:

Eternall Shades, infernall Dëities, Death, Horrors, Terrors, Silence, Obsequies, Demons, dispatch: If this dim stinking Taper Be of mine owne Sons fat; if heer, for paper, I write (detested) on the tender skins Of time-les Infants, and abortiue Twins (Torn from the wombe) these Figures figure-les: If this black Sprinkle, tuft with Virgins tress, Dipt, at your Altar, in my kinsmans blood; If well I smell of humane flesh (my food): Haste, haste, you Fiends, you subterranean Pow'rs: If impiously (as fits these Rites of yours) I haue invok't your grizly Maiesties, Harken (O Furies) to my Blasphemies, Regard my Charms and mine inchanting Spell, Reward my Sins, and send vp Samuel From dismall darknes of your deep Abysse, To answer me in what my pleasure is: Dispatch, I say, (black Princes) quick, why when? Haue I not Art, for one, to send you ten?

When? stubborn Ghost! The Palfraies of the Sun Doo fear my Spells; and, when I spur, they run: The Planets bow, the Plants giue ear to me, The Forrests stoop, and even the strongest Tree, At driery sound of my sad whisperings, Doth Prophecie, fore telling future things: Yea (maugre Ioue) by mine almighty Charms, Through Heav'n I thunder with imperious Arms: And comst not thou? O, so: I see the Sage, I see th' ascent of som great man: his age, His sacred habite, and sweet-graue aspect Som God-like raies about him round reflect:

Hee's ready now to speak, and plyant too To cleer thy doubtings, without more a doo. Saul flat adores; and wickedly-devout, The fained-Prophets least word leaues not out.

What dost thou Saul? ô Izraels Soveraign,* 1.27 Witches, of late, feard only thy disdain: Now th' are thy stay. O wretch doost thou not knowe One cannot vse th' ayde of the Powers belowe Without som Pact of Counter-Seruices, By Prayers, Perfumes, Homage, and Sacrifice? And that this Art (meer Diabolicall) It hurteth all, but th' Author most of all? And also, that the impious Atheïst, The Infidel, and damned Exorcist, Differ not much. Th' one, Godhead quight denies: Th' other, for God, foul Satan magnifies: Th' other, Satan (by Inchantment strange) Into an Angell of the Light doth change. When as God would, his voyce thou wouldst not hear, Now he forbids thee, thou consult'st els-where: Whom (living Prophet) thou neglect'st, abhorr'st, Him (dead) thou seek'st, and his dead Trunk ador'st: And yet, not him, nor his; forth' ougly Fiend Hath no such power vpon a Saint t' extend,* 1.28 Who fears no force of the blasphemous Charms Of mumbling Beldams, or Hels damned Arms: From all the Poysons that those powers contriue, Charm-charming Faith's a full Preservatiue. In Soule and Body both, He cannot come; For, they re-ioyne not till the day of doom: His Soule alone cannot appeer; for why, Soules are invisible to mortall eye: His Body only, neither can it be; For (dust to dust) that soon corrupts (we see). Besides all this, if 'twere true Samuel, Should not (alas) thine eye-sight serue as well To see and knowe him, as this Sorceresse, This hatefull Hag, this old Enchanteresse,

This Divell incarnate, whose drad Spell commands The rebell-Fury of th' Infernall Bands? Hath Lucifer not Art enough to fain A Body fitting for his turn and train? And (as the rigor of long Cold congeals* 1.29 To harsh hard Wooll the running Water-Rils) Cannot he thicken thinnest parts of Air, Commixing Vapours? glew-them? hue them fair?* 1.30 Even as the Rain-Bowe, by the Suns reflection Is painted fair in manifold complection: A Body, which we see all-ready formd, But yet perceiue not how it is performd: A Body, perfect in apparant showe; But in effect and substance nothing so: A Body, hart-les, lung-les, tongue-les too, Where Satan lurks, not to giue life ther-to, But to the end that from this Counter-mure, More covertly he may discharge more sure A hundred dangerous Engins, which he darts Against the Bulwarks of the bravest harts: That, in the Sugar (even) of sacred Writ, He may em-pill vs with som Banefull bit: And, that his counterfait and fained lips, Laying before vs all our hainous slips, And Gods drad Iudgements and iust Indignation, May vnder-mine our surest Faiths Foundation.

But, let vs hear now what he saith. O Saul, What frantick fury art thou moov'd with-all, To now re-knit my broken thred of life? To interrupt my rest? And 'mid the strife Of struggling Mortals, in the Worlds affairs (By power-full Charms) to re-entoyl my Cares? Inquir'st thou what's to-come? O wretched Prince! Too much, too-soon (what I fore-told long since): Death's at thy door: to morrow Thou and Thine Even all shal fall before the Philistine: And great-good Dauid shal possesse thy Throne, As God hath sayd, tō be gain-sayd by none.

Th' Author of Lies (against his guise) tels true:* 1.31 Not that at-once he Selfly all fore-knew, Or had revolv'd the Leaues of destiny (The Childe alonly of Eternity): But rather through his busie observation Of circumstance, and often iteration Of reading of our Fortunes and our Fals, In the close Book of clear Coniecturals, With a far-seeing Spirit; hits often right: Not much vnlike a skilfull Galenite, Who (when the Crisis comes) dares even foretell Whether the Patient shall doo ill or well: Or, as the Star-wise somtimes calculates (By an Eclipse) the death of Potentates; And (by the stern aspects of greatest Stars) Prognosticates of Famine, Plague, and Wars.

As he foretold (in brief) so fell it out:* 1.32 Braue Ionathan and his Two Brethren stout Are slain in Fight; and Saul himself forlorn, Lest (Captiue) he be made the Pagans scorn, He kils him-Self; and, of his Fortune froward To seem not conquer'd, shewes him Self a Coward.

For, 'tis not Courage (whatsoe'r men say)* 1.33 But Cowardize, to make ones Self away. 'Tis even to turn our back at Fears alarms: 'Tis (basely-faint) to yeeld vp all our Arms. O extream Rage! O barbarous Cruelty •• All at one Blowe, t' offend Gods Maiesty, The State, the Magistrate, Thy Self (in fine): Th' one, in destroying the deer work divine Of his almighty Hands; the next, in reaving Thy needfull Service, it should be receiuing; The third, in rash vsurping his Commission▪ And last, Thy Self, in thine owne Selfs-Perdition, When (by two Deaths) one voluntary Wound Doth both thy body and thy soule confound.

But Isbosheth (his deer Son) yet retains His Place a space: and Dauid only Raigns

In happy Iuda. Yet, yerlong (discreet) He makes th' whole Kingdoms wracked ribs to meet: And so He rules on th' holy Mount (a mirror) His Peoples Ioy, the Pagans only Terror.

If ever, standing on the sandy shoar,* 1.34 Y' haue thought to count the rowling waues that roar Each after other on the British Coast, When Aeolus sends forth his Northern Poast; Waue vpon Waue, Surge vpon Surge doth fold, Sea swallowes Sea, so thickly-quickly roul'd, That (number-les) their number so doth mount, That it confounds th' Accompter and th' Accompt: So Dauid's Vertues when I think to number, Their multitude doth all my Wits incumber; That Ocean swallowes me: and mazed so, In the vast Forest where his Prayses growe, I knowe not what high Fir, Oak, Chest-nut-Tree, (Rather) what Brasil, Cedar, Ebonie, My Muse may chuse (Amphion-like) to build With curious touch of Fingers Quauer-skild (Durst she presume to take so much vpon-her) A Temple sacred vnto Dauids honour.

Others shall sing his mindes true Constancie,* 1.35 In oftlong exiles try'd so thorowly: His Life compos'd after the life and likenes Of sacred Patterns: his milde gracious meeknes Towards railing Shime••, and the* 1.36 Churlish Gull: His louely Eyes and Face so bewtifull. Som other shall his Equity record, And how the edge of his impartiall sword Is euer ready for the Reprobate, To hewe them down; and help the Desolate: How He, no Law, but Gods drad Law enacts: How Hee respects not persons, but their Facts: How braue a Triumph of Selfs-wrath he showes, Killing the Killers of his deadly Foes. Som other shall vnto th' Empyreall Pole The holy fervor of his Zeal extoll:

How for the wandring Ark he doth prouide A certain place for euer to abide: And how for euer euery his designe Is ordered all by th' Oracle Diuine.

Vpon the wings of mine (els-tasked) Rime, Through the cleer Welkin of our Western Clime, I'll only bear his Musike and his Mars (His holy Songs, and his triumphant Wars): Lothere the sacred mark wherat I aim; And yet this Theam I shall but mince and maim, So many Yarnes I still am fain to strike Into this Web of mine intended WEEK.

The Twelue stout Labours of th' Amphitryonide* 1.37 (Strongest of Men) are iustly magnifi'd: Yet, what were They but a rude Massacre Of Birds and Beasts, and Monsters here and there? Not Hoasts of Men and Armies ouer throw'n; But idle Conquests; Combats One to One: Where boist'rous Limbs, and Sinnews strongly kni••, Did much auaile with little ayde of Wit. Bears, Lions, Giants, foild in single fight, Are but th' Essayes of our redoubted Knight: Vnder his Armes sick Aram deadly droops: Vnto his power the strength of Edom stoops: Stout Amalek euen trembles at his name: Prowd Ammons skorn he doth return with shame: Subdueth Soba: foyls the Moabite: Wholly extirps the down-trod Iebusite: And (still victorious) euery month almost Combats and Conquers the Philistian Hoast. So that, Alcides massie Club scarce raught So many Blowes, as Dauid Battails fought.

Th' expert Great* 1.38 Captain, who the Pontiks quaild, Wun in strange Wars; in ciuill Fights he faild: But, Dauid thriues in all: and fortunate, Triumphs no lesse of Sauls intestine hate, Of Isbosheth's and Absalo••'s designes, Then of strong Aram, and stout Philistines.

Good-Fortune alwayes blowes not in the Poop Of valiant Caesar, she defeats his Troop, Slayes his Lieutenants; and (among his Friends) Stabb'd full of Wounds, at length his Life she ends: But Dauid alwayes feels Heav'ns gratious hand; Whether in person He himself command His royall Hoast: or whether (in his sted) By valiant Ioab his braue Troops be led: And Happinesse, closing his aged eye, Even to his Toomb consorts him constantly. Fair Victory, with Him (even from the first) Did pitch her Tent: his Infancy she nurst With noble Hopes, his stronger years she fed With stately Tropheis, and his hoary head She Crowns and Comforts with (her cheerful Balms) Triumphant Laurels and victorious Palmes. The Mountains stoop to make Him easieway; And Euphrates, before Him, dryesaway; To Him great Iordan a small leap doth seem; Without assault, strong Cities yeeld to Him: Th' Engine alone of His far-feard Renown Beats (Thunder-like) Gates, Bars, & Bulwarks down: Gads goodly Vales, in a gore Pond he drenches; Philistian Fiers, with their owne Blood he quenches; And then, in Gob (pursewing still his Foes) His wrath's iust Tempest on fell Giants throwes.

O strong, great, Worthies (will sōm one-day lay, When your huge Bones they plough-vp in the Clay) But, stronger, greater, and more WORTHIE He, Whose Heav'n-lent Force and Fortune made you be (Maugre your might, your masly Spears and Shields) The fatt'ning dung-hill of those fruitfull Fields. His Enimies, scarcely so soon he threats As overthrowes, and vtterly defeats. On Dauids head, God doth not spin good-hap; But pours it down abundant in his Lap: And He (good Subiect) with his Kingdom, ever T' increase th' Immortall Kingdom doth indevour.

His swelling Standards never stir abroad, Till he haue Cald vpon th' Almighty God: He never Conquers but (in heav'nly Songs) He yeelds the Honor where it right belongs: And evermore th' Eternals sacred Prayse (With Harp and Voice) to the bright Stars doth raise.

Scarce was he born, when in his Cradle prest* 1.39 The Nightingale to build her tender nest: The Bee within his sacred mouth seeks room To arch the Chambers of her Hony-comb: And th' Heav'nly Muse, vnder his roof descending (As in the Summer, with a train down-bending, We see som Meteor, winged brightly-fair With twinkling rayes, glide through the crystal Aier, And soudainly, after long-feeming Flight, To seem amid the new-shav'n Fields to light) Him softly in her Iuory arms she folds, His smiling Face she smylingly beholds, She kisses him, and with her Nectar kisses Into his Soule she breathes a Heav'n of Blisses: Then layes him in her lap, and while she brings Her Babe a-sleep, this Lullabie she sings.

Liue, liue (sweet Babe) the Miracle of Mine,* 1.40 Liue euer Saint, and growe thou all Divine: With this Celestiall Winde, where-with I fill Thy blessed Boosom, all the World ful-fill: May thy sweet Voice, in Peace, resound as far And speed as fair as thy drad Arm in War: Bottom nor bank, thy Fames-Sea never bound: With double Laurels be thy Temples Crownd. See (Heav'n-sprung Spirit) see how th' allured North, Of thy Childs-Cry (shril-sweetly warbling forth) Al-ready tastes the learned, dainty pleasures. See, see (yong Father of all sacred Measures) See how, to hear thy sweet harmonious sound, About thy Cradle here are thronging (round) Woods, but with ears: floods, but their fury stopping: Tigres, but tame: Mountains, but alwayes hopping:

See how the Heav'ns, rapt with so sweet a tongue, To list to thine, leaue their owne Dance and Song.

O Idiot's shame, and Envy of the Learned! O Verse right-worthy to be ay eterned! O richest Arras, artificial wrought With liueliest Colours of Conceipt-full Thought! O royal Garden of the rarest Flowers Sprung from an Aprill of spiritual Showers! O Miracle! whose star-bright beaming Head When I behold, even mine owne Crown I dread.

Never els-where did plentious Eloquence,* 1.41 In every part with such magnificence Set-forth her Beauties, in so sundry Fashions Of Robes and Iewels (suting sundry Passions) As in thy Songs: Now, like a Queen (for Cost) In swelling Tissues, rarely-rich imbost With Pretious Stones: neat, Citty-like, anon, Fine Cloth, or Silke, or Chamlet puts she on: Anon, more like som handsom Shepheardesse, In courser Cloaths she doth her cleanly dresse: What e're she wear, Wooll, Silk, or Gold, or Gems, Or Course or Fine; still like her Self she seems; Fair, Modest, Cheerfull, fitting time and place, Illustring all even with a Heav'n-like grace. Like prowd lowd Tigris (ever swiftly roul'd) Now, through the Plains thou powr'st a Flood of gold: Now, like thy Iordan, (or Meander-like) Round-wyndingnimbly with a many-Creek, Thou runn'st to meet thy Self's pure streams behind thee, Mazing the Meads where thou dost turn and winde-thee. Anon, like Cedron, through a straighter Quill, Thou strainest out a little Brook or Rill; But yet, so sweet, that it shall ever be Th' immortall Nectar to Posterity: So cleer, that Poésie (whose pleasure is To bathe in Seas of Heav'nly Mysteries) Her chastest feathers in the same shal dip, And deaw with-all her choicest wormanship:

And so deuout, that with no other Water Deuoutest Soules shal quench their Thirst heer-after. Of sacred Bards Thou art the double Mount: Of faith-full Spirits th' Interpreter profound: Of contrite Harts the cleer Anatomy: Of euery Sore the Shop for Remedy: Zeal's Tinder-box: a Learned Table, giving To spirituall eyes, not painted Christ, but living. O divine Volume, Sion's cleer deer Voice, Saints rich Exchecker, full of comforts choice: O, sooner shal sad Boreas take his e wing At Nilus head, and boist'rous Aust r spring From th' icie floods of Izeland, than thy Fame Shall be forgot, or Honour fail thy Name: Thou shalt surviue through-out all Generations, And (plyant) learn the Language of all Nations: Nought but Thine Aiers through Air & Seas shall sound, In high-built Temples shall thy Songs resound, Thy sacred Verse shall cleer Gods clowdy face, And, in thy steps the noblest Wits shall trace. Grose Vulgar, hence; with hands profanely-vile, So holy things presume not to defile, Touch not these sacred stops, these silver strings: This Kingly Harp is only meet for Kings.

And so behold, towards the farthest North, Ah see, I see vpon the banks of FORTH (Whose force-full stream runs smoothly serpenting) A valiant, learned, and religious King, Whose sacred Art retuneth excellent This rarely-sweet, celestiall Instrument: And Dauid's Truchman, rightly doth refound (At the Worlds end) his eloquence renown'd. Dombertans Clyde stands still to hear his voyce. Stone-rowling Tay seems the rat to reioyce: The trembling Cyclads, in great Loumond-Lake, After his sound their lusty gambols shake: The (Trees-brood) Bar-geese, mid th' Hebridian wave, Vnto his Tune their far-flow'n wings doo wave:

And I my Self in my pyde * 1.42 Pleid a-slope, With Tune-skild foot after his Harp doo hop.

Thus, full of God, th' Heav'n-Sirene (Prophet-wise) Powres-forth a Torrent of mel-Melodies, In DAVIDS praise. But DAVIDS foule defect Was yet vn-seen, vncensur'd, vn-suspect: Oft in fair Flowers the bane-full Serpent sleeps: Somtimes (we see) the bravest Courser trips: And som-times Dauid's Deaf vnto the Word Of the Worlds Ruler, th' everlasting Lord; His Songs sweet fervor slakes, his Soules pure Fire Is dampt and dimm'd with smoak of foul desire: His Harp is layd a-side, he leaves his Layes, And after his fair Neighbors Wife he neighs.* 1.43 Fair Bersabé's his Flame, even Bersabé, In whose Chaste bosom (to that very day) Honor and Loue had happy dwelt together, In quiet life, without offence of either: But, her proud Bewty now, and her Eyes force, Began to draw the Bill of their Diuorce: Honor giues place to Loue: and by degrees Fear from her hart, Shame from her forehead flies. The Presence-Chamber, the High street, the Temple, These Theaters are not sufficient ample To shew her Bewties, if but Silke them hide: Shee must haue windowes each-where open wide About her Garden-Baths, the while therin She basks and bathes her smooth Snow-whiter skin; And one-while set in a black Iet-like Chair, Perfumes, and combes, and curls her golden hair; Another-while vnder the Crystall brinks, Her Alabastrine well-shap't Limbs she shrinks (Like to a Lilly sunk into a glasse: Like soft loose Venus (as they paint the Lasse) Born in the Seas, when with her eyes sweet-flames, Tonnies and Tritons she at-once inflames: Or like an Iuory Image of a Grace, Neatly inclos'd in a thin Crystall Case):

Another-while, vnto the bottom diues, And want only with th' vnder-Fishes striues: For, in the bottom of this liquid Ice, Made of Musaïck work, with quaint device The cunning workman had contrived trim Carpes, Pikes; and Dolphins seeming even to swim.* 1.44

Ishai's great son, too-idlely, walking hie Vpon a Tarras, this bright star doth spy: And sudden dazled with the splendor bright, Fares like a Prisoner, who new brought to light* 1.45 From a Cimmerian, dark, deep dungeon, Feels his sight smitten with a radiant Sun. But too-too-soon re-cleer'd, he sees (alas) Th' admired Tracts of a bewitching Face. Her sparkling Eye is like the Morning Star, Her lips two snips of crimsin Sattin are, Her Teeth as white as burnisht Silver seem (Or Orient Pearls, the rarest in esteem): Her Cheeks and Chin, and all her flesh like Snowes Sweet intermixed with Vermillion Rose, And all her sundry Treasures selfly swel, Prowd, so to see their naked selues excel.

What living Rance, what rapting Iuory Swims in these streams? O what new Victory Triumphs of all my TROPHEIS? O cleer Therms, If so your Waues be cold; what is it warms, Nay, burns my hart? If hot I (pray) whence comes This shivering winter that my soule benums, Freezes my Senses, and dis-selfs me so With drousie Poppy, not my self to knowe? O peer-les Bewty, meerly Bewtifull; (Vnknow'n) to me th'art most vn-mercifull: Alas! I dy, I dy, (O dismall lot) Both for I see thee, and I see thee not, But a-far-off, and vnder water too: O feeble Power, and O (what shall I doo?) Weak Kingly-State! sith that a silly Woman Stooping my Crown, can my soul's Homage summon.

But, ô Imperiall power! Imperiall State! Could (happy) I giue Bewties Check the Mate.

Thus spake the King, and like as parkle small* 1.46 That by mischance doth into powder fall, Hee's alla-fire; and pensiue, studies nought, But how t' accomplish his lasciuious thought: Which soon he compast: sinks himself therin; Forgetteth Dauid; addeth Sin to Sin:* 1.47 And lustfull, playes like a yong lusty Rider (A wilfull Gallant, not a skilfull guider) Who, proud of his Horse pride, still puts him to't: With wand and spur, layes on (with hand and foot) The too-free Beast; which, but too-fast before Ran to his Ruine, stumbling evermore At every stone, till at the last he break Against som Rock his and his Riders neck. For, fearing, not Adulteries fact, but fame: A iealous Husbands Fury for the same: And, lessening of a Pleasure shar'd to twain: He (treach'rous) makes her valiant Spouse be slain.

The Lord is moov'd: and iust, begins to stretch His Wraths keen dart at this disloyal wretch▪ When Nathan (then bright Brand of Zeal and Faith) Comes to the King, and modest-boldly sayth.

Vouchsafe my Liege (that our Chief Iustice art)* 1.48 To list a-while to a most hainous part; First to the fault giue ear, then giue Consent To giue the Faulty his due Punishment. Of late, a Subiect of thine owne, whose flocks Powl'd all Mount Liban's pleasant plentious locks; And to whose Heards could hardly full suffice The flowry Verge that longst all Iordan lies; Making a Feast vnto a stranger-Guest, None of his owne abundant Fatlings drest; But (privy Thief) from a poor Neighbour by (His Faithfull Friend) Hee takes feloniously A goodly Lamb; although he had no more But even that one; wherby he set such store,

That every day of his owne hand it fed, And every night it coucht vpon his Bed, Supt of his Cup, his pleasant morsels pickt, And even the moisture from his lips it lickt. Nay, more my Lord. No more (replies the King, Deeply incenst) 'Tis more than time this thing Were seen into, and so outrageous Crimes, So insolent, had need be curbd be times: What-ever Wretch hath done this Villany Shall Die the Death; and not alonely Die, But let the horror of so foul a Fact A more then common punishment exact.

O painted Toomb (then answerd sacred Nathan) That hast God in thy Mouth, in thy Minde Sathan, Thou blam'st in other thine owne Fault denounç't, And vn-awares hast gainst thy self pronounç't Sentence of Death. O King, no King (as than) Of thy desires: Thou art the very man: Yea, Thou art hee, that with a wanton Theft Hast iust Vriah's only Lamb bereft: And him, ô horror! (Sin with Sin is further'd) Him with the sword of Ammon hast Thou murther'd. Bright Beauties Eye, like to a glorious Sun, Hurts the sore eye that looks too-much ther-on: Thy want on Eye, gazing vpon that Eye, Hath given an Entrance too-too-foolishly Vnto that Dwarf, that Divel (is it not?) Which out of Sloath, within vs is begot: Who entring first but Guest-wise in a room, Doth shortly Master of the house become: And makes a Saint (a sweet, myld-minded Man) That 'gainst his Life's Fo would not lift his hand, To plot the death of his deer faith-full Friend, That for his Loue a thousand liues would spend.

Ah! shak'st thou not? is not thy Soule in trouble (O brittle dust, vain shadow, empty bubble!) At Gods drad wrath, which quick doth calcinize The marble Mountains and the Ocean dries?

No, thou shalt knowe the waight of Gods right hand; Thou, for example t'other Kings shalt stand. Death, speedy Death, of that adulterous Fruit, Which even al-ready makes his Mother rue't, Shall vex thy soule, and make thee feel (in deed) Forbidden Pleasure doth Repenrance breed.

Ah shame-les beast▪ Sith thy brute Lust (forlorn) Hath not the Wife of thy best Friend forborn, Thy Sons (dis-natur'd) shall defile thy bed Incestuously; thy fair Wiues (rauished) Shall doublely thy lust-full seed receaue: Thy Concubines (which thou behinde shalt leaue) The wanton Rapes of thine owne Race shal be: It shall befall that in thy Family, With an vn-kins-mans kisse (vn-louing Lover) The Brother shal his Sisters shame discouer: Thou shalt be both Father and Father-in-law To thine owne Blood. Thy Children (past all aw Of God or Man) shall by their insolence Eyen iustifie thy bloody foul offence. Thou sinn'dst in secret: but Sol's blushing Eye Shall be eye-witnesse of their villany: All Izrael shall see the same: and then, The Heav'n-sunk Cities in Asphaltis Fen, Out of the stinking Lake their heads shall showe, Glad, by thy Sons, to be out-sinned so. Thou, thou (inhumane) didst the Death conspire Of good Uriah (worthy better Hire): Thou cruell didst it: therfore, Homicide, Cowardly treason, cursed Paricide, Vn-kinde Rebellion, ever shall remain Thy house-hold Guests, thy House with blood to stain. Thine owne against thine owne shal thril their darts: Thy Son from thee shal steal thy peoples harts: Against thy Self he shal thy Subiects arm, And giue thine age many a fierce Alarm: Till hanged by the hair 'twixt Earth and sky, (His Gallow's pride, shame of the Worlds bright Eye)

Thine owne Lieutenant, at a crimsin spout, His guilty Soule shall with his Lance let-out. And (if I fail not) O what Tempest fel Beats on the Head of harm-les Izrael! Alas! how many a guilt-les Abramide Diesin Three dayes, through thy too-curious Pride?* 1.49 In hate of thee, th' Air (thick and sloathful) breeds No ••lowe Disease; both yong and old itspeeds; All are indifferent: For through all the Land It spreads, almost in turning of a hand: To the so-sick, hard seems the softest plumes; Flames from his eys, from's mouth come Iakes-like fumes: His head, his neck; his bulk, his legs doth tire; Outward, all water; inward, all a-fire: With a deep Cough his spungy Lungs he wastes, Black Blood and Choler both at-once he casts: His voices passage is with Biles be-layd, His Soul's Interpreter, rough, foul, and flayd: Thought of the Grief it's rigor oft augments: 'Twixt Hope and fear it hath no long suspence: With the Disease Death ioyntly traverseth: Th' Infections stroak is even the stroak of Death. Art yeelds to th' anguish, Reason stoops to rage: Physicians skill, himself doth ill engage. The streets too still; the Town all out of Town: All Dead, or Fled: vnto the halowed ground The howling Widow (though she lov'd him deer) Yet dares not follow her dead husbands Beer. Each mourns his Losse, each his owne Case complains, Pel-mel the liuing with the dead remains.

As a good-natur'd and wel-nurtur'd Chyld,* 1.50 Found in a fault (by's Master sharply myld) Blushing and bleaking, betwixtshame and fear, With down-cast eyes laden with many a tear, More with sad gesture, than with words, doth craue An humble Pardon, of his Censor graue: So Dauid, hearing th' holy Prophets Threat,* 1.51 He apprehends Gods Iudgements dradly-great,

And (thrill'd with fear) flies for his sole defence To pearly Tears, Mournings and sad Laments: Off-goes his Gold; his Glory treads he down, His Sword, his Scepter, and his pretious Crown: He fasts, he prayes, he weeps, he grieues, he grones, His hamous Sins he bitterly be-mones: And, in a Cauehard-by; he roareth out A sigh-full Song, so dolefully devout, That even the Stone doth groan, and pearç't withall, Lets it's salt tears with his sad tears to fall. Ay-gracious Lord (thus Sings he night and day)* 1.52 Wash, wash, my Soule in thy deep Mercies sea: O Mercy, Mercy Lord, alowd he Cries; (And Mercy, Mercy, still the Rock replyes).* 1.53

O God, my God, sith for our grievous Sin, (Which will-full we so long haue weltred in) Thou powr'st the Torrents of thy Vengeance down On th' azure Field with Golden Lillies sow'n: Sith every moment thy iust Angerdrad Roars, thunders, lightens on our guilty head: Sith Famine, Plague, and War (with bloody hand) Doo all at once make havock of this Land: Make vs make vse of all these Rods aright; That we may quench with our Tears-water quight Thine Ire-full Fier: our former Vices spurn: And, true-reform'd, Iustice to Mercy turn.

And so, O Father, (fountain of all Good,* 1.54 Ocean of Iustice, Mercie's bound-les Flood) Since, for Our Sins, exceeding all the rest, As most ingrate-ful, though most rarely blest (After so long Long-Sufferance of Thine: So-many Warnings of thy Word diuine: So-many Threatnings of thy dread-full Hand: So-many Dangers seap't by Sea and Land: So-many Blessings in so good a King: So-many Blossoms of that fruit-ful Spring: So-many Foes abroad; and False at home: So-many Reskue•• from the rage of Rome:

So-many Shields against so many Shot: So-many Mercies in that Powder-Plot (So light regarded and so soon forgot).

Since, for Our Sins, so many and so great, So little mov'd with Promise or with Threat, Thou, now at last (as a iust ielouze God) Strik'st vs thy Self with thine immediate Rod, Thy Rod of PESTILENCE: whose rage-full smart, With deadly pangs pearcing the strongest▪hart, Tokens of Terror leaues vs where it lights: And so infects (or so at least affrights) That Neighbour Neighbour, Brother Brother shuns; The tendrest Mother dares not see her Sons; The neerest Friend his deerest Friend doth flye; Yea, scarce the Wife dares close her Husbands eye. For, through th' Example of our Vicious life, As Sin breeds Sin; and Husband marr's the Wife,* 1.55 Sister prowdes Sister, Brother hardens Brother, Andone Companion doth corrupt another: So, through Contagion of this dire Disease, It (iustly) doth thy heav'nly Iustice please, To cause vs thus each other to infect: Though This we flye, and That too-nigh affect.

Since, for our Sins, which hang so fast vpon-vs; So dreadfully thy Fury frowneth on-vs; Sith still thou Strikest, and still Threat'nest more More grieuous Wounds then we haue felt before: O gratious Father, giue vs grace (in fine) To make our Profit of these Rods of thine: That, true-Converted by thy milde Correction, We may abandon euery foule Affection: That Humblenes may flaring Pride dis-plume: That Temperance may Surfaiting consume: That Chastity may chase our wanton Lust: That Diligence may wear-off Slothfull rust: That Loue may liue, in Wrath and Envies place: That Bounties hand may Auarice deface:

That Truth may put Lying and Fraud to flight: That Faith and Zeal may keep thy Sabbaths right: That Reverence of thy drad Name may banish Blasphemous Oaths: and all Profanenesse vanish.

Since, for our Sins (aswell in Court as Cottage) Of all Degrees, all Sexes, Youth and Dotage, Of Clarks and Clownes; Rich, Poore; and Great and Small, Thy fear-ful Vengeance, hangeth ouer all; O Touch vs all with Horror of our Crimes: O Teach vs all to turn to thee be-times: O Turn vs (Lord) and we shall turned be: Giue what thou bidst, and bid what pleaseth thee: Giue vs REPENTANCE; that thou mayst repent Our present PLAGVE, and future Punishment.

FINIS.

THE MAGNIFICENCE. THE SECOND BOOK OF the fourth Day of the second Week, of BARTAS.

THE ARGVMENT.

Death-summon'd DAVID, in his sacred Throne Instals (instructs) his yong Son SALOMON: His (pleas-God) Choice of WISEDOM, wins him Honor And Health and Wealth (at-once) to wait vpon her: His wondrous Doom, quick Babe's Claim to decide: Mis-Matches taxt, in His with PHARAONIDE: Their pompous Nuptials: Seav'n Heav'n-Masquers there. The glorious TEMPLE, Builded richly-rare. Salem's Renown drawes Saba to his Court: King IAMES, to His, brings BARTAS, in like sort.

HAppy are You (ô You delicious Wits) That stint your Studies, as your Fury fits: That, in long Labours (full of pleasing pain) Exhaust not wholly all your learned brain: That, changing Note, now light, and grave anon, Handle the Theam that first you light vpon: That, here in Sonnets, there in Epigrams, Euaporate your sweet Soule-boyling Flames.

But, my deer Honor, and my sacred Vows, And Heav'ns decree (made in that Higher-House) Hold me fast fetter'd (like a Gally-slaue) To this hard Task. No other Care I haue, Nought else I dream of; neither (night nor day) Aim at ought else, or look I other-way: But (alwayes busie) like a Mil-stone seem* 1.56 Still turned round with the same rapid stream. Thence is 't that oft (maugrè Apollos grace) I humme so harsh; and in my Works in chase Lame, crawling Lines, according to the Fire, Which (more or lesse) the whirling P••les inspire: And also mingle (Linsie-woolsie-wise) This gold-ground Tissue with too-mean supplies.

You, all the year long, doo not spend your wing: But, during only your delightfull Spring, (Like Nightingales) from bush to bush you play, From Tuneto Tune, from Myrtle spray to spray: But, I too-bold, and like the Swallow right, Not finding whereto rest me, at one flight A bound-les ground-les Sea of Times I passe, With Auster now, anon with Boreas.

Your quick Career is pleasant, short, and eath; At each Lands-end you sit you down and breathe On som green bank; or, to refresh you, finde Som Rosie-arbour, from the Sun and winde: But, end-les is my Course: for, now I glyde On Ice; then (dazled) head-long down I slyde: Now vp I climbe: then through the Woods I craul, I stray, I stumble, somtimes down I fall. And, as base Morter serveth to vnite* 1.57 Red, white, gray Marble, Iasper, Galactite: So, to con-nex my queint Discourse, somtimes Imix loose, limping, and ill-polisht Rimes.

Yet wil I not this Work of mine giue o're. The Labour's great; my Courage yet is more; My hart's not yet all voyd of sacred heat: Ther's nothing Glorious but is hard to get▪

Hils were not seen but for the Vales betwixt: The deep indentings artificiall mixt Amid Musaïks (for more ornament) Haue prizes, sizes, and dyes different. And O, God grant, the greatest spot you spie In all my Frame, may be but as the Fly, Which on her Ruff (whiter than whitest snowes) To whiten white, the fairest Virgin fowes: (Or like the Veluet on her brow: or, like The dunker Mole on Venus dainty Cheek:) And, that a few faults may but lustre bring To my high furies where I sweetest sing.

DAVID waxt old and cold; and's vitall Lamp, Lacking it's oyl of Natiue moist, grew damp (But by degrees); when with a dying voice (But liuely vigor of Discretion choise) He thus instructs his yong Son SALOMON, And (as Heav'n cals) instals him in his Throne.

Whom, with-out Force, Vproar, or Ryualing,* 1.58 Nature, and Law, and Fortune make a King; Euen He (my Son) must be both Iust and Wise, If long He look to Rule and Royalize: But he, whom onely Fortunes Fauours rears Vnto a Kingdom, by some new-found stairs; He must appear more than a man; and cast By rarest Worth to make his Crown sit fast.

My SALOMON, thou know'st thou art my Yongest: Thou know'st, besides, out of what Bed thou sprungest: Thou seest what loue all Izrael bears thy Brother: To honour Thee, what wrong I doo to other; Yea euen to Nature and our Natiue Law: 'Tis thy part therefore, in all points to draw To full Perfection; and with rare effect Of Noblest Vertues hide thy Births defect.

Thou, Izraels King, serue the great King of All,* 1.59 And only on his Conducts pedestall Found thine Affaires: vpon his Sacred Lore Thine eyes and minde be fixed euermore:

The barking rage of bold Blasphemers hate: Thy Soueraign's Manners (Vice-Roy) imitate. Nor think, the thicknes of thy Palace Wals, Thine iron Gates, and high gold-seeled Halls, Can let his Eye to spie (in euery part) The darkest Closets of thy Mazie Hart.

If birth or Fate (my Son) had made thee Prince Of Idumeans or of Philistins,* 1.60 If Pharaoh's Title had be-fall'n to thee, If the Medes Myter bowed at thy knee, Wert thou a Sophy; yet with Vertues lustre Thou oughtst (at least) thy Greatnes to illustre: But to Command the Seed of Abraham, The Holy Nation to Controul and tame, To bear a Iosuahs or a Samsons load, To be Gods Vice-Roy, needs a Demi-God.

Before old Seruants giue not new the start* 1.61 (Kings-Art consists in Action more then Art.) Old Wine excelleth new: Nor (giddily) Will a good Husband grub a goodly Tree In his faire Orchards midst, whose fruitfull store Hath graç't his Table twenty years and more;* 1.62 To plant a Graft, yer e'r he taste the same, Saue with the teeth of a (perhaps) false Fame.

These Parasites are euen the Pearls and Rings (Pearls, said I? Perils) in the eares of Kings: For O, what Mischief but their Wiles can work?* 1.63 Sith euen within vs (to their aid) doth lurk A smoother Soother, euen our owne Selfs-loue (A malady that nothing can remoue) Which, with these strangers, secretly Combin'd In League offensiue (to the firmest Minde) Perswades the Coward, he is Wisely-meek: The drunkard, Stout: the Periure, Politick: The cruel Tyrant, a iust Prince they call; Sober, the Sot; the Lauish, Liberal▪ And, quick-nos'd Beagles, senting right his lore (Trans-form'd into him) euen his Faults adore.

Fly then those Monsters: and giue no accesse* 1.64 To men infamous for their wickednesse: Endure no Atheist, brook no Sorcerer Within thy Court, nor Thief, nor Murderer: Least the contagion of their banefull breath Poyson the publike fountain, and to death Infect Thy manners (more of force then Law) The spring, whence Subiects good or bad will draw.* 1.65

Rule thine Affects, thy fury, and thy fear: Hee's no true King, who no self's-sway doth bear: Not what thou could'st, but what thou shouldst, effect: And to thy Lawes, first thine owne-self subiect. For ay the Subiect will (fear set a-side) Through thick and thin, hauing his King for guide.* 1.66

Shew thy Self gracious, affable and meek; And be not (proud) to those gay godlings like, But once a year from their gilt Boxes tane, To impetrate the Heav'ns long wisht-for raine.

To fail his Word, a King doth ill beseem:* 1.67 Who breaks his faith, no faith is held with him, Deceipt's deceiu'd: Iniustice meets vniust: Disloy all Prince armes subiects with distrust; And neighbour States will in their Leagues commend A Lion, rather then a Foxe, for Friend.

Be prodigall of Vertues iust reward:* 1.68 Of punishments be sparing (with regard). Arm thou thy brest with rarest Fortitude; Things Eminent are euer most pursu'd: On highest Places, most disgraces threat: The roughest windes on widest gates do beat.* 1.69

Toil not the World with Wars ambitious spite: But, if thine Honour must maintain thy Right, Then shew thee DAVID's Son; and wisely-bold Follow't as hot, as thou beginst it cold: Watch, Work, Deuise, and with vn-weary limb, Wade thorough Foords, and ouer Chanels swim.

Let tufted Planes for pleasant shades suffice,* 1.70 In heat; in Cold, thy Fier be Exercise:

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A Targe thy Table, and a Turf thy Bed: Let not thy Mouth be ouer-dainty fed; Let Labour be thy sauce, thy Cask thy Cup; Whence, for thy Nectar some ditch-water sup: Let Drums, and Trumpets, and shril Fifes and Flutes Serue thee for Citterns, Virginals and Lutes: Trot vp a Hill; Run a whole Feeld for Race; Leap a large Dike; Tosse a long Pike, a space: Perfume thy head with dust and sweat: appeer Captain and Soldier. Soldiers are on fire, Hauing their King (before them Marching forth) Fellow in Fortune, witnes of their Worth.

I should inflame thy hart with Learnings loue;* 1.71 Saue that, I know what diuine habits moue Thy profound Spirit: only, let th' ornament Of Letters wayt on th' Art of Regiment: And take good heed, least as excesse of humor In Plants, becomes their Flowring Lifes consumer; So too-much Study, and delight in Arts, Quench the quick vigour of thy Spiritual parts, Make thee too-pensiue, ouer-dull thy Senses, And draw thy Minde from Publike cares of Princes. With a swift-winged soule, the Course suruay Of Nights dim Taper and the Torch of Day: Sound round the Cels of th' Ocean dreadly-deep: Measure the Mountains snowie tops and steep: Ferret all Corners of this nether Ball; But, to admire the Makers Art in all, His Power and Prudence: and, resemble not* 1.72 Some simple Courtier, or the silly Sot That in the base-Court all his time hath spent, In gazing on the goodly Battlement, The chamfred Pillers, Plinths, and antique Bosses, Medals, Ascents, Statues, and strange Colosses; Amaz'd and musing vpon euery piece Of th' vniforme, fair, stately Frontispice; Too-too-self-rapt (through too-self-humoring) Losing him-self, while others finde the King.

Hold euen the Balance, with clean hands, clos'd eyes:* 1.73 Reuenge seuerely Publike Iniuries; Remit thine Owne, Heare the Cries, see the Tears Of all distressed poor Petitioners. Sit (oft) thy Self in Open Audience: Who would not be a Iudge, should be no Prince. For, Iustice Scepter and the Martiall Sword Ought neuer seuer, by the Sacred Word. Spare not the Great; neither despise the Small: Let not thy Lawes be like the Spiders Caul,* 1.74 Where little Flyes are caught and kild; but great Passe at their pleasure, and pull-down the Net.

Away with Shepheards that their Flocks deface: Chuse Magistrates that may adorn their Place, Such as fear God, such as will iudge vprightly: Men by the seruants iudge the Master lightly. Giue to the Vertuous; but thy Crown-Demain Diminish not: giue still to giue again: For there too-deep to dip, is Prodigality; And to dry-vp the Springs of Liberality.

But aboue all (for Gods sake) Son, beware,* 1.75 Be not intrapt in Womens wylie snare. I fear, alas (good Lord, supreamly sage, Auert from Mine th' effect of this Praesage) Alas! I fear that this sweet Poyson wil My House here-after with all Idols fil. But, if that neither Vertu's sacred loue, Nor Feare of Shame thy wanton Minde can moue To watch in Arms against the Charms of Those; At least, be warned by thy Fathers Woes.

Fare-wel my Son: th' Almightie cals me hence: I passe, by Death, to Lifes most excellence: And, to go Raign in Heav'n (from World-cares free) The Crown of Izrael I resigne to thee.

O thou that often (for a Princes Sin) Transport'st the Scepter, euen from Kin to Kin, From Land to Land; Let it remaine with Mine: And, of my Sons Sons (in successiue Ligne)

Let that Al-Power full deer-drad Prince descend, Whose glorious Kingdom neuer shal haue end; Whose iron Rod shall Satans Rule vn-doo: Whom Iacob trusts in; Whom I thirst for too.

'DAVID deceast: His Son (him tracking right)* 1.76 With heart and voice worships the God of Might; Enters his Kingdom by the Gate of Pietie; Makes Hym••s and Psalms in Laud of the true Deïtie; Offers in Gabeon; where, in Spirit he sees (While his Sense sleepes) the God of Maiesties,* 1.77 The Lord of Hoasts; who, Crownd with radiant flames, Offers him choise of these foure louely Dames.

First, Glory, shaking in her hand a Pike (Not Maid-like Marching, but braue Souldier-like)* 1.78 Among the Stars her stately head she beares, A siluer Trumpet shril a slope she wears, Whose Winde is Praise, and whose Stentorian sound Doth far and wide o'r all the world redound. Her wide-side Robes of Tissue passing price, All Story-wrought with bloody Victories, Tryumphs and Tropheis, Arches, Crowns and Rings; And, at her feet, there sigh a thousand Kings.

Not far from her, coms Wealth, all rich-bedight* 1.79 In Rhéa's, Thetis, Pluto's Treasures bright: The glittering stuff which doth about her fold Is rough with Rubies, stiff with beaten Gold. With either hand from hollow steans she powrs Pactolian surges and Argolian showrs. Fortune, and Thrift, and Wakefulnes and Care, And Diligence, her dayly Seruants are.

Then cheerfull Health▪ whose brow no wrinkle bears,* 1.80 Whose cheek no palenesse, in whose eye no tears; But like a Childe shee's pleasant, quick, and plump, Shee seems to fly, to skip, to daunce, and iump: And Life's bright Brand in her white hand doth shine: Th' Arabian Birds ••are plumage (platted ••ine) Serues her for Su••-coat: and her seemly ••••ain, Mirth, Exercise and Temperance sustain.

Last, Wisedom comes, with sober countenance:* 1.81 To th' euer-Bowrs her oft a-loft t'aduance, The light Mamuques wing-les wings she has: Her gesture cool, as comly-graue her pase: Where e'r she go, she neuer goes with-out Compasse and Rule, Measure and Waights about: And by her side (at a rich Belt of hers) The Glasse of Nature and her-Self she wears.

Hauing beheld their Bewties bright, the Prince Seems rapt all-ready euen to Heauen from hence; Sees a whole Eden round about him shine: And, 'mid so many Benefits Diuine, Doubts which to chuse. At length he thus begun: O Lord (sayth he) what hath thy Seruant don, That so great Blessings I should take or touch, Or thou shouldst daign to honour me so much? Thou doost preuent my Merit: or (deer Father) Delight'st to Conquer euen my Malice rather.

Fair Victorie's a noble Gift: and nought Is more desired, or is sweeter thought, Than euen to quench our Furie's thirst with blood, In iust Reuenge on those that wrong our Good: But oft (alas) foul Insolence comes after; And, the long Custome of in humane Slaughter, Transforms in time the myldest Conquerors To Tigers, Panthers, Lions, Bears, and Boars.

Happy seems He, whose count-les Herds for Pasture Dis-robe (alone) Mount Carmels moatly Vesture: For whom alone a whole rich Countrey, torn With timely Tools, brings forth both Wine and Corn: That hath soft Sereans yellow Spoils, the Gems And precious stones of the Arabian streams, The Mines of Ophir, th' Entidorian Fruits, The Saban Odours, and the Tyrian Sutes. But yet we see, where Plenty chiefly sways, There Pride increases, Industry decays: Rich-men adore their Gold: whoso aspires To lift to Heav'n his sight and Soules Desires,

He must be Poor (at least-wise like the Poor). Riches and Fear are fellows euer-more.

I would liue long, and I would gladly see My Nephews Nephews, and their Progeny: But the long Cares I fear, and Cumbers rife, Which commonly accompany Long-Life. Who well liues, long liues: for, this age of ours Should not be numbred by yeers, dayes, and howrs: But by our braue Exploits: and, this Mortality Is not a moment, to that Immortality.

But, in respect of Lady Wisedomes grace, (Euen at their best) the rest are all but base. Honour is but a puffe; Life but a vapour;* 1.82 Wealth but a wish; Health but a sconce of paper: A glistering Scepter but a Maple twig; Gold, Drosse; Pearls, Dust, how-euer bright and big. Shee's Gods owne Mirror, shee's a Light, whose glance Springs from the Lightning of his Countenance: Shee's mildest Heav'ns most sacred influence: Neuer decays her Bewties excellence; Aye like her-Self: and shee doth alwayes trace Not only the same path, but the same pase. Without her, Honour, Health, and Wealth would proue Three Poisons to me. Wisedom (from aboue) Is th' only Moderatrix, spring, and guide, Organ and honour of all Gifts beside.

Her, her I like, her only (Lord) I craue, Her Company for-euer let me haue: Let me for-euer from her sacred lip, Th' Ambrosial Nard, and rosial Nectar sip: In euery Cause, let me consult with her: And, when I Iudge, be Shee my Counsailer. Let, with her Staffe, my yet-Youth gouern wel In Pastures fair the Flock of Izrael, A compt-les Flock, a Flock so great (indeed) As of a Shepherd sent from Heav'n had need. Lord, giue her me: alas▪ I pine, I die; Or if I liue, I liue her* 1.83 Flame-bred-Flie:

And (new Farfalla) in her radiant shine, Too-bold, I burne these tender wings of mine.

Hold, take her to thee, said the Lord: and sith No Bewty else thy soule enamoreth; For ready hand-maids to attend vpon her, I'll giue thee also Health, and Wealth, and Honor; (For'tis not meet, so High-descended Queen, So great a Lady, should alone be seen) The rather, that my Bounty may inuite Thee, seruing Her, to serue Me day and night.

King SALOMON, awaked, plainly knew That this Diuine strange Uision neuer grew From the sweet Temper of his sound Complexion; But that it was some Peece of more Perfection, Some sacred Picture admirably draw'n With Heav'nly pencil, by an Angels hand. For (happy) He had (without Art) the Arts, And learning (without learning) in all parts: A more then humane Knowledge bewtifies His princely actions: vp to Heav'n he flies, He dyues to Hell, he sounds the Deeps, he enters To th' in most Cels of the Worlds lowest Centers.

The secret Riddles of the sacred Writ* 1.84 Are plain to him: and his deep-pearcing Wit, Vpon few Words of the Heav'n-prompted stile, In a few Dayes, large Volumes can compile. He (learned) sees the Sun's Eclipse, sans terror: He knowes the Planets neuer erring Error; And, whether Nature, or some Angel moue Their Sphears, at once with triple Dance aboue: Whether the Sun self-shine; his Sister, not: Whether, Spring, Winter, Autumn, Summer hot, Be the Suns Sons: what kinde of mounting Vapor Kindles the Comet and the long-taild Taper: What boy strous Lungs the roaring Whirlers blow'n: What burning Wings the Lightning rides vpon: What Curb the Ocean in his bounds doth keep: What power Night's-Princesse powrs vpon the Deep.

Whether the Heav'ns sweet-sweating Kisse appear To be Pearls parent, and the Oyster's pheer; And whether, dusk, it makes them dim withall; Cleer, breeds the cleer; and stormy brings the pale. Whether, from Sea the Amber-greece be sent; Or be some Fishes pleasant excrement. He knowes, why th' Earth's immoueable and round, The lees of Nature, Center of the Mound: He knowes her measure. And he knowes beside, How Coloquintida (duely apply'd) With-in the darknes of the Conduit-Pipes, Amid the windings of our in-ward Tripes, Can so discreetly the White humor take; Rheubarb, the Yellow; Hellebore, the Black: And, whether That in our weak Bulks be wrought, By drawing 't to them; or by driuing't out. In brief, from th' Hysop to the Cedar-Tree, He knowes the Vertues of all Plants that be. He knowes the Reason why the Woolfs fell tooth Giues a Horse swiftnes; and his footing, sloath: Why thy Sex-changing, fierce Hyena's eye Puts curstest Curres to silence suddenly: Why th' irefull Elephant becommeth tame At the approaching of the fleecie Lamb: Why th' eye-bold Eagle neuer fears the flash Or force of Lightning, nor the Thunder-clash: Why the wilde Fen-Goose (which keeps warm her egs With her broad feet vnder her heatfull legs, And, tongue-les, cries) as wing-lym'd, cannot flie, Except she (glad) Seas brynie glasse descrie. He knoweth also, whether that our Stone Be baked Earth, or Exhalation: Whether the Metals (that we dayly see) Be made of Sulphur and of Mercurie; Or, of some Liquor by long Cold condens't, And by the Heat well purified and cleans'd; Or, of a certain sharp and cindrous humor: Or, whether He that made the Wauing Tumor,

The motly Earth; and th' Heav'nly Sphears refin'd, All-mighty, made them such as now we finde. He comprehends from whence it is proceeding, That spotted Iasper-stones can staunch our bleeding: Saphires, cure eyes: the Topaz to resist The rage of Lust; of drink the Amethist: And also, why the clearest Diamant (Ielous) impugns the thefts of th' Adamant.

Tunes, Measures, Numbers, and Proportions Of Bodies with their Shadowes, als' he kons; And (fild with Nectar-Deaws, which Heav'n drips) The Bees haue made Honie within his lips. But he imbraceth much more earnestly The gain-full Practice, than cold Theorie: Nor reaks he so of a Sophistick pride Of prattling Knowledge (too-self-magnifi'd) As of that goodly Art to gouern well The sacred Helms of Church and Common-weal, And happily to entertain in either, A harmony of Great and Small together. Especially Hee's a good Iusticer, And to the Lawes dooth Life and strength confer.* 1.85 And, as the highest of Bigaurian Hils Ay bears his head vp-right, and neuer yeelds To either side, scorns Winde and Rain and Snowe, Abides all weathers, with a cheerfull brow; Laughs at a Storme, and brauely tramples vnder His steddy Knees, the prowd, lowd, rowling Thunder: So, Hee's a Iudge inflexibly-vpright. No Loue, nor Hatred, of the Guilty wight (What e'r he wear for Calling, small or great) His Venging blade can either blunt or whet; He spurneth Fauors, and he scorneth Fears, And vnder foot he treadeth priuate Tears: Gold's radiant Lustre neuer blears his Eye: Nor is he led through Ignorance a-wry. His Voice is held an Oracle of all: The soule of Lawes he wisely can exhale:

In doubtfull Cases he can subtilize, And wyliest pleaders harts anatomize. Scarce fifteen times had Ceres (since his Birth) With her gilt Tresses glorifi'd the Earth; When he decides by happy Wisedoms means, The famous Quarrel of Two crafty Queans.

Is't possible, O Earth, (thus cries the first) But that (alas) thou should'st for anger burst,* 1.86 And swallow quick this execreable Quean! Is't possible (O gracious Soueraign) That comming new from dooing such a deed So horrible, she shame-les dares proceed T' approach thy sight, thy sacred Throne t'abuse, Not begging Pardon, but euen bent t'accuse? Last night, with surfet and with sleep sur-cloyd, This care-les step-dam her own Child o'r-layd: And softly then (finding it cold and dead) Layes it by me, and takes mine in the stead. Here, old, bold strumpet, take thy bastard brat, Hence with thy Carion, and restore me that, Restore me mine, my louely liuing Boy, My hope, my hap, my Loue, my life my Ioy. O cruell Chance! O sacrilegious! Shall thy foullips my little Angell busse? At thy fond prattling, shall he pret'ly smile? And tug, and touze thy greasie locks the-while? And all his Child-hood fill thy soule with glee? And, grow'n a man, sustaine thine age and thee? While wretched I, haue only for my share, His Births hard Trauail, and my burthen's Care, His rest-les rocking, wyping, washing, wringing; And to appease his way ward Cries with singing. O most vnhappy of all Woman-kinde! O Childe-les mother! O! why is my Minde More passion-stirred, than my hand is strong? But, rather, than I'll pocket vp this wrong, To be reueng'd, I'll venter two for one, I'll haue thy Life, although it cost mine owne.

O filthy Bitch! Vile Witch (sayes th' other tho) O! who would think, that Wine could mad one so? O impudent! though God thou fear'st not, fear The Kings cleer iudgement, who Gods place doth bear. Art not content t'haue call'd (or rather cry'd) Me Whore, and Thief, Drunkard and Paricide: But thou wilt also haue my Childe, my deer, (Whom with so strong a knot Loue links so neer) My Babe, my Blisse? Yea marry (Minks) and shall: Who takes my Childe, shall take my life with-all. Iust Dauids iust Son; for thy Father's sake, For his deer loue, for all that he did make Of thee a Childe, when he (re-childing) sought With childish sport to still thy cryes, and taught (Or'gan to teach) with language soft and weak, Thy tender tongue some easie tearm to speak: Or, when (all bloody, breath-les, hot) he came Laden with spoils of Kings he ouercame, He ran t'imbrace thee, rockt thee in his Targe, And when thou Cry'dst, vpon his shoulder large Did set thee vp, while thou his beard didst tug, Play'dst with his nose, about his neck didst hug, Gap'tst on his glittering Helm, and smil'dst to see Another SALOMON there smile on thee: And vnderneath his dancing Plume didst play Like Bird in bush, sporting from spray to spray; I doe adiure thee to attend my Plea: By the sweet name of thy deer Bersabe, Who in the night, shiuering for cold, so oft Hath bow'd her self ouer thy Cradle soft; Who both the Bottles of her Nectar white Hath spent vpon thee, hundred times a night; Who on thy head hath set hir pearly Crown, And in Thy life liv'd more than in her Owne: I doo adiure thee (O great King) by all That in the World we sacred count or call, To doo me Right: and if, too-mylde, alas, Too mercifull thou wilt not Sentence passe

Of iust reuenge for my receiued wrong; Yet, reaue me not what doth to me belong, What liberall Nature hath bestow'd on me, What I am seis'd-of (without thank to thee): For pitty doo not my heart blood depriue, Make me not Childe-les, hauing Childe a-liue.

While both, at once, thus to the King they Crie, 'Tis mine, 'Tis mine: thouly'st; and thou doost lie: The partial People diuers Verdict spend; Some fauour th' one, others the other friend:* 1.87 As, when two Gamesters hazard (in a trice) Fields, Vine-yards, Castles, on the Chance of Dice, The standers-by, diuersly stird with-in, Wish, some that This, and some that That maie win; Wauer twixt Hope and Fear: and euery-one's Moou'd, with the moouing of the guile-ful Bones.

Only, the King demurres: his prudent ears Finde like, both reasons, both Complaints, both tears: The Infants face could not discipher whether Of both should be the very Mother: neither Could calculation of their ages, cleer The Iudges doubt: nor any proof appear. Then, thus He waighs (but as in dreaming wise); Th' industrious Iudge, when all proofs fail him, flies Vnto Coniectures, drawn (the probablest) Out of the book of Natures learned brest; Or to the Rack: Now, Mothers loue (thinks he) Is Natures owne vnchangeable Decree: And there's no Torture that exceeds the pains Which a kinde Mother in her Childe sustains. Then (as awake) Come, come, no more a-doo,* 1.88 Dispatch (saith he) Cleaue the quick Child in two, Look that the Sword be sharp; in such a case, Needs must our Pittie giue our Iustice place: Iustice (yee see) can iudge him whole to neither: Diuide him therefore, and giue half to either. O difficult! but thus the King descries Their harts deep secrets: all discouered lyes,

The vizor's off; their Tongues, sincerely prest With true instinct, their very Thoughts exprest:

Bee't (said the stepdam) so, sith't must be so: Diuide him iustly from the top to toe. No (said the other) rather, I renounce My Right in him, take thou him all at once, Enjoy him all; I'll rather haue him Thine A-liue, and whole, than dead and mangled Mine. Thine (quoth the King) hee's Thine by Birth (I see) Thine by thy Loue, and thine by my Decree.

Now, as with Gold growes in the self-same Mine* 1.89 Much Chrysocolle, and also Siluer fine:* 1.90 So, supream Honour, and Wealth (matcht by none) Second the Wisedom of great SALOMON. He far and neer commands by Land and Seas; A hundred Crowns doo homage vnto His: His neerest Bounds Nile's Sea and Sidon seem, And Euphrates bows his moyst horns to him: Peru, they say (supposing Ophir so) By yeerly Fleets into his Fisk dooth flowe: In Sion Gold's as common as the Sand, As Pebbles, Pearls: Through-out all Iury-Land, There seems an Ocean of all happinesse To ouer-flowe; and all doo all possesse: Each vnder his owne Vine and his owne Tree, His Grapes and Figs may gather quietly. Thus he abounds in Blisse▪ not so to change-ill Man into Beast, but make of Man an Angel, To praise th' Immortall, who to him hath giuen Euen here a Taste of the delights of Heauen. This great, wise, wealthy, and wel-spoken King His sweet renown o'r all the World doth ring: The Tyrian, for Confederate desires him: Pharao for Son: th' Alien no lesse admires-him Than his owne Subiect: and his eyes sweet flames, As far as Nilus, fire the flower of Dames.

O SALOMON, see'st thou not (O miss-hap!)* 1.91 This Marriage is no Marriage, but a Trap?

That such a mongrel Match of differing Creed, Of mortall quarels is th' immortall seed? That Oxe and Asse can neuer well be broak To drawe one Plough together in one yoak? Who-euer weds a Miscreant, forth-with Diuorceth God: our Faith still wauereth; It needs an Aide and not a Tempter nigh, Not th' instrument of th' old Deceiuer slie, Not deadly Poyson in our Couch to couch, Sleep in our bosome, and our breast to touch, And breathe into vs (in a kind of kissing) An Ir-religion, of the Serpents hissing. Shee that from Aegypt comes (O King) is none Flesh of thy Flesh, nor yet Bone of thy Bone: But a strange Bone, a barbarous Rib, a Peece Impoysoned all with Memphian Leprosies.

But, thou wilt say, thy Loue hath stript yer-while Her spotted suite of Idol-seruing Nile: And clad her all, in Innocence, in White; Becom'n by Faith a true-born Abramite. It might be so: and to that side I take, The rather, for that sacred Beauties sake, Where-of she is a figure. Yet, I fear Her Train will stain thy Kingdom euery-where, Corrupt thy Court: and God will be offended, To haue his People with strange People blended; The mighty Lord, who hath precisely said, You shall not Theirs, nor they your daughters wed.

Vnder the gentle Equinoctiall Line,* 1.92 Faire amorous Nature waters freshly-fine A little Groue clad in eternall green, Where all the yeer longlusty May is seen, Suiting the Lawnes in all her pomp and pride Of liuely Colours, louely varyfied: There smiles the ground, the starry-Flowers each one There mount the more, the more th' are trod-vpon: There, all growes toil-les; or, if tild it were, Sweet Zphyrus is th' only Husband there.

There Auster neuer roars, nor Hail dis-leaues Th' immortall Groue, nor any Branch bereaues. There the straight Palm-Tree stoopeth in the Calm To kisse his Spouse, his loyall Female Palm: There with soft whispers whistling all the year The Broad-leau'd Plane-Tree Courts the Plane his Pheer, The Poplar wooes the Poplar, and the Vine About the Elme her slender arms doth twine: Th' Iuie about the Oak: there all doth proue, That there, all springs, all growes, all liues in Loue. Opinion's Porter, and the Gate she bars Gainst Couetize, cold Age, and sullen Cares, Except they leaue-off and lay-down before Their troublous load of Reason at the doore; But opens wide, to let-in Bashful-Boldnes, Dumb-speaking Signes, Chill-Heat, and Kindled-Coldnes, Smooth soothing Vows, deep Sorrows soon appeas'd, Tears sudden dry'd, fel Angers quickly pleas'd, Smiles, Wyly-Guiles, queint wittie-pretty Toyes, Soft Idlenes, and ground-les, bound-les Ioyes, Sweet Pleasure plunged ouer head and eares In sugred Nectar, immateriall Fears, Hoarse Waaks, late Walks, Pain-pleasing kindly cruell, Aspiring Hope (Desire's immortall fuell) Licentious Loosnesse, Prodigall Expence Inchanting Songs, deep Sighs, and sweet Laments.

These frollike Louelings fraighted Nests doo make The balmy Trees o'r-laden Boughs to crack; Bewty layes, Fancie sits, th' inflamed heat Of Loue dooth hatch their Couvies nicely-neat: Some are but kindled yet, some quick appear, Some on their backs carry their Cradles deer. Some downie-clad, some (fledger) take a twig To pearch-vpon, some hop, from sprig to sprig: One, in the fresh shade of an Apple-Tree Lets hang its Quiuer, while soft-pantingly 'Tex hales hot Vapour: one, against a Sparrow Tries his stiff Bowe and Giant-stooping Arrow:

Another sly sets lime-twigs for the Wren, Finch, Linot, Tit-mouse, Wag-Tail (Cock and Hen): See, see how some their idle wings forsake, And (turn'd, of Flyers, Riders) one doth take A Thrush, another on a Parrot rides, This mounts a Peacock, that a Swan bestrides, That manageth a Phaisant: this doth make The Ring-Doue turn, that brings the Culuer back: See how a number of this wanton Fry Doo fondly chase the gawdie Butter-Fly, Some with their flowerie Hat, some with their hands, Some with sweet Rose-boughs, som with Myrtle wands: But, th' horned Bird, with nimble turns, beguiles And scapes the snares of all these Loues a-whiles. Leaue, Wags (Cryes Venus) leaue this wanton Play: For so, in steed of Butter-Flyes, you may, You may (my Chicks) a Child of Venus strike: For, some of mine haue Horns and all alike.

This said: eft soons two twins whose gold-head darts Are neuer steeped but in Royal hearts; Come, Brother deer (said either) come let's to 't, Let's each a shaft at yon two bosoms shoot. Their winged words th' effect ensues as wight, Two or three steps they make to take their flight, And quick-thick shaking on their sinnewie side There long strong sarcels, richly triple-died Gold-Azurè-Crimsin; th' one aloft doth soar To Palestine, th' other to Nilus shoar.

Pharao's faire daughter (wonder of her Time)* 1.93 Then in the blooming of her Beauties Prime, Was queintly dressing of her Tress-full head Which round about her to the ground did spred: And, in a rich gold-seeled Cabinet, Three Noble Mayds attend her in the feat; One with a peece of double dented Box Combs out at length her goodly golden locks: Another 'noynts them with Perfumes of price: Th' other with bodkin or with fingers nice,

Frizles and Furls in Curls and Rings a part; The rest, loose dangling without seeming Art, Waue to and fro, with cunning negligence Gracing the more her Beauties excellence: When, armd with Arrows burning, brightly keen, Swift Swallow-like, one of these Twins comes in; And, with his left wing hiding still his Bowe, Into her bosome shot (I woat not how).* 1.94 O, my side! oh! my hart (the Royal Maid Cries out) O! I am slaine: but, searching all about, When she perceiu'd no blood, nor bruise; alas, It is no wound; but sleeping in the grasse, Some Snake (saith she) hath crept into me quick, It gnawes my hart: ah, help me, I am sick, Haue me to bed: ay me, a freezing-Frying, A burning-cold torments me liuing-dying.

O cruell Boy, alas, how mickle gal Thy baenfull shaft mingles my Mel withall! The Royal Maide, which with her Mates was wont Smile, Skip, and dance on Fields inammeld front, Loues solenesse, sadnes, and Self-priuacie; Sighes, sobs, and throbs, and yet she knowes not why: The sumptuous pride of massie Piramides Presents her eyes with Towers of Iebusides; In Niles cleer Crystall she doth Iordan see; In Memphis, Salem; and vn-warily Her hand (vn-bidden) in her Sampler sets The King of Iuda's Name and Counterfets: Who, mediting the Sacred TEMPLE's Plot, By th' other Twin at the same time is shot: The shaft sticks fast, the wound's within his veines: Sleep cannot bring a-sleep his pleasing pains; PHARONIDA's his hart, PHARONIDA Is all his Theam to talk-of, night and day: With-in his soule a ciuill War he feeds: Th' all-seeing Sun, now early backs his Steeds, Now mounts his Mid-day, and then Setteth soon: But still his Loue stands at the hot high Noon.

He Rides not his braue Coursers (as he wont), Nor Reads, nor Wrights, nor in his Throne doth mount, To hear the Widdow's Cause: neglects his Court, Neglects his Rule; Loue rules him in such sort.

You prudent Legats, Agents for this Marriage, Of Rings and Tablets you may spare the Cariage: For, wittie Loue hath with his louely shaft In eithers hart grav'n others liuely Draught: Each Liues in other, and they haue (O strange!) Made of their burning harts a happy Change. Better abroad, then home, their harts delight; Yet long their bodies to their hoasts t'vnite.

Which soon ensues: the Virgin's shortly had From Mothers armes imbracing gladly-sad: And th' aged Father, weeping as he spake, Bids thus adieu when she her leaue doth take. Sweet Daughter deer, O siris be thy guide, And Louing Isis blesse thee and thy Bride, With golden Fruit; and dayly with-out cease Your mutuall Loues may as your yeers increase.

Wiues, Maides, and Children, yong & old, each-where, With looks and vowes from Turrets follow her: Calme Nilus calmer then it wont is grow'n, Her Ships haue merrie windes, the Seas haue none: Her footing makes the ground all fragrant-fresh: Her sight re-flowres th' Arabian Wildernes: Iurie reioyces, and in all the way Nothing but trumpets, Fifes, and Timbrels play: The Flower-crownd People, swarming on the Green, Cry still, God saue, God saue, God saue the Queen: May she be like a scion, pale and sick Through th' ouer-shading of a Sire two thick: Which being Transplanted, free, sweet ayre doth sup, To th' sweating Clouds her grouie top sends vp, And prospers so in the strange soil, that tild, Her golden Apples all the Orchard gild.

No streets are seen in rich IERVSALEM. For, vnder-foot fine Skarlet paueth them,

Silks hang the sides, and ouer-head they hold Archt Canapeis of glistering Cloth of gold: They throng, they thrust, an ebbing-flowing Tide, A Sea of Folk follows th' adored Bride: The ioyfull Ladies from their windows shed Sweet showres of flowres vpon her radiant head; Yet ielous, least (dy'd in their natiue grain) Her Rosie Cheeks should Natures Roses stain.

But lo, at last, th' honor of Maiestie, Glory of Kings, King SALOMON drawes nigh: Lo now both Louers, enter-glauncing sweet (Like Sun and Moon, when at full view they meet In the mid-month) with amorous rayes reflection Send mutuall Welcoms from their deep affection: Both a-like yong, like beautifull, like braue, Both grac't a-like; so like, that whoso haue Not neer observ'd their heads vnlikenesses, Think them two Adons or two Venusses.

These nouice Louers at their first arriue Are bashfull both; their passions strangely striue: Their soules sweet Fier his ruddy flames doth flush Into their Faces in a modest blush: Their tongues are tyed, their star-bright eyes seem vail'd With shame-faç't Cipres; all their senses faild.

But, pompous Hymen, whither am I brought? Am not I (heathen) vnder th' happie Vault Where all the Gods, with glorious mirth Inhaunst, At Thetis Nuptials eat, and drank, and daunç't?

Heer, th' Idumeans mighty Ioue treads vnder* 1.95 His tripping feet, his bright-light burning Thunder; A-while, he laies his Maiestie a-side, To Court, and sport, and reuel with his Bride; King, playes the Courtier; Soueraign, Sutor comes; And seems but equal with his Chamber-Groomes: But yet, whate'r he doo, or can deuise, Disguised Glorie shineth in his eyes. Heer, many a Phoebus, and heer many a Muse On heav'nly Layes so rarely-sweet doo vse

Their golden bowes, that with the rapting sound Th' Arches and Columns wel-nigh dance the Round. Heer, many a Iuno, many a Pallas heer, Heer many a Venus, and Diana cleer, Catch many a gallant Lord, according as Wealth, Bewtie, Honour, their affection drawes. Heer, many an Hebé fair, heer more then one Quick-seruing Chiron neatly waits vpon The Beds and Boords, and pliant bears about The boules of Nectar quickly turned out; And th' ouer-burthned Tables bend with waight Of their Ambrosial ouer-filled fraight. Heer, many a Mars vn-bloody Combats fights, Heer, many a Hermes finds out new delights, Heer, many a horned Satyre, many a Pan, Heer, Wood-Nymphs, Flood-Nymphs, many a Faerie Faune With lustie frisks and liuely bounds bring-in Th' Antike, Morisko, and the Mattachine. For euen Gods Seruants (God knowes how) haue supt The sugred baen of Pagan Rites corrupt.

But, with so many liuely Types, at will His rich rare Arras shall som other fill: Of all the Sports, I'll only chuse one Measure, One stately Mask compos'd of sage-sweet pleasure; A Dance so chaste, so sacred, and so graue (And yet so gracefull, and so lofty-braue) As may beseem (except I me abuse) Great SALOMON, and my celestiall Muse.

The Tables voyded of their various Cates, They rise at once; and suiting their Estates, Each takes a Dame, and then to Dance they come Into a stately, rich, round-arched Room, So large and light-some that it (right) they call The Vniuersall, or The Worlds great Hall. O what delight, to see so rich a Showe Of Lords and Ladies dancing in a rowe All in a Round, reaching so far and wide O'rall the Hall to foot-it side by side!

Their eyes sweet splendor seems a Pharos bright, With clinquant Rayes their Body's clothed light: 'Tis not a Dance, but rather a smooth slyding, All moue a-like, after the Musicks guiding: Their Tune-skill'd feet in so true Time doo fall, That one would swear one Spirit doth bear them all: They poste vn-moouing; and though swift they passe 'Tis not perceiv'd: of hundred thousand pase, One single back they: Round on Round they dance; And, as they trauerse, cast a fruitfull glance.

Iust in the middle of the Hall, a-sloap* 1.96 (Euen from the floor vnto the very top) A broad rich Baldrik there extendeth round, In-laid with gold vpon an azure ground, Where (couer'd all with Flames) with wondrous Art Fiue Lords, two Ladies dance; but each a-part.* 1.97

Heer trips an old-man in a Mantle dy'd Deep Leaden-hue, and round about him ty'd With a Snake-girdle byting off her tayl. With-in his Robe's stuff (in a winding trayl) Creeps Mandrake, Comin, Rue, and Hellebore; With liuely figures of the Bear and Boar, Cammel, and Asse (about to bray wel-nigh): There the Strimonian Foul seems euen to crie, The Peacock euen to prank. For Tablet fine, About his neck hangs a great Cornaline, Where some rare Artist (curiousing vpon't) Hath deeply cut Times triple-formed Front: His pase is heauy, and his face seuere; His Body heer; but yet his minde els-where.

There the Lord Zedec him more sprightly bears,* 1.98 Milde, fair, and pleasant; on his back he wears Tin-colour'd Tissue, figur'd all with Oaks, Eares, Violets, Lillies, Oliues, Apricocks; Bordred with Phaisants, Egles winged-black, And Elephants, with Turrets on their back, Pointed with Dimonds, powdered and imbost With Emeralds, perfum'd with wondrous Cost.

The third leads quicker on the self same Arch* 1.99 His Pyrrhik Galiard, like a War-like March: His Face is fierie: Many an Amethist, And many a Iaspire of the perfectest Doth brightly glister in the double gilt Of the rich Pommel and the pretious Hilt Of his huge Fauchin, bow'd from hand to heel: His boistrous body shines in burnisht Steel: His Shield flames bright with gold, imbossed high With Wolues and Horse seem-running swiftly by, And freng'd about with sprigs of Scammonie, And of Euphorbium, forged cunningly.* 1.100

But O fair Faerie, who art thou, whose eyes Inflame the Seas, the Ayre, the Earth and Skies? Tell vs, what art thou, O thou fairest fair, That trimm'st the Trammels of thy golden hair. With Myrtle, Thyme, and Roses; and thy Brest Gird'st with a rich and odoriferous * 1.101 Cest, Where all the wanton brood of sweetest Loues Doo nestle close; on whom the Turtle-Doues, Pigeons, and Sparrowes day and night attend, Cooing and wooing, wherso'er thou wend: Whose Robe's imbrodered with Pomgranet boughs, Button'd with Saphires, edg'd with Beryl rowes: Whose capering foot, about the starrie floor, The Dance-guide Prince, now followes, now's before? Art thou not Shee, that with a chaste-sweet flame Didst both our Brides harts into one hart frame?

And, was not He, that with so curious steps,* 1.102 Next after thee, so nimblie turns and leaps, Say, was not He the wittie Messenger, Their eloquent and quick Interpreter? How strange a suit▪ His medly Mantle seems Scarlet, Waue-laced with Quick-siluer streams, And th' end of euery Lace, for tuft hath on A pretious Porphyre, or an Agate stone: A Cry of Hownds haue heer a Deer in Chase, There a false Foxe, heer a swift Kid they trace:

There Larks, and Linots-and sweet Nightingals (Fain'd vpon fayned Trees) with wings and tails Loose hanging, seem to swell their little throats, And with their warblings, shame the Cornets notes. Light Fumitorie, Parsly, Burnets blade And winding leaf his crispie Locks beshade. Hee's light and liuely, al in Turns and Tricks; In his great Round, hee many small doth mixe: His giddy course seems wandring in disorder, And yet there's found in this disorder, order.

Auoid base Vulgar, back Profane, stand-by; These sacred Reuels are not for your eye: Come, gentle Gentiles, Noble Spirits draw neer, Preace through the Preace, come take your places heer, To see at full the Bride-groom and the Bride, A louely paire, exactly bewtifi'd With rare perfections, passing all the rest, Sole-happy Causes of this sumptuous Feast. Lo where they come: O what a splendor bright! Mine eyes doo dazle. O thou primer Light! Sun of the Sun, thy Rayes keen point rebate, Thy dread-spread Fire a little temperate: O, dart (direct) on thy fair Spouse a-space Thine eyes pure light, the lustre of thy Face: For I no longer can endure it, I Am burnt to ashes: ô I faint, I dye. But (blessed Couple) sith (alas) I may-not Behold you both vnmasked, nor I can-not; Yet in these Verses let me tell (I pray) Your Dance, your Courting, and your rich Aray.

The Queen's adorn'd down to her very heels* 1.103 In her fair hair (whence still sweet deaw distils) Half changing down; the rest in rings and curls, Platted with strings of great, round, orient Pearls: Her gown is Damask of a Siluer-ground, With Siluer Seas all deeply-frenged round; With Gourds and Moon-wort branched richly-fair, Flourisht with Beasts that only eat the Aier.

But why (my Muse) with Pencil so precise Seek'st thou to paint all her rich Rarities? Of all the Bewties, Graces, Honors, Richesse Where-with rich Hev'n these Maskers all inriches, Shee's even the Mother: and then, as a Glasse, On the Beholders their effects she casts.

A Garland braided with the Flowry folds* 1.104 Of yellow Citrons, Turn-Sols, Mary-golds, Beset with Bal'nites, Rubies, Chrysolites, The royall Bride-groom's radiant brows be-dights: His saffron'd Ruffe is edged richly-neat With burning Carbuncles, and every set Wrought rarely-fine with branches (draw'n vpon) Of Laurel, Cedar, Balm, and Cinamon: On his Gold-grounded Robe the Swan so white Seems to his honour som new Song t'indight, The Phoenix there builds both her nest and toomb, The Crocodile out of the Waues doth come, Th' amazed Reaper down his Sickle flings And soudain Fear grafts to his Ankles wings: There the fierce Lion, from his furious eyes, His mouth and nosthrils fierie-Flames let-flyes, Seems with his whisking train his rage to whet, And, wrath-full ramping, ready even to set Vpon a Heard of fragrant Leopards: When lo, the Cock (that light his rage reguards) A purple Plume tymbers his stately Crest, On his high Gorget and broad hardy Brest A rich Coat-Armour (Or and Azure) shines, A frenge of raveld gold about his Loins: In lieu of bases. Beard as red as blood; A short Beak bending like the Egles brood: Green-yellow eyes, where Terrors Tent is pight: A martiall gaite, and spurred as a Knight: Into two arches his prowd Train diuides, With painted wings he claps his cheerfull sides, Sounds his shrill Trumpet, and seems with his sight The Lions courage to haue danted quight.

These happy Lovers, with a practiz'd pase For-ward and back-ward and a-side do trace; They seem to dance the Spanish Pauane right: And yet their Dance, so quick and liuely-light, Doth never passe the Baldricks bounds (at all) Which grav'n with Star-Beasts ouer-thwarts the Hall.

When the braue Bride-groom towards Mount Silo traces, A thousand Flowers spring in his spright-full pases: When towards Mount Oliu••t he slides, there growes Vnder his Feet a thousand Frosty Snowes: For, the Floor, beaten with his Measures ever, Seems like the Footing of the nimble Weaver.

This louely Couple, now kisse, now recoil, Now with a lowring eye, now with a smile: Now Face to Face they Dance, now side by side, With Course vn-equall: and the tender Bride Receiues strange Changes in her Countenance, After her Lovers divers-seeming glance. If vnawares som Enuious come between Her and her Loue, then is she sad be-seen, She shuts her eye, she seems even to depart: Such force hath true Loue in a noble hart. But all that's nothing to their musicke choice: Tuning the warbles of their Angel-Voice To Foot and Viole, and Care-charming Lute, In amorous Ditty they doo thus dispute.

"O bright-ey'd Virgin! ô how fair thou art!* 1.105 "O how I loue thee, My Snowe-winged Doue! "O how I loue thee! Thou hast rapt my hart: "For thee I Die: For thee I liue, my Loue.

" How fair art thou my Deer! How dear to me! "Deer Soule (awake) I faint, I sink, I sownd, "At thy deer Sight: and when I sleep; for Thee, "Within my brest still wakes my sharp-sweet Wound.

"My Loue, what Odours thy sweet Tresse it yeelds! "What Amber-greece, what Incense breath'st thou out "From purple fillets! and what Myrrhe distils "Still from thy Fingers, ring'd with Gold about!

"Sweet-Hart, how sweet is th' Odour of thy Prayse! "O what sweet aiers doth thy sweet air deliuer "Vnto my burning Soule! What hony Layes "Flowe from thy throat, thy throat a golden River.

"Among the Flowers, my Flower's a Rose, a Lilly; "A Rose, a Lilly; this a Bud, that blow'n: "This fragrant Flower first of all gather wil-I, "Smell to it, kisse it, wear it as mine owne.

"Among the Trees, my Loue's an Apple-Tree, "Thy fruit-full Stem bears Flower and Fruit together: "I'll smell thy Flower, thy Fruit shall nourish me, "And in thy Shadow will I rest forever.

While Hesperus, in azure Waggon brought Millions of Tapers ouer all the Vault, These gorgeous Revels to sweet Rest giue place, And the Earths Venus doth Heav'ns Venus trace.

These Spousals past: the King doth nothing minde But the Lords House; there is his Care confin'd: His Checker's open, he no Cost respects) But sets a-work the wittiest Architects.

Millions of hands be busie labouring;* 1.106 Through all the Woods, wedges and beetles ring: The Tufted Tops of sacred Libanon, To climb Mount Sion, down the stream are gon: Forests are saw'd in Transomes, Beams, and Somers: Great Rocks made little, what with Sawes and Hammers: The sturdy Quar-man with steel-headed Cones And massie Sledges slenteth out the Stones, Digs through the bowels of th' earth baked stiff, Cuts a wide Window through a horned Cliff

Of ruddy Porphire, or white Alabaster, And masters Marble, which no Time can Master. One melts the White-stone with the force of Fire: Another, leveld by the Lesbian Squire, Deep vnder ground (for the Foundation) ioynes Wel-polisht Marble, in long massie Coines; Such both for stuff, and for rare artifice, As mought beseem som royall Frontispice. This heaws a Chapter; that a Frize doth frame; This Carues a Cornich; that prepares a Iambe, This formes a Plynth; that fits an Architraue; This planes a Plank; and that the same doth graue, Giues life to Cedars dead, and cunningly Makes Wood to moue, to sigh and speak wel-nigh: And others, rearing high the sacred Wal, By their bold Labours Heav'n it self appall: Cheerly they work, and ply it in such sort As if they thought long Summer-dayes too-short.

As in Grape-Harvest, with vnweary pains,* 1.107 A willing Troup of merry-singing Swains, With crooked hooks the strouting Clusters cut, In Frails and Flaskets them as quickly put, Run bow'd with burthens to the fragrant Fat, Tumble them in, and after pit-a-pat, Vp to the Waste; and dauncing in the Must To th' vnder-Tub a flowry Shower doo thrust: They work a-vie, to th' eye their Work doth growe, Who saw't i'th' Morning, scarce at Night can knowe It for the same: and God himself doth seem T'haue ta'en to Taske this Work, and work for them, While in the Night sweet Sleep restores with rest The weary limbs of Work-men ouer-prest.

Great King, whence came this Courage (Titan-like) So many Hils to heap vpon a rick? What mighty Rowlers, and what massie Cars Could bring so far so many monstrous Quars? And, what huge strength of hanging Vaults embow'd Bears such a waight aboue the winged Clowde?

If on the out-side I doo cast mine eye, The Stones are ioyn'd so artificially, That if the Maçon had not checkerd fine, * 1.108 Syre's Alabaster with hard Serpentine, And hundred Marbles no lesse fair than firm; The whole, a whole Quar one might rightly tearm.

If I look In, then scorn I all with-out: Surpassing Riches shineth all about: Floore, Sides, and Seeling, couerd triple-fold, Stone lyn'd with Cedar, cedar limn'd with Gold: And all the Parget carv'd and branched trim With Flowrs and Fruits, and winged Cherubim.

I over-passe the sacred Implements, In worth far passing all these Ornaments: Th' Art answers to the stuff, the stuff to th' vse. O! perfect Artist, thou for Mould didst chuse The Worlds Idea: For, as first the same Was sever'd in a Three-fold divers Frame, And God Almighty rightly did Ordain One all Divine, one Heav'nly, one Terrene; Decking with Vertues one, with Stars another, With Flowrs and Fruits, and Beasts, and Birds the other: And playd the Painter, when he did so gild The turning Globes, blew'd Seas, and green'd the field, Gaue precious Stones so many-coloured lustre, Enameld Flowers, made Metals beam and glister: The Caruer, when he cut in leaues and stems Of Plants, such veins, such figures, files and hems: The Founder, when he cast so many Forms Of winged Fouls, of Fish, of Beasts, of Worms:

Thou doost divide this Sacred House in Three; Th' HOLY OF HOLIES, wher-in none may bee But God, the Cherubims, and (once a yeer) The Sacred Figure of Perfection deer, Of Gods eternall Son (Sins sin-les check) The ever-lasting true MELCHISEDEC: The fair mid-TEMPLE, which is ope alone To Sun-bright Leuites, who on Izrael shone

With Rayes of Doctrine; and who, feeding well On the Lawes Hony, seem in Heav'n to dwell: And th' vtter PORCH, the Peoples residence, The Vulgars Ile, the World of Elements: And various Artist honour'st all the Parts With Myron's, Phydias, and Apelles Arts.

This Pattern pleas'd thee so, th' hast fram'd by it, Th' eternall Watch-births of thy sacred Wit: Thy pithy Book of Prouerbs richly-graue, Vnto the PORCH may rich relation haue: For that it giues vs Oeconomike Lawes, Rules Politike, and Priuate civill Sawes; And for (the most) those Lessons general At Humane matters aim the most of all. Ecclesiastes the Mid-TEMPLE seems: It treadeth down what ever Flesh esteems Fair, pleasant, precious, glorious, good, or great; Drawes vs from earth, and vs in Heav'n doth seat; And, all the World proclaiming Uain of Vains, Mans happinesse in Gods true Fear maintains. SANCTVM-SANCTORVM, is thy Song of Songs, Where, in Mysterious Verse (as meet belongs) Thou Mariest Iacob to Heav'ns glorious King: Where, thou (devoted) doost divinely sing CHRIST'S and his CHVRCHES Epithalamie: Where (sweetly rapt in sacred Extasie) The faith-full Soule talks with her God immense, Hears his sweet Voice, her self doth quintessence In the pure flames of his sweet-pearcing eyes (The Cabinets where Grace and Glory lies) Enioyes her Ioy, in her chaste bed doth kisse His holy lips (the Loue of Loues) her Blisse.

When he had finisht and had furnisht full The House of God, so rich, so bewtifull: O God (sayd Salomon) great Only-Trine!* 1.109 Which of this Mystike sacred House of Thine Hast made me Builder; build Mee in the same A living Stone. For thy deer DAVIDS name,

On DAVIDS branches DAVIDS blisse reviue; That on his Throne his Issue still may thriue. O All-comprising, None-comprised Prince, Which art in Heav'n by thy Magnificence, In Hell by Iustice, each-where by thy Powers: Dwell here (deer Father) by thy Grace (to Ours). If, in a doubtfull Case, one needs must swear, Loose thou the Knot, and punish thou severe Th' audacious Periure; that hence-forth none chance Taxe thee of Malice, or of Ignorance. If our dis-flowred Trees, our Fields Hail-torn, Our empty Ears, our light and blasted Corn, Presage vs Famine; if with ten-fold chain, Thy hand hath lockt thy Water-gates of Rain; And, towards this House we humbled cast our eye, Hear vs (O Lord) hear our complaint and cry. If Captiues we in a strange Land bewayl, If in the Wars our Force and Fortune fail; And, towards this House we humbled cast our eye, Hear vs (O Lord) hear our complaint and cry. If Strangers, moov'd with rumor of thy Miracles, Com heer to Offer, to consult thine Oracles, And in this House to kneel religiously, Hear them, O Lord, hear their complaint and cry: Hear them from Heav'n; and by thy Favors prest, Draw to Thy TEMPLE, North, South, East, and West.

The passe-Man Wisedom of th' Isacian Prince, A Light so bright, set in such eminence (Vn-hideable by envious Arrogance, Vnder the Bushell of black Ignorance) Shines every where, illustres every place; Among the rest it Lightens in the Face Of the fair Princesse, that with prudent hand The soft Arabian Scepter doth command, The Queen of Saba, where continuall Spring* 1.110 Red Cinamom, Incense, and Myrrhe doth bring; Where private men doo Prince-like Treasures hold, Where Pots be Silver, Bedsteds beaten Gold,

Where Wals are rough-cast with the richest Stones Cast in Deuises, Emblems, Scutchions. Yet, leaving all this Greatnesse of her owne, She comes to view the State of SALOMON, To hear his Wisedom, and to see his Citty, Refuge of Vertues, School of Faith and Pitty.* 1.111

You, that doo shut your eyes against the rayes Of glorious Light, which shineth in our dayes; Whose spirits self-obstin'd in old musty Error, Repulse the Truth (Th' Almighties sacred Mirror) Which day and night at your deaf Doors doth knock; Whose stubbornnesse will not at all vn-lock The sacred Bible, nor so much as look, To talke with God, into his holy Book: O, fear you not that this great Princesse shall Of thank-les Sloath one-day condemn you all? Who (both a Woman, Queen, and Pagan born) Ease, Pleasures, Treasures, doth despise and scorn; To passe with great pains, and with great expence, Long weary Iourneys full of diffidence: And nobly trauels to another Land To hear the words but of a (mortall) Man?

Her Time's not lost: there (rapt) she doth contemple The sumptuous bewties of a stately TEMPLE, The lofty Towers of hundred Towns in one, A pompous Palace, and a peer-les Throne, Wals rich with-out; furnisht in richer sort: Number of Servants doth adorn the Court, But more their Order; there, no noise is heard, Each his owne Office only doth reguard: And, (in one instant) as the quaverings Of a quick Thumb, moues all the divers strings Of a sweet Guittern; and, its skill to grace, Causeth a Trebble sound, a Mean, a Base: So SALOMON, discreetly with a beck, A wink a word, doth all the Troop direct: Each of his Servants hath his proper Lesson, And (after his Degree) each hath his fashion.

This Queen, yer parting from her fragrant Iles, Arm'd her with Riddles and with witty Wyles, T' appose the King; and she resolues she wil With curious Questions sift and sound his Skill. But lo what Oedipus! The Law-learn'd Sage, Which at the Bar hath almost spent his age, Cannot so soon a common Doubt decide, Where Statutes, Customs▪ and Book-Cases guide, As he dissolues her Gordian-knots, and sees Through all her nights, and even at pleasure frees Such Doubts, as doubt-les might haue taskt, t'vntwist, The Brachman, Druïde, and Gymnosophist: And knowing, Good becomes more Good, the more It is en-common'd, he applies there-fore T'instruct her in the Faith; and (enuious-idle) His brains rich Talent buries not in Idle.

Alas, I pity you: alas (quoth He) Poore Soules besotted in Idolatry, Who worship Gold and Silver, Stocks and Stones, Mens workmanship, and Fiends Illusions; And, who (by your sage Mages Lore miss-led) So-many Godlings haue imagined: Madame, there is but one sole God, most-High, Th' Eternall King, nay, self-Eternity, Infinite, All in all, yet out of all, Of Ends the End, of Firsts Originall, Of Lights the Light, Essencesur-passing Essence, Of Powers pure Act, of Acts the very Puissance, Cause of all Causes, Ocean of all Good, The Life of Life, and of all Bewty Flood: None-seen All-Seer, Starr's-guide, Sight of Seeing, The Vni-forme, which giues all Formes their Beeing. God, and One, is all One; whoso the Vnitie Denies, he (Atheist) disannuls Diuinity: Th' Vnity dwels in God, ith' Fiend the Twine: The greater World hath but one Sun to shine, The lesser but one Soule, both but one God, In Essence One, in Person Trinely-odde.

Of this great Frame, the Parts so due-devis'd, This Body, tun'd so, measur'd, sympathiz'd, This TEMPLE, wheresuch Wealth and Order meet, This Art in every part, cannot proceed But from one Pattern; and that but from one Author of all, who all preserues alone. Else should we see in set Batalions A hundred thousand furious Partizans, The World would nource civill intestine Wars, And wrack itself in itselfs factious Iars. Besides, God is an Infinite Divinity: And who can think of more than one Infinity? Seeing the one restrains the others might, Or rather reaues its name and being quight. Therfore (O Pagans) why doo you confine The Infinite in narrow Walls of lime? Why shut you Him in a base Trunk or Tree? Why paint you Whom no mortall eye can see? Why offer you your carnall seruices Vnto the Lord, who a meer Spirit is?

Why then doo you (sayd she) by our example, Incloseth' Immortall in this Earthly TEMPLE? Lock him within an Arke? and, worse than we Feed him with Fumes, and bloody Butcherie?

This Sacred House so fair (reply'd he then) Is not to contain God, but godly men Which worship him: and, we doo not suppose That He, whose Arms doo Heav'n and Earth inclose, Is closed in a Chest; but th' ancient Pact, The solemne Couenant, and the sure Contract, Which leagues vs with our God, and each with other, And (holy Bond) holds Heav'n and Earth together. As for our Incense, Washings, Sacrifices, They are not (as is thought) Our vain Devices; But, God's their Aurthor, and himself Ordains These Elements, wherby he entertains And feeds our vnderstanding in the hope Of his deer Son (of all these Things the Scope);

Setting before vs th' Only Sacrifice, Which in CHRIST'S Blood shall wash-out all our vice. Come then, O Lord, Come thou Lawes finisher, Great King, great Prophet, great Selfs-Offerer: Come, come, thou thrice-Great Refuge of our State, Come, thou out Ran çome, Iudge, and Advocate: Milde Lambe, Salue-Serpent, Lion generous, Vn-challeng'd Vmpire betwixt Heav'n and Vs, Come thou, the Trueth, the Substance and the End Of all our Offrings, (whither, all doo tend): Come ô MESSIAS, and doo now begin To Raign in Sion, to triumph of Sinne; And, worshipped in Spirit and Truth, restore Vpon the Earth the Golden Age of yore: Accept this Queen, as of all Heathen Princes The deer First-Fruits: take on thee our Offences, That, stript of Adam's Sinfull sute, in fine With sacred Angels we in Heav'n may shine.

The Queen, nigh sunk in an Amaze-full Swoun, Bespake him thus: My Lord, prattling Renown Is wont in flying to increase so far, That she proclaims things greater than they are:* 1.112 And, rarest Spirits resemble Pictures right, Wherof the rarest seem more exquisite, Far-off, then neer: but, so far as thy Fame Ezcels all Kings, thy Vertues passe the same: Thy peer-les Prayse stoops to thy Learned tongue, And envious bruit hath done thy Wisedom wrong.

So may I say, even so (ô SCOTISH King)* 1.113 Thy winged Fame, which far and wide doth ring, From th' edge of Spain hath made me venturously To crosse the Seas thy Britain's end to see: Where (Lord!) what saw I? nay, what saw I not? O King (Heav'n-chosen, for som special Plot) Worlds Miracle, ô Oracle of Princes? I saw so much, my Soule mistrusts my Senses. A gray-beards Wisedom in an amber-bush, A Mars-like Courage in a Maid-like blush,

A settled Iudgement with a supple Wit, A quick Discourse, profound and pleasing yet; Virgil and Tully, in one spirit infus'd, And all Heav'ns Gifts into one Head diffus'd.

Persist, O King, glory on glory mount; And as thy Vertues thine owne Fame surmount, So let thy future passe thy former more, And go-before those that haue gone-before: Excell thy Self: and braue, graue, godly Prince, Confirme my Songs eternall Euidence.

FINIS.

THE SCHISME. THE III. BOOK OF THE IIII. DAY OF THE II. WEEK.

THE ARGVMENT.

Reiecting Olde, Yong-Counsail'd rash ROBOAM Loseth Ten Tribes; which fall to IEROBOAM. He, Godding Calves, makes Izrael to Sin: His Scepter therefore shortly fails his Kin. BAAZ, ZIMRI, OMRI, ACHAB (worst of all) With IEZABEL. Elias conquers Baal; Commands the Clouds; rapt-vp to Heav'n, aliue. Elisha's Works: his bones the dead reuiue. SAMARIA'S tragik Siege. A Storm at Sea, For Ionas sake: repentant NINIVE.

HEer sing I ISAAC'S ciuill Brauls and Broils;* 1.114 Iacobs Revolt; their Cities sack, their Spoils: Their cursed Wrack, their Godded Calues: the rent Of th' Hebrew Tribes from th' Isheans Regiment.

Ah! see we not, som seek the like in France? With rage-full swords of civill Variance, To share the sacred Gaulian Diadem? To strip the Lillies from their natiue stem?* 1.115 And (as it were) to Cantonize the State Whose Law did aw Imperial Rhine (of late) Tiber and Iber too; and vnder whom Even silver Iordan's captiue floods did foam.

But, let not vs, good Lord, O let not vs* 1.116 Serue servilely a hundred Kinglings thus,

In stead of one great Monarch: never let The lawfull Heir from his owne Throne be beat; This Scepter yearly to be new possest; Nor every Town to be a Tyrants nest: Keep all intire, re-stablish prudent Raign, Restore the Sword to Iustice hand again; That, blest with Peace, thy blessed Prayse (O Lord) My thankfull Layes may more and more record.

THE GENERAL States of Israel, gathered all,* 1.117 By thousands now, within strong Sichem's Wall; All iointly name ROBOAM for their King, But (strictly-stout) his Powr thus limiting:

Command (say they) and Rule in Abram's Fold, Not as a Wolf, but as a Shepheard should: Slacken the reans of our late Servitude:* 1.118 Lighten our gall'd backs of those Burthens rude, Those heavy Imposts of thy Father (fierce): Repress the rapin of thine Officers: So, we will serue thee, life and goods at-once: If other-wise; thy Service we renounce.

Heer-with amaz'd, the moody Prince, in post Sends for those Ancients which had swayed most His Fathers Counsails: and he seems to crave Their sage Advises, in a case so graue.

God hath not made, say they (iumping together) Subiects for Kings, but Kings for Subiects rather: Then, let not thine (already in distress)* 1.119 ••e gnaw'n by others; by thy Self much less. What boots a Head, with-out the hand and foot? What is a Scepter, and no Subiects to't? The greater Milt, the Body pines the more: The Checker's fatting makes the People poor: A Princes Wealth in Subiects Wealth is set; The Bank of Thrift, where gold doth gold beget: Where the good Prince coms never but at need: For, he is prais'd for a good Heard (indeed) Whose Flock is fat and fair, with frolik bounds Frisking and skipping vp and down the Douns.

Among the Beasts fullest of furious gall, The Vulgar's fiercest, wildest, worst of all: Hydra with thousand heads, and thousand stings, Yet soon agreed to war against their Kings.

If then you wish, their barking rage to cease, Cast them a bone; by an Abatement, ease Their wringing Yoak: thy Pity let them proue, And ground thy Greatness on thy Peoples loue.

Or, if thou (fell) wilt needs feed on their ice, Yet vse no threats, nor giue them flat Denies: But, to establish thy yet-new Estate, Give them som hope, and let them feed on that: And (wisely) minde thy Fathers Saying sage, That A soft answer (soon) appeaseth rage.

ROBOAM, scorning these olde Senators,* 1.120 Leans to his Yonglings, Minions, Flatterers (Birds of a feather) that with one accord Cry-out, importune, and perswade their Lord, Not sillily to be by such disturb'd, Nor let him-self so simply to be curb'd; But, to repress, press, and oppress the more These Mal-contents, but too-well vs'd before: With iron teeth to bruise their idle bones, To suck their Marrow out; and (for the nonce) Their rebell Pride to fetter (as it were) And lock their Furie in the stocks of Fear: And, to shake-off (on th' other side) and shun Those Gray-beards olde and colde direction, Their sawcie censures, snibbing his Minority; Where-by (too-proud) they trip at his Authority, Vsurp his place; and (too-too-malapert) Would teach a wiser then them-selues his part: To knowe that he's a King; and that he took Even in the womb, as th' outward limbs and look, So th' inward graces, the Discretion And deep Fore-fight of prudent SALOMON; And, in the Shop of Nature, learn'd (long since) The Art of State, the Office of a Prince.

Wisedom (fond King) her sacred Seaterects In hoarie brains: and Day the Day directs: Th' old-man-fore-sees a-far; by past events He (prudent) ponders future accidents: The Young-man knowes not (new-com, as it were) This wily World, but as a passenger; And, more with courage then with Counsail's guide, Barely beholds things on the outer side. Yet, to the last thou lean'st; and, frowning fel, Checkst thus the Son's of noble Israel:

Ah! rebel Slaues! you, you will Rule your King:* 1.121 You'll be his Carvers: you will clip his wing: You'll hold the sacred helm, controule the Crown: You'll rate his State, and turn all vp-side-down. But, know you (varlets) whom you dally-with? My little finger over-balanceth My Father's loigns: he did but rub you light, I'll flay your backs; he bow'd, I'll break yee quight; He threatned Rods (or gentle Whips of cord) But I will haue your carrion shoulders goar'd With scourges tangd with rowels: and my Name Shall make you quake, if you but hear the same.

As rapid streams, incountring in their way* 1.122 With close-driv'n piles of som new bank or bay, Or steady pillers of a Bridge built new, Which last-past Sommer never saw, nor knew; Swell, roar, and rage far fiercer then they wont, And with their foam defile the Welkins front: So yerst griev'd Isaac, now growen desperate, With loud proud tearms doth thus expostulate:

Why? what haue we to do (what part? what place?) With Böozian Ishay's avaricious race?* 1.123 Go, Raign (proud Iuda) where thou wilt; for we Nill bear the burthen of thy Tyranny: Go vse els-where thy cruell threats and braues; We are thy Brethren, we, and not thy Slaues.

Thus cry the People, and th' ill-counsal'd King Vn-kingly yeelds to their rude Mutining:

And flies eft-soons with som few Beniamites, The zealous Leuites, and the ••••daïtes: The rest revolt, and chuse for Soveraign A shame-les, faith-les, bold and busie-brain, An Ephraimite, who (double-false) doth fall* 1.124 Both from his King and from his God withall.

For, he fore-sees that if th' Isacians still (As Law inioyn'd (should mount on Sion Hill, To sacrifice; with beauty of that Temple, Their Princes sight, the Doctrine and Example Of sacred Leuites, they would soon be taken, And drawn aboord the Bark they had forsaken. To rent the Church therfore he doth deuise, And God's true Spouse doth Harlot▪like disguise: Will haue them hence-forth Worship God the Lord Vnder the Form of Hay-fed Calues (abhorr'd) In Dan and Bethel: brings-vp Service new; Profane, vsurping sacred Aron's Dew.

But, how (ingrate) requit'st thou God, in this? He, of a Servant, made thee King of His: Thou, of a God, mak'st him a horned Steer; Sett'st Altar against Altar; and, the deer, Cleer Star of Truth beclouding with the vail Of thine Ambition, mak'st all Israel fail, And fall with-all into the Gulf of Death, So deep (alas!) that from thence-forth, vn-eath Could th' operation of so many Miracles, In their hard hearts re-print the Sacred Oracles.

One-day, the while this Priest-King sacrifiz'd To's clov'n-foot God in Bethel (self-deviz'd) A zealous Prophet from the Lord there came, Who boldly thus his brutish rage doth blame: O odious House, O execrable Cell, O Satans Forge, O impious Shop of Hell; Accursed Altar, that so braves and hoasts Against the Altar of the Lord of Hoasts; Behold, from Dauid shall a King return That on thy stones thine owne Priests bones shall burn,

Thus sayth the Lord: and this shall be the Sign (Prodigiously to seal his Word, in mine) Thou now in th' instant shalt in sunder shatter, And in the Air shall thy vile cinders scatter.

Take, take the Sot, sayd then th' vngodly Prince, And (as he spake in rage-full vehemence) Reacht-out his arm: but, instantly the same So strangely withered and so num became, And God so rustied euery ioynt, that there (But as the Body stird) it could not stir: Th' vnsacred Altarsodain slent in twain; And th' ashes, flying through th' vn. hallowed Fane, Blinde the blinde Priests; as in the Sommer (oft)* 1.125 The light, white Dust (driv'n by the Winde aloft) Whirling about, offends the tendrest eye, And makes the Shepheards (with-out cause) to cry.

O holy Prophet (prayes the Tyrant then) Deer man of God, restore my hand again: His hand is heal'd. But (obstinate in ill) In His Calf-service He persevers still, Still runs his Race, still every day impairs, And of his Sins makes all his Sons his heirs.

The King of Iuda little better proves, His Fathers by-paths so Abijam loves; The People, pliant to their Princes guise, Forget their God, and his drad Law despise.

God, notwithstanding (of his speciall grace) Entails the Scepter to the sacred race Of his deer Dauid: and he bindes with boughs Of glorious Laurels their victorious brows: And evermore (how-ever Tyrants rave) Som form of Church in Sion will he haue.

Aza, Abijam's Son; Iehosaphat The son of Aza (rightly zealous) hate All Idol-gods: and, warring with success, Dung Isaak's Fields with forrain carcases.

In Aza's ayd fights th' arm armi-potent* 1.126 (Which shakes the Heav'ns, rakes Hils, & Rocks doth rent)

Against black Zerah's ouer-daring boast, That with drad deluge of a Million Hoast O'r-flow'd all I••d••; and, all sacking (fell) Transported Afrik into Israel: He fights for His; who, seeing th' Ammonite, The Idumaean, and proud Moabite, In Battail ray, caus'd all his Hoast to sing This Song aloud, them thus encouraging:

Sa, sa, (my hearts) let's cheerly to the charge; Having for Captain, for Defence, and Targe, That glorious Prince to whom the raging Sea Hath heertofore, in foming pride, giv'n way: Who, with a sigh (or with a whistle, rather) Can call the North, South, East, and West together: Who, at a beck, or with a wink, commands Millions of millions of bright-winged Bands: Who, with a breath, brings (in an instant) vnder The proudest Powrs: whose arrows are the Thunder.

While yet they sang, fell Discord reaching-far,* 1.127 Hies to the Heathen that encamped are: Clean through her mantle (tatterd all in flakes) Appears her brest all-over gnaw'n with Snakes, Her skin is scarr'd, her teeth (for rage) do gnash, The Basilisk with-in her eyes doth flash; And, one by one, she plucks-off (in despight) Her hairs (no hairs, but hissing Serpents right) And, one by one, she severally bestowes-'em Through all the Camp, in every Captains bosom, Blowes every vein full of her furious mood, Burns every Souldier with the thirst of bloud: And, with the same blade that she died once In valiant Gedeon's (Brother-slaughtered) Sons, She sets the Brother to assail the Brother, The Son the Sier, and deerest Friends each-other.

The swords new draw'n against their Enemies,* 1.128 Now (new revolted) hack their owne Allies: And Mars so mads them in their mutuall Iar, That strange, turns civill, civill, houshold War:

Proud Edom heaws Moab and th' Ammonite; Amon hunts Edom and the Moabite; Moab assaults Amon and Edom too; And each of them wars first with th' other two, Then with themselues: then Amon Amon thrills, Moab wounds Moab, Edom Edom kills.

From Hoast to Hoast, blinde-fold Despair, in each, Disports her self; those that are one in speach, Vnder one colours, of one very coat, Combat each other, cut each others throat.

Rage-full confusion every-where commands,* 1.129 Against his Captain the Lieutenant stands, The Corporal vpon his Seriant flies, And basest Boyes against their Masters rise. Nay, drad Bellona passeth fiercely further, Th' owne Vnkle doth his owne deer Nephew murther, The Nephew th' Vnkle with the like repayes, Cosen thrils Cosen, Kins-man Kins-man slayes: Yea, even the Father kills his Son most cruell, And from one Belly springs a bloudy Duell; Twins fiercely fight: and while each woundeth other, And drawes the life-blood of his half-self Brother, Feels not his owne to fail, till in the place Both fall; as like in fury as in face: But, strength at length (not stomach) fails in either; And, as together born, they die together.

The faithfull Hoast drawes neer, and gladly goes Viewing the bodies of their breath-les Foes. Men, Camels, Horse (som saddled, som with-out) Pikes, Quivers, Darts, lie mingled all about The bloudy Field; and from the Mountains nigh The Rav'ns begin with their pork-porking cry: Heer seems an Arm, a Giant late did owe, As if it would to a Dwarf's shoulder growe: A Princes hand there (knowen by pretious signes) Vnto the arm of a base Porter ioyns; An olde-Man's head heer to a Stripling's neck; And there, lean buttocks to a brawny back:

Heer, of a Body iustly cloven in two, The bloudy tripes are trailing to and fro; There, fiue red fingers of a Hand cut-off Gripe still the truncheon of a steeled staff; And, there (at-once, all broached on one Lance) Lie three braue Horse-men in a deadly Trance.

Chariots, vnfurnisht and vnharnest stood, Over the spoaks, vp to the naves in blood▪ Th' Engaddian Snowes melt in vermilion streams, And (now no marvell) Iaruel warmly steams, Stopt with dead bodies; so, that never-more It should haue seen the Ocean (as before) Nor payd the Tribute that his Duty craues, Saue that the crimsin holp the crystall waues.

Praysed be God (sayd Iuda) praysed be The Lord of Hoasts, the King of Maiesty, That moawes his Foes; that doth his owne protect, That holds so deer the blood of his elect: That fights for vs, and teacheth vs to fight, Conquer, and triumph of the Pagan's might: And (finally) doth punish Tyrants fel, With their owne swords, to saue his Israel.

But, notwithstanding Ieroboam's Plot,* 1.130 His third Successor yet succeeds him not; A barbarous Fury raigneth in his Race, His bloudy Scepter shifteth hands apace: Nadab his son, and all his seed beside, Feels cursed Baasha's cruell Paricide; And Baasha's issue is by Zimri slain, Zimri by Zimri; then doth Omri raign, Omri, accursed for his owne transgression, But more accursed for the foule succession Of such a Son as Achab (sold to Sin) That boldly brings Sidonian Idols in, Builds vnto Baal; and, of all Kings the worst, Weds Iezabel, adds Drunkenness to Thirst.

Blinde Superstition's like a drop of Oyl* 1.131 Still spreading, till it all a Garment spoyl:

Or, like a spark, fall'n in a floor of Mat, Which soon inflameth all the Chamber; that, Fiers the whole House; the House, the Town about; Consuming all, and never going-out, Till Goods, and Bodies, Towrs, and Temples high, All in a Toomb of their owne ashes lye: When one begins (how little be't) to stray From the diuine Law's little-beaten way, We cursed fall into the black Abysse Of all foul Errrors: every Sin that is Donns sacred Mask; and, monsters most ahhord, Killing the Saints we think to please the Lord, As Achab did; who vanquisht with the spel, Speach, grace, and face of painted Iezabel, Presumes to lay his sacrilegious hand On th' oyled Priests that in Gods presence stand, Of honest Men his Towns depopulates, Lessens the Number of his Noble States, T'augment his Lands; and, with the bloud of His, Wrights th' Instruments of his new Purchases. But slain (at last) by th' Hoast of Benhadad, His Son * 1.132 succeeds him (and almost as bad) He breaks his neck, and leaues his fatall place, To 's brother Ioram, last of Achab's race; An odious race, th' alliance of whose blood Corrupts the Heirs of Iosaphat the good, Causing his Son (charm'd with Athalia's wile) In's Brother's bloud his armed arms to file, And Ahaziah's giddy brain t'infect

With the damn'd Error of Samarian Sect. But, though these Kings did openly oppugn And stubbornly the King of Heav'n impugn; Though Abrah'ms issue (now degenerate) Did but too-neer their Princes imitate; Though over all, a Chaos of confusion, A Hell of Horror, Murder, and Delusion, A Sea of Sins (contempt of God and Good) Cover'd these Kingdoms (as another Flood);

God left not yet that Age without his Oracles: A hundred Prophets, strong in word and miracles, Resist their rage and from sad drowning keep The wracked planks on th' Idol-Ocean deep. Cleer Sommer Noons need not a candle-light;* 1.133 Nor sound, Physician; but clean opposite: So, in our Soules, the more Sin's Floods do flowe, The more God makes his Mercie's Gulf to growe.

For his Embassage in sad Achab's dayes,* 1.134 Thes bite Elijah did th' Almighty rayse; Who, burning-bold in spirit and speach, cries-out, In Achab's ears and all his Court about: O impious Achab, fear'st thou not (quoth he) The sulphury flames and Thunder-bolts that be Already roaring in the dreadfull fist Of God the Lord, that doth the proud resist, Revengeth wrongs, th' outrageous Heathen's Hammer, Terror of Terrors, and all Tyrants Tamer? Doost thou not knowe, He threats to Israel A Heav'n of Brass, if they his grace repel, Reiect his loue, and get them other Loues, Whoring about with forrain▪ Gods, in Groves? God cannot lie: His dreadfull Threatnings ever Draw dreadfull Iudgements (if our Sin persever): As the Lord lives, this thirsty yawning Plain In seav'n six Month's drinks not a drop of Rain.

No sooner spoken, but in present view,* 1.135 The Heav'ns begin to change their wonted hew; Th' Aire deadly thick, doth quickly vanish quight; To a sad Day succeeds a sadder Night: A bloudy vapour and a burning cloud, By day, begirt the Sun (all coaly-browd); By night, the Moon denies to fading Flowrs Her silver sweat, and pearly-purled showrs: The Welkin's studded with new Blazing-Stars, Flame-darting Lances, fiery crowns and Cars, Kids, Lions, Bears, wrapt in prodigious Beams, Dreadfull to see: and Phoebus (as it seems)

Weary of travail in so hote a time, Rests all the while in boyling Cancer's clime. Hills, lately hid with snowe, now burn a main: May hath no Deaw, nor February Rain: Sad Atlas Nieces, and the Hunter's Star Have like effect as the Canicular: Zephyre is mute, and not a breath is felt, But hectik Auster's, which doth all things swelt, And (panting-short) puffs every-where vpon The withered Plains of wicked Shomeron, Th' vnsavorie breath of Serpents crawling o're The Lybians pest-full and vn-blest-full shoar.

Now Herbs to fail, and Flowrs to fall began;* 1.136 Mirtles and Bayes for want of moist grew wan: With open mouth the Earth the aid doth crave Of black-blew Clouds: cleer Kishon's rapid wave Wars now no more with Bridges arched round; Sorek, for shame, now hides him vnder ground: Mokmur, whose murmur troubled with the noise The sleeping Shepheards, hath nor stream, nor voice, Cedron's not Cedron, but (late) Cedron's bed, And Iordan's Current is as dry, as dead. The beam-brow'd Stag, and strong-neckt Bull do ly On palc-faç't banks of Arnon (also dry) But, neither sup, nor see the Crystal Wave, Ouer the which so often swom they have: The lusty Courser that late scorn'd the ground, Now lank and lean, with crest and courage downd, With rugged tongue out of his chained mouth, With hollow-flanks panting for inward drouth, Rouling his Bit, but with a feeble rumor, Would sweat for faintnes, but he wanteth humour: The Towr-backt Camel, that best brooketh Thirst, And on his bunch could have transported yerst Neer a whole Houshold, now is able scant To bear him self, he is so feebly-faint.

Both yong and olde, both of the base and best, Feel a fel Aetna in their thirstie brest:

To temper which, they breath, but to their wo: For, for pure air, they sup into them, so, A putride, thick, and pestilentiall fume, Which stuffs their Lights and doth their lives consume. Ther's not a Puddle (though it strangely stink) But dry they draw't, Sea-Water's dainty Drink: And fusty-Bottles, from beyond-Sea (South) Bring Nile to Somer, for the Kings owne mouth. For, though the Lord th' whole Land of Syria smights, Th' heat of his Anger on Samaria lights With greatest force; whose furious Prince implies, The Prophet Cause of all these miseries.

Therefore, he fearing Achab's ragefull hate, Down to Brook Ch••rith's hollow banks he gate; Where, for his Cooks, Caters, and Wayters, tho From the foure windes the winged people go.

Thence, to Sareptha▪ where he craves the aid* 1.137 Of a poor Widow, who thus mildely said, Alas! fain would I, but (God wot) my store Is but of bread for one meal (and no more): Yet, give me (saith he) giue me som (I pray); Who soweth sparing, sparing reapeth ay: Sure a good turn shall never guerdon want; A Gift to Needlings is not given, but lent: T's a Well of Wealth, which doth perpetuall run: A fruitfull Field which thousand yeelds for one.

While thus he said, and staid; the Widow glad,* 1.138 Gives to him frankly all the bread she had: She lost not by't: for, all the Famin-while, That rag'd in Tyre, her little Flowr and Oyl Decreased not, yet had she plenty still, For her and hers to feed in time their fill. At length befell fel Death to take-away Her onely Son, and with her Son her Ioy: She prayes her Guest, and he implores his God, And stretching him vpon the breath-les Lad, Thus cries aloud: Vouch safe me, Lord, this boon, Restore this child's soule, which (it seems) to-soon

Thou hast bereft: O! let it not be said, That heer for nought I haue so ought been fed: Let not my presence be each-where abhorr'd; Nor Charity with thee to want Reward.

As a small seedling of that fruitfull Worm,* 1.139 Which (of it self) fine shining Sleaves doth form, By the warm comfort of a Virgin brest, Begins to quicken, creepeth (as the rest) Re-spins a-fresh, and, in her witty loom, Makes of her corps her corps a pretious Toomb: This Childe (no Man, but Man's pale Module now) With death ith bosom, horror on the brow, The bait of Worms, the Booty of the Beer, At sacred words begins his ey to rear; Swimming in Death, his powrs do re-assemble, His spirits (rewarm'd) with-in his artirs tremble; He fetcht a sigh, then lively rysing too, Talks, walks, and eats, as he was woont to doo.

Fain would the Mother haue besought the Seer T' have past the rest of his colde Olde-age heer: But th' holy spirit him sodain hence doth bring Vnto Samaria to th' incensed King; Who rates him thus: O Basilisk! O Bane! Art not thou He that sow'st th' Isaacian Plain With Trouble-Tares? Seditious, hast not thou* 1.140 Profan'd the Laws of our Fore-fathers now? Broken all Orders, and the Altars bann'd Of th' holy Gods, Protectors of our Land? Since thy fond Preaching did heer first begin, More and more heavie hath Heav'ns anger bin Vpon vs all; and Baal, blasphem'd by thee, Hath since that season never left vs free▪ From grievous Plagues: it is a Hellwe feel, Our Heav'n is Brass, our Earth is all of Steel.

No, no, O King (if I the Truth shall tell) Thou, thou art he that troublest Israell. Thou (give me leave) thou and thy Grand-sires, mad▪ After strange Gods in every Grove to gad,

Have left the true, wise, wondrous (all-abroad) Omnipotent, victorious, glorious God: Such shall you proue him, if you dare oppone All your Baal-Prophets against me, but one.

Content, quoth Achab: then to Carmel's top The Schismik Priests were quickly called vp: Vnto their Baal an Altar build they there; To God, the Prophet doth another rear: Both have their Beasts; and by their prayer must prove Whose God is GOD, by Fier from Heav'n above. The People's eyes, and eares, and mindes are bent Vpon these Maruails, to observe th' euent (Maruails, which might well cleer the difference That had so long depended in suspence 'Twixt Israel and Iuda; and direct Th' Earth how to serue Heav'ns sacred Architect) As when two Buls, inflamed fiercely-fell,* 1.141 Met front to front, their forked arms do mell, The feeble Heards of Heifers in a maze Twixt hope and fear, vnfeeding, stand at gaze, To see the Fight, and censure which do prove The valiantest, that he may be their Loue.

Baal's baalling Priests call and cry out for life, They gash their flesh, with Launcet and with knife,* 1.142 They cruell make their blood to spin about (As Claret wine from a pearç't Peece doth spout) And, madly shaking heads, leggs, sides and arms, They howling chant these Dithyrambik charms;

Help, help, O Baal, O Baal attend our cryes, Baal, hear vs Baal, O Baal, bow down thine eyes: O Stratian, Clarian, Eleutherian Powrs, Panomphaean God, approve vs thine, thee ours: O Epicarpian! O Epistatirian, Phyxian, Feretrian, O Exacestirian, Xenian, Messapian, O Lebradean BAAL, O Assabine, BAAL-SAMEN, hear our Call.

Elijah, that their bloody Rites abhord, And knowes aright the seruice of the Lord,

T' appease his wrath he doth not scarre his skin; Nor with self-wounds presume his grace to win, Nor makes himself vnfitting for his function, By selfly stripes (as causing more compunction) Nor, thrild with bodkins, raves in frantik-wise, And in a furie seems to prophetize: But offers God his heart, in steed of blood; His speech is sober, and as milde his mood.

Cry loud, quoth he: your God is yet perchance* 1.143 In a deep sleep, or doth in Arms advance Against his Foes (th' Egyptian Deïties) Or is consulting how to keep the Flies From off his Altar. But, O Izrael! Alas! why yoakst thou God with Baal (or Bel)? Alas! how long thus wilt thou halt twixt either, And fondly mix Darnel and Wheat together In thy Faith's Field? If Baal be God indeed, Then boldly serue him, seek him sole at need: But, if blew Sea, and winged Firmament, Th' all-bearing Earth, and Storm-breed Element, Be but the least Works of th' Almighty hand Of Iacob's God: If Heav'n, Aire, Sea, and Land, And all in all, and all in euery one, By his owne finger be sustain'd alone: If he have cast those cursed Nations out, Which yerst defil'd this fair, fat Land about; To give it thee, to plant thee in their place, Why him alone doost thou not ay imbrace, And serue him onely in thy Soule and Heart, Who in his Love brooks none to share a part? The cord vn-twisted weakens: and who serves Two Lords at-once, to lose them both deserves. Baal dead (thouseest) hears not his Servants call, Much less can grant them their Desires at all: But, Iaacob's God, IEHOVA, ELOHIM, Never deceives their hope that trust in him.

Hear me therefore, O Lord, and from above With Sacred Fire (thy Soverain powr to prove)

Consume this Bullock, and shewe by the same That thou art GOD, and I thy Servant am: And to thy Fold (thy Churches Lap) repeal Thy wandring Flock, thy chosen Izrael.

As falls a Meteor in a Sommer Even,* 1.144 A sodain Flash coms flaming down from Heav'n, Licks dry the Dikes, and instantly, at-once, Burns all to Ashes, both the Altar-stones, And th' Offered Bullock: and the People fall In zealous fury on the Priests of Baal; And, by Elijah's prayer, soon obtain Rain, which so often they had askt in vain.

For, what is it Elijah cannot do? If he be hungry, Fouls, and Angels too, Becom his Stewards. Fears he th' armed Bands Of a fel Tyrant? from their bloody hands To rescue him, Heav'n (his confederate) Consumes with Fire them and their fierie hate. Or, would he pass a Brook that brooks no bay, Nor Bridge, nor Bank? The Water giues him way. Or, irks him Earth? To Heav'n alive he hies, And (sauing Henoch) onely He not-dies.

This Man of God, discoursing with his heir* 1.145 Of th' vpper Kingdom and of Gods Affair, A sodain whirl-winde, with a whiffing Fire, And flaming Chariot rapts him vp intire, Burns not, but fines; and doth (in fashion strange) By death-les Death, mortall immortall change. A long-tail'd squib, a flaming ridge, for rut Seems seen a while, where the bright Coach hath cut.

This sacred Rape, nigh rapt Elisha too; Who, taking vp his Tutors Mantle, tho, Follows as far as well he could with ey The fire-snort Palfreys, through the sparkling Sky; Crying, My father, father mine fare-well, The Chariots and the Horse of Izrael.

The Thisbian Prophet hangs not in the Air, Amid the Meteors to be tossed there,

As Mists and Rains, and Hail, and hoarie Plumes, And other Fierie many-formed Fumes: Amid the Air tumultuous Satan roules; And not the Saints, the happy, heav'nly Soules.

Nor is he nailed to some shining Wheel, Ixion-like continually to reel; For CHRIST his flesh transfigur'd, and divine, Mounted aboue the Arches Crystalline: And where CHRIST is, from pain and passion free, There (after death) shall all his Chosen bee.

Elijah therfore climbs th' Empyreal Pole, Where, ever-blest in body and in soule, Contemns this World, becoms an Angel bright, And doth him firm to the TRINE-ONE vnite.

But how, or why should He this vantage haue Yer CHRIST (right call'd the first-fruits of the Grave)? O happy passage! O sweet, sacred Flight! O blessed Rape! thou raptest so my spright In this Dispute, and mak'st my weaker wit So many wayes to cast-about for it, That (I confess) the more I do contend, I more admire, and less I comprehend.

For lack of wings, then biding heer belowe With his Successor, I proceed to showe, How, soon as he took-vp his Cloak (to bear-it)* 1.146 Within Elisha shin'd Elijah's Spirit; By powr whereof, immediatly he cleaves An vn-couth way through Iordan's rapid waves: Past hope he gives to the Sunamian Wife A Son; and soon restores him dead to life: With sodain blindness smightes the Syrian Troup The which in Dothan did him round in coup: Increaseth bread, and of a pound of Oyl Fills all the Vessels in a Town that while: His hoary head (in Bethel) laught to scorn, Is veng'd by Bears, on forty children torn: Naaman's cleans'd; and, for foul Simonie, Gehazi's punisht with his Leprosie:

Mends bitter Broath, he maketh Iron swim, As porie Cork, vpon the Water's brim.

Rich Iericho's (sometimes) sal-peetry soil, Through brinie springs that did about it boil, Brought forth no fruit, and her vn-holsom Brooks Voyded the Town of Folk, the Fields of Flocks: The Towns-men, therefore, thus besought the Seer; Thou seest our Citie's situation heer Is passing pleasant; but the ground is naught, The Water worse: we pray thee mend the fault, Sweeten our Rivers, make them pleasanter, Our Hills more green, our Plains more fertiler.

The Prophet calls but for a Cruse of Salt (O strangest cure!) to cure the brynie fault Of all their Floods; and, casting that in one Foul stinking Spring, heals all their streams anon: Not, for an houre, or for a day, or twain, But to this Day they sweet and sound remain.

Their Valley, walled with bald Hills before, But even a horror to behold, of-yore; Is now an Eden, and th' All-circling Sun, For fruitfull beauty, sees no Paragon. There (labour-les) mounts the victorious Palm, There (and but there) growes the all-healing Balm, There ripes the rare cheer-cheek Myrobalan, Minde-gladding Fruit, that can vn-olde a Man. O skilfull Husbands, giue your fattest Plains Five or six earths; spare neither cost nor pains, To water them; rid them of weeds and stones, With Muck and Marle batten and baste their bones; Vnles God bless your Labour and your Land, You plough the Sea, and sowe vpon the sand.

This, Iurie knowes; a Soil somtimes (at least) Sole Paradise of all the proudest East: But now the brutest and most barren place, The curse of God, and all the Worlds disgrace: And also Greece, on whom Heav'ns (yerst so good) Rain nothing now but their drad Furie's Flood.

The grace of God is a most sure Revenue, A Sea of Wealth, that ever shall continew, A never-failing Field, which needs not ay The cool of Night, nor comfort of the Day.

What shall I say? This sacred Personage Not only profits to his proper Age; But, after life, life in his bones hee leaves, And dead, the dead he raiseth from their graves.

Nor is Elisha famous more for Miracles, Than for the Truth of his so often Oracles: He showes the Palms and Foils of Israell, Benhadad's death, the Raign of Hazael: Beyond all hope, and passing all appearance, Deiected Ioram's neer relief he warrants.

For, now the Syrian, with insulting Powrs,* 1.147 So streict besiegeth the Samarian Towrs, That even al-ready in each nook agrising, Fell, wall-break (all-break) Famin, ill-advising Howls hideously: even the bare bones are seen (As sharp as kniues) thorough the emptie skin Of the best bred: and each-man seems (almost) No Man indeed, but a pale ghastly Ghost.

Som snatch the bread from their owne Babes, that pine; Som eat the Draff that was ordain'd for Swine, Som doo defile them with forbidden flesh, Som bite the grass their hunger to refresh; Som, gold for Birds-dung (waight for waight) exchange; Som, of their Boots make them a Banquet strange, Som fry the Hay-dust, and it savorie finde; Som, Almond-shels and Nut-shels gladly grinde, Som mince their Fathers Wills, in parchment writ, And so devoure their Birth-right at a bit.

The King, when wearie he would rest awhile, Dreams of the Dainties he hath had yer-while, Smacks, swallows, grindes both with his teeth and iaws; But, only winde his beguil'd bellie draws: And, then awaking, of his owne spare Diet Robbs his owne brest, to keep his Captains quiet.

He is importun'd heer and there, about: Aboue the rest, a Woman skrieketh out In moornfull manner, with disheueled haire; Her face despight, her fashion showes despaire.

O! stay my Liege, heat, hear a grieuous thing;* 1.148 Iustice, great Ioram, Iustice, gentle King. O, no, not Iustice: (did I Iustice craue?) Fondling, in Iustice, thou canst nothing haue But a iust death; nay, but a Torture fell, Nay, but a Torment, like the pains of Hell. Yet, even this Plea is worse then death to me: Then grant me Iustice, Iustice let it be. For (O!) what horror can restrain desire▪ Of iust Revenge, when it is once afire? My Lord, I bargain'd, and (to bind the Pact) By solemn Oath I sealed the Contract; Contract, indeed cruell, yet could not be Infring'd, or broken, without Crueltie. (Tell it O Tongue, why stay'st thou so vpon-it? Dar'st thou not say-it, hauing dar'd and don-it? Not having fear'd Heav'ns King, how canst thou fear An earthly King?) Then, thus (my Liege) while-yer. I, and my Neighbour desperately agreed, Iointly to eate, successiuely, our seed; Our owne deer Children: and (O luck-les Lot!) Mine first of all, is destin'd to the Pot: Forth-with I catch-him and I snatch him to-me Vp in mine armes: he straight begins to woo-me, Stroaks, colls, and huggs me, with his arms and thighes: And, smiling sweet, Mam-mam, mam-mam, he cryes, Then kisses me; and, with a thousand toyes, Thinks to delight me with his wonted ioyes. I looke away, and with my hand addrest, Bury my knife within his tender brest: And, as a Tigresse, or the Dam of Bears, A Fawn or Kid in hundred gobbets tears, I tear him quick, dress him, and on our Table▪ I set him: oh! ('tis now no time to fable)

I taste him first, I first the feast begin, His blood (my blood) runs round about my Chin, My Childe returns, re-breeding in my Womb; And of my Flesh my Flesh is shamefull Tomb: Soon cloyd (alas!) but little could I eat, And vp again that little striues to get. But she, she layes it in, she greedy plyes-it, And all night long she sits to gourmandize-it: Not for her fill so much, of such (think I) As to prolong the more my misery: O God, sayd she (and smiles in eating it) What a sweet morsell! what a dainty bit! Blest be the brest that nu••c't such meat for me; But more the Womb that bare it, so to be. So (to be brief) my Son is eat: But hers Alive and lustie in her arms she bears.

Why should her Pittie, rather her despight, Doo both her Faith, Me, and my Son, vn-right? Ah! for her belly, rather then her Boy, She playd this prank (and robd me of my Ioy). She did it not, of tender hart to save him; But, greedy-gut, that she alone might haue him. Therfore, O King, doo Iustice in this case: Nor craue I pardon of thy princely grace For mine Offence; (such an Offence, I knowe, As yet grim Minos never iudg'd belowe) For if I should, how should I doo, for meat; Not having now another Childe to eat? No: this is all I crave before I die, That I may taste but of Her sonns sweet thigh: Or, that (at least) mine eye, more iust then cruell, May see him slain by her, my Horrors Fuell.

But, if you waigh not mine vnfained ••ears (Indeed vn-worthy): yet vouchsafe your ears To the loud Plaints of my lamenting Son; Who, with strange murmurs rumbling vp and down, Seems in my bowels as reviv'd to groan, And to your Highnes, thus to make his moan;

Sir, will you suffer, without all revenge, Mens cursed malice boldly to infringe Law, Faith, and Iustice, Vows, and Oaths, and all; As buzzing Flies tear Cob-webs on a wall? Ah! shall I then descend alone belowe? Dy vn-reveng'd? foster my cruel Foe? And then-cast-forth in foulest Excrement, Infect the Aier, offend the Element; The while her Darling, on his Hobby-horse About the Hall shall ride, and prance, and course; And imitate Mens actions (as an Ape), Build paper-Towrs, make Puppets, sit in Lap? No: let him die, let him (as I) be cut, Let him (as I) be in two Bellies put: Full-fill the Pact; that so our wretched Mothers Their Guilt and Grief, may either's match with others.

The King, less mov'd with pitty than with horror, Thunders these words, raging in threat-full terror; Vengeance and mischief on mine owne head light, If curst Elisha keep his head this night: And, as he spake, forth in a rage he flings, To execute his bloody Threatenings.

Sir, said the Prophet, you have seen the skathe Deuouring Famin heer performed hath: But, by to-morrow this time (God hath said) Samaria's Gates shall even abound with Bread.

Tush (sayd a Minion of the Court, hard by, Of surly speech, proud gait, and lofty ey) Though God should open all Heav'ns windows wide, It cannot be: Yes, Infidell (reply'd The zealous Prophet) Thouthy Self (in sum) Shalt see it then: but slialt not taste a Crum. Thus said Elisha, and th' Almightie Powr Perform'd his Sayings in the very howr.

Her scarlet Robe Aurora had not donn'd, Nor had she yet limn'd the Euphratean strond With trembling shine, neither was Phoebus yet Willing to wake out of a drouzie Fit,

When pallid FEAR, flyes to the Pagan Hoast,* 1.149 Wilde-staring Hag, shiv'ring, and wavering most; She, that her voice and visage shifts so oft: She that in Counsails strives to lift aloft Irresolution, to be President (Canker of Honor, curse of Government): She that even trembles in her surest Arms, Starts at a leaf, swouns at report of harms: Beleeves all, sees all; and so swayeth all, That, if she say, the Firmament doth fall: There be three Suns: This, or that Mountain sinks: Paul's Church doth reel, or the foundation shrinks: It is beleev'd, 'tis seen: and, seis'd by Her, The other Senses are as apt to err.

Clashing of Arms, Rattling of iron Cars, Murmur of Men (a World of Soldiars) Neighing of Horse, noise of a thousand Drums With dreadfull sound from the next Vale ther coms.

The Syrian Camp, conceiuing that the Troups Of Nabathits, Hethits, and Ethyops, Hyr'd by th' Isaacians, came from every side, To raise their Siege, and to repell their pride; Fly for their lives, disordered and disperst (Amid the Mountains) so well-ordered yerst. One, in his Cap-case leaves-behinde his Treasure: To bridle's horse another hath not leasure; Another, hungry on the grass hath set His Break-fast out, but dares not stay to eat. One thinks him far, that yet hath little gon; Another weens him in plain ground, anon He breaks his neck into a Pit: another Hearing the Boughs that brush against each other, And doubting it to be the Conquerer, He wretched dies of th' only wound of FEAR.

As, after tedious and continuall rain,* 1.150 The honey-Flies haste from their Hiues again, Suck heer and there, and bear into their bowr The sweetest sap of euery fragrant flowr:

So from besieg'd Samaria each man hies, Vnto the▪ Tents of fear-fled Enemies; Wherein, such store of corn and wine they pill, That in one day their hungry Town they fill: And in the Gate, the Croud that issueth, Treads th' vnbeleeuing Courtier down to death; So that (at once) even both effects agree Iust with Elisha's holy prophecie.

From this School comes the Prophet Amethite, The twice-born Preacher to the Niniuite.

Ionas, be gon: hie, hie thee (said th' Almightie)* 1.151 To Niniuè, that great and wanton Citie: Cry day and night, cry out vnto them all; Yet forty daies, and Niniue shall fall.

But, 'gainst th' Eternall, Ionas shuts his eare, And ships himself to sail another-where: Wherfore, the Lord (incensed) stretcht his arm, To wrack the wretch in suddain fearfull Storm.

Now, Nereus foams, and now the furious waues* 1.152 All topsie-turned by th' Aeolian slaues, Do mount and roule: Heav'ns war against the Waters, And angrie Thetis Earth's green bulwarks batters: A sable ayrso muffles-vp the Sky, That the sad Saylers can no light descry: Or, if som beam break through their pitchy night, 'Tis but drad flashing of the Lightning's light.

Strike, strike our saile (the Master cries) amain, Vail misne and sprit-sail: but he cries in vain; For in his face the blasts so bluster ay, That his Sea-gibberish is straight born away.

Confused Cries of men dismay'd in minde, Seas angry noise, lowd bellowing of the winde, Heav'ns Thunder-claps, the tackles whisteling (As strange Musicians) dreadfull descant sing.

The Eastern winde driues on the roaring train Of white-blew billows, and the clouds again With fresh Seas crosse the Sea, and she doth send (In counter-change) a rain with salt y-blend.

Heav'ns (headlong) seem in Thetis lap to fall, Seas scale the skies, and God to arm this All Against one ship, that skips from stars to ground, From waue to waue (like Balloons windie bound) While the sad Pilot, on a foamy Mount, Thinks from the Pole to see Hells pit profound; And, then, cast down vnto the sandie shole, Seems from lowe Hell to see the lofty Pole: And, feeling foes within and eek without, As many waues, so many deaths doth doubt.

The Billows, beating round about the ship, Vncauk her keel, and all her seams vnrip; Whereby the waters, entring vncontroul'd, Ebbing abroad, yet flowe apace in hold: For euery Tun the plied Pump doth rid, A floud breaks in; the Master mastered With dread and danger (threatning euery-way) Doubts where to turn him, what to doo, or say, Which waue to meet, or which salt surge to flie; So yeelds his charge in Sea to liue or die.

As, many Cannons, 'gainst a Castle bent,* 1.153 Make many holes, and much the rampire rent, And shake the wall, but yet the latest shock Of fire-wingd bullets batters down the Rock: So, many mounts that muster 'gainst this Sail, With roaring rage doo this poor ship assail; But yet the last (with foaming fury swoln, With boistrous blasts of angry tempests boln) Springs the main-mast: the mast with boystrous fall Breaks down the deck, and sore affrights them all.

Pale Idol-like, one stands with arms a-cross: One moans himself: one mourns his childrens loss: One, more than Death, this form of Death affrights: Another calls on Heav'ns vn-viewed Lights: One, 'fore his eys his Ladies looks beholds: Another, thus his deadly fear vnfolds: Curst thirst of gold! O how thou causest care! My bed of Doun I change for hatches bare:

Rather than rest, this stormie war I chose: T' enlarge my fields, both land and life I lose: Like piezless plume, born-vp by Boreas breath, With all these wings I soar, to seek my death, To Heav'n and Hell, by angry Neptune led, Where least I scape it, all these sails I spread. Then thus another: Sure no winde (quoth he) Could raise this Storm; som rarer Prodigy Hath caus'd this Chaos (cause of all our grief) Some Atheist dog, som Altar-spoyling theef Lurks in this ship: com (Mates) by lot let's trie (To saue the rest) the man that ought to die.

'Tis I (quoth Ionas) I indeed am cause Of this black night, and all the fearfull flaws Of this rough Winter; I must sole appease (By my iust death) these wrath-full wrackfull Seas. Then vp they heave him straight, and from the waste Him suddainly into the Sea they cast.

The King of Windes calls home his churlish train, And Amphitritè smooths her front again: Th' Air's cloudy Robe returns to crystal cleer, And smiling Heav'ns bright Torches re-appeer, So soon as Ionas (to them all appease) O're head and eares was soused in the Seas.

Thrice coms he vp, and thrice again goes down Vnder the waves (yer he do wholly drown): But then he sinks, and (wretched) roul'd along The sands, and Oase, and rocks, and mud among; Thus, thus he cries with lips of zealous faith: Mercy (my God) shew mercy Lord (he saith).

Then God (who ever heares his childrens wish) Provided straight a great and mighty Fish, That swilling swallow'd Ionas in her womb, A living Corps laid in a living Toomb.

Like as a Roach, or Ruff, or Gudgeon, born.* 1.154 By som swift stream into a weer (forlorn) ••risks to and fro, aloft and vnder dyves, Fed with false hope to free their captive lyves:

The Prophet so (amazed) walks about This wondrous Fish to finde an issue out, This mighty Fish, o•• Whale-like huginess, Or bigger-bellied, though in body less.

Where am I, Lord? (alas!) within what vaults? In what new Hell doost thou correct my faults? Strange punishment! my body thou bereav'st, Of mother earth, which to the dead thou leav'st: Whither thy wrath drives me, I do not knowe. I am depriv'd of air, yet breathe and blowe: My sight is good, yet can I see no skie: Wretch, nor in Sea, nor yet a-shore am I: Resting, I run; for moving is my Cave: And, quick, I couch within a living Grave.

While thus he plain'd; the third day, on the sand The friendly Fish did cast him safe a-land. And then, as if his weary limbs had been So long refresht, and rested at an Inn, He seems to flie; and, com'n to Niniue, Your sins have reached vp to Heav'n (quoth he) Wo and alas, wo, wo vnto you all: Yet forty dayes and Ninive shall fall.

Thus Ionas preacht: But, soon the Citizens, Sincerely toucht with sense of their foul sins, Dispatch (in haste) to Heaven, Repentance sad, Sweet-charming Prayer, Fasting hairy-clad.

Repentance makes two Torrents of her eyes, Her humble brow dares scant behold the skies: Her sobbing brest is beaten blew and black: Her tender flesh is rent with rugged sack: Her head (all hoar'd with harty sorrows past) With dust and ashes is all over-cast.

Prayer's head, and sides, and feet are set about With gawdy wings (like Ioves Arcadian Scout): Her body flaming, from her lips there fumes. Nard, Incense, Mummy, and all rich Perfumes.

Fasting (though faint) her face with ioie she cheers, Strong in her weakness, young in aged yeers;

Quick health's preserver, curbing Cupid's fits, Watchfull, purge-humors, and refining-wits.

Then Faith (Grand Vsher of th' Empyreal Court) Vshers these Legats by a golden Port Into the Presence, and them face to face Before th' All-Monarch's glorious Throne doth place; Where (zealous) prostrate on her humble knee, Thus Prayer speaks in name of all the Three:

God, slowe to wrath! O Father, prone to grace! Lord, sheath again thy vengeance sword a space. If at thy beam of Iustice thou wilt waigh The works of men that wander every day: If thou their metall by that touch-stone try, Which fearfull-sounding from thy mouth doth flie: If thou shalt summ their Sins (which pass the sand) Before thee (Lord) who shall indure to stand? Not Ninive alone shall perish then; But all this All be burnt to ashes clean: And even this day shall thy iust wrath prevent The dreadfull Day of thy last Dooms event. This world to Chaos shall again return; And on thine Altars none shall incense burn.

O therfore spare (Lord) spare the Ninivites, Forgiue their Sins; and, in their humbled sprights, From this time forth thy sacred Laws ingrave: Destroy them not; but daign them Lord to save: Look not (alas!) what they have been before; But vs regard, or thine owne mercy more.

Then, God reacht out his hand, vnfolds his frowns, Dis-arms his arm of Thunder brusing-Crowns, Bows graciously his glorious flaming Crest, And mildely grants (in th' instant) their request.

FINIS.

THE DECAY. THE IIII. BOOK OF THE IIII. DAY OF THE II. WEEK.

THE ARGVMENT.

Ambition's bitter fruit, fel Achab's Stock, With his proud Queen (a painted Beauty-mock) Extirpt by IEHV, IEHV's ligne likewise Shallum supplants. King-killing Treacheries Succeed a-rowe, with Wrack of ISRAEL. Time-suiting Batts. Athaliah Tigress fel. IOASH well-nurtur'd, natur'd-ill, doth run After his kinde: he kills his Tutor's Son. ZENACHERIB: life-lengthned EZECHIAH: NABVCHADNEZAR: Captiue ZEDECHIAH.

HVff-pufft AMBITION, Tinder-box of WAR,* 1.155 Down-fall of Angels, Adam's murderer, Patent of Treasons, Reason's Contradiction, Earth's Enemie, and the Heav'ns Malediction, O! how much Blood hath thy respect-lesrage Shed in the World! showred on every Age! O! Scepter's, Throne's, and Crown's insatiat Thirst, How-many Treasons hast thou hatched yerst!

For, O! what is it that he dares not do, Who th' helm of Empire doth aspire vnto? He (to beguile the simple) makes no bone To swear by God (for he beleeues ther's none); His Sword's his Title; and who scapes the same, Shall haue a Pistol, or a Poysonie dram:

Hee, fear'd of all, fears all: he breaks at once The chains of Nature and of Nations: Sick of the Father, his kinde hart is woe, The good Old-man travails to Heav'n, so slowe: His owne deer Babes (yet Cradled, yet in Clouts) Haste but too-fast; are at his heels, hee doubts: He passeth to his promis'd Happiness, Vpon a Bridge of his Friends Carcases; And Mounts (in fine) the golden Throne, by stayrs Built of the Sculs of his owne Country's heirs. Yet, thou permit t'st it, Lord; nay, with thy wings, Coverest such Tyrants (even the shame of Kings). But, not for nothing doo'st thou them for bear; Their cruell scalps a cruell end shall tear: And, when the Measure of their Sin is full, Thy Hands are iron, though thy Feet be woll. The Throne of Tyrants totters to and fro: The blood-gained Scepter lasts not long (we knowe): Nail driveth Nail: by tragik death device, Ambitious harts doo play at* 1.156 leuel sice; Prov'd but too plain, in both the Houses Royall Of Iacobs issue, but too-too dis-loyall: As, if thou further with thy grace divine My Verse and Vows, shall heer appear (in time).

GOD NOVV no longer could support th' excess Of Achab's House, whose cursed wickedness Was now top-full: and, Doggs already stood Fawning and yawning for their promis'd blood. Heav'ns haste their Work. Now, in tumultuous wise, 'Gainst Achab's Son doo his owne Soldiars rise;* 1.157 Iehu's their Captain: who fore-sees, afar, How-much, dispatch advantageth in War; And, politik, doubles his Armie's speed, To get before, yea, before Fame, indeed.

Ioram, surpris'd in feeble Bull-warks then Vnfurnished of Victualls and of Men) And, chiefly, wanting royall fortitude, Vn-kingly yeelds vnto the Multitude.

Bold Nimshi's Son, Sir Iehu, what's this Thing? What mean these Troups? what would you of the King? Where shall the bolt of this black Thunder fall? Say, bring'st thou Peace? or bring'st thou War, withall? Sayd Ioram, lowd: but, Iehu lowder saith, No (wretch) no Peace, but bloody Wars and death. Then fled the King: and (as a Ship at Sea,* 1.158 Hearing the Heav'ns to threaten every way, And Winter Storms with absent Stars compact, With th' angrie Waters to conspire her wrack, Strives not to ride it out, or shift abroad, But plyes her Oares, and flyes into the Road) He ierks his Iades, and makes them scour amain, Through thick and thin, both over Hill and Plain.

Which, Iehu spying, and well eying too, As quick resolved what he hath to doo; Cryes, Boy, my Bowe: then nocks an Arrow right, His left hand meets the head, his brest the right; As bends his Bowe, he bends; lets go the string: Through the thin air, the winged shaft doth sing King Ioram's Dirgé; and, to speed the more, Pearces behinde him, and peeps-out before.

The Prince, now hurt (that had before no hart) Fall's present dead, and with his Courtly-Cart Bruis'd in the Fall (as had the Thisbite sayd) The Field of Naboth with his blood berayd: And Salem's King had also there his dew, For ioyning hands with so profane a Crew. Then, the proud Victor leads his loyall Troops Towards the Court (that all in silence droops); And, more for Self's loue, than for God's pure zeale, Means to dispatch th' Earth's burthen Iezabel.* 1.159

The Queen had inkling: instantly she sped To curl the Cockles of her new-bought head: Th' Onyx, the Saphyr, Garnet, Diamand, In various forms, cut by a curious hand, Hang nimbly dancing in her hair, as spangles: Or as the fresh red-yellow Apple dangles

(In Autumn) on the Tree, when to and fro The Boughs are waved with the windes that blowe.

The vpper garment of the stately Queen,* 1.160 Is rich gold Tissu, on a ground of green; Where th' art-ful shuttle rarely did encheck The* 1.161 cangeant colour of a Mallards neck: Tis figur'd o're with sundrie Flowrs and Fruits, Birds, Beasts, and Insects, creeping Worms, and N••uts, Of Gold-Smith's Work: a fringe of Gold about, With Pearls and Rubies richly rare set-out, Borders her Robe: and euery part descries Cunning and Cost, contending for the prize.

Her neat, fit, startups of green velvet bee, Flourisht with silver, and beneath the knee, Moon-like, indented; but t'ned down the side With Orient Pearls, as big as Filberd's pride.

But, besides all her sumptuous equipage* 1.162 (Much fitter for her State, then for her age) Close in her Closet, with her best Complexions, She mends her Face's wrinkle-full defections, Her Cheek she cherries, and her Ey she cheers, And fains her (fond) a Wench of fifteen yeers; Whether she thought to snare the Dukes affection: Or dazle, with her pompous Prides reflection, His daring eyes (as Fowlers, with a Glass, Make mounting ••arks com down to death apace): Or, were it, that in death she would beseen (As 'twere) interi'd in Tyrian Pomp, a Queen.

Chaste Lady-Mayds, heer must I speak to you, That with vile Paynting spoyl your natiue hue* 1.163 (Not to inflame yonglings with wanton Thirst; But to keep fashion with these Times accurst) When one new taen, in your seem-Beauties snare, That day and night to Hymen makes his Prayer, At length espies (as who is it but spyes?) Your painted brests, your painted cheeks, and eyes, His Cake is dough; God dild you, he will none; He l••aues his Suit, and thus he saith anon:

What should I doo with such a wanton Wife, Which night and day would ••ruciate my life With Ieloux pangs? sith every-way she sets Her borrow'd snares (not her owne hairs) for Nets▪ To catch her Cuckows; with loose, light Attires, Opens the door vnto all lewd Desires? And, with vile Druggs, adultering her Face, Closely allures th' Adulterer's Imbrace.

But, Iudge the best: suppose (saith he) I ••••nde My Lady Chaste, in body and in minde (As sure I think): yet, will she Me respect, That dares disgrace th' eternall Architect? That (in her pride) presumes his Work to tax Of imperfection; to amend his tracts, To help the Colours which his hand hath laid, With her frail fingers with foul durt berayd? Shall I take her, that will spend all I have, And all her time, in pranking proudly-braue?

How did I doat! The Gold vpon her head, The Lillies of her brests, the Rosie red▪ In either Cheek, and all her other Riches, Where-with she bleareth sight, and sense bewitches; Is none of hers: it is but borrow'd stuff, Or stoln, or bought, plain Counterfeit in proof: My glorious Idol I did so adore, Is but a Visard, newly varnisht ore With spauling Rheums, hot ••umes, and Ceruses: Fo, fy; such Poysons one would loath to kiss: Iwed (at least, I ween I wed) a Lass Yong, fresh, and fair: but, in a year (alas!) Or two, at most; my lovely lively Bride▪ I•• turn'd a Hagg, a Fury by my side; With hollow, yellow teeth (or none perhaps) With stinking breath, swart-cheeks, and hanging chaps; With wrinkled neck; and stooping as she goes, With driveling mouth, and with a sniveling nose.

The Queen, thus pranked, proudly gets her vp (But sadly though) to her gilt Palace top;

And, spying Iehu, from the window cry'd: Art thou there, Zimri, cursed Paricide, Fell Maister-killer, canst thou chuse but fear For like Offence, like punishment severe?

Bitch, cryes the Duke, art Thou there barking still? Thou, Strumpet, Thou art Cause of all this Ill: Thou, brought'st Samaria to Thine Idol-Sin: Painting and Poysning, first thou broughtest in To Court and Country, with a thousand mo Loose Syrian Vices, which I shame to showe. Thou brought'st-in Wrong, with rapine and Oppression, By Periurie supplanting Mens Possession And Life with-all: yea, Thou hast been the Baen Of Peers and Seers (at thy proud pleasure slain): Thou, life of Strife, thou Horse-leach sent from Hell, Thou Drouth, Thou Dearth, Thou Plague of Israel, Now shalt thou dye: Groomes (is their none for me?) Quick, cast her down, down with her instantly.

O tickle Faith! O fickle Trust of Court▪* 1.164 These Palace-mice, this busie-idle sort Of fawning Minions, full of sooths and smiles, These Carpet-Knights had vow'd and sworn yer-whiles, Promis'd, protested vnto Iezabel, Rav'd, Brav'd, and band (like Rodomont in Hell) That in her cause they every Man would die, And all the World, and Hell and Heav'n defie; Now, Icy Fear (shivering in all their bones) Makes them with Fortune turn their backs at-once. They take their Queen between their traytorous hands, And hurl her headlong, as the Duke Commands; Whose Courser, snorting, stamps (in stately skorn) Vpon the Corps that whilom Kings had born: And, to fulfill from point to point the Word Elijah spake (as Legat of the Lord) The doggs about doo greedy feed vpon The rich-perfumed, royall Carrion: And Folk by thousands issuing at the Gate, To see the sight, cry thus (as gladther-at)

Ses, ses, heer Doggs, heer Bitches, doo not spare This Bitch that gnaw'd her subiects bones so bare; This cruell Cur, that made you oft becom Saints Torturers, and many a Prophets Tomb: This Whore of Baal, tear her so small, that well No man may say, Heer lyeth Iezabel.

Iehu's drad Vengeance doth yet farther flowe; Curst Achab's issue he doth wholly mowe: He slayes (more-over) two and forty men Of Ahaziah's hap-les Bretheren: Baal's idoll Clergy he doth bring to nought, And his proud Temple turns into a Draught: Good proofs of Zeal. But yet, a Diadem, Desire of Raign, keeps from Ierusalem His service due; content (at home) by halves To worship God, vnder the form of Calves.

His Son and Nephews, track too-neer his trace; And therefore Shallum doth vn-horse his race: The murderer Shallum (after one Months Raign) By Manahem, as murdrously is slain: The traytor Manahem's wicked-walking Son, By trayterous Pekah vnto death is don: And so, on Pekah, for Pekaiah's death, Hosheah's treason, treason quittanceth; Aproud, in grate, perfidious troublous King, That to Confusion did Samaria bring.

Their Towns trans-villag'd, the Ten Tribes, transported To a far Clime (whence never they reverted) Soiourn in forein soyl, where Chobar's streams Serve them for Iordan; Basan, Chison seems: While Assur's scorn, and scum of Euphrates Dance vp and down th' Isaacian Palaces, Drink their best Nectars, anchor in their Ports, And lodge profanely in their strongest Forts.

But, changing air, these change not minde (in Iewry). For, though fierce Lions homicidial fury Make them retire vnder th' Almightie's wing, Their Country Gods with the true God they ming:

They mix his Service, plough with Ass and Ox; Disguise his Church in suits of Flax and Flocks, Cast (in one wedge) Iron and Gold together: Iew-Gentiles, both at-once: but, both is neither.

There is a Tale, that once the Hoast of Birds,* 1.165 And all the Legions of Groue-haunting Heards, Before the Earth ambitiously did striue, And counter-plead, for the Prerogatiue: Now, while the Iudge was giving audience, And either side in their seem-Rights defence Was hot and earnest at the noyse-full Bar, The neuter Bat stood fluttering still afar: But she no sooner hears the sentence past On the Beasts side, but shuffling her in haste Into their Troop, she them accompanieth, Showes her large forhead, her long ears, and teeth.

The Cause was (after) by Appeal remov'd To Nature's Court; who by her Doom approv'd The others Plea: then flyes the shame-les Bat Among the Birds, and with her Chit-chit-chat Shee seems to sing; and proud of wings, she playes With nimble turns, and flyes a thousand wayes.

Hence, beak-les Bird, hence, winged-Beast (they cryed) Hence, plume-les wings (thus scorn her, either side) Hence, harlot, hence; this ever be thy Dole; Be still Day's Prisoner in thy shamefull hole: May never Sun (vile Monster) shine on thee: But th' hate of all, for ever, may'st thou be.

Such is this People: for, in plentious showrs When God his Blessings vpon Isaak powrs,* 1.166 Then are they Isaak's Sons: but, if with thunder He wrath-full tear the Hebrue Tree in sunder, These Traytors rake the boughs, and take the Fruit; And (Pagans then) the Iews they persecute.

And such are those, whose wily, waxen minde Takes euery Seal, and sails with euery Winde; Not out of Conscience, but of Carnall motion, Of Fear, or Fauour, Profit, or Promotion:

Those that to ease their Purse, or please their Prince, Pern their Profession, their Religion mince; Prince-Protestants, Prince-Catholiks; Precise, With Such a Prince; with other, otherwise: Yea, oldest Gangraens of blinde-burning Zeal (As the Kings Evill) a new KING can heal.

And those Scoene-servers that so loud haue crid Gainst Prelats sweeping in their silken Pride, Their wilfull Dumbness, forcing others dumb (To Sion's grieuous Loss and Gain of Rome) Their Courting, Sporting, and Non-residence, Their Avarice, their Sloath, and Negligence: Till som fat Morsels in their mouths do fall; And then, as choakt, and sodain chang'd with-all, Them-selues exceed in all of these, much more Than the Right Reverend whom they taxt before.

And those Chamaeleons that con-sort their Crew; In Turky, Turks; among the Iewes, a Iew; In Spain, as Spain: as Luther, on the Rhine: With Calvin heer: and there, with Bellarmine: Loose, with the Lewd: among the gracious, graue: With Saints, a Saint: and among Knaues a Knaue.

But all such Neuters, neither hot nor cold, Such double Halters between GOD and GOLD, Such Luke-warm Lovers will the Bride-groom spue Out of his mouth: his mouth hath spoke it true.

O ISRAEL, I pity much thy case: This Sea of Mischiefs, which in every place So over-flowes thee, and so domineres; It drowns my soule in griefs, mine eyes in tears: My heart's through-thrilled with your miseries Already past; your Fathers Tragedies. But (O!) I die; when in the sacred stem Of royall IVDA, in Ierusalem, I see fell Discord, from her loath som Cage, To blowe her poyson with ambitious rage: Sion to swim in bloud: and Achab's Daughter Make David's House the Shambles of her Slaughter.

Cursed Atháliah (she was called so)* 1.167 Knowing her Son, by Mimshi's Son, his so (For Ioram's sake) to be dispatcht; disloyal, On th' holy Mount vsurps the Sceptre Royall: And, fearing, lest the Princes of the Bloud Would one-day rank her where of right she should, She cuts their throats, hangs, drowns, destroyes them all, Not sparing any, either great or small; No, not the infant in the Cradle, lying Help-les (alas!) and lamentably crying (As if bewailing of his wrongs vn-knowen); No (O extream!) she spareth not her owne.

Like as a Lion, that hath tatterd heer* 1.168 A goodly Heifer, there a lusty Steer, There a strong Bull (too-weak for him by half) There a fair Cow, and there a tender Calf; Strouts in his rage, and wallows in his Prey, And proudly doth his Victory suruay; The grass all goary, and the Heard-groom vp Shivering for fear vpon a Pine-Trees top: So swelleth she: so growes her proud Despight; Nor Aw, nor Law, nor Faith she reaks, nor right.

Her Cities are so many Groues of Thieves: Her Courta Stews, where not a chaste-one lives: Her greatest Lords (given all, to all excess) In stead of Prophets, in their Palaces Haue Lectures read of Lust, and Surfaiting, Of Murder, Magik, and Impoysoning.

While thus she builds her tottering Throne vpon Her childrens bones, Iehosheba saves one One Royall Imp, yong Ioash, from the pile (As, when a Fier hath fiercely rag'd awhile* 1.169 In som fair House, the avaricious Dame Saues som choise Casquet from the furious flame) Hides him, prouides him: and, when as the Sun* 1.170 Six times about his larger Ring hath run, Iehoiada (her husband) brings him forth To the chief Captains and the Men of worth;

Saying: Behold, O Chiefs of Iuda, see See heer your Prince, great Dauids Progeny, Your rightfull King: if me you credit light, Beleeue this Face, his Fathers Picture right; Beleeue these Priests, which saw him from the first, Brought to my House, there bred, and fed, and nurç't. In so iust Quarrel, holy Men-at-arms, Imploy (I pray) your anger and your Arms: Plant, in the Royall Plot, this Royall bud: Venge Obed's bloud on Strangers guilty bloud: Shake-off, with showts, with Fier, and Sword together, This Womans Yoak, this Furie's Bondage, rather.

Then showt the People, with a common cry, Long liue King Ioash; long, and happily:* 1.171 God saue the King: God saue the noble seed Of our true Kings; and ay may They succeed.

This news now bruited in the wanton Court, Quickly the Queen coms in a braving sort, Towards the Troop; and spying there anon The sweet yong Prince, set on a royall Throne, With Peers attending him on either hand, And strongly guarded by a gallant Band; Ah! Treason, Treason, then she cries aloud: False I'oyada, disloyall Priest, and proud, Thou shalt abie it: O thou House profane! I'll lay thee levell with the ground again: And thou, yong Princox, Puppet as thou art, Shalt play no longer thy proud Kingling's Part Vpon so rich a stage: but, quickly stript, With wyery Rods thou shalt to death be whipt; And so, go see thy Brethren, which in Hell Will welcom thee, that bad'st not them farwell.

But, so dainly the Guard layes hold on her And drags her forth, as 'twerea furious Cur, Out of the sacred Temple; and with scorn, Her wretched corps is mangled, tugg'd, and torn.

Th' High-Priest, inspired with a holy zeal, In a new League authentikly doth seal

Th' obedient People to their bountious Prince; And both, to God; by ioint Obedience.

Now, as a Bear-whelp, taken from the Dam,* 1.172 Is in a while made gentle, meek, and tame By witty vsage; but, if once it hap He get som Grove, or thorny Mountains top, Then playes he Rex; tears, kills, and all consumes, And soon again his savage kinde assumes: So Ioash, while good Ioyada survives, For Piety, with holy Dauid strives; But he once dead, walking his Father's wayes, (Ingrately-false) his Tutor's * 1.173 son he slayes. Him therfore shortly his owne Servants slay: His Son, soon after, doth Them like re-pay: His People, him again: then, Amaziah Uzziah follows, Ioatham Vzziah.

As one same ground indifferently doth breed* 1.174 Both food-fit Wheat and dizzie Darnell seed; Baen-baening * 1.175 Mug-wort, and cold Hemlock too; The fragrant Rose and the strong-senting Rue: So, from the Noblest Howses oft ther springs Som monstrous Princes, and som vertuous Kings; And all▪fore-seeing God, in the same Ligne Doth oft the god-les with the godly twine. The more to grace his Saints, and to disgrace Tyrants the more, by their owne proper Race.

Ahaz, betwixt his Son and Ioathan (He bad, they good) seems a swart Mauritan Betwixt two Adons: Ezekiah, plaç't Between his Father and his Son, is graç't (He good, they bad) as twixt two Thorns, a Rose; Wher-by, his Vertue the more vertuous showes. For, in this Prince, great DAVID, the divine,* 1.176 Devout, iust, valiant, seems again to shine. And, as we see from out the severall Seat Of th' ASIAN Princes, self-surnamed Great* 1.177 (As the great Cham▪ great Turk▪ great Russian, And if less Great, more glorious Persian)

Araxis, Chesel, Uolga, and many moe Renowned Rivers, Brooks, and Floods, do flowe, Falling at once into the Caspian Lake, Withall their streams his streams so proud to make:* 1.178 So, all the Vertues of the most and best Of Patriarchs, meet in this Princes brest: Pure in Religion, Wise in Counsailing, Stout in Exployting, Iust in Governing; Vn-puft in Sun-shine, vn-appall'd in Storms (Not, as not feeling, but not fearing Harms) And therefore brauely he repels the rage Of proudest Tyrants (living in his Age) And (ayvn-daunted) in his God's behalf Hazards at once his Scepter and himself.

For, though (for Neighbours) round about him raign Idolaters (that would him gladly gain): Though Godlings, heer of wood, and there of stone, A Brazen heer, and there a Golden one, With Lamps and Tapers, even as bright as Day, On every side would draw his minde astray: Though Assur's Prince had with his Legions fell Forrag'd Samaria, and in Israel Quencht the small Faith that was; and vtterly Dragg'd the Ten Tribes into Captivity, So far, that even the tallest Cedar-Tree In Libanon they never since could see: Yet, EZECHIAH serues not Time; nor Fears* 1.179 The Tyrants fury: neither roars with Bears, Nor howls with Wolues, nor ever turns away: But, godly-wise, well-knowing, that Delay Giues leave to Ill; and Danger still doth wait On lingering, in Matters of such waight; He first of all sets-vp th' Almightie's Throne, And vnder that, then he erects his owne. Th' establishing of Gods pure Law again, Is as the Preface of his happy Raign: The Temple purg'd, th' High-places down he pashes, Fells th' hallowed Groves, burns th' Idol-Gods to ashes.

Which his owne Father serv'd; and, Zeal-full, brake The Brazen Serpent, Moses yerst did make.

For, though it were a very Type of CHRIST, Though first it were by th' Holy-Ghost devis'd, And not by Man (whose bold-blinde Fancie's pride Deforms God's Service, strayes on either side, Flatters itself in his Inventions vain, Presumes to school the Sacred Spirit again, Controules the Word, and (in a word) is hot In his owne fashion to serue God, or not); Though the Prescript of Ancient vse defend it, Though Multitude, though Miracles commend it (True Miracles, approved in conclusion, Without all guile of Mens or Fiends illusion) The King yet spares not to destroy the same, When to occasion of Offence it came; But, forth' Abuse of a fond Peoples will, Takes that away which was not selfly ill: Much less permits he (thorough all his Land) One rag, one relique, or one signe to stand Of Idolism, or idle superstition Blindely brought-in, without the Words Commission.

This zealous Hate of all Abhomination, This royall Work of thorough Reformation, This worthy Action, wants not Recompence: God, who his grace by measure doth dispence, Who honors them that truly honour him, To EZHCHIAH not so much doth seem His sure Defence, as his Confederate: His Quarrel's His, He hates whom him do hate, His Fame He bears about (both far and high) On the wide wings of Immortalitie: To Gath He guideth his victorious Troup, He makes proud Gaza to his Standards stoup, Strong Ascalon he razeth to the ground: And punishing a People wholly drownd In Idolism, and all rebellious Sins, Adds to his Land the Land of Philistins.

Yea, further more, 'tis He that him with-draws From out the bloudy and ambitious paws Of a fell Tyrant, whose proud bounds extend Past bounds for breadth, and for their length past end; Whose swarms of Arms, insulting every-where, Made All to quake (even at his name) for fear.

Already were the Coelo-Syrian Towrs All sackt, and seiz'd by the Assyrian Powrs: And, of all Cities where th' Isaacians raign'd, Only the great Ierusalem remain'd; When Rabsakeh, with railing insolence,* 1.180 Thus braues the Hebrues and vp braids their Prince) (Weening, them all with vaunt-full Threats to snib); Thus saith th' almighty, great Zenacherib, O Salem's Kingling, wherfore art thou shut In these weak Walls? Is thine affiance put In th' Ayd of Egypt? O deceitfull prop! O feble stay! O hollow-grounded hope! Egypt's a staff of Reed, which broken soon, Runs through the hand of him that leans ther-on. Perhaps thou trustest in the Lord, thy God: What! whom so bold thou hast abus'd so broad, Whom to his face thou dayly hast defi'd, Depriv'd of Altars, robd on every side Of his High Places, hallowed Groves, and all (Where yerst thy Fathers wont on him to call)▪ Whom (to conclude) ▪thou hast exiled quite From every place, and with profane despight (As if condemned to perpetuall dark) Keepst him close-Prisoner in a certain Ark: Will He (can He) take Sion's part and Thine; And with his Foes will He vniustly ioyn? No (wretched) knowe, I haue His Warrant too (Express Commission) what I haue to doo: I am the Scourge of God, 'tis vain to stand Against the powr of my victorious hand: I execute the counsails of the Lord: I prosecute his Vengeance on th' abhorr'd

Profaners of his Temples: and, if He Have any Powr, 'tis all conferr'd to me. Yield therfore, Ezechia, yield; and waigh Who I am; who Thou art: and by delay Blowe not the Fier which shall consume thee quite, And vtterly confound the Israelite.

Alas! poor People, I lament your hap: This lewd Impostor doth but puff you vp With addle hope, and idle Confidence (In a delusion) of your God's Defence. Which of the Gods, against my Powr could stand, Or save their Citties from my mightier hand? Where's Hamath's God? Where's Arpad's God becom▪ Where Sepharvaim's God? and where (in summ) Where are the Gods of Heva, and Ivah too? Haue I not Conquer'd all? So will I doo You and your God; and I will lead you all Into Assyria, in perpetuall Thrall: I'll haue your Manna, and your Aron's Rod, I'll haue the Ark of your Almighty God, All richly furnisht, and new furbisht o'r, To hang among a hundred Tropheis more: And your great God shall in the Roule be read Among the Gods that I haue Conquered: I'll haue it so, it must, it shall be thus, And worse then so, except you yeeld to vs.

Scarce had he don, when Ezechias, gor'd With blasphemies so spewd against the Lord, Hies to the Temple, tears his purple weed, And fals to Prayer, as sure hold at need.

O King of All, but Ours, especially;* 1.181 Ah! sleep'st thou Lord? What boots it that thine ey Perceth to Hell, and even from Heav'n beholds The dumbest Thoughts in our hearts in-most folds; If thou perceiv'st not this proud Chalenger, Nor hear the Barking of this foul-mouth'd Cur? Not against vs so much his Threats are meant, As against Thee: his Blasphemies are bent

Against Thy Greatnes; whom he (proudly-rude) Yoaks with the Godlings which he hath sub dew'd. Tis true indeed, hee is a mighty Prince, Whose numbrous Arms, with furious insolence, Haue over-born as many as with-stood, Made many a Province even to swim in blood, Burnt many a Temple; and (insatiate still) Of neighbour Gods haue wholly had their will. But, O! What Gods are those? Gods void of Beeing (Saue, by their hands that serue them) Gods vn-seeing, New, vp-start Gods, of yerster-dayes devise; To Men indebted, for their Deities: Gods made with hands, Gods without life, or breath; Gods, which the Rust, Fier, Hammer conquereth.

But, thou art Lord, th' invincible alone, Th' All-seeing GOD, the Everlasting ONE: And, who so dares him gainst thy Powr oppose, Seems as a Puff which roaring Boreas blowes, Weening to tear the Alps off at the Foot, Or Clowds-prop Athos from his massie Root: Who but mis-speaks of thee, he spets at Heav'n, And his owne spettle in his face is driven.

Lord, shew thee such: take on thee the Defence Of thine owne glory, and our innocence: Cleer thine owne name, of blame: let him not thus Tryumph of Thee, in tryumphing of vs: But, let ther (Lord) vnto thy Church appear Iust Cause of Ioy, and to thy Foes of fear.

God hears his Cry, and (from th' Empyreal Round)* 1.182 He wrathfull sends a winged Champion down; Who, richly arm'd in more than humane Arms, Mowes in one night of Heathen men at Arms Thrice-three-score thousand, and five thousand more, Feld round about; beside, behinde, before.

Heer, his two eyes, which Sun-like brightly turn,* 1.183 Two armed Squadrons in a moment burn: Not much vnlike vnto a fier in stubble, Which, sodain spreading, still the flame doth double,

And with quick succour of som Southren blasts Crick-crackling quickly all the Country wastes.

Heer the stiff Storm, that from his mouth he blowes, Thousands of Souldiers each on other throwes:* 1.184 Even as a Winde, a Rock, a sodain Flood Bears down the Trees in a side-hanging Wood; Th' Yew overturns the Pine, the Pine the Elm, The Elm the Oak, th' Oak doth the Ash ore-whelm; And from the top, down to the Vale belowe, The Mount's dis-mantled, and even shamed so.

Heer, with a Sword (such as that sacred blade For the bright Guard of Eden's entry made) He hacks, he hews; and somtimes with one blowe A Regiment hee all at once doth mowe: And, as a Cannon's thundrie roaring Ball,* 1.185 Battering one Turret, shakes the next withall, And oft in Armies (as by proof they finde) Kils oldest Souldiers with his very winde: The whiffing Flashes of this Sword so quick, Strikes dead a many, which it did not strike.

Heer, with his hands he strangles all at-once Legions of Foes. O Arm that Kings dis-throans! O Army-shaving Sword! Rock-razing Hands! World-tossing Tempest! All-consuming Brands! O, let som other (with more sacred fier, Than I, inflam'd) into my Muse inspire The wondrous manner of this Overthrowe, The which (alas!) God knowes, I little knowe: I but admire it, in confused sort; Conceiue I cannot; and, much less, report.

Com-on Zenacherib: where's now thine Hoast? Where are thy Champions? Thou didst lately boast, Th' hadst in thy Camp as many Soldiers, As Sea hath Fishes, or the Heav'ns haue Stars: Now, th' art alone: and yet, not all alone; Fear, and Despair, and Fury wait vpon Thy shame-full Flight: but, bloody Butcher, stay▪ Stay, noysom Plague, fly not so fast away,

Fear not Heav'ns Fauchin; that foul brest of thine Shall not be honor'd with such wounds divine: Nor shalt thou yet, in timely bed decease; No: Tyrants vse not to Depart in Peace: As bloud they thirsted, they are drown'd in blood; Their cruell Life a cruell Death makes good.

For (O iust Iudgement!) lo, thy Sons (yer-long)* 1.186 At Nisroch's Shrine revenge the Hebrews wrong: Yea, thine owne Sons (foul eggs of fouler Bird) Kill their owne Father, sheath their either sword In thine owne throat; and, heirs of all thy vices, Mix thine owne bloud among thy Sacrifices.

This Miracle is shortly seconded By one as famous and as strange, indeed. It pleas'd the Lord with heavy hand to smight King Ezechiah; who in dolefull plight* 1.187 Vpon his bed lies vexed grieuously, Sick of an Vlcer past all remedy. Art fails the Leach, and issue faileth Art, Each of the Courtiers sadly wayles a-part His losse and Lord: Death, in a mourn-ful sort, Through every Chamber daunteth all the Court: And, in the City, seems in every Hall T' haue light a Taper for his Funerall.

Then Amos * 1.188 Son, his bed approaching, pours From plentious lips these sweet and golden showrs; But that I knowe, you knowe the Lawes Divine, But that your Faith so every-where doth shine, But that your Courage so confirm'd I see; I should, my Liege, I should not speak so free:* 1.189 I would not tell you, that in continent You must prepare to make your Testament: That your Disease shall haue the vpper hand: And Death already at your Door doth stand.

What? fears my Lord? Knowe you not heer beneath We alwayes say I towards the Port of Death; Where, who first anch'reth, first is glorified? That 'tis Decreed, confirm'd, and ratified,

That (of necessity) the fatall Cup. Once, all of vs must (in our turn) drink vp? That Death's no pain, but of all pains the end, The Gate of Heav'n, and Ladder to ascend? That Death's the death of all our storms and strife, And sweet beginning of immortall Life? For, by one death a thousands death's we slay: Thear-by, we rise from Body-Toomb of Clay. Thear-by, our Soules feast with celestiall food, Thear-by, we com to th' heav'nly Brother-hood, Thear-by, w'are chang'd to Angels of the Light, And, face to face, behold Gods beuties bright.

The Prophet ceast: and soon th' Isaacian Prince, Deep apprehending Death's drad form and sense, Vnto the Wall-ward turns his weeping eyes; And, sorrow-torn, thus (to himself) he cries:

Lord, I appeal, Lord (as thine humble childe)* 1.190 From thy iust Iustice to thy Mercy milde: Why will thy strength destroy a silly-one, Weakned and wasted even to skin and bone; One that adores thee with sincere affection, The wrack of Idols, and the Saints protection? O! shall the Good thy servant had begun For Sion, rest now by his death vndon? O! shall a Pagan After-king restore The Groues and Idols I haue raz'd before? Shall I dye Childe-les? Shall thine Heritage In vain exspect that glorious golden Age Vnder thy CHRIST? O! mercy, mercy, Lord: O Father milde, to thy dear Childe accord Som space of life: O! let not, Lord, the voice Of Infidels at my poor death reioyce.

Then said the Seer; Be of good cheer, my Liege:* 1.191 Thy sighes and tears and prayers so be siege The throne of Pitty, that, as pierçt with-all, Thy smyling Health God yieldeth to re-call, Wills, to his Temple (three dayes hence) thou mount, Retracts his Sentence, and corrects his count:

Makes Death go back, for fifteen yeers: as lo, This Dial's shadow shal heer back-ward go.

His Word's confirm'd with wonderfull Effect:* 1.192 For, lo, the Dial, which doth houres direct (Life's-guider, Daye's-divider, Sun's-Consorter, Shadow's dull shifter, and Time's dumb Reporter) Puts-vp-again his passed Houres (perforce) And, back-ward goes against his wonted course. 'Tis Noon at Mid-night; and a triple Morn Seems that long Day to brandish and adorn: Sol goes, and coms; and, yer that in the Deep Of Atlas shade he lay him down to sleep, His bright, Light-winged, Gold-shod wheels do cut Three times together in the self-same rut.

Lord! what are we! or, what is our deserving! That, to confirm our Faith (so prone to swarving) Thou daign'st to shake Heav'ns solid Orbs so bright; Th' Order of Nature to dis-order quight; To make the Sun's Teem with a swift-slowe pase, Back, back to trot; and not their wonted Race? That, to dispell the Night so blindely-black, Which siels our Soules, thou mak'st the shade go back On Ahaz Dial? And, as Self-vn-stable, Seem'st to revoke thine Acts irrevocable, Raze thine owne Dooms (tost in vn-steddy storm) And, to reform vs, thine owne speech reform; To giue thy Self the Ly: and (in a Word) As Self-blam'd, softly to put-vp thy Sword?

Thrice-glorious God! thrice-great! thrice-gracious! Heer-in (O Lord) thou seem'st to deal with vs, As a wise Father, who with tender hand* 1.193 Severely shaking the correcting Wand, With voice and gesture seems his Son to threat: Whom yet indeed he doth not mean to beat; But, by this curb of fained Rigor, aims To aw his Son; and so him oft reclaims.

This Prince no sooner home to Heav'n returns, But Israel back to his vomit turns;

Him re-bemires: and, like a head-strong Colt, Runs headlong down into a strange Revolt. And, though ••osias, Heav'n-deer Prince (vho yong Coms wisely-olde, to liue the older long) Had re-aduanç't the sacred Lawes divine, Propt Siou's Wall (all ready to decline) With his owne back; and, in his happy Raign, The Truth re-flowr'd, as in her Prime again: Yet Iaeob's Heirs striue to resemble still* 1.194 A stiff-throw'n Bowl, which running down a Hill, Meets in the way som stub, for rub, that stops The speed a space; but instantly it hops, It ouer-iumps; and stayes not, though it stumble, Till to the bottom vp-side-down it tumble.

With puissant Hoast proud Nebuchadnezzar Now threatned Iuda with the worst of War:* 1.195 His Camp coms marching to Ierusalem, And her olde Walls in a new Wall doth hem. The busie Builders of this newer Fold, In one hand, Swords, in th' other Trowels hold, Nor felder strike with blades than hammers there; With firmer foot the Sieged's shock to bear, Who seem a swarm of Hornets buzzing out Among thir Foes, and humming round about To spet their spight against their Enemies, With poysonie Darts, in noses, brows and eyes.

Cold Capricorn hath pav'd all Iuda twice With brittle plates of crystal-crusted Ice, Twice glased Iordan; and the Sappy-blood Of Trees hath twice re-perriwigd the Wood, Since the first Siege: What? sayd the yonger sort, Shall we growe olde, about a feeble Fort? Shall we (not Martial, but more Maçon-skild) Shall we not batter Towrs, but rather build? And while the Hebrue in his sumptuous Chamber Disports himself, perfum'd with Nard and Amber, Shall We, swelting for Heat, shivering for Cold, Heer, far from home, lie in a stinking Hold?

Shall time destroy vs? shall our proper sloath Annoy vs more than th' Hebrues valour doth? No, no, my Lord: let not our Fervour fault, Through length of Siege; but let vs to th' Assault. Let's win't and wear it: tut (Sir) nothing is Impossible to Chaldean courages.

Contented, sayd the King: braue Bloods away, Goeseck Renown, 'mid wounds and death, to-day.

Now, in their breasts, braue Honor's Thirst began:* 1.196 Me thinks, I see stout Nabuzaradan Already trooping the most resolute Of every Band, this plot to prosecute. Each hath his Ladder; and, the Town to take, Bears to the Wall his Way vpon his back: But, the braue Prince cleaues quicker then the rest His slender Firr-poles, as more prowes-full prest.

Alike they mount, affronting Death together;* 1.197 But, not alike in face, nor fortune neither: This Ladder, slippery plaç't, doth slide from vnder: That, over-sloap, snaps in the midst asunder, And souldiers falling, one another kill (As with his weight, a hollow Rocky-Hill,* 1.198 Torn with som Torrent, or Tempestuous windes, Shivers it self on stones it vnder-grindes): Som, rashly climb'd (not wont to climb so high) With giddy brains, swim headlong down the Sky: Som, over-whelmd vnder a Mill-stone-storm, Lose, with their life, their living bodies form.

Yet mounts the Captain, and his spacious Targe Bears-off a Mountain and a Forest large Of Stoans and Darts, that fly about his ears; His teeth do gnash, he threats, he sweats, and swears: As steady thear as on the ground he goes; And thear, though weary, he affronts his Foes, Alone, and halfly-hanging in the ayr, Against whole Squadrons standing firmly fair: Vpright he rears him and his Helmet braue (Whear, not a Plume, but a huge Tree doth wave)

Reflecting bright, above the Paripet, Affrights th' whole Citty with the shade of it. Then as half Victor, and about to venter Over the Wall, and ready even to enter; With his bright Gantlet's scaly fingers bent Grasping the coping of the battlement, His hold doth fail, the stones, vn-fast••ed, fall Down in the ditch, and (headlong) he with-all: Yet, he escapes, and getts again to shoar; Thanks to his strength: but, to his courage more.

Now, heer (me thinks) I hear proud Nergal raue,* 1.199 In War (quoth he) Master or Match to haue, By Mars I skorn▪ yea, Mars himself in Arms; And all the Gods, with all their braving Storms. O wrathfull Heav'ns, roar, lighten, thunder, threat; Gods, do your worst; with all your batteries beat: If I begin, in sp••ght of all your powrs, I'll skale your Walls, I'll take your Crystall Towrs. Thus spewd the Curr; and (as he spake) withal Climbs-vp the steepest of a dreadfull Wall, With his bare-feet on roughest places sprawling, With hook-crookt hands vpon the smoothest crawling.

As a fell Serpent, which som Shepheard-lad* 1.200 On a steep Rock incounters gladly-••ad, Turning and winding nimbly to and fro, With wriggling pase doth still approach his Foe, And with a Hiss, a Frisk, and flashing ey, Makes soudainly his faint Assailer fly: Even so the Duke, with his fierce countenance, His thundring-voice, his helms bright radiance, Drives Pashur from the Walls and Iucal too (A iolly Prater but a Iade to doo; Brauer in Couns••il then in Combat, far) With Sephatiah, tinder of this War; And Malchy, he that doth in Prison keep Vnder the ground (a hundred ••ubits deep) Good ••eremie, and instrument, alone Inspir'd with breath of th' ever-living ONE.

Let's fly, cries P••shur: fly this Infidell, Rather this Fiend, the which no waight can fell. What force can front, or who in count ••r can An armed Faulcon, or a flying Man?

While Nergal speeds his Victory too-fast, His hooks dis-pointed disappoint his haste; Prevent him, not of praise, but of the Prize Which (out of doubt) he did his owne surmize. He swears and tears: (what should? what could he more)? He cannot vp, nor will he down, therefore. Vnfortunate! and vainly-valiant! He's fain to stand like the Funambulant* 1.201 Who seems to tread the air, and fall he must, Save his Self's waight him counter-poyseth iust; And saue the Lead, that in each hand he bears, Doth make him light: the gaping Vulgar fears, Amaz'd to see him; weening nothing stranger Than Art to master Nature, lucre danger. At last, though loath (full of despight and rage) He slideth down into a horrid hedge, Cursing and banning all the Gods; more mad For the disgrace, than for the hurt he had.

Els-where the while (as imitating right The Kinde-blinde Beast, in russet Velvet dight)* 1.202 Covertly marching in the Dark by day, Samgarnebo seeks vnder ground his way. But Ebedmelech, warn'd of his Designes, With-in the Town against him counter-mines Courageously, and still proceedeth on, Till (resolute) he bring both Works to one; Till one strict Berrie, till one winding Cave Becom the Fight-Field of two Armies brave.

As the self-swelling Badgerd▪ at the bay* 1.203 With boldest Hounds (inured to that Fray) First at the entry of his Burrow fights, Then in his Earth; and either other bites: The eager Dogs are cheer'd with claps and cryes, The angry Beast to his best chamber flies,

And (angled there) sits grimly inter-gerning; And all the Earth rings with the Terryers yearning: So fare these Miners; whom I pitty must, That their bright Valour should so darkly ioust.

While hotly thus they skirmish in the Vault, Quick Ebedmelech closely thither brought A Dry-Fat sheath'd in latton plates with-out, With-in with Feathers fill'd, and round about Bor'd full of holes (with hollow pipes of brass) Save at one end, where nothing out should pass; Which (having first his Iewish Troops retir'd) Iust in the mouth of th' enter-Mine he fir'd: The smoak wherof with odious stink doth make The Pagans soon their hollow Fort forsake: As from the Berries in the Winter's night* 1.204 The Keeper draws his Ferret (flesht to bite).

Now Rabshakeh (as busie) other-where A rowling Towr against the Town doth rear, And on the top (or highest stage) of it A flying Bridge, to reach the Courtin ••it, With pullies, poles; and planked Battlements On every story, for his Men's defence. On th' other side, the Towns-men ar•• not slowe With counter-plots to counter-push their Foe: Now, at the woodden side, then at the front; Then at the Engins of the Persian Mount, With Brakes and Slings, and* 1.205 Phalariks they play, To fier their Fortress and their Men to slay: But yet, a Cord-Mat (stifly stretcht about) Defends the Towr, and keeps their Tempests out.

While thus they deal; Sephtiah, desperat, Him secretly out of the Citty gat, And with a Pole of rozen-weeping Fir, So furiously he doth himself bestir, That with the same the walking Fort he fiers: The cruel flame so to the top aspires, That (maugre Blood, shed from aboue in slaughter, And, from belowe, continuall spouting Water)

It parts the Fray: stage after stage it catches, And th' half-broyld Souldiers head long down it fetches.

The King (still constant against all extreams) To press them neerer yet; with mightie beams Rears a new Plat-form, neerer to the Wall, And covers it, with three-fold shelter, all; The Timber (first) with Mud, the Mud with Hides, The Hides with Woll-sacks (which all Shot derides).* 1.206 As th' Aier exhaled by the fiery breath Of th' Heav'nly Lion, on an open Heath, Or on the tresses of a tufted Plain, Pours-down at-once both Fier and Hail and Rain: So all at-once th' Isaacia•• Souldiers threw Floods, Flames, and Mountains on these Engines new; But th' hungry Flames the Muddy-damp repels, The Mounts, the Wooll; the drowning Floods, the Fel••.

Thear-vnder (safe) the Ram with iron horn, The brazen-headed clov'n-foot Capricorn, The boistrous Trepane, and steel Pick-ax play Their parts apace, not idle night nor day. Heer, thorough-riv'n from top to toe, the Wall On reeling props hangs, ready ev'n to fall: There, a vast-Engine thundreth vp-side-down The feeble Courtin of the sacred Town.

If you haue been, where you haue seen som-whiles,* 1.207 How with the Ram they driue-in mighty Piles In Dover Peer, to bridle with a Bay The Sand-cast Current of the raging Sea; Swift-ebbing streams bear to the Sea the sownd, Eccho assisteth, and with shrill rebound Fils all the Town, and (as at Heav'nly Thunder) The Coast about trembles for fear and wonder: Then haue you heard and seen the Engins beating On Sion's Walls, and her foundations threating.

In fine, the Chaldeis take Ierusalem, And reave for ever Iuries Diadem. The smoaky burning of her Turrets steep Seems even to make the Sunn's brightey to weep:

And wretched Salem, buried (as it were) Vnder a heap of her owne Children dear, For lack of Friends to keep her Obsequies, Constraineth sighs (even) from her Enemies. Her massie Ruins and her Cinders showe Her Wealth and Greatnes, yer her overthrowe. A sodain horror seizeth every eye That views the same: and every Passer-by (Yea, were he Gete, or Turk, or Troglodite) Must needs, for pitty of so sad a Sight, Bestowe som tears, som swelling sighs, or grones Vpon these batter'd sculs, these scatter'd stones. In Palaces, where lately (gilded rich) Sweet Lutes were heard, now luck-les Oules doo screech: The sacred TEMPLE, held (of late) alone Wonder of Wonders, now a heap of stone: The House of God (the Holyest-Holy-Place) Is now the House of Vermin vile and base: The Vessels, destin'd vnto sacred vse, Are now profan'd in Riot and Abuse: None scapeth wounds, if any scape with life: The Father's reft of Son, the Man of Wife: Iacob's exil'd, Iuda's no more in Iury, But (wretched) sighes vnder the Chaldean fury.

Their King in chains, with shame and sorrow thrill'd,* 1.208 Before his face sees all the fairest pill'd; Yea, his owne Daughters, and his▪ Wives (alas!) (Rich Vines and Oliues of his lawfull Race) Whose loue and beauty did his age delight, Shar'd to the Souldiers, ravisht in his sight.

O, Father, Father, thus the Daughters cry (About his neck still hanging tenderly) Whither (alas!) O, whither hale they vs? O, must we serue their base and beastly Lusts? Shall they dissolue our Virgin-zones? Shall they (Ignoble Grooms) gather our Mayden-May, Our spot-les Flowr, so carefully preserv'd For som great Prince, that mought haue vs deserv'd?

O Hony-dropping Hills we yerst frequented, O Milk-full Vales, with hundred Brooks indented▪ Delicious Gardens of deer Israel; Hills, Gardens, Vales, we bid you all fare-well: We (will-we-nill-we) hurried hence, as slaues, Must now, for Cedron, sip of Tygris waues; And (weaned from our natiue Earth and Air) For Hackney-Iades be sold in every Fayr. And (O hearts-horror!) see the shame-les Foe, Forcing our Honors, triumph in our woe.

All-sundring Sword! and (O!) all-cindring Fire! Which (mercy-les) do SION's Wrack conspire, Why spare you vs, more cruell (cri'd the Wives) In leaving ours, then reaving other's lives? Your Pitie's pity-les, your Pardon Torture: For, quick dispatch had made our Sorrows shorter; But your seem-Favour, that prolongs our breaths, Makes vs, aliue, to die a thousand Deaths. For, O deer Husband, deerest Lord, can wee, Can we survive, absented quight from Thee, And slaues to those whose Talk is nothing els But thy Disgrace, thy Gyves, and Israels? Can we (alas!) exchange thy Royall bed (With cunning-cost rare richly furnished) For th' vgly Cabbin and the louzie Couch Of som base Buffon, or som beastly Slouch? Can we, alas! can wretched we (I say) We, whose Commands whole Kingdoms did obay, We, at whose beck even Princes knees did bend, We, on whose Train ther dayly did attend Hundreds of Eunuchs, and of Maids of Honour (Kneeling about vs in the humblest manner) To dress vs neat, and duly every Morn In Silk and Gold our Bodies to adorn; Dress others now? work, on disgrace-full frame (Weeping the while) our SION's wo-full flame? Dragging like Moyls? drudge in their Mills? and hold Brooms in our hands, for Sceptre-Rods of gold?

Com, Parrots, com, y' haue prated, now enough (The Pagans cry in their insulting ruff) On Chaldè shoars you shal go sigh your fill, You must with vs to Babel: there at will You may bewail: there, this shal be your plight, Our Mayds by day, our Bed-fellows by night. And, as they spake, the shame-les lust-full crew With furious force the tender Ladies drew Even from between th' arms of the woe-full King, Them haling rough, and rudely hurrying; And little lackt the act of most despight, Ev'n in their Father's and their Husbands sight, Who, his hard Fortune doth in vain accuse, In vain he raves, in vain he roars and rews: Even as a Lion, prisoned in his grate, Whose ready dinner is bereft of late, Roars hideously; but his fell Fury-storm May well breed horror, but it brings no harm.

The proud fell Pagans doo yet farther pass: They kill, they tear, before the Father's face (The more to gore: what Marble but would bleed?) They massacre his miserable seed.

O! sayd the Prince, can you less pitious be To these Self-yielders (prostrate at your knee) Than sternly-valiant to the stubborn-stout That 'gainst your rage courageously stood-out? Alas! what haue they don? what could they doo To vrge revenge and kindle wrath in you? Poor silly Babes vnder the Nources wing, Haue they conspir'd against the Chaldean King? Haue these sweet Infants that yet cannot speak, Broak faith with you? Haue these, so yong and weak, Yet in their Cradle, in their Clouts, bewayling Their Woes to-come (to all Man-kinde, vnfayling) Dis-ray'd your Ranks? Haue these that yet doo craul Vpon all fowre, and cannot stand, at all, With-stood your Fury, and repulst your Powrs, Frustred your Rams, fiered your flying Towrs?

And, bravely sallying in your face (almost) Hew'n-out their passage thorough all your Hoast?

O! no, Chaldeans, only I did all: I did complot the King of Babels fall: I foyld your Troups: I filld your sacred Flood With Chaldean bodies, dy'd it with your blood. Turn therfore, turn your bloody Blades on-me; O! let these harm-less Little-ones go free; And stain not with the blood of Innocents Th' immortall Tropheis of your high Attents. So, ever may the Riphean Mountains quake Vnder your feet: so ever may you make South, East, and West your owne: on every Coast So, ay victorious march your glorious Hoast: So, to your Wiues be you thrice welcom home, And so God bless your lawfull-loved womb With Self-like Babes, your substance with increase, Yourselues (at home) with hoary haires in Peace.* 1.209

But, as a Rock, gainst which the Heav'ns do thunder, Th' Air roars about, the Ocean rageth vnder, Yields not a iot: no more this savage Crew; But rather, muse to finde-out Tortures new. Heer, in (his sight) these cruell Lestrigons Between them take the eldest of his Sons, With keenest swords his trembling flesh they heaw, One gobbet heer, another thear they streaw. And from the veins of dead-lyve limbs (alas!) The spirit-full blood spins in his Father's face. Thear, by the heels his second Son they take, And dash his head against a Chimnies back: The skull is pasht to peeces, like a Crock, Or earthen Stean, against a stony Rock: The scatterd batterd Brains, about besmeard, Som hang (O horror▪) in the Fathers beard. Last, on himself their savage fury flyes, And with sharp bodkins bore they out his eyes▪ The Sun he loses, and an end-les night Beclowds for euer his twin-balled sight:

He sees no more, but feels the woes he bears; And now for crystall, weeps he crimsin tears. For, so God would (and iustly too, no doubt) That he which had in Iuda clean put-out Th' immortall Lamp of all religious light, Should have his eyes put-out, should lose his sight; And that his body should be outward blinde, As inwardly (in holy things) his minde.

O Butchers (sayd he) satiat your Thirst, Swill, swill your fill of Blood, vntill you burst: O! broach it not with bodkin, but with knife; O! reaue me not my bodie's light, but life: Give me the sight not of the Earth, but Skies: Pull-out my heart: O! poach not out mine eyes. Why did you not this barbarous deed dispatch, Yer I had seen me an vn-sceptred Wretch, My Citties sackt, my wealthy subiects pilld, My Daughters ravisht, and my Sonns all killd? Or else, why stayd you not till I had seen Your (Beast-like) Master grazing on the Green: The Medes conspiring to supplant your Throne: And Babel's glory vtter ouerthrowne? Then had my soule with Fellow-Falls bin eas'd, And then your pain, my pain had part appeas'd.

O ragefull Tyrants! moody Monsters, see, See heer my Case; and see yourselues in me. Beware Contempt: tempt not the Heav'nly Powrs, Who thunder-down the high-aspiring Towrs; But mildely pardon, and permit secure Poor Cottages that lie belowe obscure: Who Pride abhor; who lift vs vp so high, To let vs fall with greater infamy. Th' Almighty sports him with our Crowns and vs; Our glorie stands so fickle-founded thus On slippery wheels, alreadie rowling down: He gives vs not, but only shewes the Crown: Our Wealth, our Pleasure, and our Honour too (Wher at the Vulgar make so much a-doo)

Our Pomp, our State, our All that can be spoken, Seems as a glass, bright-shining, but soon broken.

Thrice-happy He, whom with his sacred arm, Th' Eternall props against all Haps of harm: Who hangs vpon his prouidence alone, And more preferrs GOD'S Kingdom than his owne.

So happy be great BRITTANNE Kings (I pray) Our Soveraigne IAMES, and all his Seed, for ay; Our hope-full HENRY, and a hundred mo Good, faithfull STVARTS (in successiue rowe) Religious, righteous, learned, valiant, wise, Sincere to Vertue, and seuere to Vice; That not alone These dayes of Ours may shine In Zeal-full Knowledge of the TRVTH divine And We (illightned with her sacred rayes) May walk directly in the Saving wayes Offaith-full Seruice to the ONE true Deitie, And mutuall Practise of all Christian Pietie; But, that our Nephews, and their Nephews (till Time be no more) may be conducted still By the same Cloud by day, and Fier by night (Through this vast Desart of the World's despight) Towards their Home, the heav'nly CANAAN, Prepared for vs yer the World began: That they with vs, and we (complete) with them, May meet triumphant in IERVSALEM; With-in whose Pearly Gates and Iasper Walls (Whear, th' Holy LAME keeps his high Nuptialls, Whear needs no shining of the Sun, or Moon; For, God's owne face makes there perpetuall Noon: Whear shall no more be Waylings, Woes, nor Cryes▪ For, God shall wipe all tears from weeping eyes) Shall enter nothing filthy or vnclean; No Hog, no Dog, no Sodomit obscoene, No Witch, no Wanton, no Idolater, No Thief, no Drunkard, no Adulterer, No Wicked-liuer, neither wilfull Lyer: These are without, in Tophet's end-les Fier.

Yet, such as these (or som of these, at least) We all haue been: in som-what all haue mist (And, had we broken but one Precept sole, The Law reputes vs guiltie of the whole): But, we are washed, in the Sacred-Flood; But, we are purged, with the Sprinkled-Blood; But, by the Spirit, we now are sanctify'd; And through the Faith in IHSVS, iustify'd. Thearfore no more let vs our selues defile, No more returne vnto our Vomit vile, No more profane vs with Concupiscence, Nor spot the garment of our Innocence: But, constant in our Hope, feruent in Love (As even al-ready conuersant Above) Proceed we cheerely in our Pilgrimage Towards our happy promis'd Haeritage, Towards That Cittie of heart-bound-les Bliss Which CHRIST hath purchast with his Blood, for His: To Whom, with FATHER, and the SPIRIT, therfore Bee Glory, Prayse, and Thanks, for-evermore.

Amen Amen Amen.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Saul king of Is∣raell, fortunate at the first, is af∣terward reiec∣ted, and Dauid elected in his fleed.
• * 1.2

  Invocation.
• * 1.3

  Iessè (or Ishai) sendeth Dauid to see his brethrē in the Campe.
• * 1.4

  Description of Goliah.
• * 1.5

  Simile.
• * 1.6

  His brauing De∣fiance to the Hoast of Israell.
• * 1.7

  Simile.
• * 1.8

  Saul stirreth vp his Souldiers & proposeth ample Reward to him that shall vnder∣take the Phili∣stine.
• * 1.9

  Dauids offer.
• * 1.10

  His assurance.
• * 1.11

  Simile.
• * 1.12

  Simile.
• * 1.13

  Simile.
• * 1.14

  Simile.
• * 1.15

  Goliah over∣throwne.
• * 1.16

  Simile.
• * 1.17

  Simile.
• * 1.18

  Simile.
• * 1.19

  Dauids Thanks∣giving for the victory.
• * 1.20

  Effect•• of Mu∣sick
• * 1.21

  Examples of the same.
• * 1.22

  Simile.
• * 1.23

  Sauls Envy to Dauid.
• * 1.24

  Ionathan's loue to Dauid.
• * 1.25

  Anti-Bell••rmin & His Disciples; Authors or Fau∣tors of our Pow∣der-Mine.
• * 1.26

  The Woman Witch of Endor.
• * 1.27

  Against those that resort to Witches.
• * 1.28

  Against th' illu∣sion of Sathan false Apparitiōs and Walking Spirit••.
• * 1.29

  Simile.
• * 1.30

  Simile.
• * 1.31

  How Sathan comes to tell things to-come.
• * 1.32

  Saules death.
• * 1.33

  Against Self∣killing.
• * 1.34

  Comparison.
• * 1.35

  Epitome of Dauids Vertues.
• * 1.36

  N••b••••.
• * 1.37

  Of his valour and victories.
• * 1.38

  Pompey.
• * 1.39

  His Pöesi••.
• * 1.40

  VRANIA's Lullaby.
• * 1.41

  Excellencie of the Psalmes of Dauid.
• * 1.42

  A kinde of light mantle made of a thin checkerd Cloth, worne by the Hilmen in Scot∣land: and now much vsed with vs for Saddle∣clothes.
• * 1.43

  Bersabé hathing.
• * 1.44

  Dauid gazing.
• * 1.45

  Simile.
• * 1.46

  Simile.
• * 1.47

  Simile.
• * 1.48

  The Prophet Nothan's Pa∣rable, reprouing Dauid.
• * 1.49

  The Plague of Pestilence.
• * 1.50

  ••mile.
• * 1.51

  Dauids Repen∣tance.
• * 1.52

  Psal. 51.
• * 1.53

  Application to France.
• * 1.54

  The like to Eng∣land, now for many yeares together grie∣uously afflicted with the Plague.
• * 1.55

  Simile.
• * 1.56

  Simile.
• * 1.57

  Simile.
• * 1.58

  Dauids instruc∣tions to his Son Salomon.
• * 1.59

  A king (first of all) ought to bee Religious.
• * 1.60

  Valorous.
• * 1.61

  Impartial in be∣stowing Prefer∣ments.
• * 1.62

  Simile.
• * 1.63

  Impatient of Parasites & Flatterers.
• * 1.64

  To banish A∣theists and all notoriously wic∣ked persons from his presence.
• * 1.65

  To over-Rule his owne Passiōs & Affections.
• * 1.66

  To be milde and gratious.
• * 1.67

  To be faithful of his promise.
• * 1.68

  To be readier to Reward then Punish.
• * 1.69

  Not to be Quarellous yet quick and coura∣gious in a iust Cause.
• * 1.70

  His exercises in Warre.
• * 1.71

  In Peace not to be over-studi∣ous: yet, to vn∣derstand the Principals of all Prince-fit Sci∣ences.
• * 1.72

  Simile.
• * 1.73

  The principal & peculiar office of a King.
• * 1.74

  Simile.
• * 1.75

  Hic labor, hoc Opus.
• * 1.76

  Initium Regni SALOMON.
• * 1.77

  His Vision.
• * 1.78

  Description of Glory.
• * 1.79

  Of Riches.
• * 1.80

  Of Health.
• * 1.81

  Of Wisedom.
• * 1.82

  Salomons choise.
• * 1.83

  Pyrausta.
• * 1.84

  His excellent Uisedome and vnderstanding in all things.
• * 1.85

  Simile.
• * 1.86

  The Controuer∣sie between the 2. Harlots for the liue Child.
• * 1.87

  Simile.
• * 1.88

  The Doubt ad∣mirably decided.
• * 1.89

  Simile.
• * 1.90

  The wonderfull Prosperitie of Salomon and his People.
• * 1.91

  Misse-Matches iustly taxed.
• * 1.92

  A pleasant Description of Loue's fruitfull Groue.
• * 1.93

  PHARONI∣DA.
• * 1.94

  Loues first Fea∣ver.
• * 1.95

  Salomons Nuptialls.
• * 1.96

  The MASK of Planets.
• * 1.97

  Saturn.
• * 1.98

  Iupiter.
• * 1.99

  Mars.
• * 1.100

  Venus.
• * 1.101

  A Spouse-belt.
• * 1.102

  Mercurie
• * 1.103

  Luna.
• * 1.104

  Sol.
• * 1.105

  The Epithalamy
• * 1.106

  The building of the TEM∣PLE.
• * 1.107

  Simile.
• * 1.108

  Syrian.
• * 1.109

  Dedication of the Temple.
• * 1.110

  The Queene of Saba.
• * 1.111

  A iust Reproose of all obstinate Recusants.
• * 1.112

  Simile.
• * 1.113

  Application to the Kings Maie∣stie.
• * 1.114

  The miserie of a State distrac∣ted by factions into Ciuil Wars.
• * 1.115

  Application.
• * 1.116

  Apprecation.
• * 1.117

  A Parliament, or Assembly of the Estates of Israel.
• * 1.118

  The People capi∣tulate with their new King.
• * 1.119

  The Counsaile of the ancient Nobles.
• * 1.120

  Roboam, lea∣ving their sound aduice leaneth rather to the young fury of his Minions & Flatteries.
• * 1.121

  The Kings rash∣nes threatning rigour.
• * 1.122

  Simile.
• * 1.123

  The Reuolt of the 10. Tribes.
• * 1.124

  Ieroboam.
• * 1.125

  Simile.
• * 1.126

  Aza.
• * 1.127

  Description of Discord.
• * 1.128

  Miraculous slaughter of the Heathen by their mutual swords, diuided among themselues.
• * 1.129

  The Confusion of such a Camp so together by the cares.
• * 1.130

  Wicked genera∣tiō of the wicked.
• * 1.131

  2. Similes.
• * 1.132

  Ahaziah.
• * 1.133

  Simile.
• * 1.134

  Elijah the Pro∣phet.
• * 1.135

  Description of the extreame Drought in Israel for three years and a half.
• * 1.136

  The miserable effects therof.
• * 1.137

  The Widow of Sarepta.
• * 1.138

  The fruits of Charity.
• * 1.139

  Simile.
• * 1.140

  The like Impu∣tations, in our dayes, the blind Popelings and profane •••• orld∣lings haue layd vpon the Gospell and the Prea∣chers thereof.
• * 1.141

  Simile.
• * 1.142

  Baals Priests.
• * 1.143

  Ir••nia.
• * 1.144

  Simile.
• * 1.145

  Elijah taken vp aliue into Hea∣ven.
• * 1.146

  Elizeus or Elisha.
• * 1.147

  The fiege and Famine of Sa∣maria.
• * 1.148

  Mothers eat their owne Chil∣dren.
• * 1.149

  Description and effects of Fear.
• * 1.150

  Simile.
• * 1.151

  The ship-Wrack of IONAS.
• * 1.152

  A liuely Des∣cription of a storm at Sea.
• * 1.153

  Simile.
• * 1.154

  Simile.
• * 1.155

  Ambition pour∣trayed to the life.
• * 1.156

  A kinde of Christmas play: wherein each hunteth other from his Seat. The name seemes deriued from the French le∣uez sus, in Eng∣lish, arise vp.
• * 1.157

  Ichù.
• * 1.158

  Simile.
• * 1.159

  Iezabel.
• * 1.160

  Her Pride.
• * 1.161

  Changeable.
• * 1.162

  Her Painting
• * 1.163

  A iust I••vec∣tiue against those 2. (Predo∣minant) Court-Qualities.
• * 1.164

  The perfection of Court-ship.
• * 1.165

  Tale of the Batt.
• * 1.166

  Application.
• * 1.167

  Athaliah.
• * 1.168

  Simile.
• * 1.169

  Simile.
• * 1.170

  Iehoiada pre∣serueth Ioash.
• * 1.171

  Ioash.
• * 1.172

  Simile.
• * 1.173

  Zachariah.
• * 1.174

  Simile.
• * 1.175

  Ar••emisia.
• * 1.176

  Ezekiah.
• * 1.177

  Simile.
• * 1.178

  The true pattern of an excellent Prince.
• * 1.179

  His Constancy in the seruice of God, and zealous Reformation of all Abuses in the same.
• * 1.180

  Rayling Rabsa∣keth (in the name of his Ma∣ster Zenacherib) brauing and blaspheming against God and good king Ezekiah.
• * 1.181

  Prayer, The Refuge of the Godly.
• * 1.182

  Miraculous slaughter of the Assirians.
• * 1.183

  Simile.
• * 1.184

  Simile.
• * 1.185

  Simile.
• * 1.186

  Zenacherib slain by his owne sonnes.
• * 1.187

  Ezekiah's sick∣nesse.
• * 1.188

  The Prophet Isaiah.
• * 1.189

  A comfortable Visitation of the sicke.
• * 1.190

  A Prayer for a sick person, mu∣tatis mutandis.
• * 1.191

  The Kings praier heard, and his life prolonged 15 yeares.
• * 1.192

  The Sunne goes backe.
• * 1.193

  Simile.
• * 1.194

  Simile.
• * 1.195

  Nabuchadne∣zar besiegeth Ierusalem.
• * 1.196

  Nabuzaradan.
• * 1.197

  A Scal••d••.
• * 1.198

  Simile.
• * 1.199

  Nergal.
• * 1.200

  Simile.
• * 1.201

  Simile.
• * 1.202

  Mines & Coū∣termine••.
• * 1.203

  Simile.
• * 1.204

  Simile.
• * 1.205

  Instruments of Warr wherein wild fire is put.
• * 1.206

  Simile.
• * 1.207

  Simile.
• * 1.208

  Hoshea.
• * 1.209

  Simil••.