Prison-pietie, or, Meditations divine and moral digested into poetical heads, on mixt and various subjects : whereunto is added a panegyrick to the right reverend, and most nobly descended, Henry Lord Bishop of London / by Samuel Speed ...

¶ Curses of the Wicked.

HE that doth hear the poor mans cry Shall never fare the worse; But whoso turneth back his eye Shall never want a curse. He that himself hath others curst, His servant curseth him; The blessings of his flowing Purse Shall him to ruine swim. He that bla phemeth God his Lord, Ought to be ston'd to death; And cursed be that man, abhorr'd, Serves other God beneath. Cursed be he that setteth light By Father, or by Mother; The people shall him dayly slight, And none his Curses smother. Cursed be he that doth remove His Neighbours Land-mark; then The people shall him curse, none love, But each one cry, Amen. Cursed be he that leads the blinde In an erroneous way; The Lord for him will torments finde, And be the blinde man's stay. Cursed be he that doth pervert The window, fatherless, Or stranger, from an upright heart; Curses shall him oppress. Cursed, thrice cursed shall he be Covers his Father's breast; And that man curst shall be (as he) That lieth with a beast.

Curs'd let him be with Sister lies, O•…•… Mother (though) in Law: Such fins do make those horrid cries That dreadful curses draw. Cursed be he that secretly His silent Neighbour smites: Murtherers too, that cause to die When a reward invites. The wicked shall be curs'd at home, And likewise in the field; His basket and his store at last Shall Blessings cease to yield. Cursed be all his sinful fruit Of body and of land: His Kine, and Flock, though they are mute, And all he takes in hand. Cursed be he when going out, And when returning in; That happy 'twere for him, no doubt, If he had never been.