Part of Du Bartas English and French, and in his owne kinde of verse, so neare the French Englished, as may teach an English-man French, or a French-man English. With the commentary of S.G. S. By William L'Isle of Wilburgham, Esquier for the Kings body.

11 Thus Noah past the time and lesned all their harme Of irkesome prisonment with such like gentle charme, His hope was onely in God, who stopping now the vaines, Whence issued-out before so many wells and raines, Chidde th'aire, and bid her shut the flood-gate of her seas; And sent North-windes abroad; go ye (quoth he) and case The Land of all this ill, ye cooling fannes of Heau'n, Earths broomes and warre of woods, my herauts, posts, and cau'n My sinnows and mine armes; ye birds that hale so lightly My charriot ore the world, when as in cloud so nightly With blasting scept'r in hand I, thundring rage and ire, From smoaky flamed mouth breathe sulph'r and coles of fire.

Awake (I say) make hast, and soop the wat'r away, That hides the Land from Heau'n, & robs the world of day.

The winds obey his voice, the flood beginnes t'abate, The Sea retireth backe, 12 And th' Arch in Ararate Lands on a mountains head, that seem'd to threat the skie, And troad downe vnd'r his feet a thousand hills full high.

13 Now Noes heart reioic'd with sweet conceit of hope, And for the Rau'n to flie he sets a casement ope. To find some resting place the bird soares round-about; And finding none, returnes to him that sent her out: Who few daies after sends the Doue, another spie, That also came againe, because she found no drie.

But after senights rest, he sends her out againe, To search if any Land yet peer'd aboue the maine; Behold an Oliue branch she brings at length in beake:

Then thus the Patriarch with ioy began to speake. O happie signe! o newes, the best that could be thought! O mysterie most-desir'd! Io, the Doue hath brought, The gentle Doue hath brought a peacefull Oliue-bough: God makes a truce with vs, and so sure sealeth now The patent of his Loue and heau'nly promises, That sooner shall we see the Tyger furylesse, The Lyon fight in seare, the Leuret waxen bold, Then him against our hope his woonted grace with-hold. O first fruit of the world! O holy Oliue-tree! O saufty-boading branch for wheth'r aliue thou be And wert all while the flood destroyd all else, I ioy That all is not destroyd: or if, since all th'anoy, That waters brought on all, so soone thou did'st rebudde, I wonder at the Lord that is so mightie and good: To ralliue euery plant, and in so short a space Cloath all the world anew in liueries of his grace.

14 So said he: yet (although the flood had so reflowd, That all about appeerd some Islets thinly strew'd, Him offring where to rest: although he spied a bright, And cheerefull day amid his age-encreasing night: Although th'infected ayre of such a nastie stall Ny choakt him) would he not come forth before the call Of God that sent him in: before some thunder-steauen For warran•• of his act gaue Oracle from Heauen.

No sooner spake the Lord, but he comes out of Cell, Or rath'r out of dennes, of some infectious Hell, With Sem, Cham, and laphet, his wise and daughters three, And all the kinds of Bruits that pure or impure be, Of hundred hundred shapes: for th'holy Patriarch Had some of euery sort enclosd with him i'th'Arch.

Notes

• God makes the flood to cease.
• To that end com∣mands the winds to driue backe the water, and drie the earth.
• The Arklanded.
• The Rauen sent out to discouer.
• The Doue sent out the second time brings an Oliue branch in signe of peace.
• Noe comes not out of the Arke but by the com∣mandement of God who sent him thereinto.
• He comes forth and all other li∣uing creatures that were with him.