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. In the beginning of the 8. Chap. of Gen. Moses re∣ports that God remembred Noe and euery beast, and all the cattell that were with him in the Arke; and made a wind passe vpon the earth; and the waters ceased. This the Poet expoundeth, giuing by the way very proper Epithites vnto the winds: and such also as are mentioned in the Psalmes 18. and 104. This wind dried the earth by degrees, and caused the waters to retire into

their proper place of deepe Sea and Chanels; for the waters enterlaced with the earth make but one globe: And though at the Deluge, by Gods appointment, they went out far beyond their bounds to drowne the wick∣ed; yet when the same God would deliuer his seruant Noe out of danger, at his command they remasse themselues into their wonted heap, furthe∣red thereunto by the winds; and there continue so setled, that they passe

not the bounds of an ordinarie ebbe and flow. This is done by the power of God, and for the promise he made to Noe, that there should be no more generall Flood, to destroy the earth.

12. And th'Arke. The Poet here calls it the Holy Carraque, as built by the commandement of God, and containing his Church. On the seuenth day of the seuenth moneth (saith Moses, Gen. 8.4.) rested the Arke vpon the Mountaines of Ararat. Some by this name vnderstand the great Armenia; others, the top of Caucasus. So Goropius, who there∣upon discourseth at large in the 5. booke of his Antiquities, entitled Indo-Scythica. Iosephus, in his first, sheweth what thought Berosus, Nicolaus Damascenus, and others very auncient concerning the Arke; but followeth the first opinion. The Poet contents himselfe here to signifie, and ex∣presse only in generall, some very high hill.

13. Now Noahs heart reioyc'd. From the end of the seuenth moneth to the end of the ninth (saith Moses) the waters began to abate daily more and more; and on the first day of the tenth moneth (that is, eight moneths and thirteene dayes after the Flood began) the tops of the hills appeared: so then already were the waters soonke aboue fifteene cubits. This fust made the Patriarke be of good hope. For after forty dayes, he opened the window of the Arke, and let goe the Rauen; which went and came, till the waters were dried from the surface of the earth. He sent out also a Doue to try if they were yet further abated; but the Doue not finding where to rest the sole of her foot, return••d vnto him againe into the Arke: for the waters were yet ouer the whole earth, and he reached out his band, and tooke her to him into the Arke. And when he had waited yet seauen dayes lon∣ger, he sent out the Doue againe, and in the euening shee returned vnto him, hauing in her mouth an Oliue-leafe, which shee bad plucked, &c. I haue recited the Text of Moses, whereupon the Expositors discoursing are wont to shew, wherefore Noah sent-out the Rauen and the Doue rather then any other birds: and why the Doue after the Rauen, and thrice. He knew full well the nature of these two was fit for the discouery; and went on with a discreet feare, attending, in all that he did, the manifest declaration of Gods will, touching his comming forth of the Arke. He had also a strong

hope and confidence in the goodnesse of God, now prouing the patience and constancie of his seruant; and strengthning him still more and more by those meanes of discouery. And although the Doue at last staid and re∣turned not vnto him; the waters being dayed from the earth; yet would he not come forth of the Arke, but contented himselfe to remoue the co∣uering thereof, and behold the dry land round about him; and staid so 27. dayes longer, expecting the will and pleasure of the same God, to call him out of the Arke, which commanded him to enter into it. A singular example of obedience and reuerence due vnto the Almighty. As for the rest, the ancient Diuines haue at large allegorized vpon this Doue and the Oliue leafe, for a token of peace betwixt God and his Church: as also vpon the resemblance, that this deliuerie hath, with our redemption by Iesus Christ. These are contemplations of good vse, whereof the Poet maketh a briefe in speaking of the Oliue. Here it may suffice to haue touched them in a word, and leaue the Reader to meditate thereupon. Whom I wish also to peruse the third chapter of the 1. Epist. of S. Peter, and see what the Apostle there saith concerning the correspondence of Baptisme and the Deluge.

14. Although the Flood. When Noe had patiently attended many dayes after the surface of the Earth began to waxe drie; God spoke vnto him (Gen. 8.15. &c.) saying, Come out of the Arke, thou and thy wife, and thy sonnes and their wiues with thee. Bring forth with thee euery beast that is with thee, of all flesh, both foule and cattell; and euery thing that creepeth and moueth vpon the earth. Then Noe came forth, and his sonnes, and his wife, and his sonnes wiues with him. Euery beast, euery creeping thing, and euery fowle; all that moueth vpon the earth, after their kinds, went out of the Arke; as it were out of a prison most noysome and deadly, but for the presence and singu∣lar fauour of the Lord, who preserueth both man and beast, as the Psalmist saith. Here are many things to be admired: Noe and all his come forth safe and sound; the beasts also come forth without preying one vpon ano∣ther; and they retire themselues to their seuerall haunts; their dens, nests, and places sit for them: and he retaineth what was requisite for sacrifice.