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.

3. Scarce is. The posteritie of Noe being much increased, as Mo∣ses reckoneth in the 10. chapter of Genesis, they began to spread a∣broad and take seuerall habitations, but not far one from another so soone after the Flood. Among other the sonnes of Cham, is numbred Cus the father of Nimrod, of whom the historie maketh mention, that he be∣gan to be great on the earth, and was a mighty hunter before the Al∣mighty, and that the beginning of his raigne was Babel, Erech, Archad, and Calnch, in the land of Sennaar. Vpon this place are giuen two diuers ex∣positions: The first is, of some that hold that Nimred was the first after the Flood that gaue any meet forme of publike gouernment, and by the consent of many families, considering his wisdome and valour, was accep∣ted for master and gouernour, to rule and order many housholds together: by reason whereof (say they) he is called a strong hunter before the Lord: and namely, for that he repressed, by maine force, the wicked and vnruly, who, like sauage beasts, preied vpon the life of man. But the greater part

of Expositors take this otherwise, and hold, that Nimrod by force and diuers subtleties (here finely set downe by the Poet) got the supremacie; and that this power ascribed vnto him, was not truly Roy all lawfull, but a power vsurped by force, a hunters power, where with he surprised men, and raigning ouer them cruelly, handled them as if they were beasts, and that before the Lord, which is as much to say, as in despite of God, who had established a gentle rule and gouernment among the families. This se∣cond exposition is the more certaine; whether we consider the race of Nimrod, or the proper meaning and sequele of the words of the text, or the buildings of Nimrod, or what successe his proud attempt had. The Poet relying on this opinion, hath further followed in the description of the youth, and exercises of this first Tyrant that was in the second world, such things as were likely to be, and that with such a grace, as in a discourse is re∣quisite, that out of the holy Scripture hath so narrow foundation, and in other bookes is, with many fables and names vncertaine, darkned.