A paraphrase upon Job; written in French by J.F. Senault, father of the oratory: and dedicated to the Cardinal of Richlieu.

CHAP. LX.

THE ARGUMENT.

GOD once more provokes Job to the Combat, and to en∣tertaine him in an opinion of his greatnesse, he makes him an ample description of the Ele∣phant, with a sleight draught of the Whale.

GOd answereth out of the midst of that cloud, 6 from whence he had already pronounced so many Oracles, and said to Job:

Resume new strength, 7 pre∣pare your selfe to suffer a se∣cond Assault, and since you have gloried in having such high knowledge, sinde out replyes to all the demands which I desire to make to you.

Doe you think to oblige me by your discourses to change my Judgement? 8 doe you think your complaints make me re∣voke my Decrees? doe you thinke to ruine my Justice to establish your own innocence, and to perswade men, that in condemning you I have rather followed passion than reason?

If your force equall mine, 9 if nothing be impossible to your power, and if to over∣throw those who oppose your will, you dispose of the thun∣der as I do, I will pardon your rashnesse of these thoughts.

But for to give us proofes of your power, 10 set off your naturall beauty by borrowed beauties, adorne your selfe as in the day of triumph, cover your selfe with sumptuous cloathes, and march with a Majesty which may strike re∣spect in all your subjects.

In this glorious Equipage, 11

make your just indignation felt by all the rebells of the world, compose your eyes in that manner that their lookes may astonish the arrogant, and teach the proud humility.

Beat downe Kings under your feet, 12 use not your power but to tame their insolence, and when they shall have op∣pressed your Subjects, make the same place which was fouled by their Crime, be washed with their bloud, and their death give an example, where their life hath given scandall.

Bruise their Scepters, 13 hide the lustre their Crownes, hide the lustre of their glory under obscuri∣ty, pursue them after their death, and teach them that the Grave is not a sanctuary which can protect them from your anger.

When you have done these Miracles, 14 I shall confesse that

in the miseries wich encom∣passe you, my succour is un∣profitable to you, and that your forces being equall to mine, one cannot assault you so well, but you can better defend your selfe.

But as all these effects sur∣passe your power, 15 and you de∣spise not mine but because it is not sufficiently knowne to you, I will give you new proofes of it. Consider then the Elephant which I have produced like you, and which I have fed as an Oxe with the grasse of the fields.

His force which hath no e∣quall resides particularly in his loynes, 16 which are so strong that in the Battell he carries Towers filled with Souldiers, and his vigour is inclosed in his Navell, which is as the center to which all the mem∣bers of his body answer.

17 This advantage is the re∣compence

of his purity, for he is so chaste that he is never seene to doe undecent actions, and Nature which accommo∣dates her selfe to his inclina∣tion, hath hidden all those parts which seeme for the con∣servation of his species as the Barke covers the wood of Ce∣dars and of Cypresses.

His bones, 18 and principally his teeth, which were given him for defence, are as hard as plates of Brasse, and his truncke which seemes to be composed of gristles, is equall in its strength to barres of I∣ron, and in its dexterity to the hand of man.

Amongst the Creatures which conduct themselves by instinct he is the Master-piece of my power, 19 and if I had not given hornes to the Rhi∣noceros, and poyson to the Dragon, who are his most mortall enemies, there were

no beasts to be found which could have the better of him.

Although he be so strong, 20 he is so gentle, that content with the Grasse which the Mountaines bring forth, he seeketh not for prey; and the other Beasts which know his humour feed quietly in his company.

When he would repose himselfe he seekes out moyst places, 21 where he sleepes under the freshnesse of the shade which the Groves afford him, or the Willowes, which so pleasantly bound the streams.

When he drinkes, 23 it is such great draughts, that it seemes to those who see him that he would dry up Rivers, and when he enters into Jordan to appease his thirst, you would say that he hath a designe to drayne it.

With all his strength he hath so little cunning, 24 that he

sees the snares of the Hunts∣men and doth not avoyd them; he is so simple that he lets himselfe be taken like Fish with the Hooke, and so gentle that he lets his nostrils be pierced, and himselfe be led by the nose.

But that your weaknesse and my Power may appeare as well upon the Water as the Land, 1 make triall of your strength against the Whale, see if you can take him with a Hooke, or with a Line, 2 and if after having tyed his tongue with a Cord, and thrust a Buckle of Iron through his nostrils, or his cheekes, you can draw him from his Fortresse, and lead him where you please.

Doe you thinke to oblige him to say his prayers to you? 3 doe you beleeve that astoni∣shed at your power, or sur∣prized with your Artifices,

he will aske his liberty of you with words of sweetnesse and respect?

Doe you thinke to reduce him to make an agreement with you, 4 and to protest to you publickly, that he ho∣nours you as his Master, and will serve you as your slave, and that the tearme of his life shall be no longer than that of his servitude?

Will you play with him as with those poore Birds, 5 which serve as pastime for little Children? Shall your Daugh∣ters tye him with a thread, which lengthening or short∣ning at their discretion, shall make his prison either larger or straighter?

Doe you thinke it easie for a band of armed men to catch him in Nets, 6 to cut him in pieces, to load vessels with his spoyles, and to divide his Bo∣dy amongst the Merchants,

who have contributed to his taking?

If it be not a thing impossi∣ble it is dangerous at the least; 7 for when you assault him, re∣member that you must pre∣pare your selfe for so furious a fight, that after you have tried him you will lose the desire of medling any more.

And though the designe should not be dangerous, 8 it is alwaies very difficult, for this monster will deceive your hopes, and when you thinke to hold him fast he will va∣nish from your eyes, 9 and quit theshores of the sea to plunge himselfe into his Abysses.

Notes

• 6

  Then an∣swered the Lord unto Job out of the whirlwinde, & said:
• 7

  Gird up thy loyns now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
• 8

  Wilt thou also disanull my judge∣ment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be ••ighteous?
• 9

  Hast thou an arme like God? or canst thou thunder with a voyce like him?
• 10

  Deck thy selfe now with majesty and excellen∣cy, and aray thy selfe with glory & beau∣ty.
• 11

  Cast a∣broad the rage of thy wrath: and behold e∣very one that is proud, and abase him.
• 12

  Looke on every one that is proud, and bring him low: and tread down the wic∣ked in their place.
• 13

  Hide them in the dust to∣gether, and binde their faces in secret.
• 14

  Then wil I also con∣fesse unto thee, that thine own right hand can save thee.
• 15

  Behold now Behe∣moth, which I made with thee, he eateth grasse as an ox.
• 16

  Lo now, his strength is in his loyns, and his force is in the na∣vell of his belly.
• 17

  He mo∣veth his taile like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapt roge∣ther.
• 18

  His bones are as strong pieces of bras: his bones are like bars of iron.
• 19

  He is the chiefe of the wayes of God: he that made him, can make his sword to ap∣proach unto him.
• 20

  Surely the mountains bring him forth food: where all the beasts of the field play.
• 21

  He lieth under the sha∣dy trees, in the covert of the reed and fens.
• 23

  He drink∣eth up a river, and hasteth not: he trust∣eth that he can draw Jor∣dan into his mouth.
• 24

  He take∣eth it with his eyes: his nose pierceth tho∣row snares.
• 1

  Canst thou draw out Le∣viathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?
• 2

  Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw thorow with a thorn?
• 3

  Will he make ma∣ny supplicati∣ons unto thee? will he speake soft words un∣to thee?
• 4

  Will he make a cove∣nant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for e∣ver?
• 5

  Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
• 6

  Shall the compani∣ons make banquet him? shal they part him a∣mong the mer∣chants?
• 7

  Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish∣spears?
• 8

  Lay thine hand upon him, remem∣ber the bat∣tell: doe no more.
• 9

  Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down, even at the sight of him?