The Leuites reuenge containing poeticall meditations vpon the 19. and 20. chapters of Iudges. By R. Gomersall.

THE LEVITES REVENGE .

Canto I. The Argument . The Leuites loue , her flight , and then , His fetching of her home agen : Gibeahs harsh vsage , with the free , Vnlookt for old mans courtesie , Their base attempt , her wretched fate This song to Time doth consecrate . WHilst Israels gouernement was yet but rude , And Multitudes did sway the Multitude , Whilst all the Nation were so many Kings , Or else but one great Anarchy . Fame sings That there a Leuite was ( Leuites may erre ) Who had a Concubine , and doubted her . Durst Lust , and Iealousie so high aspire To one that onely knew the Altars fire ? Must he feele other Flames ? to wanton eyes Must eu'n the Priest be made a sacrifice ? Or hath he offerd incense so long time For Iudah's fault , that he hath gain'd their crime ? Appeas'd for sinnes to learne them ? in times past Whilst yet the ancient innocence did last , Leuy could kill a Rauisher , but now Leuies base off-spring does not disauow To be a Ravisher . Perhaps to show His Grandsires rashnesse , who would headlong goe To punish that crime , which ere long might be His owne , at least in his Posterity . For so 't was now : the Leuite loues , and more , Suspects at last , whom he did first adore : For Fame speakes hardly of her : but poore man What other hope couldst thou imagine ? can One that hath broke with honesty , be true To him that made her breake ? or else are you The onely Tempter ? does there no blood boyle Besides the Leuites ? can they onely toyle In sinnes , that preach against them ? if they can , Yet such as she are made for euery man . What none can challenge his , is due to all , Lust should not imitate a Nuptiall . She now suspects her Leuites iealousie , And hasts home to her fathers house : ô why Left 's thou that house ? or why return'st thou euer ? Where thou shouldst alwayes stay , or returne neuer . Was then a Father to be visited When thou wert made a Mother ? what hope bred That madnesse in thee , that vnto a mild Father , thou shouldst be welcome for a child ? Or vnto whom wouldst thou haue welcome been ? A Father ? 't is the nature of thy sinne To make them doubtfull : they that liue like thee , Asham'd of nothing but of Modesty , Banish themselues from all , but their deare sinne ; And loose at once their vertue , and their kinne . But when the Leuite saw that she was gone , That she was lost , whom he so dored on , Reason almost forsooke him too , to proue Anger can blind a man as well as loue : It may be Israel was holy then And sacrifices for the guilty men Came slowly in , this might increase his griefe , And be an accessory , if not chiefe : This might confirme him in his angry sinne , Rob'd of his profit and his concubine . But hee 'l not loose her : wilt thou seeke her then That does fly thee ? that to an host of men Hath giv'n thy due ? as if she meant to try Which were the most vnvanquisht luxury Of Priest or people : whom if thou should finde , Thou hast not yet recouered her lost mind , That wanders still , and wilt thou fetch her thence To try , or else to teach thee Patience ? Can she teach any vertue ? can there be Ought learnt from her besides immodesty ? All that this iourney can effect , that thou Can'st promise to thy selfe , if thou speed'st now , Is , that shee 'l loose the bashfulnesse she had , And onely proue more confidently bad . You now may thinke him neere his iourneyes end ; Where long before his thoughts had met his friend , Scorning his bodies sluggish company , And now both are arriu'd , where to his eye ●he first appear'd , for whom alone , I find , Be thank'd the heav'n that did not make him blind , For which he should haue thank'd them : he had been Then nor a Louer , nor a Priest : no sinne Had crept in with the light , nor euer made In that good Darkenesse , an vnhallowed shade . But who had seene him when he first descry'd Who 't was that met them , how he slipt beside The wearyed beast , and with full speed did run As if he meant to tempt temptation ; He would haue iudg'd that women strongest were , And men obiect the weakenesse which they are . Thus when he should wisely haue vnderstood , And thank'd the kinder heau'ns , who made him good Against his will almost , hauing remou'd That which did hinder him from being belou'd Of God , and goodnesse , not vnlike the Fish Which seemes to be desirous of the dish , ( As if for his deliuery he did waite , And therefore were ambitious of the baite : ) Into a knowne snare , he does gladly run , And foolishly pursues , what he should shun . And is not this , I de know , the readiest way To make God thinke , we mocke him when we pray When we pretend desire , that we may bee , As from the Fault , so the Temptation free : Whilst ( as we had not knowne what we had said Or hop'd that God obseru'd not how we praid ) Lest that we should receiue our hurt from farre , We both the Tempted , and the Tempters are , And thus the holyest name we take in vaine , Praying as neuer meaning to obtaine . And now her father comes , who after words As kind and Elegant as that place affords , Intreats her pardon : but alas , good Age , Who shall intreat thy pardon , or asswage The Leuites passion now ? who does auerre , That he alone does sinne , who taxes her : With this he smiles on her , and yet does feare Lest she should thinke that this a Pardon were , Or reconcilement : without much adoe , You might perswade him now he came to wooe , And not to fetch her backe ; but by the hast Of carrying her from thence , fearing the wast Of the least minute , she might well descry , What ere his words , his deeds spoke Iealousie . Hardly he condiscends to one nights stay Though t' were with her , but how he spent the day , How his desires were speedier then the Sunne , ( Whom then he thought to creep , and not to runne ) T were tedious to relate , though the old man With all the Art , and all the Cheare he can , Detaines him three daies longer , which appeare As long as fancy can extend a yeare . Minutes are Ages with him , and he deemes He hath out-lingred grave Methusalems Nine hundred yeare by such a stay , and feares That she may once more shunne him for his yeares . Sure such accounts the wise Aegyptians made Who added wings to Time , as if he had Mou'd on too slowly , or as if they meant To take his fore-top from him , with intent To make him bald before too , whose records Had very neere as many yeares as words . Making full forty thousand ere the fall , And pu'ny Adam of no age at all . The fifth day dawnes , but ere the rising Sunne Had shew'd the victory which he had wonne Of cloudy night , before the sleepy Cocke Had prou'd himselfe to be the Country Clocke Shewing the mornings houre , when now wee might Haue spoke no falshood had we call'd it Night . Our Leuite for his iourney does prepare , And his are drest , ere Phoebus horses are : To whom the Father comes , and gently chides ●is earely sonne-in-law , who , forst , abides Till afternoone with him , and then he goes Not from the house so fast , as to his woes . Sure the old man did prophecy the harme , Which would insue , when he did seeke to charme Our Leuite to a longer stay : but O T is double misery before hand to know We shall be miserable ! then why hath man That curst ability , that well he can Prognosticate mishapps , when they are neere ? And all his knowledge teaches but to feare . Which yet our Leuite hath not learnt , who rides Doubting no danger : now the worlds eye glides To his west Inne , when Iebus he espies , Whom he counts his , because Gods enemies . Hearken ye Gallants that will crosse the seas , And are industrious for a new disease , If you will needs be gadding , and despise For forraine toyes , our home-bred rarities , Take this example with you , if you goe Trauell not from Religion : why , although You neuer touch at Rome , or else perchance You scarce see Spaine , and gleane but part of France ▪ You may be weary , thinke your trauell great , And spare at once your conscience , and your sweat ▪ You see our Leuite though the night draw neere , His loue be weary , and no towne appeare Where she may rest herselfe , although the way Were troublesome enough ev'n in the day , Yet she resolues gladly to vndergoe More miseries then Night and danger know , Ere he will venture there to make his stay From whence the Idols had droue God away . O farre vnworthy of thy future Fate By this best Action ! miserable state Of too great vertue ill-imploy'd ! to be Punish't , when he did shunne Iniquitie As he did Iebus . How he spurs , how rates His tardy beast ! how his owne slacknesse hates Which forc't him by his trauelling so late If not to stay , yet to deliberate . Within the Center of the Earth there stands Neere to the fiery streames , and ashy sands , A dreadfull pallace , of such vncouth frame Each part so shap't as if t were built to shame All Architecture , that if one did see The vastnesse of it , and deformity , He would not make the least demurre to tell That t' was a lodging for the Prince of Hell . What ere does beautifie a house , here wants , The walls are blacke as the Inhabitants , Made out of Iett , into such figures fram'd That Nature dare not owne them , nor be blam'd With so much Monster : wee in doubt may call Whether the trimming , or materiall , Had the more horror . No birds here are heard , But such whose harsher accents would haue seard The most resolu'd : they punish in their rimes , And all their ditty does consist of crimes . The fly Praecisian that could gull the eye Of the most sharpe , by close hypocrisie , Whose mischiefes onely he that did , could tell , Who , we may thinke might eu'n haue cheated Hell With such dissembling , sees his vices bare , Naked , and foule , as when they acted were : One layes oppression to his charge , another His sisters incest , murther of his brother . They shew his zeale was onely to contend , And all his reformation not to mend But to confound the State , that his knitt brow ( Which lookt so sterne as it would disallow The most indifferent act , and like of none But such as did pretend perfection ) Was but an easie Vizor , such as Rage Can giue it selfe , and must receiue from Age. That he did onely know externall Grace , And all his holinesse was in his face . Is goodnesse in a wrinckle ? can we find That what does cloud the face , does cleanse the mind ? To me it is a tricke of rarest art That hollow browes should haue the soundest heart . These are the sounds , but then the smells are worse , Enough to make that Harmony no Curse . Vnder the walles there runnes a brimstone flood The top of flames , the bottome was of mud : Of such grosse vapour , that to smell was Death , Prisons are sweet , compar'd vnto that breath . And to maintaine the fire and stench at once , The fewell is prepar'd of vsurers bones . Loose Madams lockes , the feathers of their Fanne , With the foule inside of a Puritan . In this sweet place as sweet a Prince doth dwell , The cheife of fiends , the Emperor of Hell Grand Lucifer , whom if I should relate In the worst figure that the eye doth hate : I should but faintly his foule selfe expresse , Nor reach to his vnpattern'd vglinesse . Death keepes the entrance , a tall sturdy groome , Who emptying all places fills no roome . But like the fond Idolater of pelfe Denyes men , what he cannot haue himselfe : Here does this shade send challenges to all , Who would h●ue entrance first to try a fall , They try , and they are throwne ther 's none so great But yeelds to him , who knew but one defeat And that long after , but his prime was now , His bones some marrow had , some grace his brow . No plagues as yet , no famines had beene knowne The sword was thrifty , making few to groane Vnder his edges . Death yet had lusty thighes , Nor spent himselfe with too much exercise . Here there stand numbers , which exceed all summes ( For they refuse none here , who euer comes ) The murtherer first , and without much adoe , Sometime he will admit the murtherd too . Then the incontinent , but if that he Be knowne by Incest or Adultery , His seat is chiefe : nor haue they a low place , Who with an open and alluring face , Delude their trusting friends , till they haue woon Their deeper proiects , which they built vpon . The rest of lower crimes , whom we may call , Downe-right offenders , such as after all Their time of trespasse , haue not gain'd the skill , And onely know the taint , not art of Ill : Haue no distinguisht roomes , but venture in , As headlong to their paines , as to their sinne . But now some other enter ; for a charge Past from the Prince of shadowes , to inlarge Th' imprison'd Crimes , that all might now conferre ( Such is his will ) with their Lord Lucifer . What noyse there was ? what striuing at the doore ? This would be first , and that would goe before : Pride claimes precedency , and cryes who ere Ventures to make a step before her there Is impudently foolish , that the place Is hers by due , and onely theirs by grace , When she would yeeld it : vnlesse first they would Bring more conuincing reasons then she could : For who should to the Prince of Hell first goe To visit him , but she that made him so ? And who had made him so , shee 'd know , but she , When with his God he claim'd Aequality ? Peace , Wrath exclaimes , and with so deepe an oath As all those fiends , with Hell to boot , were loath To heare another such , he vowes no more To beare the brauings of that scarlet whore , Hee 'l first a Rebell , first a Vertue be , And no more Wrath , but Magnanimity . She smil'd , and bid him be so but whilst they Were hot in this contention , Enuy lay Gnawing her breasts : faine would she haue bin higher Had but her spirit equall'd her desire . But since she cannot be reueng'd of them , She vseth an vnheard of stratagem , Teares her owne haires , and her grimme face beslimes Thus punishing herselfe for others crimes . By this time Idlenesse comes in the reare , As proud , though not as actiue , as they were ; He scarce would take the paines to speake , but loth To loose his dignity by too much Sloth , He giues them these few words , Why striue you so About the place which all to mee doe owe ? Doe not ye know , I am the raigning Crime , Most generall , and most lofty of the time ? I make the Lawyer silent , though he see His clyent full ; I am beyond a Fee : When Lawes doe not , I make the Preacher dumbe Eu'n when the Tyger , or the Wolfe doe come : But aboue all , I in the Court doe grow , Beggars are proud , but Emperors are slow . Drunkennesse could not answere , but does thinke T was fit that Idlenesse should yeeld to drinke : And reeling to encounter him , does fall Iust in the entrance , and excludes them all . Now is the skirmish hotter then before , Now Pride begins to scratch , and Wrath to roare ; Drunkennesse lyes vnmou'd , and Sloths intent Is to sit still , and to expect th' euent . But in this ciuill broyle , at last comes Craft Of whom no Painter ere could take a draft , He had such change of shapes , who when he saw These tumbling warriours , and that no awe , No feare of Lucifer could teach them peace , Hee 'l try his skill to make these broyles to cease . Fie Pride , sayes he , What ? giue your selfe the fall ? And Wrath , are you no more discreet withall Then quarrell with a woman ? Come agree , If not for feare of Hell , for loue of me . But out alas , you doe too well agree , When Wrath is Proud , and Pride will Wrathfull be . Goe hand in hand ( thus friendly Craft decides ) Onely the vpper hand let that be Prides . They enter the great hall , where they doe see The Hellish Monarch in his Maiesty , Where hauing made obeysance , he beginnes , Thus to breake silence , and vpbraid the Sinnes . The reason why I call'd you ( not to dwell On an vnnecessary praeamble ) Is to informe you , that we find of late You haue not beene officious to the State : T is true , you bring me daily what 's mine owne , And plentifully reape what I haue sowne . In the grosse Heathen you doe hourely cause Vices , which neuer were forbid by Lawes , Because ne're thought of : but what 's this to me , Whether that Lust or Infidelity Fill Hell with those , nay and oppresse it too , Which must come thither , whatsoere they doe ? You doe like those , who in the other life Buy their owne lands , and wooe againe their wife . A goodly act , and wherein 's danger store , You giue me that , which was mine owne before . Whilst Iudah all this while hath me withstood , And dares , when I forbid them , to be good . They honor Parents with a zealous strife , And with their goodnesse doe prolong their life . In them no malice nor no rancor lyes , Nor shed they bloud , but for a sacrifice : Adultery's scarce heard of in a life , And they are men only vnto their owne wife . In such a lou'd community they liue , None need to steale , all are so apt to giue . While you suppose that highly you deserue , If you can say that you haue made them swarue From goodnesse that ne're had it : well y 'aue done If that Semiramis once doate vpon Her wondring issue , and begin to swell With such a birth , that would pose vs to tell How she should call it ; and what she did beare If it her daughter , or her grandchild were . You haue discharg'd your office , if you make Some bloudy Nations their owne issue take And offer vnto me ; or if you draw Some to the practice of that wicked Law That after fifty they their parents kill , And not that onely , but suppose that ill To be their duty . O fond thought ! and thence Doe estimate their childs obedience ? Hence truant Crimes , auant , no more appeare In my dread presence , no more let me heare Those petty actions , if you doe not straight Reuenge my wrongs , and ease me of this waight , Which thus oppresseth me , if Israel still Shall dare to crosse what I shall call my will ; By Hell I le doe — but what ? I say no more , If you are wise , preuent , if not , deplore . This said he star'd so fiercely that they fear'd He would performe much more then they had heard , Nor know they wel how they their tongues should vse , Whether t were best to promise or excuse . At last Lust rises , and becalmes him thus , Why doe you loose your wrath , great Prince , on vs ? Vs your sworne vassals ? who nor thinke nor doe But what your will is their command vnto . What though w 'aue spent our paines not the right way ? Yet they were paines nor can an enemy say But we were actiue Furies , and haue done What lesser feinds durst not haue thought vpon . And yet ( if that I may haue leaue to tell From your dread grace ) preciser Israel Hath not escap'd vs wholly , nor hath bin More noted for their Law , then for their Sinne ▪ Was that a Vertue too , when being led By Gods owne hand , and fill'd with Angels bread , They did , ( I ioy to caus't , but blush to tell , ) They did repine eu'n at that miracle . Fasting and full they murmure , nor are lesse Angry with Manna then with Emptinesse . I could speake more , and truely : but in summe , To proue my past acts by my acts to come ; If by your gracious leaue , I haue the fate To haue a ioynt commission with Debate , I le make a fire within their blood to burne , Shall their proud Cities into ashes turne : And they shall know how foolishly they erre , Who are not willing slaues to Lucifer . Lucifer nods , and Lust does swiftly runne With his vnlimited Commission : Which with what Art , what mischiefe he did vse , Is now the griefe and bus'nesse of my Muse . But now she must to our sad Leuite hast Whom we left trau'lling , when the day was past . The sunne sets ouer Gibeah ; when that he Drawes neerer thither ward , but then to see The blush of Heau'n , with what a red it shin'd , ( As if the Sunne his office had resign'd Vnto those clouds ) to all that vnderstood , It would haue shew'd that it did figure blood . And now our Leuite is arriu'd , but finds The walls more courteous then the peoples minds : For these had gates which let him in , but they Were mercilesse , and rougher then the way : Men that had onely studied to oppresse , Whose minds were shut against the harbourlesse : And yet he sees large houses , some so high As if they learn't acquaintance with the sky , What euer pleas'd their fathers now growes stale , Their buildings to the hills exalt the vale : And such thicke palaces the mountaines fill , As if the quarry grew without the hill . Some are of that circumference , you 'd guesse , They had beene built for him , who had no lesse Then the whole world his Family . But when Our Leuite was inquisitiue , what men Fill'd vp that Princely dwelling ? and if there Might be found hope of rest for them that were But two more then the Family ? they tell That two are the whole Family , 't was well , And stately too ( as state is at this day ) So might they liue at home , and yet away . O the great folly of Magnificence ! Houses are little Cities , and from thence Cities are lesser worlds , that man may haue Roome enough here that cannot fill a graue . He must haue Halls , and Parlors , and beside Chambers inuented , but not nam'd by pride : And all this for one man , as if he sought To haue a seuerall lodging for each thought , But none for any stranger : this truth seemes Too certaine to our Leuite , who esteemes That pris'ners are in better state then he ; Nay , eu'n the pris'ners of mortality , Such as are fast immur'd within the graue Who though they want a life , a lodging haue : Inhumane wretches ! haue you then forgot That you were sometime strangers ? Were you not In Aegypt once ? where the Propheticke land Did iustly scourge your basenesse before hand , Knowing you would be barbarous , and so Made you to reele the harshnesse which you show ? O●●uelly forgetful 〈◊〉 that indure To act , or else out-doe the Epicure , Whilst he feeds on the Ayre ; that thinke it meet To lye in Downe , while he lyes in the street ! An old man thought not thus , but to his house Intrea●●s the strangers : 't is malicious To lay the imputation vpon Age That it is couetous ( as if the sage Haires of the Ancient were therefore white To signifie their siluer Appetite . ) Peace you blasphemers , see an aged man Couetous onely of a Guest , who can Repay him nothing , but his Prayer , and be Indebted once more for his Piety ; But if my Muse haue any power o're time And sinne haue more mortality then rime , Old man thou shalt be euer old , and haue No entertainment in the silent graue For this thy entertainment : here a while Let me admire how that a towne so vile , Which we would thinke with stangers had decreed To shut out Vertue too , should rarely breed Such a strange Vertue ? quietly we heare Of courtesies in Rome ; of kindnesse there Where Greece is nam'd , who counted it a sinne Not to haue made each noble house an Inne For worthy strangers : but when one shall fall In commendation of the Canniball , Shall say that they , who on their guests doe gnaw And entertaine their strangers in their maw , Are hospitably minded , that eu'n there May be a mouth which is no Sepulcher . We stand agast , as if we did conspire Not to beleeue the good we did desire . Whence sprung this Singularity ? whence came This worth which so deserues and conquers Fame ? Our Vertues are not borne with vs , and they Which will innoble man till times last day Liue after them they make to liue , what we Call goodnesse is the gift of Company . Our study not our Nature , and could these Teach any other thing besides disease In manners ? it is fit then we confesse Mercy is learn't amongst the mercilesse , And rather then a Leuite shall want rest Auarice selfe shall entertaine a Guest . But now the Leuite hath forgot that he Had felt the hard streets hospitality ; He finds such kindnesse , that he does suppose Courtesie wore no other haires then those To grieue the honest world , who now might feare , That she was hasting to her sepulcher . Into an anticke roome he leads him first . Where one would guesse that Abraham had been nurs : Or a more ancient Patriarch , the walles Compos'd of that which from a wett shooe falles In weeping winter , which a man would thinke Their age had now dry'd vp into one Chinke . Yet such a roome one comfort does afford , It was not built to ruine its sad Lord . For who will begge a Cottage ? who would make A guilty wretch , that he his rags might take ? To that whence nothing comes is no regard : None would be vicious too but for reward . No , let them feare who dwell in arched vaults , Who in much roome doe seeke to hide their faults . Where hundred columnes rise to mate the skie , And mocke their Lords with false Diuinity . Enuie is proud , nor strikes at what is low , And they shall onely feele who scorne her blow : She on no base aduantage will insist , Nor striue with any but that can resist . Now is the table spred , and now the meat Be'ing set , each takes him his appointed seat : No courtship here is shew'd , no caruing grace , The entertainment ( homely as the place ) Spoke onely hearty , and that plaine intent Which greater entertainers complement . So Abraham feasted heau'nly guests , as when He made the Angels eate the bread of men : Soon the like guests hospitable Lot , Bestow'd the diet which they wanted not ; In this ours differs , nay in this exceeds , That he bestowes his kindnesse where it needs . One would haue thought so , when he heard the noise , Of confus'd multitudes , men mixt with boyes , All ages in the cry , as if they meant That now the Babes should not be innocent : Bees doe not murmure so , and angry hounds In their full rage send forth but easy sounds , Compar'd to this : their inland Sea stood still , Wondring to heare himselfe out-scar'd , and till This time , that noise hath such a silence bred , That euen since it hath beene styl'd the Dead . Now they besiege the house , and one would feare That their loud tongues so many engines were To batter it : downe with the Gate , cryes one , Another laughes at that , and with a stone Threatens to force a Gate , and deepely swore To giue them entrance , all the House was Doore . But then another that would needs be wise , And counted cheife in this great enterprise , Exhorts them to a Parly : Why , my friends , Make you such hast , sayes he , to loose your ends ? Haue you indented with the stones you throw To misse the Leuite ? Doe you thinke no blow Can fasten on him , or d' ye meane to proue If that the stones are riualls in your Loue ? Stones and not men ! with that the hands were still , But all the noyse , the Hubbub , with an ill Consent , cries for the Leuite , whom they faine Would onely know , and so returne againe . And could you see him in the street so long , As farre from beeing laid , as this your wrong Shall be from after-Ages , when he had No couer , but the kinder heau'ns , ( whose sad Compassion hindred them from shedding teares , Lest such a griefe should make th' vnkindnesse theirs ) Had you so full a view of him , and yet Doe you desire to know him ? No , forget That euer there was such an one , and then Posterity may thinke that you were men : How will they wonder else , when they shall heare You lou'd him in the house , whom you did feare To bring into your house ; that you were mad , In the pursuit of that you might haue had ? You aim'd another , a worse way , and iust His answere is , that calls your Knowledge , Lust . But how were they so long time innocent ? How was this Prodigy of Desire eu'n spent Before it was exprest ? here we may see In impudence there was some Modesty : They would not sinne at home , the worst abhor'd To be a Beast , where he should be a Lord . And it seem'd better to the vilest breast Not to receiue , then to abuse a Guest . Now the Old-man not fearing any harme That might ensue , whether he hop'd the warme Lust of their Youth , would by his Age bequelld , And that those flames would to such winter yeeld : Or whether he was then rather addrest To offer vp himselfe before his Guest Vnto their Fury , forth he goes : they thought That now they should obtaine what they had sought , Whom thus he does bespeake , Haue patience My friends , I come , not to intreat you hence , But to fulfill your pleasure , onely change The Se●● I haue a daughter and what 's strange In this not towne a Virgin● at your sure I am content to make her prostitute . So that my stranger may nor iniur'd ●e Nature shall yeeld to Hospitality . O constant goodnesse ! O best act , which can Conclude the Vertue , older then the Man ▪ How I could 〈◊〉 my selfe in praysing thee , Man not of Age , but of Aeternity ! Who didst respect thy guest beyond thy blood , And knew'st the difference betwixt Fond , and Good . Henceforth scorne all comparisons below , Onely thy Maker , thy Superiour know : Such was his Mercy that he did bestow His onely Sonne a ransome for his Foe ; ( This was a patterne fit for the most High ) Yet next this Mercy , was thy Charitie : Thy Act at least is second to the best , Who wouldst not spare thy Daughter for thy Guest But they 'l not be prescrib'd in their desire , Who thinke to alter , were to quench their fire : They must the Leuite or his Sister know , ( For Sister they interpret her ) to show Our sawcy Lay-men how they should expound Their Preachers actions , not to be profound To search their faults , but well and wisely too , Doe what they speake , and not speake what they doe . This they exclaime , and this our Leuite heares , Who now hath spent his Reason , and his Fares , Such a Confusion he is falne into , He knowes not what to shunne , nor what to doe , So in rais'd Seas , when that the angry wind Threatens destruction to that daring kind , Who to a flying house themselues commit , ( Seeming at once to flye too from their wit . ) The well-stor'd passenger , ( when he does find That all this fury of the waue and wind Is for this Treasure ) now resolues to dye : ( Death is not so much fear'd as Pouerty ) And now resolues that he will venture on More losse before that Resolution : He does from this vnto that purpose skip , And now his mind more totters then his ship . Till after all this tedious , foolish strife , Which he shall saue , his treasure , or his Life , He shall saue neither ; and thus being loath To hazard either , he does forfeit both . And now she shall be Passiue . O Fates sport ! Hee 'l now betray , that should defend the Fort. Such Revolution did you euer see ? Who earst was Iealous , will a Pander be . O Life , thou most desir'd , and wretched thing ! Thy loue betrayd his loue , from thee did spring This Contradiction of crosse Faults . O why Chose he not rather to doe well , and Dye ? Why did he so desire to shunne his Friend , And call that Misery , which was an End ? The Dead doe feare no Rauisher , no Lust Was ere so hot , to dote vpon cold dust , Were he once dead he should feare no crimes then , Neither his owne , nor those of other men : And could he wish a longer life ? let those Who doe not know ( but by inflicting ) wees Hugg that desire , but hee who wisely wayes What many miseries are in many dayes , Let not him be so mad to wish his feares , And onely proue his Dotage by his Yeares . Neuer did Morning blush so much as that Which next appear'd ; when vp our Leuite gat , And running nimbly to the doore , he sees His loue before the doore with her faire knees Growne to the Earth , so close , that one would seare , She tooke a measure of her Sepulcher , With hands outstretch'd , as if , fearing to faile , She meant to make a Sexton of her naile To dig her graue : or else ( for who can tell ? ) Suspecting by her iniuries an Hell Not to be farre , where such sinnes had a birth , She lay so close , to feele if it were Earth . He wonders at the posture , nor knowes why She had not chose to rest more easily . And now he will be satisfy'd , but she Had lost her tongue too , with her Chastity . He thinkes she sleepes , and therefore louder cryes , Why doe we dally here ? Wake , and Arise . But let him cry on , she hath heard her last , Deafe to all sounds now , but the latest blast . And art thou dead , he cryes ? what dead ? with that You 'd wonder which had beene aliue , as flat He lay , and speechlesse , glad of the same death , But that thicke sighes betray that he had breath : Which onely serues his Anger : now he hyes Home to mount Ephraim , all his ielousies Are dead with her , and now he meanes to make Her common after death : each Tribe shall take A peice of her ; O the obdurate mind That so could part , what God had so combin'd ! I faint in the relating it , nor well What he durst act , dare vndertake to tell . Twelue made of one ? O who would not be mad , To thinke vpon that madnesse ? if she had But such another griefe , with both opprest , My Muse would then be dumbe , which now doth rest .

Canto II. The Argument . The twelue peices of his wife Cut out by the Leuites knife , To the field to doe him right , Draw the neiled Israelite . Abrahams Prayer , Heau'ns decree , Beniamins glad victory Twice repeated , make the summe Of the booke which is to come . SVch crimes amongst the Israelites ? I feare Incredulous posterity will sweare Mine was the fault , and when they muse hereon They 'l iudge the Crime was in my Fiction . When Vice exceeds a Probability It gaines excuse , so that to sinne on high Is politicke offence , for he that shall Sinne so , is thought not to haue sinn'd at all . 'T is the corruption of the minds of men To iudge the worst of actions , but 't is when The fault is frequent , when the daily vse Giues it at once , the guilt , and the excuse : But if a crime swell to the height of this , Murder , or Incest , or if any is Of fowler name ; when man will man abuse , We doe absolue more gladly then accuse , Can it be possibly presum'd that they To whom the God of Iacob shew'd the way , Both of their feet and manners , who had seene His frequent Miracles , nay who had been Part of the wonder too , so to haue fell As to commit a greater Miracle ? Sodome in Iudah ? now the Fable winnes Credit , and is out-acted by true sinnes : Report hath made Pygmalion to haue lou'd That which he made , who by his Art was mou'd To palpable Idolatry , yet so At least he lou'd a woman in the show : Hee 's fixt on his faire Image , so that one Would wonder which had beene the truer stone . Yet 't was a Womans Image , so that I Wonder at 's lucke , more them his vanity , A Painted Woman will cause loue : i 'me mou'd More , how he did obtaine , then why he lou'd . These doe affect what to obtaine is worst , What in the very thinking is accurst : In other loues the wife may barren proue , In this the barrennesse is in the Loue , In other faults there haue excuses beene , This hath no other Motiue then the Sinne. And can this sinne be theirs ? Yes know it can , Man forsakes God , and then he doates on man . But who did tutor them to this offence ? For , though we find it in each conscience That we are naturally vicious , That ther 's no true good in the best of vs , That we pursue our ill , as drawne by Fate , Yet 't is example does specificate , That teacheth vs This sinne : 't is mine owne Vice , But that I am more lost in Auarice , That I doe choose Adultery , or preferre The lustfull man before the Murtherer , I haue from Praesident : and thus our ill Comes from the Patterne too , as from the Will. Aegypt denyes to haue an hand herein , ( Aegypt the house of bondage , not of sinne . ) Their cruelty I heare , and which is odd , I read that their chiefe sinne , is their chiefe god . They make their gardens heau'ns , and in each plant They find a Deity : If that any want Be in their fields , if thence they doe not gaine , It is their gods they want , and not their graine . Their superstition yet might issue hence , The Calfe , on which they plac'd their confidence , Which act this glory to them doth afford , They make themselues the beast which they ador'd . Or did the Desart make them thus to stray , And cause them loose their Manners with the Way ? Did those vast places , which wise Nature fram'd , Wherein wild man should by his feare be tam'd , His feare of wilder beasts , instruct these men , That there are beasts which are not in the Denne : And that when euer we neglect , or scanne The Lords commands , the Monster is the Man ? No , these suspitions may suspected bee , As farre from Truth , as they from Honesty : Aegypt was free from this fault , and much lesse Can we impose it on the Wildernesse . They had no King : as well the fooles as wise Did all what did seeme right in their owne Eyes . And Sodomes crime seem'd right to some to see When euery man will his owne Monarch bee , When all subiection is ●one quite away , And the same man does gouerne and obey , How there is no obedience nor rule , How euery man like to the Horse and Mule , Which want the vnderstanding of their bit , And neither haue their owne , nor Riders wit , Make a swift pace to Ruine . Giue me then Leaue to admire , and pitty those poore men , Who thinke that Man should his owne Ruler be , And exercise Home-principality : Who in one speedy minute strangely doe What Alexander but aspir'd vnto , Conquer all Kingdomes , which they'affirme to be , No better then a well-nam'd Tyranny . Let me inquire of these , if they haue read Any such crimes where people had an head ? Let me inquire of men , as yet not wild , Whether they thinke themselues Lords of their child ? Whether their seruants Masters ? whether they Suppose that God did not make some t' obey . In Innocence there was Dominion , And the first man was the first Lord : that one King of the Creatures , whom for this none blames , He prou'd his Soueraignty by their Names . That he was his wiues Soueraigne , in the Fall He fell not from his Monarchy , when all His Righteousnesse was vanish't , that remain'd And so a knowledge of this truth he gain'd , ( A truth he could not know had hee still stood ) We can be longer Powerfull then Good . Nay let vs looke on Hell , and we shall see That there 's a Prince of that obscurity . It is a torment such as Hell hath none , To want that order in confusion : That is the best , we may conclude from hence , That is in Hell , and was in Innocence . But I doe wonder at the fault so long That I deferre the punishment : my song Must to the Leuite turne , or rather be No more a Song , but a sad Elegy . He hauing caru'd his Loue , as you haue heard , And done that act , which Hell and Furies fear'd ; Sends a choice piece to euery Tribe , to plead Their iniuries , and tell why she is dead : Beniamin shall haue one of them , lest hee Might dare commit a crime , he durst not see . A seuerall messenger to each Tribe is sent : But he that vnto Princely Iudah went , Carying the head of the dismembred coarse , With such a voice which sorrow had made hoarse , ( Least he should raue too highly ) thus beginnes , Is there an Heau'n ? and can there be such sinnes ! Stands the Earth still ? me thinkes I hardly stand , Feeling the Seas inconstancy on Land . After this Act , why flowes the water more ? Why does 't not staine , which alwaies clear'd before ? It is not Ayre we draw now , 't is a breath Sent to infect vs from the Land of Death : The Fire , whose office 't is to warme and shine , Growes blacke and downewards , as it did repine To see the fact , and sheds a kinde of teares , Quenching his heat , because he cannot theirs . Can you behold these eyes without a teare ? Can you with patience longer thinke they were , And are not the worlds wonder ? yet I erre , It is Reuenge , and not a Teare fits her : Let women weepe for women , then you shall Shew you haue sorrow'd heartily , if all Doe sorrow which haue iniur'd her , and be Examples , as of Crimes so Misery . Gibeah 't was ( O 't was not Gibeah ) Credit me not , beleeue not what I say , I scarce dare trust my selfe , and yet agen , Gibeah 't was , that did this Fact : and then He tells them all , what I before haue wept ; Now Iudah stormes , and as a Riuer kept From its owne course by Weares , and Milles , if once It force a passage , hurryes or'e the stones , Sweepes all along with it , and so alone Without stormes makes an Inundation : Such was the peoples fury , they 're so hot That they will punish what we credit not , And be as speedy as seuere : but some Who loath'd the bloudy accents of the Drumme , Who thought no mischiefes of that foulnesse are , But that they gaine excuse , compar'd with warre , And warre with brethren ; these , I say , of age The chiefe amongst them , doe oppose their rage , Exhort them to a temper : Stay , sayes one , And be aduis'd before you be vndone . Whence is this fury ? why d' yee make such hast To doe that act which you 'l repent as fast ? Are any glad to fight ? or can ought be Mother of warre , beside Necessity ? Be not mistaken , brethren , take good heed , It is not Physicke frequently to bleed . He that for petty griefes incision makes Cannot be cur'd so often as he akes . Are then your sisters , daughters , wifes too chast ? Or are you sorry that as yet no wast Deformes your richer grounds ? or does it stirre An anger in you , that the souldier Mowes not your Fields ? Poore men , doe you lament That still you are as safe as innocent ? We yet haue Cities proudly situate , We yet haue people : be it not in fate That your esteeme of both should be so cheape To wish those carcasses and these an Heape . Me thinkes our Iordan hath an happier pace , And flowes with greater maiesty and grace In his owne naturall waue , then if the sword Should higher colour to his streames afford ; Should paint and so deforme it : to mine eye A Riuer's better then a Prodigy . But I desire , deere Countrymen , to know , Whose is the blood that we must lauish so ? Perhaps the Philistins ambition Would to our Shilob bring their Ascalon , And these you would encounter : or t' may be Aegypt still enuying that you are free Intends a second bondage : or perchance Your daily conquer'd Enemies aduance Their often flying ensignes , those at hand Possessors and destroyers of the Land ; Whom God reseruing for our future Pride , Left to our eyes as thornes , prickes to our side . No none of these , but all your swords intend I grieue to speak 't , the ruine of a friend : And all the sonnes of Israel doe presse That Israel may haue a sonne the lesse . Ioseph I 'ue read suffer'd his brothers hate , ( Joseph of neere acquaintance vnto fate The mouth of Destiny , ) they would kill him first , But after sell him , to try which was worst : And yet no reason for this spleene appeares , But that his glory was beyond his yeares : To hate the yonger still is too much sinne , And after Ioseph to spoile Beniamin . Hath twelue no mystery ? doe ye ascribe Meerely to Chance , that there is no odd Tribe . Trust me my brethren , they doe iniure God , Who say that he delights in what is odd : I thinke 't is parity best pleaseth heau'n ; And what is most iust , loues what is most eu'n . Doe I excuse them then to please the time , And onely make an error of a Crime ? Am I sinnes Aduocate ? farre be 't from mee To thinke so ill of Warre as Sodomy : For Sodomy I tearme it , Iustice calls That , fact ; which neuer into action falls , If it hath past the license of the will : And their intent reacht to that height of ill ; But whose intent ? O pardon me , there bee Beniamites spotlesse of that Infamy . Shall these be ioyn'd in punishment ? a sinne You 'd warre against , O doe not then beginne To act a greater , as if you would see Whether Iniustice aequall'd Luxury ? This madnesse was from Gibeah , 't is true , Yet some doe more distast the crime , then you , Euen in that City : heare then my aduice , And God shall prosper what you enterprize . Exhort them to doe iustice , if that then They still be partiall to these guilty men , Their guilt is greatest , let them perish all And equall their offences with their fall . Thicke acclamations breake off his discourse , They le heare no more because they like't : Remorse Ceizeth each conscience , they already hate The ciuill warre , which they so wisht of late . Embassadors by generall voice are sent : But Beniamin conceits that to repent Were the worse sinne , and that who ere will doe A wicked act , he ought defend it too . But are not we true Beniamites in this , And aggrauate what ere we doe amisse By a new act ? as if the second deed Excus'd the former , if it did exceed . Did we not thus , an end were come to warre ; Did we not thus , no more should priuate iarre Molest our peace ; Kings might put vp their swords , And euery quarrell might conclude in words : One conference would root out all debate , And they might then most loue , who now most hate , The most sworne foes : for shew me , where is he Would seeke Reuenge , without an Iniury ? A wrong receiu'd , or thought one ? then no need But to deny , to excuse the deed , Why is Defence ? O what doe they intend Who iustifie those acts , which they should mend ! O Pride ! O folly ! O extreame disease ! O Fact , which he condemnes who practises ! Who in his soule confesseth he offends And yet doubles his guilt when he not ends . Great crimes find greater patrons : impudence Followes each fault , to make vs thinke that sense Hath fled vs with our Vertue , and that men By such an hardnesse are turn'd stones agen . So wifes of Entertainment ( who doe know More then one Husband ) in the publicke , shew As vertuous as the best whilst vndescry'd , Whilst they haue this good left , that they will hide And veile ore their offences : but if once Either their husbands iust suspicions , Or their security betray their fact , No more doe blush to answere , then to act , As if 't were meritorious , and so , did Appeare no sinne no longer then 't was hid . Why should the bad be bold ? why should there be Audaciousnesse ioyn'd to impiety ? Whence is this daring ? Sinne was child to Night , How dares he then approach and blast the light ? How dares he stand th' examining , and try If men can find out his deformity . I haue the reason , we are flatterers all , And to our selues the most ; if any fall Into grosse errors , still he thinkes hee 's free , And Pride supplies the place of honesty . He thinkes t is good to haue a vertuous name And cares not for the goodnesse , but the fame . Which makes the Beniamites reply : we'admire ( To say no more ) at your so strange desire . And at the craft on't most , that you pretend Loue and aduice , when you subiection send : Are we so stupid , and so senslesse growne As to be thought not fit to rule our owne ? Beniamin was the yongest we confesse Of Iacobs sonnes , and yet a sonne , no lesse Then Leuy , or proud Iudah : he that gaue Life to each Tribe , intended none a slaue , Nor shall you make vs . But you le say , that you Out of a generall loue to goodnesse sue For iustice 'gainst her Enemies . T is poore If what we would we cannot couer o're With specious pretences : t is an ill Physitians part so to betray his pill , That children may perceiue it want of dresse , And chuse disease before seene bitternesse ; But let me tell you who so ere do's deale , In the affaires of a strange common-weale , Is tyrannous or mad : he would be knowne Either anothers Lord , or 's not his owne . Yet what is 't your graue Masters doe aduice Our sleepy Councell of ? whose duller Eyes See onely open vices : we haue heard The Leuite and his Concubine , we feard You 'd haue vs punish him : then you relate That comming vnto Gibeah something late , And willing to depart the earlier thence , He found his Chast one dead : O dire offence ! She had the punishment she deseru'd , and iust It was , that who had liu'd should dye by Lust . And yet for feare Leuites in time to come Might want such easie fauourites , and some Would leaue their courteous trade , if there be found No cure , no remedy for such a wound : We are content to be seuere : but then We doe expect , you name those guilty men . Out 's the more hard and thanklesse task I trow , For we will punish those whom you but show . These mockes doe whet the Isra'elites so farre , Nothing remaines now but a ciuill warre : Now all the Tribes haue vnto Mispah ran , With such consent you 'd thinke they were one man . If warre had euer reason , or if men Had ere authority to kill others , then Certainely these , in so diuine a cause , T was not the peoples quarrell , but the Lawes . Here no ambition , no vntam'd desire Of Principalitie , of growing higher , Put on these Armes , nor was it fault enough That Beniamin was rich , to raise these rough Spirits of Mars , nor is 't a true surmise That priuate wrongs did cause these Enemies : These fight the battel of the Lord , herein Iustice on one side fights , on th' other Sinne : So that in height of blood , heat of the warres , They rather Iudges are , then Souldiers . The Israelites if they now spare , are shent , The more they kill , the more they 're innocent . Our Age makes vs againe these actions see An Age of warre , though not of victory . For 't is not victory to winne the Field , Vnlesse we make our Enemies to yeeld More to our Iustice , then our Force , and so As well instruct as ouercome our Foe . Call you that Conquest , or a Theft of State , When in a Stranger region of late , The Eagle built his nest , hauing expell'd ( Vpon a meere pretence that he rebell'd ) The former Ayry , for no other cause , But that his bill was strong , and sharpe his clawes : To see the malice , and the power of hate , That made eu'n the Elector Reprobate . When Caesar did not sticke , nor blush to doe What they detested , who aduis'd him too , When that all lawes their ancient force might loose , He made a Choyce of him that was to Choose . Now all occasions can perswade to sight , When Power is misinterpreted for Right . There is a Lust of killing men ▪ so great , Riuers of bloud can scarce asswage the heat : Our liues are cheaper then the liues of beasts , Then those whose very being is for feasts ; Who haue no vse but for the throat : hard plight ! Anger not kills them , but our appetite , If we haue eaten once , we spare : and then If we are full are kind : but to kill men We haue a lasting appetite , shedding blood , Our famine is increas'd eu'n by our food : Such Erisichthons are we , they that haue Vnlimited desires , Death and the Graue But shadow this affection , and to it Compar'd , the Horse-leach wants an Appetite : It may be weighing mans high faculties ( Which make him claime a kinred with the skies ) They seeme to doubt of his mortality And onely striue to know if he can dye . Nor doe they care on what pretence ( lest ought Should make their crime the lesse ) no reason 's sought To mitigate their fault , and they are thus So farre from good , they scarce are cautelous . But 't is a sore will fester , if you touch , Away my Muse , sometime a truth 's too much For Honour , or for safety : he alone Prospers who flatters . But if any one Shall aske a Probabilitie for this How such a multitude , such a swarme is Assembled of the Israelites ( for then There met at once foure hundred thousand men Against their brother Beniamin , ) whilst yet They had not dispossest the Canaanite , ( There was a mixture not a Conquest made ) How durst they then so foolishly inuade Their brethrens Countrey , when they left their owne Subiect to imminent destruction ? Or when was this inuasion made ? To me The Number hath a more Facility For credit , then the Time ; doe we not finde , That Israel wanting Iudges was assignde To bondage , as to Anarchy ? they groane Vnder a forraine yoake , wanting their owne . Carries it any likelyhood ; or can It sinke into the fancy of a man , That when they were opprest , they should oppresse ? As full of folly as of sauagenesse : This were to perfect Eglons victory , And act what Iabin but desir'd should be . And yet it might be , Ioshua being dead , Then was the time , the people lack'd an head : Who taking no care for posterity , T was the worst act of Ioshua to dye . Moses deputed him , and if that he Had left another Gouernor , it might be Our Leuite had beene chast : and Beniamin Beene noted for his vertue , not his sinne . Then were these multitudes no miracle , And Canaan so oft beat by Israel , In likelihood would rest quiet , and expect If these would doe what they could not effect . Besides , their dwellings in the Valleyes be So that their seat teaches humilitie : And then to climbe the mountaines was such paine As that the labour did exceed the gaine . And thus you see , that they may fight : but ere Their enemies Countries by them wasted were , They to the Oracle repaire , to know If victory shall grace them , or their Foe ? Yet pardon me , I erre , they are so strong As that they would imagine it a wrong Done to their valor , it we should suppose , That they intreated conquest of their foes ; No , being sure of Victory , they aske Which of the Tribes shall vndertake the taske Of the first onset , and the Tribes refus'd , Enuy at Iudahs choyce , as if abus'd , And iniur'd they esteem'd themselues , that they Should loose the dangerous honor of the day . Such was their pride , such thoughts their Numbers brod Numbers , whose feare , might strike the Enemy dead : Whose hands deseru'd a fiercer Enemy , And matter of an harder victory . With these they thinke , they might to Memphis passe , And make the Aegyptians know , what bondage was . With these they thought with ease to force a Way ( Though nature did oppose ) to India . And in a sawcy victory out-runne , The primitiue vprising of the Sunne . How large are our desires ? and yet how few Euents are answerable ? So the dew Which earely on the top of mountaines stood ( Meaning at least to imitate a flood ) When once the Sunne appeares , appeares no more , And leaues that parch'd , which was too moist before . That we are neuer wholly good ! that still Mixt with our Vertue , is some spice of ill ! The Israelites are Iust , but they are Proud , As if a lesser fault might be allowd For punishing the greater : yet I 'de know Whilst yet they might suffer an ouerthrow , Why they reioyce as if th 'ad wonne ! or why They haue a Pride ere they haue Certainty ? Their numbers are incredible , 't is true , Yet multitudes haue beene orecome by few : Their army is compleat , t is right , but then We know it is an army but of men , Of future carkasses , so quickly some They haue no time to thinke of death to come : To whom no starre a certainty does giue , That they at least to the next Field should liue . Foure hundred thousand carkasses ; enough To giue the beasts a surfet , and allow Fertility which Nature had deny'd Vnto those Lands : So that their height of pride , Of hope , of glory , and of all their toyle Is to inrich the Land which they would spoile . So thought the Beniamites , who though they saw That Pow'r too was against them with the Law , Yet resolutely they intend to die , And such despaire giues them the victory . They are not Cowards , yet , though they are bad , They slay more numbers then wee 'd thinke they had . Whence comes this Courage to the Desperate ? The bad me thinkes should be effeminate , And as the Bees ( the subiect or the King ) Hauing abus'd it once , doe loose their sting : And to inforce a Stoick vnto laughter , Being once too fierce , they are alwaies sluggish after Conuerted vnto Droanes , so it seemes fit ( And not so much heauens Iustice , as its wit ) That who hath lost his Vertue once , should straight Loose courage too , opprest with his owne waight . The Israelites though amaz'd at this defeat , Yet gather head , and to their campe retreat ; There might you see Sorrow and Anger ioyn'd , Nor doe they grieue so much as they repin'd . Here fathers weepe their onely sonnes , and there Brothers for as deare losses dropp a teare , Accompany'd with threatnings , they are mad Till they bestow the sorrow which they had . Once more to Shiloh they repaire , to heare If God at last will aide them , and for feare That it was pride did frustrate their first sute , They 're now as humble , as then resolute : In stead of fighting they now weepe a day , Sighes they doe thinke and teares can make a way Where swords are vselesse , they 'l gaine victory No longer by their hand , but by their Eye . Great and iust God , sayes one , we doe confesse That all this heauy anger is farre lesse Then our deseruings : should'st thou fully waigh Our sinnes enormity , t is not a day Lost to the Foe , can expiate : did we feele What ere we saw in Aegypt , did the steele Peirce deeper in our bowells , should the skyes Shed those hot showers in which Gomorrah fryes , We could not taxe the Iustice of our King , But after all , owe still a suffering . Yet thou hast ancient mercies , we'aue beene told Of all thy courtesies , which were of old Shew'd to our Fathers ; O vouchsafe them still , And make vs heires of those : we haue done ill , Prodigiously ill , ther 's no offence Which we are guiltlesse of , each conscience Accuseth , and amazeth vs : yet now Our flinty hearts to a repentance bow : Yet now at last vouchsafe thy fauour to vs , And as thy rod hath scourg'd , let mercy wooe vs ; We dare not looke for victory : O no , Giue vs at leastwise a more vertuous Foe . Thy wrath is iust great God , and t is our sute Onely iust men thy wrath may execute . We beg not for our liues , they are thy loane , Which when thou wilt , receiue , yet as thine owne , Let not their swords bereaue vs of our breath , And we shall find a benefit in death . Yet what a glory can it be to thee That we are dead ? and that the Heathen see Thy anger on thy Children ? that thy wrath In stead of being felt , is told in Gath , And publisht in fierce Ascalon ; spare vs then If not for vs , yet for thy selfe ; and when Thou think'st of plaguing vs , thy selfe exempt , Since that our Ruine will breed thy contempt : Let then thy mercy aboue iustice shine ; If we are bad , consider we are thine . Thus grumbled they a pray'r : and he that sees Councells vnhatchd , and what he will , decrees , ( Yet euer iustly ) does perceiue that they What ere they faine , doe murmure , and not pray . Which he decrees to punish : they would know Whether that once more they shall fight ▪ or no ? Once more he grants that they shall fight and thus They 're not so crauing , as he Courteous , If they but aske him , he will not deny , Fight 's their desire , and then his answere's I. Had they but ask'd the victorie as well He would haue heard his troubled Israel : He that deliuer'd them from forraine armes , And taught their weake hands to repaire their harmes With admirable victory . He I say Would haue bestow'd the honor of the day On them , had they desir'd it ; they haue knowne How he hath warr'd for them from heauen , & showne Such miracles in their defence , they fright Those whom they saue , as when the wondring night Thought herselfe banisht from the world ( the Sunne Standing vnmou'd , forgetting how to runne . ) If they now loose the day the fault is theirs , God does no mercy want , they want right prayers . But they suppose it too too fond to stand Begging of that which is in their owne hand . This they conceiue were to mocke God , to craue That to be giu'n which they already haue , A pow'r to vse their armes : No , if once more They may haue field-roome , may but fight it o're Though Heau'n doe not fight for them ; they suppose They cannot loose , if Heau'n doe not oppose . They thinke no chance can possibly bestow , The foile on them , the Lawrell on the foe . What though they lost the praise of the first day , And fought as though they came to runne-away : T was not for want of courage sure , but either The foe had got aduantage of the weather , Or else the wind had rays'd the dust so high That they suppos'd fresh enemies to be nigh , And fear'd to be enuiron'd round : what ere Occasion'd their first ouerthrow , no feare , No chance , shall cause another ; and the slaues That now triumph , shall find their trenches , graues . Is this their Crime alone , or doe not all Partake as of their fault , so of their fall ? Israel is not onely mad , there be Some vices which we giue posterity , And this is one of them : O how vaine is man ! O how his Reason too is but a spanne , And not his stature or his Age ! we haue long Iniur'd the beasts , and done them too much wrong , By calling them Irrationall ; could they speake Thus in rough language , they would fiercely breake Their mind vnto vs : O you onely wise To whom kind Nature hath imparted Eyes , Leauing all other blind ; pardon if we Doe tell you where you haue forgot to see , Where we are clearer sighted : can you show Where euer beasts did to that madnesse grow , As to pronounce of that , which is to come , Of that which onely seemes in Chances doome ? Yet thus you doe ; and doing thus haue showne , Reason's your title , our Possession . The Israelites had to their cost of late Found confidence to be vnfortunate ; ( Their confidence in Numbers ) and yet still ( Though now contain'd in smaller roome ) they will Forespeake their victory : why , because they see That they are many yet ; poore vanity ! When they were more , they were o'recome , yet dare Conceiue a Conquest when they fewer are ; Because still some are to be kill'd : as though Successe to Multitudes did homage owe , And multitudes impair'd : as if the way To winne another were to loose one day . But had we seene the City now ! what ioy Raign'd in those streetes , sufficient to destroy Those whom it comforted ( for pleasure too Can find a way to death , and strangely doe The worke of heauinesse and griefe ) I say Had we but seene the glory of that day : The whooping , dancing , and the generall noyse To which the sea and thunder are but toyes ; We should haue thought it ( so the sounds agree . ) No noise of Triumph , but Captiuity . At last they doe repose themselues , and one Of highest iudgement and discretion , Instructs them thus : My dearest Countrymen , Who ere intends his priuate ends , does pen A speech vnto the Eare , his study is Which words sound well , and which are thought amisse : He tryes all wayes , he layes all colours on To cheat the Iudgement , sooth the Passion , So that he hopes at last that it must hit Either the subiect , or the clothing it : But I whose end is Publike good , intend Nothing but that which caryes to that end : Pardon me then if I am harsh and round , If that I am not Plausible , but sound . We wonne a victory last day , so great We hardly dare beleeue we were not beat : Our conquest easier was then our beleife ; And with great reason too : for tell , what chiefe , What petty captaine is so vaine , so mad As to ascribe to his conduct the glad Euent of last dayes hazard ? to my sense The Conqueror was onely Prouidence , And we but instruments : then I 'de aduice That as you haue beene happy , you 'd be wise : That man does still in greatest glory stand , Whose braine is better thought of then his hand ▪ And so I wish that yours should be : we know That what is gain'd by Fortune is lost so , She hath no constant Fauorite , then now Whilst yet our victory does meanes allow To purchase peace at our owne rate , and thriue By Couenant more then Battle : let vs driue All thought of warre farre from vs , t is in vaine To get that hardly , which we may obtaine By easier meanes , and he does more then raue Who hazards that which he may certaine haue . More was he speaking , when a thousand tongues Made his be silent , one would thinke their lungs To be vnequall to that noyse , so fierce Their clamor is , such sounds the heauens doe peirce . So haue I oft heard in our Theater ( When that a daintier passage wan the Eare ) A thousand tongues , a thousand hands rebound , ( As if the Plaudite were in the sound , And most noise were most pleasing : ) they expresse Their liking so , as these their frowardnesse . Who raue from noise to action , one stoopes downe , To reach a stone , another fiercer clowne Shakes a steel'd Tauelin at him , all the hands , Against which Israel but weakely stands , Ayme now at one ; who dreadlesse , vnimpair'd In courage , neither wisht life , nor despair'd . At last a serious Counceller stood vp ; Much had he tasted of the liberall Cup , And thankefully exprest it in his face , To which a larger wound would be a grace By hiding his rich pimples : This braue man Raises himselfe , and with what speed he can Stutters thus to them ; Cease my noble boyes , Quiet your threatnings now , and stint your noyse . T is a iust anger you haue showne , but yet The time in which you shew it is vnfit . Now should we dance , my blouds , now should we sing , And make the wondring firmament to ring With ioyfull acclamations ; now braue spirits To shew the most ioy , is to shew most merits . Sadnesse is onely Capitall : in fine , Now should we shed no bloud but of the vine . For you Sir whom we doubly guilty see , Of Treason first , and then Philosophy If these doe please , thus we pronounce : to shew How little we doe feare you , or the Foe , Wee 'l send you first vnto their campe , and then Wee 'l fetch you by our conquest home agen . This is a mercy if well vnderstood , You shall inioy the fortune you thinke good . Here his breath failes : when all the people cry He hath spoke nobly , none this day shall dye . And yet the Traitor shall not scape at last Whose execution is deferr'd , not past . T was neither peace , nor warre now , either side Hauing sufficiently their forces try'd , Take breath a while : O happy men , if still This mind continue in them ! If they kill Their appetite of killing ! if this rest Can at the last informe them what is best ! To bury their slaine friends ▪ both sides agree Vnto a two dayes truce : Stupiditie Nor to be borne with ! had they knowne the vse At first of that which they now call a truce , This truce had beene vnnecessary , then They might haue spar'd , whilst now they bury men . And that they now may bury , they intreat Respite a while from warre : thus all their heat Is buried for the time : good heau'n to see Th' Omnipotency of Necessity , Whom all the neerest ties of Neighbourhood , Religion , Language , nay of the same Bloud Could not containe from fight , but that they would ( To see if it were theirs ) shed their owne bloud , These are intreated to a forme of peace , Their fury for a day or two can cease , Commanded by Necessity : they feare Lest th' Ayre by so much carcasse poysoned were : Lest to reuenge the bloud which they had shed , They now might feele the valour of the dead , Of strong corruption : these thoughts hold their mind These thoughts a while inforce them to be kind On both sides ( for they doe not iarre in all ) Nature preuailes not , but a Funerall . Nor doth this long preuaile , for when they had Interr'd some carcasses , they yet are mad Till they haue made some more , till they haue done A second fault , as not content with one . They see their Error , and commit it , thus Who are not eminently vertuous , Are easily entrapp'd in vices snares , And want the poore excuse , that vnawares They were ingag'd , we greedily runne on Offending with Deliberation . And can you call this but Infirmity ? Nick-name a Vice ? O call it Prodigy . Call it — O what ? What name can well expresse The miracle of humane guiltinesse ? Could he pretend an ignorance at least And be in Nature as in Fact a beast , He were not worse then they , then he might be Both from the Vse and Fault of Reason free . But what new horror ceizeth me ? what fire Raignes in my thoughts , and prompts me to rise higher ? Hence you low soules who groueling on the Earth Basely deiect your selues below your birth , Sold to your senses : I intend to tell What none can know but in whose breasts doe dwell Coelestiall fires , and vnto whom 't is giu'n To haue a neerer intercourse with Heau'n . Yet pardon you pure soules , whom no one dares Eas'd of our flesh , to trouble with our cares : Pardon I once more aske , if my weake pen Fitting it selfe to ordinary men , Attaine not to your height ( to vs vnknowne ) And giue you those words which you shame to owne . The Lawgiuer , who saw as in a glasse All in the Word , what euer 't was did passe In these neer enmities , as farre as Man Perfectly happy knowes a griefe , began To feele Compassion : Haue I then said he Deliuer'd Israel for this misery ? And did I free them from th' Aegyptian Onely to find them graues in Canaan ? I did foretell their Land should ouerflow , But neuer thought to be expounded so ; Neuer with bloud : I meant that they should haue More blessings then the couetous can craue . The flowing Vdder , and the vntyr'd Bee , An happy Deluge of Fertility . O how would now proud Pharaoh reioyce ! How would he haue a Ioy beyond a voyce , Beyond his tyranny , could he but know What Israel does indure without a Foe ! Was it for this I did so oft repeat Wonders before him , wonders of so great Exuberance of powre , so highly done , That they contemne all admiration ? How wert thou Nilus bloudy'd into Red , Thy waters as vnknowne as is thy Head ? When all thy finny progeny did find That to destroy now , which did breed their kind , When by a nimble death they vnderstand , The Riuer as discourteous as the Land ? Can I forget that when I did bestow A liberty as heretofore to flow Vnto thy now pale waters , there did passe An issue stranger then his Colour was From the too fertil riuer ? Frogges are found With such a multitude to hide the ground That ther 's no grasse appeares , no corne is seen . The spring does blush because he lookes not greene . Their numbers and their noyse equally harsh Make Aegypt not a Region but a Marsh . What a small portion of my acts were these ? How scarcely to be counted passages In my large story ? Dust is chang'd to Lice And now beginnes to creepe , which the most nice And curious eye before could neuer find To moue at all , vnlesse 't were by the wind : Which could not scatter those thicke clouds of Flyes , That would not let them , no , not see the skyes . When I but threaten all the cattle dye , And Aegypts Gods find a Mortality . But lest the men should thinke that they were free From the fault too , if the Calamity● : I taught their bodies with blacke goare to runne , And imitate their soules corruption . What was a Face is now a Pimple growne , And in each part is plentifully sowne A store of blaines , so vgly , that to me It was a kind of Iudgement but to see . And if this were but little , was 't not I That call'd those candy'd pellets from the sky , Which in a moment ouerwhelming all Did badly change their colour in their fall : And by the murthering euery one they found Within their reach came red vnto the ground ? When to repaire the numbers they had slaine ( Beasts of all sorts ) the land is fill'd againe , But t is with Locusts , such a swarme they see Made for the shame of all their Husbandry , That they could wish , so they were rid of these The former Murrein , ere this new increase . But who can tell the following Prodigy ? Last day the Earth was hid , but now the sky Chaos returnes , the Sunne hath lost his rayes And Nights obscurity is turn'd to Dayes . Who could a greater miracle afford ? God made the Light , I Darknesse by a Word . Which had it lasted , had it ne're been spent , They would haue call'd it a kind punishment , They had not seen then their first borne to dy , To challenge death by their Natiuity : All 〈…〉 , but why ? was it to see 〈…〉 suffer fuller misery ? To gaine the Country which they could not hold , From which their owne armes ignorantly bold Expell their owne selues : O let no man tell That Israel did banish Israel . My prayers forbid , nor let it ere be said That Moses was vnkind since he was dead , That in the graue I left my goodnesse too ; And could not pity when not feele a woe . Hauing said this , with all the speed he may He seekes out holy Abraham , who that day , By his deere Isaac seconded , did sing The ancient mercies of their heauenly King . One tells how hauing now worne out a life And so being fitter for his Graue then Wife , Nay then when she had liu'd vnto those yeares , To be accounted with the Grandmothers , When Sara now was so vnweildy growne , Her legges could scarcely beare her selfe alone , She beares another burthen , and does swell Not with a child , but with a Miracle . This said , he stops ; and then againe goes on No more with story , but Deuotion . O prayse the Lord my soule , let me not find My body was more fruitfull then my mind . O let that teeme with thankefulnesse , and be Made sweetly pregnant by my memory . Father , sayes Isaac , I haue often heard That we doe tell with Ioy what we haue Feard , And what in suffring terrifies our sense , Does in relating please : what violence Of blisse possesseth me , when I compare My dangers past with ioyes that present are ! Methinkes I yet carry that fatall wood ( A burden which I hardly vnderstood Should carry me ) methinkes I still enquire Where is the sacrifice , and where the fire ? How little did I thinke , or feare till then That God commanded sacrifice of men ! How little could I guesse in any part That God in such sort did desire the Heart ? Yet pardon Father , if you now must know , Your silence seem'd more cruell then your blow : Could I oppose my mind against your will , Or wish him spar'd , whom you decreed to kill ? Wherefore was all this circumstance ? what need But first to tell , and then to act the deed ? I neuer knew what disobedience meant , And your distrust was my worst punishment . I must confesse I was amaz'd , my bloud Congeal'd within me , and my faint haires stood Yet not for feare of death ( Death was my profit ) But for the manner and the Author of it . Was this the heau'nly promise ? and must I So strangely borne , somewhat more strangely dye ? What should I say now ? or what shall I doe ? That frustrate by my death Gods promise too . Should I inuoke Heau'ns ayde ? alas , from thence Came the iniunction for this violence : Should I implore my fathers helpe ? why , he Would sooner hearken vnto heau'n then me . And so he did : for when the trembling sword As if he knew the temper of his Lord Threatned a death , most fortunately then He that did arme you did disarme agen ; Shewing your will was all he did require , Commanding you to that you most desire , To be againe a Father : O the power And mercy of our God! who in an houre , Who in a minute , can make all things well , Can bring and then deliuer out of Hell . These were their Accents , when that Moses sayes , It is an holy businesse to praise , To magnifie our Lord , so to goe on In the intent of our Creation . To this all times , all reasons doe obey , And we may praise as often as we pray . But now let 's change these tones , let vs be mute In all discourses now , but in a suite ; Let vs at once conioyne our prayers , and see If our one God will hearken vnto three . Your issue , and my charge , whom I haue led Thorow those paths that neuer man did tred , ( As if they fear'd a scarcity of foes ) Doe their owne selues against themselues oppose ; And their destruction ( vnlesse we repaire Sooner to ayde them ) will preuent our pray'r . It was a place aboue the Ayre , the Sky , Whither Man cannot reach , not with his Eye , Nay if th' exactnesse of the height be sought , Whither Man cannot reach , not with his thought . Beyond the place where haile , and raine doe grow , Aboue the chill-white treasures of the snow ; To which compar'd the starry heau'n is fell Vnto a neerer neighbourhood with Hell . And when I shall of Gods abode intreat It does become his prospect , not his seat . To which compar'd , the Chrystall heau'n does meet With Earth , to be a stoole vnto his feet . This was the Place ( yet pardon 't was not so , Places are things which onely bodies know , Our bounds of Ayre , from which the heau'ns are free As from Corruption and Mortality ) But heere it was His sacred throne did stand , Who with a word created Sea and Land : Who with a word was Maker of his Throne , Who till he made it neuer wanted one . Bring me the richest goldsmiths treasuries ( Those baites that doe allure our hearts and eies ) The dusky Sapphire , the Pearle richly white , The sparkling Diamond , yellow Chrysolite , Or if there be a gemme Nature hath fram'd , Of so high price that Art hath neuer nam'd . Ransacke the Inga's tombes , where there doth lye With their corrupted dust their treasury : ( Who to that pretty bounty doe attaine That they bestow their gold on earth againe . ) Search me their graues , or if you fearfull be Of treasure guarded by Mortality , Rob all the mines fenc't with so many barres , ( Where Nature in the Earth hath fancy'd starres , Whose luster least our weaknesse cannot beare Her kinder wisedome made her store vp there ) Bring these vnto the view , to an exact Figure , which Phidias durst call his Act : Yet to this throne compar'd , it will appeare So farre from shining , it will scarce looke cleare . Here does the Ancient of dayes disclose The glory of his Maiesty to those To whom he daynes his presence , who enioy At full , what would a weaker eye destroy : Whose blisse shall neuer haue a period , Who therefore liue because they see their God . How could I euer linger , euer dwell In this so blest Relation ! O how well Should I esteeme my selfe entranc'd , if I By staying here should lose my History ! Here thousand thousands wait vpon his call Of humane seruants , and Angelicall , And such a multitude inuest his throne ( Millions of Spirits waiting vpon One , ) That it may be we should not say amisse , Their Number stranger then their Nature is : Here sound the Halleluiah's , here the Quire Of Heau'n is high , and full as their desire : No voice is here vntun'd , they doe not find Aiarre , more in the sound , then in the mind . Their power of singing growes on with their song , And they can longer sing , because thus long ; Thus here themselues they fully strengthned fee , To a melodious eternitie . Here Abraham presents himselfe , and sayes O thou aboue the iniury of Dayes ; Who making Times art subiect vnto none , Who giu'st all knowledge , and art neuer knowne ; Who in my dayes of flesh didst gladly lend An eare vnto my sute , and wouldst not bend Thy plagues against thine enemies , vntill I knew th' intent , and thou hadst askt my will , The will of me poore mortall , nay farre worse Of me a sinner then , the ancient curse Stucke deepely in me , that I might haue feard My faults , and not my pray'r should haue beene heard : Could I speake then , and am I silent now ? Did Sodome moue , and cannot Israel bow ? O pardon me if I bewaile their state , If I their Father proue their Aduocate . Didst not thou promise when I had giu'n ore All hope of Father , when I wisht no more Then a contented Graue , that then from me , Should come so numerous a progeny : That all the cleerer army of the sky , And the thicke sands which still vnnumbred lye Should come within account before my seed , Which not my Sara , but thy truth should breed ? How oft I thought that promise did include Their lasting too as well as multitude ; That their continuance should be as sure , As long as either sands or starres indure . If they haue sinn'd , thou know'st they may repent And be the better by a punishment , Neuer by Ruine : O then vse thy rod Thinke that they are thy People , thou their God . And if they are so , O then let not be Any more strife , but who shall most serue thee , If they are so , let Abraham once more Receiue those children which thou gau'st before . Now they haue left their heau'nly ecchoing , Now all the Quire does wonder and not sing , When from th' eternall Maiesty are heard Speeches , which all but the dread Speaker fear'd . Am I as Man that I should change ? or like The sonne of man to threaten and not strike ? If I pronounce my wrath against a Land Shall that continue , and my word not stand ? If I doe whet a sword , shall it be blunt , And haue no direr sharpenesse then t' was wont ? Beniamins crime h'as such an horror in 't , ( Who haue confirm'd their faces like a flint Against all dye of modesty ) that till Their bloud ( which now their too hot veines doe fill ) Flow in their fields , till that their Numbers be Of as small note as is their Chastity , It shall not be remitted : yet to show That I can pay that which I doe not owe , A remnant shall escape : but for the rest , ( Those other Tribes which boast they are the best , ) And yet to verifie their goodnesse , lesse Speake , as if they were iniur'd by successe , So making the fault mine , who therefore haue Beene lib'rall benefactors to the graue By their thicke deaths ) vntill that I doe see A confirm'd truth of their humility , They shall not see a victory : I le make Beniamin punish these , and after take Vengeance on the Reuengers , till they see My mercy hath not spent mine Aequity . This I pronounce , this is my constant will . Now all the holy company doe fill The heau'ns with shouts of prayse , and loudly cry All Honor , Glory , Power to the most High . But now the Israelites once more haue brought Their troopes into the field , once more haue fought , And whether 't was the fault of them that led , Or of the souldier , once more they haue fled : And now because their battle was not long I will not be more tedious in my Song .

Canto III. The Argument . The Leuites vision , Phineah's Prayer , The Israelites late caus'd despaire Now turn'd to courage , when by them A new inuenned stratagem Drawes the enemy from the walls , Vntill within their net he falls , With the full righting of the wrong Does both conclude , and crowne my Song . WHen will Vice faile ? when shall we see th' euent Of wicked acts as bad as the Intent ? As yet the worst are prosperous , and worse , The good as yet haue neuer miss'd their curse : Reuiew the Leuites wife , and you shall see When she had forfeited her honesty , Her father entertain'd her ; but once more When she was come to what she left before , Her Lord and Vertue , when that all her strife Shall be to gaine the name of a good wife , Gibeah will not harbour her ; O poore ! Gibeah were guiltlesse had it done no more : But Gibeah will murder her ; and now Returne we to the Campe , and there see how They proue this fatall truth , twice had they try'd The valour of their enemies , and twice dy'd The fields with their best bloud , so hardly crost That they haue fought no oftner then th 'aue lost : And yet their cause was best : neither were they The onely people which haue lost the day Which they deseru'd to winne : search the records Of euery Age , and euery Age affords Examples of like strangenesse : who can tell What the Assyrian did to Israel ? How in despite of all their lofty towers , ( Which hop'd a standing to the last of houres ) He made one houre their last : vnlucky howre , Where vice shew'd what 't could do when it had power . The sword did sport with lifes , nor were they such Whose losse or preseruation did not much Pertaine vnto the state : but the Kings sonnes In the same time , the same Pauilions , By the same tyrant are inforc'd to dye , And which exceeds all , in their fathers eye . Poore Zedekiahs kingdome first is gone And then his heyres , O harsh inversion ! If he had lost them first , it might be thought His kingdomes losse would not haue mou'd him ought , He would haue made the best of th' other crosse Esteeming it an easing , not a losse . As he might now to be depriu'd of sight When he should couet the kind screene of Night Betweene his woes and him : if in his mind He saw , it was a blessing to be blind : That then he should be forc't to see no more When he could not see what he saw before . This Israel suffer'd , and his Ashur did , And yet I dare affirme it was not hid Not from th' Assyrian eu'n in his owne doome That they were better who were ouercome . Or if the goodnesse to his side he drawes , T is that his sword was better , not his cause . I could goe on in presidents as true , Actions betweene the Heathen and the Iew , Betweene the Turke and Christian : but what need To shew there is no birth without a seed ? No speech without a tongue ? or if there be More truths of such knowne perspicuity . How doe they doate then , who would tye the Lord To be so ayding to his childrens sword , As that he ne're should vse his owne , nor doe Any one act , but what they wish him too ? Are they so good ? or is his loue so fond , As of a courtesie to make a bond ? Shall they indent with him ? and say thus farre Thou mayst correct , but if thy iudgements are Of longer date , they are vniust ? for shame ( All ye that glory in a purer Name , ) Hence those blaspehemous thoughts , far hence remoue , Lest they deserue the plagues they would reproue . Is it iniustice to suppresse our pride , To bring vnto our eyes what we would hide , Eu'n from our selues , our close deformities ? Or , may not God , to shew how he does prize His seruants labours , make them thus appeare , As does the Sunne after a cloud , more cleare ? His iudgement certainly wee 'l say's too quicke , Who'l proue one bad because he sees him sicke ; These iudgements are discases , and bestowd At pleasure , and not where they most are owd : Yet due they are where euer they are found , Since there are none so Catholikely sound , But in a word , but in a thought haue strayd , Perhaps in those Afflictions , when th 'aue wayd Their deeds and suffrings which they thinke to be Of farre more rigor then Aequality . Then courage noble Countrymen , nor feare Though you should want successe a while to ●eare Your names vp to your ancestors , ( who did Those acts which now were better to be hid : Lest that they should vpbraid vs ) doe not feare That Spaine is neerer the Almighties Eare Then our deuotions : he that could bestow A victory after a second blow Vpon the doubting Israelites , can still Create our better hopes eu'n out of ill . Or if he doe not , if he haue decreed That our iust plague shall be their vniust deed : That Israel shall be once more ouercome , And Dauid flie away from Absalom : Yet let this glad vs in our chiefest woe , Man may be good and yet vnhappy too . Now are they truely humbled , now although No curious eye could guesse their ouerthrow When he had seene their numbers , yet at length They will rely vpon another strength , Or if to numbers they will trust agen , 'T is to Gods numerous mercies , not their men . He can deliuer ( they haue seene ) by few , And they doe thinke it possible and true That he can helpe by many too , they find Without him all their actions full of wind , Of emptinesse , and with him they not doubt To be as well victorious as deuout . Now Pride hath left them , now they goodnesse yeeld , Now haue they lost their vices with the field . Such holy lessons doe misfortunes teach , Which make our once bad thoughts brauely to reach At Heau'n and glory : if you marke it well Whilst yet it was a num'rous Israel It was a proud one too , but when that now God lookes vpon them with an angry brow , When all their troopes halfe weary and halfe sicke , Are growne to easier Arithmeticke , Th' are truly penitent ▪ hence we may see The pow'r , the good pow'r of Aduersitie , W' are bad if we are happy , if it please Heau'n to indow vs with a little ease , If riches doe increase , vntill our store Meet our desires , till we can wish no more , If that our garners swell ( vntill they feare Ruine from that with which they furnisht were ) We but abuse these benefits : our Peace Brings forth but factions , if that strangers cease To giue vs the affront ; our selues will be Both the defendant , and the Enemy . Our riches are our snares , which being giu'n To man , to make a purchase of the heau'n , We buy our ruine with them , the abuse Is double , in the getting , and the vse , So that our summes vnto such heapes are growne When Auarice succeeds Oppression . In briefe , our garners so well stuff'd , so cramm'd , Detaine our Corne , as if that it were damn'd To euerlasting prison , none appeares , And thus we giue dearth to the fruitfull yeares : Being to such a proud rebellion growne , Famine is not heau'ns iudgement but our owne . So wretched are we , so we skilfull grow In crimes , the which the heathen doe not know . We wrong God for his blessings , as if thus We then were thankfull , if iniurious . Why should not mercy winne vs ? why should we Be worse by that , whence we should betterd be ? Blessings were ne're intended for our harme , Why doe we hearken then to the fond charme Of such temptations ? O how base is man ! How foolish Irreligion has wanne Vpon his reason too ! Doe we not call Whom onely stripes can master , bestiall ? O what is man then ! who ne're heares his Lord , Till that the famine call him , or the sword . Who ( as he meant to tyre his patient God ) Yeelds not vnto his fauours , but his rod . And can we yet intreat him to be kind , To alter his , when wee 'l not change our mind ? If we are heard , we will offend agen , And all our pray'r does but intreat a Sinne. Thus pray'd the Israelites , but if th' are heard If he that made them scorn'd , will make them feard : It is in chance , no , t is as sure as fate , Hauing forgot their misery of late They will rebell againe : like those good hearts Who though they know the paines , the many smarts Which fruitfulnesse is fruitfull with , still giue Death to themselues , to make their issue liue : And if they scape this death , they try againe , And boldly venture for a second paine , As if t were pleasure , or as if they meant Rather to dye , then to be continent . Thus haue we seene a barren , sandy soyle ( Made onely for the husbandmans sad toyle And not his profit ) when the full heau'n powres His moisture downe , easing himselfe by showres : Drown'd with the drops , to make vs vnderstand A figure of the Sea vpon the Land , When once those drops are spent , when that the sky Smiles with his new restor'd ferenitie , Swifter then thought , before that we can say This was the place ; the water 's gone away , There s a low Ebbe , againe we see the Land Changing its moisture for its ancient sand . Yet he that knowes this their infirmity , At last will pitty it , and from on high , ( When now their thoughts of warre they will adiourne When there 's no talke now , but of their returne ) Hee 'l hinder it by victory : with that ( About the time that pitchy night had gat The conquest of the day , of which being proud He wrapt himselfe within his thickest cloud , Thinking perhaps his conquest to be voyd , If any saw the triumphs he inioyd ) Vnto our Leuite he a vision sends Clad in her dearest shape , in whom he ends All thoughts of Fancy : Whom when he had seene ( And quickly he had spy'd her ) Fairest Queene Of heau'n , he sayes , what is there here on earth That could perswade thee to a second birth , Thus to appeare agen ? needs must thou know ( For ignorance belongs to vs below Excluded out of heau'n ) that our sad stare Is for its goodnes prou'd vnfortunate ; That Beniamin is conqueror , and that we Could not reuenge , but onely follow thee : Nor was 't one losse , one petty ouerthrow Hath daunted vs , but ( as if fate would show All her choyce malice on vs ) we haue try'd How many wayes 't was possible t' aue dy'd . Beleeue it , heauenly one , no cowardise ( Which heretofore being base , is now tearmd wise ) Lost vs the day , no prouidence , no zeale Nor that ( which can the maymes of actions heale ) Councell , and graue aduice was wanting to vs : Only the heau'ns , which we had thought would wooe vs To prosecute thy vengeance , and from whence We look'd for daies , like a good conscience Shining and cleere , with cruelty vnheard Giue vs an ouerthrow for a reward ; That we can onely ( such our wretched fate ) Deplore the losse , which we should vindicate . Is this your Iustice heau'ns ? nay I would know If it at least be wisedome , thus to shew . Your wrath vpon you followers ? if there be Such a desire in you to make vs see What powre you haue , wherefore d' ye not vse That powre on those , who impiously abuse Vs and your selues ? O there are heathen still , People that neither feare , nor know your will , If you will ruine these , or any wise But lessen , y 'aue the fewer Enemies : On these be powerfull ; but if you doubt Whether such nations may be singled out , That sinne hath fled the world , then here begin , For all the Heathen are in Beniamin . Are we the onely faulty ? or am I Pickt out for eminent Iniquity ? All lights on me , t was I that rays'd these warres , T was I that this thicke people like to starres Haue lessend into Number ; I alone Merit both peoples curses ioynd in one . Beniamin does detest me , and I guesse Israels hatred is more close , not lesse . What shall I doe , what course is to be tryde When safe I cannot goe , nor safe abide ? No more sayes she , nor foolishly conclude To giue complaints in stead of gratitude . Wee'are heard my deare , and he at whose command The earth will learne to moue , the heau'n to stand Fast as the Center , who brings downe to hell , And out of deeper mercies ( which to tell Would pose them that they blesse ) brings backe againe , Making the pleasure greater by the paine , ) Hath crown'd our wishes . O ioyfully good ! Not to be had on earth , nor vnderstood : Heau'ns high superlatiue , for vnto me Reuenge is better then Aeternity . Reuenge vpon Gods enemies : know my deare ( And know that thou must doe what thou shalt heare ) It is the will of heau'n , when once the skye Is proud of the next mornings liuery , All Israel should meet , where what shall fall Iust with wishes , or exceed them all , I must not now discouer , yet thus much I care deliuer ( my affection 's such ) A truth , that is confest as soone as heard , That he who knew to plague , knowes to reward . Our Leuite wakes , but stretching out an arme He feeles no body , no , nor no place warme To proue she had been there , he thinkes 't may be No vision , but a birth of Phantasie : An issue of a troubled braine that fram'd Formes to it selfe which Nature hath not nam'd . Haue I not slaine enough he sayes , but still Is it my office and my curse to kill ? T was but a dreame inioyn'd me to be bad , A dreame , a vapour , and am I so mad For nothing to bee monstrous , and commit A crime , that men shall feare to dreame of it ! But can I disobey what it hath pleas'd Heau'n to command me ? O how I am ceaz'd With strange extreames ! nor readily can tell Whether this Reuelation should dwell Clos'd in my brest ? or whether I goe on As counting it a Reuelation ? There may be guilty silence , if we feare In the affaire of heauen to wound an eare With threatning Rheroricke ; this will not bee Excus'd by a pretence of modesty : Rather t will proue the iudgement of iust heau'n , We shall receiue the doome we should haue giu'n . Now all the people know what he hath heard , Now they haue all their forwardnesse declar'd In sacrifice , when Phineas appeares , One that had liued vnto so many yeares ; He knew not how to count them , and that knew The Desert wonders , and could proue them true By his owne sight , that could the more ingage Men to beleeue , not by his tongue , but age . Nay I haue heard some hauing duely way'd How long in that high office he had stayd , Conceiue they may affirme without a checke , Him of the order of Melchisedec ; And proue ( as onely iudging what they see ) Their Priesthoods , by their Priests eternity . Who hauing enter'd , all the people bow'd : ( For 't was not yet as perfect zeale allow'd To be irreuerent to their Priest , that name Which now is prou'd a title but of shame , Then was the badge of glory ) he indeares Himselfe , more by his office , then his yeares To those , who thinke these two can ne're agree , To scorne the Priest , and serue the Deitie . Before the Altar his weake knees he bends , Which age before , but now deuotion sends Vnto the ground , where with a voyce so low , That he could onely heare it , who could know What it would haue before it spake , he thus Whisper'd a prayer ; King of Heauen , of Earth , of Seas , And of men exceeding these : Thou , that when thy people ranne From the proud Egyptian , Ledst them through a liquid path Safe , and scarce wet , when thy wrath Wonderfully made them know , T was a Sea vnto the foe . Thou that when the heat , the sand Of a barren thirsty land , Made our tongues be so confin'd To our roofes , they scarce repin'd , But in secret , so that we Onely fear'd a blasphemy . Thou then by a powerfull knocke Mad'st a Sea within a Rocke , And gau'st Israel to know For them drought should ouerflow : Thou art still the same , and we Stand in the same need of thee . Pardon then if we presume To an hope , and so assume Courage to vs , when we ioyne Our wants to that powre of thine . Yes our wants , for we can find None of merit , w 'aue declin'd Eu'ry good way , and haue still Beene ambitious of ill , So that when we are exact , And haue all our good deeds rackt To the highest rate , ther 's none Dares appeare before thy throne : Onely this desert we see , Continuance of aduersity . Nay such monsters haue we bin , Such proficients in each sinne , That we durst not looke on heau'n , Nor intreat to be forgiu'n . Hadst not thou vouchsaf'd to doe What our wishes reacht not too : Hadst not thou vouchsaf'd to be Tutor to our Infancy : And bestow'd when we were mute Both our prayer and our sute . O the Courteous Respect heau'ns beares vs ! Scarcely had hee done , Scarce finisht his impos'd deuotion , When on the sudden , ere you could haue said The Priest had sacrific'd , or he had pray'd , Through all the Campe a light was spread , to this Compar'd , the Sunne but a darke body is : And in respect of so diuine a light Our day is honor'd , if he be tearmd night , Nor this alone , but that they there might see And feare their God in his full Maiesty , Such voyces and such thunders fright the Ayre , That they suppose they want another prayer To be assur'd from them ; so they declar'd They were afraid to heare , that they were heard . Downe on the pauement euery knee is fixt , Some groueling on their faces , when betwixt Astonishment and hope , whilst yet they doubt What all this preface meanes , and whilst the rout Fear'd iudgments which they merited , they heare A voyce , for which they wish a larger care , It was so sweetly mercifull : Once more Goe vp ( it sayes ) and though that heretofore Y 'aue had the worst . yet thus my sentence stands Ile now deliuer them into your hands . Haue you beheld how some condemn'd to dy , When they were fitted for Aeternity , When life they did despise , and all below , Receiu'd a pardon , when they fear'd the blow That should vnman them , haue you seene them then Almost forgetting that they were but men ; How to expresse their mind they want a word , Ioy hauing done the office of the sword , And made them speechlesse ? then you may in part Conceiue the wonder of their ioy ; which Art Confesseth it exceeds her power to show At full , which onely they that haue can know . Thus braue Corvinus , then whom fame nere knew Any that to an higher vertue grew , When once it pleas'd Fortune to leaue her frowne , Made an exchange of Fetters for a Crowne . Thus , not to seeke a forreine president , Our Henry , whom the Heau'ns courteously sent To set a period to our Ciuill broyles , To ioyne both Roses : after many foyles Receiu'd and conquer'd , after he had seene Himselfe an Exile , who a Prince had beene , When banishment was enuy'd him , when nought Would please his Enemy , vnlesse he bought His death of him that harbour'd him ; eu'n then , To foole the proiects of the cunningst men , This wither'd root begins afresh to spring , And from a banisht coarse reuiues a King . Thus ( not to seeke out a stale president , Mentioning mercies after they are spent And lost in story ) Englands present Ioy ( Whom Fate can onely threaten , not annoy , ) How hath he try'd variety of griefe ! How beene in dangers , as in Rule our Chiefe ; That when there is a speech of suffering , He is no lesse our Patterne , then our King . The Seas spoke loud , yet if we rightly poyse , There was more danger , where there was lesse noyse : Yet was he freed from both , when in mans eye , Successe had seem'd to smile on Treachery . These are your wonders , Heau'n , and not so much Fauours ( although the Fauour too be such , That it does pose our gratitude , and so Onely proclaimes that we are made to owe , Our pouerty of merit ) to be short , Th' are not so much your Fauours , as your Sport . You in an instant rayse , whom we would sweare Nayl'd to the Earth , him that had left to feare More then he suffer'd , that had beene so long Acquainted with ill lucke , with such a throng Of misaduentures , that hee does not know What it is to be free from them , and so This courteous intermission he expounds Rather a Change then Cure of his neer wounds : You in an vnthought Minute can depresse , Whom we beleeue in league with Happinesse . And as vpon the Stage we oft haue seene Him act a Beggar , who a King hath beene : For no default , but that the Poets art Thought at that time he best would fit that part ? So in our serious Theaters , when you please Kings are as varying persons as are these , Onely in this their disaduantage lyes ; That they may fall , but cannot hope to rise . They , whom the bands that make a kingdome strong , Succession to the Crowne both right and long From worthy Ancestors , obedience At home , and lastly sure intelligence Abroad hath fortifyed , those that suppos'd True ioy to be wholly in them inclos'd : If you but please to frowne , in one short day ( When they not thinke their Enemies on their way ) Are conquer'd by them , and at last retaine This comfort onely to allay their paine , That their misfortunes ( if the heauens decree ) May be the portion of their Enemy . Why then doe trifling miseries so grate Our minds , and make vs more vnfortunate Then heau'n intended ? if out of a summe Of mony ( not so rich as troublesome By the large roome it occupies , ) some one Willing to teach vs moderation , Nibble a little , how we fret ! we raue ! How for our treasure wee distraction haue ! As if we did beleeue ( to say no more ) Heau'n onely had the powre to make vs poore , But Israel thought not thus , but does prepare All things that for the Action needfull are : He thinkes now double diligence is due , That he may be victorious , and God true . On the Eastside of Gibeah there stood An ouergrowne and vnfrequented wood ; The trees so thickly plac'd , that you would guesse , ( Had you beheld that horrid wildernesse : How darkenesse all the Mastery had wonne , ) T was made for the discredit of the Sunne ; Neuer did any raye pierce through those leaues , And if at any time it light receiues T is onely when the heauens doe misse their stroke , And passing wicked men , murder an Oke . So that the brightnesse that adornes the same Serues not so much to inlighten , as inflame . Here neuer did the nimble Fairy tread , Nor euer any of the Wood-nymphes bred Within this groue , but it was singled out For Pluto's regiment , for that bad rout Of Hell-borne furies , there you might haue seene Alecto stretch'd at her full length betweene Two fatall Yughs , where while her rest she takes , She giues an intermission to her Snakes , Who in a thousand curles there hissing lye , And she sleepes sweeter by their harmony . Here had the Canaanite in former times ( Whilest that Religion did consist in crimes , ) Offer'd his sonnes in sacrifice , as though He meant to pay backe heau'n all he did owe Or did conceiue , ( that which he should despaire ) To be without sinne , when without an heire . This horrid place till now had emptie stood , But now the Israelites conclude it good To plant an ambush there : for thus they plot That when the skirmish shall be growing hot , They will draw backe , to make the Beniamite Conceiue that stratagem to be a flight , And leaue the towne for the pursuit ; when straight Vpon a signe giu'n , they that lie in waite Shall ceize vpon the City , and so force Their Enemy to such a desp'rate course , That being pursu'd by those he put to flight , He shall not know , whether to flie or fight . Hearken ye silly ones that doe suppose You ought not to beare Armes against your foes : Who hauing cast off ordinary sense , Affirme that they doe warre with Prouidence , Who prouidently warre , that they distrust The powre , or care of heau'n , who will be iust To their owne cause , which you will noyse to be A spice of wiser Infidelity . To these I need no other answer find : Shall we be foolish because heau'n is kind ? And when your industry might doe as well , Will ye inforce God to a Miracle ? It is a truth I grant , which you pretend That God hath destin'd all things to their end , Which stands immoueable : nor is 't in Fate To alter what he will praeordinate : Yet neuer any did so farre proceed In folly , to affirme that he decreed Onely the end , that 't was in Gods intents , Whilest we did sleepe , to blesse vs with euents We dreame not of : Such fondnes cannot find Any excuse ( vnlesse they were design'd Ineuitably to 't : ) for I would know ( If they suppose it possible to shew Their mind in these affaires , or if they bee Not hindred from an answer by Decree ) Why they doe eate ? and why they doe not hence Conclude rebellion against Prouidence ? Why they doe cloath themselues ? and why desire When cold oppresseth them to choose a fire ? Haue you forgot that for his holy ones , God can at ●ase produce e'ne out of stones As solid sustenance ? or is it lost In your fraile memory , that when Israel crost The Desert out of Egypt , forty yeares Nor Taylors they imploy'd , nor Shoomakers ? Trust me if you your selues thinke your selues true , Your care does vilify Gods care of you ; And euery dish that to your board is brought Vpbraides him to his face , as if you sought To mend his purpose ; and by this odd feat , You doe blaspheme as often as you eate . The Israelites are wiser farre , although They haue that vnknowne happinesse , to know Their victory aforehand , though they heare This truth from him , from whom they cannot feare Any deceit , ( whose powerfull word alone Makes that a truth which he resolues vpon , ) Although they will allow his Act for chiefe , Yet they will doe their part too : to be briefe , Euery souldier to himselfe sayes thus ; God will bestow the victory , but by vs . The night they spend in prayer , but when the morne Had dimm'd the pride of Cynthiah's cleerest horne By higher luster , being call'd away Not by the Cocke , the Trumpetter of Day ; But by an earlier trumpet , then you might By her vnwilling and yet hasting light , Discerne , and seeing , almost rightly poyse Whether were more , their number , or their noyse , And vnto which more feare was to be giu'n , Who fill the Earth with Numbers , with Noyse Heau'n . Beniamin takes th' alarme , and hauing chose One in whose faithfulnesse they might repose A wary confidence ; they quit the wall And to the wider field issue out all , Lest if they stay'd within , and did oppose Rampiers and ditches onely to their foes , They might haue bragg'd , ( as if that they had won ) Making a prison of their garrison . Now both the Hoasts themselues so neere doe find , That it would aske more labour t' haue declin'd The field , then to haue wonne it , yet they stay Hoping that innocence is in delay , If they are slowly guilty : now speares flye Shiuer'd in thousand fitters to the skye ; And whether it reuenge or fortune were , Euery peece becomes a Murtherer , And from their bodies frees a many soule , Doing that broken , which they could not whole . Could Xerxes here haue sate vpon an hill , To see these warriors , hee would not still Fondly lament , nor lauish out a teare Because they could not liue an hundred yeere , But melt into iust passion away , Because they could not liue out all that day . Now might you haue beheld the fiery horse Proud of his owne , and of his Masters force , Robb'd of his Master , whom you now might see Running , as if t were after Liberty . Or you 'de conceiue , had you but seene the race That 't was no more a battle , but a chase . No stroke falls idle , nay they are so neere ; They need not strike at all : death is caus'd here By their bad neighbourhood , the whole and sound You might haue seene here dead without a wound . To saue the guilt and labour of the sword , Bodies to bodies their owne ends afford . Now nothing but the dust is to be seene Which like so many Emblemes flyes betweene The mingled armies , which in silence sayes , They are no better then the motes they raise , Then those poore Atomes : but they thinke to shrowde Their acts from sight of heau'n vnder that cloud , And therefore did their vtmost : yet as though These hands were slugglish , or this fury slow , The trumpets chid them to a lustier guilt And the lowd drummes proclaim'd , you haue not spilt Blood enough yet : O what were they that found Out first the vse and malice of that sound ? Which makes vs kill with greedinesse , and when T is the Corrupted Nature of most men Hardly to yeeld vnto the destitute , These will not suffer vs to heare their suite . This drownes the groanes : but now both armies reele , Now this giues backe some ground , now that doth feele That it is prest too hardly . Thus the seas When euer it the angry winds does please To exercise their fury , doe not know What course to take , nor whither they should flow : This waue breakes that , and then another blast Makes that the conqueror , which was conquerd last . At length the Israelites giue backe indeed , And though in order , yet with such a speed , Beniamin calls it Flight , all 's ours they cry , If we can runne we haue the victory : With that what euer men the towne affords , Skilfull to vse their fingers or their swords , For spoyle or for pursuite , issue out thence With such a noyse , they giue intelligence That they haue left it emptie : O the vaine Attempts of foolish man ! O deseru'd paine ! Th' are made the spoile , that they intend to make , So wisely can iust heau'ns their vengeance take On bad attempts , so all heate asswage , And make our Ruine greater then our Rage . It neuer entred into their proud thought , They should receiue the dammage which they sought To giue vnto their brethren : who hauing left Their woody couert , and the friendly cleft , Which entertain'd them , by a quicke surprize , Take the vnguarded towne : O who can prize Those losses to the full ? or who rehearse Those misaduentures in an equall verse ? They spare no age , but ( cruell ) take away From the old men , the solitary day They could expect to liue : now Infants dye , Eu'n those , who yet within their mothers lye , Finding a Night before they see the Morne , Being buri'd thus , before that they were borne , For whom their murtherers no crime could choose , But that they were , and had a life to loose . Nor does the weaker sex escape the rage Of these intruders , and as euery Age , So euery Person suffers , onely here May be the difference , ( if that any were ) Either they 're killd out-right , or which is worse , They thinke their life to be the greater curse . Here mothers see their daughters whom they bred As Votaries vnto their Maidenhead , Vn-virgin'd in their sight , where hauing lost That peerelesse iewell , which they valewd most , They doe receiue to vindicate their name A death from them , from whom they had their shame . Auarice followes Lust , now they haue leisure To ransacke all those Mineralls of treasure Long peace and thrift had hoarded vp , at last As children when their Appetite is past Spoyle what they cannot eate , and badly kind Pamper their dogs with that they leaue behind : So these , as surfeiting with such a store , ( Which made them lose all feare of being poore ) What is not ready spoyle , giue to the fire , Whose conqu'ring flames vnto the heau'ns aspire , As boasting of their seruice : through the towne , Swifter then any thing that has renowne For speedinesse , they runne , one houre does spoile ( Vnlucky houre ) what was an Ages toyle Now cracke the houses , now the Temples fry , Now the poore Citizens resolu'd to dye , Doubt of what death : and know not which to try , The fire , the downefalls , or the Enemy . Had this misfortune hapned in the Night ( Though Nature had oppos'd ) such a full light Had made a day , and so againe had wonne A Conquest of the towne , and of the Sunne . Neuer did Sailor with such ioy behold Castor and Pollux when his ship was roll'd Vpon the angry Ocean , ( whose proud waues Made the most haughty minds freeze into slaues With a base feare , ) as Israel does view Those flames , which he does feare not to be true , They are so great , and yet he hopes to see These flames to light him to a victory . Now all the face of things is chang'd anew , Now those which earst seem'd vanquish'd doe pursue : The Israelites confirming by their Fight That they could cause as well as act a Flight . Beniamin growes amaz'd , and does not know What he should doe , nor on what grounds to goe , Which probably seem safe : if he should flye He runnes away vnto the Enemy : And shall he fight ? alas ! but he will find It is impossible to fight behind , Where he shall be assay'ld : yet he shifts ground , And figures out his battle in a round . And since he hath no hope to scape away , Hee 'l nobly sell , not giue away the day . They neuer fought till now , all the whole day Before , was onely somewhat fiercer Play , Murder in iest , but now they are so fierce As if they would inforce their swords to pierce Beyond the body ; this a while , at length Despaire does yeeld the victory to strength ; And Fortune ( that the world henceforth might find That they had iniur'd her who call'd her blind ) Crownes the best side , and prouidently tryes At once to proue their Conquest , and her Eyes . The Parellell is easie ; was 't not thus , When Heau'n was pleas'd to be as kind to vs ? We felt the prickles first , but then our Nose Suckt in the sweeter vertue of the Rose . We had successe , as it were chose , and pickt , And what we feard to suffer did inflict . When Brett and Burrowes ( that I speake their due ) Reuiu'd to France , Talbot and Montague . ( O too like Montague , that lost thy breath , By the same fatall Engine of quicke death . ) When the choyce valour of each rancke , and fyle Made vp a double Sea within the Isle Of blood and teares , O giue vs thankes , kind heau'n , And adde a vertue to our Fortune giu'n , That we may all acknowledge his desert , Who nobly gain'd a conquest of the heart Of them , whose bodies he had conquer'd first , To whom he then discouer'd , what he durst , And after what his Nature was , when he In the sad field had spent his Cruelty , For when they offer'd to redeeme their dead , Summes which another would haue vanquished , He freely yeelds vnto the sutors breath , And giues the Graue , as easily as the Death . Whilst they doe giue — O how I blush to tell , A poison'd knife , a poison that will dwell And eate into their fame till earth be gone , Till poyson haue no more to worke vpon . Teach vs our right to him , but then to you What shall we giue ? and yet what not leaue due ? Then , O kind Heau'n , for this let me be pleader , May we still sing your prayse , who led our Leader . And now I hast vnto my songs conclusion , Israels conquest , Bentamins confusion On all that valiant number which but now Made treble numbers to their valor bow : Onely sixe hundred scape away , so few , They were scarce able to commit a new The Crime for which they suffer'd ; had not Night Became their vmpire and forbad the Fight , Those few had perisht too ; then at the last Let future Ages learne of Ages past How vice rewards her seruants ! Let them be Afraid at leastwise of the misery , Who slight the sinne : why should a beauteous face Make my soule foule ? and an externall grace Bereaue me of my inward ? O despaire ! Shall I be bad because another's faire ? Hence that poore folly , rather let vs winne A conquest by the losse of Beniamin . To know that those bely'd , and stolne delights Are not of so long lasting as the Nights , In which we did inioy them , how the Day Takes both their darknesse , and our sweets away : To vnderstand that tardy heau'n is iust , That Ruine is the consequent of Lust . And now O Father , once more I repaire , To thy great presence , O thou onely faire ! ( Who dwelling in the light that none comes neere Canst not be seene of vs , because too cleere ; To whom created beauties if compar'd , Ruin such as haue the wisest eyes ensnar'd , Are nothing but Deformity at best , Durt somewhat better colourd then the rest ) Instruct my youth , O teach that I may know , What mischiefes lurke vnder a seemely show ; What a sweet danger woman is : O thou To whom the knees that doe not loue , doe bow , Whom all obey , eu'n such as haue no sense , Who doe not know their owne obedience ; Whom all obey , eu'n such as doe goe on In a perpetuall Rebellion , The Spirits accurst : Grant me , that chastly wife I enter into Couenant with mine eyes , Neuer to looke on Woman , not to see What would perswade my soule to forsake thee , To make a God of flesh : But if that I Forc'd by Temptation , or Necessity , Must see my Ruine , yet thus much , O thou Whom my soule loues , and would more , knew she how , ( For his deare sake and worth , in whom was found Onely a place , no reason for a wound ) If I must haue the sight , yet I require I may at leastwise not haue the desire . If I must see , let it be to despise So shall my heart be chast , if not mine eyes .

FINIS .