Adams complaint. The olde vvorldes tragedie. Dauid and Bathsheba

ADAMS Complaint .

THE Olde Worldes Tragedie .

Dauid and Bathsheba .

A Ioue Musa .

✚ HEB · DDIEV · · HEB · DDIM · printer's or publisher's device

Imprinted at London by Richard Iohnes , at the Rose and Crowne next aboue Saint Andrewes Church in Holborne , 1596.

To the Right Reuerend Father , Richard by the Prouidence of God , Bishop of Peterborough , F. S. wisheth increase of temporall and spirituall blessings . LEarned Mecoenas , fauorite of Muses , Renowned Patron , hater of abuses : Who sitting in Religions golden Chaire , Thou her , she thee adornes with vertues rare . As Phoebe from her Phoebus borrowes light , Wherwith againe she decketh him by night . So likewise thou : She thee with swauity , Thou gracest her with moderne grauitie . Both I my selfe , and Muse will now assay , Our tributorie debt to thee to pay . By dutie bound , vnbound I can be neuer , Vow'd to your Lordships seruice now and euer . Your Lordships at commandment . FRANCIS SABIE .

ADAMS Complaint . NEw formed Adam of the reddish earth , Exilde from Eden , Paradice of pleasure : By Gods decree cast down to woes from mirth , From lasting joyes to sorrowes out of measure : Fetch'd many a sigh , comparing his estate With happie blisse , which he forewent of late . Rowse vp thy selfe ( my Muse ) a tale to tell , A dolefull tale in sad and plaintiue verse : How man in blisse from happinesse once fell , Although not woont such horrors to rehearse . Oh great Iehouah , heauens great Architect , In this sad worke my fainting Muse direct . With pensiue heart he trac'd the earth new founded , Wringing his hands in lamentable wise : Earth neuer with ground-cleauing ploughshare wounded , Now to the starry globe he cast his eyes , And now to Eden where he erst remained , From which with fiery sword he was detained . O haplesse Adam ( quoth he ) vnkind father , Vnnaturall Parent , childrens fatall foe : From whence all mankind doe such curses gather : Authour of death , first bringer in of woe . No sooner fram'd of thine al-making God , Then purchasing his sin-correcting rod . Did not Iehouah lend to thee his grace , More plentifull then other liuing things : Who hauing fram'd thee , did prouide a place , Euen Paradice , the shadow of his winges . Amongst a thousand sundry kindes of meat , Forbidding thee one only fruit to eat . Consider birds , beasts , fish , and other Creature , Behold , they all looke groueling on the ground : He vnto heauen erected hath thy feature , That thou maist see his woonders , which abound . Yet thou on whom most louingly he looked , Hast first of all to anger him prouoked . For thee he made heauens Azur-painted cou'ring , Adorning it with starres , with Sunne , with Moone : The blustring windes within the aire be hou'ring , That thou his maruels mightst behold alone . Yet thou his greatest fabricke , with thy sinne To anger him didst first of all beginne . For thee he fram'd earths euen-poysed globe , Hanging it in the aire to humaine woonder : And decked it with fruites , as with a robe , Making the seas deuide the same in sunder . The seas he dight with fish , the earth with beasts For thee , yet thou hast broken his behests . What didst thou want amid that pleasant plot , Prepar'd for thee , by his all-working skill : Thou canst not thinke , the thing thou haddest not , Without all griefe thou liued'st , not knowing yll , Pride , and desire of knowledge made thee taste The fruite , which did indeed thy knowledge waste . Had not thy God sayd , taste not of the tree , The fruit perhaps had still remain'd vntouched : Hencefoorth shall this enormity by thee In minds of thy posterity be couched , Burning desire of secrets which are hidden , And fiery zeal of things which are forbidden . What made thy wife the fruit so to desire , The goodly hue and beautie of the same ? What did allure and set thy mind on fire ? The glozing words of thy seducing Dame , Henceforth therfore will womens words & beautie Seducers be of mankind from their dutie . Blind Euah , saw'st thou not as in a glasse , How Sathan with his guiles did circumuent thee : Beheldst thou not the brittle world alas , How it with vading vanity did tempt thee . Then how the flesh did combate with the Spirite , And all of heauenly blisse thee to disherite . O certaine type , true figure , perfect map Of future euilles t' all mankind to fall : These still with sleights , as in a subtill trap , Will seeke to make all humaine ofspring thrall . Whilst Sun remaines , & whilst Moon doth , endure , These archfoes will their treason put in vre . Wouldst thou in blisse not keep one little law ? How wilt thou now a multitude obserue , When many thousand deuils thy mind withdraw , To which thou canst not choose but needs must swerue ? And hauing sweru'd , thy conscience plainly saith , That euery sin deserues a seuerall death . Then viewed he the cerule-colored Pole , With pitchy clouds which gan to be obscured , Blacke foggie mists rose from earths lumpish mole , Earths mole by plow-swaine neuer yet manured . Ay me ( quoth he ) this may a token be , That for my sinne my maker frownes on me . Day-guiding Sol with his bright-burning lampe , Obscures his beames , in clowdes his glorie hiding : Night-ruling Luna waxeth pale and dampe , Asham'd of me , my glory not abiding . Star-bearing skies , with your earth-cou'ring valt , For me it is , you frowne for my default . Rain-sending clowdes , poure out your watry showers On earth , vast Orbe , which from the seas you borrow : Cold-causing frosts deface the fragrant flowers With hoarie rymes , true types of future sorrow : Adam now made , his maker hath offended , To whom so many blessings he extended . Ah how Dame Ver the ground with flowers spread , Vauting her selfe amid that pleasant pallace : Foure chrystall lakes distilled from one head : Refreshing hearbs with humor , thee with sollace . Thou didst not sow , no labour didst thou take , The earth bore all things neuer toucht with rake . See now how Sommers beauty-spoyling drought Earth of her party-colloured vestments robs : Transporting all the buds which Ver had brought , To fruitlesse hay , dry straw , and withered shrubs . Then mystie Autumne with his raigne , boreaues The earth of hearbes , the trees of parched leaues . If any Vernall remnant yet be left : By Aestaes heat , and Autumns raine not spoyled : The same by chil-cold Winter is bereft Of vigor : and with hoary frosts defoyled . Frost making earth a Chaos to resemble , For mine offence , wheron to thinke I tremble . The blewish skyes did only me protect , I sought not for a stately brick-built Castle : I needed not a sheltring roofe erect , Against tempestuous windes and raine to wrastle . The sturdie Oake in mountain tops did stand , The stones lay still , I tooke them not in hand . Now Adam stir thee like the nimble pricket , Pursu'd with houndes , ransacke thy Grandams bones , Cut downe the massie Oke from grouie thicket , To forge a tyled roofe for playned stones . Forge thee a shelter , edifie an holde , To shield thee from the rage of winde and colde . As I was made , so liu'd I with my spouse , Both naked were , yet knew it not ( O rarenesse ) We felt no colde , yet liued in no house , We blushed not one at anothers barenesse . But ( out alas ) what shamefastnes we suffred . When vgly sinne our nakednesse vncou'red . Learne heer ( O all posterities ) the shrewdnesse Of Sathan , and his treacherous assaultes : Who hauing once seduced man to lewdnesse , Exaggerates the greatnesse of his faults , Making him blush like Adam in the garden . Only to bring him in dispaire of pardon . Ye winged birds , send out your wofull quips In leauelesse trees , once glutting you with berries : Cold winter now your tender bodies nips . Depriuing earth of hearbs , and trees of Cheries : Your euerlasting Spring abridged is , And all for Adam who hath done amisse . Four-footed beasts inhabitants of field , Poure out your plaints among the rurall brambles , Now must your hides mans corps from weather shield , Your carkasses hang vp on bloody shambles . Diue in the deep , ye water-hanting Fishes , Now must ye serue to nourish man in dishes . Help to lament , ye water-flowing Fountaines , Congealing Frosts your passages will hinder : Keep in your buds , ye Gote-frequented mountaines . Receiuers of the hoarie frosts of winter . Woods , hearbs , and trees , all terrene things bewayle , Teares ease the mind , though little doe preuaile . Proud Adam not content with thy condition , Blessed estate , and ten times happie calling : Sought'st to atchieue more glory , whose ambition Hath wrought thy fatall ouethrow in falling . Aspiring to the knowledge of thy maker , hast lost that blisse wherof thou wert partaker . This roote of pride ( this neuer-withering weed ) Prouoker first of mankind vnto follie : Will still attaint and cleaue vnto thy seed , As twinding Yuie on the tender Hollie . Imbracing it , till it hath suck'd it drie , And wanting sap , they both together die . This noysome root in euery ground will spring , The meanest man in thought will still aspire : The Potentate will seeke to be a King , The King to be an Emperour will desire , And he to be more higher in degree , Will also striue , if higher he may bee . I sought moe dainties hauing ouer manie , From hence shall come desire of varietie : Contentment seldome will be found in anie , Loth some contempt will wait vpon satietie . All men from me will this infection plucke , As Spyders doe from flowers poyson sucke . Fond wretches , who in sinfull follie blinde , Did thinke to hide you from Iehouahs face : As doth the purblind Hare , or fearfull Hind , Whom yelping hounds doe still pursue in chace . Ah no , ye cannot , his all-seeing eie Will find you out , where euer you doe lie . Take I to me the south-windes ayrie winges , And in the vtmost coast of earth conuay mee : Take I to me the Dolphins watery finnes , And in the seas vnsounded-bottom lay mee : Let earth into her secret wombe me swallow , Yet will his glorious eie-beams still me follow . My guilty conscience sayd , I had offended , What sting on earth more hellish can we find , A sore it is which cannot be amended , A worme which alwayes gnawes vpon the mind . Run where I will , into all lands betake me , Yet will a wounded conscience ne'r forsake me . O thundring sayings : terrifying wordes , Heart-taming speaches , cleauing rockes in sunder : Proceeding from the supreame Lord of Lords : Which in mine eares resounded like a thunder , Words causing earth an Aspen leafe resemble , Which at the breath of euerie wind doth tremble . Where art thou Adam ? shamest thou my Deitie , Ay me , needs must I my sinne display : Supposing earst my vicious impietie , That euery shaking bramble would bewray . Thus shall it also fare with all my seede , Committing any detestable deed . How faine would I my guiltie mind haue cleared , Alleadging Eue was causer of mine euill : She to excuse her selfe , as then appeared . Laid all the fault vpon the subtill Deuill . Like clowds which pour their rain vpon hie-waies , They into riuers , riuers into seas , This sayd ; he turn'd him to the vntill'd field , Where vncoth weeds , and fruitlesse brambles breed , The earth which earst most fragrant hearbs did yeeld , With thornes and thistles now was ouer-spread . Oh see ( quoth he ) the earth for mine yll deeds , Rob'd of braue robes , and clad in baser weedes . Deare Grandam earth , thy fountaine heads set open , Like Chrystall teares , my sorrowes to discouer : Now must thy mole with deluing share be broken : A crooked rake thy tilled field passe ouer . For me these shrubs and prickling thorns thou bearest For me these yl-beseeming weeds thou rearest . The heifar now in fields must not be idle , The seruile Asse must beare an heauy packe : The Courser braue restrained with a bridle , The silly sheep his woolly fleece must lacke . Horse , sheepe , Asse , heifar help me all to mone , I causer am of all your woes alone . Still thought he on this string to tune his woes , And forward went , but loe , three horned Cattle Neer vnto him amid proud bearing Does , With frowning gesture menaced a battle . At length not able to forbeare him longer , Two weaker ones ran both against the stronger . Th' encountred beast receiuing others stroke , With like assault the one of them requighted , Assault resounding like a falling Oke , Which threw th' one backe , the other fled affrighted . And left his friend distrest , his foe inulted , The victorer triumphantly insulted . Ah see ( he sayth ) see heer a world of woe , An heap of euils vnto thy seed ensuing : What maladies from lewd desires doe growe , As beasts , so men with sauagenesse induing . Ay me , what dolors , euils , and deeds vnjust Shall not arise to man through sinfull lust . Heer maist thou haue a president of warres , Tumultuous discord , horrible dissention , Blood-shedding horror , disagreeing jarres , Inhumaine murthers , pitifull contention : The mightiest shall be viewed on of all , The poore dispis'd , the weaker thrust to wall . Whilst things go well friends wil be alwayes neer thee Prosperity will loued be of many : But falling downe , thy dearest friends will feare thee , Aduersity not holpen vp of any . The fawning beast doth this presignifie , Who quite forsooke his friend in misery . The small shall subject be vnto the greater , Nobility through strength shall make his entrie : The welthyer will thinke himselfe the better , For couetousnesse will spring , the root of Gentry . Though all sprong from one father and one mother , Yet euery one will striue t' excell his brother . See how the Eagle with his bloody clawes Doth massacre the house-frequenting Sparrow : The lordly Lyon with his murthering jawes , Doth rend the Hind as earth is rent of harrow . The fearfull Whale , that monster in the deep The lesser fish doth in his bellie keepe . Whale , Eagle , Lyon , fitly ye presage Blood-sucking tyrants and inhumaine murtherers , Which will the weaker sort oppresse with rage , Arch-foes to vertue , and to vices furtherers . Blush Adam , blush to name these dreadful terrors , First causer of all maladies and errors . The pleasant Larke delights to mount on hie , The little wren neer to the earth below : The greedy Gleyd betwixt them both doth flie , The Doue in course is swift , the Lapwing slowe . The shew mens sundry callings and conditions , These note mens diuers minds and dispositions . The ayerie-winged blasts as euer mutable , And neuer in one certaine place abide : So mans condition shall be euer changeable , No ground so firme in which he shall not slide . What seat so strong or what so sure estate which shall not subject be to frowning fate . O happie wight , ten times shall he be blest , Who with the wren dare not presume to mount : With meane estate contented who doth rest , And blisse in sole tranquility doth count , Considering that great things are view'd of all , And highest things are soonest like to fall : That highest things are soonest like to fall , The reaching Pine on mountaines doth betoken , which sooner then the shrub or bramble small , with raging blastes of hoysting windes are broken . What mortall things hencefoorth on earth ensuing Shall not be subject to times fatall ruin . Times ruin shall so dyre obliuion breed In men , that noting their so frayle variety , Forgetting me , the cause thereof , my seed Shall faine to Fate an euer-changing deity . Proportraying her vpon a round wheele dancing , Euerting some , and other some aduancing . Alas , no sooner night-expelling morning , Al. -hyding heauen from her blacke rug exempteth : But viewing me , and mine offences scorning , Her snowie cheekes with rednes she besprenteth , Disdaining Sols bright beams should long behold me In Sable night bright Hesperus doth fold me . Vile Couetousnes in me first tooke his roote , For moe things thirsting , when no thing I wanted : Still shall it hold my children by the foote , And in the hearts of all my seed be planted . Now shall rush in the greedy zeale of mony , which men will labour for , as Bees for hony . Now shall rush in the fiery thirst of gaine , And golde in bowels of the earth inclosed : Which men by toyle and labour will obtaine , And coffer vp from his darke dungeon losed . By mortall wightes rare mettals will be knocked , Which earth in her close treasure-house had locked . Now shall be found the hurtfull mine of Iron , For which men wil into earths bellie enter : The glittering steele besieged foes t'enuiron , They now will into swords and Lances temper . What mortall thing so hard ? or what so geason , Wil not be done and found by humaine reason ? The lofty Pine which mountaine top affoords , Cut downe , shall now into a Mast be squared : The yellow brasse nayled to Firre-tree boords , Shall cut the seas , as earth with plough is ared . Sea-Porposses and Dolphins huge shall woonder , To see their Cerule waters cleft in sunder , The ruddie Diamond and the Saphir faire , In th' vtmost coast of earth shall now be sought , The bright Smaragd , the Pearl , and Onix rare , Fetch'd from the East , full dearly shall be bought , O into what so deepe and huge an hell , Will not the thirst of riches men compell ? This sayd , on earth his glowring eyes he fastned , There saw an Ant , a little creeping elfe , Who dragg'd with her a Barley graine , and hastned Home to her caue , graine bigger then her selfe : O learne he cries , learne Adam of this Ant , To worke in youth , least afterward thou want . Behold the Bee , a silly painfull creature , How wittily shee laboreth in Sommer : Reposing food , she only taught by nature , Least barraine winters penurie should numb her , Her industrie giues to thee an example , how thou shouldst liue , & in what waies to trample . Now Adam must thou labour , ditch and delue , Graft , plant , walke , run , hedge , fence , plow , harrow , sowe Pluck downe , reare vp , set munifie , build shelue , Weep , laugh , striue , wrastle , bind vp , gather , mowe , Thresh , cary out , grind , bake , brue , spin and card , Knock , beat , wash , dry , buy , sell , sleep , watch and ward In sweat of browes and horrible vexation , To get my liuing shall I be constrained : What shall man see but dolefull tribulation , Vnto his death from time that he is wained . Nought shall his race be but a vale of sinning , Fond , sinfull , fraile , in end , midst and beginning . How vaine is wordly pompe ? how fraile and brittle ? How soon is man of earthlie things bereft : His pleasures passe as swiftly as a shittle Cast from the weauers right hand to the lest : His orient hue as vading as a flower , Which floorisheth and dyeth in an hower . O wretched man ! O life most transitorie ! Deceiptfull world , foule sinke of filthy errors : Eye-pleasing shades of vaine delightfull glorie Deepe gulfe of sinne , vast dungeon of terrors , Receptacle of woful tribulations Grand treasure-house of all abhominations . O sea of sorrowes , laborinth of woes , Vale full of cares : abysse of imbecilitie : Thief-harbouring house , field full of armed foes , Stil-turning orb , true map of mutability . Affoording man as many false yl-willers As woods haue trees , as trees haue Caterpillers . Of lumpish earth Iehouah me created , To th' end I should not glorie in my feature : And I againe to earth must be translated By Gods iust doome , the end of euery creature : Then wherto should I trust on earth abiding , Sith for my fault all earthly things are sliding , When first of all man draweth virall breath And spirite , he to die beginneth then : No worldly thing more certaine then is death , Nor more vncertaine then the hower when . O lend me then a font of springing teares , To weep my fill for mans vnconstant yeares . Ah weladay , me thinks for mine offences , My God sayth still I must to earth againe : O how the thought of death appales my sences , Though end it be of all mans woe and paine . So likewise shall all my postoritie Feare it , though end of all calamity . O great Iehouah , woonderfull in might , How wisely hast thou wrought all things , concealing The certaine houre of death from mortal wight , Yet certaintie thereof to him reuealing . Done surely by thy skilfull prouidence , That man should feare and learne obedience . Me thinks I see ( O let me yet diuine ) How many of my sonnes will goe astray , Erecting houses , raysing buildings fine , As though they were inthroniz'd here for ay . O let them know that for my foule offence , by Gods just doome all flesh must wander hence . Not he that shall on earth the longest dwel , Not he that shall in prowesse be the rarest , Not he that shall in wisedome most excel , Not he that shall in visage be the fairest . With wisedome , beautie , age or courage fell Shall able be impartiall death t' expell . O wretched Euah , mankinds deadlie Foe , Accursed Grandame , most vngentle mother , Sin-causing woman , bringer of mans woe , Woe to thy selfe , and woe vnto all other . Thy mighty maker in his iust displeasure Hath multipli'd thy sorrowes out of measure . In paine shalt thou thy seed conceiue and beare , In peril shalt thou of it be discharged : Thou shalt it foster vp with tender care , A thousand wayes thy griefs shal be enlarged : Thou shalt be guided by thy mans direction , He as a Lord shall haue thee in subjection . O cursed worme , O exerable serpent : Blisse-hating Dragon : most abhorred creature : Infectious Adder : venom-breathing breathing verment , The food of enuie , sdeignfull scorneof Nature : Fals-hearted traitor , harbourer of euill : Darke den of spight , foule cabbin of the Deuill . Most lothsome be thou of Iehouahs worke , Enuyed both of man and feeding cattell : In vnfrequented valleyes shalt thou lurke , And with thy stinging tongue still menace battell . Man seeing thee , shall feare and seeke thy bane , As instrumentall author of his paine . For want of feet : through woods and deserts thicke Vpon thy griesllie belly shalt thou slide : And for thy food dust of the earth shalt licke , Such plagues shall thee ( O lothsome worme ) betide , Such woes on thee Iehouah hath disbursed , Pronouncing thee of all his workes most cursed . The husband-man among the rurall bushes , Will start , and thinke each moouing twig a foe : Still fearing-least among the marshy rushes Thou lying hid , shouldst worke his second woe . Thy deadly sting , and golden speckled hew , In false pretence thy glosing words doe shew But thou ( O Sathan ) proud infernall deuill , Chiefe actor in this dolefull tragedie : Lord of ambition , maister of all euill , Thy fatall fall behold I prophecie : From out the woman shall an issue spring , Which will preuayle against thy deadly sting . Between her seed and thee ( O fearfull fiend ) Shall be continuall enmity and fight : Thou shalt but pricke her heele , she in the end Shall conquer thee , and ouerthrow thy might . Then man reioyce , O Adam cease to waile , Thy conquer or shall now no whit preuaile . O woondrous pittie , vndeserued kindnesse , Of earths-sole founder to the worke he made : Who seeing man cast downe in sinne and blindnesse , So speedily him promisd help and ayd . Ayd , certaine ayd his arch-foe to repell , To conquer death , and conquer conquering hel . Rejoyce then earth , cease frowning heauens to glower , Now broken are hels euer-lasting barres , From whence man tooke by Gods almighty power , Shall mount aloft aboue the twinkling starres : There with the womans seed which promis'd is , For euermore to raigne in heauenly blisse . Ye chirping birds , whose partie colloured plumes With gentle sound the whistling aire doe trouble : In shady dales send foorth your dolefull tunes , Let Ecchoes shrill your dulcid notes redouble . Adam your Lord exil'd from Eden garden , By faith and mercy hath obtayned pardon . Harmonious Larke , let neue blushing morning See dankish earth , but mount thou from the ground : And blewish skies with pleasant notes adorning . For mans redemption signes of mirth resound : Sweet Philomene , let neuer Hesper shine Ere thou haue tun'd a thousand ditties fine . Mild Eurus raigne in blustering Boreas place , Leap sportiue fish aboue the Chrystall riuer : Man reconciled to his God by grace , Shall now in heauenly blisse abide for euer . For these glad tydings , frolike tender lambes , In pastures pleasant with your merie dammes . And lastly , Adam , sith it is decreed , That thou must fight ere thou canst win the fort : Fight manfully , trust in the promisd seed , And be most sure thou shalt arriue the port , Port full of joy and heauenly blessednes . Free from all cares , and worldly wretchednes . FINIS .

The old Worlds Tragedie . I Sing of horrors sad and dreadfull rage , Of stratagems wrought in the former age , Contagious vice , and in conclusion , Of massacres , death and confusion : Vouchsafe my muse , my dolefulst muse to tell What made the King of heauen to be so fell : Sole Architect of earth and earthly landes , So furiously the fabricke of his handes To bring to ruine : can Iehouah then Poure out such fearfull threats on mortall men , Full sixteen hundred years from worlds creation , And fifty sixe by sacred computation : When liuing things replenished the ground . And earth with mortall wights did first abound : A dolefull Tragedie was brought to passe , Earth was the stage whereon it acted was . Vpon the stage first came impietie , Vaunting her selfe against the Deity . She in short time began to growe to hed , And all the earth at length she captiue led . Then came in foule desire and lothsome lust , She in short time seduced euen the just : Who gazing on the beautie of the wicked , Began with lewd concupiscence be pricked . In mattimony to their daughters linking Their sonnes , and at sinnes detestable winking . The Host was ofttimes slaine by lodged stranger , Guest of his hoste stood many times in danger . Vile Auarice all mortall hearts possessed , The weaker lay in euery street oppressed : Men fought by cruell bloodshed gaine to gather , The sonne for riches sought to slay his father : The brother mixed poyson for his brother , She for her daughter : daughter for her mother . Pale enuie left her Adder-haunted den , And rul'd on earth as supreame Queene of men . Aspiring pride with weapons in her hand , To warre against humility did stand , Wherewith in fight she killed her at last , And from the stage all massacred her cast . Then dreadfull wrath met patience at the field , And shortly she compelled her to yeeld . Fals-hearted treason like a faithfull louer , His woluish backe with sheepish skin did couer : And meeting with true friendship secretely , Gaue her the stab ( O monstrous villanie ) Fidelity lay slaine by treacherie , Pure chastitie by lothsome letcherie . Here lay the seruant by the master killled , There masters blood lay by the seruant spilled . Then might you see man-murthring falshood flight With verity , and ouercome her quite : Religion by Atheisme proud was banisht , And she forth with to heauenly kingdomes vanisht : As soone as ere good Conscience shew'd her head , By disobedience she was stroken dead . Then Gluttony vpon the stage made entrance Prodigiously who slew dame Temperance . Excesse appear'd with strange varietie , And fiercelie put to flight Sobriety . Enuious Anger vehementlie assailed Dame Patience , and in the end preuayled . Then mounted on the earth obliuious Sloth , She Industrie and labor conquer'd both . Iniustice lastlie with an hideous rout Of hellish furies trac'd the stage about : Her visage sterne , her hands in blood imbrued Her breast of Iron , vgly Toads she spued : Her standerd-bearer was ambitious pride , And next vnto her went Don Homicide , Next vnto them a ranke of Enuies brood , Begirt with Adders , serpents were their food : Straight after them excesse and gluttonie , Deformed Sloth , and impious Simphonie A thousand other stygian hagges and moe , Then with their Queen impietie did grow . Whom just Astrea seeing in this sort , A sudden feare amaz'd her mean report , And leauing earth with all that hideous crew , Vnto the skies without delay she flew . And now huge Gyants vpon earth remained , with whose vile ofspring al the earth was stained Of them to Damsels faire committing seed , A deuillish kind of people there did breed : A People fierce and of exceeding stature Pestifferous , and prone to sin by nature . These tyranniz'd and liued at their pleasure , Oppressing weaker people without measure . With dreadfull rigor keeping them in awe , Despising iustice , breaking Natures law . These heaped sinne on sinne , and fault on fault , As high as Pelion or Olympus vault : As high as Pindus or steep Ossa either , Were Pindus or steep Ossa clapt together , When suddenly from his most glorious throne , Whereon he sitting guides all things alone . Iehouah founder of the starrie pole , Of waterie seas , and of the earthly mole , Daign'd vpon earth his sacred eies to cast , Eies seeing all things in the world so vast . He saw how vice had growne vnto a head , Injustice all the earth had ouerspread : He saw how sinne and vile impietie Vanted themselues against his Deitie . The Adder-pawed gyants , mounts of euill Touching the skies , base children of the deuill . His sacred head heerat he gan to shake , Wherat the skies , the earth , and all did quake : He sighed , and most sorrowfull he was , That euer mortall man was brought to passe : He grieu'd in heart that euer he created Man , who with sinne was so contaminated . All things ( quoth he ) wherin remaineth breath , I purpose to destroy with sudden death : This hand which fram'd all mortall things aliue All earthlie things of life shall now depriue , From man to beasts , from birds to things which creep , All flesh shall taste of my displeasure deep . The birds swift winges shall not his body saue , The Lyons force , nor Giants courage braue . Thus am I minded ; thus doe I intend , All liuing creatures now shall haue an end . But yet on earth one only man there dwelled All other men in justice who excelled : The third from Enoch was he in discent , Enoch who all his life vprightly spent : Enoch of life who neuer was bereauen , Enoch , who liuiug was rapt into heauen . Methushelah who all men did surpasse In length of life , his Grandsire cleped was . It was just Noah , Lamechs sonne vpright : Three sonnes he had , Shem , Ham & Iaphet hight He loued vertue , vice he did eschew , Iehouah therfore fauour did him shew . Againe Earths founder his all seeing eyes Cast on the world from top of Cerule skies . Againe he saw all wickednes abound , In all the earth no justice could be found . The children bathed in their fathers blood , All nought he saw , and nothing that was good Vast fields of sin , Abysses fraught with lewdnes Realmes full of errors , mountaines huge of shrewdnes . The height whereof vnto his throne ascended , And with their stench his nostrils sore offended Then vnto Noah , Lamechs sonne he spake , An end of all things now I meane to make : All flesh wherin remaineth liuing spirit , Of vitall breath I purpose to disherit . Ah how it grieues me now that I haue framed Man , who with sin the earth hath so defamed . Make thee an Arke of Pine trees verie strong , Three hundred cubits shalt thou make it long . Threescore in breadth , and thirty cubits hie , Make rooms in it where seueral things may lie . Three sundrie stories shalt thou in it frame , And round about with pitch close vp the same : For I vpon the earth a flood will bring , Wherwith I will subuert ech liuing thing , But vnto thee my couenant will I make , My couenant which I neuer meane to breake ; Thou with thy wife , thy sons , & thy sons wiues Shal in the arke be shut and saue your liues . Of euery lining creature also twaine , A male and female shall with thee remaine , And lay vp food for thee and euery creature , Euen seuerall food according to their nature . The ark was made , & al things brought to passe As God commanded , so it framed was . Then spake Iehouah vnto him , goe thou Into the arke with all thy houshold now : For seu'n dayes hence shall mighty rain abound Wherwith I mean to couer al the ground . Then Noah with his family also Iust eight persons into the arke did goe , And now the hower was neer , the fatal hower Wherin Iehouah meant to shew his power : Sixe times Aurora with her blushing hew Had seene the earth all darke with hoary dew . Now pitchie night six times gan dim the skies . Last night of sollace vnto mortall eyes : O Luna still detaine thy blackish horse , Let neuer dismall Tytan run his course , Bright Vesper still continue thou thy race . Let neuer fatall day-star thee deface . Who can alas , expresse the dolefull ruin , And piteous horror of the day ensuin . Now fro her chamber comes the scowling morning , Her selfe still in a night-gowne blacke adorning : Tytan arose , but yet his glorious head With pitch-resembling cloudes was ouerspread , Blacke foggie mystes rose from the earthly mole , Ascending vp vnto the aery pole . Windes thronged foorth , and stroue in skies aloft , As ciuill warres among them had been wrought , As craggie hils had broken been by charmes , As all Eolia had beene vp in armes . Windes , ayre and cloudes , all meant the ayre to sacke , O now or neuer goes the world to wracke , Then thou ( O woe ) heauens Architect began To poure thy feareful threats on mortall man : The glowring skies resounded like a thunder , As though heauens sacred vault had cleft in sunder , As though ten thousand Cannons huge discharged Their roaring sounds with fall offorts enlarged . His right hand shoke the earth , his left hand crushed . The clouds , then raine in great aboundance rushed . Raine poured foorth , yet not content , his anger Enforced swelling tydes on earth to wander . Then broken were the heads of watrie fountaines . They gushed from the feet of craggie mountaines . Seas lent them waues their courses to maintaine , Earth made them passage to his vtter bane , Now had the morne still clad in mourning weeds , Thrise open'd gates to Phaebus fiery steeds , Steeds smoking wet , yet from his flaming carre , No light did come , blacke mystes his light did scarre : And now the three dayes raine and flowing flouds Had spoyled quite green hearbs and pleasant buds : And shortly did the husband man complaine , That all his whole years trauell and his paine Were brought to ruin , corne and goodly flowers Were prostrate laid with ouer-flowing showers . The sillie birds with violence of weather In bushes thicke did shroud themselues together : Beasts shrinking vnder grouie hedges stood Halfe drown'd with wet , halfe dead for want of food . By this time waters all the earth did couer , The falling raine and rising flouds ran ouer All champion countries , where men lately plowed Now waters stood , and Scullers might haue rowed . O then on earth was heard a piteous crie , Men crying out , beasts roaring plaintiuely . Then first of all began the Gyants sterne To shake for feare , and flinty hearts to yerne . Raine falling , and seas rising without pittie , Made entrance into euerie house and cittie : As when a Fort or sacked citties walles , With violence of rampir'd engines falles , The furious foe runnes raging through the streets , With bloody weapons killing whom he meetes . An hideous cry and sound arriseth then Of maymed women and distressed men . Men seeing weapons come to worke their bane , Yet could not shun them : O what greater paine ? So fat'd it with the people of this time , Some vpon roofes and turrets high did clime , One takes the highest mountaine he can see , Another sits a fishing in a tree . One thrusts himselfe into a wherry boat , And desperately vpon the waues doth floate . And euery one did seeke to clyme aloft , For eurie one to shun the waters sought , They saw the waters come to stop their breath , Yet could not shun't , O greater griefe then death . Their dollours might haue been compared well To one that dying heares the passing bell . Some were already drown'd , thus stood the case , He liu'd the longest who had highest place : And now were turrets high and mountaines couered , And leauie trees which in the aire erst houered : O lend me words the dollours to display , The Fatall horrors of this dismall day . There might you see how louingly the mother With her sweet daughter kissed one the other : One piteously requesting others help , Yet neither of them knew to ayd himselfe . The dying sonne now at the latest gaspe , About his clasping fathers neck did claspe . And ready now to bid their last farewell , Were snatched both with seas and billows fel : The Lord & seruant both at one time snatched , One furiously hold on the other catched . And still in surging waues together cleft , Till both of breath together were bereft . The tyrannizing Giants bodies grim Now with the criples liuelesse corps did swim . The subject with the scepter-bearing king , The murthring billows spar'd no liuing thing . Some might you see half dead and halfe aliue , Like water-fowles now rise , & now to diue . Some turning round , and violently borne Al headlong downe , their lims in sunder torn . The brisle-bearing bore , and gentle sheepe Swam both together in the surging deep . The silly Lambe was with the rauening Wolfe Drown'd in the vast no-pitie taking gulfe . The liuelesse Lyon in the deep did swim , Nought did the Tygers courage profit him , Nought booted it the Beare to roar and grind , No profit by his swiftnesse got the Hind . And hauing long time with exceeding paine Flowne through the aire , disturbed still with raine , The wearie bird not finding any ground , Fals downe in seas , and at the last is drown'd . And now the Arke where Noah did abide , Was hoisted vp with ouer-swelling tide . One while all hidden to the earth it fell , As though it would haue gone to visit hell . One while againe it seemed to arrise , And suddenly would mount vp to the skies : No sterne it had , no mast , no sayle , no guide , But caried was at pleasure of the tide . Twise twenty dayes as blacke as any cole The murthering raine distilled from the Pole . The tallest mountaines in the world so wide , Now couered were with ouer-swelling tide . The ayrie Alpes and eke Pernassus faire Now hidden were with waues , a woonder rare , Snow-bearing Pindus and Olympus steep , Both at this time lay hidden in the deep . Now first of all igniferous Aetnas caues , And Ciclops flames were quench'd with salt-sea waues , Sweet-smelling Ide and sacered Ismarus , Aspiring Pelion and hard Caucasus , In Scythian mounts , where murthering Tygres hanted : Now vgly shapes of monstrous sea-fish vanted : The Dolphins woonders vnder watrie floods , To see faire turrets and thicke grouie woods . In steed of sacrifice on Altars faire Sit seemly Marmaydes combing of their haire , In Churches eke their Organists now wanting , Melodious Odes and ditties now recanting . The vglie dog-fish and deuouring Whales Gainst pinacles did dash their shining skales : And where the Goat was woont her food to swallow , Foule Porposses and seaish monsters wallow . Now from his glorious pallace heauens creator Look'd downe , and saw the world a sea of water : All was a sea yet wanted it a coast , Then thought he on the Arke and Noah tost : Through all the world and earth , which manie a night Hid vnder seas , had seen no cheerfull light . Foorthwith he charg'd the foggie mysts to vanish , Then all the windes tempestuous did he banish : And then retreyt vnto the water soundes , Commanding it to keepe within his bounds : Commanding it his fountaines to restraine , And them to stop their springing heads againe . Clouds foorthwith fled , and tempestes were appeased , The seas return'd , and running fountaines ceased . The scowling morne now left his mourning robe , And smilinglie blush'd on the watery globe . And shortly might you see meane turrets peepe , And tops of Pine-trees from the flouds to creepe : The fleeting arke which long had cleft in sunder the vast deluge , both caried vp and vnder , Now vnto East , and now vnto the west , At length in mounts of Armeny did rest . Twise twentie times had Phoebus drencht his beames , And Car in graue Oceanus his streames . When as the framer of the subtill Barke , A window did set open in th Arke . And foorth he sent a Rauen thence , to know If waters still the land did ouerflow . Foorth flew she , but returned presently So went and came vntill the earth was drie . Againe , he sends a siluer-winged Doue , To see if still the waters were aboue . Out flies the Doue , & through the aire doth go As swift as any arrow from a bowe . Much aire she cuts , and in the earth not seeing One liuing creature any where haue being . Nor any ground wheron she might remaine , With weary wings returnes to him againe . Then rested he vntill the day-star bright Seuen times remoou'd the canopie of night : Then once againe the Doue he sendeth out , She mounts aloft and flieth round about . And finding much dry ground on earth , presumes To fall theron , and rouse her ruffled plumes , Now shakes her selfe , and with her bill them peckes , Now layes them downe and orderly them deckes . And hauing long time frolik'd at her will , Returned with a green leafe in her bill , By this knew Noah that the Flood decreased , Yet other seuen dayes in the arke he rested : And when bright Vesper in the Welkin pale Had thrise and foure times drawne the clowdy vale , The third time forth againe he sends the Doue , She swiftly in the aire her wings doth mooue : And finding food her body to sustaine , And ground to rest on , neuer came againe . Yet rested Lamechs offspring in the Arke , Till seuen times againe in Welkin darke Beotes guider of the greater Beare , Had showne himself , and then expelling feare Sets ope the doore , and plainely did espie Floods quite decreas'd , and face of earth all dry . And then the lord commandment to him gaue That he with all things els the Arke should leaue . No stay they made , all things , man , bird and beastes , Whom Titan saw from either of his restes Aliue on earth , came foorth with from the arke , There stretcht their limmes , vnweldy yet and starke . There Enochs ofspring to his God erected An altar , who from Floods had him protected : And theron for his preseruation Did offer vp a just oblation : The smell wherof vnto his throne arose , And cast a pleasant odour to his nose . Expelling quite that detestable stinke Which erst ascended from worldes filthy sinke . Delighted therfore in this pleasant sauour , He blest all mankind with his gracious fauour : Hencefoorth ( quoth he ) no more my wrathfull curse Vpon the world or man I will disburfe . For all his thoughts with wickednes are stayned Fuen from his birth , to time that he is wayned . Hencefoorth in season shall he plant and sow , In season shall he after reape and mowe . In his due course hot Sommer will I send And winter , till the earth shall haue an end : Increase aboundantly , bring foorth and breed , And earth againe replenish with your seed . Beholde , your feare all creatures shall appall , Rule thou as Lord and maister ouer all . Whoso shall man bereaue of vitall breath , His life shall be abridg'd with cruell death . Blood will haue blood , whoso shall cut manslife , His also shall be cut with blooudy knife . Encrease aboundantly , bring foorth and breed , The earth againe replenish with your seed . Behold , with thee I make a couenant sure , A couenant which for euer shall endure , With earth , and all thinges which thereon remaine , That I will neuer drowne the world againe , And to confirme my promised decree , A certaine seale therof I giue to thee . This is the seale : a Bowe I meane to shrowde Of diuers collours in a pitchie clowd . This is the seale , and this shall be a token , That this my league at no time shall be broken . And when I shall all-hiding heauen cloake With clouds , foorth-pouring mystie raine like smoke , Then I in cloudes will place my certaine seale , Mine euer-during promise to reueale . With surging billowes and impartiall raine That earth shall neuer be destroy'd againe . And this a signe infallible shall be , Of mine eternall-durable decree . FINIS .

Dauid and Beersheba . SVch time as Tytan with his fiery beames In highest degree , made duskish Leo sweat : Field-tilling Swains driue home their toiling teams , Out-wearied with ardencie of heat : And country heards to seeke a shadie seate : All mortall things from feruency of weather , In sheltring shades doe shroud themselues together . Beersheba wife vnto Vrias stout , A Captaine vnder Ioab of renowne : Whom princely Dauid with a warring rout Had sent to beat the pride of Ammon downe . And to besiege and ransacke Rabbah towne , Betooke her selfe into a garden faire , Inricht with flowers , which sent a pleasant ayre . On euery side this garden was beset , With choise of rare delights and Arbors geason : The Lentisk , fig-tree , and Pomgranet great , Grew there in order , far surpassing reason . The ground was deckt with Gyliflowers fine , Carnations sweet , and speckled sops , in wine . There might you heare vpon the pleasant trees , The little birds melodiously to sing : Vpon the blossoms wrought the painfull Bees , Neere was it to the pallace of the King , Within it also was a pleasant spring . Whose liquid humour moystened the same , A garden worthy of so worthy dame . Now gathereth she the sweetest of the sweet , And pretilie from flower to flower trippeth , Soone after to the fountaine turnes her feet , Then daintily her hands of gloues she stiippeth , And in the Chrystall waues her fingers dippeth . She likes it well , and calles it passing coole , And minds to bath her bodie in the poole . Then nimbly castes she off her Damaske frocke , Her Satten stole most curiously made : Her Partlet needle-wrought , her Cambricke smocke , And on a seat thereby them nicely laid . And so to wash her in the well assayd . O shut thine eies Narcissus come not neete , Least in the well a burning fire appeare . Sleep still King Dauid in thy Princely bed , Where now thou takst thine after-dinners nap : O rouse not vp from sleep thy kingly head . Least by mifchaunce thou fall into a trap , See heere of mans fragilitie a map : Thou canst not ( Dauid ) needs must thou vpstart , Thy God will haue thee know how frayle thou art . Now riseth he , and vp in haste he flies , Vpon the highest turret of his tower : There standing , all the Cittie ouerpries Her carued Bulwarkes , and ech goodly bower . But O vnlucky time , O dismall hower ! Stop Ishas sonne thine eares , keep sayles on hie , Least Syrens songs doe drawe thy mind awry . Suruaying thus his towne , at length he cast His eye-lids downe , and saw Beersheba naked : His princely heart , which neuer yet did tast Of euill , stroke with burning feuer quaked : A fire he caught , by no waues to be slaked . And as he striues to quench this flaming fire , Still kindles it with bellowes of desire . Much better hadst thou kept within thy pallace , There on thy harpet'aue fed thy mind with joy : Or entertain'd some pretie pleasing sollace . But are the godly subject to annoy ? Must they be ruled by a wanton boy ? His eie approou'd , his heart it gaue consent , And both were spurres vnto his bad intent . With washing waues her breast he saw her decke , He cals it Nectar , wherof Angels drinke : With Iuory armes she rubs her milky necke , White Doues which fall on snow he doth them thinke He wisheth he himselfe were at the brinke . But with the candle whilst he thus doth play , At last his wings were burned quite away , And now begins the combatant assault , Betweene the willing flesh and nilling spirit . The flesh alluring him vnto the fault , The spirit tels him of a dreadfull merit . And in the end flesh conquered the spirit . He sends , she came , he wooes , she gaue consent , And did the deed , not fearing to be shent . What hast thou done , O Psalmist : blush for shame , Thinkst thou thy sinne will neuer come to light . No , no , Iehouah will reueale the same , Though thou hadst don 't in silence of the night . Yet would he bring it into open sight : T' was he would put thy piety in triall , To see if thou wouldst yeeld or make denyall . Now three times Cynthia in the Welkin bright Her circle full vnto the earth did lend : Thrise had she lost againe her borrowed light , Since Dauid with Beersheba did offend , And now began she feele her wombe extend . What should she doe ? her fault she could not couer , Of many dayes she had not seen her louer . And now shee moanes her to the King , and sayes In mournfull fort , shee feeles her selfe with child : His guilty mind disturbed many wayes , ( Wit waites on feare ) finds out a pretie wild , Wherwith he hopes his maker to beguild . But what ? can Prophets then so grofly slide , And from their God suppose their sinnes to hide ? He sendeth word to Ioab presently , His true estate in letters to expresse : And therewith send Vrias speedilie , Vrias comes , he readeth their successe , And bids him goe vnto his wife in peace . But see . the more he labour'd to conceale it , So much the more God labour'd to reueale it , Vrias would not goe vnto his house , But gathered strawe , and layd it in the yard , And caring not to frolike with his spouse , He laid him down to sleep amid the Gard. As soone as Dauid had these tydings hard , He askes him why he rested not at home , From toyling warres art thou not lately come ? No ( quoth Vrias ) t is for me vnfit To sleep within , whilst Ioab is without : Vnseemly t is to see the seruant fit , And let his maister toyle and run about : What , lyeth not the Arke of God without ? I sweare by Dauids crowne and princelie head , Whilst things goethus , I will not come in bed . And now is Dauid vexed worse and worse , And euery way is forc'd his wits to sift : By this be hath deuis'd a second course , And means to put in vre a pretie shift , To make Vrias diunken was his drift . So thinkes he , hee'ill forget his dutie quite , And mooued be therewith to some delight . He charg'd his seruantes entertaine him well , To giue him store of wine , and comfits daintie : Before the King to banquetting they fell , Sweet syrrops there they had , and wine great plentie : He dranke to twentie , and he pledged twenty . They quast off flagons full , and spared not , The third fell alwayes to Vrias lot . Heere , heer ( saith one ) I drinke vnto my brother , I le pledge him ( quoth Vrias ) hee s my friend : I drinke to such a Captaine ( quoth another ) And he to all a good carrouse would send : Surcharg'd with wine , he staggerd in the end . He walketh vp and downe the stately hall , But alwaies leanes , and cleaues vnto the wall . Full glad was Dauid now , and hop'd his plot Would take effect , he almost was secure : He heard the souldiour talke he knew not what , He with Beershebas name did him allure , He thought that night would breed contentment sure But whatso ere he built , it could not stand , For all his worke was built vpon the sand . Now night was come , all creatures went to rest , Downe lay the Hitthite where he slept before : King Dauid with a sea of cares opprest , Was driuen welnigh to dispaire his doore , Yet still against the streame he labours more . Thus euermore sinne leadeth vnto sinne , A lesler ends , and greater doth begin . Stay sinfull King , looke backe , and askethy pardon , It boots thee not alas thy selfe to hide : So guiltie Adam hid him in the garden , So Ionah fled vpon the surging tide . Yet quickly had Iehouah them espide . Looke backe ( I say ) confesse it is much better , To hide a lesser sinne doe not a greater . And now againe hee 's driuen to inuent , And vp and downe for pollicies to roue : Yet finds he nothing vnto his content , At length the deuill a deadly plot doth moue , And he thereof doth presently approue . In errour blind still walkes the Letcher further , And thinks to hide adultery with murther . Obliuious Prophet , call to minde thine oth , Thou vowdst to keep the couenant of thy Lord : More sweet shou saydst then combe or honey both , More deare then Gems which Tagus doth afford . Thou brag'dst thou joyedst only in his word . Chose he not thee his tender lambes to keepe ? And like a Wolfe wilt thou deuoure his sheep ? And now begins this deuilishnesse to bud , He vnto Ioab letters doth indite . O fearfull letters , messengers of bloud , He wils him place him foremost in the fight , And let him die , whilst they escape by flight . And by Vrias sends he him away , he guiltlesse beares a sword himselfe to slay . He guiltlesse beares a sword himselfe to flay , And harmlesse feares no treason to be wrought : So doth the Cony fall into the hay , So is the bird vnto the Lyme-bush brought , So on the hookethe nibling Fish is caught . he to his Captaine doth his letters bring , Who readeth them , and minds to doe the thing . Soone after causd he them the towne to sacke , Next to the walles Vrias preass'd amaine . The Rabbanits came out , Ioab fled backe , And many of his souldiours there were slaine , Among the which Vrias caught his bane , O joyfull tydings to th' offenders eares , Now frolickes he , and no suspition feares . Securely now he layes him downe to sleepe , As he were blemisht with no sinfull spot , As all his sinnes were drowned in the deepe , Or Lethes waues , where all thinges be forgot , As though Iehouah wink'd and saw him not . Till at the last vnto his vile disgrace , Thus Nathan sent , reproou'd him to his face . Ah Churle ( quoth he , and sadly tels the tale , ) Within a little cittie dwelling was : Much cattell had he feeding in his pale , And pastures faire , which yeelded hay and grasse , None could be seene in riches him to passe . Great store of golde he had , of Gems and treasure , He felt no want , but liued at his pleasure . A very poore man neete vnto him dwelled , One little sheep , who fostered at his manger , To which in loue he mightily excelled And in his bosome shrouded her from danger . Now to this Misers house there came a stranger . And sparing all his owne , vnto the feast He butchted vp , and eat the poore mans beast . Hereat was Dauid verie sore incenst , He chaf'd , and rag'd thereat exceedinglie : Without reuenge his wrath could not be quench'd , He swore the man that did the sinne should die , Himselfe would see him tortur'd by and by . Thou , thou ( quoth Nathan ) art the man indeed That hath commitred this detested deed . Thus sayth thy God , thou wert a shepheards boy , A seruile arte , and feddest sheep in field : Then wert thou subject vnto much annoy , A russet cloake did thee from weather shield . And liuedst of the fruite thy flocke did yeeld . A shepheards hooke vpon thy back thou borest , A lether scrip about thy necke thou worest . Then ioyest thou to gather Filberds ripe , To play at Barly-breake amongst the Swaines : To tune rude Odes vpon an Oaten pipe , Thy feeding heards to follow on the plaines , And driue them backe againe , no little paines From greedy Wolues to shield thy tender Lambes , And meat to fetch vnto their blating Dams . And now thy title low I haue suborned , Made thee my Prophet of a shepheard base : And with a Regall Crowne thine head adorned , I chaung'd thy sheep-hook to a ptincelie Mace : What earthly man is now in higher place ? Thou hadst seuen brethren goodlier in blee . Yet I refusing them , made choise of thee . I ouerthrew Goliah with thy sling , Thou but a dwarfe , and he a Gyant tall , I gaue to thee the daughter of a King , I sau'd thee from the hands of murthring Saule , I gaue thee wiues , and concubines and all . I made thee feed my people Israell , And all because I loued thee so well . And if in heart thou hadst desired more , More also had I added to thy life : But thou of wiues although thou haddest store , Hast taken vnto thee Vrias wife , And caus'd him to be slaine by Ammans knife . And walking still in this absurditie , Thinkst to conceale this haynous sin from me . Now whilst thou liu'st , for this which thou hast done , The sword shall neuer from thy house depart : And of thy seed thou shalt beget a sonne , Which shall pursue thee with a deadly dart . Now is the Psalmist stroken to the heart . Three sundry times endeuoured he to speake , Three times he sob'd as though his heart would break And now at last begins he to relent , A showre of teares distilled from his eyes : His heart is humbled , fearing to be shent , And lifting mind and hands vnto the skies , Peecaui Deus , manie times he cries : Rise vp ( quoth Nathan ) God doth heare thy crie Thy sin is pardon'd , but thy child shall die . And then in heart as lowly as a childe , Betakes him to his chamber all alone : There weepeth he before his maker milde , And oftimes sobbing , maketh piteous mone , Complayning other help it he hath none . Thus in the end distressed as he stood , He tooke his harpe and warbled out this Ode .

DAVIDS ODE . O Great Creator of the starrie Pole , and heauenly things : O mightie founder of the earthly mole , chiefe king of Kings . Whose gentle pardon euermore is nere , To them which crie vnfaynedly with feare , Distrest with sin , I now begin , To come to thee , O Lord giue eare , O Lord look down from thy chrystallin throne , enuirond round , With Seraphins , and Angels manie one , thy praise who sound : Such fauour Lord on me vouchsafe to send , As on thy chosen flock thou doest extend . To thee alone I make my mone . Some pittie father on me send . Remember Lord , that it is more then need , to send redresse . My sore will grow ( vnlesse thou help with speed ) remedilesse . Therfore in mercie looke down from aboue , And visit me with thy heart-joying loue . Alas , I see No cause in me Which vnto pitie may thee moue . With sinne I only haue offended thee , O Lord my God , And therwithall I purchas'd haue to me thine heauie rod : The waight of it doth presse me verie sore , And brings me wel nigh to dispaire his doore . Alas I shame To tell the same : It is before thee euermore . And this is not first time I sinn'd alas , by many moe : Within the wombe in sin conceiu'd I was , Borne was I so . And since that day I neueryet did cease , From time to time thy highnesse to displease . My life hath bin A race of sin : Me with thy comfort somewhat ease . O why did I offend thy glorious Grace so hainously ? Why fear'd I not the presence-of thy face who stoodest by ? Because I should acknowledge-thee most just , And in mine owne vprightnes shuld not trust : Fraile is my fleshs I must confesse , And nought is it but sinne and dust . If thou shalt me asperge with sprinkling grasse , or Hysope greene : As Chrystall pure , or as the shining glasse , I shall be cleane , And if thou wilt me wash with water cleare , More white then Scythan snow I shall appeare Then whitest snow which wind doth blow From place to place both farre and neere . My mind O Lord , infectious and foule , make cleane and pure : Into thy hands I humbly giue my soule to heale and cure . Out of thy booke all mine offences blot , And with thy blood quite take away my spot . So shall my hart Be free from smart , And mine offences quite forgot . Turn back thy face which al things doth behold from heauens vault : Least thou espie my trespasse manifold , and hainous fault . My faults , which are in number many more Then little sands which are vpon the shore , refraine thine ire , I thee desire , And also heale my deadly sore . Within my breast ( O Lord ) an humble spirit . do thou create : And of thy comfort doe not me disherit , I thee intreat . Let me enjoy the sun-shine of thy face , Take not from me the solace of thy grace , The holy Ghost : My comfort most . Let me retaine in any case . My tongue vntie , my lips ( O Lord ) resolue , thou art the key : So will my tongue thy mercie great reuolue , from day to day - Then shall the wicked learne by mine example , To keep thy statutes which be sweet and ample And seeing me , shall turne to thee , And in the right way learne to trample . Wouldst thou haue bin with sacrifice content , much fat of Rammes , Much incense sweet on thee wold I haue spent and blood of Lambes : But thou ( O God ) therto hast no respect , A broken heart thou neuer wilt reject : That sacrifice Is of most price , That onlie with thee takes effect . Be gentle Lord to thy Sionian towne , bow downe thy face , And on thy Shalem send thy mercie downe , and louing grace : Reedifie her bulwarkes like to fall , And vp againe build her decaying wall . Then will I praise Thy name alwayes . And giue burnt offrings therewithall . Thus did the Psalmist warble out his plaints , And ceaseth not from day to day to mone , His heart with anguish of his sorrowe faints . And still he kneels before his makers throne . At midnight sends he manie a grieuous grone . So did his God in mercie on him looke . And all his sinnes did race out of his booke . F. S.

FINIS .