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 eng eebo Hugo Grotius his Sophompaneas, or, Ioseph : a tragedy : with annotations / by Francis Goldsmith. n/a 1652 132 33850 30 26 0 0 0 0 16.54 C The rate of 16.54 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the C category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2014-02 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2014-03 Sampled and proofread 2014-03 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2015-03 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

HUGO GROTIUS HIS Sophompaneas , OR IOSEPH .

A TRAGEDY .

With Annotations .

By FranCIs GoLDsMIth , Esq ;

LONDON , Printed by W. H. and are to be sold by Iohn Hardesty at the Black-spred-Eagle in Duck-lane .

TO THE Right Honourable , HENRY , Lord Marquess of Dorchester , Earl of Kingston , Viscount Newark , Lord Pierrepont , &c. My Lord ,

NOt any merit of mine hath emboldned mee to set forth this Piece with ( so resplendent a Frontispiece ) your Name ; but a duty of doing one of our best modern Latin Poets that full right , which my pen otherwise comes short of . Bee pleased likewise , that Sophompaneas , a divinely inspir'd Prophet , and Royall Favourite , famous in holy Writ ( which your own eminent virtues will most like ) for wisdome and chastity , may find a favourable entertainment with your Lordship . I am not ignorant upon how great disadvantage any thing of this kind is presented unto your Lordship , after Iuvenal by Sir Robert Stapylton . Neither have I , though I much more need it , the warrant of your Lordships command , which might beg pardon for my disabilities and errataes : Yet that this free-will & cheaper offering may be not unacceptable to your most noble goodnesse , and that this Coat of Ioseph is not so sullied with my handling , but that it may bee known , is the confidence and ambition of

Your Lordships most humble Servant , FRANCIS GOLDSMITH .
THE PREFACE .

IF an account is to bee given the Commonwealth , as Cato thought , even of our idlenesse ; take then , at thine owne leasure , this of mine . For such and no better may a grave Censor deeme it , though I write after a most learned Copy , and have the priviledge of a Divine Argument . Yea , I my selfe , had I not the allowance of some friends , both candid and judicious , would sooner commit these Papers to the light of the fire , then of the Sun. It may likewise be a question perhaps , whether an Interpreter deserve the name of a Poet ; but he , that is one indeed , a Virgil or Homer need not envy a Cicero or Demosthenes . I had rather saith Tacitus ( or who else is the Author ) in Dialog . d . Orator . have the secure and secret retirement of Virgil , wherein yet he neither wanted the favour of Augustus Caesar , nor the being taken notice of by the People of Rome : Witness the Epistles of Augustus , witness the People themselves , who upon hearing some verses of Virgil in the Theater , rose all up , and did the same reverence to Virgil , by chance then present , and a spectator , as unto Augustus . Our Author is an excellent and admirable patterne , not onely for Poetry and Oratory , but all Divine and humane learning ; I would gladly follow the best examples , and overtake them , when any other of my endeavours shall from the Father of lights ( from whom every good and perfect gift commeth down ) receive such a blessing .

To GERARDUS VOSSIUS , Professor of History and civill Arts , in the most flourishing City of Amsterdam , HUGO GROTIUS .

I Were , most excellent Vossius , what I least would bee , that is , ungratefull , if when all your papers are full of me , I should keepe the love and honour of you shut up within the closet of my minde , and take no care , that posterity , if yet my labours may so hope , might have some monument extant of our inseparable conjunction ; which you in my adversity , such as is wont either to discover false affections , or to change light , have been so far fron lessening , as that by many offices you have made it greater . If I should say , your learning indeed singular and infinite hath brought me to esteem you as I doe , I say but what is common to mee with the University of them through the whole world that love letters . But the nearer I have been admitted to know your most candid manners , and goodnesse shut against no man , I have alwaies thought it a great part of my felicity to bee joyn'd with you in so much a greater tie . The common study of all humane literature is a very strong bond : but I adde also , that in this ages fervent heat of Theologicall disputations , I have found you of that singular prudence and moderation of mind , as that from those things which the Churches planted by the Apostles , and which they who agreed with them in likenesse of discipline , have held as certaine and resolv'd , you would never depart ; but from those , which of old have had a free disputation , you would inhibit your decretory style . To hold which purpose more happily , you had two great helps at hand , a very great , and as much as ever had any man , diligence , and a pure judgement in revolving Ecclesiasticall Antiquities ; whereof no man can doubt who shall have read your Pelagian History , a worke most famous through France and Brittaine . To your so great virtues and merits towards me some extraordinary present was due : But whereas I could not as yet appoint a certaine seat for my hitherto scattered papers and bookes , and so not put my last and irrevocable hand to any of my greater workes ; mindfull in the mean time of humane chances , though unable to pay , yet by giving even a small pledge I would testifie how much and how gladly I am indebted . And yet if you permit me ( what Horace allowes himselfe ) to set a price upon my gift , it is a Tragedy I bring , a kind of writing ( as you very well know , Vossius , of whom after precepts of Grammer and eloquence , we have also the art of Poetry expressed in lively colours ) royall , and of so great dignity , as that Sophocles hath not thought it below his high place which he held in Athens ; nor Augustus Caesar his owne minde comprehending the whole power of the Roman Empire . I may commend it too for the Argument fetcht not from the miseries of Troy and Thebes , polluted with the lies of the Grecians , but out of the History of Moses untoucht by falshood : and indeed , unlesse I mistake , the only one in Divine Writ , which hath those two things thought by Aristotle ( a man in this part also , as you concurre with me , of greatest judgement ) even single to adde very much to the grace of a Tragedy ; an unlook'd for Agnition , and sudden change of things . For both Ioseph discovers himselfe to his Brethren , who for a long while knew him not , and his Brethren themselves are suddenly translated out of the greatest fear into the highest prosperity . Some perhaps will find fault , that this Tragedy hath not a sad conclusion : who if they have not yet laid aside that error in distinguishing between the buskin and socke ; let them read either Aeschylus's Danaides , or our Euripides his Alcestes , Ion , Helena , and which I have lately turn'd into Latin , Iphigenia among the Tauri : or ( if they will not take that paines ) those your precepts I now mentioned of the Art of Poetry . Wherunto , whether what I here present bee agreeable , I desire no other judge then your selfe ; not indeed upon confidence of my endeavours , which both by the cruelty hitherto of fortune and my declining age it selfe ( whereof you almost alone are not sensible ) begin to flag , but in the equity of your judgement , which yet I hope not for as a friend ; for neither would I corrupt you in what I ought to offer unto you as precious , but as one who have propounded to my self ever to deserve the best of letters and lovers of letters . There is also in this argument another thing , which whether it will please others I know not , for wee live in a malignant age ; that certainly it will please you , I doubt not . Philo , little lesse then a Christian , hath taught me , that Moses , whom both we and the Jewes ( by the manifest evidence of what he foretold ) believe to have bin divinely inspir'd , and who is celebrated for a most wise Law-maker by wise men , and born in a very wise age , Diodorus the Sicilian , Trogus Pompeius a Roman , and a Cappadocian indeed , but the most judicious , Strabo ; when in the preamble of his most holy lawes he had given us three choice patterns for a private life , the first of him who by the aid of arts and excellent learning came from false gods to the true ; the second , whose birth it selfe and happy education did very much advantage him ; and a third , who besides these benefits had this also , which I by experience think the greatest , a triall by afflictions , would adde likewise a man exercised in publike government , notable , not onely for those hereditary and domestique virtues , but what were also profitable to the Common-wealth ; which indeed in Ioseph he hath so perform'd , as that he , a leader of the people , if ever any , provident for the future , unbroken in evils , a maintainer of justice , observing moderation in all things , may seeme to have set himselfe no other copy , next to the divine Commandements , by which to order his actions , then the life of this Ioseph ; far differing from those worst of men , and consequently of teachers , who when they would give us the Character of a Prince , are wont to make him a man compos'd of deceit and perfidiousnesse , and an obdurate contempt of God and all lawes , as wel common as peculiar , to any people ; a constitution of mind , unlesse I mistake , not attainable , but through a long custome of villanies . But these things it is your part to prosecute more at large , of whom after your books the best guides unto , and Judges of the Greeke and Latin Annalists ; wee all , who who love truth and right , I say not expect , for that is too little , but earnestly beg the sum also of Universall History . Farewell man nearest my heart , and comfort your want of a lost Sonne ( since it hath so pleased God ) with those many children of your learning , begotten by you , and sent abroad through the whole World .

Francfort . The Ides of Iuly , 1634.
Vossius in Addend . l. 2. Institut . Poetic .

THe question is , whether it bee lawfull to make a Dramatique Poem of a sacred argument : if examples may be pleaded ; Ezekiel a Iewish Tragique Poet , hath written the deliverance of the Israelites out of Egypt . There is likewise extant Christs Passion , whether by Gregory Nazianzen , or Apollinaris of Laodicea . Neither have there been wanting in our age famous men also , who have written sacred Dramatiques both Comicall and Tragicall : But I am rather of opinion , it were better to choose another argument , then sacred . For it agrees not with the majesty of sacred things to be made a play and fable . It is also a work of very dangerous consequence to mingle humane inventions with things sacred ; because the Poet adds uncertainties of his owne , sometimes falsities ; which is not onely to play with holy things , but also to ingraft in mens minds uncertaine opinions , and now and then false . — These things have place especially , when we bring in God , or Christ , speaking , or treat of the mysteries of Religion . I will allow more where the History indeed is taken out of the sacred Scriptures , but in the nature of its argument is civill . As if the action bee of David flying from his Sonne Absolon , or of Joseph sold by his Brethren ; advanced by Pharaoh to the government of Egypt , and in that dignity adored by , and made known unto his Brethren . Of which argument is Sophompaneas , made by the most illustrious and incomparable man , Hugo Grotius , Embassador , when hee lived , of the most gracious Queen and Kingdome of Sweden , to the most Christian King of France . Which Tragedy I suppose may be set for a pattern to him that would handle an argument fetcht from the holy Scriptures ; and I would even more commend it in this place , then which a fitter could not be ; did I not fear , I might seem to do it as well in regard of that love , which was ever between us , as also in officiousnesse of a gratefull minde , forasmuch as hee would have this excellent Poem come forth into the light , dedicated unto my name .

To his own old dear Francis Goldsmith , Esq ; SO doth the toiling Husbandman at last , Feed full his longing mind , his eye , and taste , When once into his own hands he doth get That Pear or Plum which the same hands had set . A modest pride so flatters me , to see What was my kernell once , now grown a Tree . So on the Cart , the poor Fly doth out thrust Its Tiffan wings , as if it rais'd the dust . I thank'd thee thee for thy Catechisme before , But Sophompaneas much augments the score : His Brethren and his Fathers Father he , Brethren and Father both doth find in thee . Thou bringst him Spice , Balme , our best English Honey , And ( in thy learned notes ) bringst double Money . Jacob in Syria , and Egypt , made him live , Another life in Britaine thou dost give . But how doth Grotius indebted stand To thee , that mak'st him Denison of our Land ? Go on dear Frank , and let thy pious toil , Transport , translate , enrich our barren Soil With all his spoiles , that are ( all are ) of worth , His Gallo-Belgick labours have brought forth . Teach us his Laws of war ( but rather peace ) Teach us his Christian Truth , that may encrease , And here produce of Faith a plenteous breed , ( We have some Indians here stand much in need . ) Teach us by him Gods word to understand : These Works , my Frank , call for thy worthy hand . In the mean time though more of thee we crave , We thankfully accept of what we have . This Joseph , and thy Catechising us , Shall stile thee new , rise Francis Grotius . — Mihi Nulla rura , at Spiritum Graiae tenuem Camaenae Parca non mendax De Dit , & —
Somnium Dramaticum Synesii Iunioris , Cognomento CHIROSOPHI . THe evil of the Day had tyred light , Glad to fall into the darke armes of Night . When Moses sacred Genesis had fed My thoughts so full , that in my active Head The waking Phant'sie wrought the holy Theame Into the forme of a Dramatique Dreame . Me thought I saw fair Joseph , while they cry'd Abrech before Him , in great honour ride ; The tender Father of the King proclam'd : Zapnath-paaneah by great Pharo nam'd . I took three sips of his Divining Cup , Which heightned my Prophetique spirit up To such a pitch , that I could soon unfold All Secrets the Synesian Riddles hold . The silver Goblet ( upon Arts command ) Turn'd to refined Gold within his Hand ; The Scenes were with all properties endu'd , Could heighten a Majestique Enterlude . The Acts ( rehears'd ) might reconcile the Stage To chaster ears , and purifie the Age . Things were so done ; there did more lustre spring From his rich Buskin , then from Pharo's Ring . The Plaudit was so loud at every clause , I wakened with the Eccho's of applause . The Day return'd : upon my thoughts review , I found my Dream , in your Translation , true . So well perform'd : it will extend the Fame Of reverend Grotius , and advance Your name . Thus while with pious thoughts the learned strive To infuse new life , Joseph is yet alive ! Increasing still for others , as of old , 't will be his fortune to be bought and sold . But friend , I think 't was the best chance of wit , To finde a Patron for the Poem sit . T' ignoble greatness for to prostitute Thy Joseph , did not with thy honour suite . Such who affect Effeminate extremes , Would make him blush for to expound their Dreames . Debauch'd and empty Lords , whose poppy heads Now Levell-switcht , fall to their earthly beds . But thou hast chose one , high , rich , learned , good , With all the virtues of enobled blood . Where worth doth over mens affections sway , There will the sons of Art their Tribute pay . CHIROSOPHUS Francisco Chrysergo Grotio , Amicitiae & Cognominis Ergo .
On the Subject , Joseph . The Poet , Hugo Grotius . The Translator , F. Goldsmith . JOSEPH ! Thou Heir of Love ! in whom wee find Fair Rachels Face , and holy Jacobs Mind . Their Darling , Egypts Idol , Heavens Delight , Both Pharaohs , and Jehovahs Favourite . Chast , Fair , Just , Great , None such Live in our Daies : We can but act thy Actions in Playes . GROTIUS ! Thy Exile was the Worlds good Fate , Which to thy Books redeem'd thee from the State : Our common Playes blush at thy Tragedy , The Law , and Life of Christian Poetry . For Action Joseph I would wish to be ; For Writing , Grotius , I most honour thee . FRANK ! Thou to us his Catechisme didst give , There Teaching , and here showing how to live . Sands in Christs Passion did before thee go In Tragick steps , which thou hast followed so , That were your Names conceal'd , it might be said , One did them both Translate , as One them made . S. GOTT .
To his honoured Friend , FRANCIS GOLDSMITH , Esq ; Upon his Translation of , &c. FRiend , did my fame and Muse shine forth as bright As the renowned Ben's , then would that light Like th' hour telling Sun , the Rectifier Of Clocks and Watches , shine to the whole quire Of common censu'rers , who would each correct His peccant humor by my Dialect . And their fond fancies pinning on my slieve , Without examination would believe : But since my humble Muse could never soar Parnassus height , nor is so popular To make all vote with me , let thy own worth , Thy well couch'd Phrase , neat lines , not tumbled forth By a Pye-corner Muse or wild sick braine , But the most noble issue of thy veine Speaks its own praise only , let these have grace , To stick like patches on a beauteous face . Tho : Berney .
In Sophompaneam , Tragaediam , a cultissimo viro , Domino Francisco Goldsmith , Anglico Idiomate donatam . DEtonat ignoto sublimis Grotius ore , Et maestam tragico syrmate verrit humum . Josephum dederat Latio velamine tectum , Veste sub hàc nobis sed male notus erat . Musarum è sacra prodit faber aureus aulâ , Et scaenam egregiâ condidit arte novam . Sanctorum doctè huc transfert miracula patrum , Et nostri indigenas jam jubet esse soli . Quantus pro Phario dictabat jura Tyranno ; Instantemque videns reppulit arte famem . En tantus Josephus adest , nosterque vocatus , Virtutisque tuae , clare vir , istud opus . Cum genio foelix , sic aurea carmina pangas , Sortitus merito es nomina digna tuo . Haec tibi cum Groti Elysias portentur ad oras , Gaudebis Latium dedicisse sonum . D. WHITFORD .

— Debes etiam nobis Sophompaneam , pulchriori à te indutum tunicâ quàm olim fecerat illi indulgentier parens , quam suam vellat Sandisius , & , ni tibi foret injurius .

Tuissimus , Sandysius Staunton .

THe History is recorded by Moses , Gen. 44. & 45 Chapters , with the contexts there adjoyning : Psal . 105. Acts 7. by Philo in the life of Joseph ; by Josephus in his second book of the Jewish antiquities , and partly by Justin out of Trogus Pompeius the 36 Booke : It is extant also in Astapanus out of Alexander Polyhistor , and in Demetrius : the places you may see in Eusebius his preparation to the Gospel .

The Translators

This neither the Latin , nor Greek Tragick Writers use : But why may not they , as well as the Comick , commend the person of the Poet ? or to win benevolence , and attention , expound the argument ? Vossi . Instit . poeti . l. 2. c . 26.

Nor want I the example of Buchanan in his Jephthes , & Baptistes .

PROLOGUE . HEre no Medea her own Children kils , Nor Hercules the Stage with horror fils : The Poet your delight and profit seeks , ( Not borrowing a Fable from the Greeks ; ) But from the sacred Oracles of Truth , Where chaster then Hippolitus a Youth High Providence did out of Prison bring , To save and rule a Nation and a King . And after twenty yeers , who dead was thought , Is by his Sire and Brethren found unsought . If yet the Interpreter or Argument , Shall not to Criticks give a full content : Who look for sadder straines , and that we tread , More loftily in tragick buskins , read His Christus Patiens made yours by Sands , Which to admire and love the World commands . But above all two Champions appear , The noble Falkland there , and Vossius here .
The Persons . Ioseph , who also is Sophompaneas . Chorus of Aethiopian Maides . Ramses Steward of Iosephs house . Iudah , Iosephs Brethren . Reuben , Iosephs Brethren . Nuntius . Simeon , Iosephs Brethren . Benjamin , Iosephs Brethren . Pharaoh , King of Egypt . Mute Persons . Manasses the Son of Ioseph . The train and guard of Ioseph . Likewise of the King . Seven other Brethren of Ioseph .

The Scene , Memphis .

The First Act. JOSEPH . CHasing againe the Night his glorious head The Sun shewes to the world , as from his bed A Bridegroom rising comes in rich array ( 1 ) Out of his chamber . The returning day Doth by a constant course the Lord declare , And of a Deity the Sun beames are An evidence ( 2 ) where God we may behold , Better then in all Ivory and Gold , Inhabiting an Orbe of ( 3 ) mentall light . Hard labour too , and cares succeed the Night , And of so vast a Kingdom all that space , From Meroe to the shoar , all th' armes embrace Of that great River , ( 4 ) whose head Heaven knowes , On my sollicitous heart its burthen throwes . Some may admire the ( 5 ) beams from Libanus , The spotted marble , ( 6 ) Groves within my house , Of artificiall meat so many dishes , The severall kinds unknown to Nile of Fishes , ( 7 ) Strange beasts from Africk , wch yet want a name , And birds which from the Arabian desart came , ( 8 ) Wool from boughs by the Seres comb'd & brought , ( 9 ) At Babylon with skilffull needles wrought . Bright ( 10 ) pearls a present from the Indian shoar , The guards about my person and my door . Vain , vain , these are , and for so great a weight Too small a price . Under this diadems height Lies a huge load of cares . In this attire , To serve the King my office doth require , And with such glittering lustre to surprize The peoples mindes , whil'st it attracts their eyes ; This ornament I use , but not enjoy . How much more freely liv'd I , when a boy ; Without such pensive thoughts I rul'd the Flock , Which came from my great grandsire Abra'ms stock ; Where the sheep graze in Sichems pleasant grounds , And whose fair vale a double hill surrounds . ( 11 ) Ambition did not a great table spread , But the sweet ( 12 ) Mandrake with flowrs garnished Gave me meat , & the Palm , which , though with dates Full laden , nothing of its height abates . No sparkling wines of Meroe I knew , No juice of barley which th' Egyptians brew , And ( 13 ) Zythum call : but from the ground which burst ( 14 ) A Wel quench'd mine and my forefathers thirst . ( 15 ) My timbrell was a reed , but which did sing To Syrian tunes the Worlds Almighty King . If then , under my fathers eye , when none Almost were , but my brethren , to me known ; Envy yet found me , and a dream , but late Made true to me , could pull such cruel hate On my innocent head , what may I look for now , To whom a stranger all the Memphians bow ? And Egypt a rough Nation is , the yoak Which of her native Lords hath often broke : The harder is my task them to command , With neither too remisse nor strict a hand . But Mildnesse Gravity to her must joyn , And Modesty with Majesty combine . Yet more . When a faire gale the sailes doth fill , The meanest Master of a ship hath skill To steer the course ; but when from severall caves , The rushing windes lash the tumultuous waves , And lift up watry Mountaines from the deep , Then through the stormy Seas the way to keep ; Ther 's need of greatest art . Aegypt , thy boat , In such a boysterous tempest seems to float . Twice the beguiled Husbandman in vain , Into a barren soil hath cast his grain . From whence great danger to a State still growes , For raging ( 16 ) hunger no alleagiance knows . The People rather will rebell then sterve , Almighty Father , who wouldst have me serve Thy gracious providence , and that this Nation , Unto my care should owe its preservation ; Most humble thanks and highest praise to thee I give , by whom I things to come fore-see . The former seven years plenty shall supply , The seaven succeeding yeers great scarcity . Nor by my gift doth Aegypt only live , Syria doth likewise crave that I would give Reliefe to her , that my old dreames now may Prove waking truths , God hath found out this way . Hither by Famine driven twice unknown , My brethren at my knees have fallen down . Twice by them my old Sire , and who my dead Mothers room fils , humbly incline their head . I am that Star , to whom the Moon and Sun , And the eleven Starrs have homage done . Now though my brethrens hatred did devise My death , though they of me made merchandise , And to hard bondage sold ; I have forgot All this , and quite out of my mind it blot . I know what 't is to suffer , and am mild By nature , so instructed from a child By my good Father : yet lest in their breast The dregs of an inveterate sin should rest Not well purg'd out , I take a pious care ; And must use all my cunning to make bare The secrets of the heart , which use to shroud Themselves not seldome in too thick a cloud . At dinner yesterday I to this end The greatest Messe did to the youngest send ; That by their countenance I might divine , Whether they lov'd the same whole blood with mine , Or sparkes of ancient hate rak'd up did lie ; Nor know I yet : I must them further try . ( 17 ) I le charge the Lad that he my cup did steale , How they affect him , this will best reveale . A vessell doth not alwaies plough the seas In a straight line ; but for the Pilots ease And better speed it often doth availe , To fetch a compasse with an oblique saile . Truth by a wile is sometimes understood ; I hope , to finde ; if not , to make them good . Hear me Manasses , when a man thou art , And of this Realm hereafter any part Fall to thy Government , let Aegypt be Thy Countrey , she hath well deserv'd so . See , Her benefits thou recompence . The King Next unto God think the most sacred thing . Let the supream Law be him to obey , And tribute of a loyall heart to pay ; Then pride the tumour of the mind keep down , ( 18 ) Power is but frail , a King that smiles may frown . A sudden change hath in an hour laid flat Him on the ground , who above Princes sat ; And often but a little space between A pallace and a dungeon is seen . If any wrong be done thee , if a wound Thine honour shall receive , be ever found Ready to pardon . To offend how prone We are , by our first parents fall is known , Whose hand did the forbidden apple pull . To them that mercy shew , God's mercifull : By their own law , and with what measure they Shall deal , he will to every man repay . The soveraign virtue & ( 19 ) which keeps in breath All virtues , and doth triumph over death , Is Piety . Idlenesse alwaies fly , The friend to vice , Honor her selfe beares high . For when the world in her illustrious seat , Shall gaze on thee , thy fame must needs be great ; But whether good or bad this in thee lies . Now go we to survey the Granaries , Her store where this great City doth reserve , Lest from my charge in any part I swerve . ( 20 ) Chorus . IN a rich bed , her Lord gone thence , With his Propheticke eloquence , ( 21 ) Asenath wearied lies , the day The losses of the night must pay . Here that no noise disturbe her sleep , By her command the doors we keep , To wait on her sent ( by our King , Whose royall blood ( 22 ) from Cush doth spring ) From Nubae's utmost parts , through whose Dry land the River Niger flowes . Our hair in circling waves doth run , Not curl'd with Irons , but the Sun. ( 23 ) With noses flat and skin like jeat , Made black by too contiguous heat ; Thick are our lips where fenced lie , Our teeth as white as ivory . O happy house , which govern'd art By a chast couple with one heart . The Children like the Father , known Are by their looks to be his own : Which makes the vertuous mother glad ; Nor doth her Lord , after the bad ( 24 ) Custome of barbarous Princes range , Who every night their wives do change ; Whereby is strife and hatred sown , But he delights in her alone : And in his honest brest no room Is for strange fires ; to overcome Which , he did know long since , when he , Though but a servant , yet more free Then his vile mistris , did despise The glance of her adulterous eyes . With naked brests and wanton speech , Who might command , did first beseech ; Then threaten , but against a rock , In vain the foaming billowes knock . Would you , saith he , have me no lesse Commit , then threefold wickednesse . Madam , should I dishonour you , And to my Lord prove most untrue ; Breaking the trust he puts me in , And against God should I thus sin ? O thou , who guid'st the starry sphear , Ordering the Seasons of the Year : The spring with Roses thou dost crown , In Summers heat corn ripe is grown . Then Autumne purple grapes brings forth , Then comes cold winter from the North . ( 25 ) How stands it with thy providence , That Vice should tread on Innocence ? A woman who with lust did burn , Which , when repuls'd , to rage did turn , His garment a false evidence , Keeps in her hand , that she from thence Her husband might delude , and lay The crime on him who fled away . The Judge corrupting with a kisse , But he to whom chastity is A treble guard , and ( 26 ) rarely known To Beauty a companion , Into a cruell dungeon cast , With true adulterers lies fast . Yet even there how foul the breach . Of wedlock is , he doth them teach . The Prisoners wonder in so young A head , to hear so grave a toung , Whose honest looks and modest eyes , With reverent awe did them surprise . Among his fellow prisoners he , Is made a Judge ; and when they see What life he leads , and by it try Their own , they all do guilty cry , God neither doth quite hide his way From us , nor yet it quite display . His Children he keeps in a state Not wanton , not too delicate . As a good Captaine doth enure , His Souldiers hardship to endure : So the great Father of us all , Whom he doth love , will have to fall Into affliction , lest the Soul Through ease , should grow corrupt and foul . Yet leaves he not them comfortlesse , But in the midst of their distresse Courage unto his own doth give , ( 27 ) Who with glad hopes in patience live . In a dark dungeon and cold chaines , Our Lord his freedom still retaines ; And did keepe others , who elsewhere Resisted lust , here conquers fear . Whose beauty did his Mistrisse take , His virtue did the captive make And Keeper love him . To his care The wretched rabble trusted are . Hence he presag'd what happen'd since , And in a Prison was a Prince . Where scarce the Sun did ever shine , Thither did come a light divine , Fixing in his pure heart its beames , Interpreting the prisoners dreames : Pardon to one , death he foretels To th' other . In his voice God dwels . Thus flow'd adversities rough stream , ( 28 ) Till the King troubled with a dream , In vain did the ( 29 ) Magicians call , In vain , what new fate should befall Among ( 30 ) Heavens constellations sought : The Prophet then from bonds was brought , Worthier a chaine of gold and ring , ( 31 ) A silk white robe , & next the King To rule the Land , then whom alone He lower now sits in the Throne .
The second Act. Ramses , Judah , Reuben . Ram . YOuth , to thy years my pitty I afford , Who must go backe a prisoner to my Lord , Great ( 1 ) Sophompaneas . But what he commands , Our duty must perform , A servant stands Not to controule his master , but obay . Jud. Yet , Ramses , hear me a few words I pray : If his ingenuous face may not acquit Him from such guilt , and tender age scarce fit For any fraud , what yesterday we did , Weigh now . Our money by your error hid In our sacks , of our own accord again We brought from Syria , where none could complain , Or challenge it : a present we did adde , Though small , such as we in our Country had . A soveraign salve for wounds ( 2 ) the precious Balme , ( 3 ) Dates like mens fingers growing on the Palme . ( 4 ) Spices , Nuts , Almonds , ( 5 ) Nectar of the Bees , Sweet smelling Myrrh , wch drops from weeping trees . More could our beasts have born , you must confess , We were not covetous , but thieves much less . Ram . Words , which the fact confutes , are spent in vain , I do not charge you , that you had a gain : Your money in your sacks , we have no lack Of mony . But the Cup found in this sack Is that wherein my Lord doth offer wine , When he poures out his prayers and ( 6 ) would divine . For the great God of Heaven doth often make , Him of his secret councels to partake . Jud If he know secrets , he can also tell , That we are innocent . Ram . Your bosomes well Examine . Better none then thy own heart Will speak the truth . But take heed lest in part Thou judge thy selfe : thou must into the track , And whole course of thy former life look back . God slow to wrath , to punish is not wont At first , but when heaps of new sins do mount Upon the old ( 7 ) his arm which was so flow In lifting up fals with the heavyer blow . The Giants in old time liv'd long undrown'd , Before that Heaven did earth and seas confound . When on the Mountain tops the waves did roar , And made the World a sea without a shoar . Proud Babel threatning heaven was built high , Ere unknown tongues dash'd the conspiracy . Long in unnaturall lusts had Sodom laine , Ere God sulphureous showres of fire did rain . Jud. O Dothan dismall name ! O horrid pit , And thou Arabian greedy Merchant fit For any purchase , how you now perplex My sad rem●mbrance and my conscience vex ! Reub . Spake I not oft to you , not to commit Such wickedness ? His ruthfull looks are yet Fresh in my minde , when he besought with teares His brethren ; at his cry who stopt their ears : But Heaven hath heard him . Jud. You may eas'ly blame Anothers fault , though guilty of the same . Ram . Among your selves what do you mutter thus ? Jud. To think on Syria it doth trouble us , Our Countrey , where our Ancestors did live , Famous for goodnesse , to whom Kings did give The hand of Friendship , and them faithfull found , Who were for hospitality renown'd , Whose good report through all the Region flies , Which between Jordan and Euphrates lies . Ram . Posterity not alwaies doth inherit The praises of their Ancestors high merit ; But 't is oft seen , that a degenerate race , With lust and falsehood doth the stock disgrace . Jud. O child , and of our blood a part , Which in thy youths fresh flower art , Wherein doth this poor comfort lie , Thou know'st not thine own misery . O gracefull visage , blushing sweet , As when with purple milk doth meet ; Or the first dawning of the rose , Its beauty in the bud disclose . And thou , like Lybian gold , ô hair , The pastime of the wanton air : What dire blow shall unto thee give Thy death , or if thou chance to live , What horrid dungeon shall thee hold ? Or in what land shalt thou be sold , Far from us , and thy Father , where A servile yoak thy neck shall bear ? Alas born unto better sates , Whose Ancestors were Princes mates . In thy gay coat thy Father thee Playing about no more shall see . Nor when at high noon the Suns heat Shall make us from our Flocks retreat , ( Under a tree , or by a spring ) Shalt thou in hast our dinner bring . And some perhaps ( for spite doth raigne In every Country ) will againe Accuse thee falsely , when that thee A stranger , poor , forlorn they see . Ram . To love him you do well , who is so nigh In bloud . ( 8 ) Among men great diversity There is of manners , and in every land Are severall laws , as the Prince wil command , Or people make for publike benefit : ( 9 ) This law is every where , nor is it writ In Cedar tables , nor in Marble cut ; Nor brasse , but ( 10 ) in the heart God hath it put . Who flies it , flies himselfe : Wild beasts we find , To love by nature those of their own kind . Jud. Our very griefe you touch , as nothing more . But see where strongly guarded to his door The Governor is comming , if we now Not guilty plead , who will believe us ? How , If we confesse , can we for pardon pray ? Oh I am at a losse ● what I should say , Or how to look I know not . Conscience Of my old guilt takes from me all defence . Ramses , Joseph , Judah . Ram . The thiefe is taken , the cup safe , we found It with this Lad , whom we have brought here bound . His brethren uncompel'd would with him go , Rending their garments to expresse their woe . Jos . What wretched avarice , what boldnesse drave You to this deed ? Wot you not that I have Intelligence from heaven , that God a mind Hath given me , which all hid things can find : And , which another Prophet is to me Wisdome , whose clear eyes in the dark can see ? Jud. Right high and mighty Prince , the second head Of this great Kingdom , at whose feet we spread Our hands , what can we say ? how shall we cleer Our selves , against whom God doth thus appear ? But thou who Nations rul'st , rule what is more , Thy wrath , nor let thy will be as thy pow'r . Make thy gift good : our lives by thee we have Preserv'd from famine , now again us save . ( 11 ) Mercy alone man nigh to God doth make , Us and our brother for thy bond-men take . Jos . ( 12 ) Such hath bin , and such is the custome still Of many Eastern Nations , that they will Not that the punishment should have an end In them who are found guilty , but extend To parents , children , brethren , crimes of one ( 13 ) Five families wrap in like contagion . Whil'st I in Aegypt do bear any sway , Heer 's no such law , nor after me , I pray , May any such be . He who sins shall bear His sin himself : no further shall the fear Go then the fault , or to the heir descend . He shall my bond-slave be that did offend ; With whom the Cup was found , I will release The rest , unto your Sire go home in peace . Jud. Though our condition and your excellence Make me afraid unto so great a Prince To speak , yet I beseech you to suspend Your anger , and a gracious ear to lend Unto a poor distressed Syrian , But what for audience is enough , a man . When hither first the Famine did us drive , You did us aske , we answered , that alive We had a Father , but exceeding old ; Who had above twice threescore winters told . And that besides us ten he had a boy , A little one , his comfort and his joy ; As born in his old age , and of his mother The only issue left , his elder brother Whom the same wombe did bear is long since dead . This child to you that we should hither lead Him with your Princely favours to enrich , A strict command you did us give . To which It nothing could availe us to reply : Our Father , if the lad him leave , will die . You said , that we no more should have access Unto you , or behold your face , unless Our Brother came ; which when the old man heard , His reverend face with ashes he besmear'd , And silent sate and wept . When all our food Began to fail us , and we fearfull stood Looking on one another at the nigh Approaching famine ; Go , said he , and buy More corn for us in Aegypt . We contend , That you must be obey'd : if he not send Our youngest brother with us , but at home Him keep , we doubtless back should empty come . But sadly he : two children did my dear , My best beloved Rachel to me bear : The first of them whom I shall ne'r see more , A wild beast ( so yee told me ) did devoure . If now you take this other from my sight , And any mischiefe should upon him light , ( As our fraile lives to many dangers still Exposed are ) then think I pray what will Become of my gray hairs : with griefe and woe Consum'd I down into the grave shall go . Now I beseech you even for the sake Of this old man , ( your self if I may make So bold , had once a father ) and to save His life , which if he miss the Lad will have A speedy period , do not suffer it Among your glorious titles to be writ , Great Saviour of Aegypt : You did slay An old man . In my brothers stead , I pray , Take me . I can do better service . He A weak and tender child will rather be A burden to a house . I did become A surety for him to my Father , whom O let me never see , unless I keep My promise , lest he me accuse and weep , Till life dissolve , and when in earths dark vault I bury him , I bury there my fault . Jos . Not all which you have said , though something , I Beleeve . Who doth a matter hastily Determine , he unto repentance hies The ready way . I further will advise . Jud. If dead , ô happy Joseph then , that thou These miseries dost not feel with us now ; If living , that God unto whom belongs Vengeance not unreveng'd doth see thy wrongs . Chorus . WHere Aegypt when the Sun doth rise Looks on his beams ( 14 ) Phoenicia lies ; Which , whether it more good or ill Hath done to mankind may be still A question . For inventions rare , ( 15 ) Taauta doth the praises bear . ( 16 ) In twice twelve letters to comprize , Which first did teach what in the skies , Or sea , or land , or in the mind Of man ( which all containes ) we find . But as if sicknesse , beasts of prey , Not fast enough snatch men away . And , which among the Reeds of Nile , In ambush lies the ( 17 ) Crocodile , The same ( 18 ) to death a new way shows In a frail Bark the sea which plows . As formerly in sight o th' shore , The vessell now sailes by no more : But lanching out into the deep Mediterranean Sea , doth keep Now Southward , then the Northern Star It follows : not to fetch from far What may give nature fresh supplies , Whose use a few things do suffice . But ( 19 ) purple , by Kings to be worn , And the rich fingers to adorn ; The ( 20 ) Emerald then grasse more green , Which sparkling in the ring is seen . This did the thirst of gold devise , Mad thirst of gold , which to despise The raging of the sea , the wrath Of Heaven , and ( 21 ) to a thin plank hath Our precious lives taught to commit . Dire avarice , to what crimes doth it Not drive adventurous mankind ? Hence , Of right or wrong no difference Is made : no place , no persons are From rapine safe , nor will men spare The very Altars ; but to meet With plunder any where is sweet . ( 22 ) O happy the first age , in which He who found Strawberries was rich ; Or tasted the delicious juice , Which trees unplanted did produce . One Law there was , Vice not to know : ( 33 ) A simple life , chast enough , though Naked . But when ( 24 ) a coat became A covering to hide our shame ; And then by violence the field A crop of corn was forc'd to yeeld , The Brother did his hands imbrew , In 's Brothers blood , and anger knew No kindred . Nor did the bold hand Of men stay here : the trembling land Her bowels to be digg'd did feel , And better hid , a veine of steel Was found . Sterne slaughter further goes , Than single bodies ; the sword mowes Great Nations in a short space , And powerfull wickednesse the face Of glorious war so long did wear , Till the earth could no longer bear , But to her aid the Sea did call , Another Sea from Heaven did fall . ( 25 ) With such a noise , as Nile down flows , When from steep Rocks himself he throws . But neither hath it for the good Of mankind bin to presse the blood Of grapes : by wine great dammage came , ( 26 ) The son laught at his fathers shame ; ( 27 ) The daughter to her Father brought A Grandchilde , what hath lust not wrought ? O Aegypt , thee and these our times We much congratulate , whose crimes An excellent Governour restraines , And in the narrowest bounds containes . Who vice by laws makes men give o're , But by his own example more . Stay here ; a tempest up is rais'd : now wee How it at length will be appeas'd , would see .
The third Act. Nuntius , Joseph . Nun . ALL that fierce people bordering on the ( 1 ) red , And the Carpathian Sea , by fury led Are up in armes . Each man is his own law , And the great Kings command keeps none in awe . Jos . A crime in Aegypt frequent now , though great . But it is not enough to know what heat A pestilence doth rage with , or what part It hath infected , and where lies the smart . Who a disease would cure the cause must know ; Say , from what fountain did this mischiefe flow ? Nun . The Magistrates gave the first cause , whil'st they Greedy of gain your orders disobey ; And at excessive rates the corn transport , Whereby the Country dweller had but short Allowance : and still less and less . Some sterve ; The wealthy buyer longer did preserve His life ; ( 2 ) bread by a griping hand was sold : So much more great the hunger was of gold . When no more corn could in the fields be found , The people then the cattell and the ground Began to envy , and their bellies fill With shrubs and herbs : nor therein saw what ill They did . For when the earth of grass was void , The Flocks and Herds by famine were destroy'd ; And all which nature gives for food to men . On Dogs the Country sentinels they then , Yea , on the ( 3 ) sacred Ibis , and on such Unclean things too , as loathsome are to touch , A feast make . Who would think it ? ( 4 ) Asps are meat To some , and wittingly they poyson eat . Their cheeks are gastly pale , loose hangs their skin , With joynts wide gaping , eyes deep sunk within . Sad sighing did a while complaints suppress ; At length some wont in sloth and idleness To spend their daies , who formerly durst prate , And dart ill language at the Magistrate , Call Conventicles , ( 5 ) when the shady Night Destroyes all colours , and obscures the Light : Adding new faults ; or when ( as miseries Make men devout ) to offer sacrifice The people met , there they with speeches take The multitude . What end will this dearth make ? Or what hope is there left for us ? they say , Is it for this our patience doth stay , That we may fight who shall have the first bit Of th' others limbs , that on the Fathers spit The sor●●● roasted , and ( 6 ) the mother bear Her ch●●● ag●●●● ? Do ye now stand in fear Of Soveraigne power ? this is nothing , but An empty name , which in a fright may put Those who walk by themselves , but he who shall Awe single persons is afraid of all . These things once heard , every one as he goes Doth scatter , and enlarge . A few , but whose Authority was over-rul'd , contend , That they to you should a Petition send . The greater part , as if an hornet had Them stung , then their first setters on more mad Doth rage . With what a violence the wind Breaking the Mountain where it was confin'd , And rushing through the empty air down casts The sturdy oakes : with such a fury hasts The Country rout , and stones and fire-burnt stakes , And pieces of a broken plow up takes . A thousand voices cry : to ( 7 ) Coptos where The higher power sit ; we may have there Bread and revenge . The army greater grows In marching . Many , as along it goes , Admire and make the number : when they came Nigh to the town , the gates they on a flame With torches set . The timber fire soon takes , And a strong Eastern wind it fiercermakes ; And drives to the next houses : the sparkes fly : A globe of pitchy smoak ascends the skie . And whil'st the frighted Citizens prepare To quench the flame , the Pesants of this fear Taking advantage , where the wall was thin , And weakly guarded , on that side break in . And forthwith from the Magazines they take , And put on armes , and glittering weapons shake . Jos . Doth at the Magistrate this only strike ? Or doth it wander further , and alike Involve the guilty and the innocent ? Nun . The rage at first against the Rulers bent Hath many cut in pieces : for the Grave Nothing was left of them . A few did save Themselves by flight , whom now a secret den Of a wild beast doth hide . The garners then They fall upon . The corn , ( which , if a right , And equall dole had bin , a long while might Have driven back the famine ) snatcht away Without all rule and measure , a short stay Thereof did make . The mischiefe thus begun , Like an incurable disease did run . And whatsoere the publike treasury , Or private coffers kept , what gifts on high Hang in the temples , all a prey became : The greedy hand not put back by the flame Doth plunder burning Coptos . Then their hate Both Noble men and youths doth captivate , Who to a barbarous soile for slaves are sold . Jos . To buy a free-borne race who was so bold ? Nun . The twelve Arabian Princes , Ismaels seed . Jos . That Nation is of Hagar the right breed , Like her , in unjust manners . But , say , how The City being tane is govern'd now . Nun . Not any form held long : they first chose one With soveraigne power ; him they dislike anon . Another is set up by armes , but whose Authority is limited by those That are joyn'd fellows with him : nor did this Continue long : the government then is Committed to the people . Clamour there Carries all votes , and boldness sway doth bear . Nor is their raging discord within bounds Of words contain'd : the matter 's tri'd by wounds . Their swords to mutuall slaughter then they draw , Ingag'd in a sharp conflict I them saw . Jos . These tidings promise present victory . Ramses , what troops you can , raise speedily To compasse in the City . I le convey Men under ground , who by a secret way Shall come within the wals : and you shall have ( 8 ) The battering Ram , and ( 9 ) creeping Vine to save Your heads in the assault . When thus you shall Enjoy the town , let not the Souldier fall To kill or spoil the Citizens . From me Let him expect reward ; the King will be Able to pay them all : ô let none then Seek gain by ruin of his Countrymen . The civill government give not to such As over wealthy be , who having much Still covet more , and will no liberty Allow the people , or themselves deny : Nor yet to beggers ; envy feeds upon The hearts of such , which an obstruction To justice is , foe to society , On others good casting an evill eie . The middle sort will govern best , who be From ryot far , from sordid basenesse free . Corn I will send from hence , which through the land You may distribute with an equall hand . Where th'utmost Pharian border lies , which o're The Red Sea hath a prospect to the shore Of Cyprus , with strong towers those parts defend . Propitious Heaven better times will send , When Aegypt shall those ( 10 ) Nabataeans tame , Which warme themselves in our afflictions flame . Them , who their power abus'd , commit to close , And dark imprisonment , and likewise those , Who , though of wicked Magistrates , the blood Have fouly spilt ; the manner is not good , Nor tolerable , and a foe to peace , Those punishments more terror will encrease , Which not in hasty wrath inflicted bee , But by , grave councels friend , a slow decree . Let them a pardon find , who did transgresse No more , then hunger thereunto did press ; Nor with a covetous mind the wealth invade Of others . But who of their fellows made A mock and gain , what Laws they did invent , Let them now feel in their own punishment . ( 11 ) Alive them bury in the Mines : there they By labour measuring time , depriv'd of day , Shall heavy shackles at their heels draw still . But yet let these be fed too : and what ill Unto their Country by their dire offence Is done , let their example recompence . And their long miseries to others be A wholesome spectacle . For these things , see Thou care . Now what concerns my own estate , ( 12 ) I le to my faithfull Wife within relate . Judah , Simeon . O Simeon , what a man is this ! How he Hath all things wisely done ! How equall bee His censures to the merits of the cause , How close he keeps to justice and the Laws ! Sim . Such I have long observ'd him , having been A pledge here for you . I have often seen Him sit , and ( 13 ) with an equall patience hear Both sides : nor could it by his words appear ; Nor by his looks or gesture any signe Could I discover , how he did incline : The credit of the witnesses prevail'd More then the number with him : If there fail'd A witnesse , then the life which formerly The prisoner led , did that defect supply . To follow the strict rules of Law he sought , Unlesse where clemency perswaded ought To bate of rigour , yet not so unbent , As vice from thence should take encouragement : Jud. What should I say , that Sophompaneas Yesterday feasting us did each guest place According to our birth by nature . Sim . This , Beleeve me Brother , but the least thing is In him , which you so much seem to admire . Th' Almighty power of God doth him inspire , And what not any mortall mind can reach , ( 14 ) A Heavenly Spirit doth , within , him teach . Jud. What gallery's this of such an ample space , Which with three sides doth the whole house embrace ? Sim . The King , to 's friend who beares an open hand , Upon Ionian pillars did command This to be built . Jud. May I within it see ? Sim . You may , and it well worth your sight will be . Here curious pictures by rare pencils wrought Are added , which to strangers hither brought Might Sophompaneas acts and honors show , And where hee his own history might know . Jud. Let 's enter therefore . Fear not Benjamin , We will not leave thee , we will keep within Thy sight , and all thy brethren will appear , When the great Presidents door we open hear . Sim . Run o're these pieces with a nimble eye . Iud. What doth this angry woman signifie , With locks all torn , whose cheeks are wet and red , Which hath his cloak snatcht up who from her fled ? Sim . A Lady great and fair , whom lust did sting , Being denyed , on the chast youth doth fling Her crime , and palliates her sin with sin . His Garment to her lie must credit win . Jud. I see a dark and loathsome prison . Sim . There He of anothers fault the blame doth bear . Iud. What 's he , who from three branches of a Vine Pressing the grapes in the Kings Cup poures wine ? Sim . This is no reall story . One who was A prisoner with Sophompaneas , Had such a dream , which he interpreted ; That when the Sun had thrice his radiant head In Heaven advanced , the King would as before Him to his place of Cup-bearer restore . The event proves him a Prophet . But alas , How soon are benefits forgot ! His place , Wealth , favour , honour , having now again Recover'd , he unmindfull did remain Of former friendship , of what to him had Bin thus foretold , and of the Covenant made Between them , till his annuall course the Sun Through the ( 15 ) twelve signes had twice compleatly run . And none of the Magitians could expound The Kings dark dream : then was the Prophet found . Iud. Another sad and gloomy piece I see Full of all sorts of dainty bak'd meats , three Baskets , a flock of Birds the meat thence drawes Out with their beakes , and teares it with their claws . Sim . This also but a dream is of a poor Prisoner , who had chiefe Baker bin before To Pharaoh : and as the Prophet did Foretell , when the third morning forth was rid In her bright chariot , with his carkasse he The greedy birds fed hanging on a tree . Iud. Out of the River Nile seven oxen rise , Fat and well favour'd , which with heavy thighs Measuring the bank in a green meadow feed ; Seven other follow , which the Lake doth breed Lean and ill favour'd , which scarce having power To creep so far , those goodly Kine devoure . Seven goodly eares of corn bend with their own Weight to the ground , they yellow ripe are grown . As many other stalkes I see to lie Almost upon the ground , a withered , dry , Thin handfull , scorch'd with the Suns burning heat , And these the seven gallant ears up eat . What 's he in skarlet lying sees this sight ? Sim . The King . For unto him ( 16 ) in dreams by night Obscurely God seven fruitfull yeers foretold , And seven of famine . Yet none could unfold These knots , but who from prison for this thing . Was fetcht , and made his second by the King . Iud. I know him pictur'd in fine linnen , whom An Ivory chariot drawes , a diamond from His left hand sparkles , a gold chain hangs round About his neck , the people to the ground Bowing adore him , and his praises sing . But what are those there ( 17 ) in a treble ring Divided and distinguish'd ? The first are Close girt in coats : the next prepar'd for war , Sweat under armour : the third sort in sight Appear from head to foot arrai'd in white . Sim . The people of this Kingdom by the I le Of Philae bounded , and the sea and Nile He wisely hath divided in three parts , And distributing them to severall arts Had added new inventions . Behold where In the first rank the husbandmen appear ; And they whose labours do sustain our lives , To lift the foaming flood up he contrives With the perpetuall motion of a wheel , Whose endlesse circlings footing never feel . Behold there others ( 18 ) a strange sight ) to tread Meal with their feet , clay with their hands to knead . The second sort are souldiers , whom in peace He hath train'd up to war : by some of these A trench is cast ; others contend who most Swiftly can run in armes , and at a post Deal heaviest blows : some make a horse to bound , Curbing his tender mouth , and riding round Into a circle draw . But others strive A chariot arm'd with dreadfull hooks to drive . Some measure places out , wherein to pitch Their tents , them fencing with a bank & ditch . With ● huge quarter-staffe those armed go ; These shoot an arrow from a twanging bow . These with a pole-axe in their hands to fight , Practice . See there whole troops , now to the right , Now to the left hand turning , now expos'd In a broad front , into a wedge now clos'd . The third sort to religion sequestred , From taxes free , by the Kings store are fed : And think not that they onely serve to put Sabaean odours on the Altars , but By Sophompaneas they are taught t' enquire What makes the wandering planets back retire . Why , when the Sun in Cancer is , the day Is longest : ( 19 ) whether the North-star doth stay the whole Ever at the same distance from the Pole : ( 20 ) Why heaven brings forth new stars : and through Work of the world the divine counsels they Search out as far as nature beares a swey . ( 21 ) See you those figures written in the dust ? How great a surface a triangle must Contain , they dispute : what proportion there The Circle hath to the Diameter . Then all in war done valiantly , or in Peace pleasingly , what wholesome laws have bin For Aegypt made : the names of all who e're From Mziraim their first King the Crown did wear At Memphis , all the peoples dreadfull stormes , Mysteriously in ( 22 ) Hieroglyphicke formes About the vast high ( 23 ) Pyramids they cut , And signes of things not sounds of words there put . Iud. What 's by that picture meant , where to the Court Such multitudes trembling and pale resort ? Sim . ( 24 ) A businesse of great moment , for the King Is agitated . When no crop did spring Up the first yeer , hunger did them compell ▪ ( Their money being spent ) their slaves to sell For corn , which by the Prophet warn'd , in store The King had hoarded . When the famine more Cruelly pinch'd , they then bring all their breed Of Oxen , and what other Cattell feed In the green pastures : then they morgage all Their Lands , and afterward themselves inthrall . So all those grounds which the great Nile doth see , Except what to the Priests allotted bee ; And all the people by the King were bought , Whom to forsake ( for this the Governour thought To be the Kingdomes safety ) he commands , Where long their ancestors had dwelt , the Lands , And in strange places he new Colonies Hath planted . Iud. O how politique and wise His Counsels are ! whether long use or Heaven Such wisdome from above to him hath given ! But lest this may us hurt , my heart to fear Hath cause ; I wish that he lesse knowing were . Sim . On that side of the Gallery behind The house , there nothing is , which you may find Worth looking on . There he foreknowing all The fates hereafter Aegypt to befall , Hath them dispos'd . These now are in a flood Of darknesse drown'd , but shall be understood , When time shall make the truth break forth like day . And now the fearfull Lad for us doth stay . Chorus . ( 25 ) NIle , or if Siris rather we , Or , ( 26 ) with our parents better thee Astapus call , who from a spring Unknown through desarts wandring Deep under ground , where thou for men May'st usefull rise , break'st out agen , And from high rocks down falling mak'st An horrid murmur , and thence tak'st A double course , which gently glides Embracing Aegypt on both sides ; Until far spreading with seven wide Channels it doth the sea divide . ( 27 ) What shall I say a Virgin , when We hear so many learned men To differ , whom my Lord doth call Often to dine with him ? what shall I say , the direfull causes be , That thou wont Aegypt formerly To water so , ( 28 ) it had no need Of rain from Heaven , wilt not exceed Eight cubits , nor the ( 29 ) dog-star though ( 30 ) Thus often call , wilt higher flow ? Is the Sun by conjunction Of other stars now hotter grown . And Aethiopia , where I first Did nourishment receive , such thirst , And drought now feel she can no more , ( 31 ) Her Rain into thy river poure ? Or whether doth ( 32 ) slow Saturn ty Up the swift Planet ( 33 ) Mercury , To vegetate thy course ordain'd ? ( 34 ) Or hath the frozen west restrain'd His vernall blasts which make thee swell , And o're the banks thy flood compell ? Or doth the falling earth deny Unto thy streams their old supply , Whil'st , ( 35 ) which the world begirts , the great Ocean whose waves on Atlas beat , By a blind passage , and through hidden Caverns to go it hath forbidden ? ( 36 ) Or hath it stopt the secret way By which thy fellow flouds convey Themselves and joyn by stealth with thee ? These things I doubt o're-wisely yee In vain seek . ( 37 ) God the world who made , And when the water did invade Ill mingled earth , the liquid deep Did teach in shoars and banks to keep ; Hath made Nile also , whom he in A Law hath bound , which hating sin He changeth , and this age doth fright , This wicked age , that so he might By prodigies mankind ( in all Vice lost ) to virtue thus recall .
The Fourth Act. Joseph , Iudah , Benjamin . Ios . VNbind the Lad there , that more freely hee May answer , and yee of my guard , and yee ( 38 ) O Nubians , and my faithfull train be gone ; A while I with these guests will talk alone . ( 39 ) Lives the old man your Sire , of whom yee spake ? Iud. He liv'd , when hither we did our journey take . Ios . How great an age was he arriv'd at then ? Iud. He had seen almost sixscore yeers and ten . Ios . Is such declining age from sicknesse free ? Iud. Sorrow except , else no disease hath he . Ios . Doth he mourn for the absence of this Lad ? Iud. He hath another griefe that makes him sad . Ios . May not I know ? I have a Sire that 's old . Iud. He grieves for a lost son , I late you told . Ios . What cruell chance bereav'd him of his son ? Iud. God knows , before whose eyes all things are done . Ios . To vouch him who knows all things you do well . Iud. The certainty no mortall can us tell . Ios . By time things hidden oft discover'd be . Iud. O if that wish'd for day I once might see ! Ios . That to his Father him restore you may . Iud. Could my death purchase't , I le make no delay . Ios . So dear unto his Father was the Lad ? Iud. No son a more fond father ever had . Jos . Was 't for his honest and not envious mind ? Iud. And a rare towardnesse that in him shin'd . Ios . Say , what your thoughts of this great kingdom are . Iud. It may with the best Syrian Lands compare . Ios . Do ye the Government , and Laws approve ? Iud. All things , you governing , our wonder move . Ios . And would you in this Country now remain ? Iud. Gladly : lest famine us invade again . Ios . Hence to depart what therefore doth you make ? Iud. Our Sire at home left we must not forsake . Iud. May not the old man hither too be brought ? Iud. He must resolve that ; obey him I ought . Ios . Love of his son perhaps may draw him here . Iud. This child was also ever to him dear . Ios . What name he call'd him by , to know I crave . Iud. Benjamin is the name his Father gave . Ios . Therein's an omen of a strong right hand . Iud. How 's that ? Do you the Hebrew understand ? Ios . I formerly did in your Country dwell . Iud. What brought you hither , I beseech you tell . Ios . Envy , though unprovok'd , a cruell beast . Iud. That monster in our Land is no strange guest . Ios . Are free born bodies there wont to be sold ? Iud. This is by ( 40 ) custome and sharp lawes control'd . Ios . Many things done against the lawes I see . Iud. Which , if men fail , by God will punisht be . Ios . Now say what was his name whom yee did lose . Iud. Ioseph . That name his parents did impose . Ios . What in your language noted is thereby ? Iud. It to our house Increase doth signifie . Ios . The thing doth often with the name agree . Iud. But the event proves this name vain to be . Ios . Nothing 's too hard for God . Never despair . Iud. O that God would grant this , though hopeles , pray'r . Ios . He hath , and will . Look here on me . I am Ioseph , my Brethren . Me another name Aegypt hath given . Behold , your eyes now see , How God hath my estate Increas'd . Hence be Dothan , the threats of death , and dreadfull pit , And the Arabian Merchants banisht quite Out of your mindes . Let my dreams credit have : This is enough . No more of you I crave . Iud. Excellent Prince ; For Brother I not dare To call you , since our guilty looks declare We have not dealt with you like Brethren , now Again we suppliants , miserable bow Down at your knees , not that we may not sterve , But that you from your selfe would us preserve . Pardon us . Wearied with long griefe our Sire Doth this intreat , or , if you will , require . Ios . Cast away care . You aske too late wh●● is Already granted . To forgive you , 't is Too light . As Brethren I a Brother you Do love , whereas to Benjamin a true Affection I see you bear , which I Have long by circumstances sought to try . That this not grieve you the felicity Of the event deserves . Ther 's reason why I should give thankes to you , by whom I here The second honours of this Kingdom bear . God who hath all things made , o're all things whose Eyes watch , who cares for all , and doth dispose His counsels afar off , that I should bee A Saviour to you and my Father , me Hath hither sent before . Two yeers are fled , Since Aegypt , and which wont thence to be fed , The adjacent Countries hunger hath pinch'd sore ; There yet remain five yeers of famine more . Go therefore to my Father who my fate Bewailes , the strange and joyfull news relate . Whom he hath long thought dead , alive that I Not only am , but great , renown'd and high Do sit , enjoying heaps of wealth . Come yee , And of my power all partakers be . ( 41 ) Let me him happily requite , to whom I owe my birth ; and let my Father come , And see , whom he hath so desir'd , his son . I 'l find rich pastures for the flocks , and on The Pharian grass shall Isaacs cattell grow . My Brethren not these twenty yeers seen , O How glad am I to fall upon y●ur necks ! And on thine Benjamin , whose hair's like wax ; Which here I take delight to touch , and stand Leaning upon thy shoulders with each hand . The tears run down my cheekes , how I rejoyce , My weeping speaks , though it hath drown'd my voice . Ben . Hail , who with me of Rachel the same mother Wert born ; here found , but yet unlook'd for Brother . A man , a child , a Prince , me wrong'd protect : With what art you rule Aegypt , me direct : And that these teares , signes of true love , I may Now pour upon thy neck , permit I pray . Ios . O day I never hop'd to see , How great my joyes are made by thee ! Ben . Now I my journey not repent , That down I into Aegypt went : Nor falsely accus'd that I bands Did wear upon my innocent hands . Ios . Sorry I am that you did bear Such imputation , and such fear Were in : this was my wile to prove , Whether your Brethren did you love . Ben . I much have gain'd them thus to clear , Nor can I think the price too dear . Jos . Now is my life more sweet , since I Have found my Brethrens piety . More glad I was not in that day , When I from prison came away ; And when the King himself and ( 42 ) all Memphis did me their Father call . Ben . Brother to see your happiness , I feel more joyes then I expresse . Jos . What thou seest mine , Brother , is thine . Ben . O how will our old Father be O'rejoy'd together us to see ! Jos . Hee 'l come , hee 'l come : ye shall not stay , With such a train I 'l you away Send , as becomes the Governors , Both Brethren and Ambassadors . But we hereafter shall have time enough These pleasures to enjoy . My hour 's come now , Wherein such conference I with the King Am wont to have , as the day forth doth bring ; Or such as may be fit for him to hear . Ye fellows of my guard again appear . Judah , Reuben , Benjamin . Jud. Though on the constant faith and piety Of a kind brother I am bid rely ; The very face yet of wrong'd innocence , And his remembrance of our dire offence , Such terror and amazement in me wrought , As after a few words which I scarce brought Out , all this while I nothing more could say . Now thee , whom he doth chiefly love , we pray ; A branch of the same womb , not guilty , free From blame : make him propitious to us , be The pious peace-maker . He looking on Thee , favouring thee may drink oblivion . Reu . What Iudah hath said the same words believe We all say . If thou ever didst receive From us thy Brethren any kindnesse , now Requite it . The thing easie is which thou May'st do ; yet unto us it of no small Importance is . Do what we ever shall Take delight to remember . So may thee At home in safety thy old Father see . Ben . As I conceive , this needs not . Yet will I Not have it said , that I my help deny To my dear Brethren ; when I came away , My Father me instructing thus did say . O son , hate none , but yet ( 43 ) to them be kind Chiefly , whom blood doth neerest to thee bind . Them to retain , by suffering seek , and not Only by duties . Abraham to Lot Was such an Unkle . As who did expose His own life , that he might from savage foes Him rescue by his sword , and back he brings Victoriously ( 44 ) the spoiles home of four Kings . And to avoid the strife of bounds , the East He quite forsaking far did travell West . So mocking Ismael , though his mother were A bond slave , Isaac patiently did bear . And that I of my selfe may something adde , When my fierce natur'd brother Esau had Threatned to kill me , twenty yeeres I led A wandering life , and from his presence fled An exile , that the length of time might tame , And tire his anger , and when home I came , Him swelling big , I although innocent , With gifts and humble prayer made to relent . These Lessons my good Father gave , which I Not onely have to faithfull memory Committed , but will them perform in deeds . Jud. Brave issue , which from Rachels wombe proceeds ! Chorus . FAme flying to my eares Good tidings swiftly beares , The Governour hath found His Brethren : a glad sound To Priest-born Asenath Daughter of Potiphrath ; Since she hath understood Her Lord of noble blood : Whose Ancestors of great Antiquity a seat Had in those parts , in which ( 45 ) Euphrates making rich , And then a shaft more fleet ( 46 ) Tigris , twice mingling meet . From this ground God did take The dust , which he did make A man ( 47 ) in his own image , From whom mankind his linage Derives , in whom all wee Conclude our pedigree . Then six daies work he shut Up , and an end here put , God having man created , Nought greater meditated . For him of his free grace He gave a mind and face , Which Heaven might contemplate ; Then long to propagate His seed , he from his side A rib took , a fair Bride Which to the man became , Whose heart felt a new flame , Assoon as he did wake , ( 48 ) And sleep his limbes forsake . Hence is the marriage knot , A holier there is not : Whence , a beloved name To Parents , Children came . The babe on 's mothers nipple , A veine of milke doth tipple . Brethren come next behind , Whom seeds of birth fast bind . As horses running neigh , And with their fellows play : Or under one yoaks law Oxen together draw . O that ( 49 ) the Phenix on Her wings of Cinnamon Which smell ( 50 ) of whose rare kind , But one the World can find , Would through the air me bear To Aethiopia , where ( Who too much Sun-burnt bee ) My Brethren I might see . But yonder , before whom the Priest doth bring ( 51 ) The sacred fire , comes the Aegyptian King .
The Fifth Act. Pharaoh , Joseph , Judah , Chorus . THee having gratulated , thy wife I The honour now of her affinity Will gratulate too . Thy deservings can Be equal'd by no favours : thou the man Art by whose aid no cares my breast annoy , By whom my Kingdom freely I enjoy . To thee her safety Aegypt owes , and I My quiet . That all wast the fields not lie By men forsaken , that the plow doth lift The earth up to new hopes , is all thy gift . And therefore to thy honours I will this Have to be added , as the manner is Of th' Eastern Nation , that a place in heaven Unto thy name among the stars be given . And the field-tiller the ( 1 ) coelestiall Bull Of thy full merit shall be made a full And lasting monument , as a place great Cham Old Mizraims Sire hath in ( 2 ) the neighbouring ram . Jos . So many honours and so great on me ( 3 ) Your Majesty hath heap'd , as I would be Rather eas'd of the burthen , then it have Made heavier . Yet why I something crave , My Brethren are the cause , and hither whom With them I would have out of Syria come My Father . They by occupation are Shepherds . A pleasant Land there lies not far From ( 4 ) Heliopolis , where grasse still green , And pastures ever flourishing are seen . The bordering Pelusians it call Goshen . This Land hath hitherto been all Lost to the use of men , ( 5 ) because your Nation Holds every Shepherd an abomination . These grounds if on my kindred you bestow , I promise it shall to the profit grow Of them and Aegypt . See , in words what I , They by their gestures beg , and prostrate lie . Jud. Long may the Mighty Pharian Monarch live . Phar . Rise up : I for your flocks will pastures give ; And , your whole house and Father to convey , Waggons , and fit provision for the way : And the best things which fruitfull Aegypt can Afford , a present for the good old man . Ios . Give me leave that I may this adde . You see Under your government a people free Come voluntarily . O then let none To change their Rites and their Religion Ever compell them . If they have a minde Hence to depart , either because they finde , That some calamity will them befall , Or because better hopes away them call , Let none forbid them . May pure air so blesse Aegypt , and Nilus keep a just increase ; And mothers with a numerous issue fill The Land , and your race sway the scepter still . Phar . By him , who all things can o're-rule , I sweare , ( 6 ) And this my head and successors I here For ever bind ; that their Religion free To th' Hebrews , their departure safe shall bee . If any King hereafter break this oath , May foaming Nilus with a bloody froath Colour the Ocean , loathsome Frogs the ground Cover , and in the bed-chambers abound . A raging Murrain on the cattell light ; No herbs look green , the corn a tempest smite . Nor fruit nor leaves on any tree remain , With torrid ulcers vext may men complaine . Thick darknesse , such as in th' infernall shade Is to be felt , the face of heaven invade . Night follow night without a glimpse of day , Through every house the pestilence display , A sad infection , and the first-born kill , Which may with woefull cries the City fill . If this be not enough , in the profound Red sea may the whole Nation be drown'd . Jos . Nor shall it be rich Pharian soil , in vain , That thou the Hebrews e're didst entertain . Whil'st to a race belov'd of God , thou kind Shalt prove , all things to prosper thou shalt find Above thy wish . Nature her self shall bee Thy handmaid . There will come an age with thee When of our Nation famous Kings shall make A League , and ( 7 ) Israel a wife shall take From Aegypt . Again some of th' Hebrew Nation Shall hither come and make ( 8 ) a new plantation . Afterwards , when descending from the skies He foretold by so many Prophesies , The Worlds Redeemer , Prince of piety , Shall visit mortals , he shall hither fly . A faithfull place of refuge this shall be , And ( 9 ) safe to him an infant exile . Hee The same Lawes both unto my Country-men The Hebrews , and unto th' Egyptians then Shall give , and Nile and Iordan teach in one Channell to meet of ( 10 ) pure Religion . Chorus . ( 11 ) PArtakers of so great a good may wee In Aethiopia also be ; And our hearts burn with a coelestiall heat , Then Phaebus more divine and great .

FOr the satisfaction of the Printer , and not so much to illustrate any passage in this ( though short , not obscure ) Poem , as increase the bulk , rather , then the price , these Annotations are presented : Which for the most part ( wherein I please my selfe , and shall , I hope , others ) I have gleaned out of the rich crops of Vossius and Grotius themselves .

ANNOTATIONS ON THE FIRST ACT .

( 1 ) OUt of his chamber ] or veile , as our English Geneva translation hath it in the marginall note , Psal . 19. v. 6. Upon which Aretius Felinus a Commentator : The manner was among the Hebrews , and is observed even at this day , that having spred a vaile they deliver the Bride to the Bridegroom under it , out of which he comming forth exhilarates all , and the wedding feast begins . To which also Jo . Baptist alluded when he said , The friend of the Bridegroom rejoyceth , when he heareth the Bridegrooms voice , Jo . 3.29 . So , the sun rising , and the morning putting forth its golden head into the world , the face of the Universe is in a wonderfull manner refreshed , and as it were renewed .

I may here commend the Author for taking a similitude ( sutable to the argument , and person of Joseph ) out of the Holy Scriptures .

Hee observes also the Law of the best Dramaticks , who ( usually ) begin the Action with the Morning , and keep within the compasse of one day .

( 2 ) Where God wee may behold ] For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world , are cleerly seen , being understood by the things that are made , even his eternall power , and Godhead . — Rom. 1.20 .

( 3 ) Mentall light ] What the Sun is to our sense , that is God to our understanding : and as we see not the Sun , but by the light of the Sun ; so neither do we see God , but by the spirituall light of himselfe . Having therefore our senses enlightned , we must turn our mind towards God , that our understanding may also be enlightned , Vos●d . Idol . l. 2. c . 2.

( 4 ) Whose head Heaven knowes ] As for the originall Of Nilus , which many both Ancient and Modern Writers have delivered to be utterly unknown , Philostratus hath it rightly , l. 1. Icon . The Aepyptians indeed have the channels of Nilus , but the Aethiopians the fountaines . For it runnes downe from the craggy rocks , which are called the Mountaines of the Moon through Aethiopia into Aegypt , which is rightly hinted by Paulus Jovius l. 18. Hist . sui temp . & Hierom . Osorius l 9. de gestis Emanuelis . But before it rusheth from the mountaines , it makes a huge Lake : of which also Pansanias makes mention , l. 5. And experience hath confirmed the truth of it ; as we may see out of Nicolaus Leonicus , l. 2. de Var . Hist . c . 56. The Country where it riseth is called Goyome ; and is in the jurisdiction of the King of the Abyssines , who also in his Imperiall titles ( among other ) writes , King of Goyome , where Nilus riseth . Witnesse the King of Aethiopia David in his letters to Emanuel King of Portugal : and out of them Damianus à Goes , a Portugal . Voss . de Idolol . l. 2. c . 75.

( 5 ) Beames from Libanus ] Or ( in the Scriptures ) Lebanon . A mountainous forrest , whence Solomon was furnished with Cedars by Hiram King of Tyre , for the building of the Temple .

( 6 ) Groves within my house ] Groves , saith Festus , signifie pleasant woods , such as the Ancients had within the inclosures of their houses Hor. l. 3. od . 10. — With what a noise the wood Among fair buildings scituate Rebellowes to the wind . And Epist. ad Fusc . A grove among pillars of marble growes . And woods in houses like our sacred groves , And gilded doors , and marble floors . Tibul . l. 3. Torrentius upon Sueton . Aug. c . 72.

Where likewise Casaubon : the more elegant sort of Romans were so taken with groves , that even in their City houses , if they could in no other place , they would at the least have them on their house tops , Jo . Schildius Commentar . in Sueton .

Live they not contrary to nature , who plant Orchards on their highest turrets ? Whose woods shake over the roofes and tops of their houses , their rootes springing up thence , where their tops should hardly have reached . Senec . Epist. 122. Upon which Lipsius : Gardens and Groves on the coverings and tops of their houses . As wee have seen in the Royall City of Brussels : but upon flat tops , and without a ridge ; where the earth was mounted on beames , or arches of brick . Seneca de Ira . 1. c . ult . calls it , to suspend woods . Which the other Seneca gives a touch of , in Thyestes : — On my house top no wood There planted waves . And Woods climbe up the house tops , Plin . l. 15. c . 14.

Nero built a house , in which precious stones and gold were not so much wondered at ( as a thing long us'd , and by superfluous ryot common ) as the fields and pooles , in manner of a wildernesse ; on the one side woods , on the other spacious fields and prospects . Tacit. Annal . l. 15. c . 10. See Nero's golden house in Suetonius and Hackwels Apol . l. 4.

I conclude with our Author : Groves over the roofe tops , and lakes within , A house containes what every where hath bin . H. Grot . Farrag . l. 2. In Jo . Meursii . de luxu Rom. librum .

( 7 ) Strange beasts from Africk . ] Our Author , I suppose , by a medio die , meanes the Meridian or South parts of Africk ; and alludes to an old proverbe : Afrca still brings forth some new creature . Nor is Aegypt it self ( say some Geographers ) in Africk , but in the borders of Asia , and next unto Africk .

( 8 ) Wool from boughs by the Seres comb'd . ] The Seres are a people of the East . From this Nation silke ( cal'd in Latine Sericum ) was brought into Persia : From Persia , conquer'd by Alexander , into Greece . From Greece , the Roman Empire flourishing , into Rome ; where a pound of silk was sold for a pound of gold . Untill Justinian the Emperour not liking to pay so dear for garments to the Persian his enemy , by good hap two Monks came out of India , who told Caesar of the silk-wormes , and that the wormes could not be brought to Constantinople , but the eggs might , out of which the worms would breed . The Monks therefore were sent back to fetch the eggs . And from hence is all that kind of silk-wormes , which we have at this day in Europe . But the more vulgar opinion was , that silke was carded or comb'd from the boughs and barkes of trees . Whence Virgil . 2. Geor . v. 120.

Or th' Aethiopian woods white with soft wool ? Fine flecces how from leaves the Seres pull ? Vos . Idol . l. 4. c . 90.

( 9 ) At Babylon with skilful needles wrought . ] The Veil of the Temple at Hierusalem is described by Josephus , to consist of violet , purple and scarlet-silk cunningly mixt and wrought by Babylonian Needles . Sands Annotat . on Christus Pat . Act 4. v. 296.

( 10 ) Pearles a present from the Indian . ] Among the Indians and Persians Pearles are found in hard white shels of sea fish , and bred at a certaine time of the yeere by mixture of dew , which they take in with often gaping . That this kind of jewell also , though not so good , is bred and gathered in the Brittish sea wee are not ignorant . Ammian . Marcellin . And to the like purpose Pliny , l. 9. c . 35. It is certain that small and discoloured Pearls are bred in Britta●n , whereas the commendation of them consists in whitenesse , greatnesse , roundnesse , smoothnesse , weight : yet in hope of the Brittish pearles , such as they were , Julius Caesar , saith Suetonius , first went into Brittaine , and consecrated a Brest-plate of them to Venus his progenitrix . See Sir H. Savil , upon Tacit. in the life of Agricola .

I will speak first of pearls , as Tertullian saith , precious in the very name . The Latines call them Uniones , not because there are never two found together , but because no two are found unsever'd . That the shels open and shut themselves is certain enough . But they are said to open in the night , that from the Lunar aspersion , that is , the dew , they may conceive . This is Pliny's opinion , and thence of Solinus , and from him of Ammian , Marcel . But though this may bee true of the Land shell , yet it will bee false of the sea shell , as even this is an argument , that whereas of the shels some are at the bottome , others float , and swim on the top of the sea ; these on the superficies are the least . I know they may answer , the shels goe to the bottome assoon as they have conceived : but the shells having the biggest Pearles are bred in the bottome , and wander not , but stick there , so that the Diver must often sink twenty fathome for them . Vossi . Idol . l. 4. c . 47.

( 11 ) Ambition did not a great Table spread . ]

Luc . l. 4. O luxury too prodigall of things ! Content with no provision easily brought ; Ambitious hunger for things dearly sought O're land and sea , pride of a sumptuous table , See what small store to cherish life is able , And nature please : these souldiers fainting souls , No unknown Consul's noble wine in bowls Of myrrh and gold restores ; from fountains pure Water and bread their fleeting lives assure . T. MAY .

( 12 ) Mandrake . ] Grotius , I beleeve , alludes to Josephs elder brother Reubens Mandrakes , and a place in the Canticles 7.14 . where they are spoken of as a pleasant fruit ; Though they which are cal'd so among us are not so . And Iunius and Tremellius translate the word , amabiles flores .

No sparkling wines of Meroe . ]

Luc . 1.10 . In golden plate they fill their feasting boards , With what the air the earth or Nile affords , What luxury with vain ambition had Sought through the world , and not as hunger bade , Beasts , fowls , the Gods of Egypt are devour'd , From Chrystall Ewres is Niles water powr'd Upon their hands : studded with gems that shine , Their bowles containe no Mareotick wine , But strong and sparkling wines of Meroe . T. M.

( 13 ) Zythum ] Is a drink made of Barley . Theophrastus saith , that there is a wine made of Barley and Wheat , which the Aegyptians call Zythum . See Hierome upon Esay , c . 19.

( 14 ) A Well ] See the wells digg'd by Isaac , Gen. 24. And Jacobs well . Jo . 4.6 .

( 15 ) Timbrell ] Or Sistrum . A musicall Instrument peculiar ( it seemes ) to the Egyptians . And therefore Virgil of Cleopatra :

The Queen her troops with her own Sistrum cals .

Aenead . l 8.

And Lucan , She with her Sistrum frights the Capitoll . l. 10.

( 16 ) Hunger no allegiance knowes . ] Luc . l. 3.

Corn most stirs their hate most draws their loves , And only Famine to rebellion moves Cities ; and fear is bought , where great men feed The slothful Commons : nought starv'd people dread . T. M.

( 17 ) I 'le charge the Lad that he my cup did steal . ] An example perhaps of a blamelesse untruth ( Philo also commending it ) may be given in Joseph , who being the Kings Vicegerent and in highest authority , feignedly , and not so thinking , accuseth his Brethren , first as spies , then as thieves , Grot . d . jure bell . ac pac . l. 3. c . 1 § 15.

And so parents , Schoolmasters , Tutors and Magistrates may understand our English proverbe . Tell a lie , and find a truth . We allow likewise Physitians and nurses to say to a child or patient , that a bitter potion is sweet , &c.

( 18 ) Power is but frail . ] Therefore if wee are plac'd amid'st the noise of Cities , let a Monitor stand by our side , and against praysers of great patrimonies commend him that is rich with a little , and measures wealth by the use . Against them who extoll favour and power , let him set leasure imploy'd in studies and a mind turn'd back from externall things to its owne . Let him shew these in the vulgar opinion happy ones , trembling and astonish'd at their owne envyed height , and thinking far otherwise of themselves then they are esteem'd by others : For what unto others seem high places , unto themselves are precipices . Then are they heartlesse and quaking as often as they look down from that steep height of their greatnesse ; For they think on the various casualties , and most slippery to them that are aloft , then they fear what they coveted , and the felicity which makes them heavy to others lies heavier on themselves : Then they praise a still quietnesse and freedome , they hate splendor , and fly from their yet unshaken state ; then may you see them for feare playing the Philosophers ; and sound counsels of a sick minde . Sen. Ep●st . 94.

( 19 ) Which keeps in breath All virtues — Piety ] Take away Piety , saith Cicero , faith also and the most excellent virtue Justice is taken away . See Grot . d . jure bell . ac pac . l. 2. c . 20. sect . 44 , 45 , 46.

Upon the CHORUS .

( 20 ) THe Chorus is a part of the Fable after the Act , or even before it , brought in with Musicke : Yet not only is understood by the name of Chorical what is sung ; by the Quire , but also what is said by it . The Chorus is also defin'd , a part of the Fable between Act and Act. But not so aptly : because the Chorus hath place likewise after the last Act. Scaliger defines it , l. 1. c . 9. a part of the Fable after the Act with Musick . But the Fable also begins from the Chorus ; as in Eschylus's Persae , and Euripides's Rhesus . I beleeve , because it is very unusuall ; Scaliger thought that there was no regard to be had thereof . The office of the Chorus is very well expressed by Horace in Art. Poetic .

An Actors part and office too , the Quire Must maintain manly , not be heard to sing Between the Acts a quite clean other thing Then to the purpose leads , and fitly ' grees . It still must favour good men , and to these Be won a friend ; It must both sway and bend The angry , and love those that fear to offend . Praise the spare diet , wholesome justice , laws , Peace , and the open ports that peace doth cause : Hide faults , pray to the gods , and wish aloud Fortune would love the poor , and leave the proud . B. JONSON .

The Chorus after the fifth Act was of another nature then the former , For it often as a Judge gave sentence of those things which had bin acted ; But this , as it is observed by the Greeks , so it is for the most part omitted by Seneca . The Chorus consisted of women , or men : not children , who are not enough fitted to act things ; nor hath their speech that weight in comforting , admonishing , &c. which are the parts of the Chorus : Sometimes it sung not , but did only speak ; For when the Chorus was entred upon the Stage , it never went quite off : but , during the Play , some indeed went in with the Actors , the rest staid still . Lest therefore the Actors being present it should seem altogether idle , sometimes they interrupted the Actors , but in a few words , and when but two were talking together . If a third were present , the Chorus expected till he were gone .

Thus much concerning the nature of the Greek and Latine Chorus out of Vossius's Institut . Poetic . l. 2. c . 6. Whither I refer you for further instruction ; as likewise to my Fellow-Translator of Grotius's Catechisme , in his preface to his Electra of Sophocles .

( 21 ) Asenath ] Who was given a wife to Joseph , the daughter not indeed as many think , of the Keeper of the Prison , by name Potiphar , who bought Joseph of the Ishmaelites ; ( for by reason of the notorious immodesty of his wife , he might justly have refused the daughter ) but of the Priest , or rather Prince of On ; that is , Heliopolis , whose name was Potiphe-rah ▪ Voss . Idol . l. 1. c . 29. p. 210.

( 22 ) From Cush ] Cush was the eldest son of Cham , Gen. 10.6 . From whom came the Aethiopians . The name signifies an Aethiopian or Blackamore . Some are of opinion that the curse of Noah was the cause of the blacknesse of Chams posterity .

( 23 ) With noses flat , &c. ] A flat nose , thick lips , and a black skin is esteem'd the greatest beauty among the Aethiopians , who paint the devill white . But , how to judge of true beauty , see in one of Bacons Essaies ; and in another of those , which my once School-fellow but ever honoured Samuel Gott , hath lately put forth .

( 24 ) Custome of barbarous Princes ] Tacitus hath it , how that in his time the Germans almost alone of all barbarous Nations were content with single wives . Which also appeares every where in the Histories of both the Persians and Indians . Grot . d . jur . bell . &c. l. 2. c . 5. § . 9. See likewise there , why it was not unlawfull for the Patriarks to have many wives . And how Polygamy was disliked by the wiser sort of the Heathen .

Of the not onely many but incestuous marriages of the Parthians , you may read in our English Luc . l. 8.

The Venus of those barbarous Courts who hears not ? Which like bruit beasts all wedlock rites exile , And with wives numberlesse all Laws defile : Th' incestuous beds abhorred secrets lie Ope to a thousand Concubines , rais'd high With wine and banqueting ; the King refraines No lawless lust , though ne're so full of staines , &c.

( 25 ) How stands it with thy providence , &c. ] A weake Christian may herein be satisfied by the wise Heathen Seneca's Answer to Lucilius's Quaere , Why good men suffer misfortunes , seeing there is a Divine Providence . But see likewise Grot . d . verit . Chr. Rel . l. 1.

( 26 ) — Rarely known

To beauty a companion . ]

Hee alludes to that of Juvenal in his tenth Satyre .

So seldome beauty is with vertue match't .

Sir Rob : Stapylton .

( 27 ) Who with glad hope in patience live ] Because they understand all those afflictions to bee sent from God , either for chastisement of sinnes , or for exercising of their virtues , they not onely patiently but joyfully , as obedient children , receive them from the hands of a mercifull Father , and give thanks also , either for a mild correction , or an inestimable advantage . Erasm . Colloq . Epicur .

( 28 ) Till the King troubled with a dream ] The consideration of dreames is not altogether to be rejected , which neither Physitians themselves contemne ; whence there is extant a Booke of Hippocrates {αβγδ} . Yet this must bee done warily , lest wee mingle false things with true , which when Aristotle saw to be done of many , it made him say , that there are no divine dreames , though to him who throughly looks into that book , will appear footsteps of a contrary opinion . Surely the wisest sort have rightly distinguish'd dreames into divine and humane . Spondanus in Homers Ilia . l. 1. v. 63. {αβγδ} .

On which see likewise , Plin . Epist. to Suetonius Tranquil . l. 1.

God revealed himselfe , and his will frequently in old times , especially before the sealing of the Scripture Canon , by dreames ; sometimes even to Infidels , as Pharaoh , Nebuchadnezzar , &c. But since the preaching of the Gospel became Oecumenicall , dreames , as also Miracles , have ceased to be of ordinary and familiar use : So as now , we ought rather to suspect delusion in them , then expect direction from them . Yet , although God hath now tyed us to his holy written Word , he hath no where abridged himselfe to intimate the knowledge of his will , and the glory of his might by dreames , miracles , &c. But because the Devill may suggest dreames , and work many strange effects , which may seem Divine Revelations or Miracles , when they are nothing less , it is not safe to give easie credit to dreames , &c. as Divine ; Untill upon due triall there shall appear a direct tendance to the advancement of Gods glory , and a conformity unto the revealed will of God in his written Word . Moreover , so to observe our ordinary dreames , as to divine , or foretell of future contingents , or to forecast there-from good or ill luck ( as we call it ) in the successe of our affaires , is a damnable superstition . Lastly , there may yet be made a lawfull , yea and a very profitable use , even of our ordinary dreames ; both in Physick and Divinity . Of our bodies first . For since that the predominancy of Choler , Blood , Flegme , and Melancholy ; as also the differences of strength , and health , and diseases , and distempers , by diet , passion , or otherwise , cause impressions of different formes in the fancy : our dreames may help to discover both in time of health , our naturall constitution , complexion , and temperature ; and in times of sicknesse , from the ranknesse and tyranny of which of the humors the malady springeth . Of our soules too . For since our dreames for the most part look the same way , which our freest thoughts incline , the observing of our ordinary dreames may bee of good use for us unto that discovery , which of these three is our master sinne ( for unto one of the three every other sin is reduced ) The lust of the flesh , the lust of the eyes , or the pride of life . Dr Sanderson , but more at large in his sixt Sermon , ad populum , of Gods appearing to Abimelech , Gen. 6.20 .

( 29 ) Magicians ] We commonly so call them , who use diabolicall arts , and have any compact or commerce with evill spirits . That such were these , may be suspected by their successors in the time of Moses ; Though the Persian Magi were Philosophers . And Cic . l. 1. de Div . The Magi are a kind of learned and wise men among the Persians . The Wise men of the East are so called , Mat . 2. The Word hath since been taken in an ill sense for Witches , or Conjurers , and had the like fate with Tyrant , Sophister , &c.

Vossius makes three sorts of art Magicke . Naturall , as when an Egge moves on a Table , because of Quick-silver put into it ; or a Naile hangs in the aire , because a Load-stone is hid above and beneath it . Artificiall , when Archimedes burnt the Roman Ships with looking-glasses , and Archytas made a woodden Dove to fly . Daemoniacall , when a man is carried a hundred miles in an houre ; a Brazen head answers to any question , &c. Which Magicke who exercise , commonly joyne therewith the naturall and artificiall , that they may be thought in all the rest to wo●k by nature or art .

( 30 ) Heavens constellations ] Theagenes foretold the Empire to Augustus . Thrasyllus shew'd what imminent danger himselfe was in from Tiberius , The Mathematicians banish'd Rome by Vitellius , foretold his death should bee before the Calends of October . Ascletarion accus'd for a Mathematician , and not denying it , boasted of what he had foreseen by his art : Domitian ask'd him if he could tell what his own end should be , and when he affirm'd that he should shortly be torn of Dogs , commanded him to be slain forthwith ; and , to confute the vanity of his art , carefully put into the funerall fire : which done , it happen'd , by a sudden tempest the pile was cast downe , and his body halfe burnt , was devoured by Dogges . The Empire was likewise foretold to Ralph of Auspurgh , and the Popedome to Leo the tenth . But it is not so hard to answer these , as is supposed . For a thing is fore-known , either by commerce with the Devill , who by reason of his subtlety and experience is seldome deceived ; and often , God permitting , brings to passe what he foretels : Or when Astrologers are familiar with great men , and knowing what they go about , boast that they foreknow many things by the Stars , which they have learned elsewhere : or lastly , when crafty men among many false speake something true by chance . For that they do not alwaies tell truth , is proved by innumerable examples ; I will now only bring in that of Pope John . 21. a Philosopher , Astrologer , and Physitian , who having before his familiar friends promised himselfe long life , died the fourth moneth after . Voss . de Idolol . l. 2. c . 48. See also a discourse against Astrologers in Barclayes Argenis . l. 2.

( 31 ) A silke white robe ] White garments were worne by Princes and persons of honour among the Easterne nations , as purple among the Western . And therefore ( unless I mistake ) Herods souldiers arraied our Saviour ( though mockingly ) in white ( for so our old English translations read it , with St Hierome , if the vulgar Edition be his ) and Pilates in a purple robe .

Annotations upon the Second ACT .

( 1 ) SOphompaneas ] Is in the Originall Saphenath Paneah : which Onkelos renders , a man unto whom secrets are revealed . Jonathan , a man an Interpreter of secrets ; Josephus , a finder out of secrets . But the vulgar Latine differs from all these , which translates it the Saviour of the World : and that it so signified in the Egyptian language , Saint Hierome also saith in his Quaest. Hebraic . He was called also , saith he , the Saviour of the world , because hee delivered the Land from an imminent destruction by Famine . But it is a hard matter to decide this controversie , the old Egyptian tongue being at this day almost quite lost . Voss . de Idol . l. 1. c . 29.

( 2 ) The precious Balme ] Judea abounds with fruits like ours ; and besides them with the Balme and Palme . The Palme trees are tall and beautifull . The Balme is a little tree . As any bough swels , if you goe about to cut it with iron , the veines shrink back , as if afraid : they are opened with a piece of sharpe stone or shell . The juice is accounted medicinable . Tacit. Hist . l. 5.

What should I tell you of the sweating Balme From fragrant wood ?

Virg . Georg . 2 ,

Upon which Servius : Balme , or Balsame is the tree it selfe : Opobalsame the juice gathered from the tree , for {αβγδ} signifies juice , {αβγδ} wood : whence Xylobalsame the wood of the tree it selfe . The triall of Opobalsame ( as Pliny saith ) is thus : if it be held against the Sun , and be not corrupted , it will burn the hand that holds it . Some will , that war was denounced to the Jewes , and Hierusalem destroyed ; because they denyed to pay the tribute of balme to the Romans .

There springs the shrub three foot above the grasse , Which fears the keen edge of the Curtelace ; Whereof the rich Aegyptian so endears Root , bark and fruit , & much-much more the tears . Du BARTAS .

See Pliny , l. 12. c . 35.

( 3 ) Dates like mens fingers ] And therefore I suppose called Dactyli from the Greek {αβγδ} , a finger .

( 4 ) Spices ] I follow herein our English Translation , Gen. 43.11 . Grotius hath Medicinable herbs . And others expound the Hebrew word , Aromaticall druggs .

( 5 ) Nectar of the Bees ] Honey . Ovid calls milke Nectar .

Which carry Nectar in a strutting bag .

Metam . 15.

Honey prolongs life , preserves dead bodies from putrefaction ; is good against the biting of a mad Dog , the sting of serpents and other poysons : good for the eyes , eares , jawes , squinsie , kernels , cough , lungs , stomach , paine in the eares , foulenesse of the nostrils , ulcers of the mouth , blemishes of the face , clefts of the skin about the nailes of the fingers : to heale wounds , a carbuncle , boile , impostume , leprosie . Voss . de Idol . c . 79.82.3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9.

( 6 ) Would divine ] I understand that word in a good sense . Our last English translation of the Bible hath make triall in the Margent . And Junius and Tremellius say we should wrong so good and holy a man as Joseph was , to think he would obscure the gift received from God of knowing secrets , and transfer the glory to himself .

( 7 ) His arme which was so slow ] The Divine wrath proceeds to vengeance with a loft pace , and recompenceth the slownesse of the punishment with the heavinesse thereof . Val . Max. And it was a Proverbe among the wiser Heathen , that , The Gods had woollen feet , but iron hands .

( 8 ) Among men great diversity there is of manners ] There is no Nation , which wholly useth the same Customes ; yea there is often much difference in neighbouring Cities . But Right it selfe is equally expedient for all men , and profitable both to Greeks and Barbarians . Josephus Antiq . Hist . 16.

( 9 ) This Law is every where ] Right reason is a law which cannot lie , nor is it a corruptible law of this or that mortall man ; or a dead law written in dead bookes , or pillars , but ingraven by an immortall nature in an immortall understanding . Philo .

( 10 ) In the heart God hath it put ] When the Gentiles which have not the Law , doe by nature the things contained in the Law : these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves ; Which shew the worke of the Law written in their hearts , their conscience also bearing witnesse , and their thoughts in the meane while accusing or else excusing one another , Rom. 2.14 , 15.

( 11 ) Mercy alone man nigh to God doth make ] Antoninus to Faustina : There is nothing can better commend a Roman Emperor to Nations than Clemency . This made Caesar a God , this consecrated Augustus . And Themist . in orat . Whereas there be three things which make God to bee God ; Eternity of life , Almightinesse of power , and uncessantly to do good unto men : in this last onely can a King come to be like God . The most wise City of Athens took mercy not for an affection but a Deity , saith Fab . l. 5. c . 11. Eumenius makes mention of an Altar there built to Mercy . How much also the Romans esteem'd thereof appeares , in that they , and especially the latter writers are wont to honour Clemency with the name of Piety .

Be pious above all things : onely we , Unlike else , are like Gods in Clemency . Claudian .

V●ss . Instit . Orat . l. 1. p. 153. See like wise Grot . de jur . bel . l. 2. c . 21.

( 12 ) Such hath bin and such is the custome ] But if those Lawes of men are unjust , which kill the children for the parents fault ; certainely much more unjust was the Law of the Persians and Macedonians , which put to death their kindred , to the end they who had offended the King might perish more sad , as Curtius speaks , l. 8. Grot . de jur . bel . &c. l. 2. c . 25.

( 13 ) Five Families ] I did not at the first fully understand the Authors meaning . But afterwards I found in his Book de jur . bel . &c. a note that gives light to this very place . viz Philo saith , It was the custome for tyrants to destroy with the parties condemned the five next Families to them . Grot . ut supra , in Annotat .

Upon the CHORUS .

( 14 ) PHaenicia ] A Countrey of Asia neer unto Judea , whose chiefe Cities were Tyre and Sidon . Josephus writes , that they first invented the Greek Letters ; and Strabo , that they were famous for arts of navigation and war .

That Phaenix was the same with Esau or Edom , thus Vossius : The Erythraeans are from {αβγδ} , red ; Erythea , from {αβγδ} , rednesse . And the Erythraean sea tooke this name from King Erythras , as the Gentiles call him , who in the Scriptures is Esau , or Edom , that is , red . They differ only in language ; therefore the Hebrew , Edoms , or Idumean sea , the Greeke {αβγδ} , and the Latine Mare rubrum , or red sea . But if the Tyrians came from the Idumaean sea ; the reason is not obscure , why they are called {αβγδ} . For {αβγδ} and {αβγδ} are the same . And {αβγδ} the same with {αβγδ} , that is , red : And therefore the Latines of {αβγδ} have made puniceus : as from {αβγδ} Paenus , whence Punicus . But that the Tyrians came from the Idumaean sea , Pliny and Solinus say : Herodotus also , and Strabo , and Procopius .

( 15 ) Taauta ] Perhaps I should say Taautas . I tooke it for the name of a Towne in Phaenicia . But I finde in Vossius : That Taautus invented the art of writing , and was the first who left behind him Commentaries of things done : and was by the Aegyptians called Thoor , or rather Thoud , by the Alexandrians Thoth , by the Grecians Hermes , the same with Mercury .

( 16 ) In twice twelve letters ] The common opinion both of our men , and the Hebrews was , that Moses was the Author of the Hebrew letters , which is asserted by Eupolemus , Artapanus , and other prophane writers , who report that Moses was a wise man , and the Inventor of letters , which he delivered to the Jewes , from whom the neighbouring Phaenicians receiv'd them , from the Phaenicians the Graecians by Cadmus . Moreover , the same Artapanus believes that Moses gave the Aegyptians letters , and is that Mercury , whom wee find among all the Greek and Latine Writers to have taught that Nation letters . But if any aske , in what letters then the wisdome of the Egyptians was contained , wherein wee read that Moses was learned , perhaps hee will find , it was only wont to be delivered and taught by word of mouth , and preserv'd in the memory of the teachers and learners ▪ and that the forms of letters , if there were any then , were images of living Creatures which they call'd Hieroglyphicks . Philo Judaeus ascribes the Invention of Letters to Abraham : but they seeme to have been many yeeres before Abraham . For Josephus 1 Antiq . tels us , That by the sonnes of Seth the son of Adam were erected two pillars , one of stone , the other of brick , and that the Arts which they had invented , were written on them , of which that of stone remain'd in Syria even in his time . Viv . in Aug. de . Civ . Dei . l. 18. c . 39.

( 17 ) Crocodile ] Voss . de . Idol . l. 3. p. 1027. The Crocodile is eighteen foot long . It is bred out of an egge no bigger then a goose egge . Nor is there any other Creature ( as Pliny saith ) which from a lesser beginning growes to a greater magnitude . Yea , as he adds afterwards , some thinke that this one Creature growes as long as it lives . p. 1034. The Crocodile hath an exceeding great force in the taile ; with the stroke whereof it breakes the legges even of a strong foure-footed beast .

Voss . out of Plin . The eye-teeth of a Crocodile drives away agues , if you fill them with frankincense ( for they are hollow ) so that the sicke party see not him in five daies who shall have bound them unto him . They say that the little stones taken out of her belly are good against the shaking fits of an ague .

They are wont , as Herodotus in Euterpe hath it , to take Crocodiles in this manner . They put a hooke into a chine of Pork which the hunter casts into a River : Then standing on the banke , he beats a live Pig , whose cry the Crocodile hearing comes on apace , and lighting upon the chine of Pork devoures it with the hook ; and is forthwith drawn upon the bank ; and because so also he will bee troublesome enough , they fill his eyes with mud , that hee may not see what the hunter does . Voss . p 1134.

Some say , that Crocodiles weep , because their teares are become a proverbe . But this is meant of feigned teares not true : nor is it cleare enough what truth there is under that fable of the feigned tears of a Crocodile .

The Crocodile also is made to have speech by the Stoicks in their Sophisme which they call Crocodilites . But this is to bee put among Aesops Fables . For as Pliny saith , This one terrestriall creature wants the use of a tongue . Idem . p 978.

( 18 ) To death a new way showes ] There is a Booke of Dicaearchus , concerning the destruction of men , who having collected all other causes , as deluge , pestilence , desolation , also sudden multiplying of wild beasts , by whose incursion he shews , that some people have been consumed , compares then , how many more men have been destroyed by the invasion of men , that is , by wars , or seditions , then by any other calamity . Cic . de offic . l. 2.

( 19 ) Purple by Kings to be worne ] The purple colour at this day is not from the liquor of the shell-fish call'd a Purple , but from herbs . In times past the water and fishes had this honour . Whence Saint Ambrose Hexam . l. 5. c . 2. What should I speake also of the Purples which furnish the tables and the the garments of Kings ? What is adored in Kings , is from the water . Voss . l. 4. p. 1463.

( 20 ) The Emerald ] Emeralds of all precious stones are most pleasing to the sight in regard nothing is greener which you can compare with them . They onely of all gemmes take up the eye and not satisfie it . Moreover , the sight wearied with being intentive upon other things is recreated by an Emerald . And therefore they who cut jewels refresh their wearinesse with this most delightful greenness . Perot . upon Martial . p. 248.

( 21 ) To a thin plank hath

Our precious lives taught to commit ] It was said by one , that there was but an inch board between Seamen and death . And Cato repented him , that ever he went by water , when he might have gone by Land .

Rash man was he with ships fraile beake Did first the treacherous billows break . Senec . Med . Englished by E.S.

( 22 ) O happy the first Age ] How well what the Poets have fabled of the golden Age , agrees with the state of man in Paradise ! as I doubt not , but they had these things from tradition . Surely the first age of man in the Poets is the same with the first in the Scriptures : And Saturne the same with Adam . Voss .

But what Poets write of the golden Age is not unknowne . Hear what an Orator saith of it and them . — That happy and as we call it golden Age was barren of Orators and crimes , but abounded with Poets and Prophets . Quintil . Dialog . de Orat .

( 23 ) A simple life , chast enough though naked ] That the first life of man was with simplicity and nakednesse , the Egyptians also taught ; whence the Poets golden Age , celebrated even by the Indians , as Strabo hath it , Grot . de ver . Rel . l. 1.

( 24 ) A coat became A covering to hide our shame ]

After that the woman deceiv'd by the Serpent , had drawne her husband to partake of her sinne , their eyes indeed were open'd , but so as that they saw themselves to be destitute of a covering , not only of a coat , but also of virtue . Voss . de Idol . l. 1. p. 2.

( 25 ) With such a noise as Nile downe flowes ] Where Nilus fals downe headlong from those most high Mountaines at those places which are call'd the Cataracts ; the people that inhabit thereabouts , by reason of the greatnesse of the noise want the sense of hearing . Cic . in Somn . Scip .

Nor that which Nilus falling water makes Precipitated down the Cataracts , When with his fo●m he seems to lave the skie , And strikes a deafnesse through the dwellers nigh . Continuation of Luc . Book 3.

( 26 ) The son laugh'd at his Fathers shame ] The ancient Bacchus is no other then Noah . For hee first planted a Vineyard , and taught how to make wine , Gen. 9.20 . Nor are there wanting learned men , who suppose , that the very name of Bacchus makes for this opinion . For they will have from Noach Noachus , hence Nachus , thence Bachus , then Bacchus . But though I think Bacchus to be worshipped in Noah , Yet I like not so forc'd an Etymology , especially whereas the Greeks seem not to have said Noa●h but Noe . Voss de Idol . l. 1. c . 19.

Of Noah supplanted by wine , thus Du Bartas .

Oppress'd with sleep he wallowes on the ground , His shamelesse snorting trunk so deeply drown'd In selfe oblivion , that he did not hide Those parts , which Caesar cover'd when he di'd .

( 27 ) The Daughter to her Father brought a Grandchild — ] Lot's Daughters ; of whom likewise D. Bartas .

Within your wombs you bear for nine moneths time , The upbraiding burden of your shamelesse crime ; And troubling kindreds names and natures quite , You both became even in one very night Wives to your fathers , sisters to your sons , And mothers to your brothers all at once .
Annotations upon the Third ACT .

( 1 ) REd Sea ] The Sea , with which that [ Land ] is washed , differs not from others in colour , the name is given it from King Erythras [ which signifies red ] and therefore ignorant people believe that the waters are red . Curtius l. 8. See the note upon Phaenicia .

( 2 ) Bread by a griping hand was sold ] There is no oppression and exaction , saith Gregory Naz anzen at the funerall of Basil , more harsh and heavy , then of those who watch for hard times , that they may have the better trading in a dearth , and make a harvest out of others calamity . Tiberius is rather to be imitated , who ( as it is in Tacitus ) the people complaining of a dearth of corne , set downe a price for the the buyer , promising to pay of his owne in every bushell 3. ob . q . Sir H. S. two nummos . Aerodius rerum judicat . l. 9. Tit . de annona c . 5.

( 3 ) Sacred Ibis ] Of worshipping the Ibis [ a Bird in Aegypt ] not only Lucian , but Cic . l. 1. de Nat. deor . & Tusc . 5. Also Javen . Sat. 15. make mention . Plin . l. 10. c . 28. saith : The Aegyptians invocate their Ibes against the approach of Serpents . The same cause of divine honour Herodotus gives in Euterpe , where also he describes them , and saith , It was a capitall crime among the Aegyptians for any one to kill an Ibis , or Hawke , whether knowingly , or ignorantly . Vos . l. 4. p 1274.

The Ibis drinks not of foule water or infected with poyson , but pure and wholesome : and this is said to be the cause , why , as Aelian saith , l. 7. de animal . c . 45. the Priests in Aegypt sprinkle not themselves with any water , but with that which they believe the Ibis to have drank of . Voss .

As Herodotus is Author , that other Nations had the use of a clyster from the Egyptians : So Galen acknowledgeth that the Egyptians lea●ned it from the Ibis . And before him , thus Pliny : With the hookednesse of their beak they purge themselves in that part , out of which it is most wholesome to cast the burden of our meat . Voss l. 3. p. 1258.

( 4 ) Asps ] Infuse not ( as some say ) poyson with their taile , but , like other serpents , having made a wound with their saw-like teeth , they breath it thereinto out of small holes underneath , wherein a little skin they keep it for those uses : Whence of Detractors , Psal . 140. The poyson of Aspes is under their lips . Cleopatra chose the biting of an Aspe , as an easier kind of death then to drinke poyson , or fall upon a sword . For it is so little the Aspe hurts , as it cannot be felt , nor so much as the pricke of a needle be seen , which lessens the griefe , whereas the greater wounds are wont to have the greater pain . The pain is also lesse lasting , because of a poyson , Which in no Serpent is compacted more . Luc . l. 9.

A most piercing poyson therefore , saith Aelian , and penetrating most swiftly ; which is the cause , why , whereas it comes so speedily to the heart , it also hastens death . This is done sooner by the females then the males ; because the males have but two teeth , the females foure . But though the wound bee so little , there comes a little blood out , and that discolour'd , who are stricken live not above foure houres . Yet , such is the divine goodnesse , they are curable by drinking of vinegar ; which was first found out by a Boy , who being bitten by an Aspe , and extreame thirsty , for want of water at hand dranke often of a vinegar bottle which he carried , and by that meanes recovered . See Plin . and Celsus , cited by Voss . l. 4. p. 1515.

( 5 ) When the shady night ] I suppose our Author alludes to a place in Tacit. Annal . l. 1 There was one Percennius — Who after the better sort were gone to their lodgings , by little and little in secret conventicles in the night , or in the shutting of the evening gathered together , and stirred up the unexpertest of the Souldiers , and such as were most doubtfull what entertainment they should expect after the death of Augustus .

Englished by Sir H. Savile .

( 6 ) The mother bear her child againe ] Such horrid effects of Famine wee read in Josephus at the siege of Hierusalem . Our Author in his Christus Patiens makes Joseph of Arimathea wish them ( Prophetically ) to the Jewes for crucifying our Saviour . An example hereof we have likewise ( to omit prophane Histories ) in the siege of Samaria , 2 Kings 6.29 . Wherein was fulfilled what the Divine vengeance threatneth to a disobedient people , Deut. 28.53 . The hands of the pittifull women have sodden their own children , they were their meat , Lam . 4.10 . See Lips . d . Const . l. 2. c . 23. Hackwel's Apolog . l. 2. § . 4. Fox . Martyrol . vol. 1. p. 482. Anno Dom . 1314.

( 7 ) Coptos ] The Antiquity of this City wee know by this , that Queen Isis here heard the newes of the death of her husband Osiris , and for griefe cut off her haire . Whence the Greeks think the City took the name of {αβγδ} or {αβγδ} , because {αβγδ} signifies to cut . But others imagine the City hath the name from the Aegyptian word Copti , which signifies privation : because Isis when she lived there , was depriv'd of her husband . Of both which Plutarch . Voss . l. 2. p. 617. In Diripitur ardens Coptos our Author imitates Senec . in Troad . Diripitur ardens Troia .

( 8 ) The battering Ram ] An Engine us'd in War , of which Cic . d . Offic . l. 1. They who laying downe their armes shall come out upon the faith of the Generall , though the Ram have batter'd the wall , are to be receiv'd .

( 9 ) The creeping Vine ] An Engine , under which souldiers safely hid came to undermine the wals of a Towne . Whereof Lucan l. 3.

Then did a thin earth cover'd work proceed , Under whose covert those that lay did fall To work in undermining of the wall . Sometimes the back forc'd Ram did strongly drive Forward , the well compacted wall to rive . T. M.

( 10 ) Nabataeans ] A people of the East , of whom Ovid : The East wind to Aurora tooke his flight And Nabataean Kingdoms — Metam . 1.

They are so called from Nebaioth the eldest sonne of Ishmael . Gen. 25.13 .

( 11 ) Alive them bury in the Mines ] We descend into the entrailes of the earth , we go down as far as to the seat and habitation of the infernall spirits , and all to meet with rich treasure , &c. Plin . l. 33. in Proaem .

I will not dispute it , whether all minerals were made at the first creation , or have since received increase by tract of time , which latter I confesse I rather with Quercetan incline unto , they being somewhat of the nature of stones , which undoubtedly grow , though not by augmentation or accretion , yet by assimilation or apposition , turning the neighbouring earth into their substance ; Yet thus much may we confidently affirme , that the Minerals themselves wast not in the ordinary course , but by the insatiable desire of mankinde . Nay , such is the Divine Providence , that even there , where they are most vex'd and wrought upon , yet are they not worn out , not wasted in the whole . Of late within these few yeers Mendip Hils yeelded , I think , more lead then ever ; and at this day I do not hear that the Iron Mines in Sussex , or the Tin works in Cornwall are any whit abated ; which I confesse to be somewhat strange , considering this little corner furnishes in a manner all the Christian world with that mettall . Dr Hackwels Apology , l. 2.

( 12 ) I 'le to my faithfull wife ( within ) relate ] Our Author makes Sophompaneas a good and loving husband , and endued with virtues , not onely politicall but Oeconomicall . Wherein he doth indeed present to you the perfect Idea of a worthy Magistrate , who ought ( with the Apostles Bishop , 1 Tim . 3.4 . ) to be one that ruleth well his own house .

( 13 ) — With an equall patience hear Both sides . ]

Who , th' other side unheard , makes a Decree , Although it may be just , yet unjust he . Sen. Medea .

( 14 ) A heavenly spirit doth , within , him teach ] For he was most skilfull in prodigies , and the first that found out the interpretation of dreames , nor did any thing of divine or humane law seem unknown to him : in so much as that he foresaw a dearth many yeeres before , and all Aegypt had perished unlesse by his admonition the King had commanded corn to be laid up for many yeers , and his experiments were so great , as that his answers seem'd to be given not by a man , but from God . Justin . l. 36.

( 15 ) Twelve signes ] Astrologers have divided the Zodiacke into twelve signes and no more ; because the Sunne whilest it goes circuit is in conjunction twelve times with the Moone , and they have distributed every signe into 30 degrees , because the Moon in thirty daies is again in conjunction with the Sunne , whence also it is clear , why there be 360 degrees , for as much as they come to so many , if you reckon 12 times thirty . Voss . l. 2. p. 568.

( 16 ) In dreames by night ] Of divine dreames see Num . 12 6. Joel 2.28 . Acts 2.17 . Examples thereof in the old Testament , the dreame of Abraham , Abimelech , Jacob , Laban , Joseph , Pharaoh , Solomon , Nabuchodonosor , Dan●el , &c. And in the New , of Joseph , the Magi , Pilates wife , Paul . Whereby is abundantly confuted the opinion of Aristotle , when he proves that no dreames are from God , because it would be absurd to send them , not to the best and wisest , but to the simpler sort : For that they were nor only sent to the simple and unskilfull , the examples alledg'd sufficiently teach . But Aristotle was deceiv'd , in that the dreames which the Gentiles boasted for divine , were for the most part of vulgar men . Indeed the Devill could more easily abuse the more simple and credulous . But the forenamed were almost a●l men famous for wisdome and holinesse , yea many of them in high dignity . Whence also is refelled that he thought all divinations introduc'd by lawes to be the better observ'd by the people . Some defend Aristotle herein , in that God would rather teach m●n waking then sleeping , and in open words then in dreames for the most part obscure . But God would instruct us by more then one way . Besides therefore the ordinary manner wherein by reading or hearing his word he certifies us concerning heavenly Mysteries and his will ; hee would also use another way , whereby he makes us partakers of his secrets even neither seeing nor hearing . Moreover , it is manifest that the minde of man is more fit in his sleep to receive heavenly things , because it is then void and free from earthly cares . And when he awakes & ruminates on the dream , the darknesse and silence of the night breed a greater veneration towards Divine things . Surely the night is fit for the meditation of weighty matters . Yea this also addes to the veneration , that the dreames were not alwaies plaine : By which meanes men were withall stirr'd up to seek the understanding of them from God or godly men . So that this also was an argument of the Divine goodnesse , that sometimes he would send dreames even to Heathen Kings ; but the interpretation whereof they should fetch not from Magicians but from holy men : as Pharaoh from Joseph , Nabuchodonosor from Daniel . For hereby God invited both the Kings and their wise men , yea all their subjects to an acknowledgment of the coelestiall and true Deity , and to repentance from their sins . Voss . Idolol . l. 3. c . 35.

( 17 ) In a treble ring ] Aegypt was divided into six severall sorts of people . The three first , which were Kings , Priests , and souldiers , govern'd the State and Common-wealth of Aegypt : The other three served in the Country to use things necessary for the Kingdom and state , which were Husbandmen , craftsmen , and shepherds . Diod . Sic .

( 18 ) — Astrange sight to tread

Meale with their feet , clay with their hands to knead . ] I suppose Grotius meanes Bakers , and Bricke-makers , or Potters . And I finde in Joan . Aubanus ( a German Geographer ) who , I believe hath it out of Diodorus Siculus , That ( among other strange customes ) the Egyptians did use to make bread with their feet and clay with their hands .

( 19 ) — Whether the North Star doth stay

Ever at the same distance fom the Pole . ]

The Poets fable that the seventh Star of the Pleiades by name Electra , after the Destruction of Troy would no more be seen : because Dardanus the founder of the Trojan Nation was born of Electra . And , that I may the more easily pardon the heathen poets , there have not been wanting in our age , who thought , that the Polar star hath in like manner hid it selfe after the taking of Constantinople ; than which nothing is more vaine . For if you except a little one which lies between the Pole and Ursa minor , that very same in the taile of Ursa minor , as it was of old in the time of Hipparcus and Ptolomy , is also at this day most neere the Pole , and in like manner is called the Polar Starre . Voss .

( 20 ) Why Heaven brings forth new starres ] But , say they , if Heaven be either watery , or airy , or starres fiery ; both are of an Elementall nature ; and so liable to generation and corruption : which the experience of so many ages contradicts ; seeing no alteration hitherto is made either in the magnitude or number or brightnesse of the stars . Which when they say they little thinke that they give judgement of a body so remote from our senses ; where innumerable mutations may be , unto which the edge of our eyes cannot reach . For it is as if from Heaven wee should contemplate earth ; whose magnitude and form would alwaies seem the same to us , however singulars are subject to corruption . Moreover , their opinion is cleerly refel'd by new stars which at divers times have appear'd in Heaven . As that mention'd by Pliny , l. 2. c . 26. Another in the time of Adrian the Emperor . Another under Otho 1. Another in the Yeere 1264. And what shall wee say to that in the Yeere 1572 ? Which to have truly been in the firmament , Clavius proves by a double argument : one , because it was seen by all men from most divers parts of Europe in the same place of Cassiopea : the other , that as long as it lasted ( which was almost two yeeres ) it constantly followed the motion not of one Planet , but of the fixt stars . Now that it was a new star , and never before seen , all the Mathematicians thought , except Annibal Raimund of Verona . Wherefore wee must conclude , that this new star was of coelestiall matter , but not wrought so solidly , and unto perpetuity as others are wont , which because more compact , are so much more perfect , and not so dissoluble . And even at this day an empty space is there seen , where that star first appear'd . I dispute not whether it shin'd with its owne light , or the light of the Sun. It is enough , that the matter thereof was not carryed up thither from the earth . For how should it be elevated above the Sun it selfe ? In what mannner likewise could so grosse a matter exhale out of the globe of the earth , and that three hundred times bigger then the globe of the Earth and Water ? For such was the magnitude of that star at the beginning ; what shall I say of other stars afterwards in like manner , in the judgement of Mathematicians , bred in the skie ? as of that in the yeere 1577 , which appear'd seven weekes : of which another in 1600 : another in 1604. And surely whether it were a star or a comet in the yeer 1618. all good Astrologers plac'd it in heaven . Voss . l. 2. c . 39.

( 21 ) See you those figures written in the dust ] The old Aegyptians much exercised themselves in Geometry , Arithmeticke , Astronomy ; Geometry they studied of necessity , because when the bounds of their fields were removed by the o'reflowing of Nilus , after the River was returned into it 's channel , every one was to have their owne restor'd again : nor could the portion of grounds be otherwise assigned then by applying an art , which made up out of certaine principles , could not deceive skilfull measurers . And it was therefore called Geometry , as it were a measuring of the Earth . Now they gave themselves to Astronomy by reason of the commodity thereof , as who having alwaies cleare nights , and beholding the Region of Heaven far and wide , troubled with no clouds nor mists , could easily observe the rising and setting , the progresse and regresse of the stars , which was most pleasant to know and profitable for life , and worthy the exercise of mans wit : then also to these two Geometry and Astrology was added , that as it were subservient , and whose ministery these cannot bee without , the knowledge of numbers which is called Arithmeticke . Viv . in Aug. de Civ . Dei , l. 18. c . 39.

( 22 ) Hieroglyphicke ] The Aegyptian Priests in stead of letters did use figures of all sorts of creatures , under which they cleerly express'd their conceptions . Plutarch l. de Iside & Osiride .

The rivers yet had not with paper serv'd Aegypt , but carv'd beasts , birds and stones preserv'd Their Magick language . Luc . l. 3. May .

( 23 ) Pyramids ] The Pyramids are worthy wonder and amazement by reason of their magnitude . Some are reported to have been so high , as all did greatly admire how the cement could be carried up . They say that one of them was twenty yeers in building by 360000 men . That there was no other cause of building them , then a vain ostentation of the wealth of the Egyptian Kings : either lest the leaving money to their successors might be an occasion of treason against them , or that the people should not be idle . There were three between Memphis and Delta , whereof two are reckon'd the wonders of the World . The third is lesse , but cost more . The lower halfe is of that blacke stone whereof mortars are made . Under this some say , Rhodope is buried , one of whose shoos , whil'st she was washing , an Eagle took up , and let fall in the lap of an Egyptian King . Which hee admiring caus'd her to be sought out , and married her . And , when she was dead , built this Pyramis over her . They are so called from {αβγδ} fire , which is broad at bottome , and sharp in the top . Their Kings were buried under them . Perot . Cornucop . in Martial .

( 24 ) A business of great moment ] All Monopolies are not repugnant to the law of nature : For they may sometimes be permitted by the supreme power upon a just cause , and at a set rate . Whereof wee have an illustrious example in the history of Joseph , when hee was the Kings Vicegerent in Aegypt . Grot . de Jur . bel . &c. l. 2. p. 235.

Upon the CHORUS .

( 25 ) NIle or if Siris ] Nilus is in the Scriptures cal'd by a double name : one common ; the other more proper . The common appellation is the river of Aegypt , Gen. 15.18 . which in Hebrew is Nachal Mitzraim . Now for Nahal or Naal , the Syrians and Egyptians say Neel ; as the Phaenicians and others for Bahal or Baal , Beel ; and as from Beel Bel , thence {αβγδ} , so from Neel Nel , whence {αβγδ} . The other name in the Scripture is Sichor , Isa . 23.3 . Jer . 2.18 . which signifies blacke . For Scachar is to be made blacke . Whence the old Latin word scurus , and with a praeposition , obscurus . For the water of Nile is thicke and blackish , by reason of the mud it brings with it from the South parts . It makes also the land black in moistening it : as the haires of young men are blacke by reason of moisture , which afterwards through defect thereof grow hoary . And what if we say that Osiris is from Sihor or Sior ? For Sior , the letters transpos'd , is Osir , whence , adding the Greeke and Latine termination , Osiris . And from Osiris they said Siris . For so the Ethiopians and Egyptians call Nilus . Voss . l. 2. c . 74.

( 26 ) With our parents ] The Ethiopians . By whom Nilus was also called Astapus , which , in their language , signifies water breaking out of darknesse , and which likewise on the left side where the streame fals is called Astabores , & on the right side Astusabes , and not Nilus before they meet in one full River . Plin . l. 5. c . 9.

( 27 ) What shall I say — ] Our Author I suppose alludes to a discourse after supper between Caesar , and the old Aegyptian Priest Achoreus , concerning the originall of Nilus , in the last Booke of Lucan . Which may serve for a Comment upon this whole Chorus , and is worth your reading , but too long to bee transcrib'd hither by me . See likewise Seneca l. 4. Natural . Quaest. c . 2. Farnab . in Lucan . l. 10.

( 28 ) It had no need of raine from Heaven ] Whosoever shall consider the benefits of Nilus , he will cease to wonder , that Water was by no Nations had in greater honour , then among the Egyptians . For without Nilus what would all Egypt be ? Seeing its soile is nitrous , and parch'd with the Sunne , and almost as hard as any stone ; in many places also gaping so , as that a Horse-man cannot travell ; nor is this evill remedied by raine , which Aegypt knowes not , if you except Alexandria , and other places nigh the Sea . But Nilus is to the Egyptian soile in stead of raine from heaven : whereupon , not Ovid indeed , as L. Seneca l. 4. Nat. Quaest. c . 2. his memory flipping , relates ; but his contemporary Tibullies hath sung : Thou art the cause , thy land doth beg no rain , Nor the dry grass for showres to Jove complaine . l 1. el . 7.

Parmeno also of Byzantium hath it in Athaeneus , O Nile the Aegyptian Jupiter . Wherefore it is by Philo , l. de profugis , said to be onely not a corrivall of Heaven . Yea Heliodorus in his ninth Booke saith expresly , that it is called by the Egyptians the corrivall of Heaven : and he addes the reason , because without raine it waters , and moistens as it were with a showre . This is the first benefit of Nilus . But it would bee a small thing , that a nitrous and barren soile should be water'd . By the Divine Providence therefore another benefit is , that when it ebbes , it leaves the grounds not only softned , but also mudded : as it is in Cic . 2. de Nat. Deor . And more fully thereof Seneca , l. 4. Quaest. Nat. c . 2. Nilus on a sandy and thirsty soile brings both water and earth . For whereas it flowes troubled and foule , it leaves all the dreggs in the dry and gaping places , and daubes up the chinkes with whatsoever fat is carried along with it : and is profitable to the grounds for two causes , both that it overflowes , and that it bemires them . Vos . de Idolol . l. 2. c . 75.

( 29 ) Eight Cubits ] The fertility of Aegypt is according to the increase of Nilus : whence Pliny , lib . 5. Hist . cap . 9. At twelve cubits a famine followes , at thirteen there will yet be a dearth ; fourteen make the Egyptians merry , fifteen secure , sixteen luxurious . Voss . l. 1. p. 216.

( 30 ) The Dog star ] As among the Planets the star of Venus , which we call Phosphorus , and Hesperus , so among the fixed stars the Dog-star was the first which had Divine honours given it . Yea it was prefer'd by the Egyptians before Hesperus , and called Isis , which with Osiris is their chiefe Deity . This star is so bright above other stars , as that if you lay a looking-glasse upon the water you may see it at noon day ; yea , who are sharpe sighted may see it or thinke they see it , even without a glasse . Voss . l. 2. p. 498.

The Dog-star is called Sirius from Siris ; because of the great conspiracy between the Dog-starre and Nilus . For in the dog-daies Nilus doth most of all overflow ; as that in like manner both the Dog in Heaven , and Nilus rageth in earth . Idem , p. 692.

( 31 ) Her raine into thy river powre ] Nilus begins to increase by and by after the Solitice about the fifteenth of June . The cause whereof are the perpetuall showrs nigh the Equinoctiall line : where it is Winter , when it is Summer with them , who dwell under the Tropicke of Cancer , and on this side of it . With these showers therefore rushing in heapes towards the North , all Aegypt is overflow'd , which because ( happening in the midst of July , when the Sun enters into Leo ) it was believ'd to be the benefit of the coelestiall Lyon , among the Egyptians the Lyon was the Symbole of a floud : and they so made their Aquaeducts , and Conduit-pipes , as that the waters were spouted out of the head of a Lyon gaping with open jawes . And from the Egyptian Architects the Greeks and Romans took up this fashion , from them and other Nations . As also it hath been deriv'd to us from the Egyptians , that upon the battlements of our houses , especially of our Churches , we put the heads and yawning mouths of Lyons . Vos . l. 2. p. 696.

( 32 ) Slow Saturne ] The Planet Saturne is twenty nine yeeres , one hundred fifty five dayes , seven houres , thirty six minutes going through the whole Zodiacke . Hence was the originall of the Fable of Saturn bound by Jupiter his sonne and cast into Hell . Heare we Lucian discoursing thereof , l. de Astrolog . Neither hath Jupiter bound Saturne , nor cast him into hell , or done such other things , as men suppose ; but Saturne is carried in his externall motion at a vast distance from us , and his motion is slow and not easily seen by men . Wherefore they say , hee stands still , as it were bound . And that huge profundity of aire is called Hell . Voss .

( 33 ) Mercury to vegetate thy course — ] Cyllenius rules o're waters that are great , And consequently o're Nilus . O're which when Mercuries proud fires do stand , And in a line direct ( as by command Of Phoebe the obeying Ocean growes ) So from his open'd fountaine Nilus flowes . May . Lucan . l. 10.

( 34 ) Or hath the frozen West restrain'd Thy vernall blasts . ] As vainly doth antiquity declare The West winds cause of their increases are — — Their blasts the Rivers current meet , And will not let it to the Ocean get , Prevented so from falling to the main , The stream swels backe , and overflowes the plain . Idem .

( 35 ) Which the world begins the great Ocean — ] From th' Ocean swelling which begirts about All lands , some think increased Nile breaks out ; The waters lose e're they so far have ran , Their saltnesse quite — Idem .

( 36 ) Or hath it stopt the secret way . ] Some through the cavernes of earths hollow womb In secret channels think these waters come Attracted to th' Aequator from the cold North clime , when Sol his Meroe doth hold , The scorched earth attracting Water , thither Ganges and Padus flow unseen together : Venting all rivers at one fountaine so Within one channell Nilus cannot go .

( 37 ) God the world who made , Hath made Nile , &c.

Because it was a custome in Aegypt , that the measure of the rising of the river Nilus should be carried to the Temple of Serapis , as it were to the author of the inundation , and increase of the waters ; when his image was cast down and burnt , it was generally said that Serapis mindfull of the injury would not make the waters flow beyond their wonted channell . But that God might shew it was not Serapis , who was much younger then Nilus , but that it was himselfe , who could command the waters of the River to increase in their seasons , there was so great an inundation from that time and afterwards , as no age could remember to have been formerly : and therefore the cubit it self , that is the measure of the water which they call Pechys , was from that time wont to bee carried into the Church to the Lord of the waters . Ruffin . l. 2. in append . ad Euseb . Cassiodorus . l. 1. c . 18.

Annotations upon the Fourth ACT .

( 38 ) O Nubians ] The Chorus of Ethiopian , or blackamore maids sent — From Nubae's utmost parts through whose Dry land the River Niger flows . Act 1.

And which , though the song and Act were ended , staid still upon the stage .

( 39 ) Lives the old man ] Edward 1. hearing both together of the death of his son and of his father , wept and lamented much more for his father then for his son , saying to the French King ( which asked the cause thereof ) that the losse of his childe was but light ; for children might after increase and be multiplyed , but the losse of his parent was greater , which could not be recovered . Fox . Martyrol . vol. 1.

( 40 ) Custome and sharpe lawes , &c. ] If he who shall suffer himselfe to be sold incurre so great hatred ; what shall be done unto him that hath sold one against his will or kept him in bondage ? the Lawes both of the Jewes and Athenians did punish this wickednesse with death , as it is written by Moses , and Severus Sulpitius . Dinarchus tels us , that the Athenians put to death one Nemon a Miller , who had stolne an ingenuous child and kept him a bond-slave to work in his Mill . See Aerodius rerum judieat . l. 9. Tit . 7. De Plagiariis , where he bitterly inveighs against the Jesuites , who under colour of Religion entice children from their parents . And ( as you may read in a singular Treatise of his De Patrio jure ) had inveigled away his own son .

( 41 ) Let me him happily requite — ] Maintenance is due likewise to parents ; which we are not onely told by the laws , but by a common proverbe {αβγδ} [ taken from the piety of Storkes which requite their parents by feeding them in their old age ] So that Solon is commended , because upon them who should not doe it he set a marke of infamy . But this is not so ordinary as for the parents to maintaine their children ; for children , when they are born , bring nothing with them whereon to live . Besides , they have a longer time to live then their parents : and therefore as honour and obedience is due to the parents and not to the children ; so maintenance is due more to the children then to the parents . And the Apostle saith , 2 Cor . 12.14 . The children ought not to lay up for the parents , but the parents for the children , Grot . de jur . bell . ac pac . l. 2. c . 7. § 5. Yet the same Apostle saith , 1 Tim . 5 4. Let them ( the children or Nephews , I understand with Beza ) learn first to shew piety at home and to requite their parents . And our Saviour rebukes the hypocrisie of the Pharisees , who by reason of religious oblations thought themselves not bound to relieve their parents , Marke 7.12 .

( 42 ) All Memphis did me their Father call . ] Joseph was but thirty yeeres old when he stood before Pharaoh , and deserv'd the Title of Father of Aegypt . And Augustus Caesar was not full foure and thirty yeers of age , when hee was saluted with the goodly name of Father of his country by the Senate and people of Rome .

( 43 ) To them be kind chiefly ] But if any contention or comparison arise , to whom wee owe most duty ; in the first place to our Country and Parents , by whose benefits we are most of all obliged ; in the next , our children and whole Family which looks upon us onely , and can have no other refuge : then , well agreeing kindred , who for the most part have one common fortune . Wherefore necessary aides of livelihood are most due ( as I have said ) to them . But life and common conversation ▪ counsels , discourses , exhortations , consolations , sometimes also chidings are of most vigour among friends : and that friendship is the most pleasant , which is contracted by likenesse of manners , &c. Cic . de Offic . l. 1.

( 44 ) The spoiles home of four Kings ] By the Law of nature those things are in a just warre acquired by us , which are either equivalent to that which whereas it is due to us wee cannot otherwise attaine , or also which brings damage to him that hurts us within an equall measure of punishment . By this Law Abraham gave tithes to God of the spoiles hee had taken from the Kings . Gen. 14.16 . Heb . 7.4 . Grot . de jur . bell . ac pac . l. 3. c . 6. § 1.

Annotations upon the CHORUS .

( 45 ) EUphrates ] As in Asia by Perath or Prath , which signifies a River , is meant the River {αβγδ} , which the Greeks call Euphrates . So in Aegypt is Nilus called from Nachal which is in Hebrew a River . Voss . See the Note upon Nile .

( 46 ) Tigris ] So called from the most swift course , because it seemes to equall the swiftnesse of an arrow which the Medes in their language call Tigris .

( 47 ) In his owne image ] Not of body , but of minde , which consists in immortality , in innocency , and righteousnesse , and other gifts and endowments of the minde . Vatabl . in Gen. 1.26 . And Junius upon the same place saith , That man was made in the image of God , to wit in the nature of the soule , its qualities and attributes . In the nature , for it is an eternall and spirituall , and intelligent essence ; in qualities , for man was made after God in righteousnesse , and true holinesse [ or holinesse of truth as Junius and the margent in our English Bible have it ] Lastly in the attributes , for he obtaineth a dominion or principality in these inferiour things , as it were a certain image of the divine principality . See Eph. 4.24 . Col. 3.10 .

( 48 ) And sleep his limbes forsake ] Adam should have slept , though he had never sinn'd . For albeit that sleep had not proceeded from a wearinesse of the exteriour senses , or the spirits serving them ( for neither in that happy state would labour have had place ) though also it had not been to repaire the spirits in part consum'd by the naturall heat ( for neither would there have bin any losse or decay of strength ) yet man had not wanted the pleasure of sleep ; because the vapours from the aliment had then also gone up to the brain : the spirits too had bin more inwardly allur'd to a cessation : and thence againe invited to exteriour functions . I am further perswaded to this opinion ( which the great Aquinas was of ) by that sleep sent by God upon Adam . I know the Septuagint translate it {αβγδ} : and it is a sure argument of an extasy , that with the eyes of his mind he saw a rib taken from him , and Eve to be framed thence : so that being awake he forthwith brake out into these words ; This now is bone of my bone , and flesh of my flesh . Bu● though it were an extasie , yet it might bee a slee● too ; In his sleep surely Adams minde was divinel● elevated , so as it saw what was done by God . A●●this was confirm'd by the Hebrew word Tardema , which signifies a deep sleep . Voss . l. 3. c 34.

( 49 ) The Phaenix ] Paulus Fab●us , and L. Vitellus being Consuls , after the revolution of many ages , the Bird Phaenix came into Aegypt : and afforded matter of discourse upon that miracle to the most learned both of the inhabitants , and of the Greeks . What they agree in , and many things doubtfull , but not unworthy the knowledge , I have thought sit to set downe . That this creature is sacred to the Sunne , and differing foom others in the beake and feathers , all agree , who have describ'd her forme . Of the number of her yeeres the report is various . The most common is 500. some affirme 1461. And that the former birds , first in the reigne of Sesostris , afterward of Amasis , and then of Ptolomy the third of the Macedonian race , flew into the City called Heliopolis , a flock of other birds accompanying them and wondering at the new shape . But antiquity indeed is herein obscure . Between Ptolomy and Tiberius were lesse then 250 yeeres . Whence some thought this a false Phaenix , and not to have come from Arabia , &c. These things are uncertaine and fabulously augmented . But that this bird is sometime seen in Egypt is not to be doubted . Tac . Annal . l. 6.

The Phaenix is said to appeare against a great change in the world . And the Aegyptians paint this Bird , when they would expresse a vicissitude and restauration of things . Voss . l. 2. in Addend .

( 50 ) Of whose rare kind but one ] What wise man can believe , there is a single Bird , which burnes her selfe in a fire , kindled both by the Sunne beames and the fanning of her owne wings ; that from her turn'd into ashes , or at least from her marrow or blood is bred a worm , which afterwards having taken wings becomes this Bird , repair'd by her owne death , because she died that she might live , and so is made both the parent and issue : Whence and when fit for the burden , her first care is that ( if she spring againe not out of the ashes but marrow or blood ) shee carry her parents body to Heliopolis , and offer it upon the Altar of the Sun. To have related these things is to have confuted them . Yet that there is such a Bird hath been believ'd even by Tacitus : Yea Tertullian thought the Scriptures made mention of the Phaenix . For in his Book de Resurrect . he hath rendred that in Psalm . 92. {αβγδ} . The just shall flourish as a Phaenix ; whereas hee should have said , as a Palme tree . With the very like error , as another in Plutarch , which Muretus observes in Variis , l. 13. cap . 12. hath translated {αβγδ} , the braine of a Phaenix , whereas it signifies the pith of a Palme tree . Surely that David meant a plant , is cleare , by that which there follows of the Cedar , and Plane tree . But indeed Clemens Romanus , a contemporary with the Apostles , makes mention of this Bird in his first Epistle to the Corinthians : Which a few yeeres since came forth into the light by the singular care of that famous man Patrick Young . Yet there are , who judge this Epistle to bee none of Clements , because by the nature of a Bird , which is no where , he seeks to illustrate those things , which belong to heavenly truth . But by what we have formerly said of Pliny and Tacitus , we plainly see that in those times wherein Clement liv'd , that opinion of the Phaenix , was common . And this is enough in a writing , ecclesiasticall indeed , yet not appertaining to the Canon of faith , and life . For neither is it necessary that we believe , that Clement knew all things , which did concerne the secrets of nature . Nor are we bound to believe it of the Apostles ; although Christ promised , John 16.13 . That he would send the Holy Ghost , who should lead them into all Truth . Surely this is to be restrain'd to the truth of those things , which appertaine to the businesse of salvation . Yea not indeed to all them , because the Apostles themselves , 1 Corinth . 13.9 . saw in part , and Prophesied in part : but of all , which it was needfull to know for the attaining another life . Voss . Idolol . lib . 3. cap . 99.

( 51 ) The sacred fire ] Was wont to be carried before the King of the Persians , when hee came abroad in publique , in honour of the Sunne , who was adored by them ; Which fire was never put out , untill the death of the King . The same ceremony our Author makes Pharaoh to use here , the Persian Mithra , and the Aegyptian Osiris , being the same ; that is , the Sunne .

Annotations upon the Fifth ACT .

( 1 ) CElestiall Bull ] It is said of Joseph , Deut . 33.17 . His glory is like the firstling of his Bullocke . Upon which Junius and Tremellius : Hee performed the duty of an Oxe ( whereof Prov. 14.4 . ) when he nourished his Fathers Family in Egypt . Wherefore the Egyptians are said to have placed the image of an Oxe next unto the image of Joseph , because that the Oxe in tillage doth cooperate with man .

( 2 ) The neighbouring Ramme ] But if from the Egyptians the first signe of the Zodiacke tooke the figure of a Ramme in honour of Cham , or Jove Ammon , who , to signifie his power , was represented with Rammes hornes : What hinders , but that wee may believe the second signe of the Zodiacke to have took from them the figure of a Bu●l ; and that thereby they understood either the son of Cham , Osiris , the same with Mesoris or Mizraim : by whom the Egyptians were taught tillage ( the Oxe being the symbole of tillage ) or the Patriarch Joseph , who for having preserved Egypt in a great Famine , did deserve the symbole of an Oxe , and at length came to have divine honours . And in this conjecture concerning Joseph you may see the most illustrious and greater then all praise Hugo Grotius going before me in his Sophompaneas , a Tragedy , where Pharaoh is brought in by him thus speaking unto Joseph : To thee her safety Egypt owes , and I My quiet . That the grounds all wast not lie By men forsaken , that the plow doth lift The earth up to new hopes is all thy gift . And therefore to thy honour I will this Have to be added ; as the manner is Of the Eastern Nations , that a place in Heaven Unto thy name among the stars be given : And the field-tiller the coelestiall Bull Of thy full merit shall be made a full And lasting monument : as a place great Cham , Old Mizraims sire hath in the neighbouring Ram .

Which verses I rather recite , because out of that Poem ; which as for the argument and handling it is the love and admiration of all good and learned men , is so much more ardently affected , as it is meet it should bee esteemed by mee , unto whose , though undeserving name , that excellent man would have it dedicated and come forth into the light . Vos . Idolol . l. 2. p. 501.

( 3 ) Your Majesty ] Our Author hath Your goodnesse . The first part of divine worship is to believe that there are Gods . The next , to render unto them their Majesty , to render unto them their goodnesse , without which goodn●sse there is no Majesty . Seneca Epist. 99. And Junius in his Notes upon Exod . 33.18 , 19. ( where Moses doth beseech the Lord to shew him his glory , and is answered : I will make all my goodnesse passe before thee , &c. ) observes , that the goodnesse of God is his glory .

( 4 ) Heliopolis ] Which signifies the City of the Sunne . It is the same , which is called On in the Scriptures , Gen. 41.45 . Vossius . See the Note upon Asenath , in the first Chorus .

( 5 ) — Because your Nation Holds every Shepherd an abomination . ] Gen. 43.32 .

The cause is not there express'd , but by comparing that Text with Gen 46.34 . and Exod . 8.26 . it appeares that the Egyptians did abhor a Shepherds life , and them who fed upon Oxen , or other cattle ; or did sacrifice those creatures which they worshipped for Gods . Jun. & Tremell .

( 6 ) And this my head , &c. ] Moreover it was an ancient custome to sweare by naming other things and persons [ besides God ] whether they did imprecate that they should be hurtfull to them [ for perjury ] as the Sun , the Earth , Heaven , the Prince ; or whether they desir'd to be punish'd in them , as in their head , their children , their country , their Prince . Neitheir was this the custome only of prophane Nations , but also of the Jews , as Philo teacheth us . For hee saith , that wee ought not , when we would swear , to run for every thing presently , to the Creator and Father of the Universe ; but to sweare by our Parents , Heaven , Earth , the World . The like whereunto is noted by the Interpreters of Homer , that the ancient Greeks did not lightly swear by the Gods , but by other things at hand , as by their Scepter : and that this was ordain'd by the most just King Radamanth is deliver'd by Porphyry , and the Scholiast upon Aristophanes . So Joseph is read to have sworne by the life of Pharaoh , Gen. 42.15 . from a custome receiv'd among the Egyptians , which Aben Ezra there notes , Elizaeus by the life of Elias , 2 Kin . 2.2 . Neither doth Christ , Mat . 5. as some think , meane that these oathes are lesse lawfull then what are made by the expresse name of God : but whereas the Hebrews did lesse regard them , through a certaine opinion not unlike his , who said , He thought his Scepter not to be the Gods , hee sheweth that even these are true oaths . For also Ulpian hath said very well : He who sweares by his owne life , seemes to sweare by God , for he swears with a respect of the Divine Deity . So Christ shews , that hee who sweares by the Temple , sweareth by God that dwelleth in the Temple , and hee that sweareth by Heaven , by God , who sitteth thereon , as his throne . But the Hebrew Doctors of those times thought , that men were not bound by oaths made by things created , unlesse , &c. — Grot . de jur . bell . ac pac . l. 2. c . 13. De Jure jurando .

( 7 ) Israel a wife shall take from Aegypt . ] That is , Solomon shall marry Pharaohs daughter .

( 8 ) A new plantation ] And all the people both small and great , and the Captaines of the Armies arose , and came to Aegypt , 2 Kin . 25 , 26.

( 9 ) Safe to him an infant exile ] Our author in his Christus Patiens .

These armes about my neck have hung , Coucht on the flowry banks of Nile ; Aegypt , so just to thy exile , Hath now redeem'd her former curse : Our Jews then those of Memphis worse . G. Sandys .

( 10 ) Pure Religion ] Give me leave to remember a few verses not impertinent , out of that Divine Poet Mr George Herbert in his Church Militant .

To Egypt first she came , where they did prove Wonders of anger once , but now of love . The ten Commandements there did flourish more Then the ten bitter plagues had done before . Holy Macarius and great Antony , Made Pharaoh Moses changing th' History . Goshen was darknesse , Egypt full of lights , Nilus for monsters brought forth Israelites . Such power hath mighty Baptisme to produce , For things mishapen things of highest use .

( 11 ) Partakers of so great a good ] The King of Ethiopia ( said by Geographers to bee one of the greatest Monarchs in the world ) is commonly called Prester John , and in the Ethiopick Language Negush Chawariavvi , which ( saith Jos . Scaliger l. 7. de emendat . temp . ) doth signifie , The Apostolike Emperor , or the Christian King . It is very probable , the Gospel was early planted there , even ( as histories report also ) by that honourable person the Eunuch , of so great authority under Q. Candace , and her Treasurer , who was baptized by the Apostle Philip . Act. 8.38 Of Ethiopia likewise , Du Bartas by Sylvester .

And scalding quick-sands of those thirsty Plaines , Where Jesus name yet in some reverence reignes ; Where Prester John ( though part he Judaize ) Doth in some sort devoutly Christianize . FINIS .
ERRATA .
Before the Poem .

IN Mr Berney's Verses , for speakes it own praise only , read speake its own praise ; only

In the Latin prose for vellat r . vellet . for injurius . r . injurius ,

In the Poem .

Page 9. l. 28. for a gain : r . again . p. 10. l. 13. for flow r . slow . p. 28. l. 4. for Mziraim r . Mizraim . p. 29. l. 11. for wandring r . wandering .

In the Annotations .

Page 46. l. 19. for Aegyptians r . Aegyptians . p. 56. l. 18. for banqueting ; r . banqueting , p. 65. l. 22. for laugnage ; therefore r . language therefore ;