ADAM'S Complaint.  
THE Old worlds Tragedy.  
David and Bathsheba.  A jove Musa. 
✚ HEB· DDIEV·· HEB· DDIM·   printer's or publisher's device 
Imprinted at London by Richard johnes, at the Rose and Crown next above Saint Andrew's Church in Holborn, 1596.   

To the Right Reverend Father, Richard by the Providence of God, Bishop of Peterborough, F. S. wisheth increase of temporal and spiritual blessings.  

LEarned Maecenas, favourite of Muses,  
Renowned Patron, hater of abuses:  
Who sitting in Religions golden Chair,  
Thou her, she thee adorns with virtues rare.  
As Phoebe from her Phoebus borrows light,  
Wherewith again she decketh him by night.  
So likewise thou: She thee with swavity,  
Thou gracest her with modern gravity.  
Both I myself, and Muse will now assay,  
Our tributorie debt to thee to pay.  
By duty bound, unbound I can be never,  
Vowed to your Lordship's service now and ever.   
Your Lordships at commandment. FRANCIS SABIE.   

ADAM'S Complaint.  

NEw form Adam of the reddish earth,  
Exiled from Eden, Paradise of pleasure:  
By God's decree cast down to woes from mirth,  
From lasting joys to sorrows out of measure:  
Fetched many a sigh, comparing his estate  
With happy bliss, which he forewent of late.   

Rouse up thyself (my Muse) a tale to tell,  
A doleful tale in sad and plaintive verse:  
How man in bliss from happiness once fell,  
Although not wont such horrors to rehearse.  
Oh great jehovah, heavens great Architect,  
In this sad work my fainting Muse direct.   

With pensive heart he traced the earth new founded,  
Wring his hands in lamentable wise:  
Earth never with ground-cleaving ploughshare wounded,  
Now to the starry globe he cast his eyes,  
And now to Eden where he erst remained,  
From which with fiery sword he was detained.   

O hapless Adam (quoth he) unkind father,  
Unnatural Parent, children's fatal foe:  
From whence all mankind do such curses gather:  
Author of death, first bringer in of woe.  
No sooner framed of thine al-making God,  
Then purchasing his sin-correcting rod.   

Did not jehovah lend to thee his grace,  
More plentiful than other living things:  
Who having framed thee, did provide a place,  
Even Paradise, the shadow of his wings.  
Amongst a thousand sundry kinds of meat,  
Forbidding thee one only fruit to eat.   

Consider birds, beasts, fish, and other Creature,  
Behold, they all look groveling on the ground:  
He unto heaven erected hath thy feature,  
That thou mayst see his wonders, which abound.  
Yet thou on whom most lovingly he looked,  
Hast first of all to anger him provoked.   

For thee he made heavens Azur-painted covering,  
Adorning it with stars, with Sun, with Moon:  
The blustering winds within the air be hou'ring,  
That thou his marvels mightst behold alone.  
Yet thou his greatest fabric, with thy sin  
To anger him didst first of all begin.   

For thee he framed earth's even-poysed globe,  
Hanging it in the air to humane wonder:  
And decked it with fruits, as with a rob,  
Making the seas divide the same in sunder.  
The seas he dight with fish, the earth with beasts  
For thee, yet thou hast broken his behests.   

What didst thou want amid that pleasant plot,  
Prepared for thee, by his all-working skill:  
Thou canst not think, the thing thou hadst not,  
Without all grief thou liued'st, not knowing ill,  
Pride, and desire of knowledge made thee taste  
The fruit, which did indeed thy knowledge waste.   

Had not thy God said, taste not of the tree,  
The fruit perhaps had still remained untouched:  
Henceforth shall this enormity by thee  
In minds of thy posterity be couched,  
Burning desire of secrets which are hidden,  
And fiery zeal of things which are forbidden.   

What made thy wife the fruit so to desire,  
The goodly hue and beauty of the same?  
What did allure and set thy mind on fire?  
The glozing words of thy seducing Dame,  
Henceforth therefore will women's words & beauty  
Seducers be of mankind from their duty.   

Blind Eva, saw'st thou not as in a glass,  
How Satan with his guiles did cirumvent thee:  
Beheldst thou not the brittle world alas,  
How it with vading vanity did tempt thee.  
Then how the flesh did combat with the Spirit,  
And all of heavenly bliss thee to disherit.   

O certain type, true figure, perfect map  
Of future evils t'all mankind to fall:  
These still with sleights, as in a subtle trap,  
Will seek to make all humane offspring thrall.  
Whilst Sun remains, & whilst Moon doth, endure,  
These archfoes will their treason put in ure.   

Wouldst thou in bliss not keep one little law?  
How wilt thou now a multitude observe,  
When many thousand devils thy mind withdraw,  
To which thou canst not choose but needs must swerver?  
And having swerved, thy conscience plainly saith,  
That every sin deserves a several death.   

Then viewed he the cerule-colored Pole,  
With pitchy clouds which 'gan to be obscured,  
Black foggy mists rose from earth's lumpish mole,  
Earth's mole by plow-swaine never yet manured.  
Ay me (quoth he) this may a token be,  
That for my sin my maker frowns on me.   

Day-guiding Sol with his bright-burning lamp,  
Obscures his beams, in clouds his glory hiding:  
Night-ruling Luna waxeth pale and damp,  
Ashamed of me, my glory not abiding.  
Star-bearing skies, with your earth-cou'ring vault,  
For me it is, you frown for my default.   

Rain-sending clouds, pour out your watery showers  
On earth, vast Orb, which from the seas yvo borrow:  
Cold-causing frosts deface the fragrant flowers  
With hoary rhymes, true types of future sorrow:  
Adam now made, his maker hath offended,  
To whom so many blessings he extended.   

Ah how Dame Ver the ground with flowers spread,  
Vaulting herself amid that pleasant palace:  
Four crystal lakes distilled from one head:  
Refreshing herbs with humour, thee with solace.  
Thou didst not sow, no labour didst thou take,  
The earth bore all things never touched with rake.   

See now how summers beauty-spoyling drought  
Earth of her party-colloured vestments robs:  
Transporting all the buds which Ver had brought,  
To fruitless hay, dry straw, and withered shrubs.  
Then misty Autumn with his reign, boreaves  
The earth of herbs, the trees of parched leaves.   

If any Vernal remnant yet be left:  
By Aestaes' heat, and Autumns rain not spoiled:  
The same by chil-cold Winter is bereft  
Of vigour: and with hoary frosts defoiled.  
Frost making earth a Chaos to resemble,  
For mine offence, whereon to think I tremble.   

The bluish skies did only me protect,  
I sought not for a stately brick-built Castle:  
I needed not a sheltering roof erect,  
Against tempestuous winds and rain to wrestle.  
The sturdy Oak in mountain tops did stand,  
The stones lay still, I took them not in hand.   

Now Adam stir thee like the nimble pricket,  
Pursued with hounds, ransack thy Grandams bones,  
Cut down the massy Oak from grovie thicket,  
To forge a tiled roof for plained stones.  
Forge thee a shelter, edify an hold,  
To shield thee from the rage of wind and cold.   

As I was made, so lived I with my spouse,  
Both naked were, yet knew it not (O rareness)  
We felt no cold, yet lived in no house,  
We blushed not one at another's bareness.  
But (out alas) what shamefastness we suffered.  
When ugly sin our nakedness uncovered.   

Learn here (O all posterities) the shrewdnesse  
Of Satan, and his treacherous assaults:  
Who having once seduced man to lewdness,  
Exaggerates the greatness of his faults,  
Making him blush like Adam in the garden.  
Only to bring him in despair of pardon.   

Ye winged birds, send out your woeful quips  
In leavelesse trees, once glutting you with berries:  
Cold winter now your tender bodies nips.  
Depriving earth of herbs, and trees of Cherries:  
Your everlasting Spring abridged is,  
And all for Adam who hath done amiss.   

fourfooted beasts inhabitants of field,  
Pour out your plaints among the rural brambles,  
Now must your hides man's corpse from weather shield,  
Your carcases hang up on bloody shambles.  
Dive in the deep, ye water-hanting Fishes,  
Now must ye serve to nourish man in dishes.   

Help to lament, ye water-flowing Fountains,  
Congealing Frosts your passages will hinder:  
Keep in your buds, ye Gote-frequented mountains.  
Receivers of the hoary frosts of winter.  
Woods, herbs, and trees, all terrene things bewail,  
Tears ease the mind, though little do prevail.   

Proud Adam not content with thy condition,  
Blessed estate, and ten times happy calling:  
Soughtest to achieve more glory, whose ambition  
Hath wrought thy fatal ovethrow in falling.  
Aspiring to the knowledge of thy maker,  
hast lost that bliss whereof thou wert partaker.   

This root of pride (this never-withering weed)  
Provoker first of mankind unto folly:  
Will still attaint and cleave unto thy seed,  
As twinding Ivy on the tender Holly.  
Embracing it, till it hath sucked it dry,  
And wanting sap, they both together die.   

This noisome root in every ground will spring,  
The meanest man in thought will still aspire:  
The Potentate will seek to be a King,  
The King to be an Emperor will desire,  
And he to be more higher in degree,  
Will also strive, if higher he may be.   

I sought more dainties having over many,  
From hence shall come desire of variety:  
Contentment seldom will be found in any,  
Loath some contempt will wait upon satiety.  
All men from me will this infection pluck,  
As Spiders do from flowers poison suck.   

Fond wretches, who in sinful folly blind,  
Did think to hide you from Jehovah's face:  
As doth the purblind Hare, or fearful Hind,  
Whom yelping hounds do still pursue in chase.  
Ah no, ye cannot, his allseeing eye  
Will find you out, where ever you do lie.   

Take I to me the southwindes airy wings,  
And in the utmost coast of earth convey me:  
Take I to me the Dolphins watery fins,  
And in the seas unsounded-bottom lay me:  
Let earth into her secret womb me swallow,  
Yet will his glorious eie-beams still me follow.   

My guilty conscience said, I had offended,  
What sting on earth more hellish can we find,  
A sore it is which cannot be amended,  
A worm which always gnaws upon the mind.  
Run where I will, into all lands betake me,  
Yet will a wounded conscience ne'er forsake me.   

O thundering sayings: terrifying words,  
Heart-taming speeches, cleaving rocks in sunder:  
Proceeding from the supreme Lord of Lords:  
Which in mine ears resounded like a thunder,  
Words causing earth an Aspen leaf resemble,  
Which at the breath of every wind doth tremble.   

Where art thou Adam? shamest thou my Deity,  
Ay me, needs must I my sin display:  
Supposing erst my vicious impiety,  
That every shaking bramble would bewray.  
Thus shall it also far with all my seed,  
Committing any detestable deed.   

How feign would I my guilty mind have cleared,  
Alleging Eve was causer of mine evil:  
She to excuse herself, as then appeared.  
Laid all the fault upon the subtle Devil.  
Like clouds which pour their rain upon highways,  
They into rivers, rivers into seas,   

This said; he turned him to the untilled field,  
Where uncouth weeds, and fruitless brambles breed,  
The earth which erst most fragrant herbs did yield,  
With thorns and thistles now was overspread.  
Oh see (quoth he) the earth for mine ill deeds,  
Robbed of brave robes, and clad in base weeds.   

Dear Grandam earth, thy fountain heads set open,  
Like Crystal tears, my sorrows to discover:  
Now must thy mole with delving share be broken:  
A crooked rake thy tilled field pass over.  
For me these shrubs and prickling thorns thou bearest  
For me these yl-beseeming weeds thou rearest.   

The heifar now in fields must not be idle,  
The servile Ass must bear an heavy pack:  
The Courser brave restrained with a bridle,  
The silly sheep his woolly fleece must lack.  
Horse, sheep, Ass, heifar help me all to moon,  
I causer am of all your woes alone.   

Still thought he on this string to tune his woes,  
And forward went, but lo, three horned Cattle  
Near unto him amid proud bearing Does,  
With frowning gesture menaced a battle.  
At length not able to forbear him longer,  
Two weaker ones ran both against the stronger.   

Th'encountered beast receiving others stroke,  
With like assault the one of them requighted,  
Assault resounding like a falling Oak,  
Which threw th'one back, the other fled affrighted.  
And left his friend distressed, his foe inulted,  
The victorer triumphantly insulted.   

Ah see (he saith) see here a world of woe,  
An heap of evils unto thy seed ensuing:  
What maladies from lewd desires do grow,  
As beasts, so men with savageness enduing.  
Ay me, what dolours, evils, and deeds unjust  
Shall not arise to man through sinful lust.   

Here mayst thou have a precedent of wars,  
Tumultuous discord, horrible dissension,  
Bloodshedding horror, disagreeing jars,  
Inhuman murders, pitiful contention:  
The mightiest shall be viewed on of all,  
The poor despised, the weaker thrust to wall.   

Whilst things go well friends will be always near thee  
Prosperity will loved be of many:  
But falling down, thy dearest friends will fear thee,  
Adversity not helped up of any.  
The fawning beast doth this presignifie,  
Who quite forsook his friend in misery.   

The small shall subject be unto the greater,  
Nobility through strength shall make his entry:  
The welthyer will think himself the better,  
For covetousness will spring, the root of Gentry.  
Though all sprung from one father and one mother,  
Yet every one will strive t'excel his brother.   

See how the Eagle with his bloody claws  
Doth massacre the house-frequenting Sparrow:  
The lordly Lion with his murdering jaws,  
Doth rend the Hind as earth is rend of harrow.  
The fearful Whale, that monster in the deep  
The lesser fish doth in his belly keep.   

Whale, Eagle, Lion, fitly ye presage  
Bloodsucking tyrants and inhuman murderers,  
Which will the weaker sort oppress with rage,  
Arch-foes to virtue, and to vices furtherers.  
Blush Adam, blush to name these dreadful terrors,  
First causer of all maladies and errors.   

The pleasant Lark delights to mount on high,  
The little wren near to the earth below:  
The greedy Gleyd betwixt them both doth fly,  
The Dove in course is swift, the Lapwing slow.  
The show men's sundry callings and conditions,  
These note men's divers minds and dispositions.   

The ayerie-winged blasts as ever mutable,  
And never in one certain place abide:  
So man's condition shall be ever changeable,  
No ground so firm in which he shall not slide.  
What seat so strong or what so sure estate  
which shall not subject be to frowning fate.   

O happy wight, ten times shall he be blest,  
Who with the wren dare not presume to mount:  
With mean estate contented who doth rest,  
And bliss in sole tranquillity doth count,  
Considering that great things are viewed of all,  
And highest things are soon like to fall:   

That highest things are soon like to fall,  
The reaching Pine on mountains doth betoken,  
which sooner than the shrub or bramble small,  
with raging blasts of hoisting winds are broken.  
What mortal things henceforth on earth ensuing  
Shall not be subject to times fatal ruin.   

Time's ruin shall so dire oblivion breed  
In men, that noting their so frail variety,  
Forgetting me, the cause thereof, my seed  
Shall feign to Fate an ever-changing deity.  
Proportraying her upon a round wheel dancing,  
Euerting some, and other some advancing.   

Alas, no sooner night-expelling morning,  
Al. hiding heaven from her black rug exempteth:  
But viewing me, and mine offences scorning,  
Her snowy cheeks with redness she besprenteth,  
Disdaining Sols bright beams should long behold me  
In Sable night bright Hesperus doth fold me.   

Vile Covetousness in me first took his root,  
For more things thirsting, when no thing I wanted:  
Still shall it hold my children by the foot,  
And in the hearts of all my seed be planted.  
Now shall rush in the greedy zeal of money,  
which men will labour for, as Bees for honey.   

Now shall rush in the fiery thirst of gain,  
And gold in bowels of the earth enclosed:  
Which men by toil and labour will obtain,  
And coffer up from his dark dungeon loosed.  
By mortal wights rare metals will be knocked,  
Which earth in her close treasure-house had locked.   

Now shall be found the hurtful mine of Iron,  
For which men will into earth's belly enter:  
The glittering steel besieged foes t'enuiron,  
They now will into swords and Lances temper.  
What mortal thing so hard? or what so geason,  
Will not be done and found by humane reason?   

The lofty Pine which mountain top affords,  
Cut down, shall now into a Mast be squared:  
The yellow brass nailed to Fir-tree boards,  
Shall cut the seas, as earth with plough is ared.  
Sea-Porposses and Dolphins huge shall wonder,  
To see their Cerule waters cleft in sunder,   

The ruddy Diamond and the Saphir fair,  
In th'utmost coast of earth shall now be sought,  
The bright Smaragd, the Pearl, and Onyx rare,  
Fetched from the East, full dearly shall be bought,  
O into what so deep and huge an hell,  
Will not the thirst of riches men compel?   

This said, on earth his glowring eyes he fastened,  
There saw an Ant, a little creeping elf,  
Who dragged with her a Barley grain, and hastened  
Home to her cave, grain bigger than herself:  
O learn he cries, learn Adam of this Ant,  
To work in youth, lest afterward thou want.   

Behold the Bee, a silly painful creature,  
How wittily she laboureth in Summer:  
Reposing food, she only taught by nature,  
Lest barren winter's penury should numb her,  
Her industry gives to thee an example,  
how thou shouldst live, & in what ways to trample.   

Now Adam must thou labour, ditch and delve,  
Graft, plant, walk, run, hedge, fence, plough, harrow, sow  
Pluck down, rear up, set munifie, build shelue,  
Weep, laugh, strive, wrestle, bind up, gather, mow,  
thrash, carry out, grind, bake, brew, spin and carded,  
Knock, beat, wash, dry, buy, sell, sleep, watch and ward   

In sweat of brows and horrible vexation,  
To get my living shall I be constrained:  
What shall man see but doleful tribulation,  
Unto his death from time that he is waned.  
Nought shall his race be but a vale of sinning,  
Fond, sinful, frail, in end, midst and beginning.   

How vain is worldly pomp? how frail and brittle?  
How soon is man of earthly things bereft:  
His pleasures pass as swiftly as a shuttle  
Cast from the weavers right hand to the lest:  
His orient hue as vading as a flower,  
Which floorisheth and dieth in an hour.   

O wretched man! O life most transitory!  
Deceitful world, foul sink of filthy errors:  
Eye-pleasing shades of vain delightful glory  
Deep gulf of sin, vast dungeon of terrors,  
Receptacle of woeful tribulations  
Grand treasure-house of all abominations.   

O sea of sorrows, labyrinth of woes,  
Vale full of cares: abyss of imbecility:  
Thief-harbouring house, field full of armed foes,  
Stil-turning orb, true map of mutability.  
Affording man as many false yl-willers  
As woods have trees, as trees have Caterpillars.   

Of lumpish earth Jehovah me created,  
To th'end I should not glory in my feature:  
And I again to earth must be translated  
By God's just doom, the end of every creature:  
Then whereto should I trust on earth abiding,  
Sith for my fault all earthly things are sliding,   

When first of all man draweth virall breath  
And spirit, he to die beginneth then:  
No worldly thing more certain than is death,  
Nor more uncertain than the hour when.  
O lend me then a font of springing tears,  
To weep my fill for man's unconstant years.   

Ah welladay, me thinks for mine offences,  
My God saith still I must to earth again:  
O how the thought of death appalls my senses,  
Though end it be of all man's woe and pain.  
So likewise shall all my postoritie  
Fear it, though end of all calamity.   

O great jehovah, wonderful in might,  
How wisely hast thou wrought all things, concealing  
The certain hour of death from mortal wight,  
Yet certainty thereof to him revealing.  
Done surely by thy skilful providence,  
That man should fear and learn obedience.   

Me thinks I see (O let me yet divine)  
How many of my sons will go astray,  
Erecting houses, raising buildings fine,  
As though they were enthronized here for ay.  
O let them know that for my foul offence,  
by God's just doom all flesh must wander hence.   

Not he that shall on earth the longest dwell,  
Not he that shall in prowess be the rarest,  
Not he that shall in wisdom most excel,  
Not he that shall in visage be the fairest.  
With wisdom, beauty, age or courage fell  
Shall able be impartial death t'expel.   

O wretched Eva, mankind's deadly Foe,  
Accursed Grandam, most ungentle mother,  
Sin-causing woman, bringer of man's woe,  
Woe to thyself, and woe unto all other.  
Thy mighty maker in his just displeasure  
Hath multiplied thy sorrows out of measure.   

In pain shalt thou thy seed conceive and bear,  
In peril shalt thou of it be discharged:  
Thou shalt it foster up with tender care,  
A thousand ways thy griefs shall be enlarged:  
Thou shalt be guided by thy man's direction,  
He as a Lord shall have thee in subjection.   

O cursed worm, O exerable serpent:  
Blisse-hating Dragon: most abhorred creature:  
Infectious Adder: venom-breathing breathing verment,  
The food of envy, sdeignfull scorneof Nature:  
Falshearted traitor, harbourer of evil:  
Dark den of spite, foul cabin of the Devil.   

Most loathsome be thou of jehovahs' work,  
envy both of man and feeding cattle:  
In unfrequented valleys shalt thou lurk,  
And with thy stinging tongue still menace battle.  
Man seeing thee, shall fear and seek thy bane,  
As instrumental author of his pain.   

For want of feet: through woods and deserts thick  
Upon thy grisly belly shalt thou slide:  
And for thy food dust of the earth shalt lick,  
Such plagues shall thee (O loathsome worm) betid,  
Such woes on thee jehovah hath disbursed,  
Pronouncing thee of all his works most cursed.   

The husbandman among the rural bushes,  
Will start, and think each moving twig a foe:  
Still fearing-least among the marshy rushes  
Thou lying hid, shouldst work his second woe.  
Thy deadly sting, and golden speckled hue,  
In false pretence thy glozing words do show   

But thou (O Satan) proud infernal devil,  
Chief actor in this doleful tragedy:  
Lord of ambition, master of all evil,  
Thy fatal fall behold I prophecy:  
From out the woman shall an issue spring,  
Which will prevail against thy deadly sting.   

Between her seed and thee (O fearful fiend)  
Shall be continual enmity and fight:  
Thou shalt but prick her heel, she in the end  
Shall conquer thee, and overthrow thy might.  
Then man rejoice, O Adam cease to wail,  
Thy conquer or shall now no whit prevail.   

O wondrous pity, undeserved kindness,  
Of earths-sole founder to the work he made:  
Who seeing man cast down in sin and blindness,  
So speedily him promised help and aid.  
Aid, certain aid his archfoe to repel,  
To conquer death, and conquer conquering hell.   

Rejoice then earth, cease frowning heavens to glower,  
Now broken are hells everlasting bars,  
From whence man took by God's almighty power,  
Shall mount aloft above the twinkling stars:  
There with the woman's seed which promised is,  
For evermore to reign in heavenly bliss.   

Ye chirping birds, whose party coloured plumes  
With gentle sound the whistling air do trouble:  
In shady dales send forth your doleful tunes,  
Let Echoes shrill your dulcet notes redouble.  
Adam your Lord exiled from Eden garden,  
By faith and mercy hath obtained pardon.   

Harmonious Lark, let neve blushing morning  
See dankish earth, but mount thou from the ground:  
And bluish skies with pleasant notes adorning.  
For man's redemption signs of mirth resound:  
Sweet Philomene, let never Hesper shine  
Ere thou have tuned a thousand ditties fine.   

Mild Eurus reign in blustering Boreas place,  
Leap sportive fish above the Crystal river:  
Man reconciled to his God by grace,  
Shall now in heavenly bliss abide for ever.  
For these glad tidings, frolic tender lambs,  
In pastures pleasant with your merry dams.   

And lastly, Adam, sith it is decreed,  
That thou must fight ere thou canst win the fort:  
Fight manfully, trust in the promised seed,  
And be most sure thou shalt arrive the port,  
Port full of joy and heavenly blessedness.  
Free from all cares, and worldly wretchedness.   
FINIS.   

The old World's Tragedy.  

I Sing of horrors sad and dreadful rage,  
Of stratagems wrought in the former age,  
Contagious vice, and in conclusion,  
Of massacres, death and confusion:  
Vouchsafe my muse, my dolefulst muse to tell  
What made the King of heaven to be so fell:  
Sole Architect of earth and earthly lands,  
So furiously the fabric of his hands  
To bring to ruin: can jehovah then  
Pour out such fearful threats on mortal men,  
Full sixteen hundred years from world's creation,  
And fifty six by sacred computation:  
When living things replenished the ground.  
And earth with mortal wights did first abound:  
A doleful Tragedy was brought to pass,  
Earth was the stage whereon it acted was.  
Upon the stage first came impiety,  
Vaunting herself against the Deity.  
She in short time began to grow to head,  
And all the earth at length she captive led.  
Then came in foul desire and loathsome lust,  
She in short time seduced even the just:  
Who gazing on the beauty of the wicked,  
Began with lewd concupiscence be pricked.  
In mattimony to their daughter's linking  
Their sons, and at sins detestable winking.  
The Host was ofttimes slain by lodged stranger,  
Guest of his host stood many times in danger.  
Vile Avarice all mortal hearts possessed,  
The weaker lay in every street oppressed:  
Men fought by cruel bloodshed gain to gather,  
The son for riches sought to slay his father:  
The brother mixed poison for his brother,  
She for her daughter: daughter for her mother.  
Pale envy left her Adder-haunted den,  
And ruled on earth as supreme Queen of men.  
Aspiring pride with weapons in her hand,  
To war against humility did stand,  
Wherewith in fight she killed her at last,  
And from the stage all massacred her cast.  
Then dreadful wrath met patience at the field,  
And shortly she compelled her to yield.  
Falshearted treason like a faithful lover,  
His wolvish back with sheepish skin did cover:  
And meeting with true friendship secretly,  
Gave her the stab (O monstrous villainy)  
Fidelity lay slain by treachery,  
Pure chastity by loathsome lechery.  
Here lay the servant by the master killled,  
There master's blood lay by the servant spilt.  
Then might you see man-murthring falsehood flight  
With verity, and overcome her quite:  
Religion by atheism proud was banished,  
And she forth with to heavenly kingdoms vanished:  
As soon as ere good Conscience show'd her head,  
By disobedience she was strooken dead.  
Then Gluttony upon the stage made entrance  
Prodigiously who slew dame Temperance.  
Excess appeared with strange variety,  
And fiercely put to flight Sobriety.  
Envious Anger vehemently assailed  
Dame Patience, and in the end prevailed.  
Then mounted on the earth oblivious Sloth,  
She Industry and labour conquered both.  
Injustice lastly with an hideous rout  
Of hellish furies traced the stage about:  
Her visage stern, her hands in blood imbrued  
Her breast of Iron, ugly Toads she spewed:  
Her standerd-bearer was ambitious pride,  
And next unto her went Don Homicide,  
Next unto them a rank of envies brood,  
Begirt with Adders, serpents were their food:  
Strait after them excess and gluttony,  
Deformed Sloth, and impious Simphonie  
A thousand other stygian hags and more,  
Then with their Queen impiety did grow.  
Whom just Astrea seeing in this sort,  
A sudden fear amazed her mean report,  
And leaving earth with all that hideous crew,  
Unto the skies without delay she flew.  
And now huge Giants upon earth remained,  
with whose vile offspring all the earth was stained  
Of them to Damsels fair committing seed,  
A devilish kind of people there did breed:  
A People fierce and of exceeding stature  
Pestifferous, and prone to sin by nature.  
These tyrannized and lived at their pleasure,  
Oppressing weaker people without measure.  
With dreadful rigour keeping them in awe,  
Despising justice, breaking Nature's law.  
These heaped sin on sin, and fault on fault,  
As high as Pelion or Olympus vault:  
As high as Pindus or steep Ossa either,  
Were Pindus or steep Ossa clapped together,  
When suddenly from his most glorious throne,  
Whereon he sitting guides all things alone.  
Jehovah founder of the starry pole,  
Of watery seas, and of the earthly mole,  
Deigned upon earth his sacred eyes to cast,  
Eyes seeing all things in the world so vast.  
He saw how vice had grown unto a head,  
Injustice all the earth had overspread:  
He saw how sin and vile impiety  
Vaunted themselves against his Deity.  
The Adder-pawed giants, mounts of evil  
Touching the skies, base children of the devil.  
His sacred head heerat he 'gan to shake,  
Whereat the skies, the earth, and all did quake:  
He sighed, and most sorrowful he was,  
That ever mortal man was brought to pass:  
He grieved in heart that ever he created  
Man, who with sin was so contaminated.  
All things (quoth he) wherein remaineth breath,  
I purpose to destroy with sudden death:  
This hand which framed all mortal things alive  
All earthly things of life shall now deprive,  
From man to beasts, from birds to things which creep,  
All flesh shall taste of my displeasure deep.  
The birds swift wings shall not his body save,  
The Lions force, nor Giants courage brave.  
Thus am I minded; thus do I intend,  
All living creatures now shall have an end.  
But yet on earth one only man there dwelled  
All other men in justice who excelled:  
The third from Enoch was he in descent,  
Enoch who all his life uprightly spent:  
Enoch of life who never was bereaven,  
Enoch, who liviug was rapt into heaven.  
Methushelah who all men did surpass  
In length of life, his Grandsire cleped was.  
It was just Noah, Lamech's son upright:  
Three sons he had, Shem, Ham & japhet hight  
He loved virtue, vice he did eschew,  
jehovah therefore favour did him show.  
Again Earth's founder his all seeing eyes  
Cast on the world from top of Cerule skies.  
Again he saw all wickedness abound,  
In all the earth no justice could be found.  
The children bathed in their father's blood,  
All nought he saw, and nothing that was good  
Vast fields of sin, Abysses fraught with lewdness  
Realms full of errors, mountains huge of shrewdness.  
The height whereof unto his throne ascended,  
And with their stench his nostrils sore offended  
Then unto Noah, Lamech's son he spoke,  
An end of all things now I mean to make:  
All flesh wherein remaineth living spirit,  
Of vital breath I purpose to disherit.  
Ah how it grieves me now that I have framed  
Man, who with sin the earth hath so defamed.  
Make thee an Ark of Pine trees very strong,  
Three hundred cubits shalt thou make it long.  
Threescore in breadth, and thirty cubits high,  
Make rooms in it where several things may lie.  
Three sundry stories shalt thou in it frame,  
And round about with pitch close up the same:  
For I upon the earth a flood will bring,  
Wherewith I will subvert each living thing,  
But unto thee my covenant will I make,  
My covenant which I never mean to break;  
Thou with thy wife, thy sons, & thy sons wives  
Shall in the ark be shut and save your lives.  
Of every lining creature also twain,  
A male and female shall with thee remain,  
And lay up food for thee and every creature,  
Even several food according to their nature.  
The ark was made, & all things brought to pass  
As God commanded, so it framed was.  
Then spoke jehovah unto him, go thou  
Into the ark with all thy household now:  
For seu'n days hence shall mighty rain abound  
Wherewith I mean to cover all the ground.  
Then Noah with his family also  
Just eight persons into the ark did go,  
And now the hour was near, the fatal hour  
Wherein jehovah meant to show his power:  
Six times Aurora with her blushing hue  
Had seen the earth all dark with hoary dew.  
Now pitchy night six times 'gan dim the skies.  
Last night of solace unto mortal eyes:  
O Luna still detain thy blackish horse,  
Let never dismal Titan run his course,  
Bright Vesper still continue thou thy race.  
Let never fatal daystar thee deface.  
Who can alas, express the doleful ruin,  
And piteous horror of the day ensuing.  
Now fro her chamber comes the scowling morning,  
Herself still in a nightgown black adorning:  
Titan arose, but yet his glorious head  
With pitch-resembling clouds was overspread,  
Black foggy mists rose from the earthly mole,  
Ascending up unto the airy pole.  
Winds thronged forth, and strove in skies aloft,  
As civil wars among them had been wrought,  
As craggy hills had broken been by charms,  
As all Eolia had been up in arms.  
Winds, air and clouds, all meant the air to sack,  
O now or never goes the world to wrack,  
Then thou (O woe) heavens Architect began  
To pour thy fearful threats on mortal man:  
The glowring skies resounded like a thunder,  
As though heavens sacred vault had cleft in sunder,  
As though ten thousand Cannons huge discharged  
Their roaring sounds with fall offorts enlarged.  
His right hand shaken the earth, his left hand crushed.  
The clouds, than rain in great abundance rushed.  
Rain poured forth, yet not content, his anger  
Enforced swelling tides on earth to wander.  
Then broken were the heads of watery fountains.  
They gushed from the feet of craggy mountains.  
Seas lent them waves their courses to maintain,  
Earth made them passage to his utter bane,  
Now had the morn still clad in mourning weeds,  
Thrice opened gates to Phoebus' fiery steeds,  
Steeds smoking wet, yet from his flaming car,  
No light did come, black mists his light did scar:  
And now the three days rain and flowing floods  
Had spoiled quite green herbs and pleasant buds:  
And shortly did the husband man complain,  
That all his whole years travel and his pain  
Were brought to ruin, corn and goodly flowers  
Were prostrate laid with overflowing showers.  
The silly birds with violence of weather  
In bushes thick did shroud themselves together:  
Beasts shrinking under grovie hedges stood  
Half drowned with wet, half dead for want of food.  
By this time waters all the earth did cover,  
The falling rain and rising floods ran over  
All champion countries, where men lately ploughed  
Now waters stood, and Scullers might have rowed.  
O then on earth was heard a piteous cry,  
Men crying out, beasts roaring plaintively.  
Then first of all began the giants stern  
To shake for fear, and flinty hearts to yearn.  
Raine falling, and seas rising without pity,  
Made entrance into every house and city:  
As when a Fort or sacked cities walls,  
With violence of rampired engines falls,  
The furious foe runs raging through the streets,  
With bloody weapons killing whom he meets.  
An hideous cry and sound ariseth then  
Of maimed women and distressed men.  
Men seeing weapons come to work their bane,  
Yet could not shun them: O what greater pain?  
So fated it with the people of this time,  
Some upon roofs and turrets high did climb,  
One takes the highest mountain he can see,  
Another sits a fishing in a tree.  
One thrusts himself into a wherry boat,  
And desperately upon the waves doth float.  
And every one did seek to climb aloft,  
For every one to shun the waters sought,  
They saw the waters come to stop their breath,  
Yet could not shun't, O greater grief than death.  
Their dollours might have been compared well  
To one that dying hears the passing bell.  
Some were already drowned, thus stood the case,  
He lived the longest who had highest place:  
And now were turrets high and mountains covered,  
And levy trees which in the air erst hovered:  
O lend me words the dollours to display,  
The Fatal horrors of this dismal day.  
There might you see how lovingly the mother  
With her sweet daughter kissed one the other:  
One piteously requesting others help,  
Yet neither of them knew to aid himself.  
The dying son now at the latest gasp,  
About his clasping father's neck did clasp.  
And ready now to bid their last farewell,  
Were snatched both with seas and billows fell:  
The Lord & servant both at one time snatched,  
One furiously hold on the other catched.  
And still in surging waves together cleft,  
Till both of breath together were bereft.  
The tyrannising Giants bodies grim  
Now with the cripples lifeless corpse did swim.  
The subject with the scepter-bearing king,  
The murdering billows spared no living thing.  
Some might you see half dead and half alive,  
Like water-fowles now rise, & now to dive.  
Some turning round, and violently borne  
All headlong down, their limbs in sunder torn.  
The brisle-bearing boar, and gentle sheep  
Swum both together in the surging deep.  
The silly Lamb was with the ravening Wolf  
Drowned in the vast no-pitie taking gulf.  
The lifeless Lion in the deep did swim,  
Nought did the tigers courage profit him,  
Nought booted it the Bear to roar and grind,  
No profit by his swiftness got the Hind.  
And having long time with exceeding pain  
Flown through the air, disturbed still with rain,  
The weary bird not finding any ground,  
Falls down in seas, and at the last is drowned.  
And now the Ark where Noah did abide,  
Was hoist up with overswelling tide.  
One while all hidden to the earth it fell,  
As though it would have gone to visit hell.  
One while again it seemed to arise,  
And suddenly would mount up to the skies:  
No stern it had, no mast, no sail, no guide,  
But carried was at pleasure of the tide.  
Twice twenty days as black as any coal  
The murdering rain distilled from the Pole.  
The tallest mountains in the world so wide,  
Now covered were with overswelling tide.  
The airy Alps and eke Parnassus fair  
Now hidden were with waves, a wonder rare,  
Snow-bearing Pindus and Olympus steep,  
Both at this time lay hidden in the deep.  
Now first of all igniferous Aetna's caves,  
And Cyclops flames were quenched with salt-sea waves,  
Sweetsmelling Ide and sacered Ismarus,  
Aspiring Pelion and hard Caucasus,  
In Scythian mounts, where murdering Tigers haunted:  
Now ugly shapes of monstrous sea-fish vaunted:  
The Dolphin's wonders under watery floods,  
To see fair turrets and thick grovie woods.  
In steed of sacrifice on Altars fair  
Sat seemly Marmaydes combing of their hair,  
In Churches eke their Organists now wanting,  
Melodious Odes and ditties now recanting.  
The ugly dogfish and devouring Whales  
'Gainst pinnacles did dash their shining scales:  
And where the Goat was wont her food to swallow,  
Fowl Porpoises and seaish monsters wallow.  
Now from his glorious palace heavens creator  
Looked down, and saw the world a sea of water:  
All was a sea yet wanted it a coast,  
Then thought he on the Ark and Noah tossed:  
Through all the world and earth, which many a night  
Hid under seas, had seen no cheerful light.  
Forthwith he charged the foggy mists to vanish,  
Then all the winds tempestuous did he banish:  
And then retreat unto the water sounds,  
Commanding it to keep within his bounds:  
Commanding it his fountains to restrain,  
And them to stop their springing heads again.  
Clouds forthwith fled, and tempests were appeased,  
The seas returned, and running fountains ceased.  
The scowling morn now left his mourning rob,  
And smilinglie blushed on the watery globe.  
And shortly might you see mean turrets peep,  
And tops of Pine-trees from the floods to creep:  
The fleeting ark which long had cleft in sunder  
the vast deluge, both carried up and under,  
Now unto East, and now unto the west,  
At length in mounts of Armeny did rest.  
Twice twenty times had Phoebus drenched his beams,  
And Car in grave Oceanus his streams.  
When as the framer of the subtle Bark,  
A window did set open in th' Ark.  
And forth he sent a Raven thence, to know  
If waters still the land did overflow.  
Forth flew she, but returned presently  
So went and came until the earth was dry.  
Again, he sends a siluer-winged Dove,  
To see if still the waters were above.  
Out flies the Dove, & through the air doth go  
As swift as any arrow from a bow.  
Much air she cuts, and in the earth not seeing  
One living creature any where have being.  
Nor any ground whereon she might remain,  
With weary wings returns to him again.  
Then rested he until the daystar bright  
Seven times removed the canopy of night:  
Then once again the Dove he sendeth out,  
She mounts aloft and flieth round about.  
And finding much dry ground on earth, presumes  
To fall thereon, and rouse her ruffled plumes,  
Now shakes herself, and with her bill them pecks,  
Now lays them down and orderly them decks.  
And having long time froliked at her will,  
Returned with a green leaf in her bill,  
By this knew Noah that the Flood decreased,  
Yet other seven days in the ark he rested:  
And when bright Vesper in the Welkin pale  
Had thrice and four times drawn the cloudy vale,  
The third time forth again he sends the Dove,  
She swiftly in the air her wings doth move:  
And finding food her body to sustain,  
And ground to rest on, never came again.  
Yet rested Lamech's offspring in the Ark,  
Till seven times again in Welkin dark  
Beotes guider of the greater Bear,  
Had shown himself, and then expelling fear  
Sets open the door, and plainly did espy  
Floods quite decreased, and face of earth all dry.  
And then the lord commandment to him gave  
That he with all things else the Ark should leave.  
No stay they made, all things, man, bird and beasts,  
Whom Titan saw from either of his rests  
Alive on earth, came forth with from the ark,  
There stretched their limbs, unwieldy yet and stark.  
There enoch's offspring to his God erected  
An altar, who from Floods had him protected:  
And thereon for his preservation  
Did offer up a just oblation:  
The smell whereof unto his throne arose,  
And cast a pleasant odour to his nose.  
Expelling quite that detestable stink  
Which erst ascended from worlds filthy sink.  
Delighted therefore in this pleasant savour,  
He blessed all mankind with his gracious favour:  
Henceforth (quoth he) no more my wrathful curse  
Upon the world or man I will disburfe.  
For all his thoughts with wickedness are stained  
Fuen from his birth, to time that he is waned.  
Henceforth in season shall he plant and sow,  
In season shall he after reap and mow.  
In his due course hot Summer will I send  
And winter, till the earth shall have an end:  
Increase abundantly, bring forth and breed,  
And earth again replenish with your seed.  
Behold, your fear all creatures shall appall,  
Rule thou as Lord and master over all.  
Whoso shall man bereave of vital breath,  
His life shall be abridged with cruel death.  
Blood will have blood, whoso shall cut manslife,  
His also shall be cut with blooudy knife.  
Increase abundantly, bring forth and breed,  
The earth again replenish with your seed.  
Behold, with thee I make a covenant sure,  
A covenant which for ever shall endure,  
With earth, and all things which thereon remain,  
That I will never drown the world again,  
And to confirm my promised decree,  
A certain seal thereof I give to thee.  
This is the seal: a Bow I mean to shroud  
Of divers colours in a pitchy cloud.  
This is the seal, and this shall be a token,  
That this my league at no time shall be broken.  
And when I shall all-hiding heaven cloak  
With clouds, foorth-pouring misty rain like smoke,  
Then I in clouds will place my certain seal,  
Mine ever-during promise to reveal.  
With surging billows and impartial rain  
That earth shall never be destroyed again.  
And this a sign infallible shall be,  
Of mine eternall-durable decree.   
FINIS.   

David and Beersheba.  

Such time as Titan with his fiery beams  
In highest degree, made duskish Leo sweat:  
Field-tilling Swains drive home their toiling teams,  
Out-wearied with ardency of heat:  
And country herds to seek a shady seat:  
All mortal things from fervency of weather,  
In sheltering shades do shroud themselves together.   

Beersheba wife unto Vrias stout,  
A Captain under Ioab of renown:  
Whom princely David with a warring rout  
Had sent to beat the pride of Ammon down.  
And to besiege and ransack Rabbah town,  
Betook herself into a garden fair,  
Enriched with flowers, which sent a pleasant air.   

On every side this garden was beset,  
With choice of rare delights and Arbours geason:  
The Lentisk, figtree, and Pomegranate great,  
Grew there in order, far surpassing reason.  
The ground was decked with gillyflowers fine,  
Carnations sweet, and speckled sops, in wine.   

There might you hear upon the pleasant trees,  
The little birds melodiously to sing:  
Upon the blossoms wrought the painful Bees,  
Near was it to the palace of the King,  
Within it also was a pleasant spring.  
Whose liquid humour moistened the same,  
A garden worthy of so worthy dame.   

Now gathereth she the sweetest of the sweet,  
And prettily from flower to flower trippeth,  
Soon after to the fountain turns her feet,  
Then daintily her hands of gloves she stiippeth,  
And in the Crystal waves her fingers dippeth.  
She likes it well, and calls it passing cool,  
And minds to bathe her body in the pool.   

Then nimbly casts she off her Damask frock,  
Her Satin stole most curiously made:  
Her Partlet needle-wrought, her Cambric smock,  
And on a seat thereby them nicely laid.  
And so to wash her in the well assayed.  
O shut thine eyes Narcissus come not neete,  
Lest in the well a burning fire appear.   

Sleep still King David in thy Princely bed,  
Where now thou tak'st thine after-dinners nap:  
O rouse not up from sleep thy kingly head.  
Lest by mifchaunce thou fall into a trap,  
See here of man's fragility a map:  
Thou canst not (david) needs must thou upstart,  
Thy God will have thee know how frail thou art.   

Now riseth he, and up in haste he flies,  
Upon the highest turret of his tower:  
There standing, all the city overpries  
Her carved Bulwarks, and each goodly bower.  
But O unlucky time, O dismal hour!  
Stop Ishas' son thine ears, keep sails on high,  
Lest Siren's songs do draw thy mind awry.   

Surveying thus his town, at length he cast  
His eyelids down, and saw Beersheba naked:  
His princely heart, which never yet did taste  
Of evil, stroke with burning fever quaked:  
A fire he caught, by no waves to be slaked.  
And as he strives to quench this flaming fire,  
Still kindles it with bellows of desire.   

Much better hadst thou kept within thy palace,  
There on thy harpet'aue fed thy mind with joy:  
Or entertained some pretty pleasing solace.  
But are the godly subject to annoy?  
Must they be ruled by a wanton boy?  
His eye approved, his heart it gave consent,  
And both were spurs unto his bad intent.   

With washing waves her breast he saw her deck,  
He calls it Nectar, whereof Angels drink:  
With ivory arms she rubs her milky neck,  
White Doves which fall on snow he doth them think  
He wisheth he himself were at the brink.  
But with the candle whilst he thus doth play,  
At last his wings were burned quite away,   

And now gins the combatant assault,  
Between the willing flesh and nilling spirit.  
The flesh alluring him unto the fault,  
The spirit tells him of a dreadful merit.  
And in the end flesh conquered the spirit.  
He sends, she came, he woos, she gave consent,  
And did the deed, not fearing to be shent.   

What haste thou done, O Psalmist: blush for shame,  
Thinkest thou thy sin will never come to light.  
No, no, Jehovah will reveal the same,  
Though thou hadst don't in silence of the night.  
Yet would he bring it into open sight:  
'Twas he would put thy piety in trial,  
To see if thou wouldst yield or make denial.   

Now three times Cynthia in the Welkin bright  
Her circle full unto the earth did lend:  
Thrice had she lost again her borrowed light,  
Since David with Beersheba did offend,  
And now began she feel her womb extend.  
What should she do? her fault she could not cover,  
Of many days she had not seen her lover.   

And now she moans her to the King, and says  
In mournful fort, she feels herself with child:  
His guilty mind disturbed many ways,  
(Wit waits on fear) finds out a pretty wild,  
Wherewith he hopes his maker to beguiled.  
But what? can Prophets then so grofly slide,  
And from their God suppose their sins to hide?   

He sendeth word to joab presently,  
His true estate in letters to express:  
And therewith send Urias speedily,  
Urias comes, he readeth their success,  
And bids him go unto his wife in peace.  
But see. the more he laboured to conceal it,  
So much the more God laboured to reveal it,   

Urias would not go unto his house,  
But gathered straw, and laid it in the yard,  
And caring not to frolic with his spouse,  
He laid him down to sleep amid the Gard.  
As soon as David had these tidings hard,  
He asks him why he rested not at home,  
From toiling wars art thou not lately come?   

No (quoth Urias) 'tis for me unfit  
To sleep within, whilst joab is without:  
Unseemly 'tis to see the servant fit,  
And let his master toil and run about:  
What, lieth not the Ark of God without?  
I swear by David's crown and princely head,  
Whilst things goethus', I will not come in bed.   

And now is David vexed worse and worse,  
And every way is forced his wits to sift:  
By this be hath devised a second course,  
And means to put in ure a pretty shift,  
To make Urias' diunken was his drift.  
So thinks he, hee'ill forget his duty quite,  
And moved be therewith to some delight.   

He charged his servants entertain him well,  
To give him store of wine, and comfits dainty:  
Before the King to banqueting they fell,  
Sweet syrups there they had, and wine great plenty:  
He drank to twenty, and he pledged twenty.  
They quast off flagons full, and spared not,  
The third fell always to Urias' lot.   

Hear, here (saith one) I drink unto my brother,  
I'll pledge him (quoth Urias) he's my friend:  
I drink to such a Captain (quoth another)  
And he to all a good carouse would send:  
Surcharged with wine, he staggered in the end.  
He walketh up and down the stately hall,  
But always leans, and cleaves unto the wall.   

Full glad was David now, and hoped his plot  
Would take effect, he almost was secure:  
He heard the soldier talk he knew not what,  
He with Beershebas name did him allure,  
He thought that night would breed contentment sure  
But whatso ere he built, it could not stand,  
For all his work was built upon the sand.   

Now night was come, all creatures went to rest,  
Down lay the Hitthite where he slept before:  
King David with a sea of cares oppressed,  
Was driven well-nigh to despair his door,  
Yet still against the stream he labours more.  
Thus evermore sin leadeth unto sin,  
A lesler ends, and greater doth begin.   

Stay sinful King, look back, and askethy pardon,  
It boots thee not alas thyself to hide:  
So guilty Adam hide him in the garden,  
So jonah fled upon the surging tide.  
Yet quickly had jehovah them espied.  
Look back (I say) confess it is much better,  
To hide a lesser sin do not a greater.   

And now again he's driven to invent,  
And up and down for policies to rove:  
Yet finds he nothing unto his content,  
At length the devil a deadly plot doth move,  
And he thereof doth presently approve.  
In error blind still walks the Lecher further,  
And thinks to hide adultery with murder.   

Oblivious Prophet, call to mind thine oath,  
Thou vowedst to keep the covenant of thy Lord:  
More sweet show saidst then comb or honey both,  
More dear than Gems which Tagus doth afford.  
Thou brag'dst thou joyedst only in his word.  
Chose he not thee his tender lambs to keep?  
And like a Wolf wilt thou devour his sheep?   

And now gins this devilishnesse to bud,  
He unto joab letters doth indite.  
O fearful letters, messengers of blood,  
He wills him place him foremost in the fight,  
And let him die, whilst they escape by flight.  
And by Urias sends he him away,  
he guiltless bears a sword himself to slay.   

He guiltless bears a sword himself to flay,  
And harmless fears no treason to be wrought:  
So doth the Coney fall into the hay,  
So is the bird unto the Limebush brought,  
So on the hookethe nibbling Fish is caught.  
he to his Captain doth his letters bring,  
Who readeth them, and minds to do the thing.   

Soon after caused he them the town to sack,  
Next to the walls Urias pressed amain.  
The Rabbanits came out, Ioab fled back,  
And many of his soldiers there were slain,  
Among the which Urias caught his bane,  
O joyful tidings to th'offenders ears,  
Now frolics he, and no suspicion fears.   

Securely now he lays him down to sleep,  
As he were blemished with no sinful spot,  
As all his sins were drowned in the deep,  
Or Lethes waves, where all things be forgot,  
As though Jehovah winked and saw him not.  
Till at the last unto his vile disgrace,  
Thus Nathan sent, reproved him to his face.   

Ah Churl (quoth he, and sadly tells the tale,)  
Within a little city dwelling was:  
Much cattle had he feeding in his pale,  
And pastures fair, which yielded hay and grass,  
None could be seen in riches him to pass.  
Great store of gold he had, of Gems and treasure,  
He felt no want, but lived at his pleasure.   

A very poor man neete unto him dwelled,  
One little sheep, who fostered at his manger,  
To which in love he mightily excelled  
And in his bosom shrouded her from danger.  
Now to this Miser's house there came a stranger.  
And sparing all his own, unto the feast  
He butchted up, and eat the poor man's beast.   

Hereat was David very sore incensed,  
He chafed, and raged thereat exceedingly:  
Without revenge his wrath could not be quenched,  
He swore the man that did the sin should die,  
Himself would see him tortured by and by.  
Thou, thou (quoth Nathan) art the man indeed  
That hath commitred this detested deed.   

Thus saith thy God, thou wert a shepherds boy,  
A servile art, and feddest sheep in field:  
Then wert thou subject unto much annoy,  
A russet cloak did thee from weather shield.  
And livedst of the fruit thy flock did yield.  
A shepherds hook upon thy back thou borest,  
A leather scrip about thy neck thou worest.   

Then ioyest thou to gather filberts ripe,  
To play at Barleybreak amongst the Swains:  
To tune rude Odes upon an Oaten pipe,  
Thy feeding herds to follow on the plains,  
And drive them back again, no little pains  
From greedy wolves to shield thy tender Lambs,  
And meat to fetch unto their blating Dams.   

And now thy title low I have suborned,  
Made thee my Prophet of a shepherd base:  
And with a Regal Crown thine head adorned,  
I changed thy sheephook to a ptincelie Mace:  
What earthly man is now in higher place?  
Thou hadst seven brethren goodlier in blee.  
Yet I refusing them, made choice of thee.   

I overthrew Goliah with thy sling,  
Thou but a dwarf, and he a Giant tall,  
I gave to thee the daughter of a King,  
I saved thee from the hands of murdering Saul,  
I gave thee wives, and concubines and all.  
I made thee feed my people Osrael,  
And all because I loved thee so well.   

And if in heart thou hadst desired more,  
More also had I added to thy life:  
But thou of wives although thou hadst store,  
Hast taken unto thee Urias wife,  
And caused him to be slain by Amman's knife.  
And walking still in this absurdity,  
Thinkst to conceal this heinous sin from me.   

Now whilst thou liv'st, for this which thou hast done,  
The sword shall never from thy house departed:  
And of thy seed thou shalt beget a sonne,  
Which shall pursue thee with a deadly dart.  
Now is the Psalmist stroken to the heart.  
Three sundry times endeavoured he to speak,  
Three times he sobbed as though his heart would break   

And now at last gins he to relent,  
A shower of tears distilled from his eyes:  
His heart is humbled, fearing to be shent,  
And lifting mind and hands unto the skies,  
Peecavi Deus, many times he cries:  
Rise up (quoth Nathan) God doth hear thy cry  
Thy sin is pardoned, but thy child shall die.   

And then in heart as lowly as a child,  
Betakes him to his chamber all alone:  
There weary he before his maker mild,  
And oftimes sobbing, maketh piteous moan,  
Complaining other help it he hath none.  
Thus in the end distressed as he stood,  
He took his harp and warbled out this Ode.   

DAVID'S ODE.  

O Great Creator of the starry Pole,  
and heavenly things:  
O mighty founder of the earthly mole,  
chief king of Kings.  
Whose gentle pardon evermore is near,  
To them which cry unfeignedly with fear,  
Distressed with sin,  
I now begin,  
To come to thee, O Lord give ear,   

O Lord look down from thy chrystallin throne,  
environed round,  
With Seraphins, and Angels many one,  
thy praise who sound:  
Such favour Lord on me vouchsafe to send,  
As on thy chosen flock thou dost extend.  
To thee alone  
I make my moan.  
Some pity father on me send.   

Remember Lord, that it is more than need,  
to send redress.  
My sore will grow (unless thou help with speed)  
remediless.  
Therefore in mercy look down from above,  
And visit me with thy heart-joying love.  
Alas, I see  
No cause in me  
Which unto pity may thee move.   

With sin I only have offended thee,  
O Lord my God,  
And therewithal I purchased have to me  
thine heavy rod:  
The weight of it doth press me very sore,  
And brings me well nigh to despair his door.  
Alas I shame  
To tell the same:  
It is before thee evermore.   

And this is not first time I sinned alas,  
by many more:  
Within the womb in sin conceived I was,  
Borne was I so.  
And since that day I neveryet did cease,  
From time to time thy highness to displease.  
My life hath been  
A race of sin:  
Me with thy comfort somewhat ease.   

O why did I offend thy glorious Grace  
so heinously?  
Why feared I not the presence-of thy face  
who stoodst by?  
Because I should acknowledge-thee most just,  
And in mine own uprightness should not trust:  
Frail is my fleshes  
I must confess,  
And nought is it but sin and dust.   

If thou shalt me asperge with sprinkling grass,  
or Hyssop green:  
As Crystal pure, or as the shining glass,  
I shall be clean,  
And if thou wilt me wash with water clear,  
More white than Scythan snow I shall appear  
Then whitest snow  
which wind doth blow  
From place to place both far and near.   

My mind O Lord, infectious and foul,  
make clean and pure:  
Into thy hands I humbly give my soul  
to heal and cure.  
Out of thy book all mine offences blot,  
And with thy blood quite take away my spot.  
So shall my heart  
Be free from smart,  
And mine offences quite forgot.   

Turn back thy face which all things doth behold  
from heavens vault:  
Lest thou espy my trespass manifold,  
and heinous fault.  
My faults, which are in number many more  
Then little sands which are upon the shore,  
refrain thine ire,  
I thee desire,  
And also heal my deadly sore.   

Within my breast (O Lord) an humble spirit.  
do thou create:  
And of thy comfort do not me disherit,  
I thee entreat.  
Let me enjoy the sunshine of thy face,  
Take not from me the solace of thy grace,  
The holy Ghost:  
My comfort most.  
Let me retain in any case.   

My tongue untie, my lips (O Lord) resolve,  
thou art the key:  
So will my tongue thy mercy great revolve,  
from day to day-  
Then shall the wicked learn by mine example,  
To keep thy statutes which be sweet and ample  
And seeing me,  
shall turn to thee,  
And in the right way learn to trample.   

Wouldst thou have been with sacrifice content,  
much fat of Rams,  
Much incense sweet on thee would I have spent  
and blood of Lambs:  
But thou (O God) thereto hast no respect,  
A broken heart thou never wilt reject:  
That sacrifice  
Is of most price,  
That only with thee takes effect.   

Be gentle Lord to thy Sionian town,  
bow down thy face,  
And on thy Shalem send thy mercy down,  
and loving grace:  
Re-edify her bulwarks like to fall,  
And up again build her decaying wall.  
Then will I praise  
Thy name always.  
And give burnt offerings therewithal.   

Thus did the Psalmist warble out his plaints,  
And ceaseth not from day to day to moon,  
His heart with anguish of his sorrow faints.  
And still he knelt before his maker's throne.  
At midnight sends he many a grievous groan.  
So did his God in mercy on him look.  
And all his sins did race out of his book.   
F. S.   
FINIS.