The Muses Elizium lately discouered, by a new way ouer Parnassus. The passages therein, being the subiect of ten sundry nymphalls, leading three diuine poemes, Noahs floud. Moses, his birth and miracles. David and Golia. By Michael Drayton Esquire.
Drayton, Michael, 1563-1631., Drayton, Michael, 1563-1631. Moyses in a map of his miracles. aut
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Page 121
MOSES HIS BIRTH AND MIRACLES.
THE FIRST BOOKE.
¶ The Argument.
This Canto our attracted Muse
The Prophets glorious birth pursues,
The various changes of his fate,
From humblenesse to high estate,
His beautie, more than mortall shape,
From Egypt how be doth escape,
By his faire bearing in his flight;
Obtaines the louely Midianite,
Where God vnto the Hebrew spake,
Appearing from the burning brake,
And backe doth him to Egypt send,
That mighty things doth there intend.
GIrt in bright flames, rapt from celestiall fire,
That our vnwearied faculties refine,
By zeale transported boldly we aspire
To sing a subiect gloriously diuine:
Him that of 〈◊〉 onely had the grace,
(On whom the Spirit did in such power descend)
Page 122To talke with God face, opposite to face,
Euen as a man with his familiar friend.
〈◊〉〈◊〉 the vtmost of thy might,
That with an armed and auspitious wing,
Thou be obsequious in his doubtlesse right
Gainst the 〈◊〉 Atheists vituperious sting:
Where thou that 〈◊〉 industriously maist flic,
Which Nature 〈◊〉 but fainedly to goe,
Borne by a power so eminent and hie,
As in his course leaues reason farre below,
To shew how Poesie (simplie hath her praise)
That from full Ioue taken her celestiall birth,
And quicke as fire, her glorious selfe can raise
Aboue this base abhominable earth:
O if that Time haue happily reseru'd,
(Besides that sacred and canonicke writ,
What once in Slates and Barkes of trees was keru'd)
Things that our Muses grauitie may fit,
Vnclaspe the worlds great Register to mee,
That smoakie rust hath very neere defac'd,
That I in those dim Characters may see,
From common eyes that hath aside beene cast,
And thou Translator of that faithfull Muse
This ALLS creation that diuinely song,
From Courtly French (no trauaile 〈◊〉 refuse)
To make him Master of thy Genuin cong,
Salust to thee and 〈◊〉 thy friend,
Comes my high 〈◊◊〉 and chaste,
Your hallow'd labours humbly to attend
That wrackfull Time shall not haue power to waste.
A gallant Hebrew (in the height of life)
〈◊〉 a Leuis honourably bred,
Of the same off-spring wan a 〈◊〉 wise,
And no lesse vertuous, goodly 〈◊〉
So fitly pair'd that (without all ostent)
Euen of the wise it hardly could be sayd
Page 123Which of the two was most preheminent,
Or he more honour'd, or she more obayd,
In both was found that liueliehood and meetnes,
By which affection any way was mou'd:
In him that shape, in her there was that sweetnes,
Might make him lik'd or her to be belou'd:
As this commixtion, so their maried mind
Their good corrected, or their ill releeu'd,
As truly louing as discreetly kinde,
Mutuallie ioy'd, as mutuallie greeu'd:
Their nuptiall bed by abstinence maintain'd,
Yet still gaue fewell to Loues sacred fire,
And when fruition plentifulli'st gain'd,
Yet were they chaste in fulnes of desire.
Now grieued Israel many a wofullday.
That at their vile seruilitie repin'd,
Press'd with the burdens of rude boist'rous clay,
By sterne Egyptian tyrannie asfign'd:
Yet still the more the 〈◊〉 are opprest
Like to Frim seed they fructifie the more
That by th'eternall prouidence fore-blest,
Goshen giues roomth but scantly to their store.
And the wise Midwiues in their naturall neede,
That the faire males immediatlie should kill,
Hating sabhord, and Hethenish a deede,
Check his harsh brutenes and rebellious will.
That small effect perceiuing by the same,
Bids the men-children (greatelie that abound)
After that day into the world that came,
Vpon their birth should instantly be drownd:
And now the time came had bin long foretold,
He should be borne vnto the Hebrewes ioy,
Whose puissant hand such fatall power should hold,
As in short time all Egipt should destroy.
The execution which more strongly forc'd,
And euery where so generally done,
As in small time vnnaturally diuorc'd,
Page 124Many a deare Mother, and as deare a Sonne.
Though her chast bosome that faire Altar were,
Where Loues pure vowes he dutifully pay'd,
His Armes to her a Sanctuary deare,
Yet they so much his tyranny obay'd,
By free consent to separate their bed,
Better at all no Children yet to haue,
Then their deare loue should procreate the dead,
Vntimely issue for a timelesse graue.
When in a vision whilst he slept by night,
God bids him so not lacobed to leaue,
The man that Egypt did so much affright,
Her pregnant wombe should happily conceaue. *
Soone after finding that she was with child,
The same conceales by all the meanes she can,
Left by th'apparance she might be beguild,
If in the birth it prou'd to be a man.
The time she goes till her accompt was nie,
Her swelling belly no conception showes,
Nor at the time of her deliuery,
As other women panged in her throwes.
When lo the faire fruit of that prospering wombe
Wounds the kinde parents in their prime of ioy.
Whose birth pronounceth his too timelesse doombe
Accus'd by Nature, forming it a boy:
Yet tis so sweet, so amiably faire,
That their pleas'd cies with rapture it behold,
The glad sad parents full of ioy and care
Faine would reserue their Insant if they could,
And still they tempt the sundrie varying howers,
Hopes and despaires together strangely mixt,
Distasting sweets with many cordiall sowers,
Opposed interchangeably betwixt.
If ought it ayl'd or hapleslie it cride,
Vnheard of any that she might it keepe,
With one short breath she did intreat and chide,
And in a moment she did sing and weepe.
Page 125Three lab'ring months them flatterer-like beguilde,
And danger still redoubling as it lasts,
Suspecting most the safety of the Childe,
Thus the kinde Mother carefully forecasts:
(For at three moneths a scrutinie was held,
And searchers then sent euery where about,
That in that time if any were conceal'd,
They should make proofe and straitly bring them out:)
To Pharoes will she awfully must bow,
And therefore hastens to abridge these feares,
And to the flood determines it shall goe,
Yet ere it went shee'll drowne it with her teares.
This afternoone Loue bids a little stay,
And yet these pauses doe but lengthen sorrow,
But for one night although she make delay,
She vowes to goe vnto his death tomorrow.
The morning comes, it is too early yet,
The day so fast not hast'ning on his date,
The gloomy Euening murther best doth fit,
The Euening come, and then it is too late.
Her pretty Infant lying on her lap
With his sweet eyes her threatning rage beguiles,
For yet he playes, and dallyes with his pap,
To mock her sorrowes with his am'rous smiles,
And laugh'd, and chuck'd: and spred the pretty hands,
When her full heart was at the point to breake,
(This little Creature yet not vnderstands
The wofull language mothers teares did speake.)
Wherewith surpriz'd, and with a parents loue,
From his faire eyes she doth fresh couragetake,
And Natures lawes allowing, doth reproue
The fraile Edicts that mortall Princes make.
It shall not die, she'll keepe her child vnknowne,
And come the worst in spight of Pharoes rage,
As it is hers, she will dispose her owne,
And if't must, it'st die at riper age.
And thus reuoluing of her frailties care,
Page 126A thousand strange 〈◊〉 throng her troubled minde,
Sounding the dangers 〈◊〉 what they are,
Betwixt the lawes of cruelty and kinde.
But it must die, and better yet to part,
Since preordain'd to this 〈◊〉 fate,
His want will sit the neerer to the heart
In riper and more flourishing estate,
The perfect husband whose 〈◊〉 soule,
Tooke true proportion of each 〈◊〉 throw,
Yet had such power his passion to controule,
As not the same immedintely to show,
With carriage full of comelinesse and grace,
As griefe not felt nor sorrow seem'd to lacke,
Courage and seare so temp'red in his face,
Thus his beloued Iacobed bespake.
Deare heart be patient, stay these timelesse teares,
Death of thy Son shall neuer quite 〈◊〉 thee,
My soule with thine, that equall burthen beares,
As what he takes, my Loue againe shall giue thee;
For Israels sinne if Israels seed must suffer,
And we of meere necessity must leaue him,
Please yet to grace me with this gentle offer,
Giue him to me by whom thou didst conceyue him.
So though thou with so deare a 〈◊〉 part,
This yet remayneth lastly to 〈◊〉 thee,
Thou hast impos'd this hindrance on my heart,
Anothers losse shall need the lesse to grieue thee,
Nor are we 〈◊〉 abiect by our name,
Though thus in Egypt hatefully despised,
That we that blessing fruitlefly should clayme
Once in that holy 〈◊〉 comprised,
It is not fit Mortality should know
What his eternall prouidence 〈◊〉
That vnto Abraham〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉
In happy Sara and her 〈◊〉 seed.
Nor shall the wrong to godly 〈◊〉 one
In his remembranee euer he 〈◊〉
Page 127By Iacobs sighes for his lost little sonne
A Captiu'd slaue to the Egyptians sould:
Reason sets limmets to the longest griefe,
Sorrow scarse past when comfort is returning,
He sends affliction that can lend releefe,
Best that is pleas'd with measure in our mourning.
Lost in her selfe, her spirits are so distracted,
All hopes dissolu'd might 〈◊〉 her further,
Her minde seemes now of misery compacted,
That must consent vnto so deere a murther.
Of slime and twigs she makes a simple shread
(The poore last duty to her child she owes
This pretty martyr, this yet liuing dead)
Wherein she doth his little corps enclose:
And meanes to beare it presently away,
And in some water secretly bestow it,
But yet a while bethinkes her selfe to stay,
Some little kindnesse she doeth further owe it:
Nor will she in this cruelty perseuer,
That by her meanes his timelesse blood be spilt,
If of her owne she doth her selfe deliuer,
Let others hands be nocent of the guilt:
Yet if she keepe it from the ruthlesse flood
That is by Pharo's tyranny 〈◊〉 it,
What bootes that wretched miserable good,
If so dispos'd where none doe come to finde it,
For better yet the Homicide should kill it,
Or by some beast in peeces to be rent,
Than lingring famine cruelly should spill it,
That it endure a double languishment:
And neighbouring neere to the Egyptian Court,
She knowes a place that neere the riuer side
Was oft frequented by the worthier sort,
For now the spring was newly in her pride.
Thither she hastes but with a 〈◊〉 speed
The ueerest way she possibly could get,
And by the cleere brimme mongst the flags and reede,
Page 128Her little Coffin carefully she set:
Her little Girle (the Mother following neere)
As of her Brother that her leaue would take,
Which the sad woman vnexpecting there,
Yet it to helpe her kindely thus bespake:
(Quoth she) sweet Miriam secretly attend,
And for his death see who approacheth hether,
That once for all assured of his end,
His dayes and mine be consummate together,
It is some comfort to a wretch to die
(If there be comfort in the way of death)
To haue some friend or kinde alliance by,
To be officious at the parting breath:
Thus she departs, oft stayes, oft turneth backe,
Looking about lest any one espi'd her,
Faine would she leaue, that leauing she doth lacke,
That in this sort so strangely doth diuide her.
Vnto what Dame (participating kinde)
My verse her sad perplexitie shall showe,
That in a softned and relenting minde
Findes not a true touch of that Mothers woe.
Yet all this while full quietly it slept,
(Poore little Brat incapable of care)
Which by that powerfull prouidence is kept,
Who doth this childe for better daies prepare.
See here an abiect vtterly forlorne,
Left to destruction as a violent prey,
Whom man might iudge accursed to be borne,
To darke obliuion moulded vp in clay,
That man of might in after times should bee
(The bounds of 〈◊〉 mortality that brake)
Which that Almighty gloriously should see,
When he in thunder on mount Sinai spake.
Now Pharaoh's Daughter Termuth young & faire,
With such choyce Maydens as she fauour'd most,
Needes would abroad to take the gentle ayre,
Whilst the rich yeere his braueries seem'd to boast:
Page 129Softly she walkes downe to the secret flood,
Through the calme shades most peaceable & quiet,
In the coole streames to check the pampred blood,
Stir'd with strong youth and their delicious diet;
Such as the Princesse, such the day addressed,
As though prouided equally to paire her,
Either in other fortunately blessed
She by the day, the day by her made falrer,
Both in the height and fulnesse of their pleasure,
As to them both some future good diuining,
Holding a steadie and accomplish'd measure,
This in her perfect clearenesse, that in shining.
The very ayre to emulate her meekenesse,
Stroue to be bright and peaceable as she,
That it grew iealous of that sodaine sleekenesse,
Fearing it ofter otherwise might be:
And if the fleet winde by some rigorous gale
Seern'd to be mou'd, and patiently to chide her,
It was as angry with her lawnie vaile,
That from his sight it enuiously should hide her:
And now approching to the flow'rie meade
Where the rich Summer curiously had dight her,
Which seem'd in all her 〈◊〉 arayde,
With Natures cost and pleasures to delight her:
See this most blessed, this vnusuall hap,
She the small basket sooner should espie,
That the Childe wak'd, and missing of his pap,
As for her succour in stantly did cry;
Forth of the flagges she caus'd it to be taken,
Calling her Maids this Orphanet to see,
Much did she ioy an Innocent forsaken
By her from perill priuiledg'd might be:
This most sweet Princesse pittifull and milde,
Soone on her knee vnswathes it as her owne,
Found for a man, so beautifull a Childe,
Might for an Hebrew easily be knowne:
Noting the caro in dressing it bestow'd,
Page 130Each thing that fitted gentlenesse to weare,
Iudg'd the sad parents this lost Infant ow'd,
Were as invulgar as their fruit was faire,
(Saith she) my minde not any way suggests
An vnchaste wombe these lineaments hath bred,
For thy faire brow apparently contests
The currant stampe of a cleane nuptiall bed:
She nam'd it Moyses, which in time might tell
(For names doe many mysteries expound)
When it was young the chance that it befell,
How by the water strangely it was found,
Calling Melch women that Egyptians were,
Once to the teat his lips he would not lay,
As though offended with their sullied leare,
Seeming as still to turne his head away.
The little Girle that neere at hand did lurke,
(Thinking this while she tarried but too long)
Finding these things so happily to worke,
Kindely being crafty, wise as she was yong,
Madame (saith she) wilt please you I prouide
A Nurse to breed the Infant you did finde,
There is an Hebrew dwelling here beside,
I know can doe it fitly to your minde:
For a right Hebrew if the Infant be,
(As well produce you instances I can,
And by this Childe as partly you may see,)
It will not sucke ofan Egyptian.
The courteous Princesse offered now so faire,
That which before she earnestly desir'd,
That of her foundling had a speciall care,
The Girle to fetch her instantly requir'd:
Away the Girle goes, doth her Mother tell
What fauor God had to her brother showne,
And what else in this accident befell,
That she might now be Nurse vnto her owne.
Little it bootes to bid the Wench to ply her,
Nor the kinde Mother hearken to her sonne,
Page 131Nor to prouoke her to the place to hie her,
Which seem'd not now on earthly feete to runne:
Slow to her selfe yet hasting as she flew,
(So fast affection forward did her beare)
As though 〈◊〉 with the breath she drew,
Borne by the force of nature and of feare,
Little the time, and little is the way,
And for her businesse eithers speede doth craue,
Yet in her haste 〈◊〉 her what to say,
And how her selfe in presence to behaue,
Slack shee'l not seeme lest to anothers trust
Her hopefull charge were happily directed,
Nor yet too forward shew her selfe she must,
Lest her sweet fraud thereby might be suspected,
Com'n she doth bow her humbly to the ground,
And euery ioynt incessantly doth tremble,
Gladnesse and feare each other so consound,
So hard a thing for Mothers to dissemble.
Saith this sweet Termuth, well I like thy beautie,
Nurse me this Childe (if it thy state behooue)
Although a Prince ile not enforce thy dutie,
But pay thy labour, and reward thy loue:
Though euen as Gods is Pharaohs high command,
And as strong Nature so precise and strict,
There rests that power yet in a Princesse hand,
To free one Hebrew from this strong edict:
That shall in rich abilliments be dight,
Deck'd in the Iems that 〈◊〉 shine,
Wearing our owne roabe gracious in our sight,
Free in our Court, and nourished for mine:
Loue him deare Hebrew as he were thine owne,
Good Nurse be carefull of my little Boy,
In this to vs thy kindenesse may be showne,
Some Mothers griefe, is now a May dens ioy.
This while all mute, the poore astonish'd Mother,
With admiration as transpeareed stood,
One 〈◊〉 ioy doth so confound another,
Page 132Passion so powerfull in her rauish'd blood.
Whisp'ring some soft words which deliuered were,
As rather seem'd her silence to impart,
And being inforc'd from bashfulnesse and feare,
Came as true tokens of a gracefull heart.
Thus she departs her husband to content,
With this deare present backe to him she brought,
Making the time short, telling each euent,
In all shapes ioy presented to her thought.
Yet still his manly modesty was such
(That his affections strongly so controlde,)
As if ioy seem'd his manly heart to touch,
It was her ioy and gladnesse to behold:
When all reioyc'd vnmou'd thereat the whiles,
In his graue face such constancie appeares,
As now scarse shewing comfort in his smiles,
Nor then reuealing sorrow in his teares:
Yet oft beheld it with that stedfast eye,
Which though itsdain'd the pleasdnesse to confesse,
More in his lookes in fulnesse there did lie,
Than all their words could any way expresse.
In time the Princesse playing with the Childe, *
In whom she seem'd her chiefe delight to take,
With whom she oft the wearie time beguil'd,
That as her owne did of this Hebrew make:
It so fell out as 〈◊〉 was in place,
Seeing his daughter in the Childe to ioy,
To please the Princesse, and to doe it grace,
Himselfe vouchsafes to entertaine the Boy:
Whose shape and beautie when he did he hold
With much content his Princely eye that fed,
Giuing to please it, any thing it would,
Set his rich Crowne vpon the Infants head,
Which this weake Childe regarding not at all
(As such a Babie carelesly is meete)
Vnto the ground the Diadem let fall
Spurning it from him with neglectsull fecte.
Page 133Which as the Priests beheld this ominous thing
(That else had past vnnoted as a toy.)
As from their skill report vnto the King,
This was the man that Egypt should destroy.
Tolde by the Magi that were learn'd and wise,
Which might full well the iealous King enflame,
Said by th' Egyptian ancient prophecies
That might giue credite easlier to the same.
She as discrecte as she was chaste and faire,
With Princely gesture and with count'nance milde
By things that hurtfull and most dangerous were
Showes to the King the weakenesse of the Childe:
Hot burning coales doth to his mouth present,
Which he to handle simply doth not sticke,
This little foole, this retchlesse Innocent
The burning gleed with his soft tongue doth licke:
Which though in Pharaoh her desire it wrought,
His babish imbecilitie to see,
To the Childes speech impediment it brought,
From which he after neuer could be free.
The Childe grew vp, when in his manly faco.
Beautie was seene in an vnusuall cheere,
Such mixtures sweet of comelinesse and grace
Likely apparell'd in complexion cleere.
The part of earth contends with that of heauen,
Both in their proper puritie excelling,
To whether more preheminence was giuen,
Which should excell the dweller or the dwelling.
Mens vsuall stature he did farre 〈◊〉
And euery part proportioned so well,
The more the eye vpon his shape did feede,
The more it long'd vpon the same to dwell:
Each ioynt such perfect Harmonie did 〈◊〉
That curious iudgement taking any lim
Searching might misse to match it any where,
Nature so fail'd in parallelling him:
His haire bright yellow, on an arched brow
Page 134Sate all the beauties kinde could euer frame,
And did them there so orderly bestow,
As such a seate of maiestie became,
As time made perfect each exteriour part,
So still his honour with his yeeres encreas'd,
That he sate Lord in many a tender heart,
With such high sauours his faire youth was bless'd.
So fell it out that AEthiop〈◊〉 began,
Inuading Egypt with their armed powers,
And taking spoiles, the Country ouer-ran
To where as Memphis vaunts her climing Towers
Wherefore they with their Oracles conferre
About th'euent, which doe this answere make,
That if they would transport this ciuill warre,
They to their Captaine must an Hebrew take.
And for faire Moyses happily was growne
Of so great towardnesse and especiall hope,
Him they doe choose as absoluiest knowne
To leade their power against the AEthiope.
Which they of Termuth hardly can obtaine,
Though on their Altars by their Gods they vowe
Him to deliuer safe to her againe,
(Once the warre ended) safe as he was now.
Who for the way the Armie was to passe,
That by th' Egyptians onely was intended,
Most part by water, more prolixious was
Than present perill any whit commended:
To intercept the AEthiopians wrought
A way farre nearer who their Legions led,
Which till that time impassible was thought,
Such store of Serpents in that place was bred:
Deuis'd by Birds this danger to eschew,
Whereof in Egypt〈◊〉 exceeding store,
The Storke, and Ibis, which he wisely knew,
All kindes of Serpents naturally abhore.
Which he in Baskets of AEgyptian reede,
Borne with his caridge easely doth conuay,
Page 135And wherein campeth sets them forth to feede,
Which driue the Serpents presently away.
Thus them preuenting by this subtill course,
That all their succour sodainly bereft,
When AEthiop flies before th' Egyptian force.
Shut vp in Saba their last refuge left.
Which whilst with strait siedge they beleagred long,
The Kings faire Daughter haps him to behold,
And became fettered with affection strong,
Which in short time could hardly be controlde.
Tarbis that kindled this rebellious rage, *
That they to Egypt tributorie were,
When the olde King decrepit now with age,
She in his stead the loueraigntic did beare.
Vp to his Tower where she the Camp might see,
To looke her new Loue euery day she went,
And when he hap'ned from the field to be,
She thought her blest beholding but his Tent,
And oftentimes doth modestly inuay
Gainst him the Citie walled first about,
That the strong site should churlishly denay
Him to come in, or her for passing out,
Had the gates beene but softned as her breast
(That to behold her loued enemie stands)
He had ere this of Saba beene possest,
And therein planted the Egyptian bands:
Ost from a place as secretly she might
(That from her Pallace look'd vnto his Tent)
When he came forth appearing in his sight,
Shewing by signes the loue to him she ment.
For in what armes it pleas'd him to be dight,
After the Hebrew or th' Egyptian guise:
He was the brauest, the most goodly wight
That euer graced AEthiop with his eyes.
And finding meanes to parley from a place,
By night, her passion doth to him discouer,
To yeeld the Citie if he would 〈◊〉.
Page 136Her a true Princesse, as a faithfull Louer.
The feature of so delicate a Dame,
Motiues sufficient to his youth had beene,
But to be Lord of Kingdomes by the same,
And of so great and absolute a Queene,
Soone gently stole him from himselfe away.
That doth to him such rarities partake,
Offring so rich, so excellent a prey,
Louing the treason for the Traytors sake.
But whilst he liued in this glorious vaine,
Israel his conscience oftentimes doth moue,
That all this while in Egypt did remaine
Vertue and grace o'recomming youth and loue.
And though God knowes vnwilling to depart,
From so high Empire wherein now he stood,
And her that sate so neere vnto his heart,
Such power hath Israel in his happie blood,
By skill to quit him sorcibly he wrought,
As he was learn'd and traded in the starres,
Both by the Hebrewes, and th' Egyptian: taught,
That were the first, the best Astronomers,
Two sundry figures makes, whereof the one
Cause them that weare it all things past forget, *
As th'other of all accidents foregone
The memory as eagerly doth whet.
Which he insculped in two likely stones,
For rarenesse of inualuable price,
And cunningly contriu'd them for the nones
In likely rings of excellent deuise:
That of obliuion giuing to his Queene,
Which soone made show the violent effect
Forgot him straight as he had neuer beene,
And did her former kindenesses neglect.
The other (that doth memorie 〈◊〉)
Him with the loue of Israel doth enflame,
Departing thence not how the Princesse wist.
In peace he leaues her as in warre he came.
Page 137But all the pleasures of th' Egyptian Court,
Had not such power vpon his springing yeeres,
As had the sad and tragicall report
Of the rude burdens captiu'd Israel beares,
Nor what regards he to be grac'd of Kings?
Or flatred greatnes idely to awaite?
Or what respects he the negotiating
Matters comporting Emperie and State?
The bondage and seruilitie that lay
On buried Israel (sunke in ordurous slime)
His greeued spirit downe heauily doth way,
That to leane care ost leant the prosperous time
A wreched Hebrew hap'ned to behold
Brus'd with sad burdens without all remorse
By an Egyptian barb'rously controlde,
Spurning his pin'd and miserable corse
Which he beholding vexed as he stood,
His faire veines swelling with impatient fire,
Pittie and rage so wrestled in his blood
To get freepassage to conceaued ire,
Rescuing the man th' Egyptian doth resist:
(Which from his vile hands forcibly he tooke)
And by a strong blowe with his valiant fist,
His hatefull breath out of his nostrils strooke,
Which through his courage boldly 〈◊〉 auerre,
In the proud power of his 〈◊〉 hand.
Yet from high honour deigneth to interre,
The 〈◊〉 carkasse in the smouldring sand.
Which then supposd in secret to be wrought,
Yet still hath Enuie such 〈◊〉 lealous eye,
As soorth the same incontinent it sought,
And to the King deliuered by and by,
Which soone gaue vent to Pharo's couered wrath,
Which till this instant reason did confine,
Opening a strait way, and 〈◊〉 path
Vnto that greate and terrible designe:
Most for his safety foreing his 〈◊〉
Page 138When now affliction euery day did breed,
And when reuengfull tyrannie did 〈◊〉
The greatest horrour to the Hebrew seed:
To Midian now his Pilgrimage he tooke,
Midian earthes onely Paradice fer pleasures,
Where many a soft Rill, many a sliding Brooke,
Through the sweet vallie, trip in wonton measures,
Whereas the curl'd Groues and the flowrie fields,
To his free soule so peaceable and quiet
More true delight and choise contentment yeelds,
Than Egipts braueries and luxurious die:
And wandring 〈◊〉 he hap'ned on a Well,
Which he by pathes frequented might espie,
Bordred with trees where pleasure seem'd to dwell,
Where to repose him, easily downe doth lie:
Where the soft windes did mutually embrace,
In the coole Arbours Nature there had made,
Fanning their sweet breath gently in his face
Through the calme cincture of the am'rous shade.
Till now it nigh'd the noone-stead of the day,
When scorching heat the gadding Heards do grieue.
When Shepheards now and Heardsmen euery way,
Their thirsting Cattell to the Fountaine driue:
Amongst the rest seuen Shepheardesses went
Along the way for watring of their Sheepe,
Whose eyes him seemed such reflection sent,
As made the Flocks euen white that they did keepe:
Girles that so goodly and delightfull were,
The fields were fresh and fragrant in their viewe,
Winter was as the Spring time of the yeere,
The grasse so proud that in their footsteps grewe:
Daughters they were vnto a holy man,
(And worthy too of such a Sire to be)
Iethro the Priest of fertile Midian,
Few found so iust, so righteous men as he.
But see the rude Swaine, the vntutour'd slaue,
Without respect or reu'rence to their kinde.
Page 139Away their faire flocks from the water draue,
Such is the nature of the barb'rous Hinde.
The Maides (perce uing where a stranger sat)
Of whom those Clownes so basely did esteeme,
Were in his presence discontent thereat,
Whom hee perhaps improuident might deeme.
Which he perceauing kindely doth entreate,
Reproues the Rusticks for that off'red wrong,
Auerring it an iniurie too great,
To such (ofright) all kindenesse did belong.
But finding well his Oratorie faile,
His fists about him frankly he 〈◊〉
That where perswasion could not late preuaile,
He yet compelleth quickly by his blowes.
Entreates the Dam'sels their aboade to make.
(With Courtly semblance and a manly grace,)
At their faire pleasures quietly to take,
What might be had by freedome of the place.
Whose beautie, shape, and courage they admire,
Exceeding these, the honour of his minde,
For what in mortall could their hearts desire,
That in this man they did not richly finde?
Returning sooner then their vsuall hower,
All that had hapned to their Fathers tould,
That such a man relieu'd them by his power,
As one all ciuill curtesie that could:
Who full of bountie hospitably meeke
Of his behauiour greatly pleas'd to heare,
Forthwith commands his seruants him to seeke,
To honour him by whom his honour'd were:
Gently receiues him to his goodly seat,
Feasts him his friends and families among,
And him with all those offices entreat,
That to his place and vertues might belong:
Whilst in the beauty of those goodly Dames,
Wherein wise Nature her owne skill admires,
He feeds those secret and impiercing flames,
Page 140Nurs'd in fresh youth, and gotten in desires:
Wonne with this man this princely Priest to dwell,
For greater hire then bounty could deuise,
For her whose prayse makes prayse it selfe excell,
Fairer then sairenesse, and as wisedome wise.
In her, her Sisters seuerally were seene,
Of euery one she was the rarest part,
Who in her presence any time had beene,
Her Angell eye transpierced not his heart.
For Zipora a Shepheards life he leads,
And in her sight deceiues the subtill howres,
And for her sake oft robsthe flowrie meades,
With those sweet spoiles t'enrich her rurall bowres.
Vp to mount Horeb with his flocke he tooke,
The flocke wise lethro willed him to keepe,
Which well he garded with his Shepheards crooke,
Goodly the Shepheard, goodly were the Sheepe:
To feede and folde sull warily he knew,
From Fox and Wolfe his wandring flockes to free,
The goodli'st flowers that in the meadowes grew
Were not more fresh and beautifull than hec.
Gently his fayre flockes lessowd he along,
Through the Frim pastures freely at his leasure,
Now on the hills, the vallies then among,
Which seeme themfelues to offer to his pleasure.
Whilst featherd Siluans from each blooming spray,
With murm'ring waters wistly as they creepe,
Make him such musicke (to abridge the way,)
As fits a Shepheard company to keepe.
When loe that great and fearefull God of might
To that faire Hebrew strangely doth appeare,
In a bush burning visible and bright
Yet vnconsuming as no fire there were:
With hayre erected and 〈◊〉 eyes,
Whilst he with great astonishment admires,
Eoe that eternall Rector of the skies,
Thus breathes to 〈◊〉 from those quickning 〈◊〉
Page 141Shake off thy Sandals (saith the thund'ring God)
With humbled feet my wondrous power to see.
For that the soyle where thou hast boldly trod,
Is most select and hallowed vnto me:
The righteous Abraham for his God me knew,
Isaac and Iacob trusted in mine Name,
And did beleeue my Couenant was true,
Which to their seed shall propagate the same:
My folke that long in Egypt〈◊〉 heene bard,
Whose cries haue entred heauens eternall gate,
Our z alous mercy openly hath heard,
Kneeling in teares at our eternall State.
And am come downe, them in the Land to see,
Where streames of milke through batiull Valleys flow,
And lushious hony dropping from the tree,
Load the full flow'rs that in the shadowes grow:
By thee my power am purposed to trie,
That from rough bondage shalt the Hebrewes bring,
Bearing that great and fearfull Embassie
To that Monarchall and Emperious King.
And on this Mountaine (standing in thy sight,)
When thou returnest from that conquered Land,
Thou hallow'd Altars vnto me shale light,
This for a token certainly shall stand.
O who am I! this wondring man replies,
A wretched mortall that I should be sent,
And stand so cleere in thine eternall eyes,
To doe a worke of such astonishment:
And trembling now with a transfixed heart,
Humbling himselfe before the Lord (quoth hee)
Who shall I tell the Hebrewes that thou art,
That giu'st this large commission vnto me?
Say (quoth the Spirit from that impetuous flame)
Vnto the Hebrewes asking thee 〈◊〉 this,
That 'twas, I A M: which onely is my Name,
God of their Fathers, so my 〈◊〉 is:
Diuert thy course to 〈◊〉 then 〈◊〉
Page 142And to divulge it constantly be bold,
And their glad eares attractiuely retaine,
With what at Sinay Abrahams God hath told:
And tell great Pharo, that the Hebrewes God
Commands from Egypt that he set you free,
Three iournies thence in Desarts farre abroad,
To offer hallow'd sacrifice to mee.
But he refusing to dismisse you so,
On that proud King Ile execute such force
As neuer yet came from the Sling, the Bow,
The keen edg'd Curt'lax, or the puisant Horse;
But if th'afflicted miserable sort
To idle incredulity inclin'd,
Shall not (quoth Moyses) credit my report,
That thou to me hast so great power assign'd.
Cast downe (saith God) thy Ward vnto the ground,
Which hee obaying fearefully, beholde
The same a Serpent sodainly was found,
It selfe contorting into many a solde.
With such amazement Moyses doth surprise
With colde convulsions shrinking euery vaine,
That his affrighted and vplifted eyes
Euen shot with horrour, sinke into his braine.
But being encourag'd by the Lord to take
The vgly taile into his trembling hand,
As from a dreame he sudainely doth wake,
When at the instant it became a wand.
By the same hand into his bosome shut,
Whose eyes his withered leprosie abhor'd,
When forth he drewe it secondly be'ng put,
Vnto the former puritle restor'd.
These signes he giues this sad admiring man,
Which he the weake incredulous should showe,
When this sraile mortall freshly now began
To forge new causes, why vnfit to goe?
Egypt accusing to haue done him wrong,
Scantling that bountie Nature had bestow'd,
Page 143Which had welnere depriu'd him of his tong,
Which to this office chiefesly had beene ow'd;
When he whose wisdome Nature must obey,
In whose resistance reason weakely failes,
To whom all humane instances giue way,
Gainst whom not subtill Argument 〈◊〉
Thus doth reproue this idle vaine excuse,
Who made the mouth? who 〈◊〉 or who the care?
Or who depriues those organs of their vse?
That thou thy imbecillitie should'st feare?
Thy brother Aaron commeth vnto thee.
Which as thy Speaker purposely I bring,
To whom thy selfe euen as a God shalt bee,
And he interpret to th' Egyptian King.
That when he at thy miracles shall wonder,
And wan with feare shall tremble at thy rod,
To feele his power that swayes the dreadfull thunder,
That is a iealous and a fearefull God.
Then shall mine owne selfe purchase me renowne,
And win me honour by my glorious deede
On all the 〈◊〉 on th' Egyptian throne,
That this proud mortall euer shall succeede.
Page 144
THE SECOND BOOKE.
¶ The Argument.
Moyses doth his message bring,
Acts miracles before the King,
With him the Magi doe contend,
Which he doth conquer in the end,
When by the extensure of the wand,
He brings ten plagnes upon the Land,
And in despight of Pharo's pride,
From Goshen〈◊〉 the Hebrewes guide.
WHen now from Midian Moses forward set,
With whom his wife & faire retinew went,
Where on his way him happily hath met
His brother Aron to the Lords intent,
And to the Hebrewes in th'impatient hand,
Of mighty Egypt all his power implies,
And as the Lord expresly did command,
Acteth his wonders in their pleased eyes.
Those myracles mortality beholds
With an astonish'd and distracted looke,
The minde that so amazedly enfolds,
That euery sense the faculty forsooke.
The little Infant with abundant ioy,
To mans estate immediatly is sprung,
And though the old man could not back turne boy,
Casts halfe his yeeres so much becomming yong,
Whilst mirth in fulnesse measureth euery eye,
Each breast is heap'd vp with excesse of pleasure,
Rearing their spred hands to the glorious Skie,
Gladly imbracing the Almighties leasure.
Page 145These Hebrewes entring the Egyptian 〈◊〉
Their great Commission 〈◊◊〉
Which there repulsed as a slight report,
Doth soone denounce defiance to the same.
Where now these men their miracles commend,
By which their power precisely might be tride,
And Pharo for his Sorcerers doth send,
By them the Hebrewes only to deride.
Where Heauen must now apparantly transcend
Th'infernall powers Emperiously to thwart,
And the bright perfect 〈◊〉 contend
With abstruse Magicke and fallacious 〈◊〉
Neuer was so miraculous a strife
Where admiration euer so abounded,
Where wonders were so prodigally rife,
That to behold it Nature stood consounded.
Casting his rod a Serpent that became,
Which he suppos'd with maruaile them might strike,
When euery Priest assaying in the same,
By his black skill did instantly the like:
Which Pharo's breast with arrogance doth fill,
Aboue the high Gods to exalt his power,
When by his might (t'amate their weaker skill)
The Hebrewes rod doth all the rods deuoure:
Which deed of wonder slightly he rejects,
His froward Spirit 〈◊〉 elate,
Which after caus'd those violent effects
That sate on Egypt with the power of Fate.
When he whose wisdome 〈◊〉 the world did fare,
From whom not counsell can her secrets hide,
Forewarneth Moses early to prepare
T'accost the proud King by the riuers side,
What heauenly rapture doth enrich my braine,
And through my blood extrauagantly flowes,
That doth transport 〈◊〉 that endlesse maine,
Whereas th' Almighty his high glories showes?
That holy heat into my Spirit infuse,
And lend that power to our 〈◊〉Muse,
As dwelt in sounds of that sweet Hebruack Lyre.
A taske vnusuall I must now assay,
Striuing through perill to support this masse,
No former foot did euer 〈◊〉 away,
Where I propose unto my selfe to passe.
When Moses meeting the Egyptian King,
Vrgeth a fresh the Israelites depart,
And him by Aaron stoutly menacing,
To try the temper of his stubborne heart.
When loe the Torrent the fleet hurrying flood *
So cleere and perfect Christalline at hand,
As a black lake or setled marish stood
At th'extensure of the Hebrewes wand.
Where Segs, ranck Bulrush, and the sharpned Reed
That with the fluxure of the waue is sed,
Might be discern'd vnnaturally to bleed,
Dying their fresh greene to a sullied red:
Like issuing vlcers euery little Spring,
That being ripened voyd the filthy core,
Their lothsome slime and matter vomiting
Into the Riuers they enrich'd before:
What in her banks hath batning Nilus bred,
Serpent, or Fish, or strange deformed thing
That on her bosome she not beareth dead,
Where they were borne them lastly burying?
That Bird and Beast incontinenly fly
From the detested and contagious stinke,
And rather choose by cruell thirst to dye,
Then once to taste of this contaminate drinke,
And vsefull Cisternes delicatly fild,
With which rich Egypt wondrously abounds,
Looking as Bowles receiuing what was spild
From mortall and immedicable wounds.
That the faint earth euen poys'ned now remaines,
In her owne selfe so grieuously deiected,
Horrid pollution trauailing her vaines,
Desp'rate of cure so dangerously infected
Page 147The spungy soyle, that digging deepe and long
To soke cleere liquor from her plenteous pores,
This bloody issue breaketh out among,
As sickly menstrues or inueterate sores:
Seuen dayes continuing in this flux of blood,
Sadly sits Egypt a full weeke of woe,
Shame taints the brow of euery stew and flood,
Blushing, the world her filthinesse to show.
Yet sdaines proud Pharo Israel thus to free,
Nor this dire plague his hardned heart can tame,
Which he suppos'd but fallaces to bee,
When his Magitians likewise did the same.
When he againe that glorious Rod extends
Gainst him that Heauen denieth thus to dare.
On Egypt soone a second plague that sends,
Which he till now seem'd partially to spare
The soyle, that late the owner did enrich
Him his faire Heards and goodly flocks to feed,
Lies now a leystall a or common ditch,
Where in their Todder loathly Paddocks breed.
Where as the vp-land montanous and hie
To them that sadly doe behold it showes,
As though in labour with this filthy frie,
Stirring with paine in the parturious throwes:
People from windowes looking to the ground,
At this stupendious spectacle amazed,
See but their sorrow euery where abound,
That most abhorring whereon most they gazed.
Their Troughes and Ouens Toadstooles now become,
That Huswifes wont so carefully to keepe,
These loathsome creatures taking vp the roome,
And croking, there continually doe creepe.
And as great Pharo on his Throne is set,
From thence affrighted with this odious thing,
Which crawling vp into the same doth get,
And him deposing fitteth as a King.
The wearied man his spirits that to refresti
Gets to his bed to free him from his feare,
Page 148Scarce laid but feeles them at his naked 〈◊〉
So small the succcur that remaineth there.
No Court so close to which the speckled Toad
By some small cranny creepes not by and by,
No Tower so strong nor naturall aboad,
To which for safety any one might fly:
Egypt now hates the world her so should call,
Of her owne selfe so grieuously asham'd,
And so contemned in the eyes of all,
As but in scorne she scarcely once is nam'd.
When this prophane King with a wounded heart
(His Magi though these miracles could doe)
Sees in his soule one greater then their Art,
Aboue all power, that put a hand thereto:
But as these plagues and sad afflictions ceas'd
At the iust prayer of this milde godlike man,
So Pharoes pride and stubbornesse encreas'd,
And his lewd course this head-strong Mortall ran.
Which might haue surelier setled in his minde,
(At his request which Mosts quickly slew,
Leauing a stench so pestilent behinde)
As might preserue old sorrowes freshly new.
But stay my Muse in height of all this speed,
Somewhat plucks back to quench this sacred heat,
And many perils doth to 〈◊◊〉
In that whereof we seriously entreat.
Lest too concise iniuriously we wrong
Things that such state and fearfulnesse impart,
Or led by zeale irregularly long,
Infringe the curious liberties of Art,
We that calumnious Critick may eschem,
That blasteth all things with his poys'ned breath,
Detracting what laboriously we doe,
Onely with that which he but idely saith.
O be our guide whose lories now we preach,
That aboue Bookes must steere vs in our Fate,
For neuer Ethnick to this day did teach,
Page 149(In this) whose method we might imitate.
When now these men of miracle proceed,
And by extending of that wondrous wand,
As that resistlesse prouidence decreed,
Thereby brings Lyce on the distemp'red Land: *
All struck with Lyce so numberlesse they lie,
The dust growne quick in euery place doth creepe,
The sands their want doe secondly supply,
As they at length would suffocate the Deepe:
That th'atomi that in the beames appeare,
As they the Sunne through cranies shining see,
The forme of those detested things doe beare,
So miserable the Egyptians bee:
Who rak'd the brands the passed Euening burn'd,
(As is the vse the Mornings fire to keepe)
To these soule vermine findes the ashes turn'd,
Couering the Harth. so thick thereon they creepe:
Now Prince and pesant equally are drest,
The costliest silkes and coursest rags alike,
The worst goes now companion with the best,
The hand of God so generally doth strike.
The Kings Pauillion and the Captiues pad
Are now in choice indifferent vnto either,
Great, small, faire, soule, rich, poore, the good and bad
Doe suffer in this pestilence together,
In vaine to cleanse, in vaine to purge, and pick,
When euery Moath that with the breath doth rise,
Forthwith appeareth venemously quick,
Although so small scarce taken by the eyes.
By which hiswisdome strongly doth preuaile,
When this selfe-wise, this ouerweening man,
Euen in the least, the slightest thing doth faile,
The very beggar absolutely can,
When now these Wizards with transfixed hearts
To make his glory by the same the more,
Confesse a Godhead 〈◊〉 through their Arts.
Which by their Magicks they deni'd before.
Page 150Yet this proud Pharo as oppugning fate,
Still doth resist that Maiestie so hie,
And to himselfe doth yet appropriate
A supreame power his Godhead to deny.
When from his wilfull stubbornesse doth grow
That great amazement to all eares and eyes,
When now the Lord by Aarons Rod will show
His mighty power euen in the wretched'st Flies,
Varying his vengeance in as many kindes,
As Pharo doth his obstinacies vary,
Suting his plagues so fitly with their mindes,
As though their sinne his punishments did cary.
In Summer time as in an Euening faire,
The Gnats are heard in a tumultuous sound
On tops of hils, so troubled is the ayre
To the disturbance of the wondring ground.
The skies are darkned as they yet doe houer
In so grosse clouds congested in their flight,
That the whole Land with multitudes they couer,
Stopping the streames as generally the light.
O cruell Land, might these not yet thee moue?
Art thou alone so destitute of feare?
Or dost thou meane thy vtmost to approue
How many plagues thou able art to beare?
Three haue forethreatned thy destruction sure.
And now the fourth is following on as fast,
Dost thou suppose thy pride can still endure?
Or that his vengeance longer cannot last?
These are as weake and worthlesse as the rest,
Thou much infeebled, and his strength is more,
Fitly prepar'd thee sadly to infest
Thy sinnes so many, by their equall store.
This wretched creature man might well suppose
To be the least that he had need to feare,
Amongst the rest is terrifi'd with those
With which before none euer troubled were.
As we behold a swarming cast of Bees
Page 151In a swolne cluster to some branch to cleaue
Thus doe they hang in bunches on the trees,
Pressing each plant, and loading eu'ry greaue.
The houses couered with these must'ring Flies,
And the faire windowes that for light were made,
Eclips'd with horror, seeming to their eyes
Like the dimme twilight, or some ominous shade.
For humane food what Egypt had in store,
The creatures feed on, till they bursting die,
And what in this vnhappy Land was more,
Their loathsome bodies lastly purrifie:
O goodly Goshen where the Hebrewes rost,
How deare thy children in th'Almighties sight,
That for their sakes thou onely should'st be blest,
When all 〈◊〉 on the Egyptians light?
What promis'd people rested thee within,
To whom no perill euer might aspire,
For whose deare sake some watchfull Cherubin
Stood to defend thee arm'd in glorious 〈◊〉
Thou art that holy Sanctuary made,
Where all th'afflicted cast aside their feare,
Whose priuiledges euer to inuade,
The Heauens command their horrors to forbeare.
But since mans pride and insolence is such,
Nor by these plagues his will to passe could bring,
Now with a sharpe and wounding hand will touch
The dearer body of each liuing thing:
To other ends his courses to direct.
By all great meanes his glory to aduance,
Altreth the cause by altring the effect,
To worke by wonder their deliuerance.
As Aaron grasping ashes in his hand,
Which scarcely cast into the open aire,
But brings a murraine ouer all the Land,
With scabs and botches such as neuer were. *
What chewos the cud, or hoofe on horne alotted,
Wild in the fields, or tamed by the yoke,
Page 152With this contagious pestilence is rotted,
So vniuersall's the Almighties stroke.
The goodly Horse of hot and fiery straine
In his high courage hardly brook'd his food,
That Ditch or Mound not lately could containe,
On the firme ground so scornfully that stood,
Crest-falne hangs downe his hardly manag'd head,
Lies where but late disdainfully he trod,
His quick eye fixed heauily and dead,
Stirres not when prick'd with the impulsiue goad.
The Swine which Nature secretly doth teach,
Onely by fasting sicknesses to cure,
Now but in vaine is to it selfe a Leech,
Whose suddaine end infallibly is sure.
Where frugall Shepheards reckoning wooll 〈◊〉 lambe,
Or who by Heards hop'd happily to winne, 〈◊〉
Now sees the young-one perish with the damme,
Nor dare his hard hand touch the poys'ned skinne.
Those fertile pastures quickly ouer-spread
With their dead Cattell, where the birds of prey
Gorg'd on the garhidge (wofully bestead)
Pois'ned fall downe as they would fly away.
And hungry dogs the tainted flesh refrain'd,
Whereon their Master gormondiz'd of late,
What Nature for mans appetite ordain'd,
The creature that's most rauenous doth hate.
Thus all that breathes and kindly hath encrease,
Suffer for him that proudly did offend,
Yet in this manner here it shall not cease, *
In Beasts begun, in wretched man to end.
To whom it 〈◊〉 violently can,
Not by th'Almighty limited to slake,
As Beast is plagued for rebellious man,
Man in some measure must his paine partake.
Those dainty breasts that open'd lately were,
Which with rich vaines so curiously did flow,
With Biles and Blaines most loathsome doe appeare,
Page 153Which now the Dam'zell not desires to show,
Features disfigur'd onely now the faire
(All are deformed) mostill-fauour'd be,
Where beautie was most exquisite and rare,
There the least blemish easili'st you might see,
For costly garments fashion'd with deuice
To forme each choise part curious eyes to please,
The sicke mans Gowne is onely now in price
To giue their bloch'd and blistred bodies case,
It is in vaine the Surgeons hand to proue,
Or helpe of Physicke to asswage the smart,
For why the power that ruleth from aboue
Crosseth all meanes of industrie and Art.
Egypt is now an Hospitall forlorne,
Where onely Cripples and diseased are,
How many Children to the world are borne,
So many Lazers thither still repaire.
When those proud Magi as oppos'd to Fate,
That durst high Heau'n in eu'ry thing to dare,
Now in most vile and miserable state
As the mean'st Caitiue equally doe fare.
Thus stands that man so eminent alone,
Arm'd with his power that gouerneth the skie,
Now when the Wizards lastly ouerthrowne,
Groueling in sores before his 〈◊〉 doe lie.
Not one is found vnpunished escapes
So much to doe his hungry wrath to feede,
Which still appeareth in as many shapes
As Pharaoh doth in tyrannies proceede.
Euen as some graue wise Magistrate to finde
Out some vile treason, or some odious crime
That beareth euery circumstance in minde, *
Of place, of manner, instance, and of time:
That the suspected strongly doth arest,
And by all meanes inuention can deuise
By hopes or torture out of him to wrest
The ground, the purpose, and consederacies,
Page 134Now slacks his paine, now doth the same 〈◊〉
Yet in his strait hand doth containe him still,
Proportioning his allortted punishment
As hee's remoou'd or pliant to his will.
But yet hath Egypt some what left to vaunt,
What's now remaining, may her pride repaire,
But lest she should perhaps be arrogant,
Till she be humbled he will neuer spare.
These plagues seeme yet but nourished beneath,
And euen with man 〈◊〉 to moue,
Now Heauen his furie violently shall breath,
Rebellious Egypt scourging from aboue.
Winter let loose in his robustious kinde *
Wildly runnes rauing through the airie plaines,
As though his time of liberty assign'd
Roughly now shakes off his 〈◊〉 chaines.
The windes spet fire in one anothers face,
And mingled flames fight furiously together,
Through the mild Heauen that one the other chace,
Now flying thence and then returning thether.
No light but lightning ceaselesly to burne
Swister than thought from place to place to passe,
And being gone doth sodainly returne
Ere you could say precisely that it was.
In one selfe moment darkenesse and the light
Instantly borne, as instantly they die,
And euery minute is a day and night
That breakes and sets in twinkling of an eye.
Mountaine and valley suffer one selfe iro,
The stately Tower and lowlie coate alike,
The shrub and Cedar this impartiall fire
In one like order generally doth strike,
On flesh and plant this subtill lightning praies,
As through the pores it passage fitly findes,
In the full wombe the tender burthen slaies,
Plercing the stiffe trunke through the spungie rindes
Throughout this great and 〈◊〉 Ball
Page 135The wrath of Heauen outragiously is throwne,
As the lights quickning and Celestiall,
Had put themselues together into one.
This yet continuing the big-bellied clouds,
With heate and moisture in their fulnesse brake,
And the sterne Thunder from the ayrie shrouds
To the sad world in feare and horrour spake.
The blacke storme bellowes and the yerning vaule,
Full charg'd with furie as some signall giuen,
Preparing their artillirie t'assault,
Shoot their sterne vollies in the face of Heauen.
The bolts new wing'd with fork'd AEthereall fire,
Through the vast Region euery where doe roue;
Goring the earth in their impetuousire,
Pierce the proud'st building, rend the thickest Groue.
When the breeme Haile as rising in degrees
Like ruffled arrowes through the aire doth sing,
Beating the leaues and branches from the trees,
Forcing an Autumne earlier than the Spring.
The Birds late shrouded in their safe repaire,
Where they were wont from Winters wrath to nest,
Left by the tempest to the open aire
Shot with cold bullets through the trembling brest.
Whilst cattell grasing on the batsull ground,
Finding no shelter from the showre to hide
In ponds and ditches willingly are drownd,
That this sharpe storme no longer can abide.
Windowes are shiuered to forgotten dust,
The slates fall shatt'red from the roofe aboue,
Where any thing findes 〈◊〉 from this gust,
Now euen as death it feareth to remoue.
The rude and most impenitrable rocke
Since the foundation of the world was laid.
Neuer before stir'd with tempestuous shocke,
Melts with this storme as sensibly afraid.
Neuer yet with so violent a hand,
A brow contracted and so full of feare,
Page 156God scourg'd the pride of a rebellious Land,
Since into Kingdomes Nations gathered were.
But he what Mortall was there euer knowne,
So many strange affictions did abide
On whom so many miseries were throwne,
Whom Heauen so oft and angerly did chide?
Who but relenting Moyses doth relieue?
Taking off that which oft on him doth light.
Whom God so oft doth punish and forgiue,
Thereby to proue his mercy and his might.
So that eternall prouidence could frame
The meane whereby his glory should be tride.
That as he please, miraculously can tame
Mans sensuall wayes, his transitorie pride.
But Pharaoh bent to his rebellious will,
His hate to Israel instantly renues,
Continuing Author of his proper ill,
When now the plague of Grashoppers ensues.
Long ere they fell, on'th face of Heauen they hong, *
In so vast clouds as couered all the skies,
Colouring the Sun-beames piercing through their throng,
With strange distraction to beholding eyes.
This idle creature that is said to sing
In wanton Sommer, and in Winter poore,
Praising the Emmets painefull labouring,
Now eates the labourer and the heaped store.
No blade of grasse remaineth to be seene,
Weed, hearb, nor flower, to which the Spring giues birth,
Yet eu'ry path euen barren hills are greene,
With those that eate the greenenesse from the earth.
What is most sweet, what most extreamely sowre,
The loathsome Hemlock as the verdurous Rose,
These filthy Locusts equally deuoure,
So doe the Heauens of euery thing dispose.
The trees all barcklesse nakedly are left
Like people stript of things that they did weare,
By the enforcement of disastrous theft,
Page 157Standing as frighted with erected haire:
Thus doth the Lord her nakednesse discouer,
Thereby to proue her stoutnesse to reclaime,
That when nor feare, nor punishment could moue her,
She might at length be tempred with her shame.
Disrob'd of all her ornament she stands,
Wherein rich Nature whilome did her dight,
That the sad verges of the neighbouring lands
Seeme with much sorrow wondring at the sight.
But Egypt is so impudent and vile,
No blush is seene that pittie might compell,
That from all eyes to couer her awhile,
The Lord in darkenesse leaueth her to dwell.
Ouer the great and vniuersall face *
Are drawne the Curtaines of the horrid night,
As it would be continually in place,
That from the world had banished the light.
As to the sight, so likewise to the tuch
Th'appropriate obiect equally is dealt,
Darkenesse is now so palpable and much,
That as 'tis seene, as easily is felt.
Who now it hap'd to trauell by the way,
Orin the field did chance abroad to rome,
Loosing himselfe then wandred as a stray,
Nor findes his hostrie, nor returneth home.
The Cocke the Country horologe that rings,
The cheerefull warning to the Sunnes awake,
Missing the dawning scantles in his wings,
And to his Roost doth sadly him betake.
One to his neighbour in the darke doth call,
When the thicke vapour so the aire doth smother,
Making the voyce so hideous there withall,
That one's afeard to goe vnto the other.
The little Infant for the Mother shreckes,
Then lyes it downe astonished with feare,
Who for her Childe whilst in the darke she seekes,
Treads on the Babe that she doth holde so deare.
Page 138Darkenesse so long vpon the Land doth dwell,
Whilst men amaz'd the houres are stolne away,
Erring in time that now there's none can tell,
Which should be night, and which should be the day.
Three doubled nights the proud Egyptian lyes
With hunger, thirst, and wearinesse opprest,
Onely relieued by his miseries,
By feare enforced to forget the rest.
Those lights and fires they laboured to defend
With the foule dampe that ouer all doth flowe
Such an eclipsed sullidnesse doth send,
That darkenesse farre more terrible doth show:
When this perplexed and astonish'd King
'Twixt rage and feare distracted in his minde,
Israel to passe now freely limiting,
Onely their cattell to be staid behinde.
Commanding Moyses to depart his sight,
And from that time to see his face no more,
Which this milde man doth willingly aquite
That he well knew would come to passe before.
That for the Droues the Israelites should leaue,
Forbid by Pharaoh to be borne away:
Israel shall Egypt of her store 〈◊〉
To beare it with her as a violent prey:
So wrought her God in the Egyptians thought,
As he is onely prouident and wise,
That he to passe for his choise people brought,
More than mans wisedome euer might deuise.
Touching their soft breasts with a wounding loue
Of those who yet they enuiously admird,
Which doth the happy Iacobites behoue,
To compasse what they instantly requir'd,
That euery Hebrew borrowed of a friend,
Some speciall Iewell fainedly to vse,
Euery Egyptian willing is to lend,
Nor being ask'd can possibly refuse.
Now Closets, Chests, and Cabinets are sought
Page 139For the rich lem, the raritie, or thing,
And they the happiest of the rest are thought,
That the high'st priz'd officiously could bring.
Rings, chaines, and bracelets, iewels for the care,
The perfect glorious, and most lustrous stone,
The Carcanet so much requested there,
The Pearle most orient, and a Paragon.
What thing so choice that curious Art could frame,
Luxurious Egypt had not for her pride?
And what so rare an Israelite could name,
That he but asking was thereof denide?
When God doth now the Passeouer command,
Whose name that sacred mysterie doth tell,
That he pass'd or them with a sparefull hand,
When all the first-borne of th' Egyptians fell,
Which should to their posteritie be taught,
That might for euer memoriz this deede,
The fearefull wonders he in Egypt wrought,
For Abrahams off-spring Sarahs promis'd seede.
A Lambe vnblemish'd, or a spotlesse Kid,
That from the dam had wained out a yeere,
Which he without deformitie did bid,
Held to himselfe a sacrifice so deere.
Rosted and eaten with vnleau'ned bread,
And with sowre hearbs such 〈◊〉 as became,
Meate for the Eu'ning, that prohibited
The Morne ensuing partner of the same.
Girding their loynes, shooes fastned to their feete,
Staues in their hands, and passing it to take,
In manner asto trauailers is meete,
A voyage forth immediately to make.
Whose bloud being put vpon the vtmost posts,
Whereby his chosen Israelites he knew,
That night so dreadfull, when the Lord of Hosts
All the first borne of the Egyptians stew.
Darkenesse inuades the world, when now forth went *
The spoiling Angell as the Lord did will,
Page 160And where the dore with bloud was not besprent,
There the first borne he cruelly did kill.
Night neuer saw so tragicall a deed,
Thing so repleate with heauinesse and sorrow,
Nor shall the day hereafter euer reade,
Such a blacke time as the insuing morrow.
The dawne now breaking, and with open sight
When euery lab'ring and affrighted eye
Beholds the slaughter of the passed night,
The parting plague protracted miserie.
One to his neighbour hasts his heedlesse feete,
To bring him home his heauie chance to see,
And him he goes to by the way doth meete,
As grieued and as miserable as he.
Who out of dore now hastily doth come,
Thinking to howle and bellow forth his woe,
Is for his purpose destitute of roome,
Each place with sorrow doth so ouerflow.
People awaked with this so daine fright,
Runne forth their dores as naked as they be,
Forget the day, and bearing candle light
To helpe the Sunne their miseries to see.
Who lost his first borne ere this plague begun,
Is now most happy in this time of woe,
Who mourn'd his eld'st a daughter or a sonne,
Is now exempt from what the rest must doe.
To one that faines poore comfort to his friend,
His Childe was young and neede the lesse be car'd,
Replies if his had liu'd the others end,
Withall his heart he could him well haue spar'd.
No eye can lend a mourning friend one teare,
So busie is the gen'rall heart of moane,
So strange confusion sits in euery eare,
As wanteth power to entertaine his owne.
Imparted woe (the heauie hearts reliefe)
When it hath done the vtmost that it may,
Outright is murth'red with a second griefe,
Page 161To see one mute tell more than it can say:
The greatest blessing that the heart could giue,
The ioy of Children in the married state,
To see his curse the parent now doth liue,
And none be happy but th infortunate.
Whilst some for buriall of their Children stay,
Others passe by with theirs vpon the Beere,
Which from the Church meet Mourners by the way,
Others they finde that yet are burying there.
Afflicted London, in sixe bundred three,
When God thy finne so 〈◊〉 did strike,
And from th' infection that did spring from thee,
The spacious Ile was patient the like.
That sickly season, when I undertooke
This compositton faintly to supply,
When thy affliction seru'd me for a booke,
Whereby to modell Egypts miserie,
When pallid horrour did possesse thy streete,
Nor knew thy Children refuge where to haue,
Death them so soone in euery place did meete,
〈◊〉 houses to possesse the graue.
When wosull Egypt with a wounded heart
So many plagues that suffered for their stay,
Now on their knees entreate them to depart,
And euen impatient of their long delay.
Sixe hundred thousand Israolites depart,
Besides the Nations that they thence releas'd,
And Hebrew Babes the ioy of many a heart,
That Sarahs happie promises had bless'd.
After soure hundred thirtie yeeres expir'd,
(Measuring by minutes many a wofoll houre)
That day they came they thence againe depart,
By his eternall prouidence and power.
With all the iewels Egypt could afford
With them away that wisely they did beare,
Th' Egyptians aske not to haue backe restor'd,
All then so busie at their burials were:
Whose Tombe by 〈◊〉 oft Inundations drown'd,
(Yet the deceased straitlie to obay)
By Moyses was miraculously found.
Who did in gold that powerfull word ingraue, *
By which th' Almighty fully is exprest,
Which bare the mettall floting on the waue,
Till o'r his Coffin lastly it did rest.
As by a sheepe that shew'd them to the same,
To make them mindfull of the reuerent dead,
Which Beast thence-forth they called by 〈◊〉 name,
And when they went from Egypt with them led.
But that he thus did finde his burying place,
As we tradition wisely may suspect,
We onely this as Historie embrace.
But else in faith as fabulous neglect.
Page 163
THE THIRD BOOKE.
¶ The Argument.
God drownes th' Egyptians in his ire,
Doth march before his host in fire,
From the hard rocks strikes 〈◊〉 springs,
Raines Quailes and Manna, conguers Kings,
And searefull plagues on them doth trie,
For murm'ring and idolatrie:
Vnto the promis'd Land them brought,
When it they 〈◊〉 yeeres had fought;
Balaam to blesse them he doth send,
Their good successe, milde Moyses end.
THose which at home scorn'd 〈◊〉 and his force,
And whose departure he did humbly pray,
He now pursues with his Egyptian horse
And warlike foote to spoile them on the way.
Where his choice people strongly to protect,
The onely God of Emperie and might,
Before his host his standard doth erect,
A glorious pillar in a field of light,
Which he by day in sable doth vnfolde,
To dare the Sonne his Ardour to forbeare,
By night conuerts it into flaming golde,
Away the coldnesse of the same to feare.
Not by Philistia he his force will leade,
Though the farre nearer and the happier way,
His men of warre a glorious march shall tread
On the vast bowels of the bloudie Sea.
And sends the windes as Currers forth before
Page 164To make them way from Pharaohs power to flie,
And to conuay them to a safer shore,
Such is his might that can make Oceans drie.
Which by the stroke of that commanding wand,
Shouldred the rough seas forcibly together,
Raised as Rampiers by that glorious hand,
(Twixt which they march) that did conduct them thither.
The surly waues their Rulers will obay'd
By him made vp in this confused masse,
Like as an Ambush secretly were laid,
To set on Pharaoh as his power should passe.
Which soone with wombes insatiably wide,
Loos'd from their late bounds by th' Almighties power,
Come raging in, enclosing euery side,
And the Egyptians instantly deuoure.
The Sling, the stiffe 〈◊〉 and the sharpned Launce,
Floting confusdly on the waters rude,
They which these weapons lately did aduance,
Perish in sight of them that they pursude.
Clashing of Armours, and the rumorous sound
Of the sterne billowes in contention stood,
Which to the shores doe euery way rebound,
As doth affright the Monsters of the flood.
Death is discern'd triumphantly in Armes
On the rough Seas his slaughtery to keepe,
And his colde selfe in breath of mortals warmes,
Vpon the dimpled bosome of the deepe.
There might you see a Checkquer'd Ensigne swim
About the bodie of the enui'd dead,
Serue for a hearse or couerture to him,
Ere while did wast it proudly 'bout his head.
The warlike Chariot turn'd vpon the backe
With the dead horses in their oraces tide,
Drags their sat carkasse through the fomie bracke
That drew it late vndauntedly in pride.
There floats the bard Steed with his Rider drownd,
Page 165Whose foot in his caparison is cast,
Who late with sharpe spurs did his Courser wound,
Himselfe now ridden with his strangled beast.
The waters conquer (without helpe of hand)
For them to take for which they neuer toile,
And like a Quarrie cast them on the land,
As those they slew they left to them to spoile.
In eightie eight at Douer that had beene,
To view that Nauie (like a mighty wood)
Whose 〈◊〉 swept Heauen, might eas'lie there haue seene,
How puissant Pharaoh perish'd in the floud.
What 〈◊〉 a conquest strictiy they did keepe,
Into the channell presently was pour'd
Castilian riches scattered on the deepe,
That Spaines long hopes had 〈◊〉 deuour'd.
Th' afflicted English rang'd along the Strand
To waste what would this threatning power betide,
Now when the Lord with a victorious hand
In his high iustice scourg'd th'Iberian pride.
Hence three dayes march to Mara leades them on,
Where Surs wilde Desarts as the Armie past
Seemed as from their presence to haue flowne,
The mountaines stood so miserably agast.
Where for with drought they hardly are bested,
And the soule waters bitter as the gall,
That they should through this wildernesse be led
To thanklesse murm'ring presently they fall.
God pointeth Moyses to a precious tree,
Whose medc'nall branches cast into the lake,
Of that rare vertue he approu'd to be,
The waters sweet and delicate to make.
Not that his hand stands any way in neede
Of mediate meanes his purposes to bring,
But that in state his wisedome will proceede
To shew his power in euery little thing.
Nor Metaphysickes fully him confine,
All measuring so immeasurably great,
Page 166That doth in Nature euery cause combine,
This ALL in him so amply hath receate.
Which might haue learn'd them in this helpelesse case,
With tribulations willingly to meete,
When men with patience troubles doe embrace
How oftentimes it makes affliction sweete.
And his free bountie fully now they found,
As they from Mara for mount Sina made,
Pitching in Elim in that plenteous ground
Of pleasant fountaines and delicious shade.
But as at Sur, so they againe at Sin,
Before of thirst, of hunger now complaine,
Wishing they might in Egypt still haue bin,
Where neuer famine all their time did raigne.
When clouds of Quailes from the Arabian shore
Vpon the Campe immediately are sent,
Which came so long and in such marulous store,
That with their flight they smother'd euery Tent:
This glads the Eu'ning, each vnto his rest,
With soules euen sated with these dainty Cates,
And the great goodnesse of the Lord confest,
That in like measure each participates.
The morne strewes Manna all about the host
(The meate of Angels) 〈◊〉 to refresh,
Candying the fresh grasse, as the Winters frost,
Neuer such bread vnto so dainty flesh
O Israel pampred with this heauenly food,
Which else to Nations earthly he denies,
To raise thy spirits, to rectifie thy Blood
With these so rare celestiall purities.
Then the fat flesh-pots they so much desire,
Whereon in Egypt gluttoning they fed,
When they came hungry home from carrying mire,
Which onely dulnesse, and grosse humours bred.
Yet in the sweetnesse and th' abundant store,
His power not so conclusiuely exprest,
But who tooke most not capable of more
Page 167Then in his Gower he that gathered least.
By night corrupting, each day gath'ring new,
But for the Sabbath what they did prouide,
That day descended not that heauenly dewe,
That as that day was onely sanctifide.
Thence through those Desarts desolate and drie,
They reach to Raph'dom where as they should passe,
There was not found a fountaine farre nor nie,
Such want of water euery where there was:
Thither the Lord by Moyses did them bring,
His force the faithlesse Israelites might know,
For euen in the impossiblest thing,
He most delights his wondrous might to show.
Farre worse than Mara is this fruitlesse soile,
For there were waters (bitter though they were)
But here are none, though sought with ne're such toile,
That they from murm'ring longer not forbeare.
Commanding Moyses he should take the Rod,
Wherewith in Egypt he such wonders wrought,
For that most wise, that secret-seeing God
Saw there were some thus reasoned in their thought.
The misterie of that miraculous wand
He did to plagues and fearefull things imply,
That Aaron yet ne're tooke it in his hand,
When worke of mercy was atchieu'd thereby.
Therefore bids Moyses to this high intent,
The same to vse, they visibly might see,
That this which erst had beene the instrument
Of iustice, so of clemencie to be.
Which with a blow, the Cleeues in sunder crackt,
As with an earthquake violently rent,
Whence came so strong and rough a Cataract,
That in the stones wore gutters as it went.
The Springs spout forth such plenty, that withall
Downe the slope sides it violently swept,
So diuers wayes, so various in the fall,
Through euery cranny the cleare water crept.
Page 168In Pailes, Kits, Dishes, Basons, Pinboukes, Bowles,
Their scorched bosomes merrily they baste,
Vntill this very howre their thirstie soules
Neuer touch'd water of so sweet a taste.
Scarcelie susfic'd but in the very neck
Of this, 'tis bruted by the watchfull post,
That the neere-bordring enuious Amaleck.
Was marching towards them with a mighty host,
When he forth Iosua from the rest doth draw,
A man selected, of couragious spirit,
Which Moyses with propheticke eye foresaw,
Should be the man, his roome that should inherit
Commanding him to muster out of hand,
And draw his forces presently to head,
Against that proud Amalakite to stand,
Which in the field a puissant Armie led.
Whilst on rocke Horeb, with erected hand,
Bearing the Rod vp to the glorious skie,
Twixt Hur and Aaren, Amrams sonne doth stand,
Whilst both the hosts for victorie doe trie.
When blades are brandish'd and the fight begun,
Warres thundring horror trumpets doe proclaime,
With the reflection of the radiant Sunne,
Seemes to beholders as a generall flame.
Much courage and dexteritie that day
On either part sufficiently is showne,
And on the earth full many a Souldier lay,
Thrusting through danger to make good his owne.
Here men might see how many a strenuous guide
Striueth to make his enemie to 〈◊〉
Now the fierce vaward, then the rere ward plide,
As he perceiueth the Battalians neede.
They fight the full day, he the Rod vpheld,
But when his strength by long continuing failes,
Where as before the Israelites had queld,
The 〈◊〉 proud Amalakite preuailes.
Whilst the two Hebrewes prouident of harmes.
Page 169Setting graue Moses downe vpon a stone,
And by their force support his wearied 〈◊〉
Vntill the foe was lastly ouerthrowne.
Iethro the iust to whom report had told,
Th'atchieuement wrought by his renowned sonne,
That all the world did tributary hold,
By deeds in Egypt God by him had done:
This good old man to consummate their ioyes
In happy houre his sonne is come to see,
Bringing his wife and his two little Boyes,
Moses sent back in Midian sase to bee:
Which by this time two proper Youthes are growne,
Bred by their Grandsire with exceeding care,
In all the host there hardly could be showne,
That with those Boyes for beauty could compare.
Such mirth and feasting as for them was seene,
For this graue Father and this goodly Dame,
Vnto this day in Israel had not beene,
Since to kinde Ioseph righteous Iacob came.
The day mild Moses scarcely can sustice,
To tell this man the troubles they had past,
The wonders God had acted in their eyes,
Since they in Midian kindly parted last.
Iethro that mark'd the paines that Moses tooke
In rising early, and in resting late,
That did himselfe into all causes looke,
And in his person censure each debate:
This Princely Priest a man exceeding wise,
And long experienc'd in this great affaire,
(For at that time few States or Monarchies
Whose gouernment he could not well declare)
Reproues good Moses in this zealous deed:
(Quoth he) me thinks thou dost not well in this,
The course wherein I see thou dost proceed
Trouble to thee and to the people is.
Appoint out Iudges, and inferiour Courts,
Twixt the Plebeans and thy selfe to bee,
Page 170From them receiue those matters by report,
Speake thou to God and let them speake to thee,
In things importa t be thou still in place,
In lesser causes leauing them to deale,
So may you both your quietnes embrace.
By an exact and perfect Common-weale.
Now when to Sina they approched neare,
God calls vp Moyses to the mount aboue,
And all the rest commaundeth to forbeare,
Nor from the bounds assign'd them to remoue.
Nor who those limits lonsely did exceede,
(Which were by Moses mark'd them out beneath)
The Lord had irreuocably decreed
With darts or stones should surely die the death.
Where as the people in a wondrous fright
(With hearts transfixed euen with frosen blood)
Beheld their Leader openly in sight
Passe to the Lord, where he in glory stood.
Thunder and Lightning led him downe the ayre,
Trumpets celestiall sounding as he came,
Which struck the people with astounding feare,
Himselfe inuested in a splendorous flame.
Sina before him fearfully doth shake,
Couered all ouer in a smouldring smoake,
As ready the foundation to forsake,
On the dread presence of the Lord to looke.
Erect your spirits and lend attentiue care
To marke at Sina what to you is said,
Weake Moses now you shall not simply heare,
The sonne of Amram and of lacobed.
But he that Adam imparadise,
And lent him comfort in his proper blood,
And saued Noah, that did the Arke deuise,
When the old world else perish'd in the flood,
To righteous Abraham, Canaan franckly lent.
Aud brought forth 〈◊〉 so extreamly late,
Iacob so faire and many children sent,
Page 171And rais'd chast Ioseph to so high estate.
He whose iust hand plagu'd Egypt for your sake,
That Pharaohs power so 〈◊〉 did mock,
Way for his people through the Sea did make,
Gaue food from Heauen, and water from the Rock.
Whilst Moses now in this cloud-couered hill,
Full forty dayes his pure aboade did make,
Whilst that great God in his almighty will,
With him of all his Ordinances brake.
The Decalogue from which Religion tooke
The being: sinne and righteousnesse began
The different knowledge: and the certaine booke
Of testimony betwixt God and man.
The Ceremoniall as Iudicious lawes,
From his high wisdome that receiu'd their ground,
Not to be altred in the smallest clause,
But as their Maker wondrously profound.
The composition of that sacred phane,
Which as a Symbol curiously did shew,
What all his six dayes workmanship containe,
Whose perfect modell his owne finger drew.
Whose absence thence gaue leasure to their lust,
Oppugning Aaron, Idols them to frame,
And by their power still strengthen this disgust,
In him denouncing the Almighties name.
A gold-made God how durst you euer name.
For him so long had led you from the Skie,
In sight of Sina crowned with a flame,
His glory thence 〈◊〉 in your eye?
Such things might melt mortality to see,
That euen the very Elements did fright,
He that in Egypt had perform'd for thee,
What made the world amazed at his might.
Thy soule 〈◊〉 ne'r before thou felt'st,
But like a Quarry't euen claue thy breast,
Comming from Sina when as thou breast,
Th'elected Israel kneeling to a Beast,
Page 172Him sence for sooke, his 〈◊〉 strengthlesse are,
He came so much amazed there-withall,
The stony Tables slip'd him vnaware,
That with their owne weight brake them in the fall.
Downe this proud lump ambitiously he flung
Into base dust dissoluing it-with fire,
That since they for variety did long,
They should thereby euen surfet their desire.
And sent the minerall through their hatefull throats,
〈◊〉 late those horrid blasphemies did flie
On bestiall figures when they fell to doate
In prostitution to idolatrie.
Now when this potion that they 〈◊〉 tooke,
This Chymick medicine (their deserued sare)
Vpon their beards, and on their bosome stooke,
He doth their slaughter presently prepare.
What's he himselfe to Leuis could allie
Before this Calfe not sinfully did fall,
Girds not his broad blade to his sinewie thie,
When he heares Moyses vnto Armes to call?
Killing not him appointed he should slay,
Though they had slep'd in eythers armes before,
Though in one wombe they at one burthen lay.
Yea when this dead, though that could be no more?
You whom not Egypts tyranic could wound,
Nor Seas, nor Rockes could any thing denie,
That till this day no terrour might astound
On the sharpe points of your owne swords to die?
When Moyses now those Tables to renew
Of that essentiall Deitie doth merit,
(Which from his hands he dissolutely threw
In the deepe anguish of his grecued spirit.
When forty dayes without all nat'rall food)
He on mount Sina fixed his abode,
Retayning strength and feruour in his blood,
Rap'd with the presence of that glorious God.
Who in his high estate whilst he passed by
Page 173In the cleft rocke that holy man did hide,
Lest he should perish by his radiant eye,
When Moyses seeing but his glorious side
Celesliall brightnesse ceazed on his face,
That did the wondring Israelites amaze,
When he returned from that souereigne place,
His browes encireled with splendidious rayes.
That their weake sight beholding of the same,
He after couer'd from the common eyes,
Lest when for answer vnto him they came,
The lusting people should idolatrize.
Might we those mustred Israclites admire
From plaines of Sina mighty Moyses led,
Or else to view that opulence desire,
To that rich Arke so freely offered.
The meruailous modell of that rarest peece
Th'ingrauings, caruings, and embroderies tell,
The cunning worke and excellent deuice
Of neat Aholiah, and Bexaliell.
But we our Moyses seriously pursue,
And our strong nerues to his high praise applie,
That through this maze shall guide vs as a Clue,
And may his vertues absolutely trie.
Whose charge being weary of their mighty Armes,
And much offended they had march'd so long,
As oft disturbed with their sterne Alarmes,
Suppose by Moyses to haue suffered wrong.
When with the luggage such as lagd behinde,
And that were set the Cariages to keepe,
Gainst God and Moyses〈◊〉 repinde,
Wanting a little sustinance and sleepe.
Who with their murm'ring moued in his ire,
That they so soone his prouidence mistrust,
Downe from his full hand flung that forcefull fire,
Which in a moment brus'd their bones to dust.
Other the muti'ring 〈◊〉 among
When now to 〈◊〉 hauing come so farre
Page 174For flesh, fish, sallads, and for fruites doe long,
Manna (they say) is not for men of 〈◊〉
Their glut'nous stomackes loath that heau'nly bread,
That with full Chargers hunger heere releeues,
As by the belly when they strongly fed
On harty Garlicke and the flesh of Beeues?
Milde man, what fearefull agony thee vex'd,
When thou thy God vnkindly didst vpbrayd?
How grceuously thy suffring soule perplex'd,
When thou repin'st the charge on thee was layd?
With God to reason why he should dispose
On thee that burthen heauy to sustaine,
As though he did his purposes enclose
Within the limits of mans shallow brayne.
To iudge so many marching euery dav,
That all the flesh of Forrest and of flood,
(When the wilde Desarts scarcely yeeld them way)
Should them suffice for competence of food.
That thou shouldst wish that hand so full of dread,
Thy lingring breath should sodainly expire,
Then that the clamorous multitude should spread,
These wicked slanders to incite his ire.
That God to punish whom he still did loue,
And in compassion of thy frailties feare,
The spirit he gaue thee lastly should remoue
To those thy burthen that should after beare.
O wondrous man! who parallel'd thee euer?
How large a portion diddest thou inherit?
That vnto seuentie he should it disseuer,
Yet all be Prophets only with thy Spirit?
When loe a Cloud comes sailing with the winde
Vnto these Rebels terrible to see,
That when they now some fearefull thing diuin'd,
A flight of Quailes perceiued it to be.
A full dayes iourney round about the host,
Two Cubits thicknes ouer all they flowe,
That when by Israel he was tempted most,
Page 175His glory then most notably to show.
The greedy people with the very sight
Are fill'd before they come thereof to taste,
That with such surfet gluts their appetite
Their queasie stomacks ready are to cast.
Those that for Beefe in Gluttonic did call
Those the high'st God his powerfulnes to trie,
Cloyes with the fowle that from the Heauens doe fall,
Vntill they stoffe their stomackes by the eye.
But whilst the flesh betwixt their teeth they chew,
And sucke the fat so delicately sweet,
(With too much plenty that euen fulsome grew
That lies so common troden with their feet.)
That God impartiall and so rightly iust,
When he had giuen them more then they desire,
Dulie to punish their insatiate lost,
Powres downe his plagues consuming as his fire.
And with a strong hand violently strake
Their blocd, distempred with luxurious diet,
That soone the sores in groynes and arme-pits brake,
Thus could the Lord scourge their rebellious riot.
Aron and Miriam, all too much it were
For griefe when Moyses ready is to die;
But you whom one wombe happily did beare
Gainst your milde Brother needs must mutinie.
O vnkinde Aaron when thou fondly fram'dst
That Beast-like Idoll bowing Israels knee,
He then thee beg'd, that thou so basely blam'dst,
And did diuert the iudgement due to thee.
Immodest Miriam when the hand of might
Left thee with lothsome leprosie defild,
Contemn'd and abiect in the vilest sight,
From the great host perpetually exil'd:
When thou hadst spet the vimost of thy spight,
And for thy sinne this plague on thee was throwne,
He not forsooke thee but in heauie plight
Kneeling to God obtain'd thee for his owne.
Page 176His wondrous patience euer was applide
To those on him that causelesly complaine,
Who did with comely carelesnesse deride
What happy men should euermore disdaine.
When now the Spials for the promis'd soyle,
For the twelue Tribes that twelue in number went,
Hauing discouered forty dayes with toyle,
Safely return'd as happily they went:
Bringing the Figs, Pomgranates, and the Grapes,
Whose verdurous clusters that with moisture swell,
Seeme by the taste and strangenesse of the shapes,
The place that bare them faithfully to tell.
That well express'd the nature of the earth,
So full of liquor and so wondrous great.
That from such wished fruitfulnesse in birth,
Suck'd 〈◊〉 sweet marrow of a plenteous teat.
But whilst they stand attentiuely to heare
The sundry soyles wherein they late had beene,
Telling what Giants did inhabit there,
What Townes of warre that walled they had seene.
Of Anacks of-spring when they come to tell,
And their huge stature when they let them see,
And of their shapes so terrible and fell,
Which were suppos'd the Titanois to bee.
Their hearts sunck downe, and though the fruits they saw
By their rare beauty might allure their eyes,
Yet this report their coward soules did awe,
And so much daunt the forward enterprise,
That they their God doe vtterly refuse,
Against iust Moses openly exclame,
And were in hand a Captaine them to chuse
To guide them back to Goshen whence they came.
Not all the dread of the Egyptian dayes,
What by milde Moses he to passe had brought,
Nor seene by him done at the purple Seas,
On their vile minds a higher temper 〈◊〉
Whom when of God 〈◊〉 beg'd with bloody eyes,
Page 177And against Heauen did obstinatly striue,
Obtain'd so hardly their immunities,
Whose sinne seem'd greater then he could forgiue.
Caleb and Iosua you couragious men,
When bats and stones against your breasts were laid,
Oppose your selues against the other ten,
That expedition basely that disswade.
Quoth they to conquer as he did before
No more than men, what praise his puisance yeelds,
But he whose force the very Rocks did gore,
Can with the same hand cleaue their brazen sheelds.
He that foresawe that this should be our seate,
And onely knew the goodnes of the same,
Possess'd the place with those that were so greate
For vs to keepe if safely till we came.
For which the Lord did vowe that not a man
At Sina mustred where such numbers were,
Should liue to come to fruitfull Canaan,
Onely those two so well themselues that beare.
And for the basenes of those erecreant Spies
Whose melting minds this impious slaunder bred,
And the vile peoples in credulities,
In that their God so strongly promised.
For fortie dayes discourie of the Land,
They fortie yeeres in wildetnes shall wast,
Consum'd with plagues from his impetuous hand,
Vntill that age be absolutely past.
Which scarsly spoke, but quickly tooke effect,
For those so colde, and cowardly before,
Hearing the censure of their base neglect,
To make his vengeance and their sinne the more.
Entring the Land which Moyses them denies,
Their desp'rate will no better can afford,
Offering those liues they did so lightly prize
Vnto the vengance of the Heath'nish sword.
And in the host new factions daylie grewe,
When Chores, Dathan, and Abiram rise,
Page 178Two hundred men of speciall note that drew,
Whose strength gaue power to their confed'racies.
But the vast earth incontinently claue,
And on the sodaine hurried them to hell
With the shrill screame the shrieking people gaue,
The fainting Hoast into a feauer fell:
The rest of the Conspirators were left
(From the first's fall enforcing their retire,
Of all the succours of the host berest)
Consum'd to ashes with Heauens violentfire:
And those th' abettors of this vile attempt
That did milde Moyses cruelly pursue,
From th' others sinne that could not be exempt,
Them with the dreadfull pestilence he slew.
That had not Aaron when all hope was fled
With holy Incense their atonement wrought,
Thrusting himselfe twixt th'liuing and the dead,
All had to ruine vtterly beene brought.
Where fourteene thousand and seuen hundred sanke
Vnder the burden of their odious sinne,
Which now was wax'd s'insufferably ranke,
It was high time his vengeance should begin.
When after this so terrible a thing,
Now that triumphant and miraculous wand,
Brings forth ripe Almonds, strongly witnessing
In Leuies Tribe the Priesthood still to stand.
With leaues and blossomes brauely it doth 〈◊〉
Some budding, some as instantly but blowne,
As when the same the naturallrynd did nourish,
For Moyses sake such Miracles were showne.
Forward to Cadesh they their iourney cast,
Where the good Miriam makes her 〈◊〉 houre,
Miriam the faire, the excellent, the chast,
Miriam that was of womanhood the flowre,
Here bids her Brothers louingly adue,
Who at her parting kisse her closing eyes,
Whose wondrous losse sufficiently to rue,
Page 179More is the griefe that teares cannot suffice.
Moyst are their eyes, their lips are shrunk with heat,
Their griefe within, as outward it appeares,
Their want of water in that place as great,
As it to them is plentifull of teares.
They at one instant mutinie and mourne,
Sorrowes creepe forth confusedly together,
The teares for her incontinent they turne
To words gainst Moyses that did guide them thither:
Who from the rocke strooke water with the wand,
That man and beast might 〈◊〉 maintaine,
But he from rocks that fountaines can command,
Cannot yet stay the fountaines of his braine.
Much woe for Miriam these good men did make,
Whilst there weretwo, that might bewaile this one,
But two departing for their mutuall sake,
Moyses remaines to mourne himselfe alone.
Aaron the ancient'st of the Hebrew lino,
Repleate with naturall comelinesse and grace.
(God-like so farre as man might be diuine)
Endeth his dayes in this predest'ned place.
Which being forewarned to awaite his end,
And here the fate foretelling him to die,
That the good houre doth onely now attend,
Will'd to ascend the mountaine (being nie.)
With Eleazer his deare Childe he goes,
Led by milde Moyses as the Lord decreed,
To his lou'd Sonne his garments to dispose,
Him in the Priesthood pointed to succeed.
When turning backe to bid them all adue,
Who look'd as fast to bid this Lord farewell,
Fountaines of late so fast from rockes ne'r flewe,
As the salt drops downe their sad bosomes fell.
Not the obdurat'st, not the stoniest hearts,
That in deepe sorrow melting here forbeares,
Those to whom Nature not those drops imparts,
Spent what in sighes, the other did in teares.
Page 180Sated with sobs, but hungry with his sight,
Their watry eyes him earnestly pursue,
When to discerne him they no longer might
Where their sight ends, their sorrowes doe renue.
Com'n to the top, to the appointed place.
His Sonne in all his ornaments inuested,
Which the good Aaron meekely doth embrace,
And vnto him his offices bequested.
When they the time no longer could adiourne,
After embraces and a floud of woes,
(Which when one ceas'd the other tooke his turne)
From eithers eyes that on the other flowes.
Now at the last point, at the gaspe of death.
He whom the whole world hath but such another,
Giues vp his latest, his most blessed breath,
In the deare armes of his beloued Brother.
So wisely worketh that eternall Being
By the still changes of their varying state,
(As to the end through the beginging seeing)
To build the frame of vnauoyded Fate.
When those giuen vp to their lasciuious wils,
Themselues in Midian wantonnesse that waste,
Whose fleshly knowledge sip'd those sugred ills,
Twenty foure thousand slaughtered at the last.
Of all those that in Sina numbred are,
I'th plaines of Moab mustered then againe,
Wasted by time, fire, pestilence, and warre,
Those promis'd two and Moyses did remaine.
The time expird that they for Aaron mourn'd,
New conquest now, new comfort them doth bring,
Their former hope successiuely return'd,
That seem'd before so sadly languishing.
When they the glorious victorie obtai e
The Plaines of Horma scattered all with shields,
Where Arad and his Cananites are slaine,
Not the least fight of many glorious fields.
With Schon's slaughter seconded againe,
Page 181And Ogs great fall of a Giganticke strength,
Whose bed of iron fash'on'd to containe
In breadth foure Cubits, doubling it in length:
The liuing temnant of the mighty race,
Of big-bon'd Anack terrible and dred,
Which long time batning in that 〈◊〉 place,
Grew like the fat soile wherein they were bred.
Not Poets fictions of the Phlagrian fields,
Whereas the Giants vp to Heauen would clime,
Heaping on mountaines not such wonder yeelds,
As did the men that liued in that time.
And fiue proud Kings fell in their recreant flight,
Before arm'd Israel on the Midian plame,
Zur, Hur, and Eui, men of wondrous might,
Reba and Rikem valiantly slaine.
And as his strength crush'd mighty Kings to dust,
And cleft the helmes that thunder proofe were thought.
That hand that help'd them, seourg'd their impious lust,
When his high iudgement to peruert they sought.
And sent those Serpents (with their fiery stings,)
With in flammations that their flesh did swell,
Sharpely toscourge their trustlesse murmurings,
That still in infidelity did dwell.
Rare in this creature was his wondrous might,
That should effect the nature of the fire,
Yet to recure the sorance by the sight,
Sicknesse might seeme the remedie t'admire.
Onely by mettall miracles to worke,
That Scrpents shape, the Serpents hurt should heale,
To shew in him the mysteries that lurke.
And being so strange, as strangely doth reueale.
That the forg'd figure of so vile a thing
Should the disease so presently remoue,
Onely by th' eye a remedy to bring,
Deepe searching Magicke leaueth to approue,
As Balaams beast did 〈◊〉 hast delay,
And the full purpose of the Prophet brake,
Page 182When he beheld the Angell by the way,
Burst out from beast, and to his Master spake:
Whose execration able to astound
The sunne, when he his Sommers height did boast,
And with a word could instantly confound
The world, were it a congregated host.
He whose wife lips could Oracles compile,
And iudgements irreuocable did 〈◊〉
Should be confounded by the thing most 〈◊〉
By that base creature, the dull worthlesse Asse,
Ruling his mouth as with a Riders bit,
Bidden by Balaack to denounce their fall:
Doth all his dreadfull Minaces acquit,
Sounding their blessing and their enemies fall.
When this milde man that onely did remaine,
Of those from Egipt that the Lord did bring,
Which he in Iustice sundry wayes had flaine,
For their false worship and their murmuring.
Since he remisse at Meriba was prou'd,
And there his zeale not ardently exprest,
The Lord did sweare (though him he dearely lou'd)
He should not come to Canaan as the rest.
And now approaching Abaris (the place)
From whence he might that promis'd Country see,
(So much the Lord good Moyses pleas'd to grace)
But there his dayes must consummated be.
When this great Prophet 〈◊〉 had bless'd,
Each seu'rall Tribe with a particular good,
Whose parting, them with sorrow so oppress'd,
That shedding teares, their eyes shed drops of blood.
To Nebo scared admitably 〈◊〉
(The Spirit prepares him safely to retire)
Which thrusts his head into the cloudie 〈◊〉
Pisga so proudly thither dare aspire.
Pisga the height of Abaris, and this
The height of Pisga ouer all doth stand,
That as the eye of mighty Abaris
Page 183Suruayeth the imparallelled Land.
Where goodly Gilead vnto him he showes
As farre as euer he could looke to Dan,
The length and breadth how euery way it goes,
Till her brow kisse the calme Mediteran.
Where the sweet South layes forth her swelling brest,
With a pleas'd eye he silently suruay'd,
To that faire Citie whose high Towers doe rest
Vnder the Palmetrees most delicious shade.
When this meeke man approaching to his death,
In death eu'n pleas'd faire Canaan to behold,
Whilst he had vse of his expiring breath,
Thus his last farewell mildly doth enfolde.
Israel (quoth he) deare Israel, now adue,
Moyses no more is, that your Leader was,
Iosua and 〈◊〉 none but onely you,
Of the last age must ouer Iordan passe.
Th' Egyptian horrours yet 'twas I did see,
And through those strange calamities did wade,
And Israels charge imposed was on mee,
When they (but then) had scarcely learn'd to dade.
Forty two iourneyes haue I straitly past
Since first this glorious Pilgrimage begun,
In wrath or mercy where as first or last,
Some wondrous thing hath happily beene done:
M'immortall Maker that so oft haue seene
(That God of wonder:) these complaints not boot,
In yonder fields so delicate and greene,
That may not set my miserable foot.
Thus leaning backe against the rising Clieue,
Raising his saint hands to the hopefull skies,
Meeke as the morning neuer seene to striue,
Great'st of the Prophets the good Moyses dies,
An hundred twenty hardly passed yeares,
His naturall vigour no 〈◊〉 did 〈◊〉
His eye as bright his body 〈◊〉 appeares,
As in the height and Summer of his 〈◊〉
〈1 page duplicate〉Page 182〈1 page duplicate〉Page 183Page 184Who being dissolu'd the Angels did interre
Neere to Bethpeor in the vallied ground,
But yet so secret kept his Sepulcher
That it by mortall neuer should be found.
Lest that his people (if the place were knowne)
(Seeing by him the miracles were done,
That euer to Idolatrie were prone,)
Vnto his bones a worshipping should runne.
One that God grac'd so many sundry wayes,
No former age hath mentioned to bee,
Ariued at the period of his dayes
The future time in Israel shalll not see.
