English

Sufficeth it to you, my joys interred,
In simple words that I my woes complain,
You that then died when first my fancy erred,
Joys under dust that never live again?

If to the living were my muse addressed
Or did my mind her own spirit still inhold,
Were not my living passion so repressed
As to the dead the dead did these unfold,

Some sweeter words, some more becoming verse
Should witness my mishap in higher kind;
But my love's wounds, my fancy in the hearse,
The idea but resting of a wasted mind,

The number of those that had bin slaine at the siege of Ierusalem, and the number of the Prisoners that Titus caried with him to Rome.

The perfect number of the people there,
The which with hunger & with sword was slaine
A leauen hundred thousand did appeare,
As bookes of records did declare it plaine:
Beside all such as did vnburied lye,
And diuers moe that did in fier dye.

And when to Rome the Conqueror went his way,
The number of his prisoners were full great,
Full sixteene thousand men that instant day,

Who staring vp and down with feareful lookes,
Least any one were nigh to apprehend him,
Like to a Panther doubting hidden hookes,
That any way might lye for to offend him:
Driuen out with famine, hungry at the hart,
He sought for succour of his earned smart.

And hauing drest himselfe in Kingly tire,
In richest manner that he could deuise,
That men at him might wonder: and desire
To know what Monarke did from earth arise,
Farre off he walked as it were in boast,
And shewd himselfe vnto the Romaine hoast.

Iehocanan inforced by hunger comes out of his caue & submits him-selfe to Tytus, who caused him to be hanged .

At length out of a deepe darke hollow caue,
With bitter hunger Iehocanan was driuen,
Like to a Ghost new risen from his graue,
Or like Anatomy of all flesh beryuen:
Who then as faint as euer he could stand,
Came to submit himselfe, to Tytus hand.

Into this Princely presence when he came,
With all submission fell he at his feete,
Saying, O King of most renouned fame,
Here am I come as it is right and meete:

Then came false Schimion and Iehocanan ,
Chiefe Captaines to the seditious trayne,
With many followers, weapned euery man,
Requiring peace, if peace they could obtaine:
To whome Prince Tytus with his chiefest state,
Did thus reply you seeke this thing to late.

How comes it now that yee intreate for life,
After so many mischeiefes by you wrought,
When you haue slaine and murthered man and wife,
And thousand thousands to destruction brought:
Who then as faint as euer he could stand,
Came to submit himselfe, to Tytus hand.

A false and lying Prophet then arose,
Among the Iewes, at faire Ierusalem ,
Which then an absurd fancie did disclose,
Among them all, who thus incourag'd them:
Most valiant Iewes play you the men and fight,
And God will shew a wonder in your sight.

Against the cursed Romaines turne againe,
And beate the boasting heathen to the ground,
For God will shew vnto your sights most plaine,
His mightie power: if you doe them confound,
The Temple by it selfe shall builded be,
Without mans hand or helpe, most gloriously.

The cruell fire hauing wrought her worst,
When that at length the fury thereof ceast,
Titus arose, all open and vntrust,
Of many teares vnburdned and releast:
With head vncouered, mild and reuerently,
Into Sanctorum humbly entred he.

And seeing the glorie and magnificence,
The wondrous beautie of that sacred place,
Which there appeared, for all the vehemence
The flaming fier made, so long a space:
Tytus did stand amazed at the sight,
When he considered euery thing a right.

And thereupon into this speech he broke,

While quiet thus the Romaine prince did ly,
Without mistrust of any bloudy broyle,
Proclaiming pardon, life and liberty,
To euery yeelding soule, in that faire soyle:
A crew of trayterous Iewes, of base condition,
Assayled the Romaine guard, without suspition.

All Tytus gallant Souldiers which he set,
So carefully, the Temple gates to keepe,
Vpon a sodaine, they against them get,
In dead of night, when most were falne a-sleepe:

About that time with wonderous dilligence,
They rais'd a wall, in secret of the night,
Which then was found their Citties best defence,
For to withstand the conquering Romaines might:
Which once rac't the Citty needs must yeeld,
And Iewes giue place to Romaines sword and shield.

Renowned Tytus well perceiuing this,
To his best proued Captaines gaue a charge,
That new rais'd wall, the Iewes supposed blis,
Should scattered be, with breaches wide and large:

The Romaine Generall hearing of the same,
Tytus I meane, Vespasians famous Sonne,
So grieu'd thereat, that griefe did teares constraine,
Which downe his manly cheekes did streaming runne,
And holding vp to heauen his hands and eyes
To this effect, vnto the Lord he cries.

Thou mighty God, which guides this mortall round,
That all hearts secrets sees, and knowes my heart,
Witnesse thou canst, I came not to confound
This goodly Cittie: or to worke their smart: