Classic Poem

The First Booke.

I.

Mvse sound true valour, all perfections parts,
The force of friendship, and th' effects of faith,
To kindle courage in those generous hearts,
Which strive by vertue to triumph o're death,
Whilst honours height the wage of worth imparts,
What hence is hop'd, or whilst we here draw breath:
 Loe, found, not fain'd, how men accomplish'd prove,
 Both prais'd below, and glorifi'd above.

II.

O thou, from whom all what we praise doth streame,
Lift up my soule, my sprite with power inspire;
That straying wits who fayn'd ideas dreame,
May magnanimity in men admire,
Who sought thy glory, not affecting fame,
And yet what courage courts did all acquire;
 The truth not wrong'd, to please Lord pardon me,
 In method, time, and circumstances free.

III.

Sterne Ammons armes when Iabesh was enclos'd,
In her defenders did such feare infuse,
That breached walles (all naked) were expos'd,
As weake, else worse, the owners to accuse;
Who on defence no further then repos'd,
But last, for hope, a wretched helpe did use,
 To fawne on foes, and seeke (they thus appeas'd)
 What safety those who sought their ruine, pleas'd.

IV.

Then Nahas who could not his pride suppresse,
(As empty bladders blowne up with the winde)
Did dreame what way to double their distresse,
That still their shame might basely be design'd.
And to this bargaine proudly did them presse,
That they (without right eys) should live half blinde:
 A plaguy pardon which did lose, when spare,
 “Of wicked men the mercies cruell are.”

V.

But the besieg'd all in a desp'rate state,
“(The present feare breeds greatest horrour still)”
Sought first that they by messengers might treat,
With other Hebrews to prevent their ill,
And if not so soone help'd, short was the date,
When they should render resting on his will:
 Who thus some comfort or excuse might claime,
 All Israell so made partners of their shame.

VI.

To this requeste he quickly did consent,
All strength else scorn'd, who trusted in his owne,
For, if the rest, that succour crav'd, not lent,
He judg'd them straight as with that town o're-thrown;
His raving thoughts for new designes were bent,
As this for certaine, all the world had knowne;
 “Loe, thus large counts proud fooles for long time make,
 “Though death still treads each foot-step at their backe.”

VII.

As winged with feares to haste the hop'd reliefe,
At Gibea he arriv'd whom Iabesh sent,
Whilst groanes and teares (as in commission chiefe)
More prompt for woe would needs the tongue prevent,
They first usurp'd the place, as sent from griefe,
While as the count'nance did the minde comment:
 Yet from their weaknesse gathering some more strength,
 Sighs ushering words, this wrestled out at length.

VIII.

Your wretched brethren who in Gilead dwell,
Of Gods choice people ( Abrahams heires) a part,
By Ammons bands whose breasts with pride do swell,
Have suffred harmes which might make rocks to smart,
Indignities which I disdaine to tell,
Such shame my face, and horrour fills my heart:
 By putting out one eye, some covet peace:
 Though great the losse, yet greater the disgrace.

IX.

With this condition, Iabesh did compose,
If in seven dayes we succour not receive,
More happy they who both their eyes doe lose,
Then who for object such a tyrant have,
Who even o're God seekes to insult in those,
Whom from his altars he doth bragge to reave:
 The losse of light (if this not griev'd) were light,
 Though all our dayes (when blinde) prov'd but one night.

X.

His pow'r too much esteem'd, ours not at all,
He, till we gather, doth of purpose stay,
That (as he dreams) all quickly kill'd, or thrall,
Fame flowed from many springs exhaust he may;
As Egypts foyle, and many nations fall,
All for his glory had prepar'd the way:
 This victory must by all those be grac'd,
 Gods captiv'd wonders in his triumph plac'd.

XI.

Oft when men scorn'd, God did regard our grones,
And from great troubles did us free before,
Who pow'rfull, just, and mercifull at once,
Peace to his people when he would restore,
As reeds, crush'd scepters, breaking brittle thornes,
And by meane meanes to be admir'd the more,
 What man not mock'd at Midians scornfull flight:
 How oft did one against a number fight?

XII.

Then (sir) it seemes that who guards Iacobs seed,
To honour you doth this occasion move,
That at this time you (eminent) may breed,
In strangers terrour, in your people love,
For if this battell (as we hope) succeed,
It your election highly would approve:
 And that conceit which at the first one gaines,
 It fix'd for ever in the minde remaines.

XIII.

Since come to urge great haste I must be short,
That soone their hopes may grow, or else be spent,
Whom if you now doe by your power support,
You free from danger, and your owne prevent,
Else in worse time, us'd after in like sort,
Your owne next fear'd, you must our losse repent.
 “And courage, which, now free, might praise procure,
 “Necessity when forc'd, will quite obscure.”

XIV.

Thinke that you heare our citizens in vaine,
With wasted words a tyrants rigour ply;
The dead to envy forc'd, whilst they remaine
Of victors vile the bitter taunts to try,
The faces beauty once, but then the staine,
On bloudy cheekes whilst ugly eyes doe lye;
 Thinke Nahas scorning them, and bragging you,
 And that one moment lost, breeds danger now.

XV.

The man then dumb, griefe did againe engage,
By speaking passions further to prevaile;
The common woe nought could at first asswage,
Till angers strength made pitties weakenesse faile:
Kinde Ionathan smoak'd griefe, and flam'd forth rage,
But yet for haste to venge, staid not to waile:
 He wish'd for wings to flye, where Ammon stay'd,
 Yet first attended what his father said.

XVI.

That God (said Saul ) whom none enough can praise,
His troupes when vex'd, still by some one protects;
And me (of many least) at last doth raise
To fight those battels which his will directs;
Oft (that he thus the world may more amaze)
Weake instruments worke wonderfull effects:
 That, due to him, none may usurpe one thought,
 Nor from his glory derogate in ought.

XVII.

All my ambition is to serve this state;
For which effect, forc'd from my low repose,
The Lord was pleas'd (not my desires) of late,
This charge on me (as all know) to impose;
And by effects, God grant I may prove great,
Not, but in shew, as pompous Ethnickes glose;
 That God, this state who made me to embrace,
 May grace his choice, and fit me for the place.

XVIII.

I all your troubles travell to appease,
And place my treasure onely in your hearts:
Farre be delight from me, and what may please,
Whilst in this kingdome any city smarts,
And I could wish I might (if for your ease)
To watch over all, even part my selfe in parts:
 This kingdome now it must my body prove,
 And I the soule by which it all should move.

XIX.

But lest that words time (due to deeds) should wast,
Goe, get you backe, and unto Iabesh tell,
That, ere the time which they design'd, be past,
I shall be there, that tyrant to expell;
Then whilst they wondred, as quite chang'd at last,
Saul did them all, yea, and did himselfe excell:
 A kingly courage kindled had his minde,
 And from his face, majesticke greatnesse shin'd.

XX.

He whom they had despis'd, as base before,
Of the least tribes lest family, but borne,
Who sought stray'd beasts, heard of his fathers store,
Whom with disdaine they (when first rais'd) did scorn;
Afraid to be with him familiar more,
A reverend awe had proud contempt out-worne:
 And troupes did him attend (all well appeas'd)
 Imperiously appointing what he pleas'd.