DAVID'S TROUBLES REMEMBRED IN 1. Absolons Sheep-shearing 2. Ioab projecting 3. Bathsheba bathing 4. Israel rebelling 5. Ahithophel hanging 6. David returning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 PSAL. 119. 71. It is good for mee that I have been in trouble that I may learne thy Statutes LONDON Printed by Richard Hodgkinsonne and are to be sold by Daniel Frere at the signe of the Bull in Little-Britan 1638. To the Author THe Poem which shall live and oft be read With foure faire Ornaments is garnished It must describe to life fitly compare Abound with Sentences and Fictions rare All these are met in thine and doe conspire To dresse thy Lines in durable attire Thy chosen Subject of a sacred straine Is Index of thy sanctified Braine Prophaner Muses vent your idle dreames While thine discourseth of diviner Theames It shall bee written on thy mournfull Herse Hee turn'd all sacred Story into Verse RO. WILLAN Ad Authorem Quiddam ex Virgilii Eclogâ sextâ inflexum huic penso pretextum per G. H. HAs oh Laete fides tibi dant en accipe Musae Psalmicini quas ante duci quibus ille solebat Cantando sacros deducere coelitus hymnos His tibi suavifluo currit scaturigine vena Ne quis sit vates quo se plus jactet Apollo Omnis te pia Musa canit nec gratior ulla est Quam quae Davidis praescribit pagina nomen Quae canit aerumnas regis curasque sequaces Saepius obsessi latrantibus undique monstris To the worthy Author of this Divine Poem ORder and Number set the World in frame Tun'd the harmonious Spheres made memory A Cabinet to eternize Mans fame And to Record th' eternall Deity All Verses rellish not of Levitie Who saith true Poesie is not Divine Knows not the Hebrew Hymn nor hath read thine Should I beleeve a Metempsychosis Isha's sonnes soule silenc'd by his last fate I 'de sweare inform'd thy body and made this Vse of thy Peace to draw his trouble's State That others might take heed ere 't is too late Church and State Hypocrites in their owne trap To catch though maskt lul'd in fortunes lap Follow thy Prophet Poets follow thee Till they have learn'd to leave Venerian Rimes And thou hast taught religious Historie Affords the proper Sonnets of our times Best Organs Canzons true coelestiall Chimes So having penned Odes for Davids Lyre Goe helpe to chaunt them in the Angels Quire ROB. SYBTHORP Idem ad Lectorem INcestûs poenae fraterni sanguinis ultor Principis aerumnae Proditionis opus Contemptus Cleri rabies temeraria vulgi Peccantis planctus contritionis amor Si tibi sint curae pandit mysteria mira Aâ—-laetus vates alite digna Jovis R. S. DAVIDS TROUBLES The first Booke Absolons Sheep-shearing I Tell the divers tryalls of the King Who hevenly hymns did to his Maker sing Blest Spirit that infus'd on him such skill Dispose aright thine humble servants quill Now liv'd the King at home in happy peace Free from all Wars and dangerous disease Of civill broiles For all Sauls house was slaine None but the lame Mephibosheth remaine The Philistins are all brought downe so low They dare no other Lord than David know The Syrians in two battailes overthrowne Now make their peace and serve him as his own The Heralâ— violating Ammonite Is strong enough to serve but not to fight Two yeare are past since Thamars ravishment The Peeres and people free from discontent When thus becalm'd with peace and newly rose From meat newes comes thus fame by going growes That all his sonnes by Absolon were slaine Not one amongst the living did remaine This made him from his Cloth of state descend And teare his clothes and dolefull cryes out send Lye on the earth whilst all his servants cry And with their clothes all rent stand mourning by Till Ionadab begins thus to the King Take not my Lord so grievously this thing As if that all thy sonnes at once were dead Thine Amnon's onely slaine who ravished His sister Thamar Absolon this thing E're since hath vow'd and now to passe doth bring By faire pretence of making him a feast Thus hath hee slaine his Brotheâ— and his Guest By this the Watchman looking up descride Much people comming on the Mountaines side When Ionadab Lo as thy servant said The Kings sonnes come my Lord be not dismaid They all are safe scarce had hee made an end When downe the hill they saw them all descend Who as they neerer came still more lamented The King and all his servants hearts relented As when from Egypt with full sacks of graine Old Iacobs sonnes came to him home againe Because with Ioseph Simeon was left bound The Sonnes and Father make the valleys sound With plaints groans and cause at home more mourning For Simeons misse than joy at their returning So was it here King David and his Sonnes Make all the Court to sound with plaints and groanes Meane while the guiltie murtherer Absolon Not daring stay to answer what was done In hast t' avoid the Lawes revenging hand To Geshur posts his Mothers native land Geshur a Citie is in Syrias Fields On Iudahs borders where old Talmaie wields The Scepter who for some respects of state When David yet o're Hebron onely sate To him had given his Daughter from whose bed Came Absolon and Thamar ravished It was no little pleasure to the King To see his goodly Nephew but this thing Amaz'd him much great Davids Sonne to see Attended with so small a companie But his sweet Beautie and brave personage Commended by the flower of his age So takes the good old King his salutation Was all compos'd of joy and admiration The hidden vigour of his lightning eye His rosie cheeks his fronts sweet Majestie His Nose like Gnomon of a Diall faire His Lippes pure scarlet Ribbands whereon haire Arose like finest Downe his Mouth not wide But open'd did discover on each side An Ivorie range of Teeth as even and sound As twinned Lambs which on the Mountaines bound His Locks were like to twist of burnishâ— Gold Which did out-weigh so oft as hee was pol'd The Ramm's faire Fleece and to the Sun-beames turn'd Did seeme a flaming Bush that never burn'd In all the Kingdomes of the East not one Was found for Beauty like to Absolon From his foots sole up to his curled crowne No blemish could in Absolon be showne This made th' idolatrous vaine Syrian Thinke him a God in likenesse of a man Beleeving Sol had left his Chariot bright In Geshurs Court one night to take delight Or warlike Mars resign'd his Sphere above To solace there in pleasing armes of Love The Priests themselves that were or should be wise Were ready even to offer Sacrifice When Talmai thus my fairest Absolon Art thou my Nephew royall Davids Sonne Or dost thou from amongst the Gods descend Mee to admonish of my latter end Worship there 's due unto a power divine And not Embracements If that thou
art mine Declare the cause that doth thee hither bring Then Absolon My Parent and my King I duely here doe give upon my knee The worship which thou offerest to mee I am thy sonne and servant But the King Lets him not kneel but whilst from 's eyes doe spring Teares mixt with joy to 's chaire of State doth guide Who thus begins downe sitting by his side It hath too oft been prov'd to be deny'd That all things which on earth to men betide By heavenly Powers are guided to their end What ever Mortalls vainly may intend So as Church Policies and Rules of State Are alwayes subject to eternall Fate When thou thy Daughter borne of Royall Seed To David gav'st hee of thine aide had need Against Sauls house his Hebron to maintaine And other parts of Israels Land to gaine Who thought then that thy Daughters Progeny Should be subjected to strange soveraignty This baser Israelite to beare a Sonne To disinherit Maachas Absolon But when I found my Fathers mind and fate In this agree contented with my state My life I in a Countrie Village led And like a Farmer Sheep and Bullocks fed In Court I saw no safety to remaine Where Envie and Ambition ever reigne With divers jealousies and strains of state To thrust downe vertue not to emulate Yet feeling Royall Blood boile in a veine Which mee assur'd that I was borne to reigne And that to bee commanded was too base For one descended of so Royall Race I rather chose to be the first in place Than second in the highest Monarchs grace My Sheep-hooke therefore I a Scepter feigne My Garland greene a Crowne and that small traine Of Gallants that did on my person tend I call'd my Peeres The Iudges I did send To judge my subjects which were flocks of sheep Were shepheards who them did protect and keep And not as now wee see some Iudges doe Their Fleeces pull and take their Bodies too The Law I rul'd by was my will and word A frowning looke my executing sword Nor did I lesse esteeme my fragrant Bowers Then Kings their high guilt princely costly Towers My fields and flocks did yeeld as wholsome meat I ay a better stomacke had to eate And when I pleas'd to hunt the little Hare More pleasure yeelded than Roe Bucke or Beare I often walking in my shady Groves Heard more sweet dainty Lays of heavenly Loves Than could be tun'd by Davids choisest Quire What more than I enjoy'd could one desire A Country life is too too full of blesse If country men knew their owne happinesse But ah poore wretches all admire gay showes Of Court and Citie but alas who knowes Their base dissemblings jealousies and cares Forswearing lying flattering and feares Whereas their clothes they seeke to change the bed And to account the stolne for sweetest bread That dying few doe know for whom they toild If for their owne or for anothers child The while the Country-man at home alone Enjoyes his wife his own deare flesh and bone And sees even in his sons and Nephewes faces Their parents native features looks and graces And though such shows they make not on their table Yet is their chear as good and acceptable Yea even their Offerings and Sacrifice Assoone to Heaven may from these Cells arise As those that Kings on statelie â— Altars lay And send their Hecatombs up night and day Thus as a King I liv'd amongst my Peeres And wanted nothing but their cares and fâ—ares Free from the envie of the Prince and Court Who never did regard my meaner port Untill the Heavens or some malicious fate Who better knew than they my happy state Even in the swimming fulnesse of my gladnesse Me interrupted with this cause of sadnesse Besides her sonne thy servant Absolon Maacha had a daughter and but one By David of such comely modest grace She was the light and glory of our race Surmounting common beauties of the Court As Suns bright beames the Starrs of meaner sort With which some Courtiers playing as the Flyes With flaming Lamps burnt both their wings and eyes Of which was Amnon whom experience try'd That he indeed was not true Eagle-ey'd For dazled with her beames most pure and bright Against Gods Lawes and Natures common light He lusted after his owne Sisters bed A wickednesse not to be uttered But as the more conceal'd the more the fire Consumes so this unnaturall desire Most fearing it should be to morâ—alls showne Nere dreading God to whom it all was knowne Consumes his marrow and his body dryes So as on bed all languishing he lyes No meanes he saw his lawlesse lust to gain For she a Virgin liv'd pure free from stain When Ionadab my fathers brothers son As subtile ones who fairest rising Sun Ay worship and think nothing vil'e or base That may possesse them of a Princes grace Observing Amnons pulse doth plainly finde His sicknesse not of body but of minde And saith my Lord Art thou not Davids son The kingdoms heire thou knowst their breaths not one From Sihors Floud to great Euphrates sands That cheerfully observes not thy commands Thou art the life and comfort of our State Why dost thy self and us then macerate Let but thy servants know what thou desir'st And they will more effect than thou requir'st Ah! Cosin Ionadab saith Amnon I Think better my desires with me should dye To make them known it is as bootlesse vain As wicked to affect I will not feign Nor hide the secrets of my heart from thee I love my Sister Thamar but what hee Advis'd the lustfull Prince was never known Till thus the cause was by the issue shown One Summers evening walking when Sols light was giving way unto the Queen of night I on a Mule by Moon-light did descry A Lady with small train who comming nigh Falls to the ground and with a piteous groan With sighs and sobs doth testifie her moan Her hand alas she laid upon her head Which was with ashes all besprinkeled Her partie-colour'd garments all were rent That I her piteous case did even lament Before I her discover'd by the face To be our Thamar Ah! saith she alas Most miserable wight yet why should I Make known my grief and see no remedy Had any soe done me this foule despight I could have over-past my grief more light But my neere friend hath me dishonoured My elder Brother Amnon ravished You can but wonder noble Absolon How he a Virgin Maid could finde alone Ah! dearest Brother by a subtill wile Me and my Father both he did beguile Himself he feigning sick upon his bed Soon as he by the King was visited Most humbly of him doth intreat the grace That I ah me might come before his face And in his Chamber make some dainty meat Which of my hand it might be he could eat The King commanded I forthwith was sent Without the least suspecting his intent Me to dishonour and my family And violate my chaste virginity But
to invite Her to the Court sometimes to take delight Till her belov'd Vriah did return And not to sit all day at home and mourn Glad was the woman that her Lord and King Did so much for her Husbands honouring And sayes though for Vriahs safe retire To pray and mourn I onely do desire I will my self and him this thing denay Ere I my gracious King will disobey Soon as the King her in the Court doth see Amongst the Ladies like faire Cypresse Tree Amongst the Shrubs or Cynthia shining bright Amid the twinkling Starres in frosty night He first begins her beauty to commend And blushing kist her cheek and calls her friend And said that if he might a servant be To such a beautious Mistris his degree Of State should bow her humbly to observe And do his best her favour to deserve Thus though her Husbands Honour first did bring This Dame to Court yet proud now that a King Should there confesse he did such service owe For few faire Ladies but their beauty know As ready was to take as he to offer All Complements of Court the King would proffer Not once suspecting such a godly King Would offer her the least dishonouring Nor could all Satans cunning him have brought At first to entertaine so foule a thought But as a simple Lambe on flowrie banks Of Iordan bounds and leaps and plaâ—es his pranks Till his faire shadow in the watry glasse He spies which seemes the substance to surpasse Whereon he nigher comes and comes to look Till unawares he falls into the brook Whence he may strive to get out but in vain The streames by force him carry to the Main Even so the King at first begins to play With her pure hand as on his Couch he lay Then gazing on her eyes and modest face Reflecting beauties like a Looking-glasse He unawares in Beauties snare is took Ev'n as the Lamb was drowned in the Brook Oh lothsomnesse deceitfulnesse of sinne The sweetnesse bitternesse we finde therein Beginnings fawnings growing terrour smart Our weaknesse Satans envie mans false heart Thus Mortals which to Heaven should seek the way As Fishes which in fresher water play Swim in delights and lustfull pleasures all Till unawares they in the dead-sea fall But as you evermore shall see one sinne Beget another to lye hidden in So David his Adultery to hide Commits first drunkennesse then homicide For she perceiving that she had conceiv'd And fearing lest for being so deceiv'd The Lords and all the people would her blame Because her Lord could not beget the same Who had been three full months to battail gone Before her bathing and the act was done She hereof closely certifies the King Who seeks thus to provide a covering He sends to me a Letter which requir'd Vriah home as if he had desir'd To know by him how all things did succeed But 't was to father what his wife did breed In brief Vriah comes and doth relate To David mine and all the peoples state And how the warres went on and prospered Then David wisht him get him home to bed Refresh thy self thy journey hath been great And after him he sends a messe of meat But brave Vriah hating all delight Or pleasure which disabled him to fight Among the Guard did all that night attend Nor would to his own house and wife descend Which when the King next morrow understands He of Vriah thus the cause demands Brave Hittite may thy King the reason know Why this last night when thou didst from me go You went not home but tarryed with my Gard As of thy journey thou hadst no regard Who said the Arke with Iudah Israel And my Lord Ioab in their Tents do dwell Abroad i' th' field What then shall I alone Lye with my wife and eat and drink at home As thy soule lives and as thou liv'st O King I am resolved not to do this thing The King yet caus'd him in the City stay All that and afterwards another day In hope at last he to his wife would go But when he found that this way would not do He makes him in his presence sup that night And drink down healths untill his head was light Yet he his wife regarded nere the more But with the Gard all night lay as before Oh such brave Spirits saith Abishai would raise Unto themselves and us immortall praise Were they but as they due deserve regarded But see saith Ioab how this was rewarded He brings a Letter sign'd with Davids hand To me which did to this effect command Of thee and of thy host I did inquire By this and finde all things as I desire This onely now to thee I do not find This Hittite answerable to my mind And therefore set him formost in the fight Where thou discern'st the men of greatest might And when he is in danger soon retire And let him dye No other cause inquire Of thy King David Having this command My part was to obey and not to stand In disputation were it wrong or right And therefore where I saw most men of might Defend the walls I brave Vriah sent Where all succeeded just to mine intent Of Davids servants many likewise fell Both of Iudea and of Israel Whereof when first I certifi'd the King He seemed much displeased with the thing But when he heard Vriah also di'd His wrath appeas'd he thus again repli'd Salute thou Ioab tell him after-care Or grief avails not 'gainst the chance of Warre For thus the sword doth usually devoure All that do come within his reach or power Be not discourag'd make thine Armie strong To be reveng'd of this and all our wrong What said his wife saith Abishai hereto Ev'n mourn'd for fashion as â—ich widdowes do Saith Ioab but as soon as that was done The King her makes his wife and takes her home The joy to be a Queen soon dryes her eyes And with her husbands murtherer she lyes Wondrous iniquity saith Abishai I never heard the like untill this day A head distemper'd thus cannot but ake And make the heart and all the members shake He were a man of wondrous wisdome sure That could to this disease apply a cure Is not one Prophet left in Israel That dares the King of these offences tell Yes sure saith Ioab there 's a skilfull one Hath searcht this sore unto the very bone Good Nathan yet with such a gentle hand He made the King his faults to understand By telling others so the sore did presse With prudent gentle pious tendernesse For Prophets that reprove such faults in Kings Must strike at one to sound out other strings And not reproach their errours to their faces Nor publish to the people their disgraces Since Bathsheb as conception did begin The King slept in this Lethargy of sinne They both had like beginning life and growth And have like bringing forth and birth of both As skilfull Leech to cure his Patients ills With gold oft covers biâ—ter wholsome
learn'd how subjects should be governed And howsoe're thou now liv'st banisht from Thy Fathers presence and thy royall home Yet lo the peoples votes thee all designe Great Iudahs King and Lord of Palestine The chiefest Arts we have in Courts to rise Is silence and dissembling injuries Acknowledging for savours all disgraces And giving for them thanks with smiling faces Yea Kings must oft I know to whom I speak thus Give way and smile at wrongs or they will break us They that will curb their Peers and peoples factions Must look especially to their first actions For nought so sure establisheth a Crowne As then to merit honour and â—enown For such is ay the peoples waywardnesse They measure Princes vertues by successe Of all we most obnoxious are to hate Such multitudes for us insidiate Our neerest kindred servants wives and friends Pretending service but to have their ends Amongst all none so base pernicious are As th'impudent dissembling flatterer A close infection in a royall house And to the King and State most dangerous Beginning soon as they begin their dayes For all are taken with immoderate praise Yea in their cradâ—e they are rock'd together No King but on this Lime-bush leaves a feather Oh! ' tls at Court a gainfull occupation To pry into their Princes inclination And what they find them cover and desire That alwayes to commend most and admire To have their words and actions ever lin'd â—ust by the square they finde their King inclin'd Be it to lust excesse or cove I se These Brokers will new tricks for them devise Most infamous foul greedinesse of gain They stile good thrift and earing for the main The infectious presidents of filthy lust Sweet gentle Courtship and the tolls unjust Kings raise for fewell to their prodigality Are gloriously intiâ—led Liberality They take all lets out of the wayes that lead To base desires by shame prohibited Thus they all seeds of vertue seek to choke And cover over vice with vertues cloke So as should heavens to Kings no larger heart Than to the common people here impart How should they quite themselves of these diseases Which now by custome common grown so pleases For deep wise prudent Counsellors of state That find reproofs procure them only hate Distinguish private vices of a King From publike errours in administring And looking to the Kingdomes government Avoid all private means of discontent He that will mâ—n in due subjection bind Must as the body so command the mind The King and Priest here acts his severall part One guides the hand the other rules the heart Do never such sharp penall Lawes compose If you their consciences leave free and loose The people will them desperately pervert Religion is the onely ruling Art And holds upon the mind for better â—ye Than feare of any pain or penalty See it but in our meates of flesh and fish No Law makes them one day forbeare a dish But let devotion bid a yearly Fast All will abstain though forty dayes it last No humane Edict but a Law divine Could make your Iewes abstain from flesh of Swine You see how here I my disccur'e apply To yours not to my own Church policy Wisely advis'd saith Absolon to raigne But how my Lord shall I the Kingdome gain For Israels Crown not as thy Geshur goes To th' eldest son but 's at the Kings dispose And I have many causes just to feare This last born son is to the King so deare I of my birth-right shall be dispossest Except I in the peoples favour rest The peoples grace saith Talmai's but a blast A vapour that doth like a bubble last Up suddenly of wind and water blown And with another blast as quickly flown Thou by such breath maist rise up but canst stand No longer than thou serve to their command They follow head-long after novelty By pride seduced or simplicity The proud are heads and authors of the faction The simpler but the hands and feet of action They both alike ambitiously dissent From Rules of Church and civill Government And alwayes will applaud a new deviser To seem than all their Predâ—cessors wiser And thus by innovation of things They would enforce new Lawes on Gods and Kings Admitting unto them no other measure Of worship and obedience than their pleasure Serve but their turn thou shalt their minion be Crosse them their sâ—vour as their censur's free Adventure not to fly upon these wings These are not made to raise but pull down Kings Oh but my Lord saith Absolon a Crown Cannot be taken up till it be down And therefore I affect to learn the Art Of drawing factious spirits to my part Of whom against the King I may have need If he design another to succeed The way saith Talmai civill wars to breed Let Heavens not I appoint one to succeed But if they so on thy high fortunes frown The people must be courted for a Crown Thou art to strive with all dexterity To act thy part as in a Comedy For few of them the truth from errour knows And nothing takes them more than glittering showes Congies embracements visits salutations Large promises faire speeches commendations If you with reall blessings them would please Provide free trafficke plenty peace and ease They war abroad than peace will rather chuse May they sit free at home and heare good newes But most of all the people to content Be alwayes blaming present government To gaine a Crown thou early must and late Observe all suters standing at the gate And where thou seest a discontented brow Embrace him ask the causes why and how Approve his cause however good or bad A factious spirit nothing more will glad Oh say thy matter 's good thou needst not feare If that the King would take the paines to heare But he doth solace with the Queen at home And ne're thinks to depute one in his roome I must confesse my friend it is not well Were I but made a Iudge in Israel Your causes should be heard without delay And not as now put off from day to day That thou wert better suffer injury Than take such paines to buy a remedy Since I with David first joyn'd in Affinity I often have observ'd how your Divinity Prepares the people first to reverence And next them seasons with obedience Yea nothing more them right or wrong inclines Than as their Guides are sound or rash Divines Kings may command mens bodies as their head But peoples hearts are by their Prophets led And therefore as to civill Government So 'gainst Church-orders shew thy discontent No Musick is so sweet to peoples eare As evill of Church-governours to heare And if thou findst a Levite hot and young Of which but few thou knowst can hold their tongue Of custome give him countenance and grace And mention thy dislikes when he 's in place What then he heares thee and thy servants mutter He in th' assemblies openly will utter For which if he be