his ità se habentibus de Amanuensi adhuc dubitaverit nec illi ulteriùs dubitare pet nos licebit Quamquam quid ego tibi ista memoro Tu omnia V. R. mihi enarrabis statue igitur aliquid litem dirime Haec interim sunt quae hîc loci dicta volui eo sâ— consilio ne Sacer ille Liber quem Anglicano-Meâ—icam fecimus veritate Historiae parum adstructâ Odyssei nescio cui aut Aenoicâ— cedat nimÃsque Poeticus videatur id ubi innuerim ad Arabis nostri Patientiam transeo tuam libero Dab Ox. prid Kal. Ap. An. Aerae X 1. 1661. Tibi Devotissimus ART BRETT THE PREFACE TO THE READER I Am not so sensible that these ensuing lines come short of the antiently admired and now happily reviving Pindarick strain as I am sure it must be allowed me by all serious and judicious Readers that does much more of the Original heighth of this Sacred Poem By what may be gathered from the writings of some Fathers and the ghesses of many modern calm Criticks it plainly appears let Jo. Scaliger be as angry as he will that this History fell from the holy Pen man thereof in Verse and therefore how proper 't is that it should be thus rendred I need not contend As for the kind of Verse here pitch'd upon how suitable that is in this case he who shall but consider what sort of Verse the Hebrâ—w runs in Alsted Encyclopoed l. 26. c. 13. which is Metrum solo syllabarum numero constans citrà similem Terminationem and withall the nature of this wherein there is In genere Lyrico multimoda incerta compositio respectu tum Colorum tum Stropharum Id. lib. eod cap. 14. will abundantly satisfie himself For my own particular if it be asked why I would venture upon this incomparable strain and how I dared so much as to attempt the transcribing of so Divine a Copy the same Answer will serve for both Interrogatories though I had rather it should be apply'd to the last viZ. That Imitation seems to be nothing else but Admiration so well imployed and so far improved as to deserve the epithet of Industrious Concerning the truth of this Histoâ—y of Job the Place where and Time when he lived I have spoken already in a more proper Dialect and therefore shall only adde here that if any thing in this or other Scripture-relations seem absurd or improbable the reason thereof is not because of any real absurdity or fiction in the relation it self but of our either mistaking the sense of the place or being ignorant of some material passage which we missing of may not presently perceive the consistency of the rest one with another Thus some think it ridiculously said in the 42. chap. of this book ver 10. The Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before because in the 13. v. his Children are found to be but just as many as he had at the first when as alas the Holy Ghost doth in those words tacitly condemn the Sadduces and Psychopannychists by esteeming the House Cattel c. which were once consumed utterly perish't but reckoning the deceased Sons and Daughters among the living and Job had at the same time twice ten Children as well as twice seven thousand Sheep twice three thousand Camels c. though not all in the same world existent Thus likewise Naamah is look't upon by some as too far from the land of Uz for Zophar to come from thence to visit Job as bâ—ing situated in the South part of the tâ—ibe of Judah whenas indeed it is not necessary that should be the town from whence Zophar came but there might have been another of that name as near Job's habitation as we have elswhere found there was a Shuah and a Teman though our Geographer has not been so kind as to direct us to it as well as to the other two The Book it self here made Verse is well known to consist partly in a brief Narrative of Job's Ruine and Restauration partly in a large discourse which the Deity enter'd into with him and a larger which he maintained with his four Friends in the latter whereof the design of his Visitants on the one side was to baffle him into a self condemnation and his on the other side to stand upon his defence and make good what he held viz. That we cannot truly judge of a man by his outward condition And in this his opinion the World has found him seconded by Heaven it self confuting his Opponents to their faces and also by all Nations in all ages as it would be easie to shew To instance only in the Romans among them Careat successibus opto c. was as good sense as Latine before their Language was corrupted and they still express themselves to the same effect in modern Italian thus Villano non è chi ni villa stà ma villano è chi villanie fà I need not with Pineda or Sanctius state the Question and formally dispute Whether Job was an Absolute Prince or no since whatsoever quality he was of whom Providence in those dayes singled out to be successively the Subject of the extremest misfortune and greatest prosperity we are sure that part hath in this Age been acted by a Mighty Monarch against whom there have risen up such as by their actions surely meant to prove the Sabaean plunderers unskilful in their own art and the Chaldaean robbers conscionable men whose stately Pallaces have been thrown down by the violence of a blasting Vote from out of a thin desolate and Desert House whose goods and every thing in which he might justly delight or glory have been destroyed by the help of that Artificial fire which though the Grand enemy of mankind were not in every piece of iron that vented it yet some are resolved to believe he first found out in the shape of a German Monk who in short has been a most notable example to demonstrate as it were that to Heaven's Favourites Loss is Gain and that Patience is a Crowning vertue for his Friends are double the number they were at the first seeing those who not many years ago were his because his Father's Enemies have kindly faced about and been successful practitioners in Loyalty how much his Treasures are increased let his Exchequer speak and how his Territories shall be more and more inlarged I leave to future Victories and the year 1666. to declare And so content my self at present with what I find written of this our famous Sufferer in the more habitable part of Arabia the Dâ—sert That never too much adored piece which sets forth his Life and Death I mean so much of either as the Sacred Records acquaint us with hath often been Translated into English but with what very great success I am not here to determine It would well become men of abilities in this way to let themselves be provoked to undertake the the task and
That man cannot so just appear As t'answer one of those ten thousand crimes 4. He has great wisdom his great strength to wield And what fool-hardy foes Did him in battel e'r oppose And not with disadvantage leave the field 5. He teaches Mountains motion Though no Soul Sensitive that motion guides They 'r soon dismounted when he chides And down into the filling Vallies gone 6. Out of her place now Planet Earth he shakes At his approach her very Basis quakes 7. If he forbid no Sun can rise If he forbid no spangles deck the skies 8. 'T is he 't is onely he That wrought the spreading Azure Canopy He onely can tread water in the Sea 9. He plac'd that Lamp betwixt the Bawters thighs He bad the Starry Gyant rise He made the glor'ous Seven And he adorn'd those stately Galleries Of the Antartick Heaven 10. His works we cannot fathom they 'r so great We cann't his miracles enumerate 11. Perchance he passes by just here Yet can I not discern him though so near There he may go and yet not to my sight appear 12. When he intends mens goods to take away Who can withstand his rude design Who dare rise up and say Why medlest thou with what is none of thine 13. If fur'ous once he will be fur'ous still Self-Saviours must soon submit And ridd of their Ambitious fit Confess 't was wind not substance did their bottles fill 14. Much less may I pretend my self to purge And study'd arguments most stoutly urge 15. Had I obtained Purity Yet from that Purity I 'd fly Unto his Mercy-seat and there for mercy cry 16. If I had pray'd and he had smil'd Yet should I not have Faith e'r to believe He did me with a smile receive But rather thinks some dream had me beguil'd 17. My vessel 's in Afflict'ons tempest broke And causelesly I 've many many a stroke 18. He will not let me breathe pure Air For Air I suck in anguish and despair 19. He is Omnipotent as to his Pow'r In doing Justice so exact That I e'en tremble at that hour When I must owne my sin and answer for the fact 20. Which when I go about to do My words will call themselves untrue When I seem perfect to my flattering eye My tongue will give my eye the lye 21. Could I to full perfect'on rise I 'd not my self too highly prise I would my self my own so useless life despise 22. 'T is a sad truth but such as I 'le maintain He lets the Good and Bad alike be slain 23. When to chastise the World he doth prepare When men by Death arrested are Before they are aware When his great Trial-Furnace none doth spare But Golden ones too tumble in Who have in them no dross of sin It makes him sport to see them glowing there 24. H' has given all to Cain's posterity The Earth is their own large Elysium People for Justice to their Judges come There 's ne'r a Judge can see How to do Equity For why he hoodwinks and he muffles 'um If he 's Existent any where it must be he 25. The flying Post is by my days out flown Let him ride ne'r so fast They make more haste But of them all there 's ne'r a feasting one 26. As well-built ships when under sail Along the billows glide away they glide As Eagles when their meat doth fail Cross the Air swiftly slide away they slide 27. If I begin once in a jolly tone What folly 's this to sit and groan Hence ye distracting cares be gone Hence Melancholy sad complexion I 'm now for th' Sanguine merry one 28. When thus my griefs before me stand Rendesvouz'd but to disband With thoughts thereof my mind I dare not trust Because I know thou 'lt not account me Just 29. Though that I am Just is plain For why else should I talk in vain 30. Though I should bathe my self in melting snow Though ne'r so clean my hands should grow 31. He would unwhiten me anon Into the mire he would me throw He would besmear and dawb me so That my own cloaths should scorn to be put on 32. For I am I and He is He I nothing He Infinity Nor can I Plaintiff He Defendant be 33. Nor can I any Umpire see Whose hands should joyn and make us both agree This being laid on him and that on me 34. If he would lay aside his rod If to his rage obnox'ous I Did not under Duress lie If he would be a loving God 35. Then you should see I would be bold I 'd quickly talk to th' purpose then but hold 1. I Long to hear it said from heaven Die I long to word my deep anxiety And now what e'r s the shame What e'r's the blame I am resolv'd to word the same And keep proport'on to my Agony 2. I 'l e'en unto my Judg and make request That he 'd not yet sentence pass I 'l ask what misdemeanor 't was Which stirr'd him up with me thus to contest 3. Is' t fitting thou should'st tyrannize Or is it proper Righteousness for thee When Varlets dev'llish plots devise To turn thy face to them thy back to me 4 5 6. Do carn'ous tunicles fill up thy eyes Are thy days measur'd by the winding Sun Doth thy Eternity in glasses run Or seest thou objects Decussat'on-wise Art thou in Durance or in Sight like us That thou need'st to observe my failings thus 7. Of my Integrity thou do'st not doubt Thou know'st 't is for no sin of mine I fall into those hands of thine Out of which they that once fall in shall ne'r get out 8 Nature seems to be thy Art One of whose Master-pieces Men am I Thou gav'st me matter colour symmetry And now thou spoilest what thou didst impart 9. Consider how thy hand to give me breath Small clods of clay together laid Wilt thou unmake what thou hast made And shall I be again reduc'd to earth 10. Didst thou not pour me out like milk in th'womb Did not thy Rennet make my members come 11. This flesh I wear Thou didst prepare This double skin Thou wrapp'st me in Here stand my bones my arteries run there With those thou hast my body fortifi'd With these thou hast my parts together ty'd 12. Alive thou keep'st me dost me favour shew Thou look'st to me and I 'm well look't to 13. All this thou think'st on oft unknown to me All this I 'm sure thou hast in memory 14. If I grow towards such a father rude Thou mark st it well And wilt me of my rudeness tell And ne'r acquit me of Ingratitude 15. If I do any thing unjust I 'm sure the penalty to undergo Or if I conquer sinful Lust Yet ha'nt I confidence my head to show I do'nt know what I do I 'm at a loss Look on my grief and poise my heavy cross 16. My Cross doth heav'r now and heav'er prove Whilst Lion thou dost me pursue Anon again thy bowels
all where-in poor Man doth trust 20. Thou strikest and away goes he Dispos'd of to Eternity His eyes grow dark his cheeks grow pale Those Di'monds wink these Roses fail And he thus metomorphis'd down doth fly 21. He doth not see The Infamy Which his posterity incurrs Nor hears he of the Honor which they gain No but his Sense endures its proper pain His Vnderstanding hers XV. 1. THe Noble Temanite replies 2. This is not handsom Sir for one so wise To give himself to Not'ons such as these This is to feed upon an Eastern breeze 3. Such a one should not this day Method take Or such unprofitable speeches make 4. Thou hast so little of the Orator Thy Auditors thou car'st not for But boldly carry'st on thy speech begun Substracting what Thou add'st too much to that From thy unperfected Devotion Thy Prayer-incense which of late Arab'as perfumes did perfume Like those gross odours now is taught To spend with using and consume 5. That Mouth wherewith thou used'st heav'n to greet Now speaks not ought But what is nought Thy Tongue has prov'd of late an arrant Cheat 6. I would thee willingly acquit But thou by talking thus wilt not permit Thou thy own Dirge do'st sing No witness need against thee rise It will abundantly suffice Thy self against thy self to bring 7. Why Joh art thou the Protoplast Or prithee say Wert thou moulded out of clay E'r this ruff superficies'd ball was cast 8. Has heav'n acquainted you with that Decree Which had lain hid from all Eternity Doth wisdom only appertain to thee Hast thou a grant of the Monopoly 9. What know'st thou that we ne'r knew What do'st perceive that we perceive not too 10. The rev'rend White upon our heads appears Thy father liv'd he would want of our years 11. We'd have you only owne your fault And upon true Contrit'ons feet Step and fetch Comfort from the Mercy-seat And is this Comfort proffer'd ye worth naught Have you in Divinity More skill than we And can you e'en into Gods closset see 12. Whither away by thy proud heart art born Why read we in thy winking eye such scorn 13. Why d' you one man oppose our Common Lord Why can't you better words at least afford 14. Alas what is discursive dust That he should be accounted just Where is there now the Eve A Right'ous Abel to conceive 15. His greatest Saints God dares not trust They and the Heav'n they 're heirs unto Are both impure as to his view Who in his Saints sees vice in th' heav'nly Spangles rust 16. Much filthy'r 's Man who quaffs Iniquity 17. As doth Leviathan the Sea 17. Harken and I shall let you understand What I my self have seen and understood 18. What Volumes treat of writ before the flood And thence derived down from hand to hand And what was held by men as Great as Good 19. Who had the world at their command Whose neighbours ne'r incroach't upon their land 20. How that the Sinner doth in torment live And travail with the plots he doth devise Not knowing how long he has to tyrannise 21. He hears strange tones and frighting cries And when they cease and he in quiet lies He 's set upon by Enemies Which quarter neither use to take nor give 22. He quite despairs of scaping those black foes Of getting out of those eternal woes To which the sword now sending him he goes 23. Hungry he grows And then to ev'ry one he shows His meâ—ger face his hollow eye And Oh some Bread some Bread's his cry The terrible Night-day is nigh And that he knows 24. His sin shall trouble trouble sorrow bring The pangs of both which he already feels Fear charges him like some puissant King With a great Army at his heels 25. For he has gi'n his Maker the first blow And thinks to deal with an Almighty foe 26. Whom he doth therefore fur'ously assail Whose very throat he maketh at Ready but he will come at that To cut through's thick-boss't Shields and Coats of Mail 27. Large level vallies of Fat smooth his face Mountains thereof his pamper'd sides do grace 28. Such to Mankind is his antipathy He dwells in towns and rooms from concourse free Towns where no man lives but he And houses which e'r long will rubbish be 29. His bags when most they shall be quickly told In their enjoyment he shall not grow old H' has got him an estate but that shan't hold 30. He shall be cast on that Blind rock the Grave Never from thence to launch And there the flame no light shall have But heat enough to quite dry up his branch He shall be blown by the Almighty's bâ—eath Below the Center beyond Hell and Death 31. It is not meet Men on themselves should put so great a cheat As to expect high things from being Vain Alas a Golden Nothing 's all they gain 32. Th' emolument for which they do so strive Like an Abortive birth shall thrive The Auto-focus shall about 'um move But ne'r their branches into green improve 33. Look on the Sinner as a Vine His raw grapes make but sowre wine Look on him as an Olive-tree His flow'r as soon as such shall cease to be 34. Death and Destruction shall exercise New tricks new fallacies On the Grand Masters of the same Bribes sha'nt stave off the raging flame From Palaces which by their heaps did rise 35. Fond hypocrites believe They something really conceive But this conception at last we find To be a Tympany and caus'd by wind They do with Sin As 't were lie in And therefore that which they bring forth Accordingly must be little worth XVI XVII 1. JOb this sober Answer gave 2. I 've often seen such thundring Preachers rave I 've heard 'um vent upon this head their rage Is this the comfort I shall have You give worse words than e'r they gave And you increase the grief you should asswage 3. Surcease your nonsense-argument Methinks you 're something confident So many fond object'ons to invent 4. If you were I and I were you I could keep a prating too I could give words as odd I could give as shrewd a nod 5. I could do so but would that be discreet Sure I should utter what would be more meet Each word that from my lips should fall Should prove a Cordial I 'de you another story tell Ev'ry syllable I 'd say Should be a pow'rful spell To drive your evil melancholy sp'rit away 6. Ah me I can't attain the rest I seek Though ne'r so much I speak Nor doth my sorrow cease Though ne'r so long I hold my peace 7 Ah! weary weary ah my spirirs faile Thou draw'st them out and they exhale I am left all alone Thou fright'st away my friends and they are flow'n 8. Thou Cruel with thy heavy plough Hast draw'n these wrinckles on my brow Each hollow in my wither'd cheeks Abundantly my sad condit'on speaks 9. I am a proof how man can