To vertuous Sara being in the tent And will'd her make some cakes of finest meale Feasting themselues with butter milke and veale Vnder the arbors coole delightfull leaues Where he the promise of a sonne receiues Then rising thence to Sodome-ward they looke And as they toward the place their iourney tooke Said God Shall I the thing from Abram hide That I intend he feares me and beside He will instruct his children keepe my hest And all earths nations shall in him be blest Then said the Lord because that Sodomes crie Is very great and doth ascend the skie Yea and their sinne exceeding grieuous is I will go see how deeds agree with this Then Abram said Lord shall the righteous fare In punishment like those that wicked are Farre be it from the Iudge of all mens sight To do the thing that were not iust and right If fiftie good therein abode do make Wilt thou not spare it for those fifties sake If forty fiue or thirtie twentie ten Wilt thou not spare it for those righteous men Yes said the Lord if onely ten there bee For all the rest thou shalt preuaile with me With that the Lord departed mou'd to grace And Abraham return'd vnto his place Then in the euening suns declining state As righteous Lot did sit at Sodome gate There came two Angels which when he espide He did inuite them kindly to abide Within his house that night and wash their feete But they refusing would remaine in streete Yet he importunate they did consent And in with him those guests of heauen went Where he did entertaine them with a feast But ere the time was come they should take rest The Sodomites in multitudes were found Both old and yong the house enuiron'd round And calling Lot said Bring vnto our sight Those men that harbor in thy house to night Let them come forth to vs we may them know Then Lot intreates My brethren do not so I haue two daughters virgins both they be Which in affection are right deare to me Yet rather them I le yeeld vnto your will Then these men should endure such hainous ill Oh let not sinne so wickedly incense Vnder my roofe they came for their defence With that they thrust the holy man aside And said Stand backe for this wee le not abide Our furie shall the more towards thee appeere Art thou a Iudge that cam'st to soiourne here Wilt thou controule in that we go about Wee le breake thy doore our force shall fetch them out But pressing forth they could no entrance find For on a sodaine all were stricken blind Blind bodies now that had blind soules before Tiring themselues in seeking out the dore Then said the Angels vnto righteous Lot What friends hast here that we destroy them not Besides thy daughters and thy sonnes in law Out of the citie all thou hast withdraw The crie is great before th' Almighties face And he hath sent vs to destroy the place Lot did aduise his children and the rest But to his sonnes in law it seem'd a iest They were as at this day most sinners bee Carelesse till vengeance they do feele and see When morning did darke nights blacke curtaines draw Last morning that the Sodomites ere saw The Angels hastned Lot to speed away But as he did prolong the time with stay They caught him vp his children and his wife And brought him out and bad him saue his life Looke not behind nor in this plaine abide Least thou do perish wherewith Lot replide My Lords if fauour I haue found take pitie And graunt me to enioy but yonder citie How should I to the mountaines safely flie Some euill may betide there I shall die Onely but Soar to thy seruant giue That litle Soar and my soule shall liue Thou hast preuaild said they thy sute obtaine Go thither and in safetie remaine Now was the Sunne new risen on earths face And Lot new entred in his refuge place When sodainly a shewre from heauen fell Made Sodome seeme as Sodome had bene hell T was no such element as washt the ground When all the world excepting eight were drownd Then waters were the workers of Gods ire But now in vengeance he employes the fire An element of farre more fearfull kind Did sinfull Sodome turn'd to ashes find No common fier fit for needfull things But flames that dread terror and anguish brings Of cruell torments grieuous to be felt Of sulphur sauour lothsome to be smelt Of terrible amazement to the eie A flaming citie and a burning skie All was destroyd of timber worke and stones All was consum'd composde of flesh and bones And Sodome which at euening did appeare As if a Paradise of God it were Seemd in the morning vnto Abrams eies As smoake that from a fornace doth arise Obdurate Pharaoh in his hardnesse of heart MOses what message doest thou bring Am I not Pharaoh Aegypts King I will not let the people go For all the wonders thou canst show Not Arons serpent-turning rod Shall make my heart obey your God My Sorcerers the like can doo 〈◊〉 tē plagues Come Coniurers make Serpents too The waters changing into blood The fishes dying in the flood The frogs through all the land increast The lice offending man and beast Th'intolerable swarmes of flies The cattell that in Aegypt dies The swelling botches sores and blaines The thunder haile and fire that raines Grashoppers that all greene things wast The darknesse that three dayes did last The striking all the first-borne dead To true conuersion cannot lead Hard is my heart and vnrelenting T is vnacquainted with repenting Moses euen by my kingly might I charge thee to depart my sight Vpon thy life see me no more For if thou doest thou di'st therefore My trust doth in my strength consist Put confidence in whom thou list On horse and chariot I depend Trust in your God let him defend Vnto the sea I will pursue Thy Israelites that slauish crue And there I will them all confound Or there let me and mine be drownd The mirrour of Chastitie FAire Hebrew pleasure of mine eyes To whom my loue I sacrifice Thou hast found fauour in her sight Whose loue doth thy loue kind inuite To what delights I can afford To Putiphar great Pharoes Lord Before all loues in Aegypt bee Thy Ladie makes her choise of thee Why then inioy and full possesse Vnto my bed haue free accesse Where all the welcomes loue can make Shall entertaine thee for my sake Be not so bashfull and a man Thou shouldst court better then I can Being so louely euery part Except thy tongue that wanteth art Yet she that may bids thee be bold If I say seaze presume take hold Why doest thou on vaine credit stand Vrging what trust is in thy hand In that thy Lord exceeding large Committeth all things to thy charge Excepting me all things beside Do vnder trust with thee abide What of all this I offer more Then will
willing mind For virgin-sacrifice her selfe resign'd Dauids combat with the Giant of Gath. YOu men of Israel seruants vnto Saul Goliah sounds defiance to you all Your Soueraigne and his hoast I do defie Base Israelites a Philistine am I. Behold my stature t is sixe cubits long My helmet brasse my coate of stuffe as strong All likewise brasse fiue thousand sickles wayde My bootes are brasse of brasse my shield is made My speares shaft looke vpon it and confesse A Weauers beame in bignes t is no lesse The very head thereof iron and steele Sixe hundred weight as some of you shall feele Bring forth your champion single me a man And I le confesse there 's valour in you than Giue me a man I say and let vs fight Amongst you all find one stout Israelite When Dauid heard this mightie man of Gath With terror breathing out his irefull wrath He did intreate a fauour of the King To combat that huge giant with a sling No other weapon but a staffe he tooke And fiue smooth stones of choise out of the brooke So forth with courage resolute he went The Philistine perceiuing his intent To combat him in stature but a child Disdainfully in scoffing maner smild And said to Dauid What seeme I to be Belike a dog thou bringst a staffe for me Now in the name of all the gods I serue I curse thee and as thou doest well deserue Thy flesh for meate the birds shall present share I le with thy gobbets feed the fowles of th' aire Thy carcasse on the sodaine I will yeeld For beasts to prey vpon that are in field Thus did the Giant of his valour brag While Dauid tooke out of his shepheards bag A stone and slang the same into his head That he vnto the ground fell groueling dead Who when the Philistines beheld to fall Dismaid in fearfull maner they fled all And then that hand which the Almightie guided With his owne sword his head from 's trunke deuided Thus did the simple weake vpright and iust Subdue the strong that in his strength did trust The true Map of a dogged Miser FRom Pharan wildernesse King Dauid sent Ten of his yong men that to Carmel went With kind salute to an vnkind churle there Nabal who at that place his sheepe did sheare Their Soueraignes message to the wretch they tell And how his Maiestie did greete him well No curious cates they came for to demand But what he pleasde to giue came next to hand Nabal on them a frowning looke bestowes And thus with tongue his dogged nature showes What 's Dauid that I should my victuals take And giue it run-awayes for Dauids sake With Isays sonne pray what haue I to do Haue I no vse to put my meate vnto You may be vacabonds for ought I know Vpon such fellowes nothing I le bestow Feed such as you yes marry t were good reason I haue mouths of mine owne to stop this season Worke and be hang'd earne it like other men Is' t prouender you lacke pray labour then Shall I take of my bread my flesh and drinke And giue to eu'ry rascall do you thinke No Dauids men your master must prouide Such hungry sharkes I neuer could adide Want he that will my shearers shall not lacke Emptie you came and so I pray go backe To him that sent you tell him what I say My food must be emploid another way This churlish answer did so much incense Dauid vowde death should guerdon the offence Which when the wife of Nabal vnderstood She prudently preuented shedding blood And with a present speedily did meete him Falling to ground euen at his feete to greete him Let not my Lord said she regard the man At whose offence thy wrath so late began Euen with his name his nature doth accord Folly is with him but my gracious Lord Thy hand-maid was not guiltie of the crime Nor did I see thy seruants at that time Successe attend thee wheresoere thou go Perish all they intend thy ouerthrow Accept the present which my humble thought In meekest dutie to my Prince hath brought Wherewith the kingly Prophet did replie Thou hast preuailed Nabal shall not die I do reuerse my doome a gracious wife Hath sau'd a churlish foolish husbands life The dead sleepe of Sisara REuengefull Iabin King of Canaan Whose anceters great Iosuah had slaine To vexe the Israelites with warres began At such time as in Hazor he did raigne His hoast by Sisara conducted was Who did vnto the riuer Kison passe Nine hundred chariots vnder his command When with ten thousand men neere Thabor hill Barac subduing them had vpper hand And with the edge of sword his foes did kill Sisara in distresse constraind to light Was forc'd vpon his legs to take his flight And as he fled most fearfull of his life Disanimated full of cares increase He came vnto the tent of Habers wife For Habers house with Iabin was at peace Iael went forth and met him on the way And did intreate him to turne in and stay Turne in my Lord quoth she be not afraid Repose thy weary limmes in Iaels tent For thou art welcome to thy poore hand-maid Then for a mantle presently she went To couer him and such demeanor showes That most secure he did himselfe suppose Oh I am tyr'd said he and ouercome In wearinesse and cares orewhelmed deepe I thirst for water pray thee giue me some And then be centinell while I do sleepe Stand at the doore and haue a speciall care That none do intercept me vnaware If any chance to come enquire of thee Who thou hast here or what guest is within Answer him then that no man thou didst see For at thy tent there hath no creature bin Performe this carefully at my request And so he very soundly fell to rest The sleepe of death he slept on Iaels bed For she a hammer and a naile did take And driue it through the temples of his head That neuer after he had power to wake Thus he that from his foes his life did hide By his supposed friend a woman dide The Tragedie of Prince Absolom AMbition I embrace thee in mine armes Scepter and Crowne are golden kingly charmes And haue preuail'd in my heroike minde Vnto a kingdomes rule my heart 's inclinde To be as high as Maiestie can sit Is the faire marke my thoughts desire to hit Why then ascend to Dauids royall throne Prince Absolom as King will sit thereon To fit my head euen with my fathers crowne Keeps filiall loue and subiect dutie downe In Hebron let the trumpets sound proclaime me And King of Israel let the Heralds name me My eares allow to heare no other sound But Dauid is deposde his sonne is crownd Euen in the citie gates Ile causes heare And steale the hearts of all the people there Vpon the curteous that obeysance show A mild and sweete behauiour I le bestow Kindnesse by art I will accomplish rare And how to
But rather with my heart I craue The liue child wholy let her haue Nay but sayes tother to the King As thou hast spoke performe the thing Nor mine nor thine let it remaine But share it equall twixt vs twaine Then said the King the babe shall liue And to the mother I it giue Which I am sure thou canst not bee Because no kindnesse rests in thee Cruell Queene Iezabel turned vnto dogges meate WHat terror is my spirit vexed in How doth Reuenge sound dolefull to mine eares My soule 's pursude with that same crying sin Of murther Naboth fils my thoughts with feares There is no horror like a troubled mind As I accursed Iezabel do find Reuenge for bloud I heare continuall sound Till vengeance comes thus will it euer crie My soule is lost to get a little ground I caus'd the guiltlesse man causlesse to die I wrote a letter in my husbands name And onely I the wicked plot did frame By my aduice a fast there was pretended And Naboth plac'd amongst the chiefest then Being suddenly accus'd to haue offended By two suborned leud and diuellish men Who to the Elders did auouch this thing The Iezralite blasphem'd God and the king Vpon this slandrous false accusing breath He sentenc'd was to die with common voice And presently they stoned him to death Which I no sooner heard but did reioyce And went to Ahab saying Ioyfull be The vineyard now is thine I le giue it thee Going to take possession of the same He meeteth with Elias by the way Sent from the Lord who tels him in his name Hearke bloudie purchaser what God doth say Hast thou both kil'd and got possession too For this thy sin marke what the Lord will doo Euen in the place where dogs did licke the bloud Of Naboth to whose vineyard thou mak'st claime Euen in that place the Lord hath thought it good That dogs shall with thy bloud performe the same Euill on thee and on thy seed shall fall From thee to him makes water gainst the wall And for thy wife thus saith the God of power Since she hath wrought such euill in his eyes Dogges shall the flesh of Iezabel deuoure When by the citie wals her carcase lies In Iezrael it shall be shortly seene That dogs shall eate thy proud and painted Queene Which punishment reuenging Iehu wrought In rooting out the house of Ahab quite Ioram he slue and caused to be brought Vnto the plot of ground was Naboths right Then to the citie did in triumph ride Where me most wretched murdresse hee spide My face was painted euen as pride would haue it My head attyr'd to vanities content Thus at a window I did stand to braue it Said Iehu who is there to my side bent With that were chamberlaines at hand lookt out The instruments to bring my death about He bad them throw me downe and so they did They sent me with a vengeance to the ground My blood dasht out my life was sodaine rid Deuouring dogs my flesh had quickly found And with a Queene they fild their paunches full Leauing but palmes of hands my feete and scull The measuring of mans life by Dauids span THreescore and ten the age and life of man In holy Dauids eyes seem'd but a span For halfe that time is lost and spent in sleepe So onely thirty fiue for vse we keepe Then dayes of youth must be abated all Wise Salomon childhood and youth doth call But vanitie meere vanitie he sayes All that doth passe vs in our infant dayes Our time of age we take no pleasure in Our dayes of griefe we wish had neuer bin Then sleepe deducted youth and age and sorrow Onely a span is all thy life doth borrow Mans Salue being wounded by temtatiō Is to remember Christ his passion THe wounds that Iesus suffred for my sin Are mouthes that cry Oh loue him with thy heart The thornes that pierced through his sacred skin Are tongues pronouncing Loue is his desert The tort'ring whips that did to anguish moue him Are echoes sounding Wretched sinner loue him There is no losse that griefe can get againe But losse of grace sorrow may grace attaine Salomons good houswife in the 31. of his Prouerbs HE that a gracious wife doth find Whose life puts vertue chiefe in vre One of the right good houswife kind That man may well himselfe assure And boasting say that he hath found The richest treasure on the ground Who so enioyeth such a loue Let him resolue with hearts consent She euer constantly will proue A carefull nurse want to preuent With diligence and painfull heed Preuenting tast of beggars need And while she liues will still procure By true and faithfull industrie T' increase his wealth and to insure His state in all securitie To seeke his quiet worke his ease And for a world no way displease Her houshold folke from sloth to keepe She will endeuour with good heed At worke more wakefull then asleepe With flaxe and stuffe which houswiues need To be employd her hands also The way to worke will others show Her wit a common wealth containes Of needments for her houshold store And like a ship her selfe explaines That riches brings from forraine shore Ariuing with a bounteous hand Dispearsing treasure to the land Before the day she will arise To order things and to prouide What may her family suffice That they at labour may abide If she haue land no paine shall want To purchase vines set sow and plant No honest labour shee le omit In ought she can attaine vnto But will endeuour strength and wit Adding the vtmost she can do And if that profit comes about By night her candle goes not out A willing hand to the distrest She lends and is a chearefull giuer Come winters cold and frostie guest When idle huswiues quake and quiuer She and her houshold's cloathed well The weathers hardnesse to expell Her skill doth worke faire tapistrie With linnen furnish'd of the best Her needle workes do beautifie And she in scarlet costly drest When Senators assembled be Her husbands honor there shall see Her spinning shall her store increase The finest cloth shall yeeld her gaine And daily profit shall not cease Which her vnidle hands maintaine Her clothing shall her worth expresse And Honors yeares her end possesse Her mouth shall neuer opened be But wisedome will proceede from it And such mild gracious words yeelds shee Sweetnesse vpon her tongue doth sit In age she will her care addresse To eate no bread of idlenesse Her children shall their dutie show Most reuerent to her all their life Her husband blesse that he did know The time to meete with such a wife And vttring foorth his happinesse Her vertues in this wise expresse I know t' is true that more then one Good huswife there is to be found But I may say that thou alone Aboue all women dost abound Yea I protest in all my dayes Thou art the first and thee I le praise
What thing is fauour but a shade It hath no certaine lasting hower Whereof is wanton beautie made That withers like a Sommers flower When these shall end their date in dayes She that feares God shall liue with praise And such a wife of worthie worth Due glories lot will to her fall And great assemblies will giue forth What vertues shee 's adorn'd withall Her lifes renowne to fame shall reach Her good example others teach Salomons Harlot in the 2. 7. and 8. chapt of his Prouerbs A Harlot of the whorish kind Describ'd by Wisedomes King Whose paths are crooked and whose wayes Vnto destruction bring That impudent with shamelesse brow Doth modest life detest And of all brutish filthynesse Insatiate is possest Is noted to be full of words And doth the streets frequent Not qualited as Sara was To keepe within the tent But haunts the citie to be seene Of all that passeth by Cal's simple people voyd of sence Her kindnesse to come try Like curl'd and painted Iesabel She at her doore will sit Without are dogs whoremungers murderers And whosoeuer loues or maketh lies Gracelesse inchanters and idolaters For entrance vnto these the Lambe denies They are for horror and eternall wo And must with trembling to destruction go O sonnes of Adam sinfull race of clay Most miserable blind deceiued men You scattred sheepe that wander from the way If this place be your fold where stray you then Why is your pace to heauen so slow and slacke Or rather why from thence retire you backe O foolish louer of vaine earthly things Why seek'st thou honor and promotion here Which onely care griefe and vexation brings To build to purchase and let leases deare Ioyne house to house and pile vp gold beside Fixing thy thoughts on gaine thy heart on pride Thou neuer canst attaine ike blessednesse In the inioying all thy soue can craue Nor once come neare tast of the happinesse That the least seruant in Gods house shall haue For in this holy citie wâ—ere they liue Is treasure which the world can neuer giue Which shall endure perpetually their lot The lot and portion in the liuing land A giuers gift whose purpose alters not But for the length of endlesse time shall stand In all perfection and securitie True holinesse and perfect puritie When thou with this worlds pompe and dignity Which hereon earth did please thy soule so well Shalt beare that same rich glutton company Whose burial's in the dreadfull vault of hell Excluded from all mercy comfort grace In that same endlesse easelesse hopelesse place Times swiftnesse I Run I flie I neuer stand at shy There 's no recalling of me being past Wise men take hold and meet me in the way Fooles first neglect their late repent comes last He that will vse me to his endlesse gaines Must spend time well while he on earth remaines Mans neglgence I Had a time in youth for learnings treasure I had a time to haue attaineâ— grace I spent that time in worlds bewitching pleasure And wish for time now time hath turn'd his face Time runs before and instantly forsakes vs Death posts behind and sodaine ouertakes vs. Deaths powerfulnesse I Make all feare that am a fearlesse creature The world doth euen tremble at my name Ender I am of all begun by nature Proud flesh and blood in graues of earth I tame Though bitter vnto many sweet to some That loath this life for loue of life to come A view of this world the Globe of Vanitie LOoke mortals on this stage of earthly things View well the changes of inconstant time Begin at poore men and go vp to kings From humble hearts to such as loue to clime From innocents to such as liue by crime From low to high from high againe to low What man is he would worlds delights forgo Oh fond felicitie that all men find On this vnsetled pauement of the earth Where 's nothing but perplexitie of mind None prouing still the period to our mirth Backe from our graue to our first houre of birth Onely this blindnesse doth some fooles besot They liue in sorrow and they see it not For what 's a King or mightie potent Lord That like a god millions of people swayes That saues and kils with his commanding word Whose will the flattrer sooths and all obayes Pray what 's the pleasure of his kingly dayes If he be good as great men good is rare His kingdome then is but his hourely care What 's a great conqueror whose name is fear'd Like Caesar or the dreaded Tamberlaine Who by his sword Piramides hath rear'd With bones and scalpes and ensignes of the slaine Looke on him well and find him meerly vaine The fitttest Epithet for him is this This mightie man a mightie murdrer is What 's a great traueller by sea and land That doth suruey the world with curious eye And sees what wonders the Creators hand Wrought in the deepes in vales or mountaines hie Who doth not thinke this traueller doth lie Though he tell truth then what 's a greater shame For man to toile and get a liers name What is it to be rich and pile vp store To build great houses titling them our owne To haue abundance yet still couet more To rise by many wrong'd and ouerthrowne What is all this when it is truly knowne Misers oppresse build gather to this end For vnthrift heires to ruine spoile and spend What is it to be great in peoples eyes And to be puft vp with their bubble praise What is the issue of their vulgar cries Their songs and rimes and high applauding layes Here 's onely all it shortens honors dayes Whom the rude greete with shouts and garlicke breath The mightie hate and hasten vnto death What is it to be faire and so composed That being earth we yet seeme angeline To haue in vs all beauties grace inclosed And Venus fooles account vs most diuine What is the end to be thus goodly fine On beauties brow is this inscription plac'd T is rare to find a person faire and chast What is it to be any thing indeed That mortals in their dull conceits commend What is it on the worlds delights to feed And haue each vanitie on vs attend Euen nothing all for here 's of all the end As we were borne with teares to liue in paine Death comes with sighes and takes vs hence againe A summe of good desires GReat God which hast al wisdome at commanding Be in my head inspire my vnderstanding Almightie God the obiect of true light Be thou director of mine eyes and sight Dread God whose word is sacred and diuine Be in my mouth and guide this tongue of mine Mercifull God the fulnesse of all grace Be in my heart and purge that filthy place Eternall God on whom I whole depend Be at my last departing and mine end Times Epigramme STep Caesar on earths stage and act thy part Shew now what monarch of the world thou art Let Alexander
please shall be mine onely care I le bow I le smile I le kindly giue embrace And shew a cheerfull looke a louing face With Dauids gouernment dislike I le find Faining much griefe and passion of the mind For euery wronged and oppressed wight And wish that I had powre their cause to right From Gilo for Ahitophel I le send And worke that Counsellor to be my friend With euery sort making my faction strong Which done I le do no right nor take no wrong My father growes already in disgrace And Semei hath cursde him to his face Threw stones at him and did him thus vpbraid Come forth thou man of Belial he said The Lord hath brought reuenge vpon thy head For all the blood that of Sauls house is shed This doth discourage him animate me And tels my soule that I a King must be March on braue Isralites resolued powers Victoriously preuaile the day is ours Wee l pitch our battell in this Ephraim wood Here let dead bodies glut the earth with blood Here Dauids crowne is either won or lost Here in this place it must his kingdome cost Here of our liues we will be prodigall And that great monarch into question call Draw forth your swords let courage be their guide The controuersie of a crowne decide Either a King and all my foes conuince Or let me not remaine one hower Prince Oh cruell battell fatall bloody day Vnto my death some mortall wound make way We are subdude euen twentie thousand slaine Our scattred bodies on the earth remaine What shall I do or whither shall I flie It is no matter any where to die For shelter into this huge wood I le ride Come on Despaire be thou misfortunes guide Day turne to darknesse and entinguish light And wrap my treason vp in vapory night Let not a little bird presume to sing Wither you trees and leaues and each greene thing Post on poore Mule and spare no speed to run Thy riders race of life is almost done My royall birth is now of no esteeme My rarest beautie will deformed seeme Vengeance is come Gods iudgement lights on mee I am caught hold off by a senslesse tree For my ambition thus I mount on hie For pride my lockes are ropes to hang me by Yonder comes Ioab now my end is neare He brings my death vpon his bloody speare Come pierce me captaine rid this life from hence Fearefull my end and grieuous my offence Dauids deare issue Absolom the faire Hangs without mercie bleeding in the aire Ahitophels wisedome conuerted to follie HOw is disgrace imposde vpon my head That for my counsell haue bene honored All Israel haue said Ahitophel Speakes euen as doth the heau'nly oracle T was my aduise none plotted it but I The Prince with 's fathers concubines should lie And he embrac'd it and it sorted well For as our expectation was it fell And shall I chiefest states-man in the land That still in high affaires haue had a hand Be crost by Husai the Arachite No first vpon my selfe shall vengeance light I said t was best chose out twelue thousand men And set on Dauid weary tired then That instant night being ouerworne and weake The hearts of all his people this would breake Vpon my life it was the onely way Yet Husai hath crost it with his nay He sayes that Dauid and his men be strong Th' are valiant and haue had experience long And like a Beare rob'd of her whelpes they be All this the Prince approues reiecting me Thus of my wonted honor I haue mist But from this day giue counsell he that list I le home and take an order for my pelfe And then giue counsell how to hang my selfe My house shall be in order ere I die Then for my life another course haue I Though out of order to the world it seeme Despaire and I thereof do well esteeme Not on my weapons point I meane to fall As did the desperate King resolued Saul But to some fatall tree I will repaire And hang my breathlesse bodie in the ayre Life I detest thee thou art almost done Time hold thy hand with me the glasse is run Honor farewell and in dishonor now I will go hang thee vp vpon some bough It was vaine honor did my heart intice And now I le sell it for a halters price All I haue learn'd in earthly honors schoole Is worldly wise man proues a heauenly foole Salomons censure in the two Harlots controuersie TWo harlots striuing with each other Would both vnto one child be mother And did to Wisdomes King complaine That he true iustice would maintaine My Lord said one iustice I craue Sayes tother iustice let me haue We both within a house do lie She had a child and so haue I Betweene their births but three dayes space Pray heare me I beseech your grace Her child my Soueraigne in the night Of life she hath depriued quite She smoothred it as I suppose And about midnight then she rose I being fast asleepe God wot My liuing child away she got And thrust her dead one vnto me This is as true as true may be When in the morning I did wake Intending mine owne child to take And giue it sucke I found it dead Which when I did behold with dread Viewing it well with weeping eyne I plainely saw t was none of mine The tother harlot did reply An 't please your Grace this is a lie I neuer changed child for child Neither will I be thus beguild To take hers dead for mine aliue Would God that I might neuer thriue If that the liuing be not mine Thou liest said tother t is not thine Thou shalt not dame delude me so My louing babe I well do know The very cheekes the eyes the nose The mothers fauour plainly showes Thy selfe I will be sworne did say T was wondrous like me tother day And now forsooth it is your owne How shamelesse Lord this world is growne My gracious Prince sayes tother heare Vpon my soule great King I sweare If with this child she haue to do Then she is mother of them two The dead child is her owne in troth Now this she claimes so shee le haue both I do deny the dead said she The liuing child belongs to me Oh God art thou so voide of shame Another womans fruite to claime Wilt thou stand stout in that 's vntrue And say my infant is thy due When in thy conscience thou art sure The paines for it I did endure The mothers griefe when it was borne Fie wicked woman I would scorne To beare so bad and leud a mind I grieue thou art of woman kind Then said the King this strife I le end You both for one liue child contend That child I le with a sword deuide And giue to each of you a side A iust diuision I will make And halfe a child shall either take Then spake the mother whose it was Dread Lord let no such sentence passe