men not one is found so faire aliue His head like finest gold with secret sweet perfume His curled locks hang all as black as any Rauens plinne His eies be like to Doues on Riuers banks below Ywasht with milk whose collours are most gallant to the show His cheeks like to a plot where spice and flowers growe his lips like to the Lilly white frō whēce pure Myrrh doth flow His hands like rings of gold with costly Chrisalet His belly like the Yuory white with seemly Saphyrs set His legs like Pillers strong of Marble set in gold His countenance like Libanon or Cedars to behold His mouth it is as sweet yea sweet as sweet may be This is my Loue ye Uirgins loe euen such a one is he Thou fairest of vs al whether is thy Louer gone Tel vs and we will goe with thee thou shalt not goe alone The sixt Chapter DOwne to his garden place mine own true Loue is gone Among the Spice and Lillies sweet to walke himselfe alone True am I to my Loue and he my louing make Which in the Lillies makes abode and doth his pleasure take With Tirzah or Ierusalem thy beautie may be waide In shew like to an Armie great whose Ensignes are displaid Oh turne away thine eies for they haue wounded me Thy haires are like a heard of Goats on Gilead mount that be Thy teeth like new washt sheep returning from the flood Whereas not one is barren found but beareth twins a good The temples of thy head within thy locks to showe Are like to the Pomgranet fruit that in the Orchards grow Of Concubines four score there are of Queens twice treble ten Of Uirgins for the multitude not to be numbred then But yet my Doue alone and vndefiled Fere Her mothers only daughter is to her exceeding deare The Uirgins saw my Loue and they haue lik'd her well The Queens eke the Concubines they say she doth excell Who 's she I doo behold so like the morning cleare Or like the Moon when towards the ful in pride she doth appear Bright as the radiant raies that from the Sun descend Or like an Army terrible when Ensignes they extend Unto the nuts downe will I goe and fruitfull valeyes lowe To see if that the Uine doo bud and the Pomgranets growe My selfe I know not I ne nothing knew I then Let me be like a chariot euen of thy noble men Return againe oh make returne thou Shulamite so deare Let vs enioy thy company I pray thee soiorne here What see you in the Shulamite in her what may you see But like a troupe of warlike men that in the armies be The seuenth Chapter HOw stately are thy steps with braue and lofty pace Thou daintie princesse darling deare with comely gallant grace the ioines of thy fair thighs the which so straight do stand Are like to curious iewels wrought by cunning workmās hand Thy nauell like a goblet is which stil with wine doth flowe Thy belly like an heape of wheat about which Lillies growe Thy breasts I may compare like to two litle Roes which follow on their mothers steps when forth to feed she goes Thy necke like to a Tower of costly Iuory fram'd thine eies like Heshbō waters clear by that Bathrabbin nam'd Thy nose like Libanon Tower most seemly to the eie Which towards Damascus citie faire that stately town doth ly Thy head like Scarlet red thy haire of purple huē The King in thee doth take delight as in his Lady true How faire art thou my Loue and seemly to the sight The pleasures that abound in thee they are my chiefe delight Thy stature like the Palme the tall and straightest tree Thy brests the which do thee adorne most like to clusters be Upon the pleasant palme I said I wil take holde And rest vpon her pleasant boughes I said I wil be bolde Thy breasts are like a bunch of grapes on the most fruitful vine Thy nose in smel like to the fruit of al most pure and fine The roofe of thy sweet mouth like purest wine doth tast Which makes the very aged lagh forgetting sorrowes past I am vnto my Loue a faithfull friendly Fere And he is likewise vnto me most tender and most deare Goe we into the field to sport vs in the plaine And in the pleasant villages my Loue let vs remaine Then early will we rise and see if that the vine do flourish And if the earth accordingly do the Pomgranets nourish I feele the Mandrakes smell within our gates that be The sweetest things both new olde my Loue I kept for thee The eight Chapter OH that thou weart my brother borne that suckt my mothers breast Then sweetly would I kisse thy lippes and by thee take my rest Unto my mothers closet sure mine own Loue will I bring And be obedient vnto him in euery kind of thing There wil I giue to thee my Loue the daintie spiced wine And pleasant liquor that distils from the Pomgranet fine With his left hand he shal support and eke my head vpreare And with the right most louingly he shal imbrace his deare Ye daughters of Ierusalem doo not my Loue disease But suffer her to take her rest so long as she shall please Who 's that which from the wildernes you commeth frō aboue And in this sort familiarly dooth leane vpon her Loue Under a pleasant aple tree from whence like fruit doth spring Thy mother first conceiued thee euen forth which did thee bring Let it be like a priuie seale within thy secret heart Or like a Signet on thy hand thy secrets to impart For iealousie is like the graue and loue more strong than death From whose hot brands ther doth proceed a flaming fiery breath The flouds cannot alay his heat nor water quench his flame Neither the greatest treasure can counteruaile the same Our litle sister hath no breasts what shal we doo or say when we shal giue her to her Spouse vpon her wedding day If that she be a wall on that foundation sure A princely pallace wil we build of siluer passing pure And if she be a doore she shall inclosed be With braue and goodly squared boords of the fine Cedar tree I am a mightie wall my breasts like Towers hie Then am I passing beautifull in my beloueds eie King Salomon a vinyard had in faire Baalhamon field Each one in siluer yeerely dooth a thousand peeces yeeld But yet my vineyard Salomon thy vine doth far excell For fruit and goodnes of the same thou know'st it very wel A thousand siluer peeces are euen yearely due to me Two twousand likewise vnto them the which her keepers be Oh thou that in the garden dwell'st learne me thy voice to know That I may listen to the same as thy companions doo Flie my beloued hence away and be thou like the Roe Or as the Hart on mountaine tops wheron sweet spices growe The Song of Annah for the bringing foorth of Samuel
be found In those which gouern Israel my heart doth take delight And in the valiant people there oh praise the Lord of might Speak ye that on white Asses ride that by Midden dwell And ye that daily trade the waies see forth your minds you tell The clattering noise of archers shot when as the arrowes flew Appeased was amongst the sort which water daily drew The righteousnesse of God the Lord shal be declared there And likewise Israels righteousnes which worship him in feare The people with reioicing hearts then all with one consent I mean the Lords inheritance vnto the gates they went Deborah vp arise and sing a sweet and worthy song Baracke lead them as Captiues forth which vnto thee belong For they which at this day remaine do rule like Lords alone The Lord ouer the mightie ones giues me dominion The roots of Ephraim arose gainst Amalecke to fight And so likewise did Beniamin with all their power and might From Macher came a company which chiefest sway did beare From Zebulon which cunning clarks famous writers were The kings which came of Isacher were with Deborah tho Yea Isacher and Barack both attend on her also He was dismounted in the vale for the deuisions sake Of Ruben the people there great lamentation make Gilead by Iorden made abode and Dan on ship boord lay And Asher in the Desart he vpon the shore doth stay They of Zebulon and Nepthaly like worthy valiant wightes Before their foes euen in the field aduanc'd themselues in fight The kings themselues in person fought the kings of Canaan In Tanach plaine wheras the streame of swift Megido ran No pay no hyer ne coine at all not one did seem to take They serued not for greedy gain nor filthy lucre sake The heauens hy and heauenly powers these things to passe haue brought The stars against proud Sifera euen in their course haue fought The stream of kishons anciēt brook hath ouerwhelm'd thē there My soule sith thou hast done thy part be now of harty cheare The hardened hooues of barbed horse were al in peeces broke By force of mightie men which met with many a sturdy stroke The Angel hath pronounc'd a curse which shal on Meroz fall And those that doo inhabite there a curse light on them all Because they put not forth their hands to help the liuing Lord Against the proud and mighty ones which haue his truth abhord Iaell the Renit Hebers wife most happy shal be blest Aboue al other women there which in the tents do rest He asked water for to drink she gaue sweet milk to him Yea butter in a lordly dish which was full tricke and trim her left hand to the naile she put her right the hammer wrought Wherewith presumptuous Sisera vnto his death she brought And from his corps his head she cut with mortal deadly wound When through the tēples of his head she naild him to the groūd He bowed then vnto the earth and at her feet can fall And where he fell there still he lay bereau'd of sences all The mother then of Sisera in window where she lay Doth marueil much that this her sonne doth make so long a stay Her Ladies then they hearing that make answer by and by Yea to her speaches past before her selfe doth this replie Hath he not gotten mightie spoiles and now diuision makes Each one a Damosell hath or twaine which he as captiue takes Sisera of costly coloured robes ful rich with needle wrought Hath got a pray which vnto him as chiefest spoiles are brought So let thine enemies O Lord sustaine and suffer blame And let thy chosen blessed ones that loue and feare thy name Be like the Son when in the morne his glorie doth increase Or like the land which many a yeare hath bin in rest and peace An other Song of the faithfull for the mercies of God In the xii Chap. of the prophesie of Isaiah OH liuing Lord I still will laude thy name for though thou wert offended once with me Thy heauy wrath is turn'd from me againe and graciously thou now doost comfort mee Behold the Lord is my saluation I trust in him and feare not any power He is my song the strength I leaue vpon the Lord God is my louing Sauiour Therefore with ioy out of the well of life draw foorth sweet water which it dooth affoord And in the day of trouble and of strife cal on the name of God the liuing Lord. Extol his works and woonders to the sunne vnto al people let his praise be showne Record in song the meruails he hath done and let his glorie through the world be blowne Crie out aloud and shout on Sion hill I giue thee charge that this proclaimed be The great and mightie king of Israell now onely dwelleth in the midst of thee A Song of the faithfull In the third Chap. of the prophesie of Habacucke LOrd at thy voice my heart for feare hath trembled Unto the world Lord let thy workes be showen In these our daies now let thy power be knowen And yet in wrath let mercie be remembred From Teman loe our God you may behold The holie one from Paran mount so hie His glorie hath cleane couered the Skie And in the earth his praises be inrolde His shining was more clearer than the light And from his hands a fulnesse did proceed Which did contain his wrath and power indeed Consuming plagues and fire were in his sight He stood aloft and compassed the land And of the Nations doth defusion make The mountains rent the hilles for feare did quake His vnknown pathes no man may vnderstand The Morians tentes euen for their wickednes I might behold the land of Midian Amaz'd and trembling like vnto a man Forsaken quite and left in great distresse What did the riuers moue the Lord to ire Or did the floods his Maiesty displease Or was the Lord offended with the seas That thou camest forth in chariot hot as fire Thy force and power thou freely didst relate Unto the tribes thy oath doth surely stand And by thy strength thou didst deuide the land And from the earth the riuers seperate The mountaines saw and trembled for feare The sturdy streame with speed foorth passed by The mighty depthes shout out a hideous crie And then aloft their waues they did vpreare The Sun and Moon amid their course stood still Thy speares and arrowes forth with shining went Thou spoilest the land being to anger bent And in displeasure thou didst slay and kill Thou wentest foorth for thine owne chosens sake For the sauegard of thine annointed one The house of wicked men is ouerthrowne And their foundations now goe all to wracke Their townes thou strikest by thy mightie power With their own weapons made for their defence Who like a whyrl-wind came with the pretence The poore and simple man quite to deuoure Thou madest thy horse on seas to gallop fast Upon the waues thou ridest here and
their foot away shall slide For their destruction loe is nowe at hand And mischief here euen at their heels doth stand For why the Lord doth iudge the earth alone And to his seruants shew himselfe most kinde When he shall see their power is past and gone And none kept vp in hold nor left behind when men shal say let vs your goddes behold Where be they now whom ye so much extold Which oft did eat the fatted sacrifice And dranke the wine of the drinke offering Unto your helpe now let vs see them rise Loe I am God and there is no such thing I kil giue life I wound make whole againe Out of my handes no man can ought retaine I lift my hands on high to heauen aboue Immortall I and onely liue for euer My glittering sword I sharpe for my behooue In righteous iudgment still I doo perseuer I wil send vengeance on mine enemies And many plagues on them which me dispise Mine arrowes then of blood shal haue their fill My sword shal eate the verie flesh of men For such my Saintes as they doo slay and kill And for the Captiues they imprison then And when I once begin reuenge to take From plague vengeance then I will not slake Ye nations all honour his people then He will reuenge his seruantes guiltlesse blood And surely plague the vile and wicked men Which stoutlie haue against him euer stood He will shew mercie stil vnto his land And on his people brought foorth by his hand A Song of Moses and the Israelites for their deliuerance out of Egypt The xv Chap. of Exodus I Will sing praise vnto the Lord for aie Who hath triumphed gloriously alone The horse and rider he hath ouerthrowen And swallowed vp euen in the raging sea He is my strength he is my song of praise He is the God of my saluation A Temple will I build to him alone I will exalt my fathers God alwaies The Lord Iehouah is a man of warre Pharao his chariots and his mightie hoste Were by his hand in the wilde waters lost His Captaines drowned in red Sea so farre Into the bottom there they sanke like stones The mightie depthes our enemies deuour Thy owne right hand is gloorious in thy power Thy owne right hand hath bruised al their bones And in thy glorie thou subuerted hast The rebels rising to resist thy power Thou sentst thy wrath which shall them all deuour Euen as the fire doth the stubble wast And with a blast out of thy nostrilles The flowing flood stood still as any stone The waters were congealed all in one And firme and sure as any rockes or hilles The furious foe so vainly vâ—â—â—teth stil And voweth to pursue with endlesse toile And not returne til he haue got the spoile With fire and sword they wil destroy and kill Thou sentst the wind which ouerwhelm'd them all The surging seas came sousing in againe As in the water so with might and maine Like lead vnto the bottome downe they fall Oh mightie Lord who may with thee compare Amongst the Gods I find none like to thee whose glorie 's in holines whose feares in praises be whose chiefe delights in working woonders are Thou stretchest out thy right and holy arme And presently the earth did them deuour And thou wilt bring vs by thy mightie power As thou hast promist without further harme And for thy people Lord thou shalt prouide A place and seat of quietnesse and rest The nations all with feare shall be opprest And Palestina quake for all her pride The Dukes of Edom shal hang downe the head The Moabites shall tremble then for feare The Cananites in presence shall appeare Like vnto men whose fainting heartes were dead And feare and dread shall fall on them alas Because thou helpest with thy mighty hand So stil as stoues amazed they shal stand Oh mightie Lord while thine elect doo passe And thou shalt bring thy chosen and elect Unto the mount of thine inheritance A place prepared thy people to aduance A Sanctuary there thou shalt erect Which thou oh Lord establish'd hast therefore And there thy name shal raigne for euermore The most excellent Song which was Salomons wherein is declared the true and vnfained loue betweene Christ and his Church containing viii Chapters Chap. 1. LEt him imbrace his Deare with many a friendly kisse For why thy loue than any wine to me more pleasant is In smel thou art most like sweet odors vnto me thy name like precious ointmeÌ„t is so sweet as sweet may be Therefore the Uirgins al of thee enamored are Entice me on to follow thee loe we our selues prepare The King hath brought me in to chamber richly dight He is my ioy his loue is sweet the good in him delight Ye daughters of Ierusalem although that browne I bee Than Arras rich or Cedars fruits I seemlier am to see Disdaine me not although I be not passing faire For why the glowing sunny raies discolloured haue my laire My mothers darlings deare with enuie swelling so Haue me coÌ„strain'd to keep their Uine thus I mine own forgoe Tell me my sweet and deare where thou thy slocke doost feed Or where thy litle Lamblings rest about midday indeed Els shall I walke about all wandring like a stray And seeke thee after other flocks through many an vnknowne way If that my pathes oh Paragon be so vnknowen to thee Go feed thy flock amongst the tents wher none but shepherds be My true and loyal Loue I may thee well compare To famous Pharaos horses great which in his chariots are Thy cheeks bedded with precious stone most louely to behold About thy neck likewise do hang great massy chaines of gold Fine costlie borders for my Loue of gold we wil prepare With siluer studs accordinglie of worke surpassing rare Whiles he at table sat perfumes then did I make Of Spicknard sweet and delicate al for my true Loues sake My loue more sweet than Myrrhe between my breasts doth ly Or Camphere that doth spring and grow in vine of Engady How faire art thou my Loue my Doue my Darling deare Thine eies most like vnto the Doues in sight to me appeare Oh how exceeding faire and seemly to be seene The bed where we together lie is hung with pleasant greene The beames our house vphold they all of Cedar be The reaching Rafters of the same of Fyrre that stately tree The second Chapter I Am the fragrant Flower of braue vermilion hue And Lilie in the valey low ysprong vp fresh and new As Lillie flower excels the thorne or litle chyer of grasse So far my Loue the Uirgins all in beautie doth surpasse Or as the barren crooked stocke vnto the straightest tree No more the sonnes vnto my Loue may ought compared be To rest by his sweet side to mee a heauenly blisse The fruit that springeth from my Loue exceeding pleasant is To Celler he me brings of wine aboundant store His loue displaied ouer