Vriahs wife no sure the childe did die That thus was gotten in adultery Yea God did sweare the like disgrace and sword Should light on his for leaving of his word VVhat did prowd Paris gaine to gad to Greece To fet that mynion Menelaus vvife Fames Phoenix beauties saint a peerelesse peece Shee cost a kingdome large and many a life Sardanapalus living voide of strife Became lustes wanton wallowed in her pleasure VVhich life did leese his empire life and treasure And well for if the Lord in wedlocks cause Plague common-weales and play the vanquisher When one fowle fornicator breakes his lawes What shall be done to that adulterer 〈◊〉 stâ—â—kler of this strife and bloody stirre Were he not worthy breeder of this brawle 〈◊〉 end esse death to pine and die for all Your selues of late in practise of the law 〈◊〉 doome of stoning death for like offence 〈◊〉 can desire your heartes from right withdraw That lawlesse now you can with laws dispence What brainsicke humor doth your braines incence To deeme that fact death worthy in an other Which you your selues do foster feed and cover If speeches dâ—â— but breath and labour leese If former 〈◊〉 cannot forwarne your eares Then yet behold I offer on my knees A 〈◊〉 of sigâ—es and stormie teares Pâ—tâ—y the paine that in my looke appeares Let these my wringed hands awake remorse Vse favour good my Lords abuse not force Consider what you are not base borne slaves Buâ— chiefe conductors of Gods chosen sheepe Then as a crâ—zed ship that's tost with waues Doth let the waters at the chinckes in creepe And drown'th her selfe withall in whelming deepe So you the ship wherein your subiectes saile Your subiectes sinke when you beginne to faile Therfore I coniure you by greate Iehove For countries cause for subiectes happinesse Eor your deere soules estate no further moue Mee poore afflicted soule heere succorlesse O do not seeke to drowne me in distresse Least now you see old Sodom flaines descendinge Suppresse your suite serve God who waits amending But what avayles to sownd to beastes retreyt Or quench the blazâ— that burneth in the straw Though Croco diles do weepe they meane deceit Though Lyons cowch they hide a hurtful paw So though these Lordes be moane the teâ—res they saw Commende her zeale extoll her good entent Yet still vntamed lust growes insolent The softest drops do peirce the hardest stoanes Through gentle wordes vngentle heartes will yeeld The tenderest zutho softneth toughest boanes Milde musick can mad beastes allure and weild Then are your stubborne heades so strongly sâ—eeld Or are your heartes so heard so rough so feâ—rce That nought can enter soften season peirce Behold the melting teeres this ladie sheds Behold what greef lies harbord in her heart Behold what modestie her over-spreds Behold how soare the wound vnmade doth smart Behold her soule repining at this parte Behold hart-renting sobbes assault your eies Behold vp heaved handes for mercie cryes But as the wilfull Aspis stoppes her eare VVhen charmers chaunting wordes like baites entise So these enchaunted adders will not heere The wordes of health or wisedomes sound advise So bendded will is bent to winne the price That neither may this ladies plaint or moane Make pitty pierce their heartes more hard then stone For when her hearts deepe oracles were ended And that they saw such resolution in her VVhile chastest faire faire chastitie defended Gainst those who sought with fawning wordes to win her As farre from hope as though they had not seene her Perswaded now faint means would marre their matter Her with strong hands weak fort they seeke to batter For savage Satyre-like they vvould vncover VVhat bashfull nature biddeth secreat hide And close as hungrie Ravens they doe hover To doe that great disgrace shee may not bide But when shee saw foule lust was at full tide And that her lingring girles did stay so long Shee cride amaine before shee felt the wrong Helpe helpe shee saith helpe helpe I am vndone O helpe a wofull wretch in wretched case At which her crie the iunior iudge doth ronne And open settes the garden dore apase As if some fellon fled out of the place And shee for helpe doth not so often crie But they as fast stop keepe the thiefe doth flie The servantes netled with this suddaine noyes Of help help help stop keepe the theif doth flie Ronne to the posterne gate maydes men and boyes To find the author of this mutinie The cursed cause of that lamenting crye VVho staring gazing gaping ronne aboute Like men amazde to find their mistresse out At length they do desire their ladie faire Her beautie blemished with blubbring teeres As Phebe mantled with the mystie aâ—re VVith watrish beames vnto the sight appeeres Officious dutie bids her bannish feares Relate her hap and let her heart be stronge VVhere hands and hearts are vowd to right her wrong But shee good ladie that did deeme her groomes Vnequall vmpires of her high disgrace Leaves her bad hap vnto theâ— better doomes And by her selfe aloane with-drawes the place And beares her greif imprented in her face That loachims eie might see and seeing rew Her wronged faith in her deformed hewe VVho when he saw his love and his lives breath To quake in ev'ry parte as palsie shaken And cheeke and lip to looke as pale as death VVhome fresh life feeding humour had forsaken Himselfe by fainting feare is overtaken But when he sees her sinkinge to the ground With girdling armes he doth embrace her rovnd And sobbing wordes through his tongue stopping teeres He saith O sweete sweete heart vnfolde thy griefe O speake my loue and bannish bashfull feeres Heere is a hand shall yeeld thee lardge reliefe VVhose hearts true tenure holdes of thee in chiefe If all the world should vowt ' ware wrong'd by thee Yet should it not appeare a wrong to me At vvhich his quickning wordes as Phoebus shine With powerfull beames and heat vegetatiue Vnshrowdes the earth from her congealed shrine And makes the wythering shrubbe and grasse reviue So shee begins to spring and seeme aliue And vvith her faltring tongue yet all a mort Of traitrous men doth render true report And as we blame misfortunes in their bringers Shee blames her maides as fawtors of her wrong Shee feeles impatient fittes and they her fingers That durst neglect their due returne so long Whose sad excuse permixt with teares amonge To seeke the thinges her selfe had laide amisse Return'd her selfe the blame that wrong'd her blisse Meane time the vnresolved servaunts feare it VVhat spitefull ill their lady did surprize And though their itching eares did long to heare it Yet a king heartes did rather sympathize Then know from whence their passions did arise At length with bashfull boldnesse and good grace They aske the seniors of their mistrisle case VVhose irefull eies when first they did behold This giddie rowt to presse with speed in place Did first condemne their deede as overbold VVhile fainting
booke had rest and needle leaue to play Doth entertaine her thoughtes with some discourse From Adams age vntill that present day And oft recountes Ierusalems decay Whilst eke by cunning art chorographie He doth present the citie to her eie These lines saith he describe it triplewald Aleph the plot where stoode the temple great Beth Sion castle Davids citie cald Guemell the Senate house and iudgement seate Daleth the market place He Mathkad streate And so by letters of her Alphabet He pointeth out where every place was set And streete by streete recounteth till he came To say heere stoode my there he speechlesse then Could not pronounce my house teares stopt the same Whilst from his hand he flings he pointing pen And falling from his matter vnto men He curseth both the auctors and the sin The breeders of the bondage he is in For while sweete Suse saith he we feard the Lord And did his lawes and sacred hestes obey So long he was our shield our speare our sword Our castle fort and bulwarke day by day Philistin Ammon Aegypt beare no sway Not Assur nor fell Syrian with his bandes Or sun-burnt Aethiop could subdue our landes But vvhen our rulers all vvere out of rule VVhen prince and priestes and people everychone VVere irreligious like the lust-led Mule Pleased in sin and vile pollution Then kindled vvrath then vvas our vvoe begon Then did he giue vs over for a pray In Chaldean noates to sol fa weale avvay Yet though he hath vs bruz'd vve are not broken Or left as out-castes in the eies of men Sith by his spirit-taught prophets he hath spoken That at the end of threescore yeares and ten Our seed shall sit in Sion gates age'n Thy selfe but young maist liue to see the day Our stooping age hath hopelesse natures nay Meane time liue mindefull of thy latter end Thou maist die young once old canst not liue long Content thy selfe in state that God doth send In svveetest ioies expect some sovver among The vvorldes svveete smiles are as the Syrens song And humaine pomp is as a vvhirling blast Soone gone and saunce recall vvhen once tis past Yea man himselfe is as a raine bred bubble VVhose shape though it be like t' Hemâ—spheer sky Yet if a vvindy blast the vvater troble It doth revert to vvater by and by And leaues alone the vaine-beholding eâ—e Such is Susanna deere thy present state A shade a dreame a vvriting vvanting date Learne then svveete soule to loath things pleasing vaine Learne then to loue thy soules long lasting health Learne then to knovv thy God and him to gaine VVhich vvell thou maist if first thou knovv thy selfe VVhich is indeede more peere-lesse far then pelfe Seeme lesse to none then to thine ovvne conceipt self-Selfe-loue a servile foe on fooles doth vvaite Embrace Gods promises hold fast thy hope Measure thy life by line of sacred law Containe thine actions all vvithin this scope Be not secure but standing stand in avve Least thine affections thy zeale vvith-dravv And still svveete loving lamb in age and youth VVith stedfast constancie professe the truth Yeeld vs thy parentes ay a lovvly heart In guerdon of the loue vve beare to thee Offend not friendes let betters haue their part Be carefull of thy name as of thine eie Let loue of fame prevent all infamie Ill company avoide as from the divell If thou vvilt free thy life and actes from evill Remember vvench thou readest in thy booke Tvvo thinges the ornamentes of may den head To haue a shamefast eie and sober looke And other tvvo if that thou hap to vved Good name and chastitie to bring to bed Assure thy selfe the owner of these fower Is godly faire and hath a vvorthy dovver Delight not childe in braue and rich aray To prune thy selfe as if thou were imprented Be sâ—emely not a slut be graue not gay With cleanly comelinesse be still contented Be not fond sicke with fashions new invented For tis but superfluitie of pride To haue a fashon-coyner for thy guide Excessiue neatnesse is a badge of evill An antsigne of a light vnstable head An angling hooke and engine for the divell To catch such fooles as are by fancie lead A moath that fretteth till thy wealth be dead VVhile backe doth make the belly to be sterved VVhich matrons eie should see to be preserved Then is shee cald a huswife comely dame Whilst cleanly fine is voide of curious partes Then which in time was not a better name VVhen golden world did want prides painting artes VVhen plaine content possest the country heartes VVhen hospitalitie did feele no lacke And was not climbde from table to the backe If that thy neighbours doe possesse good name Doe thou not envie at their worldly blisse Nor be thou light to credite every fame Reportes doe often hit and often misse Of all thinges iudge the best for best it is VVith sober looke be courteous vnto all VVith few familiar be or none at all Hide not a wanton heart with modest eie Say not thy Psalter in the divelles booke Take heede beware of such hypocrisie He is no saint that saintishnesse forsooke Be more severe in life then in thy looke And when thine eares haue heard what other say Allow thy tongue abridle and a stay Learne good things with good vvill instruct the weake Comfort the comfortlesse in their distresse Stop not thine eare when pining-poore doth speake Hate with thine heart sin-breeding idlenesse Let thrifty minde be free from all excesse Craue not too much if riches once arise Obserue a meane and let inough suffice And if thou covet honest exercise Then read good bookes such as our Rabbies pen Or vse such dâ—mes as well can matronise With honest mirth amongst the godly men With due regard of seemely where and when And to conclude where so thou hap to dwell Loue thou thine house as snaile doth loue the shell Thus did Helchia painefull father teach His Susan deere sweete obiect of his eie Her mother daily ceased not to preach The like preceptes of grace and modestie And oft would heere how well shee would replie What time her heart reioiced for to see So witty answeres with like guise agree VVhile shape did hold Symmetricall estate Her manners mated vvith a gallant grace Her beauty feature fine did emulate VVith speech composed and vvith sober pase And this decorum sitting in her face The whole and partes resembled and were like To perfect numbers in Arithmetike And shee thus trained from her tender yeares Became in time to reape her iust renowne In all respectes so far surpast her peeres Of equall age and vvealth within the towne That every vvay her praises put them downe Whilst wantons bent to play and idle pleasure Shee train'd her thoughtes to seeke eternall treasure Whereby it came to passe that envie fell Pursuing vertue with great eagernesse When they could not come neere began to swell And with fine tauntes to make her praises lesse Some
conscience seekes their conquest to confute At warre was vvit and will for best endevours Contending thoughtes did hold a civill schisme As freezing fittes preceede hoate burning fevors So conscience feeles a shaking paroxisme In vaine doth reason fight with Rhetorisme The weaklig wit constrained is to yeeld And bedlem lust left owner of the field For when hee had a tyme him selfe be thought Right shame and feare exiled from his heart And love with lust a cruell combate fought And strived one the other to converte Then hee began his passions to imparte Yet bent to speake and douptfull of her nay Hee faintes againe and knowes not what to say Then as those cheating mates in conny-catchinge Cogge prate and lie to furnish foorth their feate He beates and settes his braines a brood in hatching Straung sleightes to gaine this more then golden cheate And Epitheme to coole flesh-burning heat At length twixt faltring hope and faint despaire He fawnes he frownes he threates he speakes her faire Sweete ladie now saith he we must enioy thee If no or liues will soone vnbodied be Consent therefore if no vve will destroy thee And say we saw one heere embracinge thee Nay wee will vow by heaven wee did thee see To act adulterouse sinne with some base slaue Then yeeld if thou wilt lief and honor have If thou demaund how our sin-seas'ned hearts VVith out remorse can harbor this misdeed Then know that love and dutie playd their partes VVithin our brests some better thoughts to breed But lust did blot what reason still decreed Thy looke fair ladie worthie to be loved So bownd our hearts they might not be removed Thy stature like the statly Cedar trees Thy peerlesse beautie passing al the rest Thy seemely iestures which each noatâ— and sees These are the thinges enthrall the mightiest And make commaunding monarches to be prest To fall from honor iustice law and right And bannish those which love them out of sight These are the traytors which betray thee now These like false guides do lead vs from the Lord. These thinges make lawfull kinges and Lordes allow Thinges most vnlawfull and to bee abhord What man faire ladie could not well afford To try fell paines to purchaze such a loue Yea pains of death aud thousand perils prove Didst ever read those high conceyted storyes In which the livesâ— of worthy loves are writ If so thou seest the trophies of their glories Weare raysd on loue and how inspir'd with it They pawne their lives by farthest reach of wit To make loves name eternall and admired That else to fame had not with cost bin hired O then but thinke thy Lords are more tormented Who dare suscept more perilles then them all And yet we know our deedes may be repented Sith greater men do take the greatest fall For when they slip the Eccho is not smal That doth reflect their faultes to every eare VVhich makes contented mindes not climb for feare Had not the Charmer beautie vs bee witched VVe should have held the freedom of our state And have bin richly with Gods giftes enriched And never feard the spite of daring fate But why do we our fortunes now relate VVhich may perhapes our rash attemptes ensue VVe came not now our future state to rue But came our over burning hearts to cole Enflamed by reflection of thine eies Let them sweet love be quenched in that poole That may thy Ioachims vse and ours suffice But say the word and we will meanes devise That thou fair dame shalt never be suspected For why our deed to none shall be detected What if thy parentes be right deere vnto thee Thy children deere good Ioachim deerst of all Yet flie faint feare this fact shall not vndo thee Beat down distrust and all his thoughts appall For this misdeed shall not in question call Thy spotlesse fame which all men hold vnfracted And deeds vnknowne are ev'nas thoughtes vnacted Qâ—oth he we both are linially descended From Iuda race kinsmen to Zedechias Thou maist sweet fair in vs be princely frended Yea more if thou wilt bend vnto our byas Thou maist be mother to the great Messias And â—o be famosed by royall birth Of absolute commaunder of the earth Thus fleshly speakes this carnall Cabalist Pawninge his soules deere life to ransom lust Or like a kingdome dreaming Thalmudist That in an eartlhy empyre puts his trust For Iuda scepter then lay in the dust And then as now they hop'd an earthly kinge But to his tale this Sophist more doth singe If treasure want thou shalt haue gold at will Or what thy wish or pleasinge thought desireth If honors hight thie honor lasteth still While secreasie our age and state requireth Yea place and time thie free consent now hireth Thie maides away do winke at thine offence The cloased dores will with thie fact dispence If douptes obiecte our wordes in iest are spoken And that our loue is conninge deeply feigned Then heere by hollyest vow for never broken VVee deeply do protest and vnconstreigned Our suite is loue by true affection trayned Then yeeld if no this armes consent shall drawe For needs wee must and need obeyes no lawe Else if thou dost persist in flat deniall Bee hold extreames at hand thie doome is teemed Adulterie shall breed thie death in tryall So shalt thou dead an hipocrite bee deemed So shall thine end bee infamous esteemed So shalt thou staine thiekin and blud debase Defame thie pheere and bastardize thy race For we vvell knowne graue fathers in the land VVil in thy trial iudge and vvitnesse be By oath of two each verdict giv'n must stand Our selues vvill sweare we found embracing thee A beardlesse groome in foule adulterie Then better twere to liue and haue good name Then haue thy death sepulchred in defame As for our selues we haue at large debated VVhat shame what infamie this fact may gaine How that we may be pointed at and haâ—ed Yea more then pointed daâ—lie die like Cain While drowping life is buried in disdaine A loathsome graue a death far worse then death Because the scandal shal reviue on earth Thus haue we thought what may ensue the deede VVho feares what may be misseth Ladies loue Faint hearted carpet knightes doe seldome speede If feare of what may be doth them reproue No feare shall daunt my heart or may bee moue So strongly hath desire enchaunted me That I must needes embrace mine infamie Sweete let vs then feede on thy coral lippes If that wil not suffice lets farther feede For raging lust hath gotten bedlem whippes And beates our heartes so that the wounds doe bleede And nought can cure them and contentment breede But thine embracings and thy bodies vse Which can recure the hurt procure thy truce Be briefe therefore report to vs thy minde If thou wilt yeeld weele rest thy secret friendes If no thou knowst what friendship thou shalt finde Thou knowst who so against the streame contends Doth striue in vaine his health
temptation False Sathan had fit men fit time fit place VVas never foe so fitted for invasion The plot once laid he would not bate an ace The price was shame her glories dim disgrace The meanes the men the time the place thus fitteâ— Yet Sathan prov'd a foole and shallow witted VVhile flattring time could not her thoughts content Convenient place had no convenient praie Though nobles sought her fames disparagement Yet had more noble heart a constant naie A Iudges wordes gainst iustice beare no sway Gray haires grim sutors argued youthes greene follie Their vele of Priest-hoode made them more vnhollie Such were the wightes that would this Ladie wrong So were their hearts addicted to vile actions That their lust-fostred thoughtes did wholie long On harmelesse Chastitie to raise exactions VVhy should stout nobles stoope to base detractions VVhy should such ympious ympes haue rule of all Whose thoughts are base and bond-slaues vnto thrall VVoe to that place where law is turn'd to lust VVoe to that land where rulers fall to sin VVoe to that state where might doth say I must VVoe to the wrong'd that seeketh right of him VVho forceth not of good or right a pin But makes the earth the obiect of his eies Because he would both God and heav'n despise Thou God which dost fell tyrans rage detest VVhy suffrest thou such wolues to tyrannise VVhy are thy seely lamkins so opprest And doth not mercie in thy brest arise Sure thou art merciful in this thy guise In giving Tyrantes time for to repent And fruitfull patience to the innocent A rare example of which righteous loue Doth in this ladies life at large appeare VVhom tyrant stride vvhether shee vvould remoue Her heart from thee her loving Lord most deere But shee in thee remaind the vanquisher VVhen thou didst raise young Daniell in her right And put her shamelesse foes to shameful flight For when the nuptiall rightes had due dispatch And solemne lawes fast knit the sociall band By writing made attenticke of the mach VVhen first Helchia gaue his daughters hand Before the states and seniors of the land That yeare advaunced were to iudgement seate Those hell-taught hirelings fit for Sathans feate For while this tender lady taught her will T' attend her liked loue and Lordly mate The captiue Iewes in troopes resorted still To iet in Ioachims courtes and there debate Of meanes to mannage their forlorne estate To rowse religion and awake their law Borne downe by bondage breeder of their awe So to erect a secret Sanhedrin They singled foorth two seniors from the best Graue Aged learned wise of noble kin For to expound the law and rule the rest But they vvhich seem'd in shew what they profest In proofe were Beâ—als broode base slippes of Caâ—ne In faith false Apostates men vile and vaine These long frequented noble Ioachims place Grim sires severe like Aristarchus brow Seem'd nothing popular could not the grace To kisse the hand or stoope the stately bow But though with halting onely well knew how To render right without regard of gaine Which made contending troopes attend their traine But modest ladie Ladie modestie Shee to avoide the presse in this repaire And shun the gaze of every glauncing eâ—e VVould to her garden walke to take the aire A fine contrived plot and passing faire Hem'd in with stately walles vvhich lik'd her vvell Chast cloistred nymph within â—o sweete a cell And when the presse vvas past and coast vvas cleere Vnto her home her setled pase shee bendes VVhere oft shee findes her Lord and loving Pheere Conferring vvith those seniors his good friendes To whom for Ioachims loue good looke shee â—endes Secure of lust shee deemd their age more stable Their faith more holy thoughtes more honorable But in plaine-meaning trust false treason lurkes Slie Sathan hence gate breath to blow lustes fire At which their melting heartes he softly workes So that they take th' impression of desire And so did bend to vvhat he vvould require Thus with faire stales he baiâ—eth buzzardes eies To teach these dotardes trickes to wantonize The silver heares sterne sum'nors to the graue Are dipt in die-pot and vvell taught to fal In curled tuftes like yonkers neate and braue No Peruge yet had Peru seene at al While withered limmes would youthes delights recal The spundge the combe the glasse doe wait at hand To cleere the wrinckled skin that age had tand Th' Arabian odors mend a noisome fault Each word each looke each gesture smackes of art The limping legge begins to leape and vault VVhen Cupâ—d shootes where death should thrill his dart Old wagges exceede to play the wantons part And then though folly giue themselues the fal Yet must sweete beauty beare the blame of al. So things wel ment are oftentimes mistaken Sometimes the harmelesse eie doth feeâ—e offence Sometimes faire dutie makes his friend forsaken Sometimes foule faultes are hid by faire pretence So were these seniors snared by true sence VVhen burnd not by the fire but by the light They were entrap'd by that true spie the sight VVhile chast concentricke circles of her eies Like sphericke sections cut by curious art Reflect the wanton beames which gainst them flies Backe to the darkesome dungeon of the heart Makes Liver loue-sicke poysons every part Makes reason and heartes passions disagree Makes that which was not what it should not be Fie on fine beautie that dost bane thy breeder Fie on false honor that betraist thy friend Fie on thee foolish feature thou eie feeder Fie on vnstedfast riches friendes vnkinde Fie on choice education art thou blinde Fie on fit time alluring bawd to evil Fie on fit place a broker for the divel These were the traitours that entisementes gaue To blinde concupiscence and bedlem lust To hoodâ—winke vertue and at reason raue That bids be bold and banish faint distrust Pretendes the purchase good and title iust Perswades it cowardiâ—e to daunt for shame VVhere greater conquest winnes the greater fame And yet they deem'd her vertues farre to great Her thoughtes to high to stoope to base desire Which did not coole but much augment the heaâ—e Great logges laid on doe most encrease the fire Beate downe by doubtes stout lust doth â—im the higher When strugling streames with strongest baâ—es are bent Then flowdes doe swell and rage most insolent And so while raging lust out-reacheth reason Like bended waues they surge aboue the bankes Displease their friendes and selues and al to please one Leaue law and right to play vnlawful prankes Vow great attemptes not worthy smallest thankes Grow carelesse resolute in dissolution Bewitch'd with beauties blaze to worke abusion That those which vvhilome did like Martiall vvightes VVeild Mars his weapons and were manly men Become nice Sybarites faint hearted knights Forsake the field to diue in Cupids den Resigne the Eagles empire to the wren Obscure Herculean fortitude and fame By childish service of some Lydian dame For as the fish that of his force to
stoppe Hight Remora much like the seelie snaile Can stay the ship of loftie tallest toppe Gainst force of oares and furious winded saile So some whose fame high fortune could not faile Amidst their happiest course are forst to staie By lust-fed loue or else as weake delay So sovereignes oft come subiectes to their sin Whilst those that should not soonst are slaues to lust Men what they must not most are prone to win Which makes trimme vertue dragled in the dust When rulers are as yron worne vvith rust Consum'd with loue then countries fall to sinne As heere you see these iudges doe beginne VVho oft were bent by reasons Ecstasis VVith club-fist violence and clownish force To breake into that princelie Pyramis And batter downe her wel-built walles perforce If milde entreatie might not moue remorse Or bold perswasions blinde the eies of reason Or subtile feates surprise the fort by treason Thus oft they ment to make a rash assault More oft they seeke vile opportunitie And most doe muse how they maie cloake the fault If mad desire accomplished might be Their withered hoping hearts thinke long to see The fruit of their vntimelie sprowting lust Th' event whereof they held in deepe distrust Each daie these graybeardes kisse the garden dore To see at least the shadow of their Saint And through the slender crannies prie and pore To feede the humor that doth make them faint So doth her peerelesse hue their eies attaint That aie to gaze on her they doe require As on sweete speckled Panthers beastes desire Each daie for fervent loue of this faire goddesse They gad on pilgrimage to her sweete shrine Each daie fowle lust did feede in fainting bodies On fresh recording of her beauties shine Each day they be repleate and yet doe pine While outward obiect nursing inward anguish Abates the looke and makes the life to languish Thus doth delay not lessen but increase The furious fittes of their rebellions soare And though they would a parlee for their peace Yet want they meanes her favour to implore VVhich makes them wish to be within the dore VVith her alone that they might worke their vvill To pray or force her to that cursed ill They wondred greatly at each others griefe Yet want the skil the secret cause to know Though friendly hand be prest to yeeld reliefe Yet singred pulse cannot bewray their woe And shame doth blush such shamefull partes to shew While neither knowes that either is entangled With that sharpe hooke wherewith himselfe is angled Til time that pend the prologue in this play And did pretend some pleasing comedy By stately rufling actors did bewray Shee ment to staine the stage and standers by VVith tragique bloud in fel Catastrophie And sending opportunitie with speede To fit occasion bids them both proceede For on a day vvhen Cynthius lampe of light Had with his golden beames embost the skie And climbing from the circle-bounding sight Neere to the noone-steed line vvas mounted hie VVhen Nature did on customes lore relie To vnder-propt her weakenesse with repast That now grew faint and feeble with long fast Then at kind Ioachims gates these seniors part Vâ—trustie traitours to so true a friend And to their several houses doe revert But leaue in pawne vnbodied hearts behinde Not where it liues but loues remaines the minde They doe repose their friend-shippe on their foe They leaue sweete life in gage yet home they goe VVhere lazie rest did ransacke all their vaines Choice of delightes doe breed no choice of ease The wayward worme vvithin their adled braines Was nibling still nothing but one could please The feathered seate doth seeme a nest of fleas The princely banquets held a homely diet The Doricke musicke makes the minde vnquiet The cookes controld the meate not seasoned well The courtly waitor seemes a cartly clowne The fragrant odors yeeld a loathsome smell Who looketh sad he thinkes on him doth frowne Who laughes out-right doth envie his renowne Who wispreth in the â—are doth him reproue Who praiseth beauty robbes him of his loue His loue not shee graue ladie first his loue Whose breasts did breed youthes sweet conteÌ„tments wel His eies as blinde in choice he doth reproue For Ioachims choice all choices doth excell His neighbours sheepe not his must beare the bell Sweete Susan none but shee is worthy honor His Debora not worthy to waite on her Fond testy wayward waspish out of tune His giddy head doth tosse his trencher round His hastie heart is fierce doth fret and fume His knife doth â—eele his passions to abound His restlesse foote doth graâ—e the harmelesse ground Each punct of time doth seeme a lingring morrow The meale is short when as the sawce is sorrow Therefore to seeke more ease in pleasing place They post alone vnto the garden dore VVhere one of them not staide a breathing space But that his corryvall is come to shore VVhere never boath till then did meete before And then to soone for false occasion then Did plot the fall of these vnfaithfull men For train'd by time each one acquaintes the other Hâ—w beauties blaze in Susans modest eie Had set drie lust on fire vvhich did not smother VVithin their withered breastes but burning flie Like fierie dragon in the flaming skie Which forst them to forget their God their king And binde best hope vnto a hopelesse thing They pause a space what best to doe resolving Like two fiâ—rce Beares of greedie appetite Devising meanes and in their mindes revolving If that shee will not wrong her Ioachims right They would enforce her then by force and might Yet heere a guiltie conscience laies a barre To stop this course and their devises marre Saith one of them shall we commit this evill Shall freemen borne be bond-slaues vnto sinne Shall we embrace the flesh to kisse the Divell Shall we controlling vice to vice beginne Shall we so famous thus defame our kinne My Lord we must suppresse these prowd assaults Else shall we great ones make the greater faultes The rule by vvhich all other rules are tried Must beare a true proportion every way And vvant the smallest faultes that maie be spied So kings and seniors that doe beare the sway Must liue to rule and yet the lawes obey Else how should they blacke sin rebuke and blame VVhen they themselues are guilty in the same A mole is speed'lie spied in the face VVhen in the bodie blaines are vnperceaved One seely misâ—e will yeeld vs more disgrace Then though the vnderâ—ing and poore aggrieved VVere of al roiall vertues quite bereaved For rulers are the looking-glasse the booke In which all subiects eies doe reade and looke O let vs then remember theres a God A God whose searching eie hath deepest seeing A God whose providence doth never plod A God in whom we moue and haue our being A God to whom each sinne is disagreeing A God that will not winke at this misdeede A God that will inflict revendge vvith speede