THE HISTORY OF JUDITH IN FORM OF A POEM.  
Penned in French, by the Noble Poet, G. Sallust. Lord of Bartas.  
Englished by Tho. Hudson.  
Ye learned: bind your brows with Laurer band,  
I press not for to touch it with my hand.  
Imprinted at Edinburgh, by Thomas Vautroullier. 1584.  
cum PRIVILEGIO REGALI.   

TO THE MOST HIGH AND mighty Prince, james the sixth, King of Scotland his majesties most humble Servant, Tho. Hudson wisheth long life with everlasting felicity.  
AS your Majesty Sir, after your accustomed & virtuous manner was sometime discoursing at Table with such your domestics, as chanced to be attendant.  
It pleased your Highness (not only to esteem the percles style of the Greek HOMER, and the Latin VIRGIL to be inimitable to us, whose tongue is barbarous and corrupted:) But also to allege partly throw delight your Mayest. took in the Haughty style of those most famous Writers, and partly to sound the opinion of others, that also the lofty Phrase, the grave indictment, the facound ●ermes of the French Sallust (for the like resemblance) could not be followed, nor sufficiently expressed in our rude and impollished english language. Wherein, I more boldly than advisedly [with your Mayest licence] declared my simple opinion. Not calling to mind that I was to give my verdict in presence of so sharp & clear-eied a censure as your highness is: But rashly I alleged that it was nothing impossible even to follow the footsteps of the same great Poet SALLUST, and to translate his verse (which nevertheless is of itself exquisite) succintlie, and sensibly in our own vulgar specch. Whereupon, it pleased your Majesty (amongst the rest of his works) to assign me, The History of judith, as an agreeable Subject to your highness, to be turned by me into English verse: Not for any special gift or Science that was in me, who am inferior in knowledge and crudition to the least of your majesties Court: But by reason (peradventure) of my bold assertion your Majesty, who will not have the meanest of your house unoccupied, would have me to bear the yoke, and drive forth the penance, that I had rashly procured. Indeed, the burden appeared heavy, & the charge almost insupportable to me, nevertheless the fervent desire which I had to obtemper unto your Mayest. commandment, the earnest intention to verify my rash speaking, and the assured confidence which I ankred on your highness help and correction, encouraged me so, and lightened on such wise my heavy burden, that I have with less pain, brought my half despaired work to final end. In the which I have so behaved myself, that through your Mayest. concurrence, I have not exceeded the number of the lines written by my author: In every one of the which, he also hath two sillabes more then my English bears. And this notwithstanding, I suppose your Mayest. shall find little of my Author's meaning pretermitted. Wherefore if thus much be done by me, who am of an other profession, and of so simple littrature, I leave it to be consired by your Mayest. what such as are consummate in letters & knows the weighty words, the pithy sentences, the polished terms, and full efficacy of the English tongue would have done. Receive them Sir, of your own Servant, this little work at your own commandment enterprised, corrected by your Mayest. own hand, and dedicated to your own highness. If I have done well, let the praise redound to your Mayest. whose censure I have underlyen. If otherwise, let my default of skill, be imputed to myself, or at the least my good intention allowed, whereby others may have occasion to do better. To your highness consideration, referring Sir, both my diligence done in this small translation, & the inveterate affection which I have, and aught always to bear unto your Mayest. I commit with all humility, your highness, your Realm and estate, to the government of God, who governeth all the World.   

SONNET.  
SInce ye immortal sisters nine hes left  
All other countries lying far or near:  
To follow him who from them all you reft,  
And now hes caused your residence be here  
Who though a stranger yet he loved so dear  
This Realm and me, so as he spoiled his own,  
And all the brooks & banks, & fountains clear  
That be therein of you as he hath shawne  
in this his work: them let your breath be blawne,  
In recompense of this his willing mind  
On me: that sine may with my pen be drawn  
His praise: for though himself be not inclined  
Nor presseth but to touch the Laurer tree:  
Yet well he merits crowned therewith to be.  
FINIS.   

SONNET,  
The Muses nine have not revealed to me  
What sacred seeds are in their gardens sown  
Nor how their Sallust gains the Laurer tree  
Which throw thy toil in Britain ground is grown  
But sith they see thy travel truly shown  
In verteus school th'expring time to spend  
So have they to his hienes made it known  
Whose Princely power may duly the defend  
Then you that on the Holy mount depend  
In crystal air and drinks the cleared spring  
Of Poetry I do you recommend  
To the protection of this godly King  
Who for his verteus and his gifts divine  
Is only Monarch of the Muses nine.  
FINIS.  
M. V F.   

THE authors ADMONITION TO THE READER.  
Beloved Reader, it is about fourteen years past since I was commanded by the late Illustrate and most virtuous Princess jean, Queen of Navarre, to reduce the History of judith, in form of a Poem Epique, wherein I have not so much aimed to follow the phrase or text of the bible, as I have pressed (without wandering from the verity of the History) to imitate Homer in his Iliads, and Virgil in his Aeneidos, and others who hath left to us works of such like matter: thereby to render my work so much the more delectable. And if the effect hath not answered to my desire, I beseech thee to lay the fault upon her who proposed to me so mean a Thean e or subject, and not on me who could not honestly disobey. Yet in so much as I am the first in France, who in a just Poem hath treated in our tongue of sacred things, I hope of thy favour to receive some excuse, seeing that things of so great weight cannot be both perfectly begun and ended together. If thou neither allow my style nor workmanship, at least thou shalt be drivou to allow the honest pretence and holy desire which I have to see the youth of France so holily by mine example exercised.  
I may not forget that they do greatly wrong me, Who thinks that in discriving the Catastrophe of this History (truly tragical) thinks that I am become a voluntairy Advocate to these trouble some & seditious spirits (who for to serve their temerarious passions, and private inspirations) conspires against the lives of placed princes. For so much do I disassent that this example and the like aught to be drawn in consequence, that I am verily persuaded that the act of Ahud, of jael, and of judith, who under colour of obeisance and pretext of amity laid their revenging hands upon Aeglon, Sisara, & Holophernes: had been worthy of a hundredth gallows, a hundredth fires, and a hundredth wheels, if they had not been peculiarly chosen of God for to unlose the chains, and break the bands which retained the Hebrew people in more than Egyptian servitude, and expressly called to kill those tyrants with a death as shameful as their lives were wicked and abominable. But seeing this question is so diffuse that it cannot be absolved in few words, & that my brain is to weak for so high an enterprise, I send you to those who have spent more oil and time in turning the leaves of the sacred scriptures, than I have done for the present. It me sufficeth for the time to admonish the Reader, to attempt nothing without a clear and indubitable vocation of God against those whom he hath erected above us and above allthing, not to abuse the law of humane hospitality, and other holy bands for to give place to these frenetike opinions so to abolish a pretended tyranny. I have also to warn thee of two different sorts of men of the which one sort is so depraved that they can hear nothing, but that which is altogether profane, and the other is so superstitious that they make conscience not only to write, but also to read of holy things in verse, as though that the measure and jointure of sillabes were so constrained as it were unpossible to keep the sense unperuerted, or at least excessively obscured. Now if I perceine that this my first assay may be to thee agreeable, I shall continue more gladly my new commenced race in such sort that thou shalt not repent thine indulgence, nor I my passed pains. But if contrary fall, in time to come I willbe aware to lay out my small pack in this ample Theatre of France, where there is almost as many judgements as beholders. A Dieu.  
GSSDB.   

THE ARGUMENT OF THE WHOLE HISTORY OF JUDITH.  
AFter that the Children of IZREL were delivered from captivity & returned to their land, the city of JERUSALEM re-edified, the Temple builded, and prepared to the service of the Lord, the multitude of the people being scattered in sundry towns & places of the land, where they lived in peaceable rest: the Lord knowing man to be negligent of God & his salvation, chief when he lives at ease, and all things frames unto his frail desire, to th'end that his people should not fall in such an inconvenient, would exercise them with a fearful affliction and temptation, sending upon their country an army so great in number and puislance, that made the whole earth to tremble. This expedition was under the Persian Monarch, named in the history Nabuchadnezar (which nevertheless is not his right name.) His chief Lieutenant general & Conductor of the whole Army, was Holophernes, who (wheresoever he came) overthrew all religion, permitting none to invocate or acknowledge any other God, but NABUCHADNEZAR, his Master, whom he enforced to constitute and establish for the only God. So entered he judea with intent to destroy it all, which the people perceiving his power to be so great that no nation could resist him, and also knowing his cruel hatred, were sore afraid, and almost driven to extreme desperation seeing none other thing present before them, but ruin and destruction. And this the Lord suffered, to show (in time) his work to be more wonderful. For the people being humbled, and having called to the lord for mercy & secure at his hand, he both hard and succoured them at need. The mean was not through strength or stoutness of some worthy Captain, but by the hand of JUDITH, a tender feeble woman, to the shame of this most proud & cruel tyrant, and all his heathen host. For she cut off his head, put all his camp to flight, destroyed his men of Arms, in such wise that they fled here and there, & seeking to save their lives. left all their tents and baggage. Thus the Lord by the weak, and those that are not regarded, makes his works admirable. By one self mean he saved his own, & executed his justice against his enemies. In which we have to consider his singular providence and goodness, and the care which he hath in especial for his faithful, and all his whole church. This History is entitled by the name of JUDITH, because it contains the narration of her great virtues, and for that the Lord used her as an instrument for the deliverance of his people. It is not certain who was the first Author hereof, nevertheless the reading of it hath been received in the Church for the doctrine & utility of the same.   

THE summary OF THE I. BOOK.  
¶ Holophernes lieutenant general and chief of the army of Nebuchadn●zer King of the Assyrians, was in the field for to subdue duers people & amongst others the jews. All the Nation is seized with great fear, for the cruelties committed by the enemy. Then as it falls out in bruits of war, all the whole people were troubled, some saving themselves in corners for fear, others attending in great perplexity, some sad and Tragical end the best sort calls upon God. This while joachim the chief Priest governed the people: he by his letters & express command●ment recalls those that were fled and scattered, and made them return to jerusalem where, in presence of the Levites, he made sacr●fice & er●est prayer unto God to withdraw hi● y●e and to be merciful to his people, which done he enters in counsel and requires his Princes to consult upon the cause, and consider what is most expedient, and to prefer the love of Gods L●we and the country, before all private things: the first that gainstands this exhortation an hypocrite & favourer of the enemy, who gives counsel to render them to Holophernes calling him a Prince gracious to those that applauds to him, & invincible in battle to those that dare resist him. But the second Lord replying zealously again, detecteth his false hypocrisy and charles' security, exposing the people to the mercy of a barbarous go●es enemy before the duty they ought to their God and their country: and to establish in place of the true God, a wicked Nemrod consummate in all impiety & wickedness, to abolish all virtue & godliness, for he proves that if the nation should be rooted out for the right religion, God should be more honnored in the death of the jews then in their lives: and that it is more worthy to die Hebrews than to live infidels. And freemen than sklaves. Short●y that they ought to prefer honour and d●●tie before fear, and a vain hope to prolong their doleful days. This reply encouraged all the assistants whereof joachim, give thanks to God, and resolving himself upon a just defence for the conservation of the service of God, and the freedom of his nation, and the lives of the innocent against this v●lanous invasion: nysely departed the regiments of towns to persons convenient, who passed to their assigned places, ●●hone preparing according to them power unto the war with courage, pain, and dilignce.  
THE FIRST BOOK OF JUDITH.  


I Sing the virtues of a valiant Dame, 
Proposition and some of this work.   
Who in defence of jacob overcame:  
Th' Assyrian Prince, and slew that Pagan stout,  
Who had beset Bethulia walls about.   

O thou, who kept thine Izak from the thrall 
Inuocarion of the true God.   
Of Infideles, and stelde the courage small,  
Of feeble judith, with a manly strength:  
With sacred fury fill my heart at length.  
And with thy Holy spirit, my spirit inspire,  
For matter so divine, Lord I require  
No humane style, but that the Reader may,  
Great profit reap, I joy, thou praise always.   

And since in vulgar verse I press to sing, 
Dedication of the Author altered by the translator.   
This godly Pooeme to a Christian King,  
To him who God in goodness hath erect  
For princely Pillar, to his own elect:  
For lawful Lord, to reign with truth and right:  
For love some Laurer, to the virtuous wight:  
Him (I beseech) this travel to defend,  
That to his pleasure I the same may end.    


WHen Izrell was in quiet rest and peace,  
And fruitfully the ground gave her increase,  
Which seventy year untilled lay before  
And nothing bare but thistle, weed, and thorn.  
It pleased God (upon his just correction)  
T'awake his own, that were of his election,  
Lest that the longsom peace should then withhold:  
And dull their spirits, as doth the warrior bold,  
Who spoils his horse with pampering in the stable,  
That makes him for the manaige more unable.  
He spread their land with bands of enemies stout,  
Whose clouds of shot, bedimd their land about.  
Their Host, with arrows, pikes, and standards, stood 
The Army of Helepherne.   
As bristel pointed, as a thorny wood.  
Their multitude of men, the rivers dried,  
Which throw the wealthy juda sweet did slide:  
So that 'slud jordane finding dry his bank,  
for shame he blushed, and down his head he shrank,  
For woe that he his credit could not keep,  
To send one wave, for tribute to the deep.   

Scarce had the Harvest man with hook in hand,  
Dispoilde the fruit and let the stubble stand:  
Scarce had the hungry Gleaner put in bind,  
The scattered grain, the Sherer left behind:  
And scarce the slapping flail began to thrash  
When unto jacob, news was brought a fresh.  
That Holophern, his frontiers did invade,  
And past all Rivers, straits, and murders made  
So vile, that none he left that drew the breath:  
But old and young, he put to sudden death:  
The sucking babes upon their mother's knee:  
His cruel cutthroates made them all to dee.  
Then like a flock of sheep that doth behold,  
A wolf come from the wood upon their fold,  
Shapes no defence, but runs athwart the lands,  
And shortly makes of one, a hundredth bands,  
So isack's sons, indreading for to feel 
The Hobreus.   
This tyrant, who pursued them at the heel,  
Dissundring fled, and sought their lives to save:  
In hills, and dales, and every desert cave.   

The shepherd of his flock had now no care: 
Fear of the enemy.   
But fearing death fled to some mountain bare.  
The Craftsman now his lumes away hath laid:  
The Merchant left his traffic and his trade,  
To hide himself more safely in a vault:  
Then in a Rampire, to sustain th'assault.  
The Lords esteemed themselves in furer hold:  
In Dens of beasts, than castles gilded with gold.  
Fear lent the wings for aged folk to fly,  
And made them mount to places that were high.  
Fear made the woeful women for to bear,  
Their cradles sweere to hills that highest wear:  
Fear made the woeful child to wail and weep,  
For want of speed, on foot and hand to creep:  
Alwhere was nothing hard but hideous cries,  
And piteous plaints that did the heart's agryes.   

O Lord (said they) will thou still day by day, 
Affliction causeth prays   
The arrows of thine anger never stay?  
Wilt thou that Called conquer us again?  
Shall juda yet the Heathen yoke sustain?  
wilt thou again that they make every town,  
But stony he apes of houses casten down?  
Again shall sacrilegious fire devour,  
thy holy house where we do thee adore?   

Then joachim the priest of God most high,  
who over juda then had chief degree:  
Stood like a Pilot stout in tempest great,  
who seeing wind and weather for to threat,  
Yet to his mates, his fear, no terror draws,  
Nor leaves his ship unto the wrackful waves.  
But with disguising fear, his face up casts,  
And stoutly doth gainstand the baleful blasts:  
Right so this prudent prelate sent in haste,  
two hundredth men to pass where men were placed  
In places strong, and thence commanded them,  
For to repair unto jerusalem.   

Now since th'eternal did reveal his will,  
Upon the sacred top of Syna Hill,  
the Ark of God which wisdom more did hold,  
In Tables two, than all the Greeks have told.  
And more than ever Rome could comprehend,  
In huge of learned books that they penned:  
Long wandered it throw tribs, throw kin and kin, 
Sam. 1.4. Sam. 2.6.   
and found no certain place of resting in.  
Yea sometime it the shameful spoil hath been  
to sacrilegious hands of Palestene,  
until that time, that jessies' holy race,  
for ever lodged it in jebus place. 
jerusalem    

But for that David's hands with blood were filled  
throu infinits of humaines he had killed.  
the king of peace would have a king of rest,  
to build his Temple far above the best: 
Sam 2.7.   
His house, whose front upreard so high and eaune,  
that lightlied earth, & seemed to threat the heaven  
until that wicked time a tyrant vile,  
Of name and deed that bore the semble style, 
Nabuchadnezer. Chr. 2.036   
that did this king, that building brave he wrecked,  
And to the sacred ground all whole it sacked.   

Yet when, long after, Abrahms holy race,  
Of Tiger banks had left the captive place, 
Esa. 6.   
with combers great they redefied with pain,  
that most renowned house of God again.  
Which though unto the first it seemed as small,  
As to a Prince's house, a shepherds hall,  
And though the hugeness were not as it was:  
yet sure the height and beauty did surpas,  
And overseilde the famous work of Pharie:  
Ephesus temple, and the tomb of Carie.  
The Rhodian colos, and the chaldean wall,  
that Semirame set up with tourrets tall.  
Also the wondrous work of this same temple,  
Might serve a Cresiphon for his example:  
Lysippus eke to carve by square and line,  
Or guide Appelles' pencil most divine.  
Hear in this place, all Izrel most devout,  
withdrew themselves to Salem round about, 
jerusalem   
As when the heaven his sluices opens wide,  
And makes the floods upon the ground to glide,  
the brooks that breaks adoune from divers hills  
with course impetious till one deep distils.   

Amongst the Dames, that there devoutest were  
The Holy judith, fairest did appear:  
Like Phoebus that above the stars doth shine:  
It seemed that she was made on mould divine.   

This Primate then assisted with his kin  
Of great Eleazar (priests whose head and chin,  
Was never shave) devoutly on he priest:  
A pearled Mitre on his balmed crest.  
And with a holy Alb, with garnettes spread,  
And golden Bells, his sacred body clad.  
And slew, and burnt, the bulks (as was the guise)  
Of many a kid, and ●alfe for sacrifice.  
And with their blood, the altars horns he died,  
And praying thus, to God immortal cried.   

" O Lord of Hosts, we come not unto thee, 
Prayer.   
" To weigh our merits with thy majesty:  
" Nor to protest before thy heavenly might,  
" That sacklessy, thy scourge doth on us light:  
" But rather we confess (as true it is)  
" Our sins, have justly merit more than this.  
" But Lord if thou thy covenant would forget,  
" Which thou with Abrahm made, & so wilt set  
" For mercy great, thy justice most severe,  
" Thou should a greater plague upon us rear.  
" Change then our process from thy justice seat,  
" And save us at thy throne of mercy great.  
" Forgive us Lord and hold far from us all,  
" These plagues, that on our heads are like to fall.   

Alas what helpeth us thy heavy stroke,  
To bind our necks to such a servile yoke,  
Wherewith th' Assyrian tyrants long have grieved  
Thine Izak, till their bondage thou relieved.  
If so this native ground that new is tiled,  
If so these Hostries new with folk refilde:  
If so (alas) our chaste and modest Dames,  
Our infants young, our Virgins good of fames,  
Should be a pray to Ammon, and to pierce,  
To Called, and the mutiny Parthian fierce,  
If that we see this Altar made profane,  
And witches it abuse with Idols vain:  
Yet, Lord if thou no pity on us take,  
At least great God, do for thy glories sake.  
Have pity on this holy building now,  
Where not a God hath sacrifice but thou:  
Where not a God but thou hast residence,  
To feile the savour sweet of frankincense.   

Hold back (O Lord) the chaldean cressets bright  
From these rich Cedar vaults of stately height.  
Preserve these vessels, ornaments of gold,  
From sacrilegious hands of neighbours bold.  
And let the blood of beasts before thy face,  
Thy justice stay, and grant thy servants grace.   

This prayer done, the people went their way,  
Then joachim convende that present day:  
the Princes all of juda, and them prayed,  
'gainst this mischief for counsel, and thus said.   

Companions, if your former zeal remain, 
Exhortation.   
If ardent love to god ye still retain:  
If wife, or child, may cause your care or love,  
Which should the Centres of your senses move:  
If in your breasts a noble heart doth bide,  
Let deed bear witness at this woeful tide.  
For saving God and your foresight, in deed  
'tis done, 'tis done with us, and all our seed.  
And after this, th' Immortal shall not see  
this after fume before his majesty.   

When th' Air is calm, & still as dead & deaf, 
Comparison.   
And under heaven quakes not an aspen leaf,  
When Seas are calm, and thousand vessels fleet  
Upon the sleeping seas with passage sweet.  
And when the variant wind is still and loon,  
the cunning Pilot never can be known.   

But when the cruel storm doth threat the bark,  
to drown in deeps of pits infernal dark,  
while tossing tears both rudder mast & sail,  
While mounting seems the Azure sky to skaile:  
while drives perforce upon some deadly shore,  
there is the Pilot known and not before.   

Alas I pray you then what care and strifes,  
Have we to keep our honours, goods, and lives:  
Forget not then the care of this same place,  
your countries weal, god's glory and his grace:  
But humbly give yourselves into the hand  
Of god most high, and with a holy brand,  
, repurge your spirits from every hateful sin,  
, which causeth God his justice to begin:  
And see what may to God be agreeable,  
For jacobs' weal, and for you profitable.   

This said: an ancient traitor from his youth,  
who fostered gall in heart, with honey in mouth,  
Enforcing from his eyes some feigned tear,  
(to cloak his malice) spacke as ye shall hear,   

My tongue me fails, my hair for dread upstarts, 
The Oration of a subtle worldling   
My heavy spirit, from pensive corpse departs.  
When I bethink me of yone tyrant stout,  
who hath bedround the world with blood about:  
Approaching threats our towns with fiery flames,  
Ourselves with death, dishonour to our Dames.  
Yet when I call to mind the curtsy great,  
That this great Lord doth use, who doth entreat  
Not only those that bestial are become,  
And have their hope in brutal Idols doom,  
But even to zealous folk who do embrace,  
The faith, and law, like us of Abrahms race:  
who being well advised, did humbly sue  
His pardon, and escaped his vengeance due,  
then thank I God who sends us such a foe,  
As plagues the proud, and lets the humble go:  
For we assoon, shall vanquish him with tears,  
As will be long, to wrak him with our wears.  
Then whilst we may have choice of either state  
of peace or wars, his favour, or his hate.  
Let us not follow (seeing skath at hand)  
the folly of our fathers, to gainstand.  
But rather let us bear a lower sail,  
And serve his king as best for our awaile.  
But think not yet, that I this council give  
for craft, or warrant for myself to live:  
For I have else my days so nearly spent,  
that for to die I could be well content.  
The Assyrian need not in my breast to  
strike,  
His feathered Dart, nor yet his trembling pike:  
Yea if my youth to me should eft return,  
And make my youthly blood within me burn,  
So honour I my God, and country dear,  
that for to die for them, I would not fear:  
As Samson did, if so my death might yield:  
The victory of the Vizroy, and the field.  
But most (I fear) lest we with curious zeal,  
Fight for the law, yet fight against her weal,  
Against ourselves, to bring so great a wrack:  
that proud, and cruel tyrants shall us sack,  
And grow in pride (suppressing judaes' strength)  
For to contemn the glory of God at length.  
For Israel being lost, who shall ensue,  
to render here to God devotions due?  
what people sparsed on this earthly ball  
From Indian shore to where the Sun doth fall.  
Or from the Climate of the northern blast,  
Unto that place where summer aye doth last:  
Hath God elect, save Israel for his own  
Upon this Hill to have his glory shown?   

At this: the valiant Cambris of renown,  
with righteous rage grew pale and 'gan to frown,  
And broke the silence with a vehement style,  
His courage moved the Princes all the while.   

Nay rather where I stand let ope the ground  
(Quoth he) to swallow me, in pit profound 
Azealous godly answer.   
Yea, rather righteous heaven let fiery blast,  
Light on my head that thou on Sodom cast,  
Ear I my malice cloak or oversile,  
In giving Izac such a council vile.  
For if the Leader of this folk profane  
Upon our bodies only sought to reign,  
Although that we have dearly bought alway  
Our freedom from our first maternal day  
(which dearer is than gold for to be kept)  
I would assent, the holy Church except,  
But since more pride this tyrant's heart enrols  
to lay a greater burden on our souls:  
Who are the vassals of that only King,  
That thunder sends & Sceptres down doth thring:  
, Should we forget him who made us of nought,  
, More than all wondrous things that he hath wrought  
who treats and loves us like our father and king,  
Still under shadows of his wondrous wing?  
Will he that we receive a Prince ambitious?  
for God, a god's contemner Nemrode vicious?  
whose beastly life is of so vile a fame,  
That of a man he merits not the name?  
Go to, go to, let men, for men assay  
with sword and shot, to deal it as we may:  
The victory lies not in mortal hands,  
Nor barded horse, nor force of armed bands.  
these are but second instruments of God,  
Who, as him list, may send them even or odd.  
But if our sovereign God wills such annoy,  
that folk uncircumsisde, our land destroy,  
Because we him offend while we have breath,  
Alas, yet honour, honour him in death.  
And if we lose, and all be overcome,  
Let patience win the glory of martyrdom.   

Forsooth, though Assurs soldiers brave & bold  
Extinguish quite the race of Izak old,  
yet shall they not deface the living lord,  
As these apostates falsely do afford.  
For he, who people first this world so round,  
But with one man, from whom the rest abound  
And who long after, in an ark of wood  
Repaired the waste, made by the general flood:  
May he not eke transform the hardened stone,  
To people who will honour him alone?  
And may not he do now, as he hath done,  
who gave to Abrahms barren wife a son?  
Them giving Children more, then in the heaven  
Are starry Circles, light as fiery leaven,  
And more, then Northern winds that drives the Rack  
Of Cyrene sands in number can compack  
Who will observe his law a hundredth fold  
More zealously than we, who should it hold.  
, Then, fathers chose you wars, for better tells,  
, To lose like jews, then win like infidels:  
, Let not the greed of gain your heart's attame,  
, to leave the right, prefer not, fear to shame.   

Scarce ended was th'Oration of this Lord,  
when all the Princes with a sound accord:  
By word and deed confirmed his good advise:  
The chief Priest gladdest of this enterprise,  
Unto the heaven held up his hands and face,  
And said, I thank the lord who of his grace  
, Conjoines no less our wills, than bolds our hearts,  
, A sure presage that God is on our parts.   

This done, unto his princes he divides  
The tribes and towns & ordains them for guides  
for fear lest some of them led with ambition  
In Izrell might stir up some new sedition,  
So they withdrew, and stoutly did provide  
this furious storm of Mars for to abide.   

Then as ye see sometime the home bees,  
Exerse themselves on buds of sweetest trees,  

Comparison.   
where they sometime assault the buzzing wasp,  
That comes to near their flowers away to clasp,  
Or when they honey draw from smelling time,  
Or from the palm, or Roses of the prime:  
And how they draw their wax with wondrous art,  
Observing jointure just in every part,  
Both up and down they build ten thousand shops,  
with equal space fulfilleth up to the tops:  
Or where the master Bee, of thousand bands,  
Conducts the rest in legions throw the lands:  
who daily keeps within their City's wall:  
Their house, their work, their laws and manners all.  
So thus the sons of jacob plied their pain:  
with hot desire their quarrel to sustain.   

Some built the breaches of their broken town, 
Preparations of defence.   
that Heaven, and Panim ire, had casten down.  
Some other found a cautel 'gainst the Ram,  
to save the wall unbroken where it camme.  
Thus jacobs' towns on alsides had their flanks,  
with Gabions strong with bulwarks & with banks.  
Some others busy went and came in routs  
To terrace towers, some under baskets louts:  
Some others also wanting time and might,  
to strength their towns, yet used all kind of slight,  
To dig up ditches deep for cisterns good,  
To draw to them the best and nearest flood.   

While th'armourers with hammers hard & great  
On studies strong the sturdy steel doth beat,  
And makes thereof a corpslet or a jack,  
Sometime a belme, sometime a mace doth make,  
whiles shepherds they enarme unused to danger  
whiles simple hirds, & whiles the wandering stranger.  
The tilling Coulter then a spear was made,  
the crooked Sith became an evened blade:  
the people food forgetes, no ease they take.  
Some on a horse, some on his proper back,  
Some on a Cart, some on a Camel bears,  
Corn, wine, and flesh, to serve for many years,  
As done these Emmets, that in summer tide, 
Comparison.   
Comes out in swarms their houses to provide:  
In Harvest time (their toil may best be seen  
In paths where they their carriage bring between)  
their youth they send to gather in the store,  
There sick and old at home do keep the score,  
And over grainels great they take the charge,  
Oft turning corn within a chamber large  
(when it is dight) lest it do sprout or seed,  
Or come again, or weeules in it breed.   
FINIS.    

THE summary OF THE II. BOOK.  
¶ We have hard before, how the people of God used all diligence to maintain the liberty of God's true religion and their Country. Now is set forth the extreme pride of Holophernes, who thought with one word to overthrow them all: But to make himself some pastime, he assembleth his counsel to understand of them what people they were, that inhabited the mountains in the Frontieres of judea, that durst make him res●staunce Upon this he is informed by the mouth of one of his chief Captains of that, which he looked not for: to wit, a discourse of the History of the jews, from the time of Abraham's coming out of Caldea, to enter in to the land of promise unto their deliverance from the captivity of Babylon, following the order of the times quoted by the holy Scriptures with the praises of the providence of the almighty God, in defending of his Church, and a sharp threatening to those that dare presume to disquiet the same The chief Consellers of the Heathen hearing this, become more cruel, ensencing their General to murder this Captain. But Holopherne with vain ambition deferreth their bloody request, and after that he had outraged him in words, he further blasphemeth the living Lord. And lastly caused him to be bound hand and foot, and so carried near to the City of Bethulia, where he is by the besieged Soldiers brought into the City, and there declareth his case, exhorting them to continue constant to God, and their Country, and promiseth his assistance to his lives end.  
THE SECOND BOOK OF JUDITH.  

NOw Holophern in Seythique Rampire stood,  
with standards pight of youthly heathen blood:  
Of nothing thinking less, than war and fight,  
But in devising pastime day and night:  
till he was war, that jacob would advance,  
Against his Pamm force and arrogance.   

A pack of what a pack of countrcy clowns  
(Quod Holophern) that them to battle bounds,  
with beggars, bolts, and Levers, to arrest  
My warriors strong with whom I have suppressed  
Both Tigris swift, & fair Euphrates stream, 
People of Asia.   
with frosty Taurus and rock Niphatheame.  
Are they not wracked? ye cheefs of Moabits,  
And valiant Fphrem, ye strong Ammonits:  
ye that as neighbours knows this folk of old,  
That scattered thus, do all these mountains hold:  
Tell me what men are they, of what of spring  
what is their force, their customs and their king?  
‛ For wise is he that wots with whom he plays,  
‛ And half is victor as the Proverb says.   

The Lord of Ammon then, with reverence due,  
Right wisely spack the Duke, and yet, for true,  
He was a Panim both of faith, and kind:  
But so (with feigned tongue) he spoke his mind:  
And all the Hebreus acts discoursed so well,  
That Esdr ' and Moses seemed in him to dwell,  
As did that spirit that made the Prophet bless, 
Nomb. 23   
the Isralits' whom Balac did address,  
To curse them all, and wadge his covetous tongue.  
which spoke contrary that he would have sung:   

So, please it you my Lord, I shall discire,  
The story of Izrell, yet so doing I,  
Am like the modest Bee, that takes but small  
Of every flower, though she have choice of all:  
For where she list the sweetest of she crops.   

These people that ye see on mountain tops, 
A brief discourse of th'estate of the jews.   
Encamped in these craggs, are of the line,  
Of Abraham, who (serving God divine,  
That mighty God of gods who create all,  
And firmly knit and built this mighty ball)  
Came to this land that then was tiled and sown, 
Gen. 12.   
And by the name of wealthy Canaan known.  
Where only God his wealth did multiply,  
In goods, and silver, gold, and family.  
And when of age he was an hundredth year,  
His wife eke barren, never child did bear.  
God gave them Izak, swearing that his seed,  
Should many Sceptres rule and land bespreede.  
But when that holy Abraham was old:  
And hoped well the promise made should hold,  
(O piteous case) Th'immortal voice him spoke:  
And bade him sacrifice his son Izak. 
Gen. ●●.   
Then like a ship between two winds beset,  
Upon the raging sea on both sides bet,  
In doubtsome fear, ne wots what way to keep,  
Lest one of them, confound her in the deep:  
Makes close her ports, and slides on Neptune's back:  
At pleasure of the boisteous winds to wrack.  
So felt this Hebrew in his heart to fight,  
Both love, and duty, reason, faith and right.  
Nor witted he way to take, his troubled soul,  
From this to that, continually did roll,  
until the time, his heavenly fear and love:  
His natural earthly pity did remove.  
Then having built the fire and all, anon  
His son he laid upon the sacred stone,  
And with a trembling hand the cutlasse drew,  
with heavied arm the stroke for to ensue.  
When lo: th'eternal stayed the baleful knife,  
And down it fell, & spaird the guiltless life.  
Then God content to have so great assay,  
Of Abrahms faith: defended him alway.   

Of Izak. lacob came, & lacob than,  
Of valiant son had twelve in Canaan,  
who (forced by famine) fled to Egypt land, 
Exod. 1.   
wherefore a while, there dwelling good they found  
& grew so great in number, that they were,  
a fear to those, that had them harbrowde there,  
And though th' Egyptians daily them oppressed,  
And burdens on their sweeting backs were dressed:  
Yet like the valiant Palm they did sustain,  
Their peisant weight redressing up again,  
This moved King Pharo to command through all  
Great Nilus' land, where rain doth never fall,  
He bade his folk should slay where so they came,  
All children males the seed of Abrahame,  
Assoon as they from mother's wombs were free,  
Their day of birth should be their day to dye.   

O cruel Tiger thinks thou that this deed  
Of Izak may cut of th'immortal seed? 
Exclamation.   
well may it stay the sucklings for to live,  
& kill th'accustomed fruit that heaven doth give:  
But spite of this, men Jacob'S seed shall see  
In flowering state to rule all Cananee.  
The first of every house shall feel the hand  
And wrath of God against this law to stand.   

It fortuned Pharos daughter with her train  
Of Ladies fair to play them on the plain,  
Upon the shore where Gossan flood doth slide  
where after many pastimes they had tried,  
She hard an enfant weep amongst the reeds,  
Then judging it for one of Izaks seeds:  
As so it was, yet, with Paternal fear,  
Against his piteous plaint she closed her ear:  
But after viewing in that enfants face,  
I know not what of favour and of grace,  
which did presage his greatness to ensue:  
Love vanquished law, and pity dread withdrew:  
So from the sloode not only she him caught,  
But curiously she caused him to be taught:  
As her own son, O son elect of God,  
That once shall rule the people with thy rod. 
Admiration.   
Thou haste not found a servant for thy mother,  
But even a Queen to nurse thee and none other.  
" Now see how God always for his elect  
" Of wicked things can draw a good effect  
" his providence hath made a wicked thing  
" Unto his own great profit for to bring. 
Note.   
" When joseph's brother sold him like a slave, 
Gen. 41.   
" He after came a kingly place to have.  
" Of Haman proud the dark envious hate,  
" brought Mardoche the just to great estate. 
Est.   
" for where his enemy sought his shameful end  
" the same unto the worker he did send.   

This Hebrew Moses once as he did keep  
On Horeb mount his father jethro his sheep: 
Father in Law.   
He saw a fearful sight, a flaming fire:  
Enclose a thorny bush whole and entire  
From whence a mighty voice unto him spoke,  
which made the ground between the Poles to shake   

I am that one, is, was, and ay shall be, 
Exod. 3.   
who create all of nought, as pleaseth me,  
I can destroy, I am the great, and Just,  
the fair, the good, the Hosie one to trust:  
whose strong right-hand this world hath set in frame,  
I am th' Almighty God of Abrahame.  
I plague my foes, and grant my servants grace,  
All those that knowledge me and all their race.   

Then follow thou my will, & quickly go,  
From me, to that Profane King Pharaoh,  
who holds the towers of Memphis and the field.  
Of Nilus' shore that rich increase doth yield.  
And bid him let my people freely go:  
But if with hardened heart, he will not so.  
Stretch out thy staff for to confirm thy charge,  
And it shall turn into a Serpent large.  
And this he shortly did, the thing to prove.  
It quickened so, and on the ground 'gan move.  
(O Miracle) he saw without all fail,  
It grew a Serpent fell with head and tail:  
which crangling crept, & ran from trod to trod  
In many a knot, till time th'almighty God  
Commanded him the same for to retain,  
which to the former shape returned again.  
Thus siling human sight, it changed form,  
One while a Rod, one while a creeping worm.   

Then armed with this staff the lord him sent,  
The proud Idolatrous princes to torment.  
He in the name of God full oft did pray,  
the King, to let the Hebrews go their way,  
Unto the desert, where he did devise,  
To offer God a pleasant sacrifice.  
But Pharo closed his ear against the Lord,  
And to his holy word would not accord.   

Then God th'eternal wrought by Moses' hand  
to approve his word great wonders in that land. 
Exod. 4   
For he not only Rivers turned to blood, 
Exod. 7.   
But also all th' heads of Nilus' flood,  
(which wattreth wealthy Egypt with his sources)  
was turned to blood amid their silver courses:  
So that the king himself his life to feed  
was feign to use such water for his need.   

This Moses made the frogs in millions creep, 
Exod. 8   
From floods and ponds, & scrall from ditches deep,  
who clad all Misraim with their filthy fry,  
Even on the king, an all his family.   

To young and old of either Sex that while, 
Exod. 9   
He sent a plague of scalding botches vile:  
So that the Memphits laid on beds to rest,  
with uncouth venom daily were oppressed,  
to Medciners, the medicine veiled not,  
So sore the poisoned plague did undercot.   

He also smote the forests, herbs and grass,  
The flocks of sheep and every beast that was:  
throw poison of th'infected ground so fell,  
The Morrain made them all to die or swell:  
So that the shepherd by the river side,  
His flock hath rather dead then sick espied.  
He, earthly dust, to loathly louse did change,  
And dimmed the Air, with such a cloud so strange  
Of flies, grasshoppers, hornets, clegs, & clocks,  
That day and night throw houses flew in flocks, 
Exod. 10.   
that with incisions sharp did shear the skins,  
of Egypt paynim throw their proudest inns.   

And when the heaven most quiet seemed & fair,  
th'eternal sent a tempest through the air,  
& at (this Hebrews prayer) such a rear  
Of thunder fell, that brought them all in fear.  
Here lay a Bull that woodran while he braced,  
There lay the Keeper, brunt with thunder blast,  
And now the forest high that hide the air,  
with many a spreeding arm, is spoiled and bair.  
So that the sap that grafters keeps with pain,  
which should restore the stock, and leaf again:  
Is lost (alas) in less than half a day,  
the husbands hoped fivite gone to decay.   

What more? th'eternal darkened so the sky,  
For three days space none could another spy,  
that cloud so thick, the Memphis rebels found,  
that they might firmly feel it with their hand,  
If seemed that Phoebus left his ancient round,  
And dwelled three days with men of underground.  
" And as the snne at one self time is felt,  
" with heat to harden clay, and wax doth melt:  
" so Amrams sacred son in these projects  
" made one self cause, have two contrary effects.  
" For Izak, humbly knew their Lord divine,  
" But Pharo, more and more did still repine,  
" Like to the corpslet cold the more 'tis bet  
" with hammers hard, more hardness it doth get.   

Yet when his son was slain by th' Angel's hand, 
Exod. 1●   
Amongst the eldest heirs of Egypt land:  
He was afraid, and let them go that night, 
Heirs.   
where pleased them to serve their God of might:  
Who sent a cloud before them all the day,  
By night a Pillar of fire, to guide their way.  
But suddenly this tyrant did gainstand  
His former grant, and armed all Egypt land  
With hot pursuit against all lacobs host,  
that were encamped on the Red-sea cost.  
Such noise was never since the foreign tide,  
Brak throw Gibraltar, when it did divide  
the Calp, from Abill, or when Sicill strand  
divorced was from her italias land:  
As was in these two camps that one with boast,  
that other with their waillings filled the cost:  
It seemed the sounds of furious horse and men,  
With horns & pipes to heaven resounded then.   

O juggler, said the jews, what hateful strife 
Exod. 14. They ●●●mure.   
Hath moved thee to change our happy life.  
What are we fishes for to swim the seas?  
Or are we fowls to fly where as we pleas?  
Beyond the Sea, or over hills to soar?  
Was there not graves for us on Gossen shore:  
But in this desert hear to die or have  
the bloodred Ocean Sea, to be our grave.   

Then Moses with his quickened rod that tide  
He smote the sea, which (fearful) did divide  
Discovering land that sun had never seen,  
And stayed the sea, as there two walls had beeves  
which made a passage dry of ample space,  
For all to pass who were of I saks race.  
But contrary the Red-sea did devour,  
The barbarous tyrant with his mighty power,  
who proudly durst himself to that present,  
which opened but to save the innocent.   

O happy race, since god doth arm for thee,  
Both fire and air, the winds, the clouds and see,  
which all unto thy pay have whole inclined,  
Let not consuming time we are out of mind:  
So rare a grace, but let thine elders show  
this to their noble seed that shall ense we:  
And let their sons, unto their sons record  
Throw all the world rhese wonders of the lord.   

God, with Celestial bread (in time of need)  
His loved jacob forty year did feed: 
Exod. 16   
And gave them water from the  stone,  
which of itself, had never moisture none.  
Their caps, their coats, & shoes, that they did weas  
God kept all fresh and new, full forty year.   

And larder, lest their souls for want of food,  
should faint fail: he of his mercies good 
Exod. 20.   
Gave them his law, pronounced by his voice,  
His spirit to theirs, in him for to rejoice.  
So teaching them, and us in precepts ten,  
Our ductie first to god, and next to men,  
To th' end that man to man should truly stand,  
And joy ne with God, and never break that band.   

This mighty Prophet dead: Duke josua than, 
josua   
Their Captain stout this Palmy province wan:  
Throw might of God he Sceptres did subdue  
Of thirty tyrant kings, whom all he slew.  
At his commandment like the thunder sound,  
The Rampers stroug fell fearfully to ground:  
Before the Tortoise, or the horned Ram,  
Had bet, or mined, from their wall a dram:  
For even of horns, full hoarse, their fimple blast  
An engine was, their towers adoune to cast.   

He prayed the heaven for to prolong the day,  
And made the horses of the sun to stay,  
To th'end, the night should not with cloud be eled  
To save the faithless, that before him fled.  
Now when this Panim scourge (with age at last)  
Had left this life, and unto heaven past:  
Then Izak had of Rulers sundry men,  
whose golrious acts deserves eternal pen.  
who knows not Samgar, Barac, and othoniel? 
Indger.   
The valiant Delbor, Ahud, and good Samuel?  
What land (O Samson) rings not thy renown,  
who sole, unarmed, bet an Army down?  
what laud to jephthe justly might we low:  
Had he not hurt hsi own, through hasty vow?  
What hill or dale, what flood or fixed ground.  
Doth not the famous Gedeons' praise resound?  
In later time, their kings some good, some bad  
Of all the Hebrew state the ruling had.  
Had I the Harp of David (holy King)  
None other sound but David would I sing,  
But even as all the deeds that David did,  
Can not be done by none, but by David:  
So none but David, on his yurie harp,  
The glorious praise of God could only carp.  
But here his praise, I press not to proclaim,  
Lest I throw want of shkill obscure the same.  
Yet leave I not his Son, whom grace divine 
Solomon   
made nolesse rich, then wondrous of engine:  
whose doctrine drew to Salem from all where,  
A hundredth thousand wyzards him to hear:  
From Araby, from Ynde, to Africa shore,  
His tongue entysd them with his cunning lore.  
Shall I forget the kings who overthrew, 
josiat.   
Idolatry and placed religion dew?  
Shall I forget that King, who saw descend 
Hezekiath. jerulalem   
A winged Host Solyma to defend?  
Shall I forget him, who before his even, 
Asa.   
Enchased the bands of Chus on Gerar green?  
Shall I forget him, who preparing fight 
josapbas.   
'gainst Ammon, Seir, & Moabs, Idol might,  
Saw each of their three hosts on others fall,  
And with themselves their selves, disconfit all?   

Yet, for their sins God gave them in the hands  
Of Called kings, who conquered all their lands:  
And took king Zedekee, and made an end  
Of that Empire, till God did Gyrus send,  
Who set them free, and gave them of his grace  
Two rulers of their own. And now this place  
Is kept, by sacred joachim, whose powers  
consists not only within Zion's towers:  
But Edom, Sidon, Moab, and we all  
Do know his strength & knows him principal.   

Now Sir ye hear the progress first & last  
Of Izaks race in order as it past.  
Onewhile the Lord enhanced them to the sky:  
Onewhile he drew them down in deeps to lie.  
‛ But were he judge, or Prince, or king of might,  
‛ sho reuld the Hebrews policy aright,  
‛ While they observed thalliance made before,  
‛ by their forefathers who to God them swore  
‛ In happy state all others they surpassed:  
‛ And underfoot their proudest foes were cast.  
‛ And all the world, that their destruction sought  
‛ Against their state, and name, prevailed nought.  
‛ But contrary: as oft as they astraide  
‛ From god their guide, he on their shoulders laid:  
‛ The Barbare yock of Moab, & oft-times  
‛ Of Palestine & Ammon, for their crimes,  
‛ The heavy hand of God was seen to be,  
‛ On their ingrateful infidelity.   

Now, if so be that any odious sin,  
Provoke their Lord his justice to begin:  
Then mine not you their towers nor tourets tall,  
Nor bring the wracksom engine to their wall:  
Nor place thy batteries brave, not yet adventure,  
with thy courageous camp the breacth to enter.  
For if Libanus mout or carmel fair  
Or Niphathaei should park them from repair:  
If Ynde and Nilus with the Rhine and Rhone  
to close them round about, should run in one.  
For their defence: yet shall they not withstand.  
(With all their force) thy furious fight hand.  
But if they have not broke the bnad in deed  
That God with Abrahm made & with his seedc:  
Beware my Lord, beware to touch or move  
These people that the Lord so much doth love.  
For though south Autan, would dispeople his lands,  
And bring the blackest Mores to swarm in bands:  
If Northern Boreas, under his anners cold,  
would bring to field his hideous Soldiers bold:  
If Zyphirus from sweet Hesperia cost,  
would send his chosen armed men to Host:  
If Eurus, for to aid thine enterprise,  
would bring his men from whence the sun doth rise:  
Yet all their numbers huge, and forces strong,  
Can never do to Isrel any wrong,  
Nor hurt one hair if their great God say nay.  
That god will them defend because he may:  
with one small blast confound all kings that dare,  
(As thou dost now) provoke him unto war.   

Then like as ye behold the quiet see,  
Not raging when the winds engen dring be:  
But blancheth first, then grows in little space,  
In wallowing wawes to flow with foamy face:  
And lastly beats the banks, and ships unshrouds,  
with wrackful waves uphoist to highest clouds:  
So, almost all the princes of that host,  
With in ward anger 'gan to be embossed,  
As oft as they the praise of God did hear,  
So to his speech increased their spiteful cheer:  
which in the end, to blasphemy them brought,  
Th' immortal God of gods to set at nought.   

Kill & cut off (quoth they) this traitor fine,  
Whose subtle talk, with all his whole engine,  
Pretends to save these Hebrcwsews from our hands,  
And threats us with vain gods of foreign lands:  
For if it plaease you (noble prince) to send,  
But twenty men of value that are kend,  
Within your camp, these reckless rebels then  
shallbe a prey to all your warlike men.  
(O wicked wight) but then the Vizroy stout,  
with power, appeased the murmur of the rout:  
And to him said: O shameless Prophet thou,  
what Sibyl or what charmer tell me now?  
What Devil or Damon so doth thee inspire,  
that Izrell shall: of us have his desire,  
Such men, as with no God can be content:  
But such as pleased Moses to invent  
Of his own head, a God that hath no power 
Blasphemy.   
for to deliver them, nor thee this hour?   

Have we an other God, or king of kings,  
than our great Persian Monarch now that rigns?  
Whose barded horse orerunns the Nations all,  
whose armed men, out of these mountains tall  
shall rake these Rebels that from Egypt came  
To this, where they unjustly keep the same?  
die, die, thou shalt, o wretch, thy tongue untrue,  
And double heart, shall have their wages due.  
But, fool, what spcake I thus? no haste a while  
Thy blood (O villain) shall not me defile.  
so just a pain, so soon thou shalt not have,  
for thy deceit, so soon to go to grave.  
‛ For in a wretches sudden death, at ones  
‛ Their longsome ill is buried with their bones.  
But to that end I may prolong thy strife,  
In bethul town I will prolong thy life:  
where every hour, thou shalt have such affray  
to die undead a thousand times a day,  
till time, with them who thou so strong hath thought  
to shameful end with them thou shalt be brought.  
what? wherefore tremblest thou and art so pail,  
What sorrow makes thy heart so soon to fail.  
If God be god as thou right now hast said,  
then of thy faith, give witness undismayed.   

A marshal of the camp then being priest  
who was not yet so cruel as the rest.  
There took this demi Pagan (Ammon's lord)  
and sent him bound to bethul (with a cord)  
Then even as in his claws the kite doth bear,  
the chirping chicken throu the weather clear:  
while that the cakling hen below on ground,  
Bewails her bird with vain lamenting sound.  
So in like woe his worthy men were left,  
For that so worthy a chief was them bereft   

The townsmen them beholding near their wall  
These Miscreants, to armour strait they fall  
clad in plate and mail & runs in bands,  
And fiercely fronts their foes with steel in hands  
as fast as done the rivers down the hills,  
that with their murmur huge the deeps upfils.  
The Heathen seeing this retired away,  
And left the Lord of Ammon for a pray  
to th' Hebrew soldiers who did him constrain,  
Though he was willing, with them to remain.  
When all the folk with press about him past  
His eyes and hands up to the pole he cast,  
‛ And thus he spoke: O God that great abides  
‛ upon th'immortal seat and justly guides  
‛ the ruled course of heaven, whose living spirit,  
‛ reviving spreads, & through all things doth fleet:  
‛ I render thee, O God immortal praise,  
‛ for that before I end my woeful days  
‛ Now from th'unfruitful stock thou dost me race  
 graft me in thy fruitful tree of grace,  
‛ where in despite of all contrary strife,  
‛ I shall bring forth the fruits of lasting life.  
And ye, O jacobs' sons, think not at all  
That I of purpose captive am and thrall:  
So that I mean hereby your wrack to bring  
For God he knows I think not such a thing.  
But I am captive thus because I told,  
What wondrous works the lord hath done of old,  
to you and your forefathers ever still,  
Deliuring them that would obey his will.  
Then doubt not you a thousand flaffing flags,  
Nor horrible cries of hideous heathen hags:  
Cool not your hearts, for if the world about,  
would compass you withal their warriors stout  
(providing first ye seek your help at need  
At power divine, and not at mortal seed)  
You surely shall see Mocmurs renning flood,  
Made red, with Assurs host and Ethnique blood:  
ye surely shall, see men not used to fight,  
Subdue their foes, that seems of greater might.  
The hand of God assails you not with hate,  
but for your weal your pride he will abate,  
To let you wit, it is within his power,  
To leave or to relieve you every hour.   

As on th'unsavoury stock the lily is borne:  
And as the rose grows on the pricking thorn:  
So modest life with sobs of grievous smart,  
And cries devout, comes from an humbled heart:  
For even the faithful flock are like the ground,  
That for good fruit, with weeds will still abound.  
If that the share and coulter idle lie,  
That ryves the soil and roots the brambles buy:  
But in the end, God will his ire relent,  
Assoon as sinners truly will repent:  
And save you from these plagues that present be  
In shorter time than ye do think to see.  
take courage friends, & vanquish God with tears  
And after, we shall vanquish with our wears  
these enemies all. Now if there rest in me  
the former force that once was wont to be:  
If eld have not decayed my courage bold,  
That I have had with great experience old,  
I render me to serve you to my end:  
for jacobs' weal, God's law for to defend.   
FINIS.   

THE summary OF THE III. BOOK.  
¶ In this third book the Poet setteth forth the siege of Bethulia, and the extremity that God permitted them to feel, thereby to give an entry to his miraculous deliverance: who is accustomed to lead his people to the gates of death, and from thence to retire them above all humane expectation, to the end they should confess that the arm of flesh, nor worldly wisdom maintains not the Church: but the only favour of the Almighty to whom the whole glory of duty should be rendered. Farther: three principal things are to be noted: First, the preparations of the beseegers, and the defences of the besieged, and how after throw the council given to Holopherne for the restraint of the water from the town ensues a furious assault, which the jews repelled with great pain: Secondly, the extreme desolation through want of water, whereof proceedeth sundry sorts of death, with lamentations murmurations, and danger of mutiny within the City, and how the Governor endeavours himself with wise and godly admonitions to appease the same: But the commons in this hard estate regarding no reason, required to tender the City, rahter than to perish in such apparent misery. The Governor being carried with a humane prudence promiseth to render the town within five days, ●f God send them no succour. Yet such is the estate of god's church in this world, that when all things faileth, God manifesteth his power: And therefore in the third part is judith introduced, who (being especially moved by the reading of Holy Scriptures) is encouraged to deliver her country: but when she understood the resolution of the Maiestrats, She (being in estimation honourable) modestly reproves them. After their excuse, she promiseth to attempt something for the public weal: not showing her devise, but only desired to have passage by night unto the enemy's camp, and this is granted.  
THE third BOOK OF JUDITH.  

They Snoring snout of restless Phlegon blewe,  
Hot on the Ynds, and did the day renew  
With scarlet sky, when Heathen men awoke  
At sound of drum, than pike & dart they took:  
In order marching, and to combat calls,  
th'undaunted sons, within their City's walls.  
The meeds in May with flowers are not so decked,  
of sundry savours, hews, & sere effect,  
As in this camp were people different far  
In tongues & manners, habits, tents, and war.  
Yea Chaos old, where of the world was founded,  
Of members more confuse, was tot compounded:  
yet soundly they in union did accord,  
To wage the war against th' Almighty Lord,  
who shaks the Poles, whose only breath doth beat  
Libanus mount, and makes Caucasus sweat.  
There came the Kettrinks wild of cold Hyrcania:  
joined with the men of great, and less Armania.  
With coppintanks: and there the Parthian tall,  
Assayed to shoot his shafts and flee withal.  
The Persians proud (th' Empire was in their hands)  
with plates of gold, surbraved all their bands.  
The Medes declare through fortunes overthwart  
they lost their Sceptre, not for lack of heart:  
And that no costly cloth nor rich array,  
Nor painting fine, that on their face they lay  
nor boprrowde hair, of fair & comely length,  
might ought empair, their ancient power & strength:  
There were the happy Arabs those that buields  
In thatched wagons, wandering throu the fields.   

The subtle Tyrians, they who first were clards,  
that stayed the wandering words in leaves & barks.  
The men of Moab, Edom, Ammon, and  
the People spersed on large Elimia land.  
The learned Memphians, & the men that dwell  
Near-to the AEthiopians black & fell.  
In short the most of Asia (as it wair)  
Encamped was within that army fair.  
So that this Duke more foreign soldiers lad,  
than all the Hebrews native people had.  
But they who did the Hebrews greatest wrong  
were apostates of Ephrem fierce & strong:  
who fought with hateful hearts them to deface,  
Lest they should be esteemed of Izaks race.   

Then, as in time of spring the water is warm,  
& crowding frogs like fishes there doth swarm:  
But with the smallest stone that you can cast  
to stir the stream, their crouping stays as fast:  
So while judea was in joyful days,  
The constancy of them was worthy prays:  
for that in every purpose ye should hear  
the praise of God, resounding every where.  
So, that like burning candles they did shine  
Among their faithful flock, like men divine.  
But look how soon they hard of Holopherne,  
their courage quailed & they began to derne.  
Their ardent zeal with closed mouth they choke  
their zeal to hot returned to fuming smoke:  
the fear of loss of life & worldly good:  
brought Infidels to shed their brother's blood:   

Alas how many Ephramits have we?  
In our unhappy time all which we see  
within the Church like hypocrites to dwell,  
so long as by the same they prosper well:  
who feines a zeal, th' evangel to maintain  
So long as serves their honour, or their gain.  
But turn the chance with some contrary wind●,  
So that their brows but half a blast do find,  
Then faints their hearts, and they seek other way,  
Like bankers out their God they disobaye  
Discyphring then their malice to be more  
to god's contempt, than was their zeal before,  
And fights against the lord with greater hate,  
Then Celsus did, or julian Apostate.   

The Hebrews, now from heights of houses fair  
Who saw so many banners beat the air:  
And men to march against their forces small,  
who now might well decern their feeble wall:  
They swoon with fear, & found none other aid:  
but of that God, to whom their father's parid.  
O father (quoth they) father holy king,  
who shields us always underneath thy wing:  
Since now the world against us doth conspire,  
Defend us mighty Lord we thee require.   

Thus having humbley prayed the Lord of might,  
the Governor renforst his watches witht:  
And fires at midnight built in every way,  
which amde the night appear as clear as day:  
and wakerife through the corpsgard oft he passed:  
And thought that Phoebe hied her course to fast  
with horses pail to steal away the night,  
to leave the Hebrews to their enemies sight.  
Again, the Pagan thought she did but creep,  
Or that with Latmies' son she was on sleep.  
‛ But humane wishes never hath the power,  
'to haste or hold the course of heaven one hour.  
Then as Aurora rose with sanguine hew,  
And our Horizon did the day renew:  
The Vizroy made a thousand trumpet's sound,  
to draw his seatred Cornets to a round,  
who from all parts with speed assembled wear  
About the Genrals' tent his will to hear:  
As do the hounds about their hunt at morn  
come gladishing at hearing of his horn.   

Now when the town, his somonds did disdain  
to conquer it perforce he plied his pain:  
And their, th' Engineers have the Trepan dressed, 
Engines of Wars   
& reared up the Ram for battery best:  
Here bends the Briccoll, while the cable cracks,  
their Crossbows were uprent with iron Racks.  
Here crooked Coruies', fleeing bridges tall,  
Their scathfull Scorpions, that ruins the wall.  
On every side they raise with jointure meet,  
the timber towers for to command each street.  
The painful pioneers, wrought against their will,  
with fleakes & faggots, ditches up to fill.  
Or underground they delve in dust with pain,  
to raise a mount, or make a mount a plain.  
Or Caverns cut, where they might soldiers hide,  
t'assail the town at sudden unespide.  
Some ladders dressed to scale the wall, or else  
to steal upon the sleeping Sentinels.  
Some undermynes, some other undertook,  
to fire the gates, or smore the town with smoke.  
The greatest part did yet in trenches lurk  
to see what harm their engines first would work,  
that if the wall were bet, they would not fail  
with brave assault the City to assail.  
There Mars to wremyner, there Bellona wood,  
Enforced feeble Cowards to suck blood.  
their hideous horses, braying loud and clear,  
their Pagans fell with clamour hugh to hear,  
made such a din as made the heaven resound,  
retented hell, & tore the fixed ground.   

Yet God who keeps his wahch above the skies  
For his elect, who never idle lies:  
took pity on his people in that tide,  
Repressing (part) this cruel prince's pride  
In causing all the chiefs of Moabits,  
of Edom strong, & awful Ammonits  
to speak him thus, & thus him terrors dressed.   

O Prince, that Sceptre bears above the rest,  
& gives them law, & holds the world in thrall,  
set not thy soldiers, to assault this wall:  
For neither bow, nor sling, nor weapons long,  
nor sword, nor buckler, willbe found so strong:  
As is this threatening rock, whose mighty corpse  
sustains their wall, of such eternal force,  
that thou can make no skallade on no cost:  
But on the corpses dead, of half thine hosts.  
‛ The victor can no honour justly claim  
 lose the men who should advance the same.  
‛ O valiant Prince, that fisher is nor fine,  
‛ who for a frog will lose a golden line  
‛ the holy headband seems not to attire,  
‛ the head of him, who in his furious ire  
‛ prefers the pain of those that have him teend  
‛ before the health & safety of one friend.  
You may (my Lord) you may in little fight,  
subdue these Rogues, & not to lose a knight.  
Surprise me first their chiefest water spring  
from whence these rebels do their conduits bring:  
Then drought shall drive them from their whole defence,  
In cords to yield them to thine exellence.  
‛ The noble Lion never sleas the least,  
‛ but always prays upon some worthy beast.  
‛ The thunderthrowes his sulphred shafts adown  
‛ on Atlaas high or cold Righes crown.  
‛ The tempest fell more fervently doth fall,  
‛ on houses high, then on the homely hall.  
So you my Lord need not to press your power,  
Against such foes as will themselves devour.  
Sir, this is not for favour or for need,  
Nor that this cities sack may cause us dread.  
Nor that we mean thy high attempts to stay,  
For ere we from thy standards stir away,  
For thee, th' immortal gods we shall defy,  
For thee, we shall break down their altars high:  
For thee, we frankly shall pursue & th'whole,  
th'eternal heat & cold of either Pole:  
For thee, our hardy hands shall help to tear  
From jove & Neptune, both their Eagle & spear:  
For thee, the son for father shall not care:  
Nor father son, nor brother, brother spare.   

Now, Holopherne to conquest whole inclined  
And weing well this counsel in his mind:  
Dismissed from his camp a galliard rout  
Of men to guard the Rivers round about.  
This stratagem, the Hebrews well might know  
to see their fountains run with passage slow.  
Then manfully their soldiers out they send,  
against their foes, the water to defend.  
There fought the Pagan for to win him fame,  
the Hebrew meant, he would not die with shame.  
Together soon, they shock with hateful ire,  
And first, they forced the heathen to retire:  
who (turning face) again do them pursue,  
& wins the victory from the victor's new.  
So doubtful was the fight, none could define  
(Save God) to whom the victrie would incline:  
till Izrell was on all sides overclad  
with clouds of shot, then to their town they fled,  
As doth the Pilgrim passing through the plain,  
who is beset with tempest, hail, or rain,  
who leaves his way, and seeks himself to hide,  
within some cave, or hollow mountain side.  
The paynim them pursued without all pity,  
and Peslmell entered almost in the City  
At open gate. Then rose the cry unsweet  
Offearefull folk who fled in every street,  
And rend their hair & their affrighted face  
as paynim else had won that holy place.   

How flee you cowards now & leaves your Port?  
(the Captain says) have ye another fort?  
Think ye to find for safety of your crown  
In this Bethulia another bethul town?  
(Alas) if ye make no defence at all,  
while time this tyrant is without your wall.  
How dare you him resist when he hath won  
this fort of yours from which ye feebly run?  
The commons with this check, brought to their powers,  
where Cambris & Sir Carmis like two towers,  
Stood at th' assaulted gate & did withstand  
the Heathen host with each of them in hand  
An iron mace (in stead of lances long)  
& brazen bucklers beating back the throng:  
Their habergions like stiddies stithe they baire  
with helmets high & pennons pight in air:  
Of equal age they were, & equal length,  
Of equal courage, & of equal strength:  
Like Poplers twain that reacheth up their tops  
& holds their heads so high that none then crops:  
But on the rivers side do sweetly sway  
Like german brother hailsing oft a day.   

The Heathen seeing thus the jews descend  
with edge of sword their City to defend:  
They left th' assault, and thence retiring went  
(as they commanded were) unto their tent.   

But when I think how thirty. days that town,  
tormented was with mischief up and down.  
Toosad a song I cannot hear invent  
So great a sadness right to represent.  
My hand for horror shakes, & now nomore  
Can lead my sacred pen as erst before:  
For now mine eyes, that watered are with tears  
Declares my matter all of mischief bears.  
Oh Spirit from whence all spirit & life doth come,  
thou losde the tongue of Zacharie that was dumb.  
and sent thy Heralds through the world to preach  
thy name: And in a hundredth tongues to teach:  
Guide thou my pen & courage to mnelend,  
that to thy honour I this work may end.   

Although that Izak saw on every hand  
A world of folk against his town to stand:  
yet (tracting time) he thought he would provide  
no less to keep, then cool th' Assiegers pride.  
But when they found the conduits cut and rend,  
By which, there water to their town was sent:  
Their courage bold, & all their craks (alas)  
As lickour failed, so did their stoutness pas.   

Their Lords preferring death to bondage vile,  
Made them believe the thing did them beguile:  
To wit, they gave men hope htat they might keep  
sufficient watr' in wells, & ceasterns deep:  
Through all the town, the people to relieve,  
That thirst should not the soldiers greatly grieve.  
The maiestrats in deed had great regard  
To see this water wisely spent and spared,  
that Bottle sweet, which served at the first  
to keep the life, but not to slocken thirst.  
When wells grew dry, the commons ran enrage 
A vive description of thirst.   
& sought out every sink their thirst t' assuage:  
And drank with longsom draft the pools in haste,  
to quench their thirst with ilcontented taste:  
which poisoned air, infect their purest breath:  
whereby the drinker drank his present death.   

O wretched folk, who felt so hard a strife,  
Drink, or not drink, both ways must lose their life.  
For he that drank, and he that did refrain,  
Had of their enemies both an equal pain.  
For why? the water vile slew them throughout,  
No less, than did their enemies them about.  
That wretched town had never a street nor rewe,  
But Parca's their, had found some fashion new.  
to murder men, or martyr them with fears,  
As moved the most in durate heart to tears:  
If so much water in their brains had been,  
as might forbear a drop to weet their even.  
There plained the oldman that the soldier strong,  
Had reft his Bottle from his head with wrong:  
But while he spoke his heart (for thirst) did faint,  
And life him left which frustrate his complaint.  
The soldier brave, Oh hartbrek, for to tell  
his proper urine drank thirst to expel.  
the woeful mother with her spittle fed  
Her little child half dead in cradle bed.  
The Lady with her Lord at point of death,  
Embracing false & yields their latest breath:  
‛ For cruel thirst came out of Cyren land  
‛ Where she was fostered on that burning sand,  
‛ with hot intracted tongue, & soncken e'en,  
‛ with stomach worn, & wrinkled visage keen,  
‛ with light & meigre corpse and pailed veins,  
‛ in stead of blood that brimstone hot retains:  
‛ Her poisoned mouth blew throw that holy town,  
‛ such hellish air, that stifled up & down.  
The Arters of the jews in such a way,  
That nought was seen but burials night & day.  
So that the heaven, to see their dolours deep,  
Can scarcely keep his course, but preasd to weep:  
And would have joined his tears to their complaint,  
if God of hosts had made them no restraint.  
Yea I myself must weep, who cannot speak  
the woes, that makes my heavy heart to break.  
And so will silent rest & not rehearse,  
But conterfait the painter (in my verse)  
who thought his colours pail could not declare,  
the special woe, king Agamemnon bare, 
* Look the table   
when sacrificed was his only race:  
with bend of black, he bond the father's face.   

Now while the people were in this estate  
& with their princes wrangling in debate,  
They thus besought the lord for to decide  
between their simplesse & their prince's pride.   

The lord be judge of that which ye have wrought  
& what your wicked counsels hath us brought.  
If you had offered peace to this great Lord  
At first, we might have won him to accord.  
Then happy happy days we might have seen,  
& not so many soldiers murdered been.  
Alas what hope have we within this hold  
Our enemies are more meek a thousand fold.  
Then are our own: they, haps, would us preserve,  
our wilful own, pretends to see us starve.  
Our children do our children's weal denay,  
& headlong hastes unto their own decay.  
We know, o Lord, the breaking of thy law,  
hath caused thee this sword on us to draw  
& justly thou thine ireful bow dost bend  
on our unloyall heads the shot to send.  
But thou, who doth not long retain thine ire,  
Against thine own, thy mercy we require.  
Change thou the purpose of our foolish guides,  
& of these Heathen, armed at our sides.  
Or else let us upon their weapons fall,  
& of their hands to be destroyed all:  
Or we this drought & deadly venom have,  
with languishing to send us to the grave.   

My brethren dear (the ruler than 'gan say)  
our whole desire hath been both night & day.  
Not for to see the seed of Abrham lost,  
for which we strive against this furious host.  
What? have ye pain? so likewise pain have we:  
For in one boat we both embarked be.  
Upon one tide, one tempest doth us toss,  
Your common ill, it is our common loss.  
Th' Assyrian plague shall not us Hebrews grieve,  
when pleaseth God our mischief to relieve,  
which he will do if ye can be content  
& not with grudge his clemency prevent.  
Then strive not you against that puissant king  
who create all, and governs every thing  
For comfort of his church & children dear,  
& succours them though time do long appear.  
Sometime an Archer leaves his bow unbent  
& hung upon an nail to that intent:  
It may the stronger be to bend again,  
And shoot the shot with greater might & main:  
Right so th'eternal doth withhold his ill  
A longer time (perchance) for that he will  
More eagerly revenge him of their crime,  
who do abuse his long forbearing time.  
When men applauds to sin, they count it light,  
And but a matter small in sinner's sight.  
But in the end the weight doth so increase,  
that justice leaves the sinner no release,  
Like th' Usurer who lends upon the score,  
& makes the reckless debtor debt the more.  
What if the thundering Lord his justice stay,  
And (for such sin) do not this tyrant slay?  
The waters of the ground and in the aere,  
Are in the hand of God, than who is there,  
that dare seditiously his yoke refuse,  
Although he have not water now to use?  
No, no, though heaven do seem serene & clear,  
On every part, & weet doth not appear.  
He may with moisture mildly weet the land,  
As fell when saul the Sceptre had in hand: 
Sam 1.12.   
For all the stars that do the heaven fulfil,  
Are all but executors of his will.   

All this could not the people's thirst assuage,  
But thus with murmurs they their Lord's outrage:  
what? shall we die, o sacred soldiers bold,  
for pleasure of our lords these traitors old?  
what? shall we die on credit, for to please  
These wyzard fools who winks at our unease,  
who with our blood, would win them selfs renown,  
So lovable, as never shall go down?  
Nay, nay, let us cut off this servile chain,  
to free ourselves, let us in hands retain  
the ruling of this town, the fort and all:  
Lest we into these deadly dangers fall.   

Then like a wise Physician who persaves  
His patient that in fervent fever raves:  
Yet heights him more than Art can well perform  
So Prince Osias in this rural storm,  
He promised to the people their intent  
If God within five days no succour sent.  
Then Izak left their sorrows all and some,  
& present woe and fear of chance to come  
for that, if they through this, got not their will:  
At least they would avoid, the greatest ill.   

But judtih then whose eyes (like fountains two)  
were never dry which witnessed well her woe:  
Right sad in sound th' Almighty she besought,  
And on the sacred scriptures fed her thought?  
Her prayers much availed to raise her spirit  
Above the sky & so, the scriptures sweet:  
A holy garden was where she might find,  
the medcyne meet for her molested mind.  
Then judith reading there as was her grace:  
She (not by hazard) happened on that place, 
judicium. 3.   
where the lamehanded Ahud (for disdain  
to see the jews the Heathen yock sustain)  
Smote Eglon with a dagger to the heft,  
And from his flank the blood and life bereft.  
The more she red, the more she wonder had  
of Ahuds' act, and hot desire her lad  
t ensue his virtue: yet her feeble kind  
impeached oft the purpose of her mind  
Proposing oft the horror of the deed,  
The fear of death, the danger to succeed,  
with haszard of her name, and more than that,  
Though she likewise the people's freedom got:  
yet for a man, this act more seemly wear,  
than for a wife to handle sword or spear:   

While judith thus with judith did debate,  
a puffed of wind blew down that leaf by fate:  
Discouring up the story of jacll how  
she drove a nail into Sisaras' brow,  
And slew that Pagan sleeping on her bed  
Who from the Hebrews furious host was fled.  
In teaching us albeit a tyrant flee,  
yet can he not avoid the lords decree.   

This last example now such courage lent,  
to feeble judith that she now was bend:  
with wreakful blade to slay & to divorce  
the Heathen soul from such a sinful corpse.  
But while she did her careful mind employ  
to find some means to murder this Vizroy:  
She hard report (that made her heart to swoon)  
Of the determination of the town:  
Then all the present periols to prevent,  
Unto the rulers of the town she went:  
Reproving then with words of bitter sweet,  
what do ye mean? O princes indiscreet.  
Will ye the helping hand of God restrain,  
And captive it within your counsels vain?  
Will ye include him under course of times,  
who made days, years, all seasons & their prymes:  
Do not abuse yourselves, his power profound  
Is not to men's Imaginations bound:  
God may all that he wills, his will is just,  
God wills all good to them that in him trust.  
Now fathers: that which doth my hope revive  
Is only this: there is no wight on live:  
within this town that hath contracted hands,  
to serve dumb gods like folk of foreign lands.  
All sins are sin, but sure this sin exceeds  
our former faults, by which our blind misdeeds  
offends the heaven, by which the lord of might,  
Is frauded of his honours due & right.  
In wresting of the titles of his name:  
To stocks, and stones, and mettles, men do frame,  
Since Izak then from such a fault is free,  
Let us to god's protection cast our ee.  
Consider that all juda rests in fear,  
Aspecting only our proceed hear.  
Consider that all jacob in this tress  
will follow either-our force or feebleness.  
Consider that this house and alter stands  
(next under God) upholden with your hands.  
Think that of Izrell whole ye keep the kaye  
which if ye quite & give this tyrant way.  
Who more than death hates all of Izaks kin,  
we shall the name of kinbetrayers win.  
Then said the Captain I cannot deny,  
that we offended have the Lord most high.  
Unwise are we, our promises are vain,  
But what? we may not call our word again.  
But if thou feel thy heart so sore oppressed,  
that moveth thee to tears for our unrest,  
Alas, weep night & day and never tire,  
So that thy weepings may appease the ire  
Of that high judge, who hears in every part  
the perfect prayer of the humble heart.   

I will (quoth she) and if god give me grace  
Repel the siege of this afflicted place  
By famous stroke. But stay me in no wise,  
But bide the end of my bold enterprise:  
And let me go when night his mantle spreeds  
to th'enemies Camp (quoth he) if thou wilt needs.  
The great repressour of oppressors pride  
Preserve thy heart and hand, and be thy guide.   
FINIS.   

THE summary OF THE FOUR BOOK.  
¶ According to the promise that judith made to the besieged Captains in Bethulia, the prepareth herself with armour meet for the execution of her enterprise: to wit, The invocation of the name of God, with a holy determination to deliver her country from the hand of the Tyrant: whom she deliberate to overcome with the sweet and fair appearance of her amiable beauty and behaviour. At her departing to the enemy's camp, our Poet introduceth one of the chief Captains of the town discriving to another, her stock and upbringing, with the progress of her three estates, Virginity, Marriage, and Widowhood: Thereby setting forth a singular example of all womanly behaviour and virtue. After her entrance to the Camp, she is brought to Holophernes, who was curious to know the cause of her coming there. And after audience given, he is so surprised with her beauty & eloquent language, that she obtaineth licence to withdraw herself by night to the next valley, there to pray to God and continuing this exercise, she requireth strength of the highest that in taking away the chieftain, she might as one instant destroy all the Heathen Army. Herein giving example that the beginning and end of all high attempts, aught to be grounded upon the favour and earnest calling upon him, without whom all wisdom, and humane force is nothing but wind: and who contrariwise, may by the most feeble instruments of the world, execute things most incredible and incomprehensible to humane capacity.  
THE FOURTH BOOK OF JUDITH.  

THen woeful judith with her weeping ees  
Beholding heavn & prostrate on her knees:  
Held up her guiltless hands and God besought,  
Discouring him the secrets of her thought.  
O God (quoth she) who armed with a spear  
Dan simeon, who revenged his sister dear:  
Lend me the blade in hand, that I may kill  
this Tyrant that exceeds all Sichems' ill.  
Who not contents to soil the sacred bed  
of wedlock chaste, but more with mischief leds  
Intends thy holy name for to confound,  
And race Solyma temple to the ground.  
Ambitious Satrap he, whose hope doth stand  
In mortal men, led with unrighteous hand.  
who rules a hundredth thousand stalworth steeds  
that combat craves & in our pastures feeds.  
Not dreading thee, who daunts both man & beast,  
And kills & captives them when they ween least.  
who strengths the poor & prydful men down thrings  
& wracks at once the powers of puissant kings.  
Grant gracious God that his be witched wit  
May with my crisped hair be captive knit.  
Grant that my sweet regards may gall his heart  
with darts of love to cause his endless smart.  
Grant that these gifts of thine my beauty small  
may bind his furious rage, & make him thrall:  
grant that my artificial tongue may move  
His subtle craft & snare his heart in love:  
But chief lord grant that this hand of mine  
may be the Pagans scourge & whole ruin:  
to th'end that all the world may know our race,  
Are shrouded so in rampires of thy grace.  
that never none against us durst conspire,  
that have not felt at last thy furious ire:  
Even so good Lord let none of these profane  
Return to drink of Euphrate nor Hytane.   

Thus judith prayed with manya trickling tear,  
And with her sighs her words retrenched wear.  
At night, she left her chamber sole and cold,  
Attired with Ceres' gifts and Ophir gold.  
O silver Diane, regent of the night,  
darest thou appear before this lucent light?  
This holy star whose contr'a spect most clear,  
Doth stain thy brother's brightness in his Spheres   

While thus she meant (unseen) away to slide,  
Her pearls and jewels caused her to be spied.  
the musk and civet Amber as she passed  
Long after her a sweet perfume did cast.   

A Carboncle on her Crystal brow she pight,  
whose fiery gleams expelled the shady night.  
Upon her head a silver crisp she pinned,  
Lose waving on her shoulders with the wind.  
Gold, band her golden hair: her yurie neck,  
the Rubies rich, and sapphire blue did deck.  
And at her ear, a Pearl of greater vallewe  
there hung, than that th'Egyptian Queen did swallew.  
And through her collet showed her snowy breast,  
Her utmost rob was colour blew Coelest,  
Benetted all with twist of perfit gold,  
Beseeming well her comely corpse tenfold.  
What else she wear, might well been seen upon,  
that Queen who built the tours of Babylon.  
And though that she most modest was indeed  
yet borrowed she some garments at this need.  
From Dames of great estate, to that intent  
this Pagan Prince she rather might prevent.   

Achior then who watched at the gate,  
And saw this Lady passing out so late,  
To Carmis spoke, who warded eke that night  
what is she this? where goes this gallant wight  
so trim in such a time: hath she no pity  
of this most wretched persecuted City?  
Quod Carmis then, their flourished hear of late  
Merari one, that was of great estate.  
Who had no child but one & this is she,  
The honour of that house and family.  
The fathers now do venture body and soul,  
that treasures upon treasures they may roll:  
But for the wit or learning never cares,  
that they should leave to their succeeding hairs,  
Like those that charyly keeps their rich array  
In coffers close & lets it their decay:  
while that the naked bodies dies for cold,  
for whom the clothes are dearly bought & sold.   

But as the painful ploughman plies his toil, 
Comparison.   
with share and coulter shearing through the soil  
that cost him dear, and ditches it about,  
Or crops his hedge to make it under sprout,  
And never stays to ward it from the weed:  
But most respects to so we therein good seed:  
to th'end, when summer decks the meadows plain,  
He may have recompense of costs & pain:  
Or like the maid who careful is to keep,  
the budding flower that first gins to peep  
Out of the knop, and waters it full oft  
to make it see nly show the head aloft,  
that it may (when she draws it from the stocks)  
Adorn her gorget white, and golden locks:  
So wise Merari all his study styled,  
to fashion well the manners of this child,  
that in his age he might of her retire,  
Both honour & comfort to his heart's desire:  
For look how soon her childish coung could chat  
as children do, of this thing or of that.  
He taught her not to read inventions vain,  
As father's daily do that are profane:  
But in the holy scriptures made her read,  
that with her milk she might even suck the dread  
of the most high. And this was not for nought  
Insomuch as in short time she out brought  
Apparent fruits of that so worthy seed,  
which changed her earthly nature far indeed:  
As done the pots that long retains the taste  
Of liquor such, as first was in them placed:  
Or like the tree that bends his elder branch,  
that way, where first the stroke has made him launch.  
So see we wolves, and bears, and hearts full old,  
Some tamenes from their daunted youth to hold.   

Thus ere the Moon twelve dozen changes past, 
Virginity   
the maidens manners fair in form were cast.  
For as the perfit pilot fears to run  
Upon the rocks, with singling sheet doth shun  
Cyane's straits or Syrtes sinking sands,  
Or cruel Capharois with stormy strands:  
So wisely she dishaunted the resort  
Of such as were suspect of light report.  
Well knowing that th'acquaintance with the ill  
Corrupts the good. And though they ever still  
Remain upright: yet some will quarrel pike  
& common brute will deem them all alike.  
For look how your Companions you clect  
for good, or ill, so shall you be suspect.   

This prudent Dame delighted not in dance,  
Nor sitting up nor did herself advance:  
In public place, where plays & banquets been  
In every house to see, & to be seen.  
But rather understanding such a trade,  
Had been the wrak of manya modest maid:  
who following wandering Dina wanton dame,  
Have ofty me put their noble house to shame:  
she kept at home her father's habitation,  
Both day and night in godly conversation.  
She piteous Nurse applied her painful thought,  
to serve & nourish them that her upbrought:  
Like to the grateful stork that gathereth meat,  
& brings it to her elders for to eat,  
And on a firtree high, with Boreas blown,  
Gives life to those, of whom she had her own.  
But if she might some hour from travel quite  
At vacant time it was her chief delight  
to read the scriptures, where her faithful mind  
Might comfort of the heavenly Manna find.  
Sometime she broided on the anuas gall,  
Some bird or beast, or Eagle or Elephant tall.  
While subtly with silver needle fine  
she works on cloth some history divine.  
Hear Lot escaping the devouring fire  
From sinful Zodom shortly doth retire  
To Segor, where his wife that was unwitty  
Cast back her eye to see the sinful City.  
And for her misbelief God plagued the fault,  
transforming her into a Pillar of salt:  
Here she Susannes' story vively wrought,  
How near she was to execution brought,  
And yet how God the secret did disclose,  
And made the mischief fall upon her foes  
Here joseph's story stands with wondrous art,  
And how he left his cloak & not his heart  
to his lascivious Dame & rather chose  
the Prison, than her arms him to enclose.  
Here cruel jephte with his murdering knife.  
to keep his vow, bereaves his daughter's life.   

(Her travel done) her lute she than assays,  
and unto God she sings immortal prays.  
not following those that plies their thriftless pain  
In wanton verse and wasteful ditties vain,  
Thereby t'entrapt great men with luring looks  
But as the greedy fisher lays his hooks  
Alongst the cost to catch some mighty fish  
More for his gain, then wholesome for the dish.  
Of him that bees, even so these sister's brave,  
Have lovers more, then honest maidens have.  
But none are brunt with their impudent flame,  
Save fools & light lunatics void of shame.  
Of virtue only, perfit love doth grow,  
whose first be beginning thought it be more slow,  
then that of lust and quickness not so fast:  
Yet sure it is, and longer time doth last.  
The straw enkendles soon, & slakes again:  
But iron is slow, and long will hot remain.  
Thus was the holy judiths' chaste renown  
so haply spread, through Izrell up and down,  
that manya man disdained the damsels fine,  
with jewels rich and hair in golden twine,  
to serve her beauty: yet loves fiery dart,  
Can never unfriese the frost of her chaste heart.  
But as the Diamant bids the hammer strong,  
so she resisted all her suitors long  
Unminded ever for to wed, but rather  
to spend her days with her beloved father  
till at the last her parents with great care,  
ithstood her will, and for her did prepare.  
Manasses, one who was of noble race  
Both rich and fair aswell of spirit as face:  
Her marriage then was not a slight contract  
Of secret bills, but by willing act 
Marriage.   
‛ before her friends: The chance that once befell  
'to wandering Dina may be witness well,  
‛ that secret marriage that to few is kend,  
‛ doth never lead the lovers to good end.  
For of our bodies we no power may claim  
‛ except our parents do confirm the same,   

Then see how love so holily begun,  
Between these two, so holy a race they run,  
this chaste youngman & his most chastest wife,  
as if their bodies twain had but one life.  
what th'one did will, the other willed no less,  
As by one mouth, their wills they do express:  
And as a stroke given on the righter eye  
Offends the left, even so by Sympathy:  
Her hus bands dolours made her heart unglad,  
And judiths' sorrows made her husband sad.  
Manasses then, is wife would not control  
tyraniously, but look how much the soul  
Exceeds the corpse, & not the corpse doth grieve,  
But rather to preserve it and relieve,  
So judith with Manasses did accord,  
In tender love and honoured him as Lord.  
Their house at home so holy was too tell  
it seemed a church, and not a private Cell:  
No servant there, with villain jests uncouth,  
was suffered to corrupt the shamefast youth.  
No idle drunkard, nor no swearing wight  
Vnpunist durst blaspheme the lord of might.  
No pleasant skoffer, nor no lying knave:  
No daily Dice, nor no Ruffian brave,  
Had there abode: but all the servants wear  
taught of their Rulers Gods eternal fear.  
Manasses, he who saw that in his time  
All justice was corrupt with manya crime,  
And that the most perverse and ignorant,  
For money, or favour, would none office want  
of high estate, refused all public charge:  
Contenting him with ease to live at large.  
from court, and palace, free from worldly pelf,  
but since he thought him borne not for himself:  
But also that some charge he ought to bear  
for comfort of his friends & country dear:  
Yet did he more, not being magistrate,  
for public weal, than men of more estate.  
So that his house, was even the dwelling due  
Of justice, and his mouth a sentence true.  
Th'afflicted poor he daily did defend,  
and was the widows aid & tutor kend,  
to Orphelines, and was the whole support  
And chief comforter of the godly sort.  
The vain desire of Indian treasures great,  
Made never his ship to sail nor oar to beat.  
The greedy hope of gain with ventruous danger,  
Made never his sword be drawn to serve the stranger.  
He never sold within the wrangling Bar,  
Deceitful clatters, causing clients jar.  
But quietly manurde his little field,  
And took th'increase thereof that time did yield.  
He sowed, and planted, in his proper grange  
(upon some savage stock) some frutrie strange.  
The ground our common Dame, he undermines  
On stake & rice, he knits the crooked vines,  
and snoddes their bows, so neither hot nor cold  
might him (from labour) in his chamber hold.  
But once as he beheld his harvest train,  
with crooked Sickle cutting downe the grain  
the sun a distillation on him sent,  
whereof he died, his soul to heaven it went.  
He that the number of the leaves could cast,  
that in November falls by winter blast,  
He that could tell the drops of rain or slete,  
that Hyad Orion or Pleiades weet  
sheds on the ground, that man might only tell, 
W … head●.   
what tears from judiths' eyes incessant fell.  
What treasur-and gold & what he left her tho,  
In place of pleasure, caused all her woe.  
The sight of them made her in heart record,  
their old possessor, and her loving Lord.  
Though she had had as much of gold and good,  
As Lydia land, or Tagus' golden flood:  
(yet losing him) of treasure she was bare:  
For whom, all other treasures cause the her care.  
Yet in this state she stoutly did sustain,  
Like patiented job (contemning) all her pain.  
Three times the sun returned had his prime,  
‛ Si●ce this befell, and yet the sliding time  
‛ That wonted is to wear all woes away,  
Can never for his death her dolour stay:  
But always in some black attire she went  
Right modestly & lived on little rent.  
Devout she was & most times sole and sad  
with dole in heart & mourning vesture clad,  
Outshedding tears as doth the turtle dove  
on withered stalk that waills her absent love:  
And widow like all pleasure doth forsake  
And never intends to take a second make.   

Thus judith chaste within her house abode,  
And seldom was she seen to come abroad,  
Unless it wear to see some woeful wife,  
whose child or husband was bereft of life,  
Or for to visit some in sickness rage,  
their longsome pain and dolours to assuage:  
Or for to go to Church as God allows  
to pray and offer, & to perform her vows.   

Thus have I shortly told you brother dear,  
the state of her, on whom our city hear  
have fixed all their eyes: but I can nought  
tell where she goes, much les what's in her thought.  
But if we may of passed things collect  
the things to come: then may we well aspect  
Great good of her, for that even in her face  
Is sign of joy, and great presage of grace.  
Or some good hap. With this and other talk  
they cut the night as they together walk.   

This while the worthy widow with her maid  
Past towards th'enemies camp not unafrayde:  
For ere she had two hundredth paces past,  
The Syrian Soldiers in her way were cast:  
Who spack her thus. O fair excellent wight  
whence? what art thou? what dost thou here this night  
In Syrian camp? I am (quoth she) a gain  
An Izralite whom dolours doth constrain,  
To flee this town, and for my life's relief,  
submits me to the mercy of your chief.   

They took her to the Duke, but who hath seen  
the throngs of folk where proclamations been  
In sun great woens, or where some monstrous beast  
Is brought & wondered at by most & least,  
that man might judge what flocks of soldiers came  
From every part to see that Hebrew Dame,  
To see that fair, so chaste, so amiable:  
the more they gazed, she seemed more admirable.   

Her wauring hair disparpling flew apart  
In seemly shed, the rest with reckless art  
with manya curling ring decord her face,  
and gave her lashie brows a greater grace.  
Tow bending bows of Ebony coupled right,  
two lucent stars that were of heavenly light.  
two geaty sparks where Cupid chastened hides.  
His subtle shafts that from his quiver glides.  
tween these two suns and front of equal size,  
A comely figure formally did rise  
With draft unlevell to her lip descend  
where Momus self could nothing discomend.  
Her pitted cheeks aperde to be depaint,  
with mixed rose & lilies sweet and saint:  
Her dulcet mouth with precious breath replete  
Excelde the Saben Queen in savour sweet.  
Her Coral lips discoured as it were  
two ranks of Orient pearl with smile cheer.  
Her yurie neck and breast of Alabastre,  
Made Heathen men of her, more Idolastre.  
Upon her hand no wrinkled knot was seen,  
But as each nail of mother of pearl had been.  
In short this judith was so passing fair,  
that if the learned zeuxis had been th'air  
And seen this Dame, when he with pencil drew,  
the Croton Dames, to form the picture true  
Of her, for whom both Grece and Asia fought:  
this only patron chief be would have sought. 
Hesen.    

No sooner judith entered his Pavilion,  
But in her face arose the red vermilion  
with shamefast fear: but then with language sweet  
The courteous General mildly 'gan her greet.   

My love, I am, I am not yet so fell,  
As falls report doth to you Hebrews tell.  
They are my sons & I willbe their father  
that honours me: and them I love the rather,  
that worships for their God th' Assyrian King:  
They shallbe well assured to want nothing.  
And this shall Izak know if they will render  
Unto that bonteous king as their defender.  
For thy (my love) tell me withouten fear,  
the happy motyf of thy coming hear.   

O Prince (quoth she with an assured face)  
Most strong and wise & most in heavens grace,  
that draws the sword, with steel upon his breast  
with helm on head, and jaunce in iron rest:  
Since that my feeble Sex and tender youth,  
Cannot longtime endure, the cruel drought,  
the wakrife travels, frays, and haszards great,  
That day and night, our Burgesses doth threat:  
Yet nevertheless this is not whole the cause  
that from my cities body me withdraws  
to this your Camp: but that most grudging grief,  
Which burns my zealous heart without relief:  
Is this (my Lord) I have a holy fear  
to eat those meats that God bids us forbears  
But Sir, I see that our besieged town,  
Is so beset with mischief up and down.  
The people willbe forced to eat in th'end  
the meats that God expressly doth defend:  
Then will the lord with just revenge him wreak  
Upon all those, that do his statutes break.  
Withouten fight their Cities he will sack,  
And make one man of thine ten thousand wrack,  
that flies his fury, and thy furious face,  
Now I of bethul am, and in this place  
Beseech thy noble grace if so thee please,  
with courteous aid, to give my dolours ease,  
‛ Of common sense he is deprived clean,  
‛ that falls with closed eye on danger seen.  
‛ And he that may both pain and hurt eschew,  
‛ Is vain if he his proper death pursue,   

Then in this quiet dale if I may bide  
(in secret) for to pray each euning tide  
to God: I shall as he doth me inspire,  
Assure you when enkendled is his ire,  
Against our folk. Then shall I take on hand,  
to lead thine Army through all jury land,  
And streaming standards set on Zion hill,  
where none with weapons dare resist thy will.  
No, not a very dog in evening dark,  
At noise of harness shall against thee bark.  
Thy only name shall fray the Armies bold,  
Before thy face the mountain tops shall fold. 
R   
The floods shall dry & from their running stay,  
To make thine Host, a new & uncouth way.   

O jewel of the world (quoth he) o Dame,  
For gracious speech and beauty worthy fame,  
Now welcome here, would God it might you please  
Longtime with us to dwell in rest and case,  
For if your faith and troth concurrant be,  
to this your talk, which greatly pleaseth me:  
I will from this time forth with you accord,  
to serve your only Hebrews God & Lord,  
And will my service whole to you enrol:  
Not of my Sceptre only, but my soul.  
I will your name and honour ay defend  
From Hebrew bounds unto the world his end.  
This said: with silence as the moon arose,  
The widow her withdrew, and forth she goes  
Unto a valley close on every part,  
where as she washed her corpse & clenst her heart:  
And with her weeping eyes the place bewrayed,  
And to the God of Izak thus she prayed.   

O Lord withdraw not now thy helping hand  
from those, that at thy mercy only stand.  
O Lord defend them that desires to spend  
their goods and blood, thy cause for to defend.  
O Lord grant that the cries of Children may  
with plaints of oldmen weeping night and day.  
And virgins voices sad in shroud of shame  
And laudes of levites sounding forth thy fame.  
Mount to thy throne, and with dissundring break  
thy heavy sleep. Wherefore dost thou awreake  
thyself on Hermon with thy burning blast?  
or why? dost thou on careful carmel cast  
Thy dreadful darts? forgetting all this space,  
these Giants that thy Sceptre would displace?  
Ah wretch what say I? lord apardon me,  
thy burning zeal (and none hypocrisy)  
that frets my heavy heart at every hour  
Compels my tongue this language out to power.  
O thou, the everliving God, and Guide  
of all our race, I know thou wilt provide  
For our relief against this furious boast,  
And justly kill the Captain of this host.  
I know, that thou wilt help my only hand,  
to be the wrak, of all this heathen band.   
FINIS.   

THE summary OF THE V BOOK.  
¶ Holophernes being surprised with the sweet language, and excellent beauty of the chaste judith becometh altogether negligent of his charge & government. Wherein is represented the unability of the reprobate, who can not withstand such temptations as the lord sendeth upon them But as they become slaves to their own affections, so by the same they are enforced to fall into perdition. In place of some faithful servant to warn him of his vices, Holophernes conferreth with Bagos an Eunuch, who feedeth him in his humour, and bringeth judith to his Tent. And here the Poet reproves all flatterers & bawds with the vices of all Courts in General. judith seeing her chastity in peril, and the time unmeet to execute her enterprise: subtilely draws the Tyrant to talk of other affairs. He thinking to insinuate himself the more into her favour, taketh pleasure to crack of his conquests and of his special worthiness: discoursing so long till suppertyme aproached and she avoided the inconvenience: And here is to be noted that whilst the tyrants boast of their cruelly against the Church. God provideth for his own and preserveth them for that work, that he hath ordained by them to be done.  
THE FIFTH BOOK OF JUDITH.  

IN stead of mary-in bone, and blood in veins,  
Great Holopherne doth feed his cruel pains:  
He bootless flees, and feels, but he ne knows  
the quenched fire that of his ashes grows.  
For so the charming Image of this Dame,  
the only mark whereat his soul did aim,  
Tran sported him in passions of despair,  
that of his mighty camp he quits the care,  
And goes no more his matters to dispatch,  
Nor views his corpsgard, nor relieves his watch,  
Nor counsel calls, nor sent to spy the cost,  
Nor views the quarters of his spacious host.  
But as the sheep that have no hired nor guide,  
But wandering strays along the rivers side:  
Throu burbling brooks, or throu the forests green  
Throw meadows, closures, or throu shadows sheen:  
Right so the Heathen host, without all bridle,  
Runs insolent, to vicious actions idle,  
where none obeys each one commanding speaks,  
Each one at pleasure from his banner breaks:  
What do you Hebrews now within your wall?  
Now time to fight, or never time at all,  
To pay these Pagans, whose confused corpse,  
Combats against themselves with deadly force,  
Nay, stay a while, of such a great victory,  
Your only God will have the only glory.   

Before this tyrant was with love yblent  
To win the town, he plied his whole intent:  
But now both night & day his mind doth frame  
to conquer, this most chaste unconquest Dame.  
So lust him led: th'undaunted Theban knight,  
with weighty mace had never him affright:  
But now a woman's look his heart enfeares,  
And in his breast the cureless wound he bears.  
Ambition erst, so had him overcome,  
that made him daily rise by sound of drum.  
Now Cupid him awaks with hot alarms,  
That his witholds to do the Hebrews harms.  
Before he ruled above both prince and king,  
now can he not himself in order bring.   

Alas (quoth he) what life is this I have  
Becoming captive to my captive slave? 
Complaint.   
(unhappy chance) what life is this I say?  
My virtue gone, my forces falls away.  
Nay sure no life, it is more pain I feel,  
The Ixion torn upon th' Eternal wheel: 
Pronit. there.   
My life is like the thieves that stole the fire  
On whose mor tall heart doth always tire.  
A ravenous fowl that gnaves him to the bone,  
reviving still bound to the Scythian stone,  
what serves it me t'have won where I have haunted?  
what serves my victor arm for to have daunted?  
The people situate tween Hydaspe large,  
And port where Cydnus doth in sea discharge?  
Since I am vanquished by the feeble sight,  
Of captive judith what availls my might?  
My targe of steel, my Burguinet of Brass,  
My guard of warriors stout where so I pass,  
Since her sweet eye hath sent the pointed dart  
Through men & weapons piercing throu my heart.  
Whatserues my coursers, who with swiftness light  
Exceeds the swallow swiftest bird of flight:  
since I on him cannot avoid one inch,  
the care that night and day my heart doth pinch.  
Then change (o Hebrews) change your tears in song,  
And triumph ore-my host and army strong.  
I am no more that Duke whose name alone,  
hath made great wariours quake both limb & bone  
But I am he, whose heart was sometime brave:  
Now less than nought, the slave but of a slave.  
I come not here your Izak to annoy,  
with fire and sword, your houses to destroy:  
But to require your judith her to render  
More mild to me. What is my wit so slender  
(berapt with love) have I not here my joy.  
that only may relieve me from annoy?  
yet nevertheless I clieve the air in vain,  
with plaints and makes mine eyes but fountains twain   

I wretch am like the wretched man indeed: 
Tantalus   
the more he hath the greater is his need.  
Although he deeply plunge in water clear,  
To quench his thirst: yet is he not the near,  
for so do I respect the heavenly grace,  
that largely is bestowed upon her face,  
that with mine eyes I dare not her behold,  
My tongue doth stay & in the pallet fold.   

Why have not I a heart of Crystal clear,  
Transparent through to let my pain appear?  
that there she might of all my torments reed,  
Which love withholds within my heart in dread?   

Now since, that judith to this camp aryude,  
the light of heavn had thrice his course revyude,  
And darkened thrice, and 'gan with saffron hew  
to light the Ynds, the fourth day to renew:  
when thus the Duke who left repast and rest  
Unto his Eunuch this like porpos dressed.   

O Bagos son adoptife not by chance,  
whom I have chose of nought thee to advance  
By special grace, and made thee (though I boast)  
first of my heart, and second of mine Host:  
Irage, I burn, I die in desperate thought,  
Through love by this same stranger's beauty brought.  
Go seek her then, and shortly to her say,  
what secret flame torments me day by day:  
show that I shall her to such honours bring,  
As he that bears the Sceptre of a King:  
But chief see thy talk be framed thus,  
that she do come this night and sup with us.  
Now should it not to me be folly and shame,  
to have within my hold the fairest dame,  
That ground doth bear, if I dare not aspire,  
to quench the burning flame of my desire?  
I should but serve my soldiers for a jest,  
And judith fair would count me but a beast.   

Then Bagos well acquaint with such a cast  
He fed the lamp that brunt but overfast.  
If private men (quoth he) and people poor,  
that goes not over the threshold of their door,  
But spends their days in travel and debate,  
And never seeks to win a better state:  
lives not content, if that the Cyprian Dame  
Do not sometime their frozen hearts inflame?  
what slaves are those then on whose backs are dressed  
The burdens of this world? who takes no rest,  
for Public weal: but wakes with Argus eyes  
For others ease that to no care applies:  
If they among so many great vexations,  
May not receive in love some recreations?  
Pursue your love my Lord, and make no let,  
to take the fish that else is in your net.  
And as ere this you have me faithful found,  
In like Ambassades when ye them propound  
So shall you find me in this love of new,  
To be as faithful secret trest and true.   

Alas how many such are in our times  
In princes Courts that high to honour climes,  
More for their handling such an enterprise,  
Then for their being valiant learned or wise?  
Sontimes the Courts of kings were virtuous skooles  
now find we nought in Court but curious fools.  
O you whose noble hearts cannot accord,  
to be the slaves to an infamous lord:  
And knows not how to mix with perilous art,  
the deadly poison with the Amorous dart:  
whose natures being free wills no constraint,  
Nor will your face with flattering pencil paint,  
for well nor woe, for pity, nor for hire,  
Of good my Lords their favours to acquire:  
Go not to court if ye will me believe:  
For in that place where ye think to retreve,  
the honour due for virtue, ye shall find  
nought but contempt, which leaves good men behind.   

Ye worthy Dames, that in your breasts do bear  
Of your Al-seing God no servile fear:  
ye that of honour have a greater care,  
than sights of Courts I pray you come not there.  
Let men that in their purse hath not a mite,  
Cloth them like kings, and play the hypocrite,  
And with a lying tale and feigned cheer,  
Courtcozen them whom they would see on bear:  
Let their, the Pander sell his wife for gain,  
with service vile, his noblesse to attain.  
Let him that serves the time, change his intent,  
With saith unconstant sail at every vent.   

Ye sons of craft, bear ye as many faces,  
As Proteus takes among the Marine places,  
And force your nature all the best ye can  
to counterfeit the grace of some great man:  
chameleon like, who take to him each hew  
Of black or white, or yellow green or blue,  
that comes him next. So you that finds the façion  
to hurt the poor, with manya great taxaçion:  
you that do press to have the prince's ear,  
to make your names in Provinces appear,  
ye subtle Thurims, sell your fumish wind,  
to wicked wights whose senses ye do blind.   

Ye fearful Rocks, ye ymps of Achelois,  
who wracks the wisest youth with charming vois:  
ye Circe's, who by your enchantment strange,  
In stones and swine, your lovers true do change:  
ye Stimphalids, who with your youth uptaks,  
ye ravens that from us our riches raks:  
The who with riches art, and painted face,  
For Priam's wife, puts Castor's sister-in place:  
ye Myrrha's, Canaces, and Semirames,  
And if there rest yet more defamed dames.  
Come all to Court, and there ye shall receive  
A thousand gains unmeet for you to have.  
There shall you sell the gifts of great provinces,  
there shall you sell the grace of graceless princes.   

Stay hear my muse, it thee behoves to have  
Great constancy and manya Hercles' brave  
to purge this age, of vices more notable,  
then was the stalls of foul Aegeans' stable.   

Return to judith, who to bring to pass,  
Her high attempt, before her sets her glass  
And gins to deck her hair like burnished gold,  
whose beauty had no peer for to behold.  
Then went she to his tent where she espied,  
the gorgeous tappestries on every side,  
Of Persian Kings, of Meds', and Syrian stories,  
How Ninus first (pricked forth with great vainglories)  
Subdued the East Then next in order came  
(disguised in kind) his wife Queen Semirame:  
who took the Sceptre and with tourrets high  
great Babylon erected to the sky.  
Lo, how a Prince with fingers white and fine  
In woman's weed the tender twist doth twine,  
who bore a Rock in stead of Royal mace, 
Sardanapalus.   
And for a man with woman changeth grace  
In gesturs all, he frisles and he fards,  
He oynts, he baths, his visage he regards  
In crystal glass, which for his sword he wore,  
And lost his crown without all combat more.  
Amongst his vertugals for aid he drew  
from his Lieutenant who did him pursue,  
And won his Sceptre. Yet with feeble ire,  
He brunt himself, and ended is empire.  
Behold a Bitch than feeds a sucking child,  
Amongst the prickiong thorns and brambles wild  
who grew so great & was of such a fame, 
Cyrue.   
that bond, and free, his waged men became,  
And afterward subverted to his law,  
the Median sceptre under Persians awe.  
But what is he that so deformed goze  
Before the camp and want his ears and noze?  
that was that servant true, who by that slight, 
Zopyrut.   
Brought Babylon again in Darius' might.   

While judith fed her eyes with figurs vain,  
Her heart replete with passions and with pain:  
the General came, and with a visage gent,  
Saluted her, and by the hand her hent,  
And caused her sit down upon a chare,  
the more at ease to view her beauty's rare.  
Then when he saw himself so near his pleasure,  
He brunt in heart & scarce could bide the leisure,  
Till Venus with her garland showed in sight  
On his Horizon to renew the night.   

This widow finding then the time unmeet,  
God's just determination to complete  
Made much delay, and found full manya skuse,  
with sundry talk this tyrant to abuse:  
And said my Lord, I pray you show to me,  
what fury just hath moved your majesty,  
what have our people done (please it your grace)  
By whom or when that Izaks holy race,  
Might so provoke a Prince to wrackful war  
In tongues, and laws, so seprate from us far?   

Then said the Duke, uncourteous should I be  
If I deny (o fair) to answer thee.  
Now as the heaven two Suns cannot contain,  
So in this earth two kings cannot remain  
Of equal state. So doth ambition crave,  
One king will not another equal have.  
My Prince is witness who at wars did fall,  
with king Arphaxat cause he raised his wall  
Of Ecbatane so high that it did shame  
to Niniuè, and Babel feared the same:  
For which, he undertook to spoil his throne,  
And race his Sceptre to the lowest stone:  
with spite, his buildings brave, he cast adown.  
Arphaxat then, a man of great renown,  
And worthy of his Sceptre and his state,  
thought better in the field to make debate,  
Then bear a scorn, his Meds to battle drew.  
Thus tween them two did cruel war ensue.  
Arphaxat armed all the isles of Greece,  
where jason was, but sought no golden fleece,  
But golden lingots with abundant gain,  
where Phasis stream bedews the pleasant plain.  
The Harmastans, and Albans, strong, and wise,  
that sows but once, and have their harvest thrice.  
The men that near to Oxus banks a bides,  
And those that Antitaurus horns devydes.  
And those that man's the mount upon whose breast  
the shipped that scaped the general flood did rest:  
And those that are (not hid) within the Ream,  
where proud jaxartes flows with furious stream.  
In short: the Meds brought men to aid their plea  
From Pontus far beyond the Caspian sea:  
And of this Host Arphaxat was commander  
with hope and heart more high than Alexander.   

My prince desirous then to win or die,  
Left nought undone that furthred to supply:  
His troubled state. he armed Syttacene,  
And waged Archers out of Osrohene:  
ye lords of lands that yields the hundredth corn,  
Leave Euphrates & bounds where ye were borne:  
ye Carman's bold that all on fish do feed,  
And of their pelts do make your warlike weed:  
Leave Hytan bounds, go seek the golden sands,  
ye Parths, ye Cosses, Arabs, and ye lands,  
That of your Magi Prophets thinks ye know,  
their spells divine, yourself for pikmen show,   

O Called, change thine Astrolab and square  
To spear and shield: for, we no wight will spare  
Of able age, of high or low degree,  
that trails the pik or lance lays on his thy.  
Let women, Children, and the burghers old  
At home alone, let them their houses hold.   

We somond eke the Persians and Phoenicians,  
the soft Egyptians, Hebrews, and Cilicians:  
〈◊〉 come in haste. & join their force to ours:  
But they disdainfully deteind their powers:  
And with their wicked hands and words unsage,  
They did our sacred messengers outrage.   

My master for a time, put up this wrong,  
Attending time, to quite these enemies strong,  
with purpose more at leisure to provide,  
t'abate this sacrilegious people's pride.   

Two greater kings were never seen before,  
then camped was in Ragau field at morn, 
Battle.   
with haughty hearts enarmed all in ire:  
Each soldier set an other so on fire,  
that scarcely they could keep them in their bound  
till pipe or Cymbal or the trumpets sound,  
Denounce the choke: but with their furious faces,  
they threat their foes afar with fell menaces,  
And strokes at hand, two thousand Lads forlorn,  
(to blunt the sword) were down in battle borne.  
Upon their flanks flew fervently the stones,  
that bet their bucklers to their bruised bones,  
The squadrons then, steps sternly to the strokes,  
with hearts in human all the battle yokes,  
And are supplied with many mighty bands,  
Some counters them, and sternly them withstands,  
with foot to foot each other over plies,  
Both Meds and Caldes clasp with ghastly cries,  
Like Nilus' stream that from the rocks doth romble,  
Or Encelade when he in tomb doth tumble.   

Here some lies headless: some that cannot stand,  
trails on his womb & wants both foot & hand,  
cut off with strokes, some pierced throu plate & mail●,  
Some shoulder slashed, some panched in th'entrails.  
Some brains outbet, some in the guts were gored,  
Some dying vomit blood, & some were smorde.  
Some neither quick nor dead do yet attend,  
what place it pleaseth god their souls to send:  
So loath the little life that doth abide,  
Is from the dying body to divide.  
The ground that erst was yellow, green, & blue  
Is overclad with blood in purpur hue.  
While this man gives some one his deadly bane,  
He of another gets the like again.  
The rage increasing grows with ireful flame,  
the field is spread with bodies dead and lame.   

Like as ye see the wallowing sea to strive,  
Flood after flood, and wave with wave to drive, 
Comparison.   
Then waves with waves the floods with floods do chase  
And eft returns unto their former place:  
Or like the crops of corn in mids of May,  
(blown with the western wind) aside doth sway:  
Both to and fro, as force doth them constrain,  
And yet their tops redresseth up again:  
So whiles the Syrians, are by Meds' displaced,  
And whiles the Meds, by Syrians are rechaced.   

Then like two raging floods that down do fall  
From two contrary mutiny mountains tall:  
Down bearing bridge & bank, and all destroys,  
And strives which one may do the most annoys:  
So these two kings in force and courage stout,  
Excelled the rest with slaughter them about,  
Wherso they priest, they left on either side,  
Behind them two long opened ways and wide:  
for all their bucklers Morions and Quiraces,  
were of no proof against their peisant maces.  
Yet (for the time) the Meds so fiercely fought,  
that they th' Assyrian bands in terror brought,  
And pauld their soldiers hearts & brak their might:  
Who (overcome) took them to shameful flight.  
The Meds pursued and wounded in that chase,  
ten thousand men, but none upon the face.   

In short, this day our Sceptre had deprived,  
Had I not like the thunder dint arrived  
In battles brunt. Their male & their vantbras,  
Their helm and shield, before my Cutlass,  
Were frail as glass: and never a stroke Hent,  
But deadly was, and them more terror sent,  
than all our camp. The soldier then in fear  
with trembling hand could scarcely wield his spear.  
the palhewd knight with heart in breast that quakes  
His thighs in saddle, and feet in stirrups shakes  
for dread of me. There some with trenchant glaive  
From height of head, to middle down I claive.  
And some so far I foyned through the jack:  
the blade aperde a foot behind his back:  
So that the Meds' afraid at such a thing,  
In heat of fight they fled & left their king,  
who seeing himself betrayed: his clothes he rend,  
And bloody towards Ragau town he went,  
where we him met, yet (Brave) did him defend,  
And sought amongst his foes a famous end.  
As doth the Tiger wild who sees her den  
Beset about with hunter's dogs and men,  
that turns her fear to furious raging rife  
& will not unre venged lose her life:  
So he them thunderbet wherso he went,  
that never-a stroke in vain his right-hand spent:  
But ere with murdering blade they could him quell,  
Full manya bold precursor-he sent to hell.   

At last Arphaxat 'gan of slaughter tire  
And (wounded sore) left both his life and ire:  
And fell, as doth some huge high planted oak,  
that long hath bide the winds, & manya stroke  
Of many an axe: yet stoutly doth sustain  
their travels long and frustrats all their pain,  
The root doth sigh, the dale doth roaring sound,  
And to the heaven the noise doth high rebound,  
his head now here, now there, seems to incline,  
& threats them here & there with great ruin:  
Yet stands upright above the highest oaks,  
till, vanquished with a thousand thousand strokes,  
He falls at last & brings with him to ground  
Both trees & cattle to the plain profound.  
So with Arphaxat fell the Meds' empire:   

My king, the king of kings then in his ire  
Rasd Ecbatan, and now grows weed & herb,  
where sometime stood his palaces superb.  
So that where erst the lute and loud Haubois,  
were wont to sound with sweet concordant nois,  
Now shrieking owls and other monsters more  
In funeral sound fulfils the place with woe.   

My potent Prince when all this war was ceased  
Consumed months four in Royal feast,  
In Niniuè the great, which banquet done,  
He me commanded to assemble soon,  
His Royal host, to punish all and some,  
that to his former aid disdained to come:  
And that I shortly should with sword and flame  
Revenge his honour, but alas Madam  
Full far am I from that I would pursue,  
for coming here thy nation to subde we:  
I vanquished am by thee, so that deaths might,  
shall shortly close mine eyes with endless night:  
If you not (with a loving kiss) to me  
Restore my life. O worthy Prince, quoth she,  
Continue your discourse, and to me tell,  
what great adventures to your Host befell.   

Then he retook his tale he left ● late,  
And made a long discourse of all his state:  
Part true, part falls, as do some warriors brave,  
who speaking of their Acts will lie and rave.   

My camp assembled, then 'gan I t'inflame  
My soldiers hearts thus for to win them fame. 
Oration.   
Companions now, if ever ye pretend  
To win renown that never shall have end.  
Go forwards now, plague these inhuman lands,  
that on our sacred legates laid their hands.  
Revenge, revenge, ye men your most high prince,  
that ever Sceptre bore in rich province,  
that ever came adown with mighty arm.  
From circled stars. Alarm ' soldats alarm:  
Take blades in hand, & brands of burning ire,  
to waste the western world with sword and fire,  
with bloody seas bedew each mount and wood,  
And make your horses fierce to swim in blood.  
Receive the Sceptre great & crown of might,  
of all this world which is to you behight.  
Receive this laud that for your conquest brave,  
shall draw your fames from the forgetful grave:  
Receive ye valiant men the noble spoil  
of manya land that ye shall put to foil.  
Let men behold that sees you day by day,  
How ye are cloyed with honour spoil & pray,  
thus ended I. And as my words were spent  
They bet their bucklers, showing them content  
with courage bold, to fight with me and bide.  
Then sixscore thousand men I had to guide,  
Or more: and so from Niniuè we past  
And marched unto (Bectile) at last,  
I through Edessi, Amidi, and Carran came,  
where sometime dwelled you father Abrahame:  
I won the mount whose thwarting horns devyds  
All asia, and serves for bounds on sundry syds,  
to many great Empyrs: I slew, I brent  
All in my way. My felon soldiers went  
Like maowers with their scythes in sowple hands,  
who leaves not after them a straw that stands:  
But ample swaths of grass on ground doth cast,  
& shows what way their sharped siths have passed.  
All Lydia knows, that nought now grows in it  
but weeds. And Phuli-and Tharsis feels it yet.  
I was well-near the straits that closeth all,  
Phoenicia and th' Ishique Rovers, like a wall,  
when Rosea, Solea, Mops, Anchiali and Iscia,  
And sweet Egeis: and (short) the whole Cilicia,  
This passage took before and lay in wait,  
to stay my Army for to pass this straight.  
If I the harms and hassards all should tell  
of all th'affairs and bloody frays that fell  
and succours sent: the day would slide away  
Before my tale. For that Cilicia I say,  
through great advantage of their ground so narrow  
Defended them from both the spear & arrow:  
So that my Host that gave before the chase,  
to puissant kings: now fled with great disgrace.  
Then foaming in despite, despair, and ire, 
Craking.   
I cast myself where shot flew like the fire,  
and though they hurt me in a hundredth parts,  
And though my Buckler bore a wood of darts:  
yet left not I, but with audacious face:  
I bravely fought, & made them all give place.  
My Army followed where my arm made way  
with trenching blade, on bodies dead that lay.  
The greatest coward that my captains led,  
Pursewd & slew, the most of them that fled.  
The Cydnus stream (who for his silver flood  
Esteemed a king ran now with humane blood.  
The Pyram fierce, in seas discharged than  
Full manya helm, & sword and worthy man.  
In short as your own river seems to rest  
with swelling tyds and frothy floods repressed  
within his bank: yet furiously him wreaks  
with weighty force & banks and bridges breaks,  
& stroyes the plains, and makes for manya day  
More wrak, then if his channels open lay:  
In semble sort their bands I did enchase,  
that kept the entrance of that craggy place.  
I brunt, I slew, cast down, all that I found,  
And Asia spoiled, I entered th'easter land.  
I won Celei, and raged pity les  
Upon the fruitful shore of Euphrates.  
I betthe desert Rapse, & Eagria land,  
who knows the virtue of my conquering hand.  
From thence to seaward sewing mine intent  
I wasted Madian. North ward than I went  
to Liban ward, Damascus overrinning,  
with other towns, Abilia & Hippas' winning.  
From thence, with curious mind my standards sties,  
the hill, where sun is seen to set and ryes.  
And so from thence I forward led mine host,  
To th' Occident on the Phoenician cost.  
Then Sidon, Bible, Beryte, tire, & Gaze,  
with Ascalon, and Assot, in a maze,  
For fear, sent humbly to my sacred seat,  
wise messengers, my favour to entreat.  
We come not here, my lord said they, with arms  
for to resist the chok of thy Gensd'armes:  
But Prince, we come, of thee for to receive,  
Both life and death, & what law we shall have.  
Our towns are thine, our cities & our hills,  
Our fields, our flocks, our wealth is at your wills.  
Our service, and our treasures, great and small,  
Ourselves, our wives, and our fair children all:  
Now only rests to thee, if so thee please  
to take us thus. O God what greater ease:  
O god what greater good may us befall,  
Then unto such a chief for to be thrall?  
who wields the valiant lance & balance right,  
with virtue like the Gods of greatest might   

So wear to me, as gracious to behold  
Their towns & Cities both, for young and old  
with crowns, and presents of the Flora sweet,  
& costly odours, humbly did me greet.  
At sounds of horns & pipes they dancing went  
with goods and bodies me for to present.   

Then I abusing not the law of arms  
Entreated them, and did to them no harms,  
nor to their lands. But first their forts I manned,  
with men of mine, and theirs took in my band.  
For where that I, my people farthest drew,  
My camp in bands, from bands, to armies grew,  
As doth the Danow which gins to flow  
By Raurak fields with snakish crangling slow,  
then swells his floods with sixty rivers large,  
that in the golf Euxinus doth discharge:  
I wend Malame that Izrell like the rest,  
would yield to me, that I should not be strest  
Against their breast to move my murdering spear,  
But as I came the Soythique rampire near  
(the Tomb of her whose milk had such a hap  
To feed the twice borne Denis in her lap)  
I hard their wilful rage first in that place,  
which doubtless will destroy all Abrahms race.   
FINIS.   

THE summary OF THE VI BOOK.  
¶ judith having escaped the peril of her chastity is brought to a sumptuous banquet prepared by Holophernes for the entertainment of her, and farther provocation of his filthy lust: In which the abominable vice of gluttony as by the Poet vively descriued, and sharply reprehended And whereas the Tyrant thought by such excess to overcome the chaste widow: himself is so overcome with wine, that upon a very simple delay he lets her go till he was in his bed. And here is noted that the snares that the wicked lays for others, they fall in them their selves. W●●les the Tyrant contemplated his lust, judith in trouble called upon her God, who made way for her work through the Tyrants own wickedness: who heaping sin upon sin, approached at last to the end of his tragedy, and mounting upon the scaffold of the ire of God▪ falls a sleep in his sinful bed, and is by judith beheaded in his beastly drunkenness. True it is that in this execution she felt her great infirmity, but likewise she found that God was able to strengthen the most feeble for the execution of his justice. And as before she was preserved in the midst of her enemies: so the Lord to make a miraculous end of his work, brings her safe home to her people. The Bethulians gives thanks to God. The Ammonit ravished with this miracle, embraced the true religion. The head of Holophernes (that judiths' servant brought) being set up for a terrible spectacle to the Heathen, encouraged the citizens to give assault upon the camp. Bagos, who had bend an instrument of the tyrant's wickedness, is the first that finds his masters headless Carcase, and puts the camp in such affray, that they fled all before Israel, in such sort that scarce one was left to bring news to Niniuè, of the fortune of the battle. And that was God's justice, that those that had followed this tyrant in his wickedness, should be companions of his death. judith last of all celebrates the deliverance of God with a song, to the honour and glory of his almighty name.  
THE SIXTH BOOK OF JUDITH.  

BEfore the Pagan had his purpose ended,  
the night obscure from mountains high descended  
And sewers set the board with costly meat,  
Of passing price, so delicate to eat,  
that Holopherne unto his joyous feast  
Aperd t' have called the kings of west and East.   

O glutton throats, o greedy guts profound,  
the chosen meats within the world his bound  
By th' Abderois' invented may not staunch, 
Exclamation.   
Nor satisfy your foul devouring paunch:  
But must in Moluke seek the spices fine.  
Canary sugar and the Candy wine.  
Your appetits (O gluttons) to content,  
the sacred breast of Thetis blew is rend:  
the Air must be dispeopled for your maws  
the Phoenix sole can scarce escape your jaws. 
Gluttony   
‛ O plague, O poison to the warrior state,  
‛ thou makes the noble hearts effeminate,  
‛ while Rome was ruled by Curioes' and Fabrices,  
‛ who fed on roots and sought not for delices,  
‛ and when the only Cresson was the food  
' most delicate to Persia, than they stood  
‛ in happy state, renowinde in peace and war,  
‛ & throu the world, their triumphs spread afarres  
‛ But when they after in th' Assyrian hall,  
‛ Had learned the lessons of sardanapal.  
‛ and when the other, given to belly cheer,  
‛ By Galba's, Veroes, Vitells governed wear,  
‛ who gloried more to fill a costly plate,  
‛ then kill a Pyrrhus or a Mythridate:  
‛ than both of them were seen for to be sacked  
‛ by nations poor, whom they before had wracked.   

‛ Of little nature lives superfluous meat,  
‛ But dulls the spirit, and doth the stomach fret,  
When they were set, then throw that Royal rout,  
the Maluesie was quaffed oft about.  
One drinks out of an Alabaster Cup,  
one out of Crystal doth the Nectar sup:  
Some out of curious shells of Unicorn:  
Some spills the wine, & some to beds were borne:  
But namely there the Vizroy would not tire,  
But more he drank, the more he had desire:  
Like to the Ocean Sea, though it resaves  
All Nilus' floods, yet all fresh water craves  
From East to West, yet grows he not a grain,  
But still is ready forasmuch again.  
One glass draws on another glass, and when  
the butler meant to cease he but began,  
to skinck good Bacchus: thus this drunken wight,  
Among his drunkards tippled till midnight,  
than each of them with stackring steps out went,  
And groping hands retiring to his tent.  
This tyrant wished them oft away before,  
to whom each moment seemed to be a score.   

Assoon as they were gone, then 'gan he press,  
the trembling judith. Cease great prince o cease  
the widow said: what hast need you to make  
to reap the flower that none other can from you take?  
My Lord go to your bed & take your ease,  
where I your sweet embracings will complease,  
Assoon as I my garments may remove,  
that binds my body brunt with ardent love.   

Now if that sober wits and wily brains  
Cannot avoid the female tricks & trains.  
Abash not reader though this reckless Roy  
(Bewitched by Semels' son, and Venus' boy)  
was thus beguiled: considering both these twain,  
Confounds the force of those that them retain.   

So letting judith slide out of his arm,  
He gins to lose his garments soft and warm:  
But throw his haste, his hand came lesser speed,  
And though he was deceived, yet took no heed,  
But weening well t'vntrus his peevish points,  
He knits them twyfold with his trembling joints:  
so long till he with anger discontent,  
cuts me them all, and off his clothes he rend,  
And naked went to bed. Then as ye see  
the bloody bowman stand behind a tree,  
who warily watches for the wandering dear:  
to every part, where he doth think to hear  
Some trembling bush, some beast or Lezard small,  
that motion makes, so turneth he withal  
His face, and hand to shoot, but all in vain  
for to relieve his long aspecting pain:  
Even so, this foolish tyrant when he hard  
some rat or mouse, than thought he to himward:  
His Mistress came: and when he heard no more,  
yet thought (she came) whom most he did adore.  
While up he lifts his head, while lets it fall:  
while looks about, while counts the paces all,  
that she should pass, to come unto his bed.  
Thus turning oft, as ardent lust him led:  
he thought his bed was sown with pricking thorne●  
but now the drink that he had drunk before,  
Brewed in his brain, and from his mind it took,  
the sweet remembrance of her loving look.  
So fell on sleep: and then to him appears  
Ten thousand flames, ten thousand dinns he hears,  
and dreams of Devils, and Daemons dark & dim  
Medusa's, Minotaurs, and Gorgon's grim.   

This while the heart of judith 'gan to beat  
Incessantly beset with battle great:  
Onewhile her fear refeled her first intent:  
onewhile her action Just her courage lent.   

Then said she judith, now is time, go to it,  
And save thy people: Nay, I will not do it.  
I will, I will not, Go, fear not again:  
wilt thou the sacred gestning then profane?  
Not it profane, but holier it shall stand,  
when holy folk are helped by my hand.   

But shameful lives the traitor evermore,  
No traitor she who doth her town restore:  
But murderers all, are of the heaven forsaken?   

All murder-is not for murder always taken.  
Alas are they not murderers sleys their Prince?   

This tyrant is no prince of my province:  
But what if God will have us under his-awe?  
he's not of God that fights against his law.  
For than should Ahud, jahel, and jehewe,  
Be homicids, because thy tyrants slew.   

But what? they were commanded of the lord,  
to such an act, my heart should soon accord.   

Alas my heart is weak for such a deed,  
theyare strong enough whom God doth strength at need  
But when 'tis dune who shall my warrant be?  
God brought me here, God will deliver me.  
What if the Lord leave thee in Heathen hands?  
were this Duke dead, I fear no death nor bands.  
but what if they pollute thee like a slave?  
my body with my heart they shall not have.   

Thus she resolved in her mind at last,  
Her hands and eyes unto the heaven she cast,  
And with an humble voice to God she prayed,   

O gracious God that always art the aid  
to thy beloved Izak, I thee pray,  
to strength my hand, even my right hand this day,  
that I may make this bloody tyrant die,  
that to discepter thee would scale the sky.  
But since thy goodness hath preserved me,  
& brought my boat so near the shore to be:  
Grant that some sleepy drink I may provide,  
To dull this tyrant's heart and daunt his pride,  
to th'end that I may free thy congregation  
Unto thy honour, and our consolation.   

This prayer done, she looked round about,  
And hard this drunken prince in sleeping rout,  
than stepped she to his sword that by him stood,  
whichoft had bathed the world with human blood  
But as she priest this tyrant for to quell.  
Fear, reft the sword from her, & down she fell,  
and lost at once the strength of heart and corpse.   

O God (quoth she) now by thy mighty force,  
Restore my strength. This said (with pale annoy)  
she rudly rose, and struck this sleeping Roy  
so fell, that from his shoulders flew his paul,  
and from his body fled his Ethnique soul  
high way to hell. His bulk all blood bestaind  
Lay still, his head in judiths' hand remained.  
The which her maid put up into a sack,  
thus throw the camp they close away do pack  
Empecht of none. For those that had her seen,  
Suposde she went (as she had wonted been  
the nights before) unto the valley where,  
they thought she went to serve Diana clear.   

When judith chaste came near the Hebrew wall:  
Let in (quoth she) for our great god of all  
hath broke this night the whole Assyrian power,  
and raised the horn of Izak at this hour.   

Then men amazed of her unhoped state,  
About her ran assembling at the gate,  
where holy judith on a hill was mounted,  
And all her chance from point to point recounted,  
And there, discouring drew out of the sack,  
The bloody head of thenemy of Izak,   

The citizens that saw how she did stand  
with th'ead of Assurs head in her right hand:  
they praised God who by her hand had slain,  
& punished that traitor inhuman.   

‛ But most of all Duke Ammon did admire  
‛ the work of God. Then he t'escape the yre'  
' of jacobs' God who aids the weakest part:  
‛ he shortly Circuncisde his flesh and heart.   

‛ O God that rightly by foresight divine,  
‛ repels the purpose of all men's engine,  
‛ who for to lead th'elect to destnyed health,  
‛ Even when it seems them farthest from their wealth.  
' of ill, thou draws the good, and some in ill  
‛ thou lettest them run thy justice to fulfil.  
‛ (O lord) the vile desire of blood and sak,  
‛ made Holopherne to war upon Izak.  
‛ But where that he would Izaks blood have shed,  
‛ he lost his own for Izak on his bed.  
‛ Thus thy good grace hath made his vain invention,  
 take effect contrary his intention.  
‛ So Paul became a Saint, who was a Pherisee,  
‛ and of a tyrant, teacher of thy verity:  
‛ So was the thief that hung with our Messiah,  
‛ (for all his sin) preserved with Elias:  
‛ his vicious corpse could have no life here down,  
‛ his soul by grace yet got a heavenly crown.   

‛ Change them (o God) the hearts of christian princes  
‛ who sheds the faithfuls blood in their provinces.  
‛ Let thou that sword that thou gives them to guide  
‛ upon thy enemies only be applied.  
‛ Upon those tyrants whose unrighteous horn  
‛ deteins the land where thy dear son was borne.  
‛ not on the backs of those who with humility,  
‛ Adores the Triple one great God in unity.   

Then at commandment of this widow chaste,  
A soldier took the tyrant's head in haste,  
And for to give the Hebrews heart withal,  
He fixed it upon the foremost wall.  
There, fathers came, and sons, & wives, & maids,  
who erst had lost amongst the Heathen blayds,  
There sons, their parents, makes, & lovers dear,  
with heavy hearts & furious raging cheer.  
They piled & paired his beard of paled hue,  
Spit in his space & out his tongue they drew,  
which used to speak of God great blasphemies,  
And with their fingers poched out his eyes.  
The rife remembrance of so late an ill,  
Made vulgar folk such vengeance to fulfil.   

This while Aurora ceased to embrace,  
Her ancient love and rose with ruddy face,  
Upon the Indian heaven, the warriors strong,  
take kept the town: now sorted forth in throng.  
Enarmed all, with such a hideous sound:  
as seemed the elements four for to confound.  
And break the bands that keeps them in their border,  
Retiring them unto their old disorder.   

The Pagan watches next the cities side  
(Awaked with this din) start up and cried:  
Alarm, Alarm, like fearful men aghast,  
then through the Camp, the hot Alarm past.  
Some takes his neighbour's armour first he finds, 
Confusion.   
And wrong on arms the bracels both he binds.  
Some takes a staff for haste, and leaves his lance:  
Some madling runs, some trembles in a trance:  
Some on his horse ill saddled gins to ride,  
And wants his spurs, some boldly do abide:  
Some neither wakes nor sleeps, but mazing stands:  
Some brave in words, are beastly of their hands.  
This brute from hand to hand, from man to man,  
Unto the Pagans court at last it ran.  
Then Bagos Eunuch sadly forth he went  
t'awake the sleeping Ethnique in his tent,  
& knocked once twice, or thrice with trembling hand  
But such eternal sleep his temples band,  
that he had passed already (miserable)  
Of Styx so black the flood irrepassable.   

Yet Bagos hearing Izaks cry increase,  
He with his foot, the door began to press:  
And entered where the bed he did behold  
All bled with Holophernes carcase cold:  
He tore his hair & all his garments rend,  
and to the heaven his howling cries he sent.  
But when he missed the Hebrew-Dame away  
then raginghe began a ghastly fray.  
And from the bloody tent as he rant out,  
Among the Heathen thus he 'gan to shout.  
Woe, woe to us, a slave (they judith call)  
In slaying Holopherne hath slain us all:  
That daunted all the world. These novels last,  
loind the former fear that lately passed,  
Affrighted so the soldiers one and all,  
that pike and dart, and target they let fall,  
And fled through mountains, valeis, & throw heaths  
where every chance, procured them worse deaths.   

Then all th' assieged folk in flocks descended,  
& on their enemies backs their bows they bended.  
Both parties ran, but th' one that other chased,  
The weary flyers flight, themselves defaced.  
The Hebrews there, in fight not one they lost,  
But they bet down and slew the Heathen host,  
As doth a Lion of Getulia wood  
Bespread the land with woried beasts & blood  
So long as he may find a beast abide,  
that dare oppone him to his cruel pride.   

Some headlong throws themselves from craggy Rocks,  
& breaks their bones & all their brains out knocks  
Some hath forgot that Parca's every where,  
waits on their end that drown in water clear:  
But if that any scaped by some great hap,  
He skapte the first, but not the after clap:  
fore all the straits and passages were set,  
that none should scape alive where they were met:  
Yea scarcely one was left to tell the king,  
At Niniuè of all this wondrous thing.   

This battle done, all those whose Sex and age  
withheld at home (their dolours to assuage)  
Came forth out of their fort to see and hear,  
what God had done for them his people dear.  
They found some men dismembered having breath,  
that cried in vain a hundredth times for death.  
Another gnashes with his teeth in pains  
some dead, in face their former rage retains.  
And some is shot directly throw the heart  
Each soul departs to his appointed part,  
According to the value, or the chance,  
that fortuned them to die on sword or lance.  
In short to see this sight so dreadful was,  
That even the Hebrews would have said alas:  
If they had vanquished any enemy else,  
This while amongst the corpses infidels,  
Among a hundredth thousand there was found,  
the cheftains carcase rend with manya wound,  
Of spear and sword, by th' Hebrews in their ire.  
There was no sinew, Arter, vain, nor lyre,  
that was not mangled with their vulgar rage,  
No time nor moment might their ire assuage.  
If Holophern had been like Atlas long:  
Or like in limbs unto Briareus strong,  
Yet should his body been to small a pray,  
to satisfy their fury every way.  
For in that camp was not so small a knave,  
but of his flesh some collup he would have.   

O tyrant now (quoth they) give thy right hand,  
to the Cilicians, and to Media land,  
leave thou thy left. And to Celia sweet,  
to Ishmael and Egypt leave thy feet,  
to th'end that all the world by thee offenced  
with such a present may be recompensed.  
But here I fail thy corpse thus to devise  
In Attomy for it will not suffice.   

This thankful widow then, who never thought  
to smore this wondroꝰ work that god had wrought,  
Entunde her verse and song to sweet comfort  
Of instruments & past with gracious port  
Before the chosen Dames and virgins their,  
that were esteemed for honest chaste and fair.   

Sing sing with heart & voice & sounding strings,  
And praise the Lord of lords, and king of kings,  
who doth disthrone the great, and in their place  
Erects the poor that leans upon his grace.  
Who would have thought that in a day one town  
Can overcome a camp of such renown?  
who daunted all the world whose pride was felt  
From Indian shore to where the Calpees dwelled?  
Great God who will believe that Holopherne,  
who did a hundredth famous princes darn,  
should be discreptred, slain, left in a midow,  
by no great Giant, but a feeble widow?  
great God who will believe that he who rained,  
From north to south, & in his hands retained  
Both East and West: now gets not grace to have  
An inch of Gazon ground to be his grave?  
This Conqurour that came with no army small,  
now lies on ground abandoned of them all.  
Not sole: for those companions him in death,  
that followed him while he had life and breath.  
Not now the ground, but Reavens' hunger sterude,  
Are now his tomb as he hath well deserved.  
No vaults of Marble, rich nor Porphyr pure,  
that he had built could be his sepulture.  
Even so good Lord from henceforth let us find,  
thee, not our judge, but for our father kind.  
But let all Tyrants that against thee gather,  
find thee their judge, but not their loving father.  
Here judith ends. And also hear I stay  
With thanks to God. So for his state I pray, 
The trā●slatour.   
At whose command I undertook this deed,  
To please his Grace, and those that will it reed.    
FINIS.  

A TABLE OF SIGNIFICATION OF SOME WORDS AS THEY ARE USED BEFORE.  
Words. Significations. ABderois. Profane & delicate Epicurs. Abile. A hill in Africa, one of the Pillars of Hercules. Abraham. Father of the jews or the faithful. Achelois imps. sirens or Mermaids. Amram. The father of Moses. Assur. Assurs head. the country of Assyria or their king. Assyrian Prince. Holophernes. Vizroy or general. Agamemnon. The general of the Greeks, being present at the sacrificing of his only Daughter was painted with a bend about his eyes, either forth unskilfulness of the painter, who could not sufficiently express the father's special tears; or else for that he thought it not decent to paint so mighty a Prince weeping, or unnatural not to weep. Aconite. A poisonable herb. Autan. the South or south wind. Aurora. the morning. Arphaxat. supposed to be Arbactus, King of Medes. Atlas. A great Giant. Argus. Had a hundredth eyes. Alexander. The great. Apelles. An excellent painter. bethul or Bethulia. the City where judith dwelled. Babel. Babylon, or the whole coütrey. Bellona. Goddess of Battle. Briccoll. an engine of war. Briareus. a Giant with a hundredth hands. Bacchus. Wine or drunkenness. Boreas. the north or north wind. chameleon. a beast that changeth his colours. Ctesiphon. a cunning Architecture or builder. Chaos. a confusion before the world's creation. Capharois. TWO perilous Rocks. Cyane's straits  Calpe. A hill in Spain one of the pillours of Hercules. Cyprian Dame Venus, love, or lust. Cupido. Love or lust. Cornies. crooked irons to draw down buildings. Castor's sister. Helen the dishonest wife of Menelaus. Canaces. Incestuous women. Circe's. witches, abusers of lovers. Cyrene. a dry sandy country, or drought. carmel. a montain in judea, or the whole country. Danow. Danubius, a river in Germany. Denis twice borne. Bacchus. Diana or Cynthia, The Moon. Dina. The daughter of jacob. Egyptian Queen. Cleopatra the Concubine of M. Antonius, who swallowed a rich pearl. Elimia Land. The Elamits. Eurus. The East, or East wind. Aegeans' stable. where horses devoured men. Encelade. a Giant buried under mount Aetna. General. Holophernes. Gibaltar. A City in Spain, near to Calpe-hill, one of the Pillars of Hercules. Holopherne. Vizroy, chief of the Army. Hermon. a Hill in judea, or the country of judea. Hesperian cost. The west. Hyade. a water nymph or watery star. Heralds. Apostles, or preachers. jacobs' sons. the people of Izrell. Izrell or jacob. the land of judea. Izaak. the people of the jews. Ishmael. Idumeans or Edom. Ixion. One tormented in Hell jebus place. jerusalem or Zion. judith. of Bethulia of the tribe of Reuben. jessies' race. David and his seed. jethro. Father in law to Moses. Latmies' son. Endymion, the long sleper supposed to lie with the Moon. Lysippus. a cunning carver. Monarch. One sole governor. Memphits. Men of that City in Egypt. Misraim. The land of Egypt. Mocmur. the river near Bethulia. Momus. a scornful detractor of all thing. Mars. God of strife or battle. Myrrhaes & Sulla's. women betrayers of their country. Minotaurs. Unnatural monsters. Medusa's. furies of hell. Neptune's back. the Sea. Niphathaei. A mighty strong Roch or mountain in Syria. Palestene. the land of the Philistines. Pharia. a famous tower in Egypt. Phlegon. One of the four horses that was supposed to draw the sun. Phoebus. the sun. Phoebe. His sister the moon. Proteus. A man changing himself in sundry forms, there is a fish of like nature. Priam's wife. Hecuba the honourable. Peslmell. all mixed confusedly together. Ram. an engine of war for battery. Sina-hill. Sinai-hill. Salem. jerusalem. Solyma jerusalem. Sichem. the ravisher of Dina. Sabean Queen. Savours of Saba land. Simeon. Dinaes' brother. Scythique Rampire. The tomb of Semele, mother of Bacchus. Styx. a River in hell. Sympathy. Concordance of natures and things. Sentinelles. watchmen. Semirames. women Viragoés. Syrtes. Dangerous sands. Satrap. Prince. stymphalids. Ravenous fowls with female faces Harpies. Syrian camp. the Host of Holophernes. Semels' son. Bacchus or wine. Transparent. that which may seen through and whole like glass. Tortusé. An engine of war. Trepan. An engine of war. The foreign tide. Suppofed to have been the flood of Noah, or the deluge of Deucalion that divided Africa from Europe, & Sicilia from Italia. Thetis. The sea. Thurims. Deceitful Advocates. Theban knight. Captain of the Greeks army. Thief that stole the fire. Prometheus, who stole fire from jupiter. Zedechias. Last king of the jews. Zephyrus. West or west wind. Zeuxis. A painter of Italy, who being required to paint the picture of Helen, desired to have all the fairest women of Croton to be present for his pattern.  
FINIS.