Michael Drayton- Collected Poetical Works

by Michael Drayton

  As if ioy seem’d his manly heart to touch,

  It was her ioy and gladnesse to behold:

  When all reioyc’d vnmou’d thereat the whiles,

  In his graue face such constancie appeares,

  As now scarse shewing comfort in his smiles,

  Nor then reuealing sorrow in his teares:

  Yet oft beheld it with that stedfast eye,

  Which though itsdain’d the pleasdnesse to confesse,

  More in his lookes in fulnesse there did lie,

  Than all their words could any way expresse.

  In time the Princesse playing with the Childe,

  In whom she seem’d her chiefe delight to take,

  With whom she oft the wearie time beguil’d,

  That as her owne did of this Hebrew make:

  It so fell out as was in place,

  Seeing his daughter in the Childe to ioy,

  To please the Princesse, and to doe it grace,

  Himselfe vouchsafes to entertaine the Boy:

  Whose shape and beautie when he did he hold

  With much content his Princely eye that fed,

  Giuing to please it, any thing it would,

  Set his rich Crowne vpon the Infants head,

  Which this weake Childe regarding not at all

  (As such a Babie carelesly is meete)

  Vnto the ground the Diadem let fall

  Spurning it from him with neglectsull fecte.

  Which as the Priests beheld this ominous thing

  (That else had past vnnoted as a toy.)

  As from their skill report vnto the King,

  This was the man that Egypt should destroy.

  Tolde by the Magi that were learn’d and wise,

  Which might full well the iealous King enflame,

  Said by th’ Egyptian ancient prophecies

  That might giue credite easlier to the same.

  She as discrecte as she was chaste and faire,

  With Princely gesture and with count’nance milde

  By things that hurtfull and most dangerous were

  Showes to the King the weakenesse of the Childe:

  Hot burning coales doth to his mouth present,

  Which he to handle simply doth not sticke,

  This little foole, this retchlesse Innocent

  The burning gleed with his soft tongue doth licke:

  Which though in Pharaoh her desire it wrought,

  His babish imbecilitie to see,

  To the Childes speech impediment it brought,

  From which he after neuer could be free.

  The Childe grew vp, when in his manly faco.

  Beautie was seene in an vnusuall cheere,

  Such mixtures sweet of comelinesse and grace

  Likely apparell’d in complexion cleere.

  The part of earth contends with that of heauen,

  Both in their proper puritie excelling,

  To whether more preheminence was giuen,

  Which should excell the dweller or the dwelling.

  Mens vsuall stature he did farre

  And euery part proportioned so well,

  The more the eye vpon his shape did feede,

  The more it long’d vpon the same to dwell:

  Each ioynt such perfect Harmonie did

  That curious iudgement taking any lim

  Searching might misse to match it any where,

  Nature so fail’d in parallelling him:

  His haire bright yellow, on an arched brow

  Sate all the beauties kinde could euer frame,

  And did them there so orderly bestow,

  As such a seate of maiestie became,

  As time made perfect each exteriour part,

  So still his honour with his yeeres encreas’d,

  That he sate Lord in many a tender heart,

  With such high sauours his faire youth was bless’d.

  So fell it out that AETHIOP began,

  Inuading Egypt with their armed powers,

  And taking spoiles, the Country ouer-ran

  To where as Memphis vaunts her climing Towers

  Wherefore they with their Oracles conferre

  About th’euent, which doe this answere make,

  That if they would transport this ciuill warre,

  They to their Captaine must an Hebrew take.

  And for faire Moyses happily was growne

  Of so great towardnesse and especiall hope,

  Him they doe choose as absoluiest knowne

  To leade their power against the AETHIOPE.

  Which they of Termuth hardly can obtaine,

  Though on their Altars by their Gods they vowe

  Him to deliuer safe to her againe,

  (Once the warre ended) safe as he was now.

  Who for the way the Armie was to passe,

  That by th’ Egyptians onely was intended,

  Most part by water, more prolixious was

  Than present perill any whit commended:

  To intercept the AETHIOPIANS wrought

  A way farre nearer who their Legions led,

  Which till that time impassible was thought,

  Such store of Serpents in that place was bred:

  Deuis’d by Birds this danger to eschew,

  Whereof in Egypt exceeding store,

  The Storke, and Ibis, which he wisely knew,

  All kindes of Serpents naturally abhore.

  Which he in Baskets of AEGYPTIAN reede,

  Borne with his caridge easely doth conuay,

  And wherein campeth sets them forth to feede,

  Which driue the Serpents presently away.

  Thus them preuenting by this subtill course,

  That all their succour sodainly bereft,

  When AETHIOP flies before th’ Egyptian force.

  Shut vp in Saba their last refuge left.

  Which whilst with strait siedge they beleagred long,

  The Kings faire Daughter haps him to behold,

  And became fettered with affection strong,

  Which in short time could hardly be controlde.

  Tarbis that kindled this rebellious rage,

  That they to Egypt tributorie were,

  When the olde King decrepit now with age,

  She in his stead the loueraigntic did beare.

  Vp to his Tower where she the Camp might see,

  To looke her new Loue euery day she went,

  And when he hap’ned from the field to be,

  She thought her blest beholding but his Tent,

  And oftentimes doth modestly inuay

  Gainst him the Citie walled first about,

  That the strong site should churlishly denay

  Him to come in, or her for passing out,

  Had the gates beene but softned as her breast

  (That to behold her loued enemie stands)

  He had ere this of Saba beene possest,

  And therein planted the Egyptian bands:

  Ost from a place as secretly she might

  (That from her Pallace look’d vnto his Tent)

  When he came forth appearing in his sight,

  Shewing by signes the loue to him she ment.

  For in what armes it pleas’d him to be dight,

  After the Hebrew or th’ Egyptian guise:

  He was the brauest, the most goodly wight

  That euer graced AETHIOP with his eyes.

  And finding meanes to parley from a place,

  By night, her passion doth to him discouer,

  To yeeld the Citie if he would .

  Her a true Princesse, as a faithfull Louer.

  The feature of so delicate a Dame,

  Motiues sufficient to his youth had beene,

  But to be Lord of Kingdomes by the same,

  And of so great and absolute a Queene,

  Soone gently stole him from himselfe away.

  That doth to him such rarities partake,

  Offring so rich, so excellent a prey,

  Louing the t
reason for the Traytors sake.

  But whilst he liued in this glorious vaine,

  Israel his conscience oftentimes doth moue,

  That all this while in Egypt did remaine

  Vertue and grace o’recomming youth and loue.

  And though God knowes vnwilling to depart,

  From so high Empire wherein now he stood,

  And her that sate so neere vnto his heart,

  Such power hath Israel in his happie blood,

  By skill to quit him sorcibly he wrought,

  As he was learn’d and traded in the starres,

  Both by the Hebrewes, and th’ Egyptian: taught,

  That were the first, the best Astronomers,

  Two sundry figures makes, whereof the one

  Cause them that weare it all things past forget,

  As th’other of all accidents foregone

  The memory as eagerly doth whet.

  Which he insculped in two likely stones,

  For rarenesse of inualuable price,

  And cunningly contriu’d them for the nones

  In likely rings of excellent deuise:

  That of obliuion giuing to his Queene,

  Which soone made show the violent effect

  Forgot him straight as he had neuer beene,

  And did her former kindenesses neglect.

  The other (that doth memorie )

  Him with the loue of Israel doth enflame,

  Departing thence not how the Princesse wist.

  In peace he leaues her as in warre he came.

  But all the pleasures of th’ Egyptian Court,

  Had not such power vpon his springing yeeres,

  As had the sad and tragicall report

  Of the rude burdens captiu’d Israel beares,

  Nor what regards he to be grac’d of Kings?

  Or flatred greatnes idely to awaite?

  Or what respects he the negotiating

  Matters comporting Emperie and State?

  The bondage and seruilitie that lay

  On buried Israel (sunke in ordurous slime)

  His greeued spirit downe heauily doth way,

  That to leane care ost leant the prosperous time

  A wreched Hebrew hap’ned to behold

  Brus’d with sad burdens without all remorse

  By an Egyptian barb’rously controlde,

  Spurning his pin’d and miserable corse

  Which he beholding vexed as he stood,

  His faire veines swelling with impatient fire,

  Pittie and rage so wrestled in his blood

  To get freepassage to conceaued ire,

  Rescuing the man th’ Egyptian doth resist:

  (Which from his vile hands forcibly he tooke)

  And by a strong blowe with his valiant fist,

  His hatefull breath out of his nostrils strooke,

  Which through his courage boldly auerre,

  In the proud power of his hand.

  Yet from high honour deigneth to interre,

  The carkasse in the smouldring sand.

  Which then supposd in secret to be wrought,

  Yet still hath Enuie such lealous eye,

  As soorth the same incontinent it sought,

  And to the King deliuered by and by,

  Which soone gaue vent to Pharo’s couered wrath,

  Which till this instant reason did confine,

  Opening a strait way, and path

  Vnto that greate and terrible designe:

  Most for his safety foreing his

  When now affliction euery day did breed,

  And when reuengfull tyrannie did

  The greatest horrour to the Hebrew seed:

  To Midian now his Pilgrimage he tooke,

  Midian earthes onely Paradice fer pleasures,

  Where many a soft Rill, many a sliding Brooke,

  Through the sweet vallie, trip in wonton measures,

  Whereas the curl’d Groues and the flowrie fields,

  To his free soule so peaceable and quiet

  More true delight and choise contentment yeelds,

  Than Egipts braueries and luxurious die:

  And wandring he hap’ned on a Well,

  Which he by pathes frequented might espie,

  Bordred with trees where pleasure seem’d to dwell,

  Where to repose him, easily downe doth lie:

  Where the soft windes did mutually embrace,

  In the coole Arbours Nature there had made,

  Fanning their sweet breath gently in his face

  Through the calme cincture of the am’rous shade.

  Till now it nigh’d the noone-stead of the day,

  When scorching heat the gadding Heards do grieue.

  When Shepheards now and Heardsmen euery way,

  Their thirsting Cattell to the Fountaine driue:

  Amongst the rest seuen Shepheardesses went

  Along the way for watring of their Sheepe,

  Whose eyes him seemed such reflection sent,

  As made the Flocks euen white that they did keepe:

  Girles that so goodly and delightfull were,

  The fields were fresh and fragrant in their viewe,

  Winter was as the Spring time of the yeere,

  The grasse so proud that in their footsteps grewe:

  Daughters they were vnto a holy man,

  (And worthy too of such a Sire to be)

  Iethro the Priest of fertile Midian,

  Few found so iust, so righteous men as he.

  But see the rude Swaine, the vntutour’d slaue,

  Without respect or reu’rence to their kinde.

  Away their faire flocks from the water draue,

  Such is the nature of the barb’rous Hinde.

  The Maides (perce uing where a stranger sat)

  Of whom those Clownes so basely did esteeme,

  Were in his presence discontent thereat,

  Whom hee perhaps improuident might deeme.

  Which he perceauing kindely doth entreate,

  Reproues the Rusticks for that off’red wrong,

  Auerring it an iniurie too great,

  To such (ofright) all kindenesse did belong.

  But finding well his Oratorie faile,

  His fists about him frankly he

  That where perswasion could not late preuaile,

  He yet compelleth quickly by his blowes.

  Entreates the Dam’sels their aboade to make.

  (With Courtly semblance and a manly grace,)

  At their faire pleasures quietly to take,

  What might be had by freedome of the place.

  Whose beautie, shape, and courage they admire,

  Exceeding these, the honour of his minde,

  For what in mortall could their hearts desire,

  That in this man they did not richly finde?

  Returning sooner then their vsuall hower,

  All that had hapned to their Fathers tould,

  That such a man relieu’d them by his power,

  As one all ciuill curtesie that could:

  Who full of bountie hospitably meeke

  Of his behauiour greatly pleas’d to heare,

  Forthwith commands his seruants him to seeke,

  To honour him by whom his honour’d were:

  Gently receiues him to his goodly seat,

  Feasts him his friends and families among,

  And him with all those offices entreat,

  That to his place and vertues might belong:

  Whilst in the beauty of those goodly Dames,

  Wherein wise Nature her owne skill admires,

  He feeds those secret and impiercing flames,

  Nurs’d in fresh youth, and gotten in desires:

  Wonne with this man this princely Priest to dwell,

  For greater hire then bounty could deuise,

  For her whose prayse makes prayse it selfe excell,

  Fairer then sairenesse, and as wisedome wise.

  In her, her Sisters seuerally
were seene,

  Of euery one she was the rarest part,

  Who in her presence any time had beene,

  Her Angell eye transpierced not his heart.

  For Zipora a Shepheards life he leads,

  And in her sight deceiues the subtill howres,

  And for her sake oft robsthe flowrie meades,

  With those sweet spoiles t’enrich her rurall bowres.

  Vp to mount Horeb with his flocke he tooke,

  The flocke wise lethro willed him to keepe,

  Which well he garded with his Shepheards crooke,

  Goodly the Shepheard, goodly were the Sheepe:

  To feede and folde sull warily he knew,

  From Fox and Wolfe his wandring flockes to free,

  The goodli’st flowers that in the meadowes grew

  Were not more fresh and beautifull than hec.

  Gently his fayre flockes lessowd he along,

  Through the Frim pastures freely at his leasure,

  Now on the hills, the vallies then among,

  Which seeme themfelues to offer to his pleasure.

  Whilst featherd Siluans from each blooming spray,

  With murm’ring waters wistly as they creepe,

  Make him such musicke (to abridge the way,)

  As fits a Shepheard company to keepe.

  When loe that great and fearefull God of might

  To that faire Hebrew strangely doth appeare,

  In a bush burning visible and bright

  Yet vnconsuming as no fire there were:

  With hayre erected and eyes,

  Whilst he with great astonishment admires,

  Eoe that eternall Rector of the skies,

  Thus breathes to from those quickning

  Shake off thy Sandals (saith the thund’ring God)

  With humbled feet my wondrous power to see.

  For that the soyle where thou hast boldly trod,

  Is most select and hallowed vnto me:

  The righteous Abraham for his God me knew,

  Isaac and Iacob trusted in mine Name,

  And did beleeue my Couenant was true,

  Which to their seed shall propagate the same:

  My folke that long in Egypt heene bard,

  Whose cries haue entred heauens eternall gate,

  Our z alous mercy openly hath heard,

  Kneeling in teares at our eternall State.

  And am come downe, them in the Land to see,

  Where streames of milke through batiull Valleys flow,

  And lushious hony dropping from the tree,

  Load the full flow’rs that in the shadowes grow:

  By thee my power am purposed to trie,

  That from rough bondage shalt the Hebrewes bring,

  Bearing that great and fearfull Embassie

  To that Monarchall and Emperious King.

  And on this Mountaine (standing in thy sight,)

  When thou returnest from that conquered Land,

  Thou hallow’d Altars vnto me shale light,