Scottish Text Society publications > Third series > Thomas Hudson's historie of Judith

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THE HISTORIE OF JUDITH.
THE SOMMARIE OF
THE IIII. BOOK.
According to the promis that Judith made to the besieged Cap-
taines in Bethulia, she prepareth herselfe with armour meete
for the execution of her enterprise: to wit, The inuocation of
the name of God, with a holy determination to deliuer her countrey
from the hand of the Tyrant : whome she deliberate to ouercome
with the sweete and faire apparence of her amiable beutie and
behauiour. At her departing to the enemies camp, our Poet
introduceth one of the chiefe Captaines of the towne discriuing 10
to another, her stock and vpbringing, with the progresse of her
three estates, Virginitie, Mariage, and Widowhood : Thereby
setting forth a singular example of all womanly behauiour and
vertue. After her enterance to the Camp, she is brought to Holo-
phernes, who was curious to know the cause of her camming
there. And after audience giuen, he is so surprised with her
beutie &■ eloquent language, that she obtaineth licence to with-
drawe herself by night to the next valley, there to pray to God
and continuing this exercise, she requireth strength of the Hyest,
that in taking away the chieftaine, she might at one instant 20
destroye all the Heathen Armie. Herein giuing example that
the beginning and end of all high attempts, ought to be grounded
vpon the fauour and earnest calling vpon him, without whome
all wisedome, and humaine force is nothing but wind: and
who contrariewise, may by the most feeble instruments of the
world, execute things most incredible and incomprehensible to
humaine capacitie.
p. so.
gig. Bij