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

58
THE HISTORIE OF JUDITH.
But chiefly lord grant that this hand of mine
may be the Pagans scourge & whole ruine : 30
to th’end that all the world may know our race,
Are shrouded so in rampiers of thy grace,
that neuer none against vs durst conspire,
that haue not felt at last thy furious yre :
Euen so good Lord let none of these prophane
Returne to drinke of Euphrate nor Hytane.
Thus ludith prayd with many-a trickling teare,
And with her sighs her words retrenched weare.
At night, she left her chamber sole and colde,
Attyrde with Ceres gifts and Ophir golde. 40
O siluer Diane, regent of the night,
Darst thou appeare before this lucent light ?
This holy starre whose contr’aspect most clear,
Doth steine thy brothers brightnes in his Sphear ?
While thus she ment (vnseene) away to slide,
Her pearles and Jewels causde her to be spide.
the musk and ciuet Amber as she past
Long after her a sweete perfume did cast.
A Carboncle on her Christall brow she pight,
whose firie gleames expeld the shadie night. 50
Vpon her head a siluer crisp shee pind,
Lose wauing on her shoulders with the wind.
Gold, band her golden haire : her yvrie neck,
the Rubies rich, and Saphirs blew did deck.
And at her eare, a Pearle of greater vallewe
ther hong, then that th’Egiptian Quene did swallew.
And through her collet shewde her snowie brest,
Her vtmost robe was coulour blew Coelest,
Benetted all with twist of perfite golde,
Beseeming well her comely corps t’enfolde.1 60
What els she weare, might well bene sene vpon,
that Queene who built the tours of Babylon.
And though that she most modest was indeede
yet borrowd she some garments at this neede.
p. 52.
sig. Eiij
1 1584, tenfolde.