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

THE HISTORIE OF JUDITH.
59
From Dames of great estate, to that entent
this Pagan Prince she rather might preuent.
Achior then who watched at the gate,
And saw this Lady passing out so late,
To Carmis spak, who warded eke that night
what is she this ? where goes this gallant wight
so trim in such a tyme : hath she no pittie
of this most wretched persecuted Cittie ?
Quod Carmis then, their flourisht heare of late
Merari one, that was of great estate.
Who had no childe but one & this is she,
The honour of that house and familie.
The fathers now do venture bodie and soule,
that treasures vpon treasures they may roule :
But for the wit or learning neuer cairs,
that they should leaue to their succeeding hairs,
Like those that charely keepes their rich araye
In coffers close & lets it their decay :
while that the naked bodies dyes for cold,
for whome the clothes are dearly bought & sold.
But as the painfull plowman plyes his toyle,
with share and culter shearing through1 the soyle
that cost him deare, and ditches it about,
Or crops his hedge to make it vnder sprout,
And neuer stayes to warde it from the weede :
But most respects to sowe therin good seede :
to th’end,2 whew sommer decks the medowes plaine,
He may haue recompence of costs & paine :
Or like the mayd who carefull is to keepe,
the budding flowre that first begins to peepe
Out of the knop, and waters it full oft
to make it seemly show the head aloft,
that it may (when she drawes it from the stocks)
Adorne her gorget white, and golden locks :
So wise Merari all his studie stilde,
to facion well the maners of this childe,
p. S3.
70
80
Compari¬
son.
90
TOO
p. 54.
tig. Eiiij
1 1584, throug.
2 1584, thend.