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

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THE HISTORIE OF JUDITH.
Beseech thy noble grace if so thee please,
with courteous ayde, to giue my dolours ease.
, Of common sence he is depriued cleene,
, that falls with closed eye on danger scene.
, And he that may both paine and hurt eschewe,
, Is vaine if he his proper death pursewe. 410
Then in this quiet dale if I may byde
(in secret) for to pray ech evning tyde
to God : I shall as he doth me enspyre,
Assure you when enkendled is his yre,
Against our folke. Then shall I take on hand,
to leade thine Armie through all lurie land,
And streaming standarts set on Syon hill,
where none with weapons dare resist thy will.
No, not a verie dog in euening dark,
At noyse of hames shall against thee bark.
Thy onely name shall fray the Armies bold,
Before thy face the mountaine tops shall fold.
The floods shall drye & from their running stay,
To make thine Hoste, a new & vncouth way.
O lewell of the world (quoth he) 6 Dame,
For gratious spech and beutie worthie fame,
Now welcome here, would God it might you please
Longtime with vs to dwell in rest and ease,
For if your faith and trouth concurrant be,
to this your talke, which greatly pleaseth me : 430
I will from this time forth with you accord,
to serue your onely Hebrewes God & Lord,
And will my seruice whole to you enrowle :
Not of my Scepter onely, but my soule.
I will your name and honour ay defend
From Hebrew bounds vnto the world his end.
This sayd : with silence as the moone arose,
The widow her withdrew, and forth she goes
Vnto a valley close on euerie part,
where as she washt her corse & clenst her harte : 440
And with her weeping eyes the place beraid,
And to the God of Izak thus she praide.
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