Lamentations, Chapter 4

How is our Gold growne dimme! of all the most
Refin'd and pure, hath now his Lustre lost.
That Marble, which the Temple beautifi'd;
Torne downe by impious Rage, and cast aside.
The wretched Sons of Sion, ah! behold!
Of late so precious; more esteem'd then Gold:
How slighted! to how low a value brought!
Like Earthen vessels by the Potter wrought.
The Monsters of the Sea, and Salvage Beasts,
Their young ones gently foster at their Breasts:
My Daughters, ah! more cruell are then these:
Or then the desert-haunting Estriges.
Their Children cry for Bread, but none receive:
Whose thirsty tongues to their hot pallats cleave.
Who fed Deliciously, now sit forlorne:
And those who Scarlet wore, on dung-hils mourne.
The Punishments, as did their sinnes, excell
That which from Heaven on wicked Sodom fell,
Devour'd with sodaine flames. No Creature found
To whom his wrath could adde another wound.
Her Nazarites, late pure, as falling Snow;
More white then Streames which from stretcht udders flow:
Not Rubies of the rocke such red insphear'd;
Nor polisht Saphires like their Veines appear'd:
Their faces now more blacke then Cinders growne;
To such as meet them in the Streets, unknowne.
Whose wither'd Skins, more dry then saplesse wood,
Cleave to their fleshlesse Bones, for want of Food.
O farre lesse wretched they, whose parting Breath
Breaks through their wounds, then those who starve to death!
For they in lingring torments pine away:
And find not Death so cruell as Delay.
Soft-hearted Mothers live by horrid spoile:
And their beloved Babes in Caldrons boyle.
On these with weeping Eyes, and hearts that bleed,
The famisht Daughters of my People feed.
The Lord his vengeance now accomplish't hath;
And powred forth the Viols of his wrath:
Forsaken Sion sets on fire; whose Towers
And Palaces the hungry flame devoures.
You Kings that sway the many-Peopled Earth;
All who from groaning Mothers take your birth:
O would you have believ'd, that thus the Foe
Should have triumpht in her sad overthrow!
Her Priests and Prophets sins, who should have taught
By their Example, have her ruine wrought:
With humane flesh her flaming Altars fed;
And blood of Innocents profusely shed.
Who blindly wander; so defil'd with gore,
That none would touch the Garments which they wore.
Depart, they cry'd, Depart, and touch us not:
Depart ô you whom foule pollutions spot.
Thus chid, they stray'd, and to the Gentiles fled:
Yet said, ere long we shall from hence be led.
For this, the Lord hath scatter'd in his Ire;
Nor ever shall they to their homes retire:
Their unregarded Priests slaine by the Foe;
Who would no pitie to the aged show.
Yet vainely we, in these our Miseries,
With expectation have consum'd our eyes;
And fostered flattering hopes: built on their word,
Who can no ayd to our Extreames afford.
Like cruell Hunters they our steps pursue:
While we in Corners lurke from publike view.
That Fatall Day drawes neere; wherein we must
Descend to Death, and mingle with the Dust.
Not Eagles fearefull Doves so swiftly chace;
As they with winged feet our foot-steps trace:
Pursue o're Mountaines; watch at every Streight;
And to intrap us in the Defart waite.
The Lords Anointed, even our nostrils Breath,
They have ensnar'd, and rendred up to Death.
Of whom we said; Among the Heathen wee,
Beneath his wings, shall live in exile free.
Daughter of Edom, thou that dwelst in Hus,
Exalt thy Joy: This Cup to thee from us
Shall swiftly passe: thy braines inebriate so,
As thou thy nakednesse shalt boldly show.
Yet when thy Sins deserved Punishment,
O wretched Sions Daughter, shall be spent:
Jehova will thy Banishment repeale;
Foment thy wounds, and all thy bruises heale.
Then he on Edoms Issue shall impose
Our yoake, and her deformitie disclose.