Lament (1)

How sad and solitary now (alas,)
Is that well-peopled Citie come to be!
Which once so great among the Nations was,
And oh how widdow-like appeareth she!
She rule of all the Prouinces hath had,
And now her selfe is tributary made.

All night shee maketh such excessiue mone,
That downe her cheekes a flood of teares doth flow
And yet, among her Louers there is none,
That consolation doth on her bestow.
For they that once her Louer did appeare,
Now turned foes, and faithlesse to her are.

Now Iudah in captiuity complaines,
That (others) heretofore so much opprest.
For her false seruice, shee her selfe remaines
Among those Heathens, where shee findes no rest.
And apprehended in a Straite, is shee,
By those that persecuters of her bee.

The very waies of Sion doe lament.
The Gates thereof their lonelinesse deplore:
Because that no man commeth to frequent
Her solemne Festiualls as heretofore.
Her Priests doe sigh; her tender Virgins bee
Uncomfortable left, and so is Shee.

Her Aduersaries are become her Chiefes:
On high exalted, those that hate her are:
And God hath brought vpon her all those griefes,
Because so many her transgressions were.
Her Children driuen from her by the Foe,
Before him, into loathed thraldome goe.

From Sions-Daughter (once without compare)
Now all her matchlesse louelinesse is gone.
And like those chased Harts her Princes fare,
Who seeke for pasture and can finde out none.
So (of their strength depriu'd, and fainting nigh)
Before their abler foes, they feebly flye.

Ierusalem now thinkes vpon her crymes;
And calls to minde (amid her present woes)
The pleasure shee enioy'd in former times,
Till first shee was surprized by her foes:
And how (when they perceiued her forlorne)
They at her holy Sabbaths made a scorne.

Ierusalems transgressions many were;
And therefore is it shee disdained lies:
Those, who in former time haue honour'd her;
Her basenesse now behold, and her despise:
Yea, shee her selfe doth sit bewailing this;
And of her selfe her selfe ashamed is.

Her owne vncleannesse in her Skirt shee bore;
Not then beleeuing what her end would bee.
This great destruction falls on her therefore:
And none to helpe or comfort her hath shee.
Oh, heede thou Lord, and pittie thou my woes,
For I am triumph't-ouer by my foes.

Her Foe hath touch'd with his polluted hand,
Her things that Sacred were, before her face:
And, they whose entrance thou didst countermand,
Intruded haue into her Holy-place:
Those; that were not so much approu'd by thee,
As, of thy Congregation held to be.

Her People, doe with sighes, and sorrowes, get
That little bread which for releefe they haue.
And, giue away their precious things for meat,
So to procure wherewith their life to saue.
Oh Lord consider this; and ponder Thou,
How vile, and how detected I am now.

No pitty, in you Passengers is there?
Your eyes oh somewhat hitherward encline;
And marke, if euer any griefe there were
Or sorrow that did equall this of mine:
This, which the Lord on me inflicted hath,
Upon the day of his incensed wrath.

He from aboue, a Flame hath hurled downe;
That kindles in my bones preuailing fire.
A Net, he ouer both my feet hath throwne;
By which, I am compelled to retyre.
And he hath made me a forsaken-one,
To sit, and weepe out all the day alone.

The heauy yoke of my Transgressions, now,
His hand hath wreathed, and vpon me laid;
Beneath the same my tyred necke doth bow:
And all my strength is totally decay'd.
For, me to those, the LORD hath giuen o're,
Whose hands will hold me fast for euermore.

The LORD hath trampled vnderneath their feet,
Eu'n all the mighty, in the midst of me.
A great Assembly he hath caus'd to meet,
That all my ablest men might slaughtred be.
And Iudah's Uirgin-daughter treads vpon,
As in a wine-presse Grapes are trodden on.

For this (alas) thus weepe I; and mine eyes,
Mine eyes drop water thus; because that He,
On whose assistance, my sad soule relies,
In my distresse is farre away from me.
Eu'n while, (because of my preuailing Foe,)
My Children are compel'd from me to goe.

In vaine hath Syon stretched forth her hand;
For, none vnto her succour draweth nigh:
Because, the LORD hath giuen in command,
That Iacobs Foes should round about her lye.
And poore Ierusalem among them there;
Like some defiled woman doth appeare.

The LORD is iustified, nay-the-lesse,
Because I did not his commands obay.
All Nations therefore, heare my heauinesse,
And heed it (for your warning) you I pray.
For, into thraldome (through my follies) be
My Virgins, and my Young-men, borne from me.

Upon my Louers I haue cryed out,
But, they my groundlesse hopes deceiued all.
I for my reu'rend Priests enquir'd about;
I, also, did vpon mine Elders call:
But in the City, vp the ghost they gaue,
As they were seeking meat their liues to saue.

Oh LORD, take pitty now on my distresse:
For loe my soule distemper'd is in me.
My heart is ouercome with heauinesse;
Because I haue so much offended thee.
Thy Sword abroad my ruine doth become.
And Death doth also threaten me at home.

And of my sad complaints my Foes haue heard:
But to afford me comfort there is none.
My troubles haue at full to them appear'd;
Yet they are ioyfull that thou so hast done.
But, thou wilt bring the Time set downe by Thee;
And then in sorrow they shall equall mee.

Then, shal those foule Offences they haue wrought,
Before thy presence be remembred all:
And whatso'ere my Sinnes on me haue brought,
(For their Transgressions) vpon them shall fall.
For, so my sighings multiplied be;
That therewithall, my heart is faint in me.