The Judgement of Salomon:
In discerning the true Mother from the false, by her compas-
sion, giving sentence to divide the Childe.
To the tune of the Ladies fall.
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WHen David over Israel had
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ruled full forty yeares,
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And on his Throne securely sate,
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as plainely it appears:
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Stricken in yeares, and full of dayes,
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and nature almost spent,
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To set his sonne upon that Throne,
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his minde was fully bent.
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For fearing lest that he should dye,
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without the choyse of one:
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That might as he had done before
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sit still on Israels Throne:
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And to prevent the discord that
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amongst his sonnes might rise,
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He pickes out one, and makes him King,
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before Death closd his eyes.
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Whose name was Salomon, a man,
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of rare, and excellent parts:
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Yea, such a man he was, that if
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any by their deserts
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Might claime a Crowne, the Salomon,
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of whom the earth did ring,
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Deserv d it, and none fitter could
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doe David chuse for King.
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Such was his wisedome, that the Queene
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of Sheba from the South
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Came, for to hear those words that did
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proceede out of his mouth:
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Which when sh'ad heard, pronounc'd them blest,
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and happy for to be:
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That his Attendants were, and did
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wayte on his Majestie.
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His wisedome made him shine more bright
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then did the Roabes he wore,
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And made him in the peoples sight
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to be respected more,
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Then all the costly Jemms that hee,
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or ornaments had on:
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Or then the Throne that thus adorn'd,
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he us'd to sit upon.
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Whose wisedome was principally
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unto the world made knowne:
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In a just sentence that he gave
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to'th Harlots which did come
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To him for Justice, 'bout a childe,
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that both layd claime unto,
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Whose cause to heare he did assent,
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and did determine to.
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The second part. To the same tune.
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THe Harlots standing then before
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the presence of the King:
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With faltring speech and trembling tongue,
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one straite declares the thing:
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Saying, my Lord we women had
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lately two children small,
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Which of all earthly joyes we did
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esteeme them most of all.
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We had them much about one time,
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and both were of one sex,
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And one house doth containe us both,
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tis this that doth perplex
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My troubled soule th'one Harlot said,
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seeing her Childe is dead,
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She labours all she can to have
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mine, in her Infants stead.
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For in the night she over-layd
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her childe, and it did dye:
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But waking straitway, she perceiv'd,
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and this sad sight did spie:
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She straightway rose, and forthwith came
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at midnight to my bed:
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And tooke from me my living childe,
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and left with me hers dead.
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But in the morning when I wak'd,
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not knowing what was done;
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By this vilde woman which doth seeke,
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to bereave me of my sonne:
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And taking gently in mine armes,
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as then I thought, my childe:
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I straight perceiv'd it was not mine,
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and that I was beguil'd.
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Nay, said the other Harlot then,
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the childe that lives is mine:
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And that same Infant that is dead,
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assuredly was thine:
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That's false reply'd the other straight,
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for that that lives (said she)
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Is none of thine, I did it beare,
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and it belongs to me.
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Thus whatsoe'r the one did say,
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the other did deny:
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And what the other did affirme,
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did th'other presently,
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Cry'd out upon as false and vaine,
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nor would they ere they said,
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Nor possibly could quietnesse
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betwixt them both be made.
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Therefore they did implore the helpe,
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and wisedome of the King,
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Whose eye could onely pierce into
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so difficult a thing:
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That he would graciously be pleas'd
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as he had heard it so:
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He would give sentence to their cause,
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which they would stand unto.
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Salomon causd the living childe
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in the midst to be plac'd,
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Of both those Harlots that did seeke
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each other to disgrace:
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And one of his servants he charg'd
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to fetch a sword straightway;
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Which to him presently was brought
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without the least delay.
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Which sword he to his servant gave,
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putting it in his hand,
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Enjoyning him to execute
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what e're he did command.
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Divide the childe (saithe he) and give
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to each of them a part:
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Which words did pierce the true Mother
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unto the very heart.
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Who humbly did beseech the King,
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rather then it should dye,
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To give it to the other all,
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that with her did stand by:
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Nay answered the false Mother then,
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the King hath it decided:
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Neither thine, nor mine, the childe shall be,
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but let it be divided.
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King Salomon weigh'd both their words,
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and looking on them both,
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Did say, that she the Mother is
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that most compassion shew'th:
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Give her the childe that did lament,
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for such an Infant pretty,
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And when it should have mangled beene,
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was moved unto pitty.
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That Mother gladly did receive
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her tender Babe againe:
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Which the false Mother cruelly
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desired might be slaine:
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And when the people heard the words,
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and sentence of the King:
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Cry'd all with voice most lowd, God blesse
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Salomon in every thing.
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FINIS
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