The Story of David and Berseba_.
To a pleasant new tune.
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WHen David in Jerusalem,
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as royall King did rule & raigne,
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Behold what hapned unto him,
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that afterward procurd his paine.
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On the top of all his Princely Place,
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a gallant prospect there had he,
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From whence hee might whent pleasd hi[s] Grace,
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many a gallant Garden see.
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It chanced so upon a day,
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the King went forth to take the ayre,
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All in the pleasant moneth of May,
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from whence he spide a Lady faire.
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Her beauty was more excellent
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and brighter than the morning Sunne,
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By which the King incontinent,
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was to her favour quickly wonne.
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She stood within a pleasant Bower,
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all naked for to wash her there,
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Her body like a Lilly Flower,
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was covered with her golden haire.
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The King was wounded with her love,
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and what she was he did enquire,
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He could not his affection move,
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he had to her such great desire.
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She is Uriahs Wife, quoth they,
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a Captaine of your Princely Traine,
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That in your Warres is now away,
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and she doth all alone remaine.
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Then said the King, Bring her to me,
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for with her love my heart is slaine:
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The Prince of beauty sure is she,
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for whom I doe great griefs sustaine.
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The Servants they did soone prepare,
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to doe the message of the King,
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And Berseba the Lady faire,
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unto the Court did quickly bring.
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The King rejoyced at her sight,
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and won her love, and lay her by,
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Till they in sport had spent the night,
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and that the Sun was risen high.
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The King his leave most kindly tooke
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of the faire Lady at the last:
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And homeward then she cast her looke,
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till that three moneths were gone & past.
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And then in Berseba so faire,
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she found her former health exilde,
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By certaine tokens that she saw,
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the King had gotten her with childe.
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Then to the King she made her mone,
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and told him how the case did stand:
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The King sent for her Husband home,
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to cloake the matter out of hand.
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When from the Camp Uriah came,
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the King receivd him courteously,
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Demanding how all things did frame
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concerning of the Enemy.
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Uriah shewd his Highnesse all
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the accident of warlike strife,
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Then said the King, this night you shall
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keepe company with your owne wife.
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The Arke of God (Uriah said)
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with Judahs Host, and Israel,
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Keepe in the Field, and not a man
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within the house where they doe dwell.
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Then should I take my ease, quoth he,
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in beds of Downe with my faire wife?
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O King, he said, that must not be,
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so long as I enjoy my life.
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Then did the King a Letter frame,
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to Joab Generall of the Host,
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And by Uriah sent the same,
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but certainely his life it cost.
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The second part, To the same tune.
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ANd when the King for certaine knew
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Uriah thus had murdered beene,
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Faire Berseba to Court he drew,
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and made of her his royall Queene.
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Then God that saw his wicked deed,
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was angry at King Davids sinne:
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The Prophet Nathan then with speed,
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came thus complaining unto him.
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O David, ponder what I say,
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a great abuse I shall thee tell:
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For thou that rulst in equity,
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shouldst see the people ruled wel.
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Two men within the City dwell,
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the one is rich, the other poore:
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The rich in Cattell doth excell,
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the other nothing hath in store,
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Saving one silly little Sheepe,
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which yong he did with money buy:
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With his owne bread he did it feed,
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amongst his Children tenderly.
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The rich man had a stranger came
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unto his house that lovd him deare,
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The poore mans Sheepe therefore he tooke,
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and thereof made his friend good cheere.
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Because that he his owne would save,
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he usd the man thus cruelly:
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Then by the Lord the Kind did sweare,
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the rich man for that fault should die.
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Thou art the man, the Prophet said,
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thy Princely Crowne God gave to thee:
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Thy Lords wives thou thine owne hast made,
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and many more of faire beauty.
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Why hast thou so defilde thy life,
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and slaine Uriah with the sword,
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And taken home his wedded Wife,
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regarding not Gods holy Word?
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Therefore behold, thus saith the Lord,
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great warres upon thy house shall be,
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Because thou hast my Lawes abhord,
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much ill be sure Ile raise on thee.
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Ile take thy wives before thy face,
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and give them to thy neighbours use:
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And thou thereby shalt have disgrace,
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for men shall laugh at thine abuse.
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Then David cryed out pittiously,
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sore have I sinned against the Lord,
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Have mercy God therefore on me,
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let not my prayers be abhord.
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But as the Prophet told to him,
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so did it after chance indeed.
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For God did greatly plague his sinne,
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as in the Bible you may read.
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The scourge of sinne thus you may see,
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for murther and adultery.
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Lord grant that we may warned be,
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such crying sinnes to shun and flie.
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