Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Isaiah · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
Ver. 1. FOr behold] This is alſo part of the former Sermon, though made the beginning of another Chapter: for of our Prophet that is ſome way true which Petrarch ſaith of Livy, viz. that he wrote many Books, quos in Decades non ipſe ſed faſtidioſa legentium ſcidit imperitia, which not himſelf but others without any great skill divided into Decads; ſc. Chapters.
The Lord—doth take away] Heb. is taking away, i. e. He will ſurely and ſuddenly do it, and thereby pave a way to the utter ruine of all. For as it was a Sign Sampſon meant to pull down the Houſe when he pulled away the pillars: ſo that God is about to ruine a State, when he plucketh away thoſe that are the ſhores and props of it.
The ſtay and the ſtaff] Validum & validam, ſo ſome render it,Sept. Piſcat. the Miriams as well as the Moſeſſes, Mic. 6.4. Others, baculum & bacillum, the ſtaff and the little ſtaff; all the ſupports and ſtayes of the State, both great and ſmall, one with another: Ceaſe ye therefore from man, as chap. 2.22.
The whole ſtay of bread] Suſtenance as well as Supporters, quicquid alimento aut munimento eſſe poterat.
Ver. 2. The mighty man and the man of War] Such as were Davids Mighties, Hannibal, Fabius Maximus (of whom the Poet, Hic patria eſt, muri que urbis ſtant pectore in uno) Scipio Africanus, of whoſe death when Metellus heard, he run out into the publick Forum, and cryed out, Concurrite cives, urbis veſtrae maenia corruerunt. Come forth, and conſult what is to be done, for your City is undone.
The Judge and the Prophet] When God gathereth ſuch by cluſters as it were, ſome evil is at hand: as when men pull up their hedges and fences, it is open-tide.
And the prudent] Heb. the Diviner: ſuch as have their eyes on their head, Eccl. 2.14. their hearts at their right hands, Eccleſ. 10.20. that judiciouſly pondering things paſt, can prudently order things preſent, and providently foreſee to prevent dangers likely to enſue.
And the ancient] With whom is Wiſdom and Counſel, Job 32.4.6, 7.
Ver. 3. The Captain of fifty] One of the leaſt and loweſt Commanders in War: ſuch alſo ſhall fail, and therefore all muſt needs fall to wrack and ruine; this Epaminondas when he was dying foreſaw at Thebes, Plut:and therefore counſelled his Country-men to make peace upon any terms.
And the honourable] Heb. the man eminent in countenance. Sept. foreign, a man of reſpect and authority; in the eyes of Auguſtus Caeſar ſate ſuch a rare Majeſty as a man could hardly endure to behold them, without cloſing of his own.
And the cunning artificer] Such as was Hiram (whom for honour-ſake Solomon called Father) Archimedes, and ſuch others who are of great uſe to a State, for making of Engines and Inſtruments.
And the eloquent Orator] Heb. skilled in Charms: Quintilian deſcribes an Orator thus:Intelligentem, meditatam & gravem orationem. Oecolamp. Vir bonus dicendi peritus, a good man well-ſpoken. Ille regit dictis animos & pectora mulcet, he carryeth the people which way he pleaſeth: The Athenians called ſuch foreign and ſet an high price upon them, as they did on Pericles, Demoſthenes, Phocion, &c.
Ver. 4. And I will give children to be their Princes] ſi non annis, at animis; ſuch as were Ahaz, Manaſſeh, the four laſt Kings of Judah; the calamity of that Kingdom.Dii avertant principes pueros. Vopiſ. Princes that are witleſs, wilful, weak or wicked, are the peoples wo, Eccleſ. 10.16. this childhood of theirs is the maturity of their Subjects miſery. See Iob 34.30.
And babes ſhall rule over them] Sept. Mockers. ſome render it Foxes. Others Effeminate perſons. But babes is beſt. Such a one was Rehoboam, and Honorius the Emperour, who when he heard that his City of Rome was taken by Alarichus, grieved moſt of all for the loſs of a certain bird which was there kept for him, and by him called Rome. Indignum ſane, Regem aves praeferre urbibus, ſaith the Hiſtorian.
Ver. 5. And the people ſhall be oppreſſed one by another] the greater devouring the leſſer, as fiſhes do. How ſhould it be otherwiſe, when there is either no Government, or not that which is good, but all things turned as here, topſy-turvy, without any reſpect to age, order, or dignity, and Virg.Scinditur incertum ſtudia in contraria vulgus.
This diſſention is the mother of Diſſolution, ſaith Nazianzen. This Diſſipation and perverſion of Order and Manners is the fore-runner of utter deſolation and ſubverſion.
Ver. 6. When a man ſhall take hold of his brother] This is a further miſchief that Government ſhall go a begging, and ſcarce one be found that ſhall hold it worth having. The Venetians have Magiſtrates called Praegadi, becauſe at firſt men were pray'd to take the office, and not many would accept of it. This was the caſe here: Men are naturally ambitious of Ruledom (the Bramble thinks it a goodly thing to raign over the Trees) but they may ſoon have enough of it, and be forced to cry out as he once did of his Diadem, O vilis pannus! O baſe rag! not worth taking up at a mans feet!
Thou haſt clothing] fit for a Prince, ſome badge of honour, and ſuch Apparrel as may procure thee reſpect: For Hunc homines decorant, quem veſtimenta decorant.
Let this ruin be under thy hand] that is, by an Hypallage, let thy hand be under this ruin, that is, under this deſolate and ruined State, to raiſe it up and repair it.
Ver. 7. In that day ſhall he ſwear, ſaying] Tis come to this paſs in ſome places at this day, Ʋt ambigant prudentiores, otium, an officium aliquod Reip. ſint perſecuturi, that Wiſe men doubt whether they had beſt bear Office or not. But true goodneſs is publike-ſpirited, though to private diſadvantage.
In caducum parietem non inclinabo.I will not be an healer] i. e. a Ruler. I will not be a binder up, or a Chyrurgion; for this State is no better then a great Spittle; the whole Head is ſick, and the whole Heart heavy, &c. I dare not therefore meddle with it, ſith it is incurable, incorrigible. The Septuagint render it, I will not be thy Prince: A King hath his Name in Greek from healing, foreign ab foreign medela.as Plutarch obſerveth: becauſe he is to be the Phyſitian or Surgeon of the Common wealth.
In mine houſe is neither bread, nor cloathing] I have not for mine own, much leſs for you. A Prince had need to be well under-laid, that he may not need to pill and poll his Subjects, or in judging to gape after gain.
Ver. 8. For Jeruſalem is faln] Therefore Ile not meddle, ſith it is a very ſad thing to be Phyſitian to a dying State, quando conclamatum eſt, when men are forſaken of their hopes.
Becauſe their tongue and their doings are againſt the Lord] They ſet their mouths againſt Heaven, and like ſo many Wolves they howl upwards: they lay the reins in the neck, and let their unruly tongues run riot. And as they talk, ſo they act, doing wickedly with both hands earneſtly, againſt the Author of their Being and Well-being.
To provoke the eyes of his glory] His eyes run to and fro through the earth: and all the wickedneſs in the world is committed before his face. This they know, and yet, go on in ſin, as if they did it on purpoſe to provoke him, and to ſee what he can do. Oecolampadius noteth, that Gods eyes are here mentioned, becauſe men are eaſily provoked to anger by a hurt in the eye. And Junius here obſerveth, that Gods eyes are called the Eyes of his Glory, becauſe as he is glorious in himſelf, ſo he is either to be glorified by us, or elſe he will ſurely glorifie himſelf upon us, ſuch eſpecially as are obſtinate and impudent, as here.
Ver. 9. The ſhew of their countenance doth witneſs againſt them] q. d. You may ſee by their very looks what Lewd loſels they are. Their cruelty, pride, envy, hypocriſie, mulieroſity ſitteth and ſheweth it ſelf apparently in their faces and fore-heads. Wiſdom maketh the face to ſhine, ſaith Solomon; & ipſe aſpectus viri boni delectat. Good men look lovely, ſaith Seneca, as did that Angel of God, John Bradford, quoth Dr. Taylor Martyr: not ſo Cain, when diſcontented at God and diſpleaſed at his brother, Gen. 4.6. he ſcouled and looked like a dog under a door, as we ſay.foreign, Hom. foreign. The thoughts are oft known by the countenance: and the heart is printed upon the face. Damaſcen calleth the eyes, the exact images of the Imaginations. And the Italians have a Proverb that a man with his words cloſe and his countenance looſe, may travel undiſcovered, what he is or goes about, all the world over. The word here uſed for ſhew or trial, doth in Hithpael ſignifie to make a mans ſelf unknown.
And they declare their ſin, as Sodom] They tell it out, as Judg. 14.16. And as the ſhameleſs Sodomites ſaid to Lot, Bring them out to us that we may know them, Gen. 19.5. See the like impudency in Lamech, Gen. 4.23, 24. In Lots two daughters, Gen. 19.36, 37. This impudent naming of their inceſtuous brats as begotten by their own Father ſheweth, that they declared their ſin, as Sodom, where they had lived and learned it.
They hide it not] So Ezek. 24.7. Her blood is in the midſt of her: ſhe ſet it upon the top of a Rock, as it were a ſunning, ſhe poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with duſt. See Jer. 2.25.
Wo to their ſoul] to their very ſoul. All wickedneſs hath a woe hanging at the heels of it: but eſpecially that which is grown impudent, a noon-day-Devil. The Septuagint here have it thus: Wo to their ſoul, for that they have taken evil counſel: ſaying, let us bind the juſt One, for that he is not for our purpoſe or profit. Wherein they do inſinuate the Myſterie of Chriſts Paſſion, ſaith Oecolampadius, and do manifeſtly tax their own Nation. Epiphanius teſtifieth of the Jews at Tiberias after the laſt deſtruction of Jeruſalem, that it was uſual with them when any of their dear friends or kindred were at the point of death,Epiphan. apud Lonicer. in Theat. Hiſtor. p. 96. to whiſper theſe words ſecretly into their ears, Crede in Jeſum Nazarenum crucifixum, Believe in Jeſus of Nazareth, whom our Chieftains crucified: for he it is who ſhall come to judge thee at the laſt day; Now if this be true, how great is the obſtinacy and impudence of that perverſe people, who ſtill ſin againſt ſuch ſtrong convictions?
Ver. 10. Say ye to the Righteous] Tell them ſo from me, ſaith God, for their comfort and encouragement. Zuinglius when he had preached terrour to the wicked, was wont to add, Probe vir, hoc nihil ad te. All this concerneth not thee, O thou godly man. When the dogs in a houſe are beaten, the Children will be apt to fright and cry: So when the wicked are threatened, good men are apt to be troubled. Say therefore to ſuch, and let them know aſſuredly,
That it ſhall be well with him] Heb. that good, ſc. ſhall betide him, whatever befalleth others. God ſhall be with the good, 2 Chron. 19. ult. Yet God is good to Iſrael, to the pure in heart, Pſalm 73.1. Eccl. 8.12.
For they ſhall eat the fruit of their doings] They ſhall reap in due time if they faint not; they ſhall eat of the fat, and drink of the ſweet, Iſa. 25.6. See chap. 65.13. & Prov 14.14. with the Notes.
Ver. 11. Wo to the wicked] This Sentence ſhould ever ſound in the wicked mans ears, for a powerfull retentive from wickedneſs, conſidering the evil Conſequent thereof, that doleful foreign wo and alaſs for evermore! And when thou art making (ſaith One) a covenant with ſin; ſay to thy ſoul, as Boaz ſaid to his kinſman, Ruth. 4.4. At what time thou buyeſt it, thou muſt have Ruth with it: If thou wilt have the pleaſure of ſin, the wayes of wickedneſs, thou muſt alſo have the vengeance and wrath of God with it; and let thy ſoul anſwer as he here doth; No, I may not do it, I ſhall mar and ſpoil a better Inheritance, I ſhall inherit a curſe, &c. Look ſaith Mr. Bradford Martyr to the tag tyed to Gods Law (the malediction) which is ſuch as cannot but make us to caſt our curriſh tails betwixt our legs,Serm. of Repentance. if we believe it.
Jun.It ſhall go ill with him] Vtcun que ſibi de rebus praeſentibus gratuletur. Though he ſtroake himſelf on the head, ſaying, I ſhall have peace though I walk in the imaginations of my heart, to add drunkenneſs to thirſt, Deut. 29.19. Tell him from me, ſaith God, Evil ſc. ſhall betide him, Yea An evil, an only evil awaiteth him, Ezek. 7.5. let him look for it.
The reward of his hands ſhall be given him] He ſhall reap as he ſowed, drink as he brewed, Gal, 6.7, 8.
Mox aut poena manet miſeros, aut palma beatos:
Quiſ que ſuae vitae ſemina jacta metet.
Verſ. 12. A for my people] Now the people of my wrath, and of my curſe, Loammi, diſcovenanted, diſcarded.
Children are their oppreſſours] Rulers he calleth them not, as being too good a Name for them: but Oppreſſours, and theſe were boyes and women, i. e. ſuch as were no wiſer then children, nor had any more command of their paſſions then weak women,Heyl. Coſm…g. and were therefore unfit for Government. Brunhild the wife of Sigebert King of Metz, Fri…egund the wife of Chilperick, and Katherine Medices wife of Henry the 2. are ſaid to be the Furies of France. What work they made in that Kingdom in their generations, by abuſing their Husbands love and authority, Hiſtories are full. The like did Jezabel in Iſrael, Athaliah in Judah, and Dame Alice Pierce here in England in King Edward the thirds dayes. This Woman being the Kings Concubine, and preſuming on his favour, whom in his old age ſhe had ſubdued, grew ſo inſolent, that ſhe impriſoned Sir Peter la Mare, Speaker for the Parliament:Dan. Hiſt. 257. intermeddled with Courts of Juſtice, and other Offices, where ſhe her ſelf would ſit to effect her deſire; which though in all who are ſo exalted are ever exceſſive, yet in a woman moſt immoderate, as having leſs of diſcretion, and more of gre…dineſs. Heliogabalus in a merriment ſet up a Senate of Women, but then their Ordinances were correſpondent, as what Attire each Woman ſhould uſe, how they ſhould take place, when ſalute, &c. But theſe in the Text working upon their Husbands Impotencies (who were children in the ſence that Shechem the ſon of Hamor is ſo called, Gen. 34.19. Ne que diſtulit puer, a lad or a boy, becauſe ſwayed not by right reaſon, but by blind affection) exacted of the poor people unreaſonable Tributes and Penſions, for the maintenance of their pride and luxury. Eſt haec ingens plaga, ſaith One, this is a great miſchief to a State, ſuch as Greece and Rome ſometimes groaned under. Diophantus the ſon of Themiſtocles once boaſted that he Ruled all Greece, becauſe he Ruled his mother: ſhe Ruled his Father, and he Ruled Greece. Cato alſo complained, Mulieres regunt nos, nos Senatum, Senatis Romam, Roma orbem; Our Women, ſaid he, Rule us, we Rule the Senate, the Senate the City and the City the whole world.
Qui bea…ficant te.O my people, they which lead thee] Or, thoſe that bleſs thee, and pronounce thee happy, ſaying, as do thy falſe-Prophets, thoſe flatterers, becauſe thou haſt with thee the Oracles and Ordinances of God, the Ceremonies and Sacrifices, praiſing thee therefore and promiſing thee all happineſs, ſoothing thee up in thy ſins, &c. Qui ducunt te, ſeducunt; Falſe Guides they are, and
Deſtroy the way of thy Paths] Heb. They ſwallow up, that is, they hide from thee thy duty, and ſo harden thee in thy ſin.
Ver. 13. The Lord ſtandeth up to plead] Or, to debate, Job 9.3. Prov. 25.8, 9. to argue the caſe, and to hear pleas. He is content, for the clearing of his Juſtice, and conviction of ſinners, to ſubmit his courſes unto ſcanning. See chap. 5.3. Judicate quaeſo, Judge I pray you: ſo Jer. 2.9. Wherefore I will yet plead with you, and with your childrens children will I plead. But when that is done,
He ſtandeth to judge the people] And the Lord will enter into Judgement, ver. 14. three ſeveral words are here made uſe of for Judgement, to ſhew, ſaith Oecolampadius, that God hath been is, and ſhall be Judge; and that in his Judgement, nihil relinquetur inexpenſum, nothing ſhall be left unconſidered.
Ver. 14. The Lord will enter into judgement with the ancients] 1. with the Prince and Rulers, each of which ſhall have cauſe to cry out
Judex ante fui, nunc judicis ante tribunal
Siſtor.—
For ye have eaten up the Vineyard] Vos, non caret Emphaſi, Ye, even ye, that ſhould have preſerved it, and wrought in it, have depaſtured and deſtroyed my Vineyard, that is my Church, as chap. 5.17. or poor mens poſſeſſions, through your extortions and oppreſſions.
And the ſpoil of the poor is in your houſes] You are taken foreign in the very act of your theft, as Cacus was, and Verres, Deprehenſi eſtis in ſurto. Oecolamp.&c.
Ver. 15. What mean you that you beat my people to pieces?] Heb. What to you? all in a word, ſhort and ſharp, q. d. What reaſon had you? What authority to do thus? That was a witty anſwer that was given once here to the Popes Exactor,Tuitione. who pleaded that all Churches were his, and therefore he might call for what ſumms he pleaſed; a nimble Diſputant replyed, that all Churches were the Popes in a ſence, viz. Tuitione, ſed non fruitione; defenſione, non diſſipatione, i. e. to defend them, but not to deſtroy them. If God give any man power, it is for edification, and not for deſtruction, 2 Cor. 13.10.
And grind the faces] holding their Noſes to the grind ſtone, as we ſay by hard uſage. See on Mic. 3.3.
Saith the Lord God] Dixit Dominator dominus; he who is higher then the higheſt, and being Lord of Hoſts, hath thoſe at hand that are higher then they, Eccleſ. 5.8.
Ver. 16. Moreover the Lord ſaith] He hath this other ſaying to the other ſex, for the maintaining of whoſe pride and luxury their Husbands and Paramours exerciſed ſuch cruelty, as before in the Raign of Henry 2. King of France, Anno 1554. many were burned there for Religion, as they ſaid; but indeed to ſatiate the covetouſneſs, and ſupport the pomp of Diana Valentina the Kings Miſtreſs,Hiſt of Counc. of Trent. 387. to whom he had given all the confiſcation of goods made in the Kingdom for cauſe of Hereſie.
Becauſe the Daughters of Zion] the Court Ladies.
Are haughty] Elatae, h. e. ſuperbia inflatae, puft up wth pride, firſt in heart, and then in habit: for pride will bud, Ezek. 7.10.
And walk] Women ſhould keep the houſe, ſaith Paul. Sarah was in the Tent,Tit. 2.5. Gen. 17.9. and theſe profeſſed to be her Daughters, but were nothing like her; Modeſtia enim à ſuperbia triumphata eſt.
With ſtretcht forth necks] like Cranes or Swans, that they might ſhew their fair foreheads, whereas nature hath given the ſubmiſs and modeſt viſages.
And wanton eyes] Heb. Lying or deceiving, viz. by their lewd laſcivious looks, twinkling and making ſignes. Some render it facie ſercuſſata with their painted faces, and counterfeit viſages, whereby to the reproach of their Maker they would ſeem fairer then they are.
Walking and mincing as they go] Or tripping or tabering, with an affected gate, after the manner of Dancers. Or ruffling in their Silks and Taffaties, with which laſt word, the original ſeemeth to have affinity. Others derive it from Taph a little child,Minutim & numeroſe paſſus conſerunt. Jac. Revius. & render it inſtar parvulorum ambulant, they take ſhort ſteps, as little ones do; ſo nice they are in their gate and garbe; elaborata quadam concinnitate greſſum modulantes.
Making a tinkling with their feet] going as if they were ſhackled, or as yong Colts that are to be broken and brought to a pace. Some think they wore bels about their legs, or ſpangles on their pantofles. Pope Sixtus quartus was wont to give his Harlot Tyreſia pantofles covered with Pearls.
Turpe pecus mutilum, turpis ſine gramine campus. Et fine p…onde frutex, & ſine crine caput. Ovid.Ver. 17. Therefore the Lord will ſmite with a ſcab the crown of the head] He will not only pull off their rich pantofles off their feet, but alſo their lovely looks from off their heads, with ſcabs and ſcales, perhaps cauſed by ſome ſoul Diſeaſe, as the lues Venerea, or plica Polonica.
And will diſcover their ſecret parts] not having a rag left to cover them with, whileſt ſtript of all by the enemy, they are driven away as thoſe Aegyptians were, chap. 20.4. naked and bare-foot, even with their buttocks uncovered to the ſhame of Aegypt: or as the Albigenſes in France at Carcaſſona had quarter for their lives given them, by the Popiſh Biſhops and other Cruciats that perſecuted them: but on this condition,Rivet Jeſuit. vapul. that both men and women ſhould depart the Town ſtark naked in the view of the whole Army.
Ver. 18. The Lord will take away the bravery] All the following bravery: for the Prophet as punctually and particularly threatneth all down, as if he had lately ſeen the Ladies Wardrobes in Jeruſalem. And if this vanity of gallantry be ſo blameworthy in a woman, who is naturally foreign addicted to fine attire, how much more in a man, who ſhall turn Lands into laces, and embroyder his cloak with Woods and Parks, and Lordſhips, lining it, haply, with Obligations, and Bonds, and Statutes?
Of their tinkling ornament, &c.] Here and in the following Verſes we have an Inventory of the Ladies gallantry, ſuch as made the mighty men fall in the War, ver. 25.26. This was the fruit of their twinkling eyes and tinkling Ornaments, Vatablus ſaith that the Spaniſh women did wear bells about their heels when they danced.
And the round tires like the Meon] Lunata monilia. Statius.
Ver. 19.20, 21, 22, 23. And the chains and the bracelets, &c.] The particulars of all their bravery we can ſay little unto upon certainty; ſith we are at this day ignorant what Ornaments and Abiliments were then in uſe: and beſides, the Names here given unto them are ſuch as the Jews themſelves can hardly tell what to make of. It is a ſad thing that the gawds and gayeties of this Age and Country are ſuch and ſo many, as that not ſix or ſeven Verſes, but ſo many whole Chapters might be eaſily taken up in Inventarying them. Lyſander a Heathen will riſe up in Judgement againſt many amongſt us: for he would not ſuffer his Daughters to wear gorgeous attire, ſaying, it would not make them ſo comely as common. That is very remarkable that is ſtoried of Mr. Fox the Martyrologue,Hiſt of mod. Div. by Lupton. that when a ſon of his returning from his travels into forraign parts, came to him in Oxford, attired in a looſe outlandiſh faſhion, Who are you? ſaid his old Father, not knowing him. He replyed, I am your ſon: O what enemy of thine, ſaid he, hath taught thee ſo much vanity? The Hebrew word beghed for a garment, comes from Baghad, which ſignifieth to deal perfidiouſly or treacherouſly, as Iſa. 21.3. perhaps, becauſe it is tegumentum & teſtimonium, not more a covering of mans ſhame, then a teſtimony of his firſt ſin in falling from God. So that a man or woman hath no more cauſe to brag of his fine cloaths or to be proud of them, then a Thief of a ſilk-rope, or then one bath of a Plaiſter laid to his filthy ſore.
Ver. 24. And there ſhall be in ſtead of ſweet ſmell, ſtink] Ex illuvie & ſordibus captivitatis & carceris. Martial and Marcellinus tell us of a natural ſtench the Jews have, ſuch as made the Emperour Aurelius coming amongſt ſome of them, and annoyed with their ill ſavour,Ammian. li. 2. to cry out, O Marcomanni, O Quadi, O Sarmatae, &c. O Marcomans, Quades and Sarmatians, at length I have met with thoſe that are more naſty and loathſome then you are. Theſe dainty Dames are threatened with dirty doings in captivity and priſon, ſuch as ſhould render them odious.
And in ſtead of a girdle, a rent] Or rags, or a beating, the Vulgar rendereth it a cord.
And inſtead of well ſet hair] Heb. work of even or ſmooth ſetting, or trimming, foreign or hair-trimmers were anciently noted for effeminate. Pompey is taxed in Hiſtory for that he did, Ʋnico digitulo caput ſcalpere, ſcratch his well-ſet hair with his little finger only.
Baldneſs] Pro criſpanti crine calvitium, & pro faſcia pectorali cilicium. Pride is ſo hatefull to God, that ſuch as are guilty of it ſeldom eſcape his viſible vengeance.
And burning inſtead of beauty] Burning, that is Sun-burning.
Ver. 25. Thy men ſhall fall by the ſword] for ſuffering and favouring the womens exceſſes; ſuch as are now adaies naked breaſts and ſhoulders: Abhorred filth! Our King Henry the 6. at ſuch a ſight cryed, Fit fie Ladies, in ſooth you are too blame, &c.
Ver. 26. And her gates ſhall lament] becauſe unfrequented, as Lam. 1.4.foreign. Nazian.
And the King deſolate] ſwept and wiped of all; not, as once, with her turrified head and ſtretcht forth neck.
Sitteth upon the ground] as a ſad mourner. Mony was coined by Veſpatian with a woman ſitting at the root of a Palm-tree, and this inſcription, Judae capta.