Mary Sidney(1561–1621)

Psalm 58: Si Vere Utique

And call ye this to utter what is just,

You that of justice hold the sov'reign throne

And call ye this to yield, O sons of dust,

To wronged brethren ev'ry man his own

O no: it is your long malicious will

Now to the world to make by practice known,

With whose oppression you the balance fill,

Just to your selves, indiff rent 0 else to none. 2impartial

But what could they, who ev'n in birth declined,3

From truth and right to lies and injuries

To show the venom of their cankred 0 mindcorrupt, malignant

The adder's image scarcely can suffice;

Nay scarce the aspic 0 may with them contend,asp

On whom the charmer all in vain applies

His skillfull'st spells: ay missing of his end,always

While she self-deaf, and unaffected lies.4

Lord crack their teeth, Lord crush these lion's jaws,

So let them sink as water in the sand:

When deadly bow their aiming fury draws,

Shiver 0 the shaft ere past the shooter's hand.shatter

So make them melt as the dishoused snail

Or as the embryo, whose vital band

Breaks ere it holds,5 and formless eyes do fail

To see the sun, though brought to lightful land.

O let their brood, a brood of springing thorns,

Be by untimely rooting overthrown6

Ere bushes waxt, they push with pricking horns,grew

As fruits yet green are oft by tempest blown.7

The good with gladness this revenge shall see,

And bathe his feet in blood of wicked one

While all shall say: the just rewarded be,

There is a God that carves to each his own.

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