DAVID REX PIUS. For it they have had thy righteous punishment, And for as much as they did wickedly consent To the Philistines and Canaanites, ungodly Idolaters, taking to them in matrimony, Thou threwest them under the king of Mesopotamia, After thou subduedst them for their idolatry Eighteen years to Eglon, the king of Moabites, And twenty years to Jabin, the king of Canaanites, Oppressed they were seven years of the Midianites, And eighteen years vexed of the cruel Ammonites. In three great battles, of threescore thousand and five Of this thy people, not one was left alive. Have mercy now, lord, and call them to repentance. PATER COELESTIS. So long as they sin, so long shall they have grievance. David my servant, somewhat must I say to thee: For that thou lately hast wrought such vanity. DAVID REX PIUS. Spare not, blessed lord, but say thy pleasure to me. PATER COELESTIS. Of late days thou hast misused Beersheba, The wife of Uriah, and slain him in the field. DAVID REX PIUS. Mercy, Lord, mercy, for doubtless I am defiled. PATER COELESTIS. I constitute thee a king over Israel, And thee preserved from Saul, which was thy enemy. Yea, in my favour so much thou didst excel, That of thy enemies I gave thee victory. Philistines and Syrians to thee came tributary. Why hast thou then wrought such folly in my sight, Despising my word against all godly right? DAVID REX PIUS. I have sinned, Lord; I beseech thee, pardon me. PATER COELESTIS. Thou shalt not die, David, for this iniquity, For thy repentance; but thy son by Beersheba Shall die, for as much as my name is blasphemed Among my enemies, and thou the worst esteemed. From thy house for this the sword shall not depart. DAVID REX PIUS. I am sorry, Lord, from the bottom of my heart. PATER COELESTIS. To further anger thou dost me yet compel. DAVID REX PIUS. For what matter, Lord? I beseech thy goodness tell. PATER COELESTIS. Why didst thou number the people of Israel? Supposest in thy mind therein thou hast done well? DAVID REX PIUS. I cannot say nay, but I have done indiscreetly, To forget thy grace for a human policy. PATER COELESTIS. Thou shalt of these three choose which plague thou wilt have For that sinful act, that I thy soul may save: A scarceness seven years, or else three months' exile, Either for three days the pestilence most vile, For one thou must have: there is no remedy. DAVID REX PIUS. Lord, at thy pleasure, for thou art full of mercy. PATER COELESTIS. Of a pestilence then three score thousand and ten In three days shall die of thy most puissant men. DAVID REX PIUS. O Lord, it is I which have offended thy grace, Spare them and not me, for I have done the trespass.