Classic Poem

Iehocanan inforced by hunger comes out of his caue & submits him-selfe to Tytus, who caused him to be hanged .

At length out of a deepe darke hollow caue,
With bitter hunger Iehocanan was driuen,
Like to a Ghost new risen from his graue,
Or like Anatomy of all flesh beryuen:
Who then as faint as euer he could stand,
Came to submit himselfe, to Tytus hand.

Into this Princely presence when he came,
With all submission fell he at his feete,
Saying, O King of most renouned fame,
Here am I come as it is right and meete:
To yeeld my selfe into thy Princely hand,
Whose life doth rest, vpon thy great command,

My disobedience doe I sore repent,
That euer I refus'd thy offered grace,
Bewayling my lewd life, so badly bent,
And my foule actions, gainst this holy place:
Yet with thy mercy shadow my amisse,
And let me tast what thy compassion is:

Not from my selfe, did all my sinne proceede,
Though I confesse my faults were too too many,
But was prouokt to many a bloody deede,
By him that yet was neuer good to any:
Blood-thirsty Schimeon led me to all euill,
Who doth in malice far exceed the Diuell.

Too long alasse, he ouer-ruld my will,
And made me actor of a thousand woes,
What I refus'd his outrage did fulfill,
And his deuise did make my friends my foes:
Then worthy Victor mittigate my blame,
And let thy glory ouer-spread my shame.

No more (quoth Tytus ) stay thy traiterous tounge,
Infect vs not with thy impoysoned breath,
Ile doe thee right that hast done many wrong,
Thy end of sorrow shall begin thy death:
And by thy death shall life arise to such,
To whom thou thoughtst a minutes life too much.

With that he wild his Captaines take him thence,
When he with yron chaines was fettered fast,
And afterward (meete meed for his offence)
Through all the Campe they led him at the last,
That he of them might mockt and scorned be,
And then in chaines they hangd him one a tree.

This was the end of proud Iehocanan ,
That in Ierusalem did such harme,
And this likewise was that accursed man,
That in his malice with a fierce alarme
Burnd all the Victuals laide in by the Peeres,
That was inough to serue them twenty yeeres.

Which was the cause, that in so short a space,
So great a famine fell within the towne:
Yea this was he burnt King Agrippaes place,
And in the Temple slew so many downe:
But not long after he was gone and dead,
Out of his den did Schimion shew his head.