Page:Barlaam and Josaphat. English lives of Buddha.djvu/176

Thus by degrees God calls them home we know.
And mighty miracles does daily ſhow.
To make his righteous goſpel ſpread and ſhine.
That all may know his power moſt divine.

Then let the ignorant atheiſt bluſh for ſhame,
And never more abuſe God's holy name.
For God created all things, great and ſmall.
And man to be chief ruler over all.

The cauſe of this my treating I'll explain.
In foreign lands a tyrant KING did reign
A perſecutor of the chriſtian faith.
As many good and learned writers ſaith.

His Queen was young and beautiful alſo.
In worldly pleaſures they did overflow ;
One thing which moſt their comforts did deſtroy.
They had no iſſue that could it enjoy.

This King, who in vain idols did believe.
Sent for his prieſts to pray ſhe might conceive;
Pray to our Gods, ſaid he, that we may have,
A child for that is all I need to crave.

For with all ſorts of plenty I am bleſt,
What e'er my heart can wiſh to be poſſeſt:
A child will crown my days with pleaſure then.
And I ſhould be the happieſt of all men.

They all replied, we will your will obey,
And for this thing we to our Gods will pray :
The King ſaid, if ſuch bleſſings come to me.
Then you ſhall ſurely well rewarded be.