something must I say to thee,
For that thou lately hast wrought such vanity.

_David._ Spare not, blessed Lord, but say thy pleasure to me.

_Pater Coelestis._ Of late days thou hast misused Bathsheba,
The wife of Uriah, and slain him in the field.

_David._ Mercy, Lord, mercy; for doubtless I am defiled.

_Pater Coelestis._ I constitute thee a king over Israel,
And thee preserved from Saul, who was thine enemy.
Yea, in my favour, so much thou didst excel,
That of thine 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._ 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 Bathsheba
Shall die, forasmuch as my name is blasphemed
Among my enemies, and thou the worse esteemed.
From thy house for this the sword shall not depart.

_David._ I am sorry, Lord, from the bottom of my heart.

_Pater Coelestis._ To further anger thou dost me yet compel.

_David._ For what matter, Lord? I beseech thy goodness tell.

_Pater Coelestis._ Why didst thou number the children of Israel?
Supposest in thy mind therein thou hast done well?

_David._ 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,
If not, for three days a pestilence most vile,
For one thou must have, there is no remedy.

_David._ 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._ O Lord, it is I who have offended thy grace,
Spare them and not me, for I have done the trespace.[620]

_Pater Coelestis._ Though thy sins be great, thine inward heart's
contribution
Doth move my stomach in wonderful condition.
I find thee a man according to my heart;
Wherefore this promise I make thee, ere I depart.
A fruit there shall come forth issuing from thy body,
Whom I will advance upon thy seat for ever.
His throne shall become a seat of heavenly glory
His worthy sceptre from right will not dissever,
His happy kingdom, of faith shall perish never.
Of heaven and of earth he was author pr