Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Edward Farr, ed. Select Poetry of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. 1845.

Man’s Great Enemy

XXXI. William Hall

SATHAN did tempt our parents first of all,

And the forbidden fruite caus’d them to eate,

Eating this fruite it broughts all into thrall;

Our misery no tongue can halfe repeate:

Deceiuer-like, hee said, Yee shall not dye,

To which they condescended willingly,

And eate the fruite forbidden of the Lord:

Hee first vnto the woman did it giue,

Shee to her husband; thus with one accord

Both sure of death, though promised to liue:

By his inticements hee them both allured,

By which he them eternall woe procured.

Against the feebler sex his rage is showne;

The woman he did first of all attempt;

Thus his deceit was at the first made knowne;

Yet from seducing he would not exempt,

Nor free himself, but, like an old deceiuer,

Of soule and bodie’s good hee’s a bereauer.

Hee’s alwayes ready for to lay his baites,

To catch all silly soules, and to insnare

Them in his subtil and deceiuing slight;

For to withstand him then we must prepare;

We cannot him resist doe what we can;

Help vs, Lorde, for vaine is the helpe of man.