X. Michael Drayton

In the Second Chap. of Ionah

IN griefe and anguish of my heart

My voice I did extend

Unto the Lord, and he thereto

A willing eare did lend.

Euen from the deep and darkest pit,

And the infernall lake,

To me he hath bow’d down his eare,

For his great mercies’ sake.

For thou into the middest

Of surging seas so deepe

Hast cast me foorth, whose bottom is

So low and woondrous steep:

Whose mighty wallowing waues,

Which from the floods do flow,

Haue with their power vp swallowed me,

And ouerwhelm’d me tho.

Then said I,—Loe I am exilde

From presence of thy face!

Yet wil I once againe behold

Thy house and dwelling-place.

The waters haue encompast me,

The floods inclosde me round,

The weeds haue sore encombred me,

Which in the seas abound.

Vnto the valeyes down I went,

Beneath the hils which stand;

The earth hath there enuiron’d me

With force of al the land.

Yet hast thou stil presented me

From all these dangers here,

And brought my life out of the pit,

Oh Lord, my God so deare.

My soule consuming thus with care,

I praied vnto the Lord;

And he from out his holie place

Heard me with one accord.

Who to vain lieng vanities

Doth whollie him betake

Doth erre; also God’s mercie he

Doth vtterly forsake.

But I wil offer vnto him

The sacrifice of praise;

And pay my vowes, ascribing thanks

Vnto the Lord alwaies.