The Judgement of Salomon: In Discerning the true Mother from the false, by her compassion, giving sentence to diuide the Childe

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When David over Israel had
ruled full forty yeares,
And on his Throne securely sate,
as plainely it appears:
Stricken in yeares, and full of dayes,
and nature almost spent,
To set his sonne upon that Throne,
his minde was fully bent.

For fearing lest that he should dye,
without the choyse of one:
That might as he had done before
sit still on Israels Throne:
And to prevent the discord that
amongst his sonnes might rise,
He pickes out one, and makes him King,
before Death closd his eyes.

Whose name was Salomon, a man,
of rare, and excellent parts:
Yea, such a man he was, that if
any by their deserts
Might claime a Crowne, the Salomon,
of whom the earth did ring,
Deserv d it, and none fitter could
doe David chuse for King.

Such was his wisedome, that the Queene
of Sheba from the South
Came, for to hear those words that did
proceede out of his mouth:
Which when sh’ad heard, pronounc’d them blest
and happy for to be:
That his Attendants were, and did
wayte on his Majestie.

His wisedome made him shine more bright
then did the Roabes he wore,
And made him in the peoples sight
to be respected more,
Then all the costly Jemms that hee,
or ornaments had on:
Or then the Throne that thus adorn’d,
he us'd to sit upon.

Whose wisedome was principally
unto the world made knowne:
In a just sentence that he gave
to’th harlots which did come
To him for Justice, ‘bout a childe,
that both layd claime unto,
Whose cause to heare he did assent,
and did determine to.

The second part. To the same tune.

THe Harlots standing then before
the presence of the King:
With faltring speech and trembling tongue,
one straite declares the thing:
Saying, my Lord we women had
lately two children small,
Which of all earthly joyes we did
esteeme them most of all.

We had them much about one time,
and both were of one sex,
And one house doth containe us both,
tis this that doth perplex
My troubled soule th’one harlot said,
seeing her Childe is dead,
She labours all she can to have
mine, in her Infants stead.

For in the night she over-layd
her childe, and it did dye:
But waking straitway, she perceiv’d,
and this sad sight did spie:
She straightway rose, and forthwith came
at midnight to my bed:
And tooke from me my living childe,
and left with me hers dead.

But in the morning when I wak’d,
not knowing what was done;
By this vilde woman which doth seeke,
to bereave me of my sonne:
And taking gently in mine armes,
as then I thought, my childe:
I straight perceiv’d it was not mine,
and that I was beguil’d.

Nay, said the other Harlot then,
the childe that lives is mine:
And that same Infant that is dead,
assuredly was thine:
That’s false reply’d the other straight,
for that that lives (said she)
Is none of thine, I did it beare,
and it belongs to me.

Thus whatsoe’r the one did say,
the other did deny:
And what the other did affirme,
did th’other presently,
Cry’d out upon as false and vaine,
nor would they ere they said,
Nor possibly could quietnesse
betwixt them both be made.

Therefore they did implore the helpe,
and wisedome of the King,
Whose eye could onely pierce into
so difficult a thing:
That he would graciously be pleas’d
as he had heard it so:
He would give sentence to their cause,
which they would stand unto.

Salomon causd the living childe
in the midst to be plac’d,
Of both those Harlots that did seeke
each other to disgrace:
And one of his servants he charg’d
to fetch a sword straightway;
Which to him presently was brought
without the least delay.

Which sword he to his servant gave,
putting it in his hand,
Enjoyning him to execute
what e’re he did command.
Divide the childe (saithe he) and give
to each of them a part:
Which words did pierce the true Mother
unto the very heart.

Who humbly did beseech the King,
rather then it should dye,
To give it to the other all,
that with her did stand by:
Nay answered the false Mother then,
the King hath it decided:
Neither thine, nor mine, the childe shall be,
but let it be divided.

King Salomon weigh’d both their words,
and looking on them both,
Did say, that she the Mother is
that most compassion shew’th:
Give her the childe that did lament,
for such an Infant pretty,
And when it should have mangled beene,
was moved unto pitty.

That Mother gladly did receive
her tender Babe againe:
Which the false Mother cruelly
desired might be slaine:
And when the people heard the words,
and sentence of the King:
Cry’d all with voice most lowd, God blesse
Salomon in every thing.

FINIS.

At London printed for Henry Gosson.

c.1630 .
Copyright University of California, Santa Barbara 2005

Early Modern Center English Ballad Archive, 1500 - 1800

The Judgement of Salomon: In Discerning the true Mother from the false, by her compassion, giving sentence to diuide the Childe