Third & Fourth Stanza

Soft; blemish not this golden bench, or place

Here is no bribe, nor colorings to hide

Nor pettifogger to befog the case                             15

But justice hath her glory here well tried.

Her spotless law all spotted cases tends

Without respect or disrespect them ends.

God’s Judge, himself; and Christ attorney is

The Holy Ghost registerer is found.                           20

Angels the sergeants are, all creatures kiss

The book and do as evidences abound.

All cases pass according to pure law

And in the sentence is no fret, nor flaw.

We have moved to the court. The participants are noted:

God is judge.

Christ ,attorney

Holy Ghost, bailiff; court reporter (registerer)

Angels bring the parties in

All creature is produced as witness and evidence.

God’s judgment is perfect:

First, there is no corruption: “no bribe”.

Second, no bias: “nor colorings to hide”. Related, God is no respecter of persons: rich and poor have the same law. Lev. 19:15; James 2:1

Third, no lawyer can obfuscate the truth, “no pettifogger”. Bayer Cropscience AG v. Dow Agrosciences LLC (D. Del., Mar. 13, 2015, Civil No. 12-256 (RMB/JS)) [pp. 11-12] (“As such, it argues, this evidence supports Bayer’s understanding that MS Tech’s commercialization with Dow infringed its retained patents. Bayer pettifogs. This argument is a red-herring and must be put to rest.”)

Fourth, there is sufficient evidence “all creatures … do as evidences abound.”

Fifth, all adhere to the decision, “all creatures kiss the book.”

Sixth, the decision is just, “But justice hath her glory here well tried.”

Seventh, all is tried to a perfect law

Her spotless law all spotted cases tends

Without respect or disrespect them ends.

And

All cases pass according to pure law

And in the sentence is no fret, nor flaw.

These statements are all in answer to the question of the second stanza:

But flesh complains. What right for this? Let’s know

For right or wrong, I can’t appear unto’t.

And shall a sentence pass on such a suit?

That is the purpose of the opening word, “Soft.” Be quiet, speak softly. What you are saying makes no sense. You ask, How can this judgment be fair? Well, let us look to the court: The judge is perfect. The law is perfect. The record is perfect. The evidence is perfect. The lawyer is perfect.

Well, then what complaint is left?

As a final note, the couplet on these two stanzas work well musically and rhetorically:

Her spotless law all spotted cases tends

Without respect or disrespect them ends.

We have alliteration as a product of the repetition and reversal: the law is without defect, “spotless law”. The cases are of defective parties, “spotted cases.” The near rhyme of “law all” produces a sound chiasm l-aw – aw – l which holds the spotless-spotted together.

And

All cases pass according to pure law

And in the sentence is no fret, nor flaw.

Here the the last words, “no fret nor flaw” work quite well also. The no-fr, nor-fl create very close sounds which parallel meaning.

Psalm 19:7–14 (AV)

⁷ The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. ⁸ The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. ⁹ The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. ¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. ¹¹ Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. ¹² Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. ¹³ Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. ¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.