Great Regulars: George Peele (1557-1596) was a gifted playwright,

whose work some critics consider prepared the way for Shakespeare. Contemporaries praised the effortless smoothness of his blank verse. The more flexible metres of his poetry show his dexterity. Peele is one of those Elizabethan writers whose verse has a grace and euphony that bring the spoken word uncannily close to the condition of music.

This week's poem is, in fact, a song. Sometimes known as "Hot Sun, Cool Fire", otherwise "Bethsabe's Song", it comes from a play Peele based closely on the Biblical account of King David's adultery with the wife of "Uriah the Hittite", The Love of King David and Fair Bethsabe.

from Carol Rumens: The Guardian: Books blog: Poem of the week: Bethsabe's Song by George Peele

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