John Trapp on Lamentations 4:9

Ver. 9. They that be ſlain with the ſword are better] They ſuffer leſſe pain in dying, they are ſoon diſpatcht. See on ver. 6. But Famine is an hard weapon.

Triſte genus mortis miſeris mortalibus omne: Eſt tamen imprimis triſte perire fame.

For theſe pine away] By a lingering death, as Druſus the Roman: to whom meat being denied,Speed. 766. he had eaten the ſtuffings of his bed, ſaith Suetonius: and our Richard the ſecond who was Tantalized and ſtarved to death at Pomfret Caſtle, where his diet being ſerved in and ſet before him in the wonted Princely manner, he was not ſuffered either to taſte, or touch thereof.

Jam. 5. Stricken through for want of the fruits of the field] Thoſe precious fruits of the earth, as James the Apoſtle calleth them. Theſe as a ſword defend us from death: and the want of them, as a ſword, runneth us thorough. In the time of Otho the Emperour there was ſo great a ſcarcity of bread corn in Germany for three years together, that many thouſands dyed of hunger.Melancth. In remembrance of which great dearth, there is yearly baked at Erphord a little loaf, ſuch as was then ſold for much money.