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THE PSALMS OF SIR PHILIP SIDNEY AND THE COUNTESS OF PEMBROKE

Sir Philip Sidney (1554-86) was educated at Shrewsbury and at Christ Church, Oxford. Between 1572 and 1575 he travelled in Europe. His portrait was painted by Veronese during his stay at Padua in 1574. After returning from a diplomatic mission to Germany in the early months of 1577? he remained in England until November 1585, living at Leicester House (where he befriended Spenser); at court; at Wilton with his sister; and (after his marriage) at Walsing- ham House. Almost all his extant verse was written during this period. His versions of the first forty-three Psalms cannot be dated accurately, but according to recent evidence, the Ar- cadia poems were begun as early as 1577 and completed by 1580, though partially revised as late as 1584. His best known work, Astrophil and Stella, was composed in 1582. Sidney was knighted in January 1583; he married Frances Walsing- ham on September 21 of the same year. During the final period of his life he held a subordinate appointment under his uncle, the Earl of Warwick, Master of the Ordnance, and was largely occupied with defense problems. In November 1585 he sailed for Flushing in the Netherlands, having been appointed governor by the queen. War broke out in the fol- lowing spring, and after several months' fighting Sidney was mortally wounded by a Spanish musket-ball at Zutphen. He died three weeks later at Arnheim on October 17, 1586.

Mary Herbert, Countess of Pembroke and sister of Sir Philip Sidney, was born at TIckenhill Palace, near Bewdley, Worces- tershire, on October 27, 1561. She was married in April 1577 to Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, and lived for the remainder of her married life at Wilton, near Salisbury. Like Lucy, Countess of Bedford, and Margaret, Countess of Cumberland, she was widely celebrated during her lifetime as a liberal patron of letters, but unlike them she also enjoyed a considerable reputation as "a most delicate poet." Her major work, the translation of the Psalms, praised by Donne and many other contemporary poets, was not published until 1823. She died at her London residence in Aldersgate Street onl September 25, 1621.

John C. A. Rathmell was born in 1935 and was educate^ at Jesus College, Cambridge, where he gained a First in Eng- lish in 1959. He spent the following year at Harvard, where he held a Frank Knox Memorial Fellowship, and is now a Research Fellow and Director of Studies in English at ChristV College, Cambridge.

The Psalms

°f

Sir Philip Sidney

and

The Countess of Pembroke

Edited with an Introduction by J. C. A. RATHMELL

C3165 594

ANCHOR BOOKS

DOUBLEDAY & COMPANY, INC,

GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK

1963

IJNlVERSiTY OF FL - »ES

The Anchor Books edition is the first American

publication of The Psalms of Sir Philip Sidney

and The Countess of Pembroke

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGUE CARD NUMBER 63-8764

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

FIRST EDITION

For B.M.S.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am greatly indebted to the Rt. Hon. Viscount De Lisle, v.c, g.c.m.g., for granting me permission to transcribe the text of his manuscript of the Sidney Psalms at Penshurst Place, Kent. I also wish to thank the staffs of the following libraries and institutions for their help in promptly supplying microfilm copies of manuscripts: the British Museum; the Huntington Library, San Marino, California; the Bibliotheque de TUniversite de Paris; the Bodleian Library; and the li- braries of Trinity College, Cambridge; Wadham College, Ox- ford; and Queens College, Oxford. I am particularly gratefu to Professor William Ringler of Washington University, St Louis, Missouri, for providing me with much indispensablt information concerning the manuscripts of the Sidneiai Psalms. In addition I have received valuable advice and criti cism from Professor Douglas Bush, Professor Frank Kermode Dr. Donald Davie, Dr. Graham Hough, Dr. John Stevens1 Mr. John Buxton, Mr. J. H. Prynne, and Mr. A. J. Rimmei I quote from Professor Louis L. Martz's The Poetry of Medi tation (New Haven: 1954) by kind permission of the Yal University Press; and am greatly indebted to the Clarenda Press and Dr. B. E. Juel-Jensen for permission to reprint "T the Angell Spirit of ... Sir Philip Sidney" from Professc William Ringler's The Poems of Sir Philip Sidney (Oxford 1962). I am indebted to the National Portrait Gallery fc allowing me to reproduce the portrait of Sir Philip Sidney b an unknown artist, probably of 1577, and the engraving ( the Countess of Pembroke by Simon de Passe.

CONTENTS

Introduction xi

The Psalms of Sir Philip Sidney (Psalms 1-43) 1

The Psalms of The Countess of Pembroke

(Psalms 44-150) 101

Appendix: Versions of Psalm 58 343

Sources r^g

bibliography 359

Upon the translation of the Psalmes

by Sir Philip Sydney, and

the Countesse of Pembroke his Sister

Eternall God, (for whom who ever dare

Seeke new expressions, doe the Circle square,

And thrust into strait corners of poore wit

Thee, who art cornerlesse and infinite)

I would but blesse thy Name, not name thee now;

(And thy gifts are as infinite as thou: )

Fixe we our prayses therefore on this one,

That, as thy blessed Spirit fell upon

These Psalmes first Author in a cloven tongue;

(For 'twas a double power by which he sung

The highest matter in the noblest forme; )

So thou hast cleft that spirit, to performe

That worke againe, and shed it, here, upon

Two, by their bloods, and by thy Spirit one;

\ Brother and a Sister, made by thee

The Organ, where thou art the Harmony.

Two that make one John Baptists holy voyce,

\nd who that Psalme, Now let the lies rejoyce,

lave both translated, and apply'd it too,

3oth told us what, and taught us how to doe.

They shew us Ilanders our joy, our King,

rhey tell us why, and teach us how to sing;

/lake all this All, three Quires, heaven, earth, and sphears;

he first, Heaven, hath a song, but no man heares,

he Spheares have Musick, but they have no tongue,

lieir harmony is rather danc'd than sung;

Jut our third Quire, to which the first gives eare,

(For, Angels learne by what the Church does here)

This Quire hath all. The Organist is hee

Who hath tun'd God and Man, the Organ we:

The songs are these, which heavens high holy Muse

Whisper d to David, David to the Jewes:

And Davids Successors, in holy zeale,

In formes of joy and art doe re-reveale

To us so sweetly and sincerely too,

That I must not rejoyce as I would doe

When I behold that these Psalmes are become

So well attyr'd abroad, so ill at home,

So well in Chambers, in thy Church so ill,

As I can scarce call that reform'd untill

This be reform'd; Would a whole State present

A lesser gift than some one man hath sent?

And shall our Church, unto our Spouse and King

More hoarse, more harsh than any other, sing?

For that we pray, we praise thy name for this,

Which, by this Moses and this Miriam, is

Already done; and as those Psalmes we call

(Though some have other Authors) Davids all:

So though some have, some may some Psalmes translate,

We thy Sydnean Psalmes shall celebrate,

And, till we come th'Extemporall song to sing,

(Learn'd the first hower, that we see the King,

Who hath translated those translators) may

These their sweet learned labours, all the way

Be as our tuning, that, when hence we part

We may fall in with them, and sing our part.

John Donne, Poems, 163

INTRODUCTION

Shortly after the death of the Countess of Pembroke in 1621, John Donne in a long and characteristically fanciful poem (see p. ix) paid tribute to what he called the "Sydnean Psalmes"— that is, the series of 150 verse-translations of the Psalms begun by Sir Philip Sidney and completed after his death by his sister Mary, Countess of Pembroke. These poems (for they are more than translations) were known in manu- script not only to Donne, but to Fulke Greville, Samuel Daniel, Ben Jonson, Joseph Hall, and Sir John Harington, among others, yet they remained unprinted for more than two centuries and were only finally published, in a limited edition of 250 copies, in 1823. The collection has not been reprinted in its entirety since that date, with the result that a fine example of Elizabethan psalmody, justly admired in its day, is now largely unknown. Sidney's editors (Grosart, Feuil- lerat, and most recently Professor William Ringler) have quite properly printed only that portion of the collection which is the work of Sidney himself— the first forty-three Psalms. In- evitably this has meant the omission of the major part of the collection— major not only in bulk, but in quality. For, as Grosart himself ventured to suggest, the Countess of Pem- broke's Psalms (44-150) are "infinitely in advance of her brothers in thought, epithet and melody." Briefly, I wish to suggest that they demand to be considered not only in the context of Elizabethan psalmody, but as significant and at- tractive poems in their own right. Those written by the Count- ess, 128 in all, had been begun by 1593 and were completed before 1600. Donne, we know, was familiar with the collec- tion, and there is an inherent likelihood that Herbert— who

Xll INTRODUCTION

was related, and owed his living at Bemerton, to the Pem- broke family— also knew it. Professor Louis Martz goes so far indeed as to suggest that Sidney's translation of the Psalms (his remark applies equally to his sister's share in the work) represents "the closest approximation to the poetry of Her- bert's Temple that can be found anywhere in preceding Eng- lish poetry."1

The "Sydnean Psalmes" are not, in any useful sense of the term, "metaphysical"; but their strong, energetic rhythms, the expressive stanza forms, the insistent verbal play, and the preference for a packed, concise line immediately differentiate them from conventional Elizabethan psalmody. The intention of Sidney and his sister is in fact strikingly and consciously different from that of those earlier versifiers of the Psalms whose chief purpose was to "suite the Capacitie of the Vul- ger." The Countess plainly avows an artistic intention when on the title page to the joint work she recommends the "divers and sundry kindes of verse" as "more rare and excellent, for the method and varietie then ever yet hath bene don in Eng- lish." The claim is by no means extravagant. Donne in cele- brating the "Sydnean Psalmes" scarcely disguises his contempt for the metrical versions officially "allowed" in the Church ("shall our Church . . . More hoarse, more harsh than any other, sing?"). Indeed, many writers at this period com- plained of the poetic poverty of English psalmody when com- pared with what Bishop Hall described as the "diligence and exquisitenesse"2 of the versions sung by French and Dutch congregations. Nor did it seem any adequate excuse to Hall that the universally employed versions of Sternhold and Hop- kins were written at a time when English poetry was still "rude & homely."3

The congregational singing of versified psalms had of course been an integral part of the church service since the early years of Elizabeth's reign. It was a practice that had been vigorously promoted by the Marian exiles at Geneva, and as

1 Martz, Louis L.: The Poetry of Meditation. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1954, p. 273.

2 Davenport, A., ed.: The Collected Poems of Joseph Hall, Bishop of Exeter and Norwich. Liverpool: 1949, p. 271.

3 Op. cit., p. 128.

INTRODUCTION Xlll

early as March 1560, one of their number, John Jewel, Bishop of Salisbury, reported on his return to England that the Genevan custom had been very rapidly adopted in London and the provinces. "As soon as they had once commenced singing in public, in only one little church in London," he wrote, "immediately not only the churches in the neighbour- hood, but even the towns far distant, began to vie with each other in the same practice. You may now sometimes see at Paul's Cross after the service, six thousand persons old and young of both sexes, all singing together and praising God/'4 At this early date the congregation presumably used what was then the largest generally available psalm-book, the Anglo-Genevan psalter of 1556, a collection of fifty-one metri- cal psalms by Sternhold, Hopkins, and Whittingham. By 1562 all 150 Psalms had been "versified" and The Whole Booke of Psalmes, although of little or no poetic merit, was soon em- ployed in cathedrals and parish churches throughout the country— for it had the virtue, important politically in the early days of the Elizabethan settlement, of being acceptable to both Anglican and Puritan elements within the church. It had already gone through forty editions at the time of Sidney's death, and by 1621, the year in which the Countess died, close on one hundred and fifty editions had been published. Its place in the church service remained unchallenged in fact until Tate and Brady's "New Version" appeared in 1696. By 1828, when it finally ceased to be reprinted, The Whole Booke of Psalmes had achieved more than six hundred editions.

The Sidneian Psalms differ in three obvious and important respects from the Sternhold-Hopkins psalter. In the first place, stylistically they have an energy, intensity, and emotional piquancy which are conspicuously absent from the popular version— inventive metres and a vigorous syntax vividly in- form and enforce the sense in a way which the stereotyped forms of Sternhold and Hopkins manifestly cannot. Secondly, whereas in congregational psalmody the necessity to provide a simple and easily memorable text virtually precludes any attempt at subtlety, the Sidneian versions, which were in-

4 Robinson, Hastings, ed.: Zurich Letters. Cambridge: 1842. Vol. ■ p. 71.

XIV INTRODUCTION

tended primarily for use in private devotions, constantly bring out and point the underlying "allegoricall sense." Sidney and the Countess of Pembroke have clearly made intelligent use of a wealth of scholarly commentary that was not so readily accessible to the earlier psalmodists. Finally, instead of strait- jacketing the Psalms into a narrow range of simple stanza patterns they have devised a quite extraordinary variety of forms, each conformable to the emotional tenor of the indi- vidual psalm. The Sidneian collection, in brief, is an attempt to answer the need, increasingly voiced both within and out- side the Church, for a more adequate and expressive form of psalmody.

A comparison of the Countess of Pembroke's version of Psalm 55 with the Sternhold-Hopkins rendering will bring out most effectively the differences. The psalm, as it appears in the Geneva Bible of 1560, ends: "And thou, O God, shalt bring them downe into the pit of corruption: the blooddie, & deceitful men shall not live halfe their dayes: but I wil trust in thee." In the lifeless end-stopped lines of Hopkins this be- comes:

But God shall cast them deep in pit,

That thirst for blood always: He will no guileful man permit

To live out half his days. Though such be quite destroid and gone,

In thee O Lord I trust: I shall depend thy grace upon,

With all my heart and lust.

In contrast, the Countess not only retrieves the latent poetical qualities of the biblical verse but gives it a dramatic and per- sonal authority:

But, Lord, how long shall these men tarry here?

Fling them in pitt of death where never shin'd The light of life; and while I make my stay On thee, let who their thirst with bloud allay

Have their life-holding threed so weakly twin'd

That it, half spunne, death may in sunder sheare.

The poetic urgency of the original is redeemed in a way thai

INTRODUCTION XV

patently isn't in the Sternhold-Hopkins version; the pressure of the lines even suggests something of Donne's angular strength. Both the Sidneys and Donne were in fact alive to the com- paratively recent discovery of the rabbinical scholars that the Book of Psalms was originally written in some form of meas- ured verse. The name "Psalms," writes Sidney in his Apologie, "being interpreted, is nothing but songes." The original Book of Psalms, he concludes, "is fully written in meeter, as all learned Hebricians agree, although the rules be not yet fully found." Donne goes further and emphasizes particularly the economy of Hebrew poetry. In a sermon preached at Lincoln's Inn in 1618 he declared that his "more particular" reason for preferring the Psalms to any other part of the Old Testament lay in the fact that they were written in measured verse, in "a limited, and a restrained form . . . where all the words are numbred, and measured, and weighed, . . . such a form as is both curious, and requires diligence in the making, and then when it is made, can have nothing, no syllable taken from it, nor added to it." A third writer, George Wither, adroitly counters an imaginary opponent's objection to the versification of the Psalms by arguing that a metrical render- ing, so far from depriving the scriptural originals of their grav- ity, restores to them their former majesty. "How can that speech be denied to have in it gravity," he argues, "wherein every word and syllable must be considered in quantity and number? or who can bee so ignorant, to thinke it so, but such as are altogether strangers to the Muses?"5 To all these writers the propriety of translating the Psalms into metrical verse was self-evident.

The significance of the Sidneian collection, I am suggesting, is primarily literary; it represents one of the earliest and most ambitious attempts to grace English psalmody with the fully developed resources of the Elizabethan lyric while at the same time preserving the "fulnes of the Sence and the relish of the Scripture phrase." Sidney and his sister sought to translate the Psalms so that they might stand up as poems in their own right, and for the purposes they had in mind neither the Sternhold-Hopkins version nor the Scottish psalter of 1564

5 Wither, George: A Preparation to the Psalter. London: 1619, p. 7.

XVI INTRODUCTION

can be regarded as having any significant relevance. Both were designed primarily for congregational use and by design restricted themselves to a limited vocabulary and to simple, obvious rhythms. (More than a hundred of the psalms in the English version of 1562 also occur in the Scottish psalter, which differs chiefly in the inclusion of a rather larger number of psalms by Kethe, Craig, Whittingham, and Pont. ) Like the metrical paraphrases of Crowley (1550) and Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury (c. 1567), they offer no literary interest.

Sidney and his sister took their bearings, rather, from the work of two court poets, Sir Thomas Wyatt and Clement Marot, both of whom had died at an early age in the 1540s. They were writing, that is to say, in a consciously sophisticated tradition, and yet one that belonged to a period that had not been affected by the full impact of the lavish, ornamentalized Italianate style. Wyatt's Seven Penitential Psalms, posthu- mously published in 1549, were almost certainly known to Sidney and his circle. They are frankly personal, exhibit a wide and sophisticated vocabulary, and are plainly, and in the best sense, the work of a "courtly maker." Wyatt's terza rima is continually animated by the acting out of a personally experienced struggle. In his version of Psalm 130, a judiciously controlled rhetoric enforces dramatically the halting utter- ance of an anguished plea to God:

Ffor, lord, if thou do observe what men offend And putt thy natyff mercy in restraint,

If just exaction demaund recompense,

Who may endure, O lord? Who shall not faynt At such acompt? Dred, and not reverence

Shold so raine large. But thou sekes rathr love,

Ffor in thy hand is mercys resedence, By hope wheroff thou dost our hertes move.6

It is a similar strength, the conjunction of a formal Hebrew complaint with the vital presence of a baffled, distinctively Elizabethan voice, that gives the Countess of Pembroke's psalmody its peculiar vigour:

6 Collected Poems of Sir Thomas Wyatt, ed. Kenneth Muir, Lon- don: 1949, pp. 223-24.

INTRODUCTION XV11

Who but such caitives would have undermin'd,

Nay overthrowne, from whome but kindness meare

They never found? who would such trust betray?

What buttred wordes! yet warr their harts bewray; Their speach more sharp than sharpest sword or speare Yet softer flowes than balme from wounded rinde.

(Psalm 55)

The colloquial strength of these lines, the deliberate avoidance of mere fluency suggest something of Wyatt's characteristic strenuousness. But the work that most obviously served as a model to the Sidneys is the French psalter of 1562, a collec- tion that had been completed at Geneva by Theodore de Beze on the foundation of fifty psalms composed between 1532 and 1543 by Clement Marot. Marot, like Sidney, was a court poet and never envisaged initially that his versified psalms would be put to congregational use. It was no doubt the accomplishment and variety of the French poet's work that first suggested to Sidney the poetic potential of the Psalms. Sidney has done no more than Marot in bringing to bear on his psalmody all the verbal and rhythmical subtlety of his lyric art. It is significant, for instance, that there is not a single example among the Sidneian Psalms of the simple bal- lad stanza or "fourteener" so monotonously employed by Sternhold and Hopkins. What Sidney and the Countess have attempted to do is to create for every one of the 150 Psalms a unique combination of stanza pattern and rhyme scheme. There are in fact only four instances in the entire collection of the exact repetition of any one combination (the form and rhyme scheme of Psalm 8 is duplicated by that of Psalm 118; 32 by 71; 60 by ii9[s]; and 70 by 144). Admittedly there may be an element here of virtuosity for virtuosity's sake, but the wide variety of form is intended also to reflect the diversity of the Psalms themselves. Sidney and his sister have attempted to devise appropriate forms for poems which in the original Hebrew are variously psalms of rejoicing, of lamentation, of triumph, of imprecation, and in some cases (Psalms 78, 105, 106) of historical narrative. Like Wither, a later versifier of the Psalms, they have done so not "out of any speciall affecta- tion of variety; but with an intent to sute the matter of each

XV1U INTRODUCTION

Psalme ... to such Numbers as might most aptly expresse it."7 In the imprecatory Psalm 59, for example, a stanza of varying line lengths ingeniously reflects the restless movement of hounds "whom hunger enforceth to run gadding about without ceasing":8

Abroad they range and hunt apace

Now that, now this, As famine trailes a hungry trace;

And though they miss, Yet will they not to kennell hye, But all the night at bay do lye.

Whereas in the versions of Sternhold and Hopkins alternating lines of eight and six syllables are made to serve all purposes, the Countess of Pembroke varies her stanza form according to the nature of her subject. Psalm 78, a long historical nar- rative, is appropriately cast in ottava rima, the stanza that Drayton chose to use in The Barons' Wanes because of its "majesty, perfection, and solidity." On the other hand, an- other group of psalms (among them 64, 72, 74, 88, and 139) have an almost Herbertian deftness of touch. There is, for instance, an obvious continuity between the sort of effect the Countess achieves in Psalm 88:

Alas, my Lord, will then be tyme, When men are dead, Thy truth to spread? Shall they, whome death hath slaine, To praise thee live againe, And from their lowly lodgings clime?

Shall buried mouthes thy mercies tell? Dust and decay Thy truth display? And shall thy workes of mark Shine in the dreadfull dark? Thy Justice where oblivions dwell?

7 Op. cit.9 p. 16.

8 Golding, Arthur, tr.: The Psalmes of David and Others. With M. John Calvin s Commentaries. 2 parts. London: 1571, p. 226.

INTRODUCTION XIX

and the deceptively simple form employed by Herbert in uAf- fiction (IV):

Oh help, my God! let not their plot Kill them and me, And also thee, Who art my life: dissolve the knot, As the sunne scatters by his light All the rebellions of the night.

"Your ocular proportion," writes Puttenham, "doeth declare the nature of the audible." It is quite clear that the authors of the Sidneian collection, no less than Herbert, have deliberately attempted to accommodate the contour of the strophe to the sense of the words.

The Sidneian Psalms, it has been said, "constitute a school of English versification," and Theodore Spencer has described them as examples in "Art, Imitation, and Exercise";9 but clearly they are something very much more than this. One of the most significant features of the collection lies in the way the two poets, especially the Countess of Pembroke, attempt to reveal by an accurate and intelligent use of the scholarly commentaries the latent meaning of the Hebrew originals, and to convey within the conventions of Elizabethan verse the sense of intimate, personal urgency that gives the Psalms, even in prose form, their poetic force. There is no reason to be- lieve that either Sidney or the Countess of Pembroke could read Hebrew (Ballard's assertion to the contrary is unsub- stantiated), yet it is clear that they carefully compared the versions of the Psalms found in the Prayer Book psalter and the two current versions of the Bible, the Geneva Bible of 1560 and the Bishops' Bible of 1568. They also consulted (in the English translations of Golding and Gilby) the elaborate commentaries on the Psalms of Calvin and Beze; we fre-

9 Smith, Hallett: "English Metrical Psalms in the Sixteenth Cen- :ury and Their Literary Significance," Huntington Library Quar- terly, Vol. 9, No. 3, May 1946; Spencer, Theodore: "The Poetry of Sir Philip Sidney," Journal of English Literary History, Vol. 12, December 1945.

XX INTRODUCTION

quently find the Countess of Pembroke, in particular, expand- ing and developing a biblical image where the commentaries give her authority to do so. In Psalm 139, for instance, which is concerned with the marvel of creation, the fifteenth verse of the version on which Calvin's commentary is based reads simply: "My strength which thou hast made in secret is not hid from thee, I was woven together in the lowest parts of the earth." Calvin's commentary, however, expands the sig- nificance of the weaving metaphor and explains at length the comparison of the mother's womb to what he calls the "dark denne" of the tailor's workroom. It is this elaboration of the biblical image that gives rise to the metaphors of "embrod'ry" and "shopp" in the Countess of Pembroke's bold version:

Thou, how my back was beam-wise laid, And raftring of my ribbs, dost know: Know'st ev'ry point Of bone and joynt, How to this whole these partes did grow, In brave embrod'ry faire araid,

Though wrought in shopp both dark and low.

The Countess has, in a devotional sense, meditated on the text before her, and the force of her version derives from her sense of personal involvement; she has taken into account Cal- vin's interpretation of the verse, and it is her capacity to ap- preciate the underlying meaning that vivifies her lines. For, as Wither comments, "they who are ignorant of the Allegori- call senses of the Psalmes ... are no wiser than such as are ignorant of all that appertaines unto them."10 What is sc striking about the Countess of Pembroke's versions is the wa> in which they convey, alive as it were, the impulse and the? force of the Hebrew originals. By recreating the Psalms a; Elizabethan poems, the Countess compels us to read then afresh. Consider, for instance, the syntactical compression o her rendering of Psalm 58 which, despite its insistent allitera tion and the formal balance of phrase, remains challenging!; unconventional :

10

Op. cit.y p. 104.

INTRODUCTION XXI

So make them melt as the dishowsed snaile

Or as the Embrio, whose vitall band Breakes er it holdes, and formlesse eyes do faile

To see the sun, though brought to lightfull land.

The image of the stillborn embryo has an immediacy that is certainly not present in the formal metaphor of the "untimely frute" that we find in both the Geneva and the Bishops' Bible. It is a figure that takes its vitality from the Elizabethan poet's capacity to identify herself with the Hebrew lyrist's desire for the destruction of his enemies: in the images of the crushed snail and the disintegrating embryo that desire is made pal- pable to the imagination. The Countess, too, while adhering closely to the meaning of the originals, has given her psalms strength by contriving to provide them as poems with an argumentative momentum. In this Fifty-eighth Psalm, for in- stance (the various biblical versions are printed for compari- son on pp. 344-46), the parallelistic structure of the Hebrew verse has been abandoned, and a deft redistribution of em- phases has given the poem a compelling rhetorical structure. The challenging question with which the poem opens, "And call yee this to utter what is just . . . ?" is rebutted with equal force by the scathing "O no . . ." of the fifth line— the insertion of the exclamatory "O" gives a characteristically per- sonal weight to the merely connective "Nay" of the Bishops' Bible reading. All the subtle art of the Elizabethan lyrist contributes to the effect. The hissing alliteration of "skillfull'st spells" is not simply ornamental; it has, in the context of the snake imagery, a peculiar appositeness. Similarly the taut an- tithesis of "Just to your selves, indiff 'rent else to none" provides a tension that is both dramatic and decisive. What Professor Martz has characterized as the peculiar significance of Sid- ney's forty-three psalms— "the attempt to bring the art of the Elizabethan lyric into the service of psalmody, and to perform this in such a way that it makes the psalm an intimate, per- sonal cry of the soul to God"11— applies, it must be empha- sized, with even greater force to the psalms of the Countess of Pembroke.

That the translation of the Bible enriched the resources of

11 Op. cit., p. 273.

XX11 INTRODUCTION

the English language is a truism; but to read through this Elizabethan paraphrase is to realize afresh the impact on English verse of the audacious and often bizarre imagery of the ancient Hebrew poets. We have here in fact a force that directly challenges the predominantly Italianate taste of the period, nor should we underestimate the element of verbal surprise that the Hebrew images undoubtedly provide. In- stead of the conventional and predominantly Petrarchan im- agery so characteristic of late Elizabethan verse, we encounter here the curious specificity that (in Psalm 141) defines the decay of the body in terms of quarrying:

• . . my bones, Soe broken, hewn, disperst, as least respected stones,

By careless Mason drawn from caves of worthless quarry;

or (in Psalm 74) compares the desecration of the temple to the destruction of the forest:

As men with axe on arme

To some thick forrest swarme, To lopp the trees which stately stand:

They to thy temple flock,

And spoiling, cutt and knock The curious workes of carving hand.

Of Hebraic origin, too, are the arresting openings of many of these psalms—surely one of the verbal qualities that particu- larly attracted Donne:

Tyrant, why swel'st thou thus, (Psalm 52)

Not us I say, not us, (Psalm 115)

Sure, Lord, thy self art just, (Psalm iic)[s])

Far from being simply an exercise in artistic ingenuity, these translations into verse attempt to reproduce the very accent of the originals. The exigencies of the metre in fact, far from enfeebling, enforce the meaning. As Wither, arguing for the propriety of metrical translation, emphasized:

. . . the Language of the Muses, in which the Psalmes were Originally written, is not so properly exprest in the

INTRODUCTION XX111

prose dialect as in verse: &, . . . there is a poeticall em- phasis, in many places, which requires such an altera- tion in the Grammaticall expression, as will seme to make some difference in the judgment of the Common Reader; whereas, it giveth best life to the Author's in- tention; & makes that perspicuous, which was made ob- scure by those meer Grammaticall Interpreters, who were not acquainted with the proprieties, & Liberties, of this kinde of writing.12

It is through her heavily accented metres and artfully mar- shalled phrasing that the Countess enforces a sense of an- guish that is not generalized, but personal and individual:

Surelie Lord, this daily murther

For thie sake we thus sustaine: For thy sake esteem'd no further

Than as sheepe, that must be slaine.

(Psalm 44)

I as I can, think, speake, and doe the best:

They to the worst my thoughts, wordes, doings wrest.

All their hartes with one consent

Are to worke my ruine bent, From plotting which, they give their heads no rest.

(Psalm 56)

Although later poets completed verse translations of the Psalms, notably George Wither (1632), Sandys (1636), Watts (1719), and Smart (1765), there is nothing in these works precisely comparable to the vivacity and syntactical energy of the Elizabethan version. The sense of involvement that gives the finest of the Countess of Pembroke's psalms their force is already lost in the paraphrases of Wither and Sandys; nor can it find expression, except in a very modified form, in the comparatively formal idiom of Watts and Smart (see pp. 351-52). The reasons for this are not hard to seek. The practice of singing versified psalms in church gradually gave way during the eighteenth century— especially among the Nonconformists— to the custom of hymn singing. Watts's

12 Wither, George: The Psalms of David translated into Lyrick Verse [1632]. Printed for the Spenser Society, 1881. Vol. I, p. 13.

XXIV INTRODUCTION

preface to his Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament (London, 1719) helps to explain how this came about. The Psalms of David, Watts argued, "ex- press nothing but the Character, the Concerns, and the Re- ligion of the Jewish King!' How, he asked, can a Christian worshipper assume the words of David "when our Condition of Life, our Time, Place, and Religion, are so vastly different from those of David?" In versifying the Psalms, Watts felt bound to blunt the edges of David's "sharp invectives" against his personal enemies, and to bring the sublimer ex- pressions of faith and love "within the Reach of an ordinary Christian." Moreover, he deliberately modified words that implied "some peculiar Wants or Distresses," giving them a broader application suited "to the general Circumstances of Men." Within the terms of this stated design, Watts's psalms and hymns, like those of the later eighteenth-century hymn writers, Charles Wesley, Smart, Newton, and Cowper, are, at their best, admirable achievements. Unfortunately, how- ever, the gradual displacement of psalm singing by an in- creasingly sentimental hymnody ushered in a vastly inferior form of church song. When in 1861 Hymns Ancient and Modern was published, the distinguished hymns of poets of earlier centuries were but meagrely represented.

It was in fact the poverty of Victorian hymnody that caused Ruskin to value so highly what he called the "Sidney Psalter." He possessed a copy of the 1823 edition and spoke of it with pardonable extravagance as "a classical model of the English language at the time of its culminating perfection." In 1877 he published a selection of the Sidneian Psalms in a volume entitled Rock Honeycomb. He does not distinguish be- tween the work of Sidney and that of the Countess of Pem- broke, but his comments are no less cogent for that. He wrote:

Whereas a modern version, if it only clothe itself in what the author supposes to be genteel language, is thought perfectly satisfactory, though the said genteel language mean exactly the contrary of what David meant,— Sir Philip will use any cowboy's or tinker's words, if only they help him to say precisely in English what David said in Hebrew: impressed, the while, himself so vividly by the

INTRODUCTION XXV

majesty of the thought itself, that no tinker's language can lower it or vulgarize it in his mind. And, again, while the modern paraphraser will put in anything that hap- pens to strike his fancy, to fill in the fag-end of a stanza, but never thinks of expanding or illustrating the matter in hand, Sidney, if the thought in his original appears to him pregnant, and partly latent, instantly breaks up his verse into franker and fuller illustration; but never adds a syllable of any other matter, to fill even the most hungry gap of verse.

In an early issue of Fors Clavigera (November 1872) he ex- pressed his admiration more tersely: "You may not like this old English at first; but if you can find anybody to read it to you who has an ear, its cadence is massy and grand."

Although Sidney's versification of the first forty-three Psalms must obviously have been completed before his de- parture for the Netherlands in autumn 1585, there has been no general agreement as to whether the translation is to be regarded as a relatively late work (as Professor William Ringler argues) or, on the contrary, as his "earliest important task" (as Theodore Spencer suggests). Ringler, tentatively as- signing it to the years 1584-5, supports his conjecture with a reference to the comment of a member of the Pembroke household, Thomas Moffet, who implies that the Psalms were written after the Arcadia and Astrophil and Stella13. This, the only positive evidence we possess, can scarcely be re- garded as conclusive. Moffet, in what is essentially an anec- dotal and moralized biography of Sidney (written in 1593), merely indicates that in later life Sidney turned from lighter to more austere subjects, among which he includes the (now lost) translation of Du Bartas' La Sepmaine and the Psalms. The chronology that Moffet suggests provides for his purpose a convenient moral pattern, and it would be dangerous to attach too much weight to what is after all only a passing reference. On the other hand, as Ringler points out, certain

13 Heltzel, Virgil B., and Hudson, Hoyt H., eds.: Nobilis. . . . San Marino, California: Huntington Library Publications, 1940, p. 12. For "Astrophil," cf . Ringlets edition, p. 458.

XXVI INTRODUCTION

striking similarities of phrasing (notably in Psalm 4 and 29) do suggest that Sidney had access to Beze's prose paraphrase of the Psalms (published London, 1580). Sidney's share in translating the Psalms, most critics have agreed, is decid- edly inferior to that of his sister, and, if only on stylistic grounds (admittedly a dangerous guide), I am inclined to believe that they were written before Astrophil and Stella.

The Countess of Pembroke did not attempt to complete Sidney's work until several years after his death. Her heavily revised working copy of the Psalms, although now lost, was carefully transcribed (complete with marginal emendations and instructions to her scribe) by Dr. Samuel Woodford in 1694-5. It shows that she modified the final stanzas of seven of Sidney's versions (Psalms 1, 16, 22, 23, 26, 29, 31), but in recasting her brother's work the Countess was understand- ably cautious, and it is in her own poems that the most radi- cal revision occurs. More than thirty of her own versions she completely rewrote, and it is possible to trace in the surviving manuscripts the successive stages by which she arrived at her final versions. Among others, Psalms 44, 55, 58, 64, 69, and 86 were all immeasurably improved by subsequent redrafting.

The earliest reference to her work is Samuel Daniel's nota- ble tribute to her "Hymnes" contained in an address prefixed to his Cleopatra (Stationers' Register, October 1593). His ref- erence indicates that the Countess' psalms had already been started by this date. The relevant stanzas are sufficiently in- teresting to be worth quoting in full:

Those Hymnes which thou dost consecrate to heaven,

Which Israels Singer to his God did frame:

Unto thy voyce Eternitie hath given,

And makes thee deare to him from whence they came.

In them must rest thy venerable name,

So long as Sions God remaineth honoured;

And till confusion hath all zeale bereaven,

And murthered Faith, and Temples ruined.

By this (great Lady) thou must then be knowne, When Wilton lies low levell'd with the ground: And this is that which thou maist call thine owne, Which sacrilegious Time cannot confound;

INTRODUCTION XXV11

Heere thou surviv'st thy selfe, heere thou art found Of late succeeding ages, fresh in fame: This monument cannot be overthrowne Where, in eternall Brasse remaines thy Name.

This is undoubtedly a reference to the Countess' translation, but Daniel, who was employed as tutor at Wilton (probably from 1591 to 1593), would have known the work while it was still in progress, and we need not infer that it was already completed by this date. One of the extant manuscripts, now in the possession of Dr. B. E. Juel-Jensen, is prefaced by a dedicatory poem to Queen Elizabeth and bears the date "1599" which, as Professor Ringler suggests, probably indi- cates the year in which the work was finally completed. The assertion of the editor of the 1823 edition that the Penshurst MS. was transcribed during the reign of James I is clearly incorrect, for the Juel-Jensen MS. was copied from it. Sir John Harington knew the Countess' psalms, and in a letter dated December 29, 1600, sent her "truly devine translation of three of Davids psalmes" (51, 104, and 137) to Lucy, Countess of Bedford. In his Treatise on Playe (not printed until 1779) he comments, with an allusion to Daniel's tribute, on the curious failure of the Countess to publish her Psalms:

Seeing it is allready prophecied those precious leves (those hims that she doth consecrate to Heaven) shall owtlast Wilton walls, meethinke it is pitty they are un- publyshed, but lye still inclosed within those walls lyke prosoners, though many have made great suyt for theyr liberty.

In fact, although the "Sydnean Psalmes" were not printed during the Countess of Pembroke's lifetime, manuscript copies circulated widely in court circles and they were probably sung occasionally in private devotions. (A fragmentary manu- script in the British Museum, Add. MS. 15117, contains two of her psalms, 51 and 130, set to music for treble voice with tablature for lute.) Although many of the surviving manu- scripts bear only Sidney's name on the title page, the Count- ess' major role in the translation seems to have been generally recognized by contemporaries. Ben Jonson in fact (referring

XXV111 INTRODUCTION

to the first forty-three Psalms) had to assure Drummond of Hawthornden that Sidney "had translated some of the Psalmes which went abroad under the name of the Countesse of Pembrock." Of her other works little remains— possibly a sub- stantial amount of her verse exists unidentified in manu- script. Her terza rima translation of Petrarch's "Triumph of Death" was printed for the first time in 1912, and apart from "Astrea" (a pastoral dialogue in praise of Elizabeth printed in Davison's Poetical Rhapsody [1602]), only two published works can definitely be attributed to the Countess: Antonius, a pseudoclassical tragedy translated from the French of Rob- ert Gamier (1534-90) and A Discourse of Life and Death, an elegant prose translation of a work by Philip du Plessis- Mornay (1549-1623). Both were written in 1590 and first published (bound together) in 1592. Subsequent editions of the combined work were printed at regular intervals between 1600 and 1608, and a separate edition of the play, entitled The Tragedie of Antonie, appeared in 1595. Its significance and its kinship with a group of "classical" dramas by Daniel, Kyd, Fulke Greville, Brandon, and Alexander is fully dis- cussed by A. M. Witherspoon,14 and, more generally, by T. S. Eliot in "Seneca in Elizabethan Translation."15

Much has been written of the Countess of Pembroke and her "circle," but in fact the actual information we possess is, to say the least, meagre. By far the most reliable and com- petent account of her life is contained in Frances Berkeley Young's biography (Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke, London, 1912). Fourteen of her letters survive, addressed to Sir Robert Cecil (4), Sir Julius Caesar (3), Sir Tobie Mat- thew (3), Lord Burghley, Sir Edward Wotton, Lady Barbara Sidney, and Queen Elizabeth. On these and the tributes of the many poets to whom she acted as patron, rests our scanty knowledge of the details of her life. From 1577, when at the age of fifteen she married Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pem- broke, until 1601, the year of her husband's death, she lived at Wilton, near Salisbury, and (more occasionally) at Bay-

14 Witherspoon, A. M.: The Influence of Robert Gamier on Eliza- bethan Drama. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1924.

15 In Selected Essays, by T. S. Eliot. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., 1932, 1950; London: Faber and Faber, 1932, 1951-

INTRODUCTION XXIX

nard's Castle, their London residence. Wilton, it is clear, was a centre of genuine literary activity during these years. Daniel speaks of having been first encouraged to write by the Count- ess and, even more significantly, of "having received the first notion for the formall ordering of those compositions at Wil- ton, which," he adds, "I must ever acknowledge to have been my best schoole and thereof alwayes am to holde a feeling and gratefull memorie." Besides Daniel, a number of minor poets were members of the Pembroke household, among them Thomas Howell, Nicholas Breton, Thomas Churchyard, and Abraham Fraunce. Others who paid tribute to the Countess and possibly enjoyed her patronage include Barnabe Barnes, Michael Drayton (in his Idea; The Shepheard's Garland), and the celebrated Chapel Royal musician, Thomas Morley. Spenser's dedication of his Ruines of Time (1591) to the Countess ("to whom I acknowledge myself bounden by manie singular favours and graces") may indicate a relationship similar to that enjoyed by Daniel; on the other hand, William Browne, the author of the well-known epitaph to "Sidney's sister, Pembroke's mother", was probably too young ever to have received her friendship or patronage. Needless to say, all generalizations about the Countess of Pembroke's circle must be treated with considerable caution in the absence of more convincing evidence. After the death of her husband in 1601, tributes to her significantly diminish, and it is apparent that her eldest son, William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, took over her role as patron. In later years her health de- clined and between 1613 and 1616 she was frequently at Spa, the celebrated resort near Lieges in the Ardennes. She finally died of smallpox at her London residence in Aldersgate Street on September 25, 1621, at the age of fifty-nine.

Although eight Pembrokean psalms, found among Sir John Harington's papers, were published by H. Harington in Nugae Antiquae (London, 1779) and two in Zouch's Mem- oirs of the Life and Writings of Sir Philip Sidney (New York, 1808), the only significant references to her Psalms during the two centuries following her death occur in Addison and Steele's Guardian (April 1, 1713) and in Ballard's garrulous

XXX INTRODUCTION

Memoirs of Several Ladies of Great Britain (Oxford, 1752). Then in June 1821, Dr. Henry Cotton of Christ Church, Ox- ford, the owner of a manuscript, published an article in The Christian Remembrancer in which he claimed for the Psalms of Sir Philip Sidney and his sister "a nerve and energy, a poetic spirit that might have disarmed, even if it could not extort praise from, the fastidious Warton himself/' Cotton did not withhold his enthusiasm for the collection. "How or by what strange means it has happened that this version has slept in unmerited obscurity for nearly two centuries and a half/' he wrote, "I am utterly at a loss to divine." His championship of the poems led to the eventual publication of the Chiswick Press edition (edited by S. W. Singer) in 1823. This little volume, despite its limited circulation, continued to attract attention throughout the nineteenth century. Appraisals, sup- ported by ample quotation, appeared in Nathan Drake's Mornings in Spring (London, 1828), in John Holland's The Psalmists of Britain (London, 1843), and more notably in George Macdonald's admirable study of religious verse, Eng- land's Antiphon (London, 1868), where the collection is dis- cussed in the context of chapters on Herbert and Donne. Sub- stantial selections of both Sidney's and the Countess of Pembroke's Psalms appeared in Farr's anthology of Select Poetry, chiefly Devotional, of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth (published by the Parker Society in 1845) and in Ruskin's Rock Honeycomb (1877); but since that date the collection has again fallen into obscurity.

Modern indifference to scriptural verse may reflect accu- rately enough the preoccupations, literary and otherwise, of the age. Yet we should be wrong to draw the conclusion that this indifference is a specifically modern phenomenon. Writ- ing in 1619, Wither, whose Preparation to the Psalter is a mine of entertainingly presented information on Elizabethan and Jacobean psalmody, felt bound to comment on the failure of literary men in his day to appreciate the poetic qualities of the Psalms:

For if any man . . . enter into discourse, concerning the excellencie of these Psalmes; you may heare them perhaps, for fashion sake say, They are good things, or

INTRODUCTION XXXI

give them such slight commendations, as you may easily gather, they have neither true feeling of their power, nor sound opinion of their worth: But talke of Homer, Virgill, Horace, Martiall, or some of those Poets, you shall per- ceive, it puts life into them; for in these they are Criticks, and have ever one of them in their Pockets.16

The majority, he was moved to complain, "take so small heed of their excellencie, that, for ought I can perceive, they sing or read them with the same devotion wherewith (as the Proverbe is) Dogges goe to Church."17

At the same time we will do well to recall Donne's lively assertion of the poetical merits of the Scriptures, written in the same year. "Religion," he declared in a sermon delivered at Whitehall, "is a serious thing, but not a sullen . . . There are not so eloquent books in the world, as the Scriptures: Accept those names of Tropes and Figures, which the Gram- marians and Rhetoricians put upon us, and we may be bold to say, that in all their Authors, Greek and Latin, we cannot finde so high, and so lively examples, of those Tropes, and those Figures, as we may in the Scriptures: whatsoever hath justly delighted any man in any mans writings, is exceeded in the Scriptures."

Donne was no less alive to the literary than to the devo- tional merits of the poetical books of the Bible. He chose to celebrate the "sweet learned labours" of Sir Philip Sidney and the Countess of Pembroke because he recognized in the "Sydnean Psalmes" a particularly felicitous conjunction of scholarly understanding and genuine poetic talent. His praise was not, as some critics have implied, an act of piety, but the deliberated judgement of a man who by the nature of his dual vocation was singularly well qualified to have an opinion in such matters.

In preparing this edition I have used as my copy-text the manuscript, transcribed by John Davies of Hereford, now in the possession of the Rt. Hon. Viscount De Lisle, v.c, g.c.m.g., at Penshurst Place, Kent; and have consulted for

16 Wither, George: A Preparation to the Psalter. London: 1619, p. 68. nibid.

XXX11 INTRODUCTION

the purposes of comparison and collation thirteen of the four- teen surviving manuscripts. A small number of verbal emenda- tions (listed on p. 359) have been made in the case of mani- fest errors. I have expanded all contractions and followed modern usage in capitalizing the initial letter of each line. With regard to spelling, I have not preserved the long S and have modernized the treatment of I and J and U and V. A number of emendations have also been made where an irregu- larity of spelling is likely to cause confusion (to for too, then for than, and the suffix -es for -ess); otherwise the Elizabe- than spelling has been carefully preserved. The punctuation of the Psalms presents a peculiar difficulty, for though the Penshurst MS. is more adequately punctuated than the ma- jority of the extant manuscripts, it contains a large number of omissions and manifest errors. While adhering as far as possi- ble to the punctuation of the Penshurst MS. I have for this reason not hesitated to make a relatively large number of edi- torial emendations. In his indispensable edition of The Poems of Sir Philip Sidney (Oxford, 1962), Professor Ringler has sought to reconstruct, as accurately as possible, the original wording of Sidney's Psalms 1-43 by eliminating the Countess of Pembroke's later revisions. My aim, on the other hand, has been to present the finally revised form of the text. I need hardly add that in a volume of this scope it is not possible to provide what would necessarily be a very bulky apparatus of variant readings. The purpose of this edition will have been served if it succeeds in making this collection available to a much larger public than it has hitherto achieved.

J. C. A. Rathmell Christ's College, Cambridge

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To the Angell spirit of the most excellent Sir Phillip Sidney

To thee pure sprite, to thee alone's addres't this coupled worke, by double int'rest thine: First rais'de by thy blest hand, and what is mine

inspird by thee, thy secrett power imprest.

So dar'd my Muse with thine it selfe combine, as mortall stuffe with that which is divine,

Thy lightning beames give lustre to the rest,

That heaven's King may daigne his owne transform'd in substance no, but superficiall tire by thee put on; to praise, not to aspire

To, those high Tons, so in themselves adorn'd, which Angells sing in their cselestiall Quire, and all of tongues with soule and voice admire

Theise sacred Hymnes thy Kinglie Prophet form'd.

Oh, had that soule which honor brought to rest too soone not left and reft the world of all what man could showe, which wee perfection call

This half maim'd peece had sorted with the best. Deepe wounds enlarg'd, long festred in their gall fresh bleeding smart; not eie but hart teares fall.

Ah memorie what needs this new arrest?

XXXVI

Yet here behold, (oh wert thou to behold!)

this finish't now, thy matchlesse Muse begunne, the rest but peec't, as left by thee undone.

Pardon (oh blest soule) presumption too too bold: if love and zeale such error ill-become 'tis zealous love, Love which hath never done,

Nor can enough in world of words unfold.

And sithe it hath no further scope to goe, nor other purpose but to honor thee, Thee in thy workes where all the Graces bee,

As little streames with all their all doe flowe to their great sea, due tribute's gratefull fee: so press my thoughts my burthened thoughtes in mee,

To pay the debt of Infinits I owe

To thy great worth; exceeding Nature's store, wonder of men, sole borne perfection's kinde, Phoenix thou wert, so rare thy fairest minde

Heavnly adorn'd, Earth justlye might adore, where truthfull praise in highest glorie shin'de: For there alone was praise to truth confin'de;

And where but there, to live for evermore?

Oh! when to this Accompt, this cast upp Summe, this Reckoning made, this Audit of my woe, I call my thoughts, whence so strange passions flowe;

Howe workes my hart, my sences striken dumbe? that would thee more, then ever hart could showe, and all too short who knewe thee best doth knowe

There lives no witt that may thy praise become.

xxxvu

Truth I invoke (who scorne else where to move or here in ought my blood should partialize) Truth, sacred Truth, Thee sole to solemnize

Those precious rights well knowne best mindes approve: and who but doth, hath wisdome's open eies, not owly blinde the fairest light still flies

Confirme no lesse? At least 'tis seal'd above.

Where thou art fixt among thy fellow lights: my day put out, my life in darkenes cast, Thy AngelTs soule with highest Angells plac't

There blessed sings enjoying heav 'n-delights thy Maker's praise: as farr from earthy tast as here thy workes so worthilie embrac't

By all of worth, where never Envie bites.

As goodly buildings to some glorious ende cut of by fate, before the Graces hadde each wondrous part in all their beauties cladde,

Yet so much done, as Art could not amende; So thy rare workes to which no witt can adde, in all men's eies, which are not blindely madde,

Beyonde compare above all praise, extende.

Immortall Monuments of thy faire fame,

though not compleat, nor in the reach of thought, howe on that passing peece time would have wrought

Had Heav'n so spar'd the life of life to frame

the rest? But ah! such losse hath this world ought can equall it? or which like greevance brought?

Yet there will live thy ever praised name.

xxxvm

To which theise dearest offrings of my hart

dissolv'd to Inke, while perm's impressions move the bleeding veines of never dying love:

I render here: these wounding lynes of smart sadd Characters indeed of simple love not Art nor skill which abler wits doe prove,

Of my full soule receive the meanest part.

Receive theise Hymnes, theise obsequies receive; if any marke of thy sweet sprite appeare, well are they borne, no title else shall beare.

I can no more: Deare Soule I take my leave;

Sorrowe still strives, would mount thy highest sphere presuming so just cause might meet thee there,

Oh happie chaunge! could I so take my leave.

By the Sister of that Incomparable Sidney

The Psalms

of

Sir Philip Sidney

(PSALMS 1-43)

PSALM 1 BEATUS VIR

Hee blessed is who neither loosely treacles

The strayinge steppes, as wicked counsell leades

Ne for bad mates in waie of Sinninge waiteth, Nor yett himself with idle Scorners seateth

But on Gods lawe his hartes delight doth binde Which night and daie hee calls to marking minde.

Hee shalbe like a freshly planted tree

To which sweete Springes of waters Neighbours bee Whose braunches faile not timely fruit to nourish

Nor withered leafe shall make it faile to flourish. So all the thinges wherto that man doth bend

Shall prosper still with well-succeeding end.

Not soe the wicked; Butt like chaff with wind Scattred, shall neither stay in Judgment find

Nor with the just, bee in their meetings placed: For good mens waies by God are knowne and graced.

Butt who from Justice sinnfully doe stray, The way they goe, shall be their ruins way.

4

PSALM 2 QUARE FREMUERUNT GENTES

What ayles this heathenish rage? What doe these people

To mutter murmurs vaine? [meane

Why doe these earthly kinges, and lordes such meeting

And counsell joyntly take [make

5 Against the lorde of lordes, the lorde of every thinge

And his anointed kinge? Come let us breake theire bonds, say they, and fondly

And cast theire yoakes awaie. [saie

But hee shall them deride, who by the Heavens is borne 10 Hee shall laugh them to scorne

And after speake to them with breath of wrathfull fire

And vex them in his Ire. And say (O kinges) yett have I sett my king upon

My holy hill Sion. 15 And I will (saieth his kinge) the Lordes decree display

And saye that hee did say: Thou art my Sonne indeede this daie begott by mee:

Aske I will give to thee The heath'n for thy childes-right, and will thy realme 20 Farre as worldes farthest end. [extend

With Iron Scepter bruise thou shalt and peecemeale

These men like potshardes weake. [breake

Therfore (O kinges) bee wise, O Rulers rule your minde

That knowledge you may finde. 25 Serve God, serve him with feare: Rejoice in him but soe

That joy with trembling goe. With loving homage kisse that onely son hee hath

Least you enflame his wrath Whereof if but a sparke once kindled be, you all

PSALM 2 5

30 From your way perish shall.

And then they that in him theire only trust doe rest, O they bee rightly blest.

line 21 bruise: crush, line 22 potshardes: broken pieces of earth- enware.

6

PSALM 3 DOMINE, QUID MULTIPLICATI

Lord howe doe they encrease That hatefull never cease

To breede my greevous trouble! Howe many ones there bee 5 That all against poore mee

Theire numbrous strengthes redouble!

Even multitudes bee they That to my soule doe say

Noe helpe for you remaineth 10 In God on whom you build;

Yet Lord thou art my shield

In thee my glorie raigneth.

The Lord liftes up my head To him my voice I spread 15 From holy hill hee heard mee.

I layed mee downe and slept While hee mee safely kept

And safe from sleepe hee reard mee.

I will not bee afraide 20 Though Legions round be laide

Which all against mee gather: I say no more but this: Up Lord, nowe tyme it is:

Helpe mee my God and father!

PSALM 3

25 For thou with cruell blowes

On Jaw-bones of my foes

My causeless wronges hast wroken:

Thou those mens teeth which bite,

Venomd with godless spite, 30 Hast in theire malice broken.

Salvation doth belonge

Unto the Lord moste stronger

Hee is hee that defendeth: And on those blessed same 35 Which beare his peoples name,

His blessing hee extendeth.

8

PSALM 4 CUM INVOCAREM

Heare me, O heare me, when I call, O God, God of my equity: Thou sett'st me free when I was thrall, Have mercy therefore still on me, 5 And harken how I pray to thee.

O men, whose fathers were but men, Till when will ye my honor high Stain with your blasphemies? till when Such pleasure take in vanity, 10 And only hunt where lies do ly?

Yet know this too, that God did take When he chose me, a godly one: Such one, I say, that when I make My cryeng plaintes to him alone, 15 He will give good eare to my moane.

O tremble then with awfull will: Sinne from all rule in you depose, Talk with your harts and yet be still: And when your chamber you do close, 20 Your selves, yet to your selves disclose.

The sacrifices sacrifie

Of just desires, on justice staid Trust in that Lord that cannot ly. Indeed full many folkes have said, 25 From whence shall come to us such aid?

PSALM 4 9

But, Lord, lift thou upon our sight The shining cleereness of thy face, Where I have found more hartes delight Than they whose store in harvests space 30 Of grain and wine fills stoaring place.

So I in peace and peacefull blisse Will lay me down and take my rest: For it is thou, Lord, thou it is, By pow'r of whose own onely brest 35 I dwell, laid up in safest neast.

line 3 thrall: in bondage, line 21 sacrifie: offer as sacrifice, line I22 on justice staid: the desire of what is just being restrained within the limits of what can be accomplished by just means, line 29 harvests space: the time of harvest.

io

PSALM 5 VERBA ME A AURIBUS

Ponder the wordes, O Lord, that I doe say, Consider what I meditate in me:

O, harken to my voice which calls on thee, My king, my God, for I to thee will pray. 5 Soe shall my voice clime to thine eares betime: For unto thee I will my praier send With earliest entry of the morning prime, And will my waiting eies to thee-ward bend.

For thou art that same God, farre from delight 10 In that which of fowle wickedness doth smell: No, nor with thee the naughty ones shall dwell, Nor glorious fooles stand in thy awfull sight. Thou hatest all whose workes in ill are placd, And shalt roote out the tongues to lyeng bent: 15 For thou, the Lord, in endless hatred hast The murdrous man, and soe the fraudulent.

But I my self will to thy howse addresse With pasport of thy graces manifold:

And in thy feare, knees of my hart will fold, 2,0 Towardes the temple of thy hollinesse.

Thou Lord, thou Lord, the saver of thine owne, Guide me, O in thy justice be my guide: And make thy waies to me more plainly known, For all I need, that with such foes do bide.

PSALM 5 11

25 For in their mouth not one cleare word is spent, Mischief their soules for inmost lyning have: Their throate it is an open swallowing grave,

Whereto their tongue is flattring instrument. Give them their due unto their guiltinesse, 30 Let their vile thoughts the thinckers mine be:

With heaped weights of their own sinns oppresse These most ungrateful rebells unto thee.

So shal all they that trust on thee doe bend, And love the sweete sound of thy name, rejoyce: 35 They ever shall send thee their praising voice; Since ever thou to them wilt succour send. Thy work it is to blesse, thou blessedst them; The just in thee, on thee and justice build: Thy work it is such men safe in to hemm 40 With kindest care, as with a certain shield.

line 19 knees of my hart will fold: will make my heart sub- missive.

12

PSALM 6 DOMINE NE IN FURORE

Lord, lett not mee, a worm, by thee be shent While thou art in the heate of thy displeasure: Ne let thy rage, of my due punnishment Become the measure.

5 But mercy, Lord, lett mercy thine descend,

For I am weake, and in my weakness languish: Lord, help, for ev'n my bones their marrow spend With cruell anguish.

Nay, ev'n my soule fell troubles do appall. 10 Alas! how long, my God, wilt thou delay me?

Turn thee, sweete Lord, and from this ougly fall My deere God, stay me.

Mercy, O mercy, Lord, for mercies sake,

For death doth kill the wittness of thy glory; 15 Can, of thy praise, the tongues entombed make

A heav nly story?

Loe, I am tir'd, while still I sigh and grone:

My moistned bed proof es of my sorrow showeth: My bed (while I with black night moorn alone) 20 With my teares floweth.

Woe, like a Moth, my faces beutie eates,

And age, pul'd on with paines, all freshness fretteth The while a swarm of foes with vexing f eates My life besetteth.

PSALM 6 13

25 Gett hence you evill, who in my ill rejoice,

In all whose works vainenesse is ever raigning: For God hath heard the weeping sobbing voice Of my complayning.

The Lord my suite did heare, and gently heare; 30 They shall be sham'd and vext, that breed my cryeng: And turn their backs, and straight on backs appeare Their shamfull flyeng.

line 1 shent: disgraced, line 22 fretteth: gnaws gradually away. line 23 feates: deeds, actions.

14

PSALM 7 DOMINE, DEUS MEUS

O Lord, my God, thou art my trustfull stay; O, save me from this persecutions shown Deliver me in my endangerd way

Least Lion-like, he doe my soule devoure; 5 And cruelly in many peeces teare,

While I am voide of any helping pow'r.

O Lord, my God, if I did not forbeare Ever from deede of any such desert: If ought my handes of wickedness do beare:

10 If I have byn unkinde for frendly part:

Nay, if I wrought not for his freedoms sake, Who causlesse now, yeeldes me a hatefull hart- Then let my foe chase me, and chasing take: Then, lett his foote upon my neck be set:

15 Then, in the dust lett hym my honor rake.

Arise, O Lord, in wrath thy self up sett Against such rage of foes; awake for me To that high doom, which I by thee must gett.

So shall all men with laudes inviron thee; 20 Therefore, O Lord, lift up thy throne on high That ev'ry folk thy wondrous acts may see.

PSALM 7 15

Thou, Lord, the people shalt in judgment try: Then Lord, my Lord, give sentence on my side After my clearnesse, and my equity.

25 O, let their wickedness no longer bide

From comming to the well deserved end: But still be thou to just men justest guide.

Thou righteous proof es to hartes and reines dost send: And all my helpe from none but thee is sent, 30 Who dost thy saving-health to true men bend.

Thou righteous art, thou strong, thou pacient: And each day art provok'd thyne ire to show: And if this man will not learn to repent,

For hym thou whettst thy sword and bend'st thy bow, 35 And hast thy deadly armes in order brought, And ready art to lett thyne Arrowes go.

Lo, he that first conceav'd a wretched thought, And greate with child of mischief travel'd long, Now brought a bed, hath brought nought foorth but

[nought.

40 A pitt was digg'd by this man, vainly strong; But in the pitt he, ruin'd, first did fall, Which fall he made, to doe his neighbour wrong.

He against me doth throw, but down it shall Upon his pate; his paine, emploied thus, 45 And his own ill, his own head shall appall.

I will give thancks unto the Lord of us According to his heav'nly equity, And will to highest name yeeld praises high.

line 28 reines: seat of the feelings and affections.

i6

PSALM 8 DOMINE, DOMINUS

O Lord that rul'st our mortall lyne,

How through the world thy name doth shine: That hast of thine unmatched glory Upon the heav'ns engrav'n the story.

5 From sucklings hath thy honor sprong,

Thy force hath flow'd from babies tongue, Whereby thou stopp'st thine en'mies prating Bent to revenge and ever-hating.

When I upon the heav'ns do look, 10 Which all from thee their essence took;

When Moon and Starrs, my thoughts beholdeth, Whose life no life but of thee holdeth:

Then thinck I: Ah, what is this man Whom that greate God remember can? 15 And what the race, of him descended, It should be ought of God attended?

For though in lesse than Angells state Thou planted hast this earthly mate; Yet hast thou made ev'n hym an owner 20 Of glorious crown, and crowning honor.

Thou placest hym upon all landes

To rule the workes of thine own handes: And so thou hast all things ordained, That ev'n his feete, have on them raigned.

PSALM 8 17

25 Thou under his dominion plact

Both sheepe and oxen wholy hast; And all the beastes for ever breeding, Which in the fertill fieldes be feeding.

The Bird, free-burgesse of the Aire; 30 The Fish, of sea the native heire;

And what things els of waters traceth The unworn pathes, his rule embraceth. O Lord, that rulst our mortall lyne, How through the world thi name doth shine!

i8

PSALM 9 CONFITEBOR TIBI

With all my hart, O Lord, I will praise thee, My speaches all thy mervailes shall discry: In thee my joyes and comfortes ever be, Yea, ev'n my songs thy name shall magnify, 5 O Lord most hie.

Because my foes to fly are now constrain'd,

And they are fall'n, nay perisht at thy sight: For thou my cause, my right thou hast maintain'd, Setting thy self in throne, which shined bright, 10 Of judging right.

The Gentiles thou rebuked sorely hast,

And wicked folks from thee to wrack do wend; And their renown, which seem'd so like to last; Thou dost put out, and quite consuming send 15 To endless end.

O bragging foe, where is the endless waste

Of conquer'd states, whereby such fame you gott? What? doth their memory no longer last? Both mines, miners, and ruin'd plott 20 Be quite forgott.

But God shall sitt in his eternall Chaire

Which he prepard, to give his judgmentes high; Thither the world for justice shall repaire: Thence he to all his judgments shall apply 25 Perpetually.

PSALM 9 19

Thou, Lord, also th'oppressed wilt defend, That they to thee in troublous tyme may flee: They that know thee, on thee their trust will bend, For thou, Lord, found by them wilt ever be, 30 That seake to thee.

O praise the Lord, this Syon-dweller good, Shew foorth his actes, and this as act most high, That he enquiring, doth require just blood, Which he f orgetteth not, nor letteth dy 35 Th'afflicted cry.

Have mercy, mercy, Lord, I once did say, Ponder the paines which on me loaden be By them whose mindes on hatefull thoughts do stay: Thou, Lord, that from death-gates hast lifted me, 40 I call to thee

That I within the portes most bewtifull

Of Sions daughter may sound foorth thi praise: That I, ev'n I, of heav'nly comfort full, May only joy in all thy saving waies 45 Through out my daies.

No sooner said, but lo, mine enymies sinck

Down in the pitt which they them selves had wrought; And in that nett which they well hidden think, Is their own foote, led by their own ill thought, 50 Most surely caught.

For then the Lord in judgment showes to raign, When godlesse men be snar'd in their own snares, When wicked soules be turned to hellish pain, And that forgettfull sort which never cares 55 What God prepares.

But of the other side, the poore in sprite Shall not be scrap't from out of heav'nly score: Nor meeke abiding of the pacient wight Yet perish shall, (although his paine be sore,) 60 For evermore.

20 PSALM 9

Up, Lord, and judg the Gentiles in thy right, And lett not man have upper hand of thee: With terrors greate, O Lord, doe thou them fright; That by sharp proofes the heathen them selves may 65 But men to be. [see

21

PSALM 10 UT QUID DOMINE?

Why standest thou so farre, O God, our only starre, In time most fitt for thee To help who vexed be! 5 For lo, with pride the wicked man

Still plagues the poore the most he can: O, lett proud hym be throughly caught In craft of his own crafty thought.

For he him self doth praise 10 When he his lust doth ease:

Extolling rav'nous gaine, But doth God's self disdaine. Nay so proud is his puffed thought, That after God he never sought; 15 But rather much he fancies this,

That name of God a fable is.

For while his waies doe prove,

On them he setts his love;

Thy judgments are too high, 20 He can them not espy.

Therefore he doth defy all those

That dare them selves to him oppose;

And saieth, in his bragging hart,

This gotten blisse shall never part.

22 PSALM lO

25 Nor he removed be,

Nor danger ever see:

Yet from his mouth doth spring

Cursing and cosening; Under his tongue do harbour'd ly 30 Both mischief and iniquity.

For proof, oft laine in wait he is,

In secret by-way villages.

In such a place unknown To slay the hurtlesse one; 35 With wincking eies ay bent

Against the innocent, Like lurking Lion in his den,

He waites to spoile the simple men: Whom to their losse he still doth gett, 40 When once he draw'th his wily nett.

O, with how simple look He ofte laieth out his hooke! And with how humble showes To trapp poore soules he goes! 45 Thus freely saieth he in his sprite:

God sleepes, or hath forgotten quite; His farre-of sight now hoodwinkt is, He leisure wants to mark all this.

Then rise, and come abroad, 50 O Lord, our only God:

Lift up thy heav nly hand And by the silly stand. Why should the evill, so evill, despise The powr of thy through-seeing eyes? 55 And why should he in hart soe hard

Say, thou dost not thine own regard?

PSALM lO 23

But nak'd, before thine eyes

All wrong and mischief lies:

For of them in thy handes 60 The ballance ev'nly standes:

But who aright poore-minded be

Committ their cause, them selves, to thee,

The succour of the succourless,

The father of the fatherless.

65 Breake thou the wicked arme,

Whose fury bendes to harme:

Search them, and wicked he

Will straight way nothing be. O Lord, we shall thy title sing, 70 Ever and ever, to be king

Who hast the heath'ny folk destroi'd

From out thy land by them anoi'd.

Thou opnest heav'nly dore To praiers of the poore: 75 Thou first prepard their mind,

Then eare to them enclind. O, be thou still the Orphans aid,

That poore from ruyne may be staid: Least we should ever feare the lust 80 Of earthly man, a lord of dust.

PSALM 11 IN DOMINO CONFIDO

Since I do trust Jehova still,

Your fearfull wordes why do you spill? That like a bird to some strong hill

I now should fall a flyeng.

5 Behould the evill have bent their bow, And sett their arrowes in a row, To give unwares a mortall blow

To hartes that hate all lyeng.

But that in building they begunn, 10 With ground-plotts fall, shalbe undunn:

For what, alas, have just men donn?

In them no cause is growing.

God in his holy temple is:

The throne of heav'n is only his: 15 Naught his all-seeing sight can misse;

His ey-lidds peise our going.

The Lord doth search the just mans reynes, But hates, abhorrs, the wicked braines; On them stormes, brimstone, coales he raines: 20 That is their share assigned.

But so of happy other side

His lovely face on them doth bide, In race of life their feete to guide

Who be to God enclined.

line 16 peise: take note of. line 17 reynes: inmost feelings.

*5

PSALM 12 SALVUM ME FAG

Lord, helpe, it is hygh tyme for me to call: No men are left that charity doe love: Nay, ev'n the race of good men are decai'd.

Of things vaine with vaine mates they babble all; 5 Their abject lipps no breath but flattry move,

Sent from false hart, on double meaning staid.

But thou (O Lord) give them a thorough fall: Those lyeng lipps, from cosoning head remove, In falshood wrapt, but in their pride displaid.

10 Our tongues, say they, beyond them all shall goe: We both have pow'r, and will, our tales to tell: For what lord rules our brave emboldned brest?

Ahl now ev'n for their sakes, that tast of wo,

Whom troubles tosse, whose natures need doth quell; 15 Ev'n for the sighes, true sighes of man distrest—

I will gett up, saith God, and my help show Against all them that against hym do swell: Maugre his foes, I will him sett at rest.

These are Gods wordes, Gods words are ever pure: 20 Pure, purer than the silver throughly tride,

When fire seav'n tymes hath spent his earthy parts.

26 PSALM 12

Then thou (O Lord) shalt keepe the good still sure: By thee preserv'd, in thee they shall abide: Yea, in no age thy blisse from them departes.

25 Thou seest each side the walking doth endure

Of these badd folks, more lifted up with pride, Which, if it last, wo to all simple hartes.

line 5 abject: degraded.

27

PSALM 13 USQUE QUO, DOMINE?

How long (O Lord) shall I forgotten be?

What? ever? How long wilt thou thy hidden face from me

Dissever? 5 How long shall I consult with carefull sprite

In anguish? How long shall I with foes triumphant might

Thus languish? Behold me Lord, let to thy hearing creep 10 My crying.

Nay, give me eyes, and light, least that I sleep

In dying: Least my foe bragg, that in my ruyne he

Prevailed; 15 And at my fall they joy that, troublous, me

Assailed. Noe, noe, I trust on thee, and joy in thy

Greate pitty: Still therefore of thy graces shalbe my 20 Songs ditty.

28

PSALM 14 DIXIT INSIPIENS

The foolish man, by flesh and fancy ledd,

His guilty hart with this fond thought hath fed: There is noe God that raigneth.

And so thereafter he and all his mates 5 Do workes, which earth corrupt, and Heaven hates:

Not one that good remaineth.

Even God him self sent down his piercing ey, If of this clayy race he could espy One, that his wisdome learneth.

10 And loe, he findes that all a strayeng went:

All plung'd in stincking filth, not one well bent, Not one that God discerneth.

O maddness of these folkes, thus loosly ledd! These Caniballs, who, as if they were bread, 15 Gods people do devower,

Nor ever call on God; but they shall quake

More than they now do bragg, when he shall take The just into his power.

Indeede the poore, opprest by you, you mock: 20 Their councells are your common jesting stock: But God is their recomfort.

PSALM 14 29

Ah, when from Syon shall the saver come, That Jacob, freed by thee, may glad become, And Israel full of comfort?

line 21 recomfort: support.

30

PSALM 15 DOMINE, QUIS HABITABIT?

In tabernacle thine, O Lord, who shall remaine?

Lord, of thy holy hill, who shall the rest, obtaine? Evn he that leades of life an uncorrupted traine,

Whose deedes of righteous hart, whose harty

[wordes be plain: 5 Who with deceitfull tongue, hath never us'd to faine;

Nor neighboure hurtes by deede, nor doth with

[slander stain: Whose eyes a person vile, doth hold in vile disdaine,

But doth, with honor greate, the godly entertaine: Who othe and promise, given, doth faithfully

[maintain, 10 Although some worldly losse thereby he may

[sustain; From bityng Usury who ever doth refraine:

Who sells not guiltlesse cause for filthy love of

[gain: Who thus proceedes for ay, in sacred mount shall

[raign.

31

PSALM 16 CONSERVA ME

Save me, Lord; for why, thou art All the hope of all my hart: Wittnesse thou my soule with me, That to God, my God, I say; 5 Thou, my Lord, thou art my stay,

Though my workes reach not to thee.

This is all the best I prove: Good, and godly men, I love: And forsee their wretched paine 10 Who to other gods doe runne:

Their blood off rings I do shunne; Nay, to name their names disdaine.

God my only portion is,

And of my childes part the blisse: 15 He then shall maintaine my lott.

Say then, is not my lott found In goodly pleasant ground? Have not I faire partage gott?

Ever, Lord, I will blesse thee, 20 Who dost ever councell me;

Ev'n when night with his black wing Sleepy darkness doth orecast, In my inward raines I tast Of my faultes and chastening.

32 PSALM l6

25 My eyes still my God reguard,

And he my right hand doth guard;

So can I not be opprest,

So my hart is fully gladd,

So in joy my glory cladd, 30 Yea, my flesh in hope shall rest.

For I know the deadly grave

On my soule noe pow'r shall have, For I know thou wilt defend Even the body of thine own 35 Deare beloved holy one

From a fowle corrupting end.

Thou lif es path wilt make me knowe, In whose view doth plenty growe All delights that soules can crave; 40 And whose bodies placed stand

On thy blessed-making hand, They all joies, like-endless, have.

line 18 partage: portion.

33

PSALM 17 EXAUDI, DOMINE, JUSTITIAM

My suite is just, just Lord, to my suite hark

I plaine: sweete Lord, my plaint for pitty mark. And, since my lipps f aine not with thee, Thine eares vouchsave to bend to me.

5 O, let my sentence passe from thine own face: Shew that thine eyes respect a faithfull case, Thou that by proofe acquainted art With inward secretts of my hart.

When silent night might seeme all faultes to hide, 10 Then was I, by thy searching insight tride: And then by thee, was guiltlesse found From ill word, and ill meaning, sound.

Not waighing ought how fleshly fancies runn, Ledd by thy word, the ravners stepps I shunn; 15 And pray that still thou guide my way,

Least yet I slipp, or goe astray.

I say againe that I have cal'd on thee, And boldly saie thou wilt give eare to me: Then let my wordes, my cries, ascend, 20 Which to thy self my soule will send.

Show then, O Lord, thy wondrous kindnesse show: Make us in mervailes of thy mercy know That thou by faithfull men wilt stand, And save them from rebellious hand.

34 PSALM 17

25 Then keepe me as the Aple of an ey:

In thy wings shade then lett me hidden ly, From my destroyeng wicked foes Who for my death still me enclose.

Their eies doe swimme, their face doth shine in fatt, 30 And cruell wordes their swelling tongues do chatt; And yett their high hartes looke so low As how to watch our overthrow.

Now like a Lion, gaping to make preys,

Now like his whelpe, in denne, that lurking staies:

35 Up, Lord, prevent those gaping jawes, And bring to naught those watching pawes.

Save me from them, thou usest as thy blade,

From men I say, and from mens worldly trade: Whose life doth seeme most greatly blest, 40 And count this life their portion best.

Whose bellies soe with dainties thou dost fill, And so with hidden treasures graunt their will, That they in ritches floorish doe, And children have to leave it to.

45 What would they more? And I would not their case: My joy shalbe, pure, to enjoy thy face, When waking of this sleepe of mine I shall see thee in likenesse thine.

35

PSALM 18 DILIGAM TE

Thee will I love, O Lord, with all my hartes delight, My strength, my strongest Rock, which my defence

[hast born: My God, and helping God, my might, and trustfull

[might, My never-pierced shield, my ever-saving home, My refuge; refuge then when most I am forlorne: Whom then shall I invoke, but thee, most worthy

[praise, On whom (against my foes) my only safty staies?

On me the paines of death allready gan to pray:

The fludds of wickednesse on me did horrors throw: 10 Like in a winding sheete, wretch, I already lay, All-ready, ready to my snaring grave to goe. This my distresse to God, with wailefull cries I show: My cries climb'd up; and he bent down, from sacred

[throne, His eyes unto my case, his eares unto my moane.

15 And so the earth did fall to tremble and to quake,

The Mountaines proudly high, and their foundations

[bent With motion of his rage, did to the bottome shake. He came, but came with smoake, from out his nostrells

[sent: Flames issu'd from his mouth, and burning coales out

[went;

36 PSALM l8

20 He bow'd the heav'ns, and from the bow'd heav'ns did

[descend With hugy darkness, which aboute his feete did wend.

The Cherubins their backs, the windes did yeeld their

[wings To beare his sacred flight, in secrete place then clos'd; About which he dimme cloudes like a pavillion brings, 25 Cloudes, ev'n of waters dark, and thickest aire

[compos'd. But streight his shining eyes this misty masse disclos'd, Then haile, then flry coales, then thundred, heav'nly

[sire, Then spake he his lowd voice, then hailstones, coles,

[and fire.

Then out his Arrowes fly; and streight they scattred

[been: Lightning on lightning he did for their wrack augment: The gulphes of waters then were through their

[chanells seen: The Worldes foundations then lay bare; because he

[shent With blasting breath, O Lord, that in thy chiding

[went. Then sent he from above, and tooke me from below, Ev'n from the waters depth, my God preserved me soe.

So did he save me, from my mighty furious foe, So did he save me, from their then prevailing hate: For they had caught me up when I was weake in wo: But he, staff of my age, he staid my stumbling state: This much: yet more, when I by him this freedom

[gate, By him, because I did find in his ey-sight grace, He lifted me unto a largely noble place.

PSALM l8 37

My Justice, my just handes thus did the Lord reward, Because I walk'd his waies, nor gainst him evilly went: 45 Still to his Judgmentes look't, still for his statutes car'd Sound and upright with him, to wickedness not bent. Therefore, I say again, this goodness he me sent, As he before his eyes did see my justice stand, According as he saw the pureness of my hand.

50 Meeke to the meeke thou art, the good thy goodness

[tast: Pure, to the pure, thou deal's t with crooked crookedly: Up then, thou lifts the poore, and downe the proud

[wilt cast; Up, thou dost light my light, and cleare my darkned

[ey. I hoastes by thee orecome; by thee ore walles I fly: 55 Thy way is soundly sure, thy word is purely tride:

To them that trust in thee, a shield thou dost abide.

For who is God besides this greate Jehova oures?

And so besides our God, who is indu'd with might? This God then girded me in his all-mighty pow'rs, 60 He made my combrous way, to me most plainly right: To match with lightfoote Staggs, he made my foote so

[light, That I climb'd highest hill; he me warre-pointes did

[show, Strength'ning mine armes, that they could breake an

[Iron bow.

Thou gav'st me saving shield; thy right hand was my

[stay;

65 Me in encreasing still, thy kindnesse did maintaine:

Unto my strengthned stepps, thou didst enlardge the

[way, My heeles, and plantes, thou didst from stumbling slip

[sustain: What foes I did pursue, my force did them attain

38 PSALM l8

That I, ere I retorn'd, destroi'd them utterly, 70 With such brave woundes, that they under my feete

[did ly.

For why my fighting strength, by thy strength,

[strengthned was: Not I, but thou, throwst down those, who gainst me do

[rise, Thou gavest me their necks, on them thou mad'st me

[passe:

Behold they cry, but who to them his helpe applies?

75 Nay, unto thee they cri'd, but thou heardst not their

[cries: I bett those folkes as small as dust which wind doth

[raise, I bett them as the clay is bett in beaten waies.

Thus freed from mutinn men, thou makest me to raign;

Yea, thou dost make me serv'd by folks I never knew:

80 My name their eares, their eares their harts, to me

[inchaine: Ev'n feare makes strangers shew much love, though

[much untrue. But they do faile, and in their mazed corners rue: Then live Jehova still, my Rock still blessed be: Lett hym be lifted up, that hath preserved me.

85 He that is my reveng, in whom I Realmes subdue;

Who freed me from my foes, from Rebells garded me: And ridd me from the wronges which cruell witts did

[brew. Among the Gentiles then I (Lord) yeeld thancks to

[thee, I to thy name will sing, and this my song shall be: 90 He nobly saves his king, and kindness keepes in store, For David his anoint, and his seed, evermore.

line 67 plantes: soles of feet, line 78 mutinn: rebellious.

39

PSALM 19 COELI EN ARRANT

The heav'nly frame setts foorth the fame Of him that only thunders;

The firmament so strangly bent

Showes his hand- working wonders.

5 Day unto day, it doth display,

Their course doth it acknowledg: And night to night, succeeding right,

In darkness teach cleare knowledg.

There is no speach, nor language, which 10 Is soe of skill bereaved,

But of the skies the teaching cries, They have heard and conceaved.

There be no eyne, but read the line From soe faire booke proceeding: 15 Their wordes be sett in letters greate For ev'ry bodies reading.

Is not he blind that doth not find

The tabernacle builded There, by his grace, for sunnes faire face, 20 In beames of beuty guilded?

Who foorth doth come, like a bridegroome From out his vailing places:

As gladd is hee as Giantes be

To runne their mighty races.

40 PSALM ig

25 His race is ev'n from endes of heavn; About that vault he goeth: There be no Reames hid from his beames, His heate to all he throweth.

O law of his, how perfect tis 30 The very soule amending;

Gods wittness sure for ay doth dure To simplest, wisdome lending.

Gods doomes be right, and cheere the sprite: All his commandments being 35 So purely wise, as give the eies

Both light and force of seeing.

Of him the feare doth cleanness beare

And soe endures for ever: His Judgments be self verity 40 They are unrighteous never.

Then what man would so soone seeke gold,

Of glittring golden money? By them is past, in sweetest tast

Honny, or combe of honny.

45 By them is made, thy servantes trade Most circumspectly guarded: And who doth frame to keepe the same Shall fully be rewarded.

Who is the man, that ever can 50 His faultes know and acknowledg!

O Lord, dense me from faultes that be Most secret from all knowledg.

Thy servant keepe, lest in him creepe Presumptuous sinnes offences: 55 Let them not have me for their slave, Nor raigne upon my sences.

PSALM ig 41

Soe shall my sprite be still upright In thought and conversation; Soe shall I bide, well purifide 60 From much abhomination.

Soe lett wordes sproong from my weake tongue

And my hartes meditation, My saving might, Lord, in thy sight

Receave good acceptation.

line 3 bent: wrought, line 27 Reames: realms, line 60 abhomi- nation: shameful behaviour.

42

PSALM 20 EXAUDIAT TE DOMINUS

Lett God, the Lord heare thee,

Even in the day, when most thy troubles be: Let name of Jacobs God, When thou on it dost cry, 5 Defend thee still from all thy foes abroad.

From sanctuary hy

Let him come downe, and helpe to thee apply From Sions holy topp; Thence lett him undertake 10 With heav'nly strength thy earthly strength to propp,

Lett him notorious make,

That in good part he did thy off rings take. Let fire for triall burne (Yea, fire from him self sent) 15 Thy offrings, soe, that they to ashes turne.

And soe lett him consent

To graunt thy will, and perfect thy entent, That in thy saving we May joy, and banners raise 20 Up to our God, when thy suites graunted be.

Now in me knowledg saies,

That God from fall his own annointed staies. From heav'nly holy land I know that he heares thee; 25 Yea heares with powres, and helps of helpfull hand.

PSALM 20 43

Lett trust of some men be

In Charriotts arm'd, others in Chivalry: But lett all our conceite Upon Gods holy name, 30 Who is our Lord, with due remembrance waite.

Behold their broken shame!

We stand upright, while they their fall did frame. Assist us, Saviour deere; Lett that king daine to heare, 35 When as to him our praiers do appeare.

line 27 Chivalry: cavalry.

44

PSALM 21 DOMINE, IN VIRTUTE

New joy, new joy unto our king, Lord, from thy strength is growing:

Lord, what delight to him doth bring His safty, from thee flowing!

5 Thou hast givn what his hart woulde have,

Nay, soone as he but moved His lipps to crave what he would crave, He had as him behoved.

Yea, thou prevent'st ere aske he could 10 With many lib'rall blessing,

Crown of his head with Crown of gold Of purest mettall dressing.

He did but aske a life of thee, Thou him a long life gavest: 15 Loe, ev'n unto eternity

The life of hym thou savest.

We may well call his glory greate That springs from thy salvation: Thou, thou it is, that hast hym sett 2,0 In soe high estimation.

Like storehouse thou of blessings mad'st

This man of everlasting: Unspekably his hart thou gladst,

On hym thy count'naunce casting.

PSALM 21 45

25 And why all this? because our king

In heav'n his trust hath laied: He only leanes on highest thing, Soe from base slipp is staid.

Thy hand thy foes shall overtake 30 That thee so evill have hated:

Thou as in fyery ov'n shalt make These mates to be amated.

The Lord, on them, with causfull ire Shall use destroyeng power; 35 And flames of never-quenched fire

Shall these badd wightes devower.

Their fruite shalt thou from earthly face

Send unto desolation, And from among the humane race 40 Roote out their generation.

For they to overthrow thy will

Full wilyly entended: But all their bad mischievous skill

Shall fruitlessly be ended.

45 For like a mark thou shalt a row

Sett them in pointed places, And ready make thy vengfull bow Against their guilty faces.

Lord in thy strength, Lord in thy might, ) Thy honor high be raised

And so shall, in our songs delight, Thy power still be praised.

line 9 prevent' st: anticipated, line 32 amated: cast down.

46

PSALM 22 DEUS, DEUS MEUS

My God, my God, why hast thou me forsaken? Wo me, from me, why is thy presence taken? Soe farre from seeing, mine unhealthfull eyes, Soe farre from hearing to my roaring cries.

5 O God, my God, I crie while day appeareth:

But, God, thy eare my cryeng never heareth. O God, the night is privie to my plaint Yet to my plaint thou hast no audience lent.

But thou art holy, and dost hold thy dwelling 10 Where Israeli thy lawdes is ever telling.

Our fathers still to thee their trust did beare; They trusted, and, by thee, delivered were.

They were sett free, when they upon thee called, They hop'd on thee, and they were not appalled. 15 But I, a worme not I of mannkind am,

Nay shame of men, the peoples scorning game.

The lookers now at me, poore wretch, be mocking;

With mowes, and nodds, they stand about me flocking. Let God help him (say they) whom he did trust: 20 Lett God save hym in whom was all his lust.

And yet even from the wombe thy selfe did'st take me: At mothers brests, thou did'st good hope betake me. No sooner my child eyes could looke abroade, Then I was giv'n to thee, thou wert my God.

PSALM 22 47

25 O be not farre, since paine so neerly presseth, And since there is not one who it redresseth. I am enclos'd with yong Bulls madded rowt Nay Basan mighty Bulls close me about.

With gaping mouthes, these folkes on me have chardged 30 Like Lions fierce, with roaring jawes enlarged: On me all this, who do like water slide, Whose loosed boanes quite out of joynt be wri'd;

Whose hart, with these huge flames, like wax oreheated Doth melt away, though it be inmost seated: 35 My moist'ning strength is like a pottsherd dride, My cleaving tongue, close to my roofe doth bide.

And now am brought, alas, brought by thy power Unto the dust of my deathes running hower: For bawling doggs have compast me about, 40 Yea, worse than doggs, a naughty, wicked, rowt.

My humble handes, my fainting feete they pearced: They looke, they gaze, my boanes might be rehearsed; Of my poore weedes they do partition make, And doe cast lotts who should my vesture take.

45 But be not farre, O Lord, my strength, my comfort, Hasten to help me, in this deepe discomfort. Ah, from the sword, yet save my vitall sprite, My desolated life from dogged might.

From Lions mouth (O help) and show to heare me, > By aiding, when fierce Unicornes come neere me: To brethern, then, I will declare thy fame, And with these wordes, when they meete, praise thi

[name.

Who feare the Lord, all praise and glory beare hym: You Israelis seed, you come of Jacob, feare hym. I For Hee hath not abhor 'd, nor yet disdain'd The silly wretch, with f owle affliction stain'd,

48 PSALM 22

Nor hid from him his faces faire appearing;

But, when he cal'd, this Lord did give hym hearing: In congregation greate, I will praise thee: 60 Who feare thee shall my vowes performed see.

Th'afflicted then shall eate, and be well pleased, And God shalbe, by those his seakers, praised. Indeede, O you, you that be such of mind, You shall the life that ever-liveth find.

65 But what? I say, from earthes remotedst border

Unto due thoughts, mannkind his thoughts shall order And turne to God, and all the Nations be Made worshippers, before allmighty thee.

And reason, since the Crowne to God pertaineth, 70 And that by right upon all Realmes he raigneth,

They that be made, ev'n fatt, with earthes fatt good. Shall feede, and laud the giver of their food.

To him shall kneele even who to dust bee stricken, Even hee whose life no helpe of man can quicken; 75 His service shall from child to child descend, His doomes one age shall to another send.

line 18 mowes: grimaces, line 32 wri'd: twisted out of shape line 42 rehearsed: reckoned up. line 48 dogged: malicious.

49

PSALM 23 DO MINUS REGIT ME

The Lord, the Lord my shepheard is, And so can never I Tast missery. He rests me in greene pasture his: By waters still, and sweete Hee guides my feete.

Hee me revives : leades me the way, Which righteousnesse doth take, For his names sake. Yea though I should through valleys stray, Of deathes dark shade, I will Noe whitt feare ill.

For thou, deere Lord, thou me besett'st: Thy rodd, and thy staff be To comfort me; Before me thou a table sett'st, Even when foes envious ey Doth it espy.

Thou oil'st my head thou filFst my cupp: Nay more thou endlesse good, Shalt give me food. To thee, I say, ascended up,

Where thou, the Lord of all, Dost hold thy hall.

50

PSALM 24 DOMINI EST TERRA

The Earth is Gods, and what the globe of earth

And all who in that globe doe dwell: [containeth. For by his pow'r, the land upon the Ocean raigneth, Through him the fludds to their bedds fell.

5 Who shall clime to the hill, which Gods own hill is

Who shall stand in his holy place? [named!

He that hath hurtless handes, whose inward hart h

All purnesse ever to embrace; [framec

Who shunning vanity and workes of vainenesse leaving 10 Vainly doth not puff upp his mind,

Who never doth deceave, and much lesse his deceaving With perjury doth falsly bind.

A blessing from the Lord, from God of his salvation Sweete rightuousnesse shall he receave, 15 Jacob this is thy seede, God seeking generation, Who search of Gods face never leave.

Lift up your heades you gates; and you dores ever

In comes the king of glory bright. [biding

Who is this glorious king? in might and power riding! 20 The Lord, whose strength makes battailes fight.

PSALM 24 51

Lift up your heades you gates, and you dores ever

In comes the king of glory bright. [biding:

Who is this glorious king? the lord of armies guiding? Even he the king of glory hight.

52

PSALM 25 AD TE, DOMINE

To thee, O Lord most just,

I lift my inward sight: My God, in thee I trust, Lett me not mine quight: 5 Lett not those foes, that me annoy,

On my complaint build up their joy.

Sure, sure, who hope in thee,

Shall never suffer shame: Lett them confounded be 10 That causlesse wrongs doe frame.

Yea, Lord, to me thy waies doe show; Teach me, thus vext, what path to goe.

Guide me as thy truth guides; Teach me; for why thou art 15 The God in whom abides

The saving me from smart.

For never day such changing wrought, That I from trust in thee was brought.

Remember, only King, 20 Thy mercies tendernesse:

To thy remembrance bring Thy kindnesse, lovingnesse.

Let those things thy remembraunce grave, Since they eternall essence have.

PSALM 25 53

25 But, Lord, remember not

Sinns brew'd in youthfull glasse: Nor my rebellions blott,

Since youth, and they, do passe: But in thy kindness me record 30 Ev'n for thy mercies sake, O Lord.

Of grace and righteousnesse

The Lord such plenty hath: That he deignes to expresse To sinning men his path: 35 The meeke he doth in judgment leade,

And teach the humble how to tread.

And what, thinck you, may be

The pathes of my greate God? Ev'n spottlesse verity, 40 And mercy spredd abroad,

To such as keepe his covenaunt, And on his testimonies plant.

O Lord, for thy names sake, Lett my iniquity 45 Of thee some mercy take,

Though it be greate in me:

Oh, is there one with his feare fraught? He shalbe by best teacher taught.

Lo, how his blessing budds 50 Inward, an inward rest;

Outward, all outward goodes By his seede eke possest.

For such he makes his secrett know, To such hee doth his cov'nant show.

PSALM 25

Where then should my eyes be,

But still on this Lord sett? Who doth and will sett free My feete from tangling nett. O look, O help, lett mercy fall, For I am poore, and least of all.

My woes are still encreast;

Shield me from these assaultes: See how I am opprest,

And pardon all my faultes.

Behold my foes, what stoare they be, Who hate, yea hate me cruelly.

My soule, which thou didst make, Now made, O Lord, maintaine: And me from these ills take, Lest I rebuke sustaine.

For thou, the Lord, thou only art, Of whom the trust lives in my hart.

Lett my uprightness gaine

Some safty unto me: I say, and say againe, My hope is all in thee. In fine, deliver Israel O Lord, from all his troubles fell.

55

PSALM 26 JUDICA ME, DOMINE

Lord, judge me and my case,

For I have made my race Within the boundes of innocence to bide:

And setting thee for scope 5 Of all my trustfull hope,

I held for sure that I should never slide.

Prove me, O Lord most high,

Me with thy touch-stone try: Yea, sound my reynes, and inmost of my hart. 10 For so thy loving hand

Before my eyes did stand, That from thy truth I would not once depart.

I did not them frequent,

Who be to vainesse bent, 15 Nor kept with base dissemblers company.

Nay, I did evn detest

Of wicked wights the neast, And from the haunts of such bad folks did fly.

In th'innocence of me 20 My handes shall washed be;

And with those handes, about thy Alter waite;

That I may still expresse

With voice of thanckfullness The works perform'd by thee, most wondrous greate.

56 PSALM 26

25 Lord, I have loved well

The howse where thou dost dwell, Ev'n where thou mak'st thy honnors biding place.

Sweete Lord, write not my soule

Within the sinners rowle: 30 Nor my lifes cause match with blood-seekers case,

With handes of wicked shifts,

With right hands stain'd with gifts. But while I walk in my unspotted waies,

Redeeme and show mee grace, 35 So I in publique place,

Sett on plaine ground, will thee, Jehovah praise.

57

PSALM 27 DOMINUS ILLUMINATIO

The shining Lord he is my light, The strong God my salvation is: Who shall be able me to fright? This Lord with strength my life doth blisse 5 And shall I then

Feare might of men?

When wicked folke, even they that be My foes, to uttmost of their pow'r With raging jawes inviron me 10 My very flesh for to devow'r

They stumble so, That down they go.

Then, though against me armies were, My courage should not be dismaid: 15 Though battailes brunt, I needes must beare,

While battailes brunt, on me were laid, In this I would My trust still hold.

One thing in-deede I did, and will 20 For ever crave: that dwell I may

In howse of high Jehova, still On beuty his mine eyes to stay, And looke into His temple too.

58 PSALM 27

25 For when greate griefes to me be merit,

In tabernacle his he will

Hide me, evn closly in his tent:

Yea, noble height of rocky hill

He makes to be 30 A seate for me.

Now, now, shall he lift up my head On my beseeging enimies: So shall I sacrifices spread; Offrings of joy in temple his: 35 And song accord

To praise the Lord.

Heare, Lord, when I my voice display, Heare, to have mercy eake of me. Seeke yee my face, when thou did'st say, 40 In truth of hart I answr'd thee :

O Lord, I will Seeke thy face still.

Hide not therefore from me that face, Since all my aid in thee I gott: 45 In rage, thy servaunt doe not chase;

Forsake not me, O leave me not, O God of my Salvation hy.

Though fathers care and mothers love 50 Abandon'd me, yet my decay

Should be restor'd by hym above. Teach, Lord, Lord, leade me thy right way, Because of those That be my foes;

55 Unto whose ever-hating lust

Oh! give me not; for there are sprong

Against me wittnesses unjust:

Even such, I say, whose lyeng tongue

PSALM 27 59

Fiercely affordes 60 Most cruell wordes.

What had I been, except I had

Beleev'd Gods goodness for to see, In land with living creatures cladd? Hope, trust in God, be strong, and hee 65 Unto thy hart

Shall joy impart.

6o

PSALM 28 AD TE, DOMINE

To thee, Lord, my cry I send:

O, my strength, stopp not thine eare: Least if answeare thou forbeare, I be like them that descend 5 To the pitt, where flesh doth end.

Therefore while that I may cry, While I that way hold my handes Where thy Sanctuary standes: To thy self those wordes apply, 10 Which from suing voice do fly.

Linck not me in self same chaine, With the wicked working folk; Who, their spotted thoughtes to cloak, Neighbours frendly entertaine, 15 When in hartes they malice meane.

Spare not them; give them reward, As their deedes have purchas'd it, As deserves their wicked witt: Fare they as their handes have far'd: 20 Ev'n so be their guerdon shar'd.

To thy workes they give no ey;

Lett them be thrown down by thee: Lett them not restored be; But lett me give praises hy 25 To the Lord, that heares my cry.

PSALM 28 6l

That God is my strength, my shield: All my trust on him was sett, And soe I did safety gett: Soe shall I with joy be fill'd, 30 So my songues his laudes shall yeeld.

God on them his strength doth lay, Who his annointed helped have. Lord then still thy people save; Blesse thine heritage, I say, 35 Feede and lift them up for ay.

line 20 guerdon: recompense.

62

PSALM 29 AFFERTE DOMINO

Ascribe unto the Lord of light,

Yee men of pow'r (evn by birth-right) Ascribe all glory and all might.

Ascribe due glory to his name; 5 And in his ever-glorious frame

Of Sanctuary doe the same.

Hys voice is on the waters found,

His voice doth threatning thunders sound, Yea, through the waters doth resound.

10 The voice of that Lord ruling us

Is strong, though hee be gratious, And ever, ever glorioues.

By voice of high Jehova we

The highest Cedars broken see, 15 Ev'n Cedars which on Liban be;

Nay, like yong Calves in leapes are borne, And Libans self with natures skorn; And Shirion, like yong Unicorn.

His voice doth flashing flames devide; 20 His voice have trembling desertes tride;

Ev'n deserts, where the Arabs bide.

PSALM 29 63

His voice makes hindes their calves to cast: His voice makes bald the forrest waste: But in his Church, his fame is plast.

25 He sitts on seas, he endlesse raignes,

His strength his peoples strength maintaines, Which, blest by him, in peace remaines.

lines 17 and 18: i.e., even the mountains, Lebanon and Sirion, will leap.

PSALM 30 EXALT ABO TE, DOMINE

O Lord, thou hast exalted me,

And sav'd me from foes laughing scorn: I ow thee praise, I will praise thee.

For when my hart with woes was torn, 5 In cries to thee, I shew'd my cause:

And was from ill by thee upborne.

Yea from the Graves most hungry jawes Thou would'st not sett me on their scoare, Whom death to his cold boozome drawes.

10 Praise, praise this Lord then evermore

Ye saints of his, remembring still With thancks his holinesse therefore.

For quickly endes his wrathfull will; But his deere favour, where it lies, 15 From age to age life joyes doth fill.

Well may the evening cloath the eies In cloudes of teares, but soone as sunne Doth rise againe, new joyes shall rise.

For proof, while I my race did runne 20 Full of successe, fond I did say,

That I should never be undonne,

PSALM 30 65

For then my hill good God did stay: But ah, he straight his face did hide, And what was I but wretched clay?

25 Then thus to thee I prayeng cride,

What serves alas, the blood of me When I with in the pitt doe bide?

Shall ever earth give thancks to thee? Or shall thy truth on mannkind laid 30 In deadly dust, declared be?

Lord, heare, lett mercy thine be staid On me, from me helpe this annoy. This much I said, this beeing said,

Lo, I that wail'd, now daunce for joy: 35 Thou did'st ungird my dolefull sack,

And mad'st me gladsome weedes enjoy.

Therefore my tongue shall never lack Thy endless praise: O God, my king, I will thee thancks for ever sing.

66

PSALM 31 IN TE, DOMINE, SPERAVI

All, all my trust, Lord, I have putt in thee. Never, therefore, lett me confounded be,

But save me, save me in my righteousness. Bow down thine eare to heare how much I need; 5 Deliver me, deliver me in speed:

Bee my strong Rock, be thou my forteresse.

In deede thou art my Rock, my forteresse:

Then since my tongue delights that name to blesse, Direct me how to goe, and guide me right. 10 Preserve me from the wyly wrapping nett,

Which they for me, with privie craft have sett: For still I say, thou art my only might.

Into thy hands I doe commend my spright: For it is thou, that hast restord my light: 15 O Lord, that art the God of verity.

I hated have those men, whose thoughtes do cleave To vanities: which most trust, most deceave: For all my hope fixt upon God doth ly.

Thy mercy shall fill me with jolity, 20 For my annoies have come before thine ey:

Thou well hast known what plung my soule was

[in. And thou hast not for ay enclosed me With in the hand of hatefull enmity:

But hast enlarg'd my feete from mortall ginn.

PSALM 31 67

25 O Lord, of thee, lett me still mercy wynne; For troubles, of all sides, have me within:

My ey, my gutts, yea my soule, grief doth waste. My life with heaviness, my yeares with moane Doe pine: my strength with paine is wholy gone:

30 And ev'n my boanes consume, where they be plast.

All my feirce foes reproach on me did cast:

Yea neighbours, more, my mates, were so agast,

That in the streetes from sight of me they fledd: Now I, now I my self forgotten find, 35 Even like a dead man, dreamed out of mind, Or like a broken pott, in myre tredd.

I understand what railing greate men spredd:

Feare was each where, while they their councells ledd All to this pointe, how my poore life to take; 40 But I did trust in thee Lord, I did say,

Thou art my God, my time on thee doth stay: Save me from foes, who seeke my bane to bake.

Thy face to shine upon thy servaunt make, And save me in, and for, thy mercies sake; 45 Lett me not taste of shame, O Lord most hy.

For I have cal'd on thee; let wicked folk Confounded be; and passe away like smoak; Lett them in bedd of endlesse silence dy.

Lett those lipps be made dumb which love to ly: 50 Which full of spight, of pride, and cruelty,

Doe throw their wordes against the most upright. Oh, of thy grace what endlesse pleasure flowes To whome feare thee! what thou hast donne for those That trust in thee, ev'n in most open sight!

55 And when neede were, from pride in privie plight Thou hast hidd them; yet leaving them thy light,

68 PSALM 31

From strife of tongues, in thy pavilions plast. Then praise, then praise I doe the Lord of us Who was to me more than most gratious: 60 Farre farre more sure, than walls most firmly fast.

Yet I confesse in that tempestious haste, I said, that I from out thy sight was cast:

But thou didst heare when I to thee did moane. Then love the Lord all ye that feele his grace; 65 Who paires the proud, preserves the faithfull race: Be strong in hope, his strength shall you supply.

line 6 forteresse is trisyllabic, line 24 enlarg'd: liberated; ginn: trap, or snare, line 36 tredd: trodden, line 55 plight: fold, as of a dress, line 65 paires: prunes.

69

PSALM 32 BEATI, QUORUM

Blessed is hee whose filthy staine

The Lord with pardon doth make cleane,

Whose fault well hidden lieth; Blessed, in deede, to whom the Lord 5 Imputes not sinnes to be abhord,

Whose spirit falshood flieth.

Thus I, prest down with weight of paine, Whether I silent did remaine

Or roar'd, my boanes still wasted. 10 For soe both day and night did stand

On wretched me, thy heavie hand, My life hott tormentes tasted.

Till, my self, did my faultes confesse, And opened mine owne wickedness 15 Whereto my hart did give me:

So I my self accus'd to God, And his sweete grace streight eas'd the rodd, And dyd due paine forgive me.

Therefore shall every godly one, 20 In fitt time, make to thee his moane,

When thou wilt deigne to heare hym. Sure, sure, the flood of strayeng streames, How ever they putt in their claimes, Shall never dare come neere hym.

JO PSALM 32

25 Thou art my safe and secrett place,

Who savest me from troublous case To songs and joyfull biding.

But who so will instructed be,

Come, come the way I will teach thee; 30 Guide thee by my eyes guiding.

Oh, be not like a horse or Mule, Wholy devoide of reasons rule,

Whose mouthes thy self dost bridle Knowing full well that beastes they be, 35 And therefore soone would mischief thee

If thou remained'st idle.

Woes, woes shall come to wicked folkes. But who on God his trust invokes, All mercies shalbe swarmed. 40 Be gladd, you good, in God have joy,

Joy be to you who doe enjoy

Your hartes with cleernesse armed.

7i

PSALM 33 EXULT ATE, JUSTI

Rejoyce in God, O ye That righteous be: For cheerefull thanckfullnesse, It is a comly part 5 In them whose hart

Doth cherish rightfullnesse.

O praise with harp the Lord, O now accord Viols with singing voice: 10 Lett tenne string'd instrument

O now be bent To wittness you rejoice.

A new, sing a new song To him most strong, 15 Sing lowd and merrily:

Because that word of his

Most righteous is, And his deedes faithfull be.

Hee righteousnesse approves 20 And judgment loves:

Gods goodnesse fills all landes. His word made heav'nly coast,

And all that hoast By breath of his mouth stands.

72 psalm 33

25 The waters of the seas

In heapes he laies, And depthes in treasure his: Lett all the earth feare God, And who abroad 30 Of world a dweller is.

For he spake not more soone, Than it was done: He bade, and it did stand. He doth heathen conncell breake, 35 And maketh weake

The might of peoples hand.

But ever, ever shall His counsells all Through-out all ages last. 40 The thinckings of that mind

No end shall find, When Tymes tyme shalbe past.

That Realme indeede hath blisse Whose God he is, 45 Who him for their Lord take:

Even people that, ev n those,

Whom this Lord chose His heritage to make.

The Lorde lookes from the sky: 50 Full well his ey

Beholdes our mortall race. Even where he dwelleth, he

Through-out doth see Who dwell in dusty place.

55 Since he their hartes doth frame,

He knowes the same:

PSALM 33

Their workes hee understandes. Hoasts doe the king not save; Nor strong men have 60 Their help from mighty handes.

Of quick strength is an horse And yet his force Is but a succour vaine: Who trusts hym, sooner shall 65 Catch harmefull fall

Than true deliveraunce gayn.

But lo, Jehovas sight

On them doth light Who him do truly feare: 70 And them who do the scope

Of all their hope Upon his mercy beare.

His sight is them to save

Ev'n from the grave, 75 And keepe from famynes paine.

Then on that Lord most kind

Fix we our mynd, Whose shield shall us maintayne.

Our hartes sure shall enjoy 80 In hym much joy

Who hope on his name just. O lett thy mercy greate

On us be sett; We have no plea, but trust.

PSALM 34 BENEDICAM DOMINO

I, even I, will allwaies

Give harty thancks to hym on high, And in my mouth contynnually Inhabit shall his praise.

My soule shall glory still In that deere Lord with true delight: That hearing it, the hartes contrite May learne their joyes to fill.

Come then and joyne with me

Somwhat to speake of his due praise: Strive we, that in some worthy phraze His name may honor'd be.

Thus I beginne: I sought This Lord, and he did heare my cry: Yea, and from dreadfull missery He me, he only, brought.

This shall menns fancies frame

To looke and runne to hym for aide, Whose faces on his comfort staid Shall never blush for shame.

For lo, this wretch did call, And lo, his call the skies did clime: And God freed hym, in his worst tyme, From out his troubles all.

psalm 34 7!

25 His Angells armies round

Aboute them pitch who hym do feare;

And watch and ward for such do beare,

To keepe them safe and sounde. I say but tast, and see 30 How sweete, how gratious is his grace:

Lord, hee is in thrice blessed case

Whose trust is all in thee.

Feare God, ye saintes of his, For nothing they can ever want 35 Who faithfull feares in hym do plant:

They have, and shall have, blisse.

The Lions ofte lack foode, Those raveners whelpes oft starved be: But who seeke God with constancy 40 Shall neede nought that is good.

Come, children, lend your eare To me, and mark what I do say: For I will teach to you the way How this our Lord to feare. 45 Among you, who is heere,

That life and length of life requires, And blessing such, with length desires, As life may good appeare?

Keepe well thi lipps and tongue, 50 Least inward ills doe them defile;

Or that by wordes, enwrapt in guile Another man be stong.

Doe good, from faultes declyne, Seeke peace, and follow after it: 55 For Gods own eyes on good-men sitt,

And eares to them enclyne.

Soe his high heavenly face

Is bent, but bent against those same That wicked be, their very name 60 From earth quite to displace.

jQ psalm 34

The just when harmes approach, Do cry; their cry of hym is heard: And by his care from them is barr'd All trouble, all reproach.

65 To humble, broken myndes

This Lord is ever, ever neere;

And will save whome his true sight cleere

In spirit afflicted findes. Indeede the very best 70 Most greate and greevous paines doth beare:

But God shall him to safty reare,

When most hee seemes opprest.

His boanes he keepeth all,

So that not one of them is broke; 75 But malice shall the wicked choak

Who hate the good shall fall.

God doth all soules redeeme Who weare his blessed livery: None, I say still, shall ruin'd be, 80 Who hym their trust esteeme.

7:

PSALM 35 JUDICA, DOMINE

Speake thou for me, against wrong speaking foes: Thy force, O Lord, against their force oppose. Take upp thy shield and for my succour stand;

Yea take thy launce, and stoppe the way of those 5 That seeke my bane; O make me understand

In sprite, that I shall have thy helping hand.

Confounde those folks, thrust them in shamfull hoale That hunt so poore a pray as is my soule. Rebuke, and wrack, on those wrong-doers throw, 10 Who for my hurt each way their thoughtes did

And as vile chaff away the wind doth blow, [roule;

Lett Angell thine a scattering make them goe.

Lett Angell thine pursue them as they fly,

But lett their flight be dark and slippery 15 For, causless, they both pitt and nett did sett: For, causless, they did seeke to make me dy: Lett their sly witts unwares destruction gett, Fall in self pitt, be caught in their own nett.

Then shall I joy in thee, then sav'd by thee 20 I, both in mind and boanes, shall gladded be.

Ev'n boanes shall say ( O God ) who is thy peere

Who poore and weake from ritch and strong dost

Who helpest those whose ruine was so neere, [free?

From him whose force did in their spoiles appeere?

PSALM 35

Who did me wrong, against me wittnesse beare, Layeng such things, as never in me were: So my good deedes they pay, with evill share; With cm ell mindes my very soule to teare. And whose? ev'n his, who when they sickness beare With inward woe, an outward sack-cloth wear.

I did pull down my self, fasting for such,

I praid, with praiers which my brest did touch: In summe I shew'd that I to them was bent As brothers, or as freendes beloved much. Still, still, for them I humbly moorning went, Like one that should his mothers death lament.

But lo, soone as they did me stagg 'ring see,

Who joy but thei, when they assembled be?

Then abjects, while I was unwitting quite Against me swarme, ceaslesse to raile at me:

With scoffers false, I was theyr feasts delight,

Even gnashing teeth, to wittnesse more their spight.

Lord, wilt thou see, and wilt thou suffer it?

Oh! on my soule, let not these tumults hitt. Save me, distrest, from Lions cruell kind.

I will thanck thee, where congregations sitt, Even where I do most store of people find,

Most to thy laudes will I my speeches bind.

Then, then lett not my foes unjustly joy:

Lett them not fleere, who me would causless stroy; Who never word of peace yet utter would,

But hunt with craft the quiett mans annoy, And said to me, wide mowing, as they could:

A, ha: Sir, now we see you where we should.

This thou hast seene: and wilt thou silent be? O Lord, doe not absent thy self from me:

psalm 35 79

But rise, but wake, that I may judgment gett.

My Lord, my God, ev'n to my equity, Judg, Lord: judge, God, ev'n in thy justice greate: 60 Lett not their joy, upon my woes be sett.

Lett them not, Lord, within their harts thus say:

O soule, rejoyce, we made this wretch our pray. But throw them down, put them to endless blame, Who make a cause to joy of my decay. 65 Lett them be cloth'd with most confounding shame, That lift them selves my mine for to frame.

But make such gladd, and full of joyfullnesse, That yet beare love unto my righteousnesse: Yet, let them say, laud be to God allwaies, 70 Who loves with good, his servaunts good to blesse.

As for my tongue, while I have any daies,

Thy justice wittnesse shall, and speake thy praise.

line 5 bane: destruction, line 39 objects: despicable people, line 50 fleere: gibe; stroy: destroy, line 53 mowing: grimacing.

PSALM 36 DIXIT IN JUSTUS

Me thincks amidd my hart I heare What guilty wickedness doth say

Which wicked folkes doe holde soe deare: Even thus, it self, it doth display:

No feare of God doth once appeare Before his eyes that soe doth stray.

For those same eies, his flatterers be, Till his known ill doth hatred gett:

His wordes, deceipt; iniquity

His deedes: yea thoughts, all good forgett.

A bedd, on mischief muzeth he; Abroad, his stepps be wrongly sett.

Lord, how the heav'ns thy mercy fills,

Thy truth above the cloudes most hy!

Thy righteousnesse like hugest hills, Thy judgments like the deepes do ly.

Thy grace with safty man fulfills,

Yea beastes, made safe, thy goodenesse try.

O Lord, how excellent a thing

Thy mercy is; which makes mannkind Trust in the shadow of thy wing;

Who shall in thy house fattnesse find, And drinck from out thy pleasures spring

Of pleasures past the reach of mind.

PSALM 36 8l

25 For why, the well of life thou art

And in thy light, shall we see light. O, then, extend thy loving hart

To them that know thee, and thy might: O, then, thy righteousness impart 30 To them that be in soules upright.

Lett not proud feete make me their thrall; Lett not ill handes, disscomfit me; Lo, there, I now foresee their fall Who do ill workes: loe, I do see 35 They are cast down, and never shall

Have powre againe to raised be.

82

PSALM 37 NOLI AEMULARI

Frett not thy self, if thou do see

That wicked men do seeme to flourish: Nor envy in thy bozome nourish Though ill deedes well succeeding be.

5 They soone shalbe cutt down like grasse

And wither like greene hearb or flower; Do well, and trust on heav nly power, Thou shalt have both good food and place.

Delight in God, and he shall breede 10 The fullnesse of thy own hartes lusting:

Guide thee by him, lay all thy trusting On hym, and he will make it speed.

For like the light he shall display

Thy Justice, in most shining lustre: 15 And of thy judgment make a mustre

Like to the glory of noone day.

Waite on the Lord with patient hope;

Chafe not at some manns greate good fortune Though all his plotts, without misfortune, 20 Attaine unto their wished scope.

Fume not, rage not, frett not, I say,

Least such thinges synne in thy self cherish; For those bad folks, at last, shall perish: Who stay for Godd, in blisse shall stay.

PSALM 37 83

25 Watch but a while, and thou shalt see

The wicked, by his own pride, banisht: Looke after him, he shalbe vanisht, And never found againe shalbe.

But meeke men shall the earth possesse; 30 In quiett home they shalbe planted:

And this delight to them is granted, They shall have peace in plenteousnesse.

Evill men work ill to uttmost right,

Gnashing their teeth full of disdayning: 35 But God shall scorne their moody meaning,

For their short time is in his sight.

The evill bent bowes, and swordes they drew, To have their hate on good soules wroken: But lo, their bowes they shalbe broken, 40 Their swordes, shall their own hartes embrew.

Small goodes in good men better is

Than of bad folkes the wealthy wonder: For wicked armes shall breake asunder; But God upholdes the just in blisse.

45 God keepes accompt of good menns daies, Their heritage shall last for ever: In perill they shall perish never, Nor want in dearth, their want to ease.

Badd folkes shall fall, and fall for ay: 50 Who to make warre with God presumed

Like fatt of lambes shalbe consumed, Ev'n with the smoake shall waste away.

The naughty borrowes, payeng not;

The good is kind, and freely giveth. 55 Loe, whom God blest, hee blessed liveth:

Whom he doth curse, to naught shall rott.

84 psalm 37

The mann whom God directs doth stand Firme on his way, his way God loveth; Though he doth fall, no wrack he proveth: 60 He is upheld by heav'nly hand.

I have been yong: now old I am, Yet I the man that was betaken To Justice, never saw forsaken; Nor that his seede to begging came.

65 He lendes, he gives, more he doth spend,

The more his seede in blessing flourish: Then fly all ill, and goodness nourish, And thy good state shall never end.

God, loving right, doth not forsake 70 His holy ones: they are preserved

From tyme to tyme; but who be swarved To ill, both they and theirs shall wrack.

I say, I say the righteous mindes

Shall have the land in their possessing, 75 Shall dwell thereon, and this their blessing

No time within his limitts bindes.

The good mouth will in wisdome bide,

His tongue of heav'nly Judgments telleth; For Gods high law in his hart dwelleth: 80 What corns thereof? he shall not slide.

The wicked watch the righteous much, And seeke of life for to bereave him: But, in their hand, God will not leave him Nor lett him be condempn'd by such.

85 Waite thou on God, and keepe his way, He will exalt thee unto honor And of the earth make thee an owner; Yea thou shalt see the evill decay.

PSALM 37 85

I have the wicked seene full sound, 90 Like lawrell fresh, him self out-spreading:

Lo, hee was gon, print of his treading, Though I did seeke, I never found.

Marke the upright, the just, attend: His ende shalbe in peace enjoyed: 95 But straiers vile, shalbe destroied,

And quite cutt off with helplesse end.

Still, still, the godly shalbe staid

By Gods most sure, and sweete salvation: In time of greatest tribulation 100 He shalbe their true strength and aid.

He shalbe their true strength and aid,

He shall save them from all the fetches Against them us'd by wicked wretches: Because on him their trust is laid.

line 10 lusting: desire, line 35 moody: obstinate, line 40 embrew: stain with blood, line 53 naughty: evil man.

86

PSALM 38 DOMINE, NE IN FURORE

Lord, while that thy rage doth bide, Do not chide Nor in anger chastise me, For thy shafts have peirc'd me sore; 5 And yet more

Still thy hands upon me be.

No sound part caus'd by thy wrath My flesh hath, Nor my synns lett my boanes rest; 10 For my faults are highly spredd

On my hedd, Whose foule weights have me opprest.

My woundes putrify and stinck, In the sinck 15 Of my filthy folly laid:

Earthly I do bow and crook,

With a look Still in mourning cheere araid.

In my Reynes hott torments raignes; 20 There remaines

Nothing in my bodie sound: I am weake and broken sore,

Yea, I roare, In my hart such grief e is found.

PSALM 38 87

25 Lord before thee I do lay

What I pray: My sighes are not hid from thee, My hart pants, gon is my might, Even the light 30 Of myne eyes abandons me.

From my plague, kinne, neighbour, frend Farre off wend; But who for my life do waite, They lay snares, they nimble be 35 Who hunt me,

Speaking evill, thincking deceite.

But I, like a mann become Deafe and dumb, Little hearing, speaking lesse, 40 I, even as such kind of wight,

Sencelesse quite, Word with word do not represse.

For on thee, Lord, without end I attend: 45 My God, thou wilt heare my voice

For I said, heare, least they be

Gladd on me, Whome my fall doth make rejoyce.

Sure, I do but halting goe, 50 And my woe

Still my orethwart neighbour is. Lo, I now to moorne beginne,

For my sinne Telling mine iniquities.

But the while, they live and grow In greate show,

88 PSALM 38

Many, mighty, wrongful! foes: Who do evill for good, to me Enimies be; 60 Why? because I vertue chose.

Do not, Lord, then, me forsake, Doe not take Thy deere presence farre from me, Haste, O Lord, that I be staid 65 By thy aid,

My salvation is in thee.

line 16 crook: kneel down, line 51 orethwart: unfriendly.

89

PSALM 39 DIXI, CUSTODIAM

Thus did I thinck, I well will marke my way Least by my tongue I happ to stray; I musle will my mouth while in the sight I do abide of wicked wight. 5 And so I nothing said, I muett stood,

I silence kept, even in the good.

But, still, the more that I did hold my peace, The more my sorrow did encrease, The more me thought, my hart was hott in me; 10 And as I mus'd such world to see,

The fire tooke fire, and forcibly out brake; My tongue would needes and thus I spake:

Lord, unto me my times just measure give, Show me how long I have to live: 15 Lo, thou a spanns length mad'st my living line. A sparine? nay nothing in thine eyne. What do we seeke? the greatest state, I see, At best is meerly vanity.

They are but shades, not true things where we live: 20 Vaine shades, and vaine, in vaine to grieve.

Looke but on this: man still doth ritches heape,

And knowes not who the fruite shall reape; This beeing thus, for what, O Lord, waite I? I wait on thee, with hopef ull ey.

go psalm 39

25 O helpe, O helpe me; this farre yet I crave, From my transgressions me to save: Lett me not be throwne down, to so base shame,

That fooles of me maie make their game. But I doe hush, why do I say thus much? 30 Since it is thou that mak'st one such.

Ah! yet from me lett thy plagues be displac'd, For with thy handy stroakes I waste. I know that manns fowle sinne doth cause thy wrath For when his sinne thy scourging hath, 35 Thou moth-like makst his bewty fading be; Soe what is manne, but vanity?

Heare, Lord, my suites, and cries: stopp not thine eares At these, my wordes, all cloth'd in teares: For I, with thee, on earth a stranger am, 40 But baiting, as my fathers came.

Stay then thy wrath, that I maie strength receave Ere I my earthly beeing leave.

line 3 musle: muzzle, line 40 baiting: making a brief halt on a journey.

91

PSALM 40 EXPECT ANS EXPECTAVI

While, long, I did with patient constancy The pleasure of my God attend, He did, him self, to me-ward bend And harkned how and why that I did cry. 5 And me from pitt, bemired,

From dungeon he retired, Where I, in horrors lay: Setting my feete upon A steedfast rocky stone; 10 And my weake stepps did stay.

Soe in my mouth he did a song affoord,

New song unto our God of praise: Which many seeing hartes shall raise To feare with trust, and trust with feare the Lord. 15 Oh, he indeede is blessed

Whose trust is so addressed; Who bendes not wandring eyes To greate mens pecock pride, Nor ever turnes a side 20 To follow after lies.

My God, thy wondrous workes how manyfold!

What manne thy thoughts can count to thee? I faine of them would speaking be But they are more than can by me be told. 25 Thou, sacrifice nor offring,

Burnt offring, nor sinne offring

Q2 PSALM 40

Didst like, much lesse did'st crave; But thou didst peirce my eare, Which should thie leassons beare, 30 And wittnesse me thy slave.

Thus bound, I sayd: loe, Lord, I am at hand For in thy bookes rowle, I am writt; And sought with deedes thy will to hitt. Yea, Lord, thy law within my hart doth stand: 35 I, to greate congregation,

Thou know'st, made declaration Of this sweete righteousness: My lipps shall still reveale, My hart shall not conceale 40 Thy truth, health, gratiousness.

Then, Lord, from me, draw not thy tender grace: Me, still, in truth and mercy save. For endlesse woes me compast have, So prest with synnes, I cannott see my case. 45 But triall well doth teach me;

Fowle faultes sore paines do reach me, More than my head hath heares, So that my surest part, My life-maintaining hart, 50 Failes me, with ougly feares.

Vouchsafe me helpe, O Lord, and helpe with haste:

Lett them have shame, yea, blush for shame

Who joyntly sought my bale to frame:

Lett them be curst away that would me waste;

55 Lett them with shame be cloied,

Yea lett them be destroied,

For guerdon of their shame,

Who-so unpittious be

As now to say to me:

60 A ha! this is good game.

PSALM 40 93

But fill their hartes with joy who bend their waies To seeke thy bewty past conceite; Lett them that love thy saving seate Still gladly say, unto our God be praise. 65 Though I in want be shrincking,

Yet God on me is thincking. Thou art my help for ay, Thou only, thou art he That dost deliver me; 70 My God, O make noe stay.

line 6 retired: led away, line 47 heares: hairs, line 53 bale: misery, suffering.

94

PSALM 41 BEATUS QUI INTELLIGIT

Hee blessed is who with wise temper can Judge of th' afflicted man, For God shall him deliver in the tyme When most his troubles clime. 5 The Lord will keepe his life yet safe and sound

With blessings of the ground; And will not him unto the will expose, Of them that be his foes.

When bedd from rest becomes his seate of woe, 10 In God his strength shall grow,

And tume his couch, where sick he couched late,

To well recovered state; Therefore I said in most infirmity, Have mercy, Lord, on me: 15 O, heale my soule, lett there thy cure beginne, Where gainst thee lay my sinne.

My foes evill wordes, their hate of me display, While thus, alas, they say: When, when will death oretake this wretched wight, 20 And his name perish quite?

Their curteous vissittings, are courting lyes:

They inward evills disgise Even heapes of wicked thoughts, which streight they As soone as out they goe. [show

PSALM 41 95

25 For then their hatefull heades close whispring be, With hurtfull thoughts to me. Now he is wrackt, say they, loe, there he lies,

Who never more must rise. O, yea my frend, to whome I did impart 30 The secretts of my hart,

My freend, I say, who at my table sate, Did kick against my state.

Therefore, O Lord, abandon'd thus of all, On me lett mercy fall; 35 And raise me up, that I may once have might, Their meritts to requite: But what? this doth already well appeare

That I to thee am deere: Since foes, nor have, nor shall have cause to be 40 Triumphing over me.

But triumph well may I, whome thou do'st stay In my sound rightfull way: Whom thou (O place of places all) do'st place, For ay, before thy face. 45 Soe then be blest now, then, at home, abroad, Of Israeli the god: World without end, lett this his blessing flow, Oh soe; oh be it soe.

96

PSALM 42 QUEMADMODUM

As the chafed hart which braieth Seeking some refreshing brooke, So my soule in panting plaieth, Thirsting on my God to looke. 5 My soule thirsts indeede, in mee,

After ever-lyving thee; Ah, when comes my blessed beeing, Of thy face to have a seeing?

Day and night my teares out-flowing 10 Have been my ill feeding food;

With their daily questions throwing: Where is now, thy God soe good?

My hart melts, remembring soe, How in troupes I woont to goe: 15 Leading them, his praises singing,

Holy daunce to Gods howse bringing.

Why art thou, my soule, soe sory, And in me soe much dismaid? Waite on God, for yet his glory 20 In my songue shalbe displaid.

When but with one looke of his He shall me restore to blisse: Ah my soule it self appalleth, In such longing thoughtes it falleth.

PSALM 42 97

25 For my mynd on my God bideth,

Ev'n from Hermons dwelling ledd,

From the groundes where Jordan slideth,

And from Myzars hilly hedd.

One deepe with noise of his fall,

30 Other deepes of woes doth call:

While my God, with wasting wonders, On me, wretch, his tempest thunders.

All thy floodes on me abounded, Over me all thy waves went: 35 Yet thus still my hope is grounded,

That, thy anger beeing spent,

I by day thy love shall tast, I by night shall singing last; Prayeng, praiers still bequeathing 40 To my God that gave me breathing.

I will say, O Lord, my tower, Why am I forgott by thee? Why should griefe my hart devower While the foe oppresseth me? 45 Those vile scoffs of naughty ones

Wound and rent me to the bones, When foes aske with fowle deriding Where is now your God abiding?

Why art thou, my soule, soe sory, 50 And in me soe much dismaid?

Waite on God, for yet his glory In my songe shalbe displaid.

To him my thancks shalbe said, Who is still my present aid: 55 And in fine my soule be raised,

God is my God, by me praised.

line 1 hart: deer; braieth: whinnies.

98

PSALM 43 JUDICA ME, DEUS

Judge of all, judge me And protector be Of my cause, oppressed By most cruell sprites; 5 Save me from bad wights

In false coullers dressed.

For, my God, thy sight Giveth me my might, Why then hast thou left me? io Why walk I in woes?

While prevailing foes Have of joyes bereft me?

Send thi truth and light;

Let them guide mee right 15 From the pathes of folly,

Bringing me to thy Tabernacles hy, In thy hill most holy.

To Godds Alters tho 20 Will I boldly goe,

Shaking off all saddness,

To that God that is God of all my blisse, God of all my gladdness.

psalm 43 99

25 Then, loe, then I will

With sweete musicks skill Gratfull meaning show thee: Then, God, yea my God, I will sing abroade 30 What greate thancks I ow thee.

Why art thou my soule

Cast down in such dole? What ailes thy discomfort? Waite on God, for still 35 Thanck my God I will,

Sure aid, present comfort.

line 6 coulters: heraldic insignia of a knight.

The Psalms

of

The Countess of Pembroke

(PSALMS 44-150)

103

PSALM 44 DE US, AURIBUS

Lorde, our fathers true relation Often made, hath made us knowe

How thy pow'r in each occasion, Thou of old for them didst showe; 5 How thy hand the Pagan foe

Rooting hence, thie folke implanting, Leavelesse made that braunch to grow,

This to spring, noe verdure wanting.

Never could their sword procure them 10 Conquest of the promist land:

Never could their force assure them When theie did in danger stand. Noe, it was thie arme, thie hand, Noe, it was thie favors treasure 15 Spent uppon thie loved band,

Loved, whie? for thy wise pleasure.

Unto thee stand I subjected,

I that did of Jacob spring: Bidd then that I be protected, 20 Thou that art my God, my king:

By that succour thou didst bring, Wee their pride that us assailed,

Downe did tread, and back did fling, In thy name confus'd and quailed.

PSALM 44

25 For my trust was not reposed

In my owne though strongest, bowe: Nor my scabberd held enclosed

That, whence should my saftie flowe Thou, O God, from every foe 30 Didst us shield, our haters shaming:

Thence thy dailie praise wee showe, Still thy name with honor naming.

But aloofe thou now dost hover, Grieving us with all disgrace: 35 Hast resignd and given over

In our Campe thy Captaines place. Back wee turne, that turned face, Flieng them, that erst wee foiled: See our goods (O changed case,) 40 Spoil'd by them, that late we spoiled.

Right as sheepe to be devowred, Helplesse heere wee lie alone:

Scattringlie by thee out-powred, Slaves to dwell with lords unknown. 45 Sold wee are, but silver none

Told for us: by thee so prised, As for nought to bee forgone,

Gracelesse, worthlesse, vile, despised.

By them all that dwell about us, 50 Tos'd we flie as balls of scorne;

All our neighbours laugh and flout us, Men by thee in shame forlorne. Proverb-like our name is worne, O how fast in foraine places! 55 What hed-shakings are forborne!

Wordlesse taunts and dumbe disgraces!

Soe rebuke before mee goeth,

As my self doe daily goe : Soe Confusion on me groweth, 60 That my face I blush to show.

PSALM 44 105

By reviling slatmdring foe Inly wounded thus I languish:

Wreakfull spight with outward blow Anguish adds to inward anguish.

65 AH, this all on us hath lighted,

Yet to thee our love doth last: As wee were, wee are delighted Still to hold thie cov'nant fast. Unto none our hartes have past: 70 Unto none our feete have slidden:

Though us downe to dragons cast Thou in deadly shade hast hidden.

If our God wee had forsaken, Or forgott what hee assign'd: 75 If our selves we had betaken

Godds to serve of other kind Should not hee our doubling find Though conceal'd, and closlie lurking? Since his eye of deepest minde 80 Deeper sincks than deepest working?

Surelie Lord, this daily murther

For thie sake we thus sustaine: For thy sake esteem'd no further

Than as sheepe, that must be slaine. 85 Upp O Lord, up once againe:

Sleepe not ever, slack not ever:

Why dost thou forgett our paine? Why to hid thy face persever?

Heavie grief our soule abaseth, 90 Prostrate it on dust doth lie:

Earth our bodie fast embraceth, Nothing can the Claspe untie.

106 psalm 44

Rise, and us with help supplier Lord, in mercie soe esteeme us, 95 That we may thy mercie trie,

Mercie may from thrall redeeme us.

line 1 relation: account.

107

PSALM 45 ERUCTAVIT COR MEUM

My harte endites an argument of worth,

The praise of him that doth the Scepter swaie:

My tongue the pen to paynt his praises forth, Shall write as swift as swiftest writer maie. 5 Then to the king these are the wordes I saie:

Fairer art thou than sonnes of mortall race: Because high God hath blessed thee for ay,

Thie lipps, as springs, doe flowe with speaking grace.

Thie honors sword gird to this mightie side, 10 O thou that dost all things in might excell: With glory prosper, on with triumph ride

Since justice, truth, and meekness with thee dwell. Soe that right hande of thine shall teaching tell Such things to thee, as well maie terror bring, 15 And terror such, as never erst befell

To mortall mindes at sight of mortall king.

Sharpe are thie shaftes to cleave their hartes in twaine Whose heads do cast thy Conquestes to withstand

Good cause to make the meaner people faine 20 With willing hartes to undergoe thie hand.

Thie throne O God, doth never-falling stand:

Thie Scepter, ensigne of thie kinglie might, To righteousness is linckt with such a band,

That righteous hand still holds thie Scepter right.

108 psalm 45

25 Justice in love, in hate thou holdest wrong,

This makes that God, who soe doth hate and love: Glad-making oile, that oile on thee hath flong, Which thee exaltes thine equalls farre above. The fragrant riches of Sabean grove

30 Mirrh, Aloes, Casia, all thy robes doe smell:

When thou from ivorie pallace dost remove Thie breathing odors all thie traine excell.

Daughters of kings among thie cortlie band, By honoring thee of thee doe honor hold: 35 On thie right side thie dearest queene doth stand Richlie araid in cloth of Ophir gold. O daughter heare what now to thee is told: Mark what thou hear'st, and what thou mark'st obay Forgett to keepe in memory enrold 40 The house, and folk, where first thou sawst the daie.

Soe in the king, thie king, a deere delight

Thie beautie shall both breed, and bredd, maintaine: For onlie hee on thee hath lordlie right,

Him onlie thou with awe must entertaine. 45 Then unto thee both Tyrus shall be faine Presents present, and richest nations moe,

With humble sute thie Roiall grace to gaine, To thee shall doe such homage as they owe.

This Queene that can a king her father call, 50 Doth only shee in upper garment shine? Naie under clothes, and what she weareth all, Golde is the stuff e the fasshion Arte divine; Brought to the king in robe imbrodred fine, Her maides of honor shall on her attend 55 With such, to whome more favoure shall assigne In nearer place their happie daies to spend.

PSALM 45 109

Brought shall they bee with mirth and mariage joy

And enter soe the pallace of the king: Then lett noe grief thie minde, O Queene, anoy, 60 Nor parents left thie sad remembraunce sting.

In steed of parents, children thou shalt bring Of partadg'd earth the kings and lords to bee:

My self thie name in lasting verse will sing. The world shall make no ende of thanks to thee.

line 1 endites: proclaims, line 62 partadg'd: divided, apportioned.

no

PSALM 46 DEUS NOSTER REFUGIUM

God gives us strength, and keepes us sounde, A present help when dangers call;

Then feare not wee lett quake the grounde, And into seas let mountains fall, 5 Yea soe lett seas withall,

In watry hills arise,

As maie the earthlie hills appall,

With dread and dashing cries.

For lo, a river streaming joy, 10 With purling murmur saflie slides,

That cittie washing from annoy, In holy shrine where God resides. God in her center bides : What can this cittie shake? 15 God earlie aides and ever guides,

Who can this cittie take?

When nations goe against her bent

And kings with siege her walls enround:

The voide of aire his voice doth rent, 20 Earth failes their feete with melting ground.

To strength and keepe us sound,

The God of armies armes:

Our rock on Jacobs God wee found

Above the reach of harmes.

PSALM 46 111

25 O come with me, O come and view The trophes of Jehovas hand: What wracks from him our foes pursue, How cleerly he hath purg'd our land. By him warrs silent stand: 30 He brake the archers bow

Made charretts wheele a firy brand, And speare to shivers goe.

Bee still saith he; know, God am I:

Know I will be with conquest croun'd, 35 Above all nations raised high,

High rais'd above this earthy round. To strength and keepe us sound The God of armies armes :

Our rock on Jacobs God we found, 40 Above the reach of harmes.

112

PSALM 47 OMNES GENTES, PLAUDITE

All people, to Jehovah bring

A glad applause of clapping hands:

To God a song of triumph sing

Who high, and highlie feared stands, 5 Of all the earth sole-ruling king;

From whose allmightie grace it growes That nations by our power opprest; Our foote on humbled countries goes: Who Jacobs honor loved best, 10 An heritage for us hath chose.

There past hee by: hark how did ring, Harmonious aire with trumpetts sound:

Praise, praise our God; praise, praise our king, Kings of the world your judgments sound, 15 With Skillful song his praises sing.

On sacred throne, not knowing end,

For God the king of kingdomes raignes The folk of Abrahams God to frend

Hee, greatest prince, greate princes games; 20 Princes, the shields that earth defend.

PSALM 48 MAGNUS DOMINUS

He that hath eternall beeing Glorious is, and glorious showes In the cittie he hath chose, Where stands his holie hill. 5 Hill Sion, hill of fairest seeing,

Cittie of the king most greate, Seated in a northlie seate, All climes with joy doth fill; In each pallace shee containeth, 10 God a well-known rock remaineth.

One daie kings a daie appointed, There with joined force to be, See they it? the things they see, Amaze their mated mindes. 15 Flyeng, trembling, disappointed,

Soe theie feare, and soe they fare,

As the wife, whose wofull care

The panges of child-bed findes;

Right as shipps from Tarshish going,

20 Crusht with blasts of Eurus blowing.

Now our sight hath matcht our hearing, In what state Gods cittie stands How supported by his hands God ever holds the same. 25 In thie temples mid'st appeering

Wee thie favoure, Lorde, attend:

114 PSALM 48

Righteous Lord both free from end, Thie fame doth match thy name. Thie just hand brings Sion gladness 30 Turns to mirth all Judaes sadness.

Compasse Sion in her standing Tell her towres, mark her fortes: Note with care the statelie portes Her roiall houses beare; 35 For that ages understanding,

Which shall come, when wee shall goe, Gladd in former time to know, How manie what they were. For God, is our God for ever 40 Us till death forsaking never.

line 14 mated: confounded.

H5

PSALM 49 AUDITE HAEC, OMNES

World-dwellers all give heede to what I saie; To all I speake, to rich, poore, high and low; Knowledg the subject is my hart conceaves, Wisdome the wordes shall from my mouth proceed: 5 Which I will measure by melodious eare, And ridled speech to tuned harp accord.

The times of evil why should they me dismaie, When mischief shall my foote stepps overflow? And first from him whom fickle wealth deceaves, 10 Which his (though greate) vaine confidence doth breed, Since no man can his brothers life out-beare, Nor yeeld for him his ransome to the Lord?

For deere the price that for a soul must paie: And death his prisoner never will forgoe; 15 Naie tell mee whome but longer time hee leaves Respited from the tombe for treasures meed? Sure at his sommons, wise and fooles appeare, And others spend the riches they did hoord.

A second thinkes his house shall not decaie, 20 Nor time his glorious buildings overthrow,

Nam'd proudlie of his name, where folly reaves Exalted men of sence: and theie indeed A brutish life and death, as beasts they were, Doe live and die; of whom is no record.

: n6 psalm 49

25 Yea these, whose race approves their peevish waie, Death in the pitt his carrion foode doth stow And loe, the first succeeding light perceaves The just installed in the greate mans steed; Nay, far his prince: when once that lovely cheere,

30 Lovely in house, in tombe becomes abhord.

But God, my God, to intercept the praie Of my life from the grave will not f oreslowe For he it is, hee only me receaves:

Then though one rich doe growe, though glories seede 35 Spring with encrease: yet stand thou free from feare, Of all his pomp death shall him nought affoord.

Please they them selves, and think at happiest stay Who please them selves : yet to their fathers goe Must they to endless dark: for folly reaves 40 Exalted men of sence, and they indeede

A brutish life and death, as beastes they were, Doe live, and die, of whome is noe record.

line 6 ridled: allegorical, line 21 reaves: deprives, line 29 far his prince: far above his lord.

H7

PSALM 50 DEUS DEORUM

The mightie God, the ever living lord,

All nations from earthes uttermost confines Sommoneth by his pursevant, his worde,

And out of beauties beautie, Sion shines. 5 God comes, he comes, with eare and tongue restor'd:

His garde huge stormes, hott flames his usshers goe: And called, their apparrence to record,

Heav'n hasteth from above, earth from below.

He sits his peoples judge, and thus commandes: 10 Gather me hither that beloved line, Whome solemn sacrifices holy bandes

Did in eternal league with me combine Then when the heav'ns subsigned with their handes, That God in justice eminentlie raignes: 15 Controlling soe, as nothing countermandes

What once decreed his sacred doome containes.

You then, my folke, to me your God attend: Hark, Israeli, and hear thy peoples blame:

Not want of sacrifice doth mee offend, 20 Nor doe I misse thy alters daily flame.

Too mee thy stall no fatted bull shall send: Should I exact one hee-goat from thy fold?

I, that as fan* as hills, woodes, fieldes extende, All birdes and beasts in known possession hold?

Il8 PSALM 50

25 Suppose mee hungrie; yet to beg thy meate, I would not tell thee that I hungrie were: My self maie take, what needs mee then entreate?

Since earth is mine, and all that earth doth beare? But doe I long the brawnie flesh to eate 30 Of that dull beast that serves the plowmans neede? Or doe I thirst, to quench my thirsty heate, In what the throates of bearded cattell bleed?

0 no: bring God of praise a sacrifice; Thy vowed debts unto the highest paie:

35 Invoke my name, to mee erect thy cries,

Thy praying plaints, when sorow stopps thy waie;

1 will undoe the knott that anguish tyes,

And thou at peace shalt glorifie my name: Mildly the good, God schooleth in this wise, 40 But this sharpe check doth to the godlesse frame:

How fitts it thee my statutes to report?

And of my covenant in thy talk to prate Hating to live in right reformed sort,

And leaving in neglect what I relate? 45 See'st thou a thief? thou grow'st of his consorte:

Dost with adult'rers to adultrie goe: Thy mouth is slanders ever-open porte,

And from thy tongue doth nought, but treason flow.

Naie ev'n thy brother thy rebukes disgrace, 50 And thou in spight diffam'st thy mothers sonne: And for I wink a while, thy thoughts imbrace:

God is like mee, and doth as I have done. But loe thou see'st I march another pace,

And come with truth thy falshood to disclose: 55 Thy sinne, reviv'd, upbraides thy blushing face, Which thou long dead in silence didst suppose.

PSALM 50 119

O laie up this in marking memorie

You that are wont Gods judgments to forgett:

In vaine to others for release you flie, 60 If once on you I griping fingers sett.

And know the rest: my dearest worship I

In sweete perfume of offred praise doe place:

And who directs his goings orderlie,

By my conduct shall see Gods saving grace.

line 7 apparrence: formal presentation at court to answer or prose- cute a suit or charge, line 32 bearded cattell: goats.

120

PSALM 51 MISERERE MEly DEUS

O Lord, whose grace no limits comprehend;

Sweet Lord, whose mercies stand from measure free; To mee that grace, to mee that mercie send,

And wipe O Lord, my sinnes from sinfull mee 5 O dense, O wash my foule iniquitie:

Clense still my spotts, still wash awaie my staynings, Till staines and spotts in me leave no remaynings.

For I, alas, acknowledging doe know My filthie fault, my faultie filthiness 10 To my soules eye uncessantly doth show.

Which done to thee, to thee I doe confesse, Just judge, true witness; that for righteousness,

Thy doome may passe against my guilt awarded,

Thy evidence for truth maie be regarded.

15 My mother, loe! when I began to be,

Conceaving me, with me did sinne conceave: And as with living heate she cherisht me, Corruption did like cherishing receave But loe, thy love to purest good doth cleave, 20 And inward truth which hardlie els discerned, My trewand soule in thy hid schoole hath learned.

Then as thy self to leapers hast assign'd,

With hisop, Lord, thy Hisop, purge me soe: And that shall clense the leaprie of my mind;

PSALM 51 121

25 Make over me thy mercies streames to flow,

Soe shall my whiteness scorn the whitest snow. To eare and hart send soundes and thoughts of gladness, That brused bones maie daunce awaie their sadness.

Thy ill-pleas'd eye from my misdeedes avert: 30 Cancell the registers my sinns containe: Create in me a pure, cleane, spottless hart:

Inspire a sprite where love of right maie raigne. Ah! cast me not from thee: take not againe Thy breathing grace! againe thy comfort send me, 35 And let the guard of thy free sp 'rite attend me.

Soe I to them a guiding hand wilbe,

Whose faultie feete have wandred from thy way:

And turn'd from sinne will make retorne to thee,

Whom, turn'd from thee, sinne erst had ledd astraie. 40 O God, God of my health, O doe away

My bloody crime: soe shall my tongue be raised

To praise thy truth, enough can not be praised.

Unlock my lipps, shut up with sinnfull shame: Then shall my mouth, O Lord, thy honor sing; 45 For bleeding fuell for thy alters flame,

To gaine thy grace what bootes it me to bring? Burnt-offrings are to thee no pleasant thing. The sacrifice that God will holde respected, Is the heart-broken soule, the sprite dejected.

50 Lastly, O Lord, how soe I stand or fall, Leave not thy loved Sion to embrace: But with thy favour build up Salems wall,

And still in peace, maintaine that peacefull place. Then shalt thou turne a well-accepting face 55 To sacred fires with offred giftes perfumed: Till ev'n whole calves on alters be consumed.

line 17 cherisht: nourished.

122

PSALM 52 QUID GLORIARIS?

Tyrant, why swel'st thou thus, Of mischief vaunting?

Since helpe from God to us, Is never wanting?

5 Lewd lies thy tongue contrives,

Lowd lies it soundeth: Sharper than sharpest knives With lies it woundeth.

Falshood thy witt approves, 10 All truth rejected:

Thy will all vices loves, Vertue neglected.

Not wordes from cursed thee, But gulfes are powred; 15 Gulfes wherin daily bee

Good men devoured.

Think'st thou to beare it soe?

God shall displace thee; God shall thee overthrow, 20 Crush thee, deface thee.

The just shall fearing see These fearefull chaunces:

And laughing shoote at thee With scornfull glances.

PSALM 52 123

25 Loe, loe, the wretched wight,

Who God disdaining, His mischief made his might, His guard his gaining.

I as an olive tree, 30 Still green shall flourish:

Gods house the soile shall bee My rootes to nourish.

My trust on his true love Truly attending, 35 Shall never thence remove,

Never see ending.

Thee will I honor still

Lord, for this justice: There fix my hopes I will 40 Where thy saincts trust is.

Thy saints trust in thy name,

Therin they joy them: Protected by the same

Nought can annoy them.

124

PSALM 53 DIXIT INSIPIENS

There is no God, the foole doth saie,

If not in word, in thought and will: This fancie rotten deedes bewraie, And studies fixt on lothsome ill. 5 Not one doth good: from heavnlie hill,

Jehovas eye one wiser minde Could not discerne, that held the waie To understand, and God to finde.

They all have strafd, are cancred all: 10 Not one I saie, not one doth good.

But senslesness, what should I call Such carriage of this cursed brood? My people are their bread, their food, Upon my name they scorne to cry: 15 Whome vaine affright doth yet appall,

Where no just ground of feare doth ly.

But on their bones shall wreaked be All thy invaders force and guile,

In vile confusion cast by thee, 20 For God him self shall make them vile.

Ah! why delaies that happy while

When Sion shall our saver bring?

The Lord his folk will one daie free:

Then Jacobs house shall daunce and sing.

line 3 bewraie: reveal, expose.

i»5

PSALM 54 DEUS, IN NOMINE

Lord, let thy name my saving succor bee:

Defend my wronged cause by thy just might. Lord, let my crieng voice be heard of thee,

Lett not my heavie words be counted light; 5 For strangers I against me risen see,

Who hunt me hard, and sore my soul affright; Possest with feare of God in no degree.

But God, thou art my helper in my right, Thou succour send'st to such as succour me; 10 Then pay them home, who thus against me fight, And let thy truth cut downe their trechery.

Soe I with offrings shall thy Alters dight, Praising thy name which thus hast sett me free:

Giving me scope to soare with happie flight 15 Above my evills: and on my enemy

Making me see what I to see delight.

line 12 dight: furnish, equip.

126

PSALM 55 EXAUDI, DEUS

My God most glad to look, most prone to heere,

An open eare O let my praier find, And from my plaint turne not thy face away. Behold my gestures, harken what I say

5 While uttering mones with most tormented mind.

My body I no lesse torment and teare, For loe, their fearful threatnings wound mine eare, Who griefs on griefs on me still heaping laie, A mark to wrath and hate and wrong assignd;

io Therefore my hart hath all his force resign'd To trembling pants, Deaths terrors on me pray, I feare, nay shake, nay quivring quake with feare.

Then say I, O might I but cutt the wind,

Born on the wing the fearfull dove doth beare: 15 Stay would I not, till I in rest might stay. Far hence, O far, then would I take my way

Unto the desert, and repose me there, These stormes of woe, these tempests left behind: But swallow them, O Lord, in darkness blind, 20 Confound their councells, leade their tongues astray,

That what they meane by wordes may not appeare;

For Mother Wrong within their towne each where, And daughter Strife their ensignes so display, As if they only thither were confin'd.

25 These walk their cittie walles both night and day, Oppressions, tumults, guiles of ev'ry kind Are burgesses, and dwell the midle neere;

PSALM 55 127

About their streetes his masking robes doth weare Mischief, cloth'd in deceit, with treason lin'd, 30 Where only hee, hee only beares the sway. But not my foe with mee this pranck did play, For then I would have bome with patient cheere An unkind part from whom I know unkind; Nor hee whose forhed Envies mark had sign'd, 35 His trophes on my ruins sought to reare, From whom to fly I might have made assay.

But this to thee, to thee impute I may,

My fellow, my companion, held most deere, My soule, my other self, my inward frend: 40 Whom unto me, me unto whom did bind Exchanged secrets, who together were Gods temple wont to visit, there to pray. O lett a soddaine death work their decay, Who speaking faire, such canckred malice mind, 45 Let them be buried breathing in their beir. But purple morn, black ev'n, and midday cleare, Shall see my praying voice to God enclin'd, Rowzing him up; and nought shall me dismay.

He ransom'd me, he for my saftie fin'd 50 In fight where many sought my soule to slay; He still, him self, (to noe succeeding heire Leaving his Empire) shall no more forbeare: But, at my motion, all these Atheists pay, By whom (still one) such mischiefs are design'd; 55 Who but such caitives would have undermin'd,

Nay overthrowne, from whome but kindness meare They never found? who would such trust betray? What buttred wordes! yet warr their harts bewray; Their speach more sharp than sharpest sword or speare 60 Yet softer flowes than balme from wounded rinde.

But, my ore loaden soule, thy selfe upcheare:

Cast on Gods shoulders what thee down doth waigh, Long borne by thee with bearing pain'd and pin'd; To care for thee he shall be ever kinde.

128 PSALM 55

65 By him the just, in safety held allway,

Chaunglesse shall enter, live, and leave the yeare: But, Lord, how long shall these men tarry here? Fling them in pitt of death where never shin d The light of life; and while I make my stay

70 On thee, let who their thirst with bloud allay Have their life-holding threed so weakly twin d That it, half spunne, death may in sunder sheare.

line 36 assay: attempt, line 49 find: (figuratively) paid a penalty.

129

PSALM 56 MISERERE MEI, DEUS

Fountaine of pitty now with pitty flow: These monsters on me daily gaping goe, Dailie me devoure these spies, Swarmes of foes against me rise, 5 O God that art more high than I am lowe.

Still when I feare, yet will I trust in thee: Thy word, O God, my boast shall ever bee;

God shall be my hopefull stay,

Feare shall not that hope dismay 10 For what can feeble flesh doe unto me?

I as I can, think, speake, and doe the best:

They to the worst my thoughts, wordes, doings wrest.

All their hartes with one consent

Are to worke my ruine bent, 15 From plotting which, they give their heads no rest.

To that entent they secret meetings make, They presse me neere my soule in snare to take,

Thinking slight shall keepe them safe.

But thou, Lord, in wrathfull chafe, 20 Their league soe surely linckt, in sunder shake.

Thou didst, O Lord, with carefull counting, looke On ev'ry jorney I, poore exile, tooke:

Ev'ry teare from my sad eyes

Saved in thy bottle lyes, 5 These matters are all entred in thy book.

130 PSALM 56

Then when soever my distressed sprite Crying to thee, brings these unto thy sight, What remayneth for my foes? Blames, and shames, and overthrowes, 30 For God him self I know for me will fight.

Gods never-falsed word my boast shalbe, My boast shalbe his word to sett me free,

God shall be my hopfull stay;

Feare shall not that hope dismay, 35 For what can mortall men doe unto me?

For this, to thee, how deeply stand I bound Lord, that my soule dost save, my foes confound? Ah, I can no paiment make, But if thou for payment take 40 The vowes I pay, thy praises I resound:

Thy praises who from death hast set me free Whither my feete did, hedlong, cary me;

Making me, of thy free grace,

There agayne to take my place, 45 Where light of life, with lyving men, I see.

131

PSALM 57 MISERERE MEI, DEUS

Thy mercie Lord, Lord now thy mercy show, On thee I ly To thee I fly Hide me, hive me as thine owne, Till these blasts be overblown, Which now doe fiercely blow.

To highest God I will erect my cry, Who quickly shall Dispatch this all. 10 Hee shall downe from Heaven send

From disgrace me to defend, His love and verity.

My soule incaged lyes with lions brood, Villains whose hands 15 Are firy brands,

Teeth more sharp than shaft or speare, Tongues farr better edge do beare Than swords to shed my bloud.

As high as highest heav'n can give thee place, jo O Lord ascend,

And thence extend With most bright, most glorious show, Over all the earth below The sunn-beames of thy face.

132 PSALM 57

25 Me to entangle, ev'ry waie I goe, Their trapp and nett Is readie sett. Holes they digg, but their own holes Pitfalls make for their own soules: 30 Soe Lord, O serve them soe.

My hart prepar'd, prepared is my hart To spread thy praise With tuned laies: Wake my tongue, my lute awake, 35 Thou my harp the consort make,

My self will beare a part.

My self when first the morning shall appeare, With voice and string Soe will thee sing: 40 That this earthly globe, and all

Treading on this earthly ball, My praising notes shall heare.

For God, my only God, thy gracious love Is mounted farr 45 Above each starr,

Thy unchanged verity Heav'nly wings doe lift as hie As cloudes have roome to move.

As high as highest heav'n can give thee place 50 O Lord ascend

And thence extend With most bright, most glorious show Over all the earth below, The sunn-beames of thy face.

PSALM 58 SI VERE UTIQUE

And call yee this to utter what is just,

You that of justice hold the sov'raign throne? And call yee this to yeld, O sonnes of dust,

To wronged brethren ev'ry man his own? 5 O no: it is your long malicious will

Now to the world to make by practize known, With whose oppression you the ballance fill,

Just to your selves, indifTrent else to none.

But what could they, who ev'n in birth declin'd, 10 From truth and right to lies and injuries? To shew the venim of their cancred mynd

The adders image scarcly can suffice; Nay scarce the aspick may with them contend, On whom the charmer all in vaine applies 15 His skillfull'st spells: ay missing of his end, While shee self-deff, and unaffected lies.

Lord crack their teeth, Lord crush these lions jawes, Soe lett them sinck as water in the sand:

When deadly bow their aiming fury drawes, 20 Shiver the shaft er past the shooters hand.

So make them melt as the dishowsed snaile Or as the Embrio, whose vitall band

Breakes er it holdes, and formlesse eyes do faile To see the sun, though brought to lightfull land.

134 PSALM 58

25 O let their brood, a brood of springing thornes, Be by untymely rooting overthrowne Er bushes waxt, they push with pricking homes,

As fruites yet greene are oft by tempest blowne. The good with gladness this reveng shall see, 30 And bath his feete in bloud of wicked one While all shall say: the just rewarded be, There is a God that carves to each his own.

line 8 indiffrent: impartial.

135

PSALM 59 ERIPE ME DE INIMICIS

Save me from such as me assaile:

Let not my foes, O God, against my life prevaile:

Save me from those, 5 Who make a trade of cursed wrong

And, bredd in bloud, for bloud doe long.

Of these one sort doe seeke by slight

My overthrow: The stronger part with open might 10 Against me goe

And yet thou God, my wittness be From all offence my soule is free.

But what if I from fault am free?

Yet they are bent, 15 To band and stand against poore me,

Poore innocent. Rise God, and see how these things goe: And rescue me from instant woe.

Rise, God of armies, mighty God 20 Of Israeli

Looke on them all who spredd abrode

On earth doe dwell And let thy hand no longer spare Such as of malice wicked are.

136 PSALM 59

25 When golden sunn in west doth sett,

Retorn'd againe, As houndes that howle their food to gett,

They runn amaine The cittie through from street to street, 30 With hungry maw some prey to meet.

Night elder growne, their fittest day,

They babling prate, How my lost life extinguish may

Their deadly hate. 35 They prate and bable voide of feare,

For, tush, saie they, who now can heare?

Even thou canst heere, and heering scorne,

All that they say; For them (if not by thee upborne) 40 What propps doe stay?

Then will I, as they wait for me O God my fortresse, wait on thee.

Thou ever me with thy free grace

Prevented hast: 45 With thee my praier shall take place

Er from me past, And I shall see who me doe hate Beyond my wish in wofull state.

For feare my people it forgett 50 Slay not outright

But scatter them and soe them sett

In open sight That by thy might they may be knowne, Disgrac'd, debas'd, and overthrowne.

55 No witness of their wickednesse

I neede produce But their owne lipps, fitt to expresse Each vile abuse:

PSALM 59 137

In cursing proud, proud when they ly 60 O let them deare such pride a-buy.

At length in rage consume them soe,

That nought remayne: Let them all beeing quite forgoe,

And make it playne, 65 That God who Jacobs rule upholds,

Rules all, all-bearing earth enfolds.

Now thus they fare: when sunn doth sett,

Retorn'd againe, As hounds that howle their food to gett, 70 They runn amayne

The city through from street to street With hungry mawes some prey to meet.

Abroad they range and hunt apace

Now that, now this, 75 As famine trailes a hungry trace;

And though they miss, Yet will they not to kennell hye, But all the night at bay do lye.

But I will of thy goodness sing 80 And of thy might,

When early sunn againe shall bring

His cheerefull light; For thou my refuge and my fort In all distress dost mee support.

85 My strength doth of thy strength depend:

To thee I sing Thou art my fort, me to defend.

My God, my king, To thee I owe, and thy free grace, 90 That free I rest in fearless place.

138

PSALM 60 DEUS, REPULISTI NOS

Thy anger, erst in field

Our scattered squadrons brake:

O God bee reconcil'd, Our leading now retake. 5 This land at thee did quake,

It chinkt and gaping lay: O sound her ruptures make,

Her quaking bring to stay.

Worse happes no hart could think, 10 Than did thy wrath ensue:

Dull horror was our drinck, We, drincking, giddy grew. But now an ensigne new Re-ehearing all dismaies 15 To guide thy fearers view,

Thy truth, our chiefe doth raise.

Then sett thy loved free, Preserve mee when I pray:

Hark, hark, soe shall it be 20 God from his howse doth say.

Then make a mery stay:

And share we Sichems fields: The land in percells lay,

That Sucoths valey yelds.

PSAJ.M 60

25 Mine Gilead lo, by this,

Manasse lo, mine own: My soldier Ephraim is, My law by Judah shown; My washpott Moab grown 30 My shoe at Edom flong!

Philistia overthrown: Sing now thy triumph song.

But whom shall I attend, Till I these conquests make? 35 On whose conduct depend

Till Edoms fortes I take? O thine to whom we spake, But spake before in vayn:

Thine God, that didst forsake 40 Our troupes for warr to trayn.

Against distressing foes

Let us thy succour finde: Who trust in man repose,

Doe trust repose in winde. 45 In God lett hand and mind

Their force and vallor show,

Hee, hee in abject kind Shall lay our haters low.

line 23 per cells: parcels (legal term for portions of land),

140

PSALM 61 EXAUDI, DEUS

To thee I cry,

My cryeng heare. To thee my praying voice doth fly: Lord, lend my voice a listning eare. 5 From country banished,

All comfort vanished, To thee I runn when stormes are nigh.

Up to thy hill

Lord, make me clyme; 10 Which els to scale exceeds my skill:

For in my most distressed tyme Thy eye attended me, Thy hand defended me, Against my foe my fortress e still.

15 Then where a tent

For thee is made, To harbor still is my entent:

And to thy wings protecting shade My self I carry will, 20 And there I tarry will,

Safe from all shot against me bent.

What first I crave First graunting me, That I the roiall rule may have 25 Of such as feare and honor thee:

PSALM 6l 141

Let yeares as manifold, As can be any told, Thy king, O God, keepe from the grave.

Before thy face 30 Graunt ever he

Maie sitt, and lett thy truth and grace His endless guard appointed bee. Then singing pleasantly, Praising uncesantly, 35 I dayly vowes will pay to thee.

142

PSALM 62 NONNE DEO

Yet shall my soule in silence still

On God, my help, attentive stay: Yet he my fort, my health, my hill,

Remove I may not, move I may. 5 How long then shall your fruitlesse will

An enimy soe farr from fall, With weake endevor strive to kill,

You rotten hedg, you broken wall?

Forsooth, that hee no more may rise, 10 Advaunced eft to throne and crown:

To headlong him their thoughtes devise, And, past reliefe, to tread him downe. Their love is only love of lies :

Their wordes and deedes dissenting soe, 15 When from their lippes most blessing flyes,

Then deepest curse in hart doth grow.

Yet shall my soule in silence still

On God, my hope, attentive stay: Yet hee my fort, my health, my hill, 20 Remove? O no: not move I may.

My God doth me with glory fill,

Not only shield me safe from harme: To shun distresse, to conquer ill, To him I clime, in him I arme.

PSALM 62 143

25 O then, on God, our certaine stay,

All people in all times rely, Your hartes before him naked lay: To Adams sonnes tis vain to fly, Soe vain soe false, soe fraile are they; 30 Ev'n he that seemeth most of might

With lightnesse self if him you waigh,

Then lightnesse self will waigh more light.

In fraud, and force, noe trust repose: Such idle hopes from thoughtes expell, 35 And take good heed, when riches growes

Let not your hart on riches dwell. All powre is Gods, his own word showes,

Once said by him, twice heard by me: Yet from thee, Lord, all mercy flowes, 40 And each manns work is paid by thee.

144

PSALM 63 DEUS, DEUS MEUS

O God, the God where all my forces ly, How doe I hunt for thee with early haste!

How is for thee my spirit thirsty dry!

How gaspes my soule for thy refreshing taste! 5 Wittnesse this waterlesse, this weary waste:

Whence, O that I againe transfer'd might be,

Thy glorious might in sacred place to see.

Then on thy praise would I my lipps employ, With whose kind mercies nothing may contend; 10 No, not this life it self, whose care and joy

In prayeng voice, and lifted hands should end. This to my soule should such a banquet send, That, sweetly fed, my mouth should sing thy name In gladdest notes contented mirth could frame.

15 And lo, ev'n heer I mind thee in my bedd,

And interrupt my sleepes with nightly thought, How thou hast bene the target of my hedd,

How thy wings shadow hath my safty wrought. And, though my body from thy view be brought, 20 Yet fixt on thee my loving soule remaines,

Whose right right hand from falling, me retaines.

But such as seeke my life to ruinate,

Them shall the earth in deepest gulph receave.

First murdring blade shall end their living date, 25 And then their flesh to teeth of foxes leave; As for the king, the king shall then conceave

High joy in God, and that God adore,

When lying mouthes, shall, stopped, ly no more.

145

PSALM 64 EXAUDI, DEUS

With gracious hearing entertain

This voice, the agent of my woe: And let my life, O God, remain Safe in thy guard from feared foe. 5 Hide me where none may know,

That hatefull plotts contrive; And right to overthrow

With tumult wrongly strive.

For tongues they beare, not tongues, but swordes, 10 So piercing sharp they have them ground: And words deliver, shaftes, not words, With bitter dint soe deepe they wound; Whose shott against the sound, And, harmlesse, they direct: 15 In safe and fearelesse ground

Embusht without suspect.

Nay, obstinate to ill they are,

And meeting, all their talk apply Who can most closely couch his snare, 20 And who, say they, shall us discry? No guile so low doth ly, Nor in so hidden part, But these will sound and try, Even out of deepest hart.

I46 PSALM 64

25 But thou, O God, from sodain blow

Death, striking them, a shaft shalt send: And their own tongues to their own woe Shall all their wounding sharpness bend. Thus wounded shall they end, 30 Thus ending shall they make

Each mortall eye attend, Each eye, attending quake.

Not one, I say, but shall behold This worke of God which he agayn 35 Shall, as he can, in wordes unfold, If yet his feare he entertain. In who doth tymelesse raign

The just shall joy and hope: The hartes uprightly playn 40 Shall have their vaunting scope.

line 12 dint: assault, violence, line 16 Embusht: lying in ambush.

147

PSALM 65 TE DECET HYMNUS

Sion it is where thou art praised,

Sion, O God, where vowes they pay thee:

There all mens praiers to thee raised Retorne possest of what they pray thee. 5 There thou my sinns prevailing to my shame

Dost turne to smoake of sacrificing flame.

O he of blisse is not deceaved,

Whom, chosen, thou unto thee takest: And whom, into thy court receaved, 10 Thou of thy checkrole number makest. The dainty viands of thy sacred store Shall feede hym so he shall not hunger more.

From thence it is, thy threatning thunder, Lest we by wrong should be disgraced, 15 Doth strike our foes with feare and wonder: O thou on whom their hopes are placed, Whom either earth doth steadfastly sustayn, Or cradle rockes of restlesse wavy playn.

Thy vertue staies the mighty mountaynes, 20 Girded with pow'r, with strength abounding: The roaring damm of watry fountaines

Thy beck doth make surcease her sounding; When stormy uproares tosse the peoples brayn, That civill sea to calme thou bringst agayn.

I48 PSALM 65

25 Where earth doth end with endless ending, All such as dwell, thy signes affright them: And in thy praise their voices spending

Both howses of the sunn delight them; Both whence he comes, when early he awakes, 30 And where he goes, when ev'ning rest he takes.

Thy eie from heavn this land beholdeth,

Such fruitfull dewes down on it rayning, That, storehowse-like her lap enfoldeth Assured hope of plowmans gayning. 35 Thy flowing streames her drought doe temper so, That buried seed through yelding grave doth grow.

Drunk is each ridg of thy cup drincking,

Each clodd relenteth at thy dressing: Thy cloud-born waters inly sincking, 40 Faire spring sproutes foorth blest with thy blessing. The fertile yeare is with thy bounty crown'd: And where thou go'st, thy goings fatt the ground.

Plenty bedewes the desert places:

A hedg of mirth the hills encloseth: 45 The fieldes with flockes have hid their faces:

A robe of corn the vallies clotheth. Desertes, and hills, and feilds, and valleys all, Rejoyce, shout, sing, and on thy name doe call.

M9

PSALM 66 JUBILATE DEO

All lands, the lymms of earthy round, With triumph tunes Gods honor sound: Sing of his name the praisefull glory, And glorious make his praises story. 5 Tell God: O God, what frightfull wonder

Thy workes doe wittness, whose great might Thy enimies so bringeth under,

Though frown in heart, they fawn in sight.

All earth, and ev'ry land therefore 10 Sing to this God, this God adore:

All earth, I say, and all earth dwellers, Be of his worth the singing tellers. O come, behold, O note beholding,

What dreadfull wonders from him flow: 15 More height, more weight, more force enfolding, Than Adams earthy brood can show.

The sea up-dried by his hand, Became a field of dusty sand: Through Jordans streames we dry-shod waded, 20 The joy whereof not yet is faded.

His throne of strength unmoved standeth:

His eie on ev'ry coast is cast: The rebell who against him bandeth

Of ruins cup shall quickly tast.

150 PSALM 66

25 You folk his flock, come then employ

In lawding him your songes of joy

On God, our God, your voices spending,

Still praying, praising, never ending.

For he our life hath us re-given, 30 Nor would he let our goings slide:

Though for our triall neerly driven, Yea silver like in furnace tryde.

For God thou didst our feete innett,

And pinching sadles, on us sett 35 Nay (which is worse to be abidden),

Ev'n on our heads a man hath ridden.

Hee rode us through where fiers flashed; Where swelling streames did rudely roare:

Yet scorched thus, yet we thus washed, 40 Were sett by thee on plenties shoare.

I therefore to thy house will go, To pay and offer what I owe: To pay my vowes, my lippes then vowed When under grief my body bowed; 45 To offer whole burnt sacrifices,

The fatt of Ramms with sweete perfume: Nay goates, nay bulls, of greater sizes,

And greater prices to consume.

0 come, all yee that God doe feare, 50 O come, and lend attentive eare;

While by my tongue shalbe expressed, How blessed he my soule hath blessed.

1 crid to him, my cry procured

My free dischardge from all my bandes: 55 His eare had not my voice endured,

But that my heart unstained standes.

Now as my heart was innocent, God heard the harty sighes I spent:

PSALM 66 151

What I to praiers recommended, 60 Was gratiously by him attended.

Praise, praise him then, for what is left me,

But praise to him: who what I praid Rejected not, nor hath bereft me

My hopefull helpe, his mercies aid.

line 1 lymms: limbs.

15*

PSALM 67 DEUS MISEREATUR

God on us thy mercy show, Make on us thy blessings flow: Thy faces beames From heav'n uppon us show'r 5 In shining streames:

That all may see The way of thee, And know thy saving pow'r.

God, the nations praise thee shall, 10 Thee, shall praise the nations all:

To mirth and joy All such as earth possesse Shall them employ: For thou their guide 15 Go'st never wide

From truth and righteousness.

God, the nations praise thee shall, Thee, shall praise the nations all: Then ev'ry field, 20 As far as earth hath end,

Rich fruites shall yield: And God our God With blisse shall load Who of his blisse depend.

PSALM 67 151

25 God, I say with plenteous blisse

To enrich us shall not misse: And from the place The father of the yeere Begins his race, 30 To Zephyrs nest,

His races rest, All lands his force shall feare.

PSALM 68 EXURGAT DEUS

Lett God but rise, his very face shall cast

On all his haters flight and disarray: As smoke in wind, as wax at fire doth waste,

At Gods aspect th unjust shall flitt away. The just meane while shall in Jehovah's presence

Play, sing, and daunce. Then unto him, I say, Unto our God, nam'd of eternall essence,

Present your selves with song, and daunce, and play.

Prepare his path, who throned on delightes,

Doth sitt a father to the orphan sonn: And in her cause the wronged widow rights,

God in his holy house late here begun. With families he empty houses filleth,

The prisoners chaines are by his hands undone: But barain sand their fruitlesse labour tilleth,

Who crossing him rebelliously doe runn.

O God, when thou in desert didst appeare,

What time thy folk that uncouth jorney tooke: Heav'n at the sight did sweat with melting feare,

Earth bow'd her trembling knee, Mount Sinay shook. The land bedew'd; all wants by thee restored,

That well thy people might the contry brook, As to a fold with sheep in plenty stored,

So to their state thy shepherds care did look.

25 They, taught by thee in this tryumphant song, A virgin army did their voices try: Fledd are these kings, fled are these armyes strong: We share the spoiles that weake in howse did ly.

20

PSALM 68 15c

Though late the Chymney made your beauties loathed. 30 Now shine you shall, and shine more gracefully, Than lovely dove in cleare gold-silver cloathed, That glides with feathered oare through wavy sky.

For when God had (that this may not seeme strange) Expeld the kings with utter overthrow: 35 The very ground her mourning Cloudes did change To weather cleare, as cleare as Salmon snow. Basan, huge Basan, that soe proudly standest,

Scorning the highest hills as basely low, And with thy top soe many tops commandest, 40 Both thou, and they, what makes yee brave it so?

This mountainett, not you, doth God desire:

Here he entends his lodging plott to lay: Hither Jehova will him self retyre

To endlesse rest, and unremoved stay. 45 Here twise ten thousand, doubled twise hee holdeth,

Of hooked Charretts, clad in warrs array: And hence more might, more majesty unfoldeth,

Than erst he did from Sinay mount display.

Ascended high, immortall God thou art, 50 And captyves store thou hast led up with thee, Whose gathered spoiles to men thou wilt impart:

Nay, late thy rebells, now thy tenants bee. Blest be the Lord, by whom our bliss encreaseth, The God of might by whom we safety see: 55 God, our strong God, who us each way releaseth,

And ev'n through gates of death conducts us free.

God of his enimies the heads shall wound

And those proud lookes that stiff in mischief go.

From Basan safe, and from the deepe undround, 60 I brought thee once, and oft I will do so.

This said by hym, thy foote in bloud was stained, Thy doggs tongues dide in bloud of slaughtred fo:

And God, my king, men saw thee entertained In sacred house with tryumphant show.

a.56 psalm 68

65 In vantgard marcht who did with voices sing: The rereward lowd on instruments did play: The battaile maides, and did with tymbrells ring:

And all in sweete consort did jointly say: Praise God, the Lord, of Jacob you descended, 70 Praise him upon each solemn meeting day: Benjamyn, little, but with rule attended,

Juda's brave lordes, and troupes in faire array,

Stout Nephthaly with noble Zabulon:

And sith our might thy bidding word did make, 75 Confirme, O God, what thou in us hast done From out thy house, and that for Salems sake. So kings bring guiftes, so in thie check their ending These furious wanton Bulls and calves shall take, These arrow-armed bands, which us offending, 80 Are now soe ready warr to undertake.

They shall bring silver stooping humbly low,

Egipts greate peeres with homage shall attend: And Aethiop with them shall not forslow

To God with speed like service to commend. 85 Then kingdoms all to God present your praises,

And on the Lord your singing gladness spend: Above the heav'n of heav'ns his throne he raises,

And thence his voice, a voice of strength doth send.

Then of all strength acknowledge God the well, 90 With brave magnificence and glory bright Shining no less on loved Israeli,

Than showing in the cloudes his thundring might; Thou, from the shryne where Jacob thee adoreth, All folk, O God, with terror dost affright: 95 He (prais'd be he) with strength his people storeth, His force it is in which their forces fight.

line 79 offending: attacking, line 83 forslow: delay.

15?

PSALM 69 SALVUM ME FAC

Troublous seas my soule surround:

Save, O God, my sinking soule, Sinking, where it feeles noe ground, In this gulph, this whirling hoale. 5 Waiting aid, with ernest eying,

Calling God with bootlesse crying: Dymm and dry in me are found Eye to see, and throat to sound.

Wrongly sett to worke my woe 10 Haters have I, more than haires:

Force in my afflicting foe

Bettring still, in me impaires

Thus to pay, and leese constrained,

What I never ought or gained; 15 Yet say I: thou God dost know

How my faultes and follies goe.

Mighty Lord, lett not my case

Blank the rest that hope on thee: Lett not Jacobs God deface 20 All his friends in blush of me.

Thyne it is, thyne only quarrell Dightes me thus in Shames apparell: Mote, nor spott, nor least disgrace, But for thee, could taint my face.

158 PSALM 69

25 To my kynn a stranger quite,

Quite an alian am I grown: In my very bretherens sight

Most uncar'd for, most unknown; With thy temples zeale out-eaten, 30 With thy slanders scourges beaten,

While the shott of piercing spight Bent at thee, on me doth light.

If I weepe, and weeping fast, If in sackcloth sadd I mourn, 35 In my teeth the first they cast,

All to Jeast the last they turn; Now in streetes, with publique prating, Powring out their inward hating: Private now at banquetts plac't, 40 Singing songs of wyny tast.

As for me to thee I pray,

Lord, in tyme of grace assign'd: Gratious God, my kindest stay,

In my aid be truly kind. 45 Keepe me safe unsunck, unmyred

Safe from flowing foes retyred: Calme these waves, these waters bay, Leave me not this whirlpooles pray.

In the goodness of thy grace, 50 Lord, make answere to my mone:

Ey my ill, and rue my case, In those mercies told by none.

Lett not by thy absence languish

Thy true server dround in anguish. 55 Haste, and heare, come, come apace,

Free my soule from foemens chase.

Unto thee what needes be told

My reproch, my blott, my blame? Sith both these thou didst behold, 60 And canst all my haters name.

PSALM 69 159

Whiles afflicted, whiles hart-broken, Waiting yet some frendshipps token, Some I lookt would me uphold, Lookt: but found all comfort cold.

65 Comfort? nay (not seene before)

Needing food they sett me gall: Vineager they fiTd me store,

When for drinck my thirst did call. O then snare them in their pleasures, 70 Make them, trapt ev'n in their treasures,

Gladly sadd, and richly poore, Sightlesse most, yet mightlesse more.

Downe upon them fury raine Lighten indignation downe: 75 Turne to wast, and desert plaine,

House and pallace, field and towne. Lett not one be left abiding Where such rancor had residing; Whome thou painest, more they paine: 80 Hurt by thee, by them is slaine.

Causing sinne on Synne to grow,

Add still Cyphers to their summ. Righter lett them never goe,

Never to thy justice come 85 But from out the booke be crossed,

Where the good men live engrossed: While my God, me poore and low, High shall mount from need and woe.

Then by me his name with praise, 90 Gladsome praise, shall be upborne

That shall more Jehova please

Than the beast with hoofe and home.

l60 PSALM 69

With what joy, yee godly grieved Shall your harts be then relieved? 95 When Jehova takes such waies

Bound to loose, and falne to raise?

Laud him then O heav'nly skies,

Earth with thine, and Seas with yours: For by him shall Sion rise, 100 He shall build up Juda's towres.

There his servantes, and their races, Shall in fee possesse the places: There his name who love and prize, Stable stay shall eternize.

line 22 Dightes: attires, equips.

i6i

PSALM 70 DEUS IN ADJUTORIUM

Lord, hy thee me to save Lord, now to help me haste:

Shame lett them surely have And of confusion taste, 5 That hold my soule in chase.

Lett them be forced back, And no disgraces lack,

That joy in my disgrace.

Back forced lett them be, 10 And for a faire reward

Their owne foule mine see

Who laugh and laugh out hard When I most inly mone; But mirth and joy renew 15 In them thy pathes ensue

And love thy help alone.

Make them with gladdness sing: To God be ever praise

And faile not me to bring, 20 My down-cast state to raise,

Thy speedy aid and stay. In thee my succour growes: From thee my freedom flowes:

Lord, make no long delay.

162

PSALM 71 IN TE, DOMINE, SPERAVI

Lord, on thee my trust is grounded: Leave me not with shame confounded;

But in justice bring me aide. Lett thine eare to me be bended: 5 Lett my life from death defended

Be by thee in safty staid.

Be my rock, my refuge tower, Show thy unresisted power,

Working now thy wonted will: 10 Thou, I say, that never fainest

In thy biddings but remainest

Still my rock, my refuge still.

0 my God, my sole help-giver, From this wicked me delyver,

15 From this wrongfull spightfull man:

In thee trusting, on thee standing, With my childish understanding, Nay with life my hopes began.

Since imprison'd in my mother 20 Thou me freed'st, whom have I other

Held my stay, or made my song? Yea, when all me so misdeemed,

1 to most a monster seemed,

Yet in thee my hope was strong.

PSALM 71 163

25 Yet of thee the thankfull story

Fild my mouth, thy gratious glory Was my ditty long the day.

No not then, now age assaileth,

Coradge, verdure, vertue faileth, 30 Do not leave me cast away.

They by whom my life is hated, With their spies have now debated,

Of their talk; and lo the summ: God say they hath hym forsaken 35 Now pursue, he must be taken,

None will to his rescue come.

O my God bee not absented: O my God, now, now, presented

Let in haste thy succours be, 40 Make them full disgraced, shamed,

All dissmighted, all diffamed,

Who this ill intend to me.

As for me, resolv'd to tary In my trust, and not to vary: 45 I will heape thy praise with praise

Still with mouth thy truthes recounting, Still thy aides, though much surmounting Greatest summ that number laies.

Nay, my God, by thee secured 50 Where will I not march assured?

But thy truth what will I hold, Who by thee from infant cradle Taught still more, as still more able,

Have till now thy wonders told?

55 Now that age hath me attainted,

Ages snow my hed hath painted,

164 PSALM 71

Leave me not, my God, forlorn. Let me make thy mights relation, To this coming generation, 60 To this age as yet unborn.

God, thy justice highest raised, Thy greate workes as highly praised:

Who thy peere, O God, doth raign? Thou into these woes dost drive me: 65 Thou againe shalt hence revive me:

Lift me from this deepe againe.

Thou shalt make my greatness greater, Make my good with comfort better,

Thee my lute, my harpe shall ring: 70 Thee my God that never slidest

From thy word but constant bidest,

Jacobs holy heav nly king.

Soe my lipps all joy declaring, Soe my soule no honor sparing, 75 Shall thee sing, by thee secure;

Soe my tongue all tymes, all places, Tell thy wreakes and their disgraces, Who this ill to me procure.

i65

PSALM 72 DEUS JUDICIUM

Teach the kings sonne, who king hym self shalbe,

Thy judgmentes Lord, thy justice make hym learn: To rule thy realme as justice shall decree,

And poore mens right in judgment to discern. 5 Then fearelesse peace,

With rich encrease The mountaynes proud shall fill: And justice shall Make plenty fall 10 On ev'ry humble hill.

Make him the weake support, th'opprest relieve, Supply the poore, the quarrell-pickers quaile: Soe agelesse ages shall thee reverence give,

Till eies of heav'n, the sunn and moone, shall faile 15 And thou againe

Shalt blessings rayne, Which down shall mildly flow, As showres thrown On meades new mown 20 Wherby they freshly grow.

During his rule the just shall ay be greene,

And peacefuil plenty joine with plenteous peace: While of sad night the many-formed queene

Decreas'd, shall grow, and grown again, decrease. 25 From sea to sea

He shall survey

l66 PSALM 72

All kingdoms as his own: And from the trace Of Physons race 30 As farr as land is known.

The desert-dwellers at his beck shall bend:

His foes them suppliant at his feete shall fling: The kinges of Tharsis homage guifts shall send; So Seba, Saba, ev'ry island king. 35 Nay all, ev'n all

Shall prostrate fall, That crownes and scepters weare: And all that stand At their command, 40 That crownes and scepters beare.

For he shall heare the poore when they complaine, And lend them help, who helplesse are opprest: His mercy shall the needy sort sustaine;

His force shall free their lyves that live distrest. 45 From hidden sleight,

From open might, Hee shall their soules redeeme: His tender eyes Shall highly prise, 50 And deare their bloud esteeme.

So shall he long, so shall he happy live;

Health shall abound, and wealth shall never want: They gold to hym, Arabia gold, shall give,

Which scantness dere, and dereness maketh scant. 55 They still shall pray

That still he may So live, and flourish so: Without his praise No nights, no daies, 60 Shall pasport have to go.

PSALM 72 167

Looke how the woods, where enterlaced trees

Spread frendly armes each other to embrace, Joyne at the head, though distant at the knees, Waving with wind, and lording on the place: 65 So woods of corne

By mountaynes borne Shall on their showlders wave: And men shall passe The numbrous grasse, 70 Such store each town shall have.

Looke how the sunne, soe shall his name remayne;

As that in light, so this in glory one: All glories that, at this all lights shall stayne: Nor that shall faile, nor this be overthrowne. 75 The dwellers all

Of earthly ball In hym shall hold them blest: As one that is Of perfect blisse 80 A patterne to the rest.

O God who art, from whom all beings be;

Eternall Lord, whom Jacobs stock adore, And wondrous works are done by only thee, Blessed be thou, most blessed evermore. 85 And lett thy name,

Thy glorious fame, No end of blessing know: Lett all this Round Thy honor sound, 90 So Lord, O be it so.

i68

PSALM 73 QUAM BONUS ISRAEL

It is most true that God to Israeli, I meane to men of undefiled hartes, Is only good, and nought but good impartes.

Most true, I see, allbe allmost I fell 5 From right conceit into a crooked mynd;

And from this truth with straying stepps declin'd.

For loe, my boiling brest did chafe and swell When first I saw the wicked proudly stand, Prevailing still in all they tooke in hand. 10 And sure no sickness dwelleth where they dwell:

Nay, so they guarded are with health and might,

It seemes of them death dares not claime his right.

They seeme as priviledg'd from others paine:

The scourging plagues, which on their neighbours fall, 15 Torment not them, nay touch them not at all.

Therefore with pride, as with a gorgious chaine, Their swelling necks encompassed they beare; All cloth'd in wrong, as if a robe it were:

So fatt become, that fattness doth constraine 20 Their eies to swell: and if they thinck on ought,

Their thought they have, yea have beyond their

They wanton grow, and in malicious vaine [thought.

Talking of wrong, pronounce as from the skies I Soe high a pitch their proud presumption flyes.

PSALM 73 169

25 Nay heavn it self, high heav'n escapes not free

From their base mouthes; and in their common talk Their tongues no less than all the earth do walk. Wherefore ev'n godly men, when so they see Their home of plenty freshly flowing still, 30 Leaning to them, bend from their better will: And thus, they reasons frame: how can it bee That God doth understand? that he doth know, Who sitts in heavn, how earthly matters goe? See here the godlesse Crue, while godly wee 35 Unhappy pine, all happiness possesse:

Their riches more, our wealth still growing lesse.

Nay ev'n within my self, my self did say: In vain my hart I purge, my hands in vain In cleanness washt I keepe from filthy stayn, 40 Since thus afflictions scurge me ev'ry day: Since never a day from early East is sent, But brings my payne, my check, my chastisement. And shall I then these thoughtes in wordes bewray? O lett me, Lord, give never such offence 45 To children thine that rest in thy defence. So then I turn'd my thoughtes another way: Sounding, if I, this secrets depth might find; But combrous cloudes my inward sight did blynd.

Untill at length nigh weary of the chase, 50 Unto thy house I did my stepps direct:

There loe I learn'd what end did these expect, And what? but that in high, but slippery place,

Thou didst them sett: whence, when they least of all To fall did feare, they fell with headlong fall. 55 For how are they in lesse than momments space With mine overthrowne? with frightfull feare Consum'd soe cleane, as if they never were? Right as a dreame, which waking doth deface: So, Lord, most vaine thou dost their fancies make, 60 When thou dost them from carelesse sleepe awake.

170 psalm 73

Then for what purpose was it? to what end For me to fume with malcontented hart, Tormenting so in me each inward part? I was a foole (I can it not defend) , 65 So quite depriv'd of understanding might, That as a beast I bare me in thy sight. But as I was, yet did I still attend,

Still follow thee, by whose upholding-hand, When most I slide, yet still upright I stand. 70 Then guide me still, then still upon me spend The treasures of thy sure advise, untill Thou take me hence into thy glories hill.

O what is he will teach me clyme the skyes?

With thee, thee good, thee goodness to remaine? 75 No good on earth doth my desires detaine.

Often my mind, and oft my body tries

Their weake defectes: but thou, my God, thou art, My endlesse lott, and fortresse of my hart.

The faithlesse fugitives who thee despise, 80 Shall perish all, they all shall be undone, Who leaving thee to whoorish idolls runn.

But as for me, nought better in my eyes

Than cleave to God, my hopes in hym to place,

To sing his workes while breath shall give me space.

171

PSALM 74 UT QUID, DEUS

O God, why hast thou thus Repulst, and scattred us? Shall now thy wrath no lymmitts hold? But ever smoke and burne? 5 Till it to Asshes turne

The chosen folk of thy deare fold?

Ah! think with milder thought On them whom thou hast bought,

And purchased from endlesse daies: 10 Thinck of thy birthright lott,

Of Sion, on whose plott,

Thy sacred house supported staies.

Come, Lord, O come with speed, This sacrilegious seed 15 Roote quickly out, and hedlong cast: All that thy holy place Did late adorne and grace, Their hatefull hands have quite defast.

Their beastly trumpetts rore,

20 Where heav'nly notes before

In praises of thy might did flow:

Within thy temple they

Their ensignes eft display The ensignes, which their conquest show.

25 As men with axe on arme

To some thick forrest swarme,

PSALM 74

To lopp the trees which stately stand: They to thy temple flock, And spoiling, cutt and knock 30 The curious workes of carving hand.

Thy most, most holy seate The greedy flames do eate,

And have such ruthlesse ruyns wrought, That all thy house is raste, 35 So raste, and so defast,

That of that all remayneth nought.

Nay they resolved are,

We all alike shall fare, All of one cruell cup shall taste. 40 For not one house doth stand

Of God in all the land, But they by fire have laide it waste.

We see the signes no more We wont to see before; 45 Nor any now with sp'ryt divine Amongst us more is found, Who can to us expound, What tearme these dollors shall define.

How long, O God, how long 50 Wilt thou winck at the wrong

Of thy reviling railing foe? Shall he that hates thy name, And hatred paintes with shame,

So do, and do for ever soe?

55 Woe us! what is the cause

Thy hand his help withdrawes? That thy right hand far from us keepes? Ah lett it once arise, To plague thine enimies,

60 Which now, embosom'd, idely sleepes.

PSALM 74 173

Thou art my God, I know,

My king, who long ago Didst undertake the chardg of me:

And in my hard distresse 65 Didst work me such release,

That all the earth did wondring see.

Thou by thy might didst make

That seas in sunder brake, And dreadfull dragons which before 70 In deepe or swamme or crawl'd

Such mortall strokes appal'd, They floted dead to ev'ry shore.

Thou crusht that monsters head Whom other monsters dread, 75 And soe his fishy flesh did'st frame, To serve as pleasing foode To all the ravening brood, Who had the desert for their dame.

Thou wondrously didst cause, 80 Repealing natures lawes,

From thirsty flynt a fountayne flow And of the rivers cleare The sandy beds appeare, Soe dry thou mad'st theyr chanells grow.

85 The day arraid in light,

The shadow-clothed night, Were made, and are maintain'd by thee.

The sunn and sunn-like rays,

The boundes of nightes and daies, 90 Thy workmanshipp no lesse they be.

To thee the earth doth owe, That earth in sea doth grow, And sea doth earth from drowning spare: The summers corny crowne, 95 The winters frosty gowne,

Nought but thy badge, thy lyvery are.

174 psalm 74

Thou then still one, the same, Thinck how thy glorious name These brain-sick mens despight have borne, 100 How abject enimies,

The Lord of highest skies, With cursed taunting tongues have torne.

Ah! give noe hauke the pow're Thy turtle to devowre, 105 Which sighes to thee with moorning mones: Nor utterly out-rase From tables of thy grace The flock of thy afflicted ones.

But call thy league to mynd, 110 For horror all doth blind,

No light doth in the land remayne:

Rape, murther, violence,

Each outrage, each offence, Each where doth range, and rage and raigne.

115 Enough, enough we moume:

Let us no more returne Repulst with blame and shame from thee,

But succour us opprest,

And give the troubled rest, 120 That of thy praise their songes may be.

Rise, God, pleade thyne owne case,

Forget not what disgrace These fooles on thee each day bestow:

Forgett not with what cries 125 Thy foes against thee rise,

Which more and more to heav'n doe grow.

line 48 tearme: limit, boundary.

175

PSALM 75 CONFITEBIMUR TIBI

Thee, God, O thee, wee sing, we celebrate: Thy actes with wonder who but doth relate?

So kindly nigh thy name our need attendeth. Sure I, when once the chardg I undergo 5 Of this assembly, will not faile to show

My judgments such, as justest rule commendeth.

The people loose, the land I shaken find: This will I firmly propp, that straitly bind;

And then denounce my uncontrolled pleasure: 10 Bragg not you braggardes, you your saucy home Lift not, lewd mates : no more with heav'ns scorne

Daunce on in wordes your old repyning measure.

Where sun first showes; or last enshades his light; Divides the day, or pricks the midst of night; 15 Seeke not the fountayne whence preferment springeth. Gods only fixed course that all doth sway, Lymits dishonors night, and honors day,

The king his crowne, the slave his fetters bringeth.

A troubled cupp is in Jehovas hand, 20 Where wine and wyny lees compounded stand, Which franckly fild, as freely hee bestoweth; Yet for their draught ungodly men doth give, Gives all (not one except) that lewdly lyve,

Only what from the dreggs by wringing floweth.

176 PSALM 75

25 And I, secure, shall spend my happie tymes

In my, though lowly, never-dying rymes,

Singing with praise the God that Jacob loveth.

My princely care shall crop ill-doers low,

In glory plant, and make with glory grow 30 Who right approves, and doth what right approveth.

line 9 denounce: announce, proclaim, line 12 repyning: discon- tented.

177

PSALM 76 NOTUS IN JUDEA

Only to Juda God his will doth signify;

Only in Jacob is his name notorious; His restfull tent doth only Salem dignify;

On Syon only stands his dwelling glorious; 5 Their bow, and shaft, and shield, and sword he shivered, Drave warr from us, and us from warr delivered.

Above proud princes, proudest in their theevery,

Thou art exalted high, and highly glorified: Their weake attempt, thy valiant delivery, 10 Their spoile, thy conquest meete to be historified. The mighty handlesse grew as men that slumbered, For hands grew mightlesse, sence and life encombered.

Nay, God, O God, true Jacobs sole devotion, Thy check the very carrs and horses mortifide, 15 Cast in dull sleepe, and quite depriv'd of motion. Most fearefull God, O how must he be fortifide! Whose fearelesse foote to bide thy onsett tarieth, When once thy wrath displaied ensigne carieth.

From out of heav'n thy justice judgment thundred 20 When good by thee were sav'd, and bad were

[punished, While earth at heav'n with feare and silence wondred.

Yea, the most ragefull in their rage astonished Fell to praise thee: whom thou, how ever furious Shall eft restraine, if fury prove injurious.

I78 PSALM 76

25 Then lett your vowes be paid, your offrings offered Unto the Lord, O you of his protection: Unto the fearefull lett your giftes be proffered,

Who loppeth princes thoughts, prunes their affection, And so him self most terrible doth verify, 30 In terrifying kings, that earth do terrify.

179

PSALM 77 VOCE MEA AD DOMINUM

To thee my crying call, To thee my calling cry

I did, O God, adresse,

And thou didst me attend: 5 To nightly anguish thrall,

From thee I sought redresse; To thee unceassantly Did praying handes extend.

All comfort fled my soule: 10 Yea, God to mind I cal'd,

Yet calling God to mynde

My thoughts could not appease: Nought else but bitter dole Could I in thincking finde: 15 My sprite with paine appal'd,

Could entertaine no ease.

Whole troupes of busy cares, Of cares that from thee came,

Tooke up their restlesse rest 20 In sleepie sleeplesse eies:

Soe lay I all opprest, My hart in office lame,

My tongue as lamely fares, No part his part supplies.

l80 PSALM J J

25 At length with turned thought

Anew I fell to thinck Uppon the auncient tymes, Uppon the yeares of old: Yea, to my mynd was brought, 30 And in my hart did sinck,

What in my former rimes My self of thee had told.

Loe, then to search the truth I sent my thoughts abroade; 35 Meane while my silent hart

Distracted thus did plaine: Will God no more take ruth? No further love impart? No longer be my God? 40 Unmoved still remayne?

Are all the conduites dry

Of his erst flowing grace? Could rusty teeth of tyme

To nought his promise turne? 45 Can mercy no more clyme

And come before his face? Must all compassion dy?

Must nought but anger burne?

Then lo, my wrack I see, 50 Say I, and do I know

That chang lies in his hand, Who changlesse sitts aloft? Can I ought understand, And yet unmindfull be, 55 What wonders from hym flow?

What workes his will hath wrought?

PSALM JJ

Nay still thy acts I minde, Still of thy deedes I muse;

Still see thy glories light 60 Within thy temple shine.

What god can any find

(For tearme them so they use)

Whose majesty, whose might, May strive, O God, with thine?

65 Thou only wonders dost;

The wonders by thee done, All earth do wonder make, As when thy hand of old From servitude unjust 70 Both Jacobs sonnes did take;

And sonnes of Jacobs sonne, Whom Jacobs sonnes had sold.

The waves thee saw, saw thee, And fearefull fledd the field: 75 The deepe with panting brest,

Engulphed quaking lay: The cloudes thy fingers prest,

Did rushing rivers yield; Thy shaftes did flaming flee 80 Through firy airy way.

Thy voices thundring crash From one to other pole,

Twixt roofe of starry Sphere And earths then trembling flore, 85 While light of lightnings flash

Did pitchy cloudes encleare, Did round with terror role, And rattling horror rore.

181

182 psalm jy

Mean while through duskie deepe 90 On seas discovered bed,

Where none thy trace could view,

A path by thee was wrought: A path whereon thy crue As shepherds use their sheepe, 95 With Aron Moses ledd,

And to glad pastures brought.

183

PSALM 78 ATTENDITE, POPULE

A grave discourse to utter I entend;

The age of tyme I purpose to renew, You, O my charge, to what I teach attend;

Heare what I speake, and what you heare ensue. 5 The thinges our fathers did to us commend,

The same are they I recommend to you: Which though but heard, we know most true to be; We heard, but heard, of who them selves did see.

Which never lett us soe ungratefull grow, 10 As to conceale from such as shall succeed:

Let us the praises of Jehova show,

Each act of worth, each memorable deede, Chiefly since he him self commanded so: Giving a law to Jacob and his seed, 15 That fathers should this use to sonnes maintayne, And sonnes to sonnes, and they to theirs again:

That while the yong shall over-live the old, And of their brood some yet shalbe unborn,

These memories, in memory enrold, 20 By fretting time may never thence be worn;

That still on God, their anchor, hope may hold, From him by no dispairefull tempest torn;

That with wise hartes and willing mindes they may

Think what he did, and what he bidds obay;

184 PSALM 78

25 And not ensue their fathers froward trace,

Whose stepps from God, rebelliously did stray: A waiward, stubborn, stailesse, faithlesse race,

Such as on God no hold by hope could lay; Like Ephraims sonnes, who durst not show their face, 30 But from the battaill fearefull fled away:

Yet bare, as men of warrlike excellence, Offending bowes, and armor for defence.

And why? they did not hold inviolate

The league of God: nor in his pathes would go. 35 His famous workes, and wonders they for gate,

Which, often hearing, well might cause them know The workes and wonders which, in hard estate,

He did of old unto their fathers show: Whereof all Egipt testimony yeelds, 40 And of all Egypt, chiefly Zoan fields.

There where the deepe did show his sandy flore, And heaped waves an uncouth way enwall:

Whereby they past from one to other shore, Walking on seas, and yet not wett at all: 45 He ledd them so; a cloud was them before

While light did last: when night did darkness call,

A flaming piller glitfring in the skies

Their load starr was, till sunne again did rise.

He rift the Rocks and from their perced sides, 50 To give them drinck, whole seas of water drew:

The desert sand no longer thirst abides;

The trickling springs to such huge rivers grew. Yet not content their furie further slides; In those wild waies they anger God anew. 55 As thirst before, now hunger stirrs their lust

To tempting thoughtes, bewraying want of trust;

And fond conceites begetting fonder wordes: Can God, say they, prepare with plentious hand

PSALM 78

Deliriously to furnish out our boordes 60 Here in this waste, this hunger-starved land?

We see indeed the streames the Rock affordes:

We see in pooles the gathered waters stand: But whither bread and flesh so ready be For him to give, as yet we do not see.

65 This heard, but heard with most displeased eare, That Jacobs race he did so dearly love, Who in his favoure had no cause to feare,

Should now so wav'ring, so distrustfull prove; The raking sparkes in flame began appeare, 70 And staied choller fresh again to move;

That from his trust their confidence should swerve, Whose deedes had shown, he could and would

[preserve.

Yet he unclos'd the garners of the skies,

And bade the cloudes Ambrosian manna rain: 75 As morning frost on hoary pasture lies,

So strawed lay each where this heav'nly grain The finest cheat that dearest princes prise,

The bread of heav'n could not in fineness stain: Which he them gave, and gave them in such store, 80 Each had so much, he wish't to have no more.

But that he might them each way satisfle,

He slipt the raines to east and southerne wind;

These on the cloudes their uttmost forces try, And bring in raines of admirable kind. 85 The dainty Quailes that freely wont to fly,

In forced showers to dropp were now assign'd:

And fell as thick as dust on sunn-burnt field,

Or as the sand the thirsty shore doth yeeld.

Soe all the plain, whereon their army lay, 90 As farr abroad as any tent was pight,

With featured rain was wat'red ev'ry way,

l86 PSALM 78

Which showring down did on their lodgings light Then fell they to their easy gotten pray,

And fedd till fullness vanquisht had delight: 95 Their lust still fiam'd, still God the fuell brought And fedd their lust beyond their lustfull thought.

But fully filld, not fully yet content,

While now the meate their weary chaps did chew: Gods wrathfull rage upon these gluttons sent, 100 Of all their troupes the principallest slew. Among all them of Israelis descent

His stronger plague the strongest overthrew. Yet not all this could wind them to his will, Still worse they grew, and more untoward still.

105 Therfore he made them waste their weary yeares Roaming in vain in that unpeopled place; Possest with doubtfull cares and dreadfull feares:

But if at any time death show'd his face, Then lo, to God they su'de and su'de with teares: 110 Then they retorn'd, and earely sought his grace: Then they profest, and all did mainly cry In God their strength, their hope, their help did ly.

But all was built uppon no firmer ground

Than fawning mouthes, and tongues to lying train'd: 115 They made but showes, their hart was never sound: Disloiall once, disloiall still remain d. Yet he (so much his mercy did abound)

Purged the filth, wherwith their soules were staind: Destroid them not, but oft revok'd his ire, 120 And mildly quencht his indignations fire.

For kind compassion called to his mynd,

That they but men, that men but mortall were,

That mortall life, a blast of breathing wind,

As wind doth passe, and, past, no more appeare, 125 And yet (good God) how ofte this crooked kind

PSALM 78 187

Incenst him in the desert every where! Againe repin'd, and murmured againe, And would in boundes that boundless pow'r contain.

Forsooth their weake remembrance could not hold 130 His hand, whose force above all mortall hands To Aegipts wonder did it self unfold,

Loosing their fetters and their servile bands: When Zoan plaines where cristall Rivers rold, With all the rest of those surrounded lands, 135 Saw watry clearness chang'd to bloudy gore, Pining with thirst in middst of watry store.

Should I relate of flies the deadly swarmes?

Of filthy froggs the odious annoy? Grashoppers waste, and Caterpillers harmes, 140 Which did their fruites, their harvest hope enjoy? How haile and lightning breaking of the armes

Of vines and figgs, the bodies did destroy? Lightning and haile, whose flamy, stony blowes, Their beastes no less and cattell overthrowes?

145 These were but smokes of after-going fire: Now, now his fury breaketh into flame: Now dole and dread, now pine and paine conspire

With angry Angells wreak and wrack to frame. Nought now is left to stopp his stailesse ire; 150 So plaine a way is opened to the same Abroad goes Death, the uttermost of ills, In house, in field, and men and cattell kills.

All that rich land, where over Nilus trailes Of his wett robe the slymy seedy train, 155 With millions of mourning cries bewailes Of evry kind their first begotten slain.

Against this plague no wealth, no worth prevailes: Of all that in the tentes of Cham remayn,

l88 PSALM 78

Who of their house the propps and pillers were, 160 Themselves do fall, much lesse can others beare.

Mean while, as while a black tempestuous blast Drowning the earth in sunder rentes the skies,

A Shepheard wise to howse his flock doth haste, Taking nere waies, and where best passage lies: 165 God from this mine, through the barrain waste Conducts his troupes in such or safer wise:

And from the seas his sheepe he fearelesse saves,

Leaving their wolves intombed in the waves.

But them leaves not untill they were possest 170 Of this his hill, of this his holy place,

Whereof full Conquest did him, Lord, invest,

When all the dwellers fledd his peoples face, By him subdu'd, and by his hand opprest; Whose heritage he shared to the Race, 175 The twelve-fold race of godly Israeli,

To lord their landes, and in their dwellings dwell.

But what availes? not yet they make an end To tempt high God, and stirre his angry gall:

From his prescript another way they wend, 180 And to their fathers crooked by-pathes fall.

So, with vaine toile, distorted bowes we bend: Though level'd right, they shoote not right at all.

The idoll honor of their damned groves,

When God it heard, his jealous anger moves.

185 For God did heare, detesting in his hart The Israelites, a people soe perverse: And from his seate in Silo did depart

The place where God did erst with men converse; Right well content that foes on every part 190 His force Captyve, his glory should reverse: Right well content (so ill content he grew) His peoples bloud should tyrantes blade imbrue.

PSALM 78 189

Soe the yong men the flame of life bereaves: The virgins live despair'd of manage choise: 195 The sacred priests fall on the bloudy glaives; No widow left to use her wailing voice. But as a knight, whome wyne or slumber leaves,

Hearing alarm, is roused at the noise: Soe God awakes: his haters fly for feare, 200 And of their shame eternall marks do beare.

But God chose not, as he before had chose,

In Josephs tents, or Ephraim to dwell: But Juda takes, and to Mount Syon goes,

To Syon mount, the mount he loved well. 205 There he his house did castle-like enclose;

Of whose decay no after times shall tell: While her own weight shall weighty earth sustain, His sacred seate shall here unmov'd remain.

And where his servant David did attend 210 A shepherds charge, with care of fold and field: He takes him thence and to a nobler end

Converts his cares, appointing him to shield His people which of Jacob did descend, And feede the flock his heritage did yeld: 215 And he the paines did gladly undergoe,

Which hart sincere, and hand discreet did show.

line 4 ensue: give heed to. line 6 recommend: commend again. line 20 fretting: gnawing, gradually wearing away, line -jj cheat: ( 1 ) wheaten bread ( 2 ) booty, prize, line 195 glaives: swords.

igo

PSALM 79 DEUS, VENERUNT

The land of long by thee possessed, The heathen, Lord, have now oppressed: Thy temple holily maintained Till now, is now prophanely stained. 5 Jerusalem quite spoil'd and burned,

Hath suffred sack

And utter wrack, To stony heapes her buildings turned.

The livelesse carcasses of those, 10 That hVd thy servants, serve the crowes:

The flock soe derely lov'd of thee

To ravening beastes dere foode they be;

Their bloud doth streame in every streete As water spilled: 15 Their bodies killed

With sepulture can no where meete.

To them that hold the neighbour places We are but objects of disgraces: On ev'ry coast who dwell about us, 20 In ev'ry kind deride and flout us.

Ah, Lord! when shall thy wrath be ended?

Shall still thine yre,

As quenchless fire, In deadly ardor be extended?

PSALM 79 191

25 O kindle there thy furies flame,

Where lives no notice of thy name:

There lett thy heavie anger fall,

Where no devotions on thee call.

For thence, they be who Jacob eate, 30 Who thus have rased,

Have thus defaced,

Thus desert laid his ancient seate.

Lord ridd us from our sinnfull cumbers, Count not of them the passed numbers: 35 But lett thy pitty soone prevent us,

For hard extreames have nerely spent us. Free us, O God, our freedome giver; Our misery With help supply: 40 And for thy glory us deliver.

Deliver us, and for thy name With mercy clothe our sinnfull shame: Ah! why should this their byword be, Where is your God? where now is he? 45 Make them, and us on them behold,

That not despised,

But deerly prised, Thy wreakfull hand our bloud doth hold.

Where grace, and glory thee enthroneth, 50 Admitt the grones the prisoner groneth:

The poore condem'd, for death reserved,

Let be by thee in life preserved.

And for our neighbours, Lord, remember Th'opprobrious shame 55 They lent thy name

With seav'n-fold gaine to them thou render.

Soe we thy servantes, we thy sheep,

Whom thy lookes guide, thy pastures keepe:

192 PSALM 79

Till death define our lyving daies, 60 Will never cease to sound thy praise.

Nay, when we leave to see the sunn,

The after goers

We will make knowers From age to age what thou hast done.

193

PSALM 80 QUI REGIS ISRAEL

Heare thou, greate heardsman, that dost Jacob feed:

Thou, Josephs shepheard, shine from Cherubs throne: In Ephraim, Benjamyn, Manasses need,

Awake thy power, and make thy puisance knowne.

Free us distressed, raise us overthrowne, Reduce us straid, O God, restore us banish'd:

Display thy faces skies on us thine owne, Soe we shall safely dwell, all darknesse vanish'd.

Lord God of hosts, what end, what meane appeares

Of thy wrathes fume against thy peoples cry? Whom thou with teares for bread, for drink with teares

So diettest, that we abandon'd ly,

To foes of laughter, and to dwellers by, A field of brail; but God restore us banish'd

Display on us thy faces cleered sky, So we shall safly dwell, all darkness vanish'd.

A Vine thou didst translate from Zoan playnes,

And weeding them that held the place of old, Nor planting care didst slack, nor pruning paines,

To fix her rootes, whom fieldes could not enfold.

The hills were cloked with her pleasing cold: With Cedars state her branches height contended:

Scarse here the sea, the River there controld Her amies, her handes, soe wide she both extended.

194 PSALM 80

25 Why hast thou now, thy self, dishedg'd this vine, Carlesly left to passengers in pray? Unseemly rooted by the woodbred swine, Wasted by other beasts that wildly stray? O God, retorne, and from thy starry stay 30 Review this Vyne, reflect thy looking hither;

This vineyard see, whose plott thy hande dyd lay, This plant of choise, ordained not to wither.

Consum'd with flames, with killing axes hewne All at thy frown they fall, and quaile, and dy: 35 But heape thou might, on thy ellected one, That stablest man in whom we may affy. Then we, preserv'd, thy name shall magnify Without revolt, Lord God restore us banish'd: Display on us thy faces cleered sky, 40 Soe we shall safely dwell, all darkness vanish'd.

line 6 Reduce: lead back, line 14 brail: brawl, noisy quarrel or struggle, line 36 affy: place trust.

195

PSALM 81 EXULT ATE DEO

All gladness, gladdest hartes can hold, In meriest notes that mirth can yeld, Lett joyfull songues to God unfold, To Jacobs god our sword and shield. 5 Muster hither musicks joyes,

Lute, and lyre, and tabretts noise: Lett noe instrument be wanting, Chasing grief, and pleasure planting.

When ev'ry month beginning takes, 10 When fixed tymes bring sacred daies;

When any feast his peoples makes; Lett trumpetts tunes report his praise. This to us a law doth stand, Pointed thus by Gods owne hand; 15 Of his league a signe ordained,

When his plagues had Aegipt pained.

There heard I, erst unheard by me,

The voice of God, who thus did say: Thy shoulder I from burthen free, 20 Free sett thy hand from baked clay.

Vexed, thou my aide did'st crave; Thunder-hid I answer gave: Till the streames where strife did move thee, Still I did, with triall, prove thee.

196 PSALM 8l

25 I bade thee then attentive be,

And told thee thus : O Israeli, This is my covenant that with thee

No false, nor forrein god shall dwell. I am God, thy God, that wrought 30 That thou wert from Aegipt brought:

Open me thy mouth; to feede thee I will care, nought els shall neede thee.

But ah, my people scorn'd my voice, And Israeli rebelled still: 35 So then I left them to the choise

Of f roward way and wayward will. Why alas? why had not they Heard my voice, and held my way? Quickly I their foes had humbled, 40 All their haters headlong tumbled.

Subdu'd by me who them anoi'd,

Had serv'd them now in base estate: And of my graunt they had enjoy'd A lease of blisse with endlesse date. 45 Flower of the finest wheate

Had byn now their plenteous meate: Honny them from Rocks distilled Filled had, yea over filled.

197

PSALM 82 DEUS STETIT

Where poore men plead at Princes barre, Who gods (as God's viceregents) ar: The God of gods hath his tribunall pight,

Adjudging right Both to the judge, and judged wight.

How long will ye just doome neglect? How long, saith he, bad men respect? You should his owne unto the helplesse give,

The poore releeve, Ease him with right, whom wrong doth greeve,

You should the fatherlesse defend: You should unto the weake extend Your hand, to loose and quiet his estate

Through lewd mens hate Entangled now in deepe debate.

This should you doe: but what doe ye? You nothing know, you nothing see: No light, no law; fy, fy, the very ground

Becomes unsound, Soe right, wrong, all your faultes confound.

Indeed to you the stile I gave

Of gods, and sonnes of God, to have:

But err not, Princes you as men must dy:

You that sitt high Must fall, and low, as others ly.

198 psalm 82

Since men are such, O God, arise: Thy self most strong, most just, most wise, Of all the earth king, judg, disposer be; Since to decree 30 Of all the earth belongs to thee.

199

PSALM 83 DEUS, QUIS SIMILIS

Be not, O be not silent still

Rest not, O God, with endlesse rest: For lo, thine enemies With noise and tumult rise; Hate doth their hartes with fierceness fill, And lift their heades who thee detest.

Against thy folk their witts they file To sharpest point of secret sleight: A world of trapps and traines They forge in busy braines, That they thy hid ones may beguile,

Whom thy wings shroud from searching sight.

Come lett us of them nothing make: Lett none them more a people see: Stopp we their verie name Within the mouth of fame. Such are the counsells these men take, Such leagues they link, and these they be.

First Edoms sonnes, then Ismaell, With Moab, Agar, Geballs traine: With these the Amonites, The fierce Amalekites, And who in Palestina dwell,

And who in tentes of Tyre remaine.

200 PSALM 83

25 Ashur, though further off he ly,

Assisteth Lotts incestious brood. But Lord, as Jabin thou And Sisera didst bow: As Midian did fall and dy 30 At Endor walls, and Kyson flood:

As Oreb, Zeb, and Zeba strong, As Salmuna who ledd thy foes: (Who meant, nay, said no lesse Than that they would possesse 35 Gods heritage) became as donge: Soe Lord, O soe, of these dispose.

Torment them, Lord, as tossed balls; As stuble scattred in the aire: Or as the branchy brood 40 Of some thick mountain wood,

To naught, or nought but asshes falls,

When flames doe sindge their leavy haire:

Soe with thy tempest them pursue, So with thy whirlewind them affright: 45 So paint their daunted face,

With pencell of disgrace, That they at length to thee may sue, And give thy glorious name his right.

Add feare and shame, to shame and feare: 50 Confound them quite, and quite deface;

And make them know that none But thou, and thou alone, Dost that high name Jehovah beare, High plac't above all earthly place.

201

PSALM 84 QUAM DILECTA!

How lovely is thy dwelling,

Greate God, to whom all greatness is belonging! To view thy Courtes farre, farre from any telling, My soule doth long, and pine with longing. 5 Unto the God that liveth

The God that all life giveth My hart and body both aspire, Above delight, beyond desire.

Alas! the Sparow knoweth 10 The house where free and fearelesse she resideth: Directly to the neast the swallow goeth, Where with her sonnes she safe abideth. O Alters thine, most mighty In warre, yea most allmighty: 15 Thy Alters, Lord! ah! why should I ' From altars thine, excluded ly?

O happy who remaineth

Thy houshold-man, and still thy praise unfoldeth; O happy who him self on thee sustaineth, 20 Who to thy house his jorney holdeth! Me seemes I see them going Where mulberies are growing: How wells they digg in thirsty plaine, And Gesternes make, for falling Rayne.

202 PSALM 84

25 Me seemes I see augmented

Still troop with troop, till all at length discover Sion, wherto their sight is represented The Lord of hostes, the Sion lover.

0 Lord, O God, most mighty 30 In warre, yea most allmighty:

Heare what I begg, harken I say, O Jacobs God, to what I pray.

Thou art the shield us shieldeth:

Then Lord, behold the face of thine anointed: 35 One day spent in thy courtes more comfort yeldeth, Than thousands otherwise appointed.

1 count it cleerer pleasure To spend my ages treasure

Waiting a porter at thy gates, 40 Than dwell a lord with wicked mates.

Thou art the sunn that shineth,

Thou art the buckler, Lord, that us defendeth: Glory and grace Jehovas hand assigneth: And good, without refusall, sendeth 45 To him who truly treadeth

The path to pureness leadeth. O Lord of might, thrice blessed he, Whose confidence is built on thee.

203

PSALM 85 BENEDIXISTI, DOMINE

Mighty Lord from this thy land, Never was thy love estrang'd: Jacobs servitude thy hand

Hath, we know, to freedome chang'd, 5 All thy peoples wicked parts

Have byn banisht from thy sight, Thou on them hast cured quite All the woundes of synnfull dartes; Still thy Choller quenching soe, 10 Heate to flame did never grow.

Now then God as heretofore,

God, the God that dost us save, Change our state, in us no more Lett thine anger object have. 15 Wilt thou thus for ever grieve?

Wilt thou of thy wrathfull rage Draw the threed from age to age? Never us againe relieve?

Lord yet once our hartes to joy 20 Show thy grace, thy help employ.

What speake I? O lett me heare

What he speakes: for speake hee will

Peace to whome he love doth beare, Lest they fall to folly still.

204 PSALM 85

25 Ever nigh to such as stand

In his feare, his favour is:

How can then his glory misse Shortly to enlight our land?

Mercy now and truth shall meete: 30 Peace with kisse shall Justice greete.

Truth shall spring in ev'ry place,

As the hearb, the earthes attire: Justices long absent face

Heav'n shall show, and Earth admire. 35 Then Jehova on us will

Good in good in plenty throw:

Then shall we in gladdness mow, Wheras now in grief we till.

Then before him in his way 40 All goe right, not one shall stray.

PSALM 86 INCLINA, DOMINE

Aeternall Lord, thine eare incline:

Heare me most helplesse, most oppressed; This Client save, this servant thine,

Whose hope is whole to thee addressed. 5 On me, Jehova, pitty take:

For daily cry to thee I make. Thy servantes soule from depth of saddness That climes to thee, advance to gladdness.

O Lord, I know thee good and kind, 10 On all that aske much mercy spending:

Then heare, O Lord, with heedfull mynd These carefull suites of my commending. I only call when much I neede: Needes of thy help I then must speed: 15 A God like whom (if gods be many)

Who is, or doth, there is not any.

And therefore, Lord, before thy face

All nations which thy hand hath framed, Shall come with low adoring grace, 20 And praise the name upon thee named.

For thou art greate, and thou alone Dost wonders, God, done els by none: O in thy truth my path discover, And hold me fast thy fearing lover.

206 PSALM 86

25 Lord, all my hart shall synge of thee:

By me thy name shall still be praised, Whose goodnesse richly powr'd on me From lowest pitt, my soule hath raised. And now againe mine enimies 30 Doe many, mighty, prowd arise:

By whom with hate my life is chased, While in their sight thou least art placed.

But thou, Jehova, swift to grace, On light entreaty pardon showest: 35 To wrath dost goe a heavy pace,

And full with truth and mercy flowest. Then turne and take of me remorse: With strength my weaknesse re-enforce: Who in thy service have attended, 40 And of thy handmaid am descended.

O lett some token of thy love

Be eminently on me placed; Some Cognisance, to teach and prove, That thine I am, that by thee graced, 45 To dye their cheekes in shamefull hue

That now with spite my soule pursue; Eye-taught, how me thou dost deliver My endlesse aid and comfort giver.

207

PSALM 87 FUNDAMENTA EJUS

Founded upon the hills of holinesse

Gods city stands: who more love beareth To gates of Sion, high in lowlinesse,

Than all the townes that Juda reareth. 5 City of God, in Gods decree

What noble things are said of theel

I will, saith he, hence foorth be numbered

Egipt and Babell with my knowers: That Palestine and Tyre, which cumbered io The fathers, with the after-goers

Shall joyne: soe Aethiope from whence The borne shall be, as borne from hence.

Yea this, men shall of Sion signify:

To him, and him it gave first breathing; 15 Which highest God shall highly dignify, Etemall stay to it bequeathing.

Jehova this account shall make, When he of his shall muster take:

That he, and he who ever named be, 20 Shall be as borne in Sion named:

In Sion shall my musique framed be, Of lute and voice most sweetly framed: I will, saith he, to Sion bring Of my fresh fountaines ev'ry spring.

line 9 cumbered: hindered.

208

PSALM 88 DOMINE DEUS

My God, my Lord, my help, my health; To thee my cry Doth restless fly, Both when of sunn the day 5 The treasures doth display,

And night locks up his golden wealth.

Admitt to presence what I crave:

0 bow thine eare My cry to heare,

10 Whose soule with ills and woes

Soe flowes, soe overflowes, That now my life drawes nigh the grave.

With them that fall into the pitt

1 stand esteem'd:

IS Quite forcelesse deem'd,

As one who free from strife, And sturr of mortall life, Among the dead at rest doth sitt.

Right like unto the murdred sort, 2,0 Who in the grave

Their biding have; Whom now thou dost no more Remember as before, Quite, quite cut off from thy support.

PSALM 88 209

25 Throwne downe into the grave of graves

In darkness deepe Thou dost me keepe: Where lightning of thy wrath Upon me lighted hath, 30 All overwhelm'd with all thy waves.

Who did know me, whome I did know, Remov'd by thee Are gone from me; Are gone? that is the best: 35 They all me so detest,

That now abrode I blush to goe.

My wasted eye doth melt away Fleeting amaine, In streames of paine 40 While I my praiers send,

While I my hands extend, To thee, my God, and faile noe day.

Alas, my Lord, will then be tyme, When men are dead, 45 Thy truth to spread?

Shall they, whome death hath slaine, To praise thee live againe, And from their lowly lodgings clime?

Shall buried mouthes thy mercies tell? 50 Dust and decay

Thy truth display? And shall thy workes of mark Shine in the dreadfull dark? Thy Justice where oblivions dwell?

55 Good reason then I cry to thee,

And ere the light Salute thy sight,

210 PSALM 88

My plaint to thee direct. Lord, why dost thou reject 60 My soule, and hide thy face from me?

Ay me, alas, I faint, I dy, So still, so still Thou dost me fill, And hast from yongest yeares, 65 With terrifying feares,

That I, in traunce, amaz'd doe ly.

All over me thy furies past: Thy feares my mind Doe fettring bind 70 Flowing about mee soe,

As flocking waters flow: No day can overrun their haste.

Who erst to me were neare and deare Far now, O f arr 75 Disjoyned ar:

And when I would them see, Who my acquaintance be, As darknesse they to me appeare.

211

PSALM 89 MISERICORDIAS DOMINI

The constant promises, the loving graces, That cause our debt, eternall Lord, to thee,

Till ages shall fill up their still void spaces, My thankfull songues unaltred theme shalbe. 5 For of thy bounty thus my thoughtes decree:

It shalbe fully built, as f airely founded : And of thy truth attesting heav'ns shall see

The boundlesse periods, though theirs be bounded.

Loe I have leagu'd, thou saist, with my ellected, 10 And thus have to my servant David sworne:

Thy ofspring kings, thy throne in state erected By my support, all threates of time shall scorne: And Lord, as running skies with wheeles unworne Cease not to lend this wonder their commending: 15 Soe with one mind praises no lesse adorne

This truth, the holy troopes thy Court attending.

For who among the clouds with thee compareth?

What angell there thy paragon doth raigne? Whose majesty, whose peerelesse force declareth 20 The trembling awe of thine immortall traine.

Lord God whom Hostes redoubt, who can maintaine With thee in powrfullness a Rivalls quarrell?

Strongest art thou, and must to end remaine, Whome compleate faith doth armor-like apparrell.

25 Thy lordlie check the Seas proud courage quailed, And, highly swelling, lowly made reside:

212 PSALM 89

To crush stout Pharao thy arme prevailed: What one thy foe, did undisperst abide? The heav'n, the Earth, and all in bosome wide 30 This huge rounde Engin clipps, to thee pertaineth; Which firmly based, not to shake, or slide, The unseene hinge of North and South sustaineth.

For North and South were both by thee created,

And those crosse points our bounding hills behould, 35 Thabor and Hermon, in whose joy related

Thy glorious grace from West to East is told: Thy arme all powr, all puisance doth enfold: Thy lifted hand a might of wonder showeth: Justice and Judgment doe thy throne uphold; 40 Before thy presence Truth with Mercy goeth.

Happy the people, who with hasty running

Poast to thy court when trumpets tryumph blow:

On pathes, enlighted by thy faces sunning,

Their stepps, Jehova, unoffended goe. [soe:

45 Thy name both makes them gladd and holds them

High thought into their hartes thy justice powreth: The worshipp of their strength from thee doth flow,

And in thy love their springing Empire flowreth.

For by Jehovas shield stand we protected, 50 And thou gav'st Israel their sacred king,

What time in vision thus thy word directed Thy loved Prophet: ayd I will you bring Against that violence your state doth wring From one among my folk by choise appointed; 55 David my servant: him to act the thing

Have I with holy oile my self anointed.

My hand shall bide his never-failing piller,

And from myne arme shall he derive his might:

Not closly undermin'd by cursed wilier, 60 Nor overthrown by foe in open fight.

For I will quaile his vexers in his sight:

PSALM 89 213

All that him hate by me shall be mischaunced

My truth my clemency on him shall light And in my name his head shall be advaunced.

65 Advaunced so, that twixt the watry borders Of seas and flouds this noble land define, All shall obay, subjected to the orders

Which his imperious hand for laws shall signe. He unto me shall say: thou father mine, 70 Thou art, my God, the fort of my salvation: And I my first-born roome will him assigne, More highly thron'd than king of greatest nation.

While circling time, still ending and beginning,

Shall runne the race where stopp nor start appeares: 75 My bounty towards him, not ever linning,

I will conserve nor write my league in yeares. Nay more, his sonnes, whom fathers love enderes, Shall find like blisse for legacie bequeathed; A stedfast throne, I say, till heav'nly Spheares 80 Shall faint in course, where yet they never breathed.

Now if his children doe my lawes abandon,

And other pathes than my plaine Judgments chuse:

Breake my behestes, prophanely walke at randon, And what I bidd with froward hart refuse: 85 I meane indeede on their revolt to use

Correcting rodd, their sinne with whipps to chasten: Not in their fault my loves defect excuse,

Nor loose the promise, once my faith did fasten.

My league shall hold, my word persist unchanged: 90 Once sworne I have, and sworne in holinesse:

Never shall I from David be estranged,

His seede shall ever bide, his seate no lesse. The daies bright guide, the nightes pale governesse Shall claime no longer lease of their enduring: 95 Whome I behold as heav'nly wittnesses,

In tearmlesse turnes, my tearmlesse truth assuring.

214 PSALM 89

And yet, O now by thee abjected, scorned, Scorcht with thy wrath is thy anointed one:

Hated his league, the crowne him late adorned 100 Puld from his head, by thee, augments his moane. Raz'd are his fortes: his walls to ruine gone:

Not simplest passenger but on hym praieth: His neighbours laugh: of all his haters none

But boasts his wrack and at his sorrow plaieth.

105 Takes he his weapon? thou the edge rebatest:

Comes to the field to fight? thou makest him fly: Would march with kingly pomp? thou him unstatest: Ascend his throne? it overthrowne doth ly: His ages spring, and prime of jollity 110 Winter of wo before the day deflneth;

For praise, reproche, for honor, infamy He over-loden beares, and bearing pineth.

How long, O Lord, what still in dark displeasure

Wilt thou thee hide? and shall thine angry thought 115 Still flame? O thinck how short our ages measure; Thinck if we all created were for nought, For who is he whom birth to life hath brought, But life to death, and death to grave subjecteth? From this necessity (let all be sought) 120 No priviledg exemptes, noe ayde protecteth.

Kind Lord, where is the kindnesse once thou swarest, Swarest in truth thy Davids stock should find?

Show Lord, yet show thou for thy servant carest, Holding those shames in unforgetting mind, 125 Which we, embosom'd, beare of many a kind:

But all at thee and at thy Christ directed:

To endlesse whom be endlesse praise assigned,

Be this, againe I saie, be this effected.

line 30 clipps: encompasses, line 32 hinge: axis, line 44 tm- offended: unhindered, line 75 linning: ceasing, line 97 abjected: cast off.

215

PSALM 90 DOMINE REFUGIUM

Thou our refuge, thou our dwelling,

O Lord, hast byn from time to time: Long er Mountaines, proudly swelling,

Above the lowly dales did clime: 5 Long er the Earth, embowl'd by thee,

Bare the forme it now doth beare: Yea, thou art God for ever, free

From all touch of age and yeare.

O, but man by thee created, 10 As he at first of earth arose,

When thy word his end hath dated,

In equall state to earth he goes. Thou saist, and saying makst it soe: Be noe more, O Adams heyre; 15 From whence ye came, dispatch to goe,

Dust againe, as dust you were.

Graunt a thousand yeares be spared To mortall men of life and light:

What is that to thee compared? 20 One day, one quarter of a night.

When death upon them storm-like falls, Like unto a dreame they grow:

Which goes and comes as fancy calls, Nought in substance all in show.

216 psalm go

25 As the hearb that early groweth,

Which leaved greene and flowred faire Ev'ning change with ruine moweth,

And laies to roast in withering aire: Soe in thy wrath we fade away, 30 With thy fury overthrowne

When thou in sight our faultes dost lay, Looking on our synns unknown.

Therefore in thy angry fuming,

Our life of daies his measure spends: 35 All our yeares in death consuming,

Right like a sound that, sounded, ends. Our daies of life make seaventy yeares,

Eighty, if one stronger be: Whose cropp is laboures, dollors, feares, 40 Then away in poast we flee.

Yet who notes thy angry power

As he should feare, soe fearing thee? Make us count each vitall hower

Make thou us wise, we wise shall be. 45 Turne Lord: shall these things thus goe still?

Lett thy servantes peace obtaine: Us with thy joyfull bounty fill,

Endlesse joyes in us shall raigne.

Glad us now, as erst we greeved: 50 Send yeares of good for yeares of ill:

When thy hand hath us releeved, \ Show us and ours thy glory still. Both them and us, not one exempt, With thy beauty beautify: 55 [ Supply with aid what we attempt, I Our attempts with aid supply.

line 40 in poast: in haste.

217

PSALM 91 QUI HABITAT

To him the highest keepes

In closet of his care, Who in th'allmighties shadow sleepes,

For one affirme I dare: 5 Jehova is my fort

My place of safe repaire: My God in whom, of my support,

All hopes reposed are.

From snare the fowler laies 10 He shall thee sure unty:

The noisome blast that plaguing straies,

Untoucht, shall passe thee by. Soft hiv'd with wing and plume Thou in his shrowd shalt ly 15 And on his truth noe lesse presume,

Than most in shield affy.

Not movd with frightfull night

Nor arow shott by day; Though plague, I say, in darknesse fight, 20 And waste at noontide slay,

Nay, allbe thousands here,

Ten thousands there, decay: That Ruine to approch thee nerey

Shall finde no force nor way.

2l8 PSALM gi

25 But thou shalt live to see,

And, seeing, to relate, What reeompence shared be

To ev'ry godlesse mate, When once thou mak'st the Lord 30 Protector of thy state,

And with the highest canst accord To dwell within his gate:

Then ill, nay cause of ill, Shall farr excluded goe: 35 Nought thee to hurt, much lesse to kill,

Shall nere thy lodging grow. For Angells shall attend

By him commanded soe: And thee in all such waies defend, 40 As his directions show.

To beare thee with regard

Their hands shall both be spred: Thy foote shall never dash too hard,

Against the stone misled. 45 Soe thou on lions goe

Soe on the Aspicks head: On Lionet shalt hurtlesse soe

And on the Dragon tread.

Loe me, saith God: he loves 50 I therfore will him free:

My name with knowledg he approves,

That shall his honor be. He asks when paines are rife, And streight receiv'd doth see 55 Help, glory, and his fill of life,

With endlesse health from me.

line 13 hivd: sheltered, line 16 affy: place trust, line 21 allbe: albeit, although.

219

PSALM 92 BONUM EST CONFITERI

O lovly thing To sing and praises frame To thee, O Lord, and thy high name; With early spring 5 Thy bounty to display,

Thy truth when night hath vanquisht day: Yea soe to sing, That ten string'd instrument With lute, and harp, and voice consent.

10 For, Lord, my mind

Thy works with wonder fill; Thy doings are my comfort still. What witt can find, How bravely thou hast wrought, 15 Or deeply sound thy shallow'st thought?

The foole is blind, And blindly doth not know, How like the grasse the wicked grow.

The wicked grow 20 Like fraile though flowry grasse:

And, falne, to wrack past help doe passe. But thou not soe, But high thou still dost stay: And loe thy haters fall away. 25 Thy haters loe,

Decay and perish all; All wicked hands to mine fall.

220 PSALM 92

Fresh oiled I Will lively lift my home, 30 And match the matchlesse Unicorne:

Mine ey shall spy My spies in spightfull case: Mine eare shall heare my foes disgrace. Like Cedar high 35 And like Date-bearing tree,

For greene, and growth the just shall be.

Where God doth dwell Shall be his spreading place: Gods Courts shall his faire bowes embrace. 40 Even then shall swell

His blossoms fatt and faire, When aged rinde the stock shall beare. And I shall tell How God my Rock is just, 45 So just, with him is nought unjust.

221

PSALM 93 DOMINUS REGNAVIT

Cloth'd in state and girt with might, Monark-like Jehova raignes:

He who Earthes foundation pight, Pight at first, and yet sustaines; 5 He whose stable throne disdaines

Motions shock, and ages flight: He who endless one remaines,

One, the same, in changlesse plight.

Rivers, yea, though Rivers rore, 10 Roring though sea-billowes rise,

Vex the deepe, and breake the shore: Stronger art thou, Lord of skies. Firme and true thy promise lies Now and still, as heretofore: 15 Holy worshipp never dies

In thy howse where we adore.

line 3 pight: pitched.

222

PSALM 94 DEUS ULTIONUM DOMINUS

God of revenge, revenging God, appeare:

To recompence the proud, Earthes judge arise. How long, O Lord, how long, unpunisht, beare

Shall these vile men their joyes, their jolities?

How long thus talk, and talking tiranize? Cursedly doe and, doing, proudly boast; This people crush, by thee affected most?

This land afffict, where thy possession lies?

For these, the widow and the stranger slay:

These work the orphans deadly overthrow. God shall not see, then in their thoughts they say,

The God of Jacob he shall never know.

O fooles, this folly when will you forgoe, And wisdome learne? who first the eare did plant, Shall he him self not heare? sight shall he want,

From whose first workmanshipp the eye did grow?

Who checks the world, shall he not you reprove?

Shall knowledge lack, who all doth knowledge lend? Nay, ev'n the thoughtes of men who raignes above,

He knowes, and knowes they more than vainly end.

Then, blest, who in thy schoole his age doth spend, Whom thou O Lord, dost in thy law enforme, Thy harbour shall him shrowd from ruines storme,

While pitts are dig'd where such men shall descend.

PSALM 94 223

25 For sure the Lord his folk will not forsake, But ever prove to his possession true; Judgment, againe, the course of Justice take,

And all right hartes shall God, their guide, ensue. See, if you doubt: against the canckred crue, 30 Those mischief-masters, who for me did stand?

The Lord, none els: but for whose aiding hand, Silence by now had held my soule in mew.

But Lord, thy goodness did me then uphold, Ev'n when I said now, now I faint, I fall: 35 And, quailed in mind-combats manifold, Thie consolations did my joyes recall. Then what society hold'st thou at all, What frendshipp with the throne of missery? Which law pretends, intends but injury, 40 And Justice doth unjust vexation call?

To counsell where conspired caitives flock The just to slay, and faultlesse bloud to spill?

O no : my God Jehova is my Rock, My rock of refuge, my defensive hill, 45 He on their heades shall well repay their ill:

Jehova, loe! the God in whome we joy,

Destroy them shall, shall them at once destroy: And what the meane? their owne malicious will.

line 32 mew: confinement, line 48 meane: means.

224

PSALM 95 VENITE EXULTEMUS

Come, come lett us with joyfull voice Record and raise Jehovas praise: Come lett us in our safties Rock rejoyce. 5 Into his presence lett us goe

And there with Psalmes our gladdness show; For he is God, a god most greate, Above all gods a king in kingly seate.

What lowest lies in earthy masse, 10 What highest stands,

Stands in his hands: The Sea is his, and he the Sea-wright was. He made the Sea, he made the shore: Come let us fall, lett us adore: 15 Come let us kneele with awfull grace

Before the Lord, the Lord our makers face.

He is our God, he doth us keepe: We by him ledd, And by him fedd, 20 His people are, we are his pasture sheepe. Today if he some speach will use, Doe not, O doe not you refuse With hardned hartes his voice to heare, As Masha now, or Meriba it were,

PSALM 95 225

25 Where me your fathers, God doth say,

Did angring move, And tempting prove: Yet oft had seene my workes before that day. Twise twenty times my poast, the sunn, 30 His yearly race to end had runn,

While this fond Nation, bent to ill, Did tempt, and try, and vex, and greeve me still.

Which when I saw, thus said I, loe, These men are madd, 35 And too too badd

Erre in their harts; my waies they will not know. Thus, therefore, unto them I sweare: (I angry can noe more forbeare) The rest for you I did ordaine, 40 I will soe work you never shall obtaine.

226

PSALM 96 CANT ATE DOMINO

Sing and let the song be new, Unto him that never endeth: Sing all Earth and all in you. Sing to God and blesse his name; 5 Of the help, the health he sendeth,

Day by day new ditties frame.

Make each country know his worth;

Of his actes the wondred story Paint unto each people forth. io For Jehova greate alone

All the gods, for awe and glory, Farre above doth hold his throne.

For but Idolls what are they,

Whom besides madd Earth adoreth? 15 He the Skies in frame did lay:

Grace and Honor are his guides

Majesty his temple storeth: Might in guard about him bides.

Kindreds come Jehova give, 20 O give Jehova all together,

Force and fame whereso you live. Give his name the glory fitt:

Take your Offrings gett you thither, Where he doth enshrined sitt.

PSALM 96 227

25 Goe adore him in the place

Where his pompe is most displaied: Earth, O goe with quaking pace, Goe proclaime Jehova king:

Staylesse world shall now be staied; 30 Righteous doome his rule shall bring.

Starry roofe, and earthy floore,

Sea, and all thy widenesse yeldeth: Now re Joyce and leape and rore. Leavy Infants of the wood, 35 Fieldes and all that on you feedeth,

Daunce O daunce, at such a good.

For Jehova commeth loe!

Loe, to raigne Jehova cometh: Under whome you all shall goe. 40 He the world shall rightly guide:

Truly as a king becommeth, For the peoples weale provide.

228

PSALM 97 DOMINUS REGNAVIT

Jehova comes to raigne Re Joyce, O Earthy maine: You isles with waves enclosed, Be all to joy disposed. 5 Cloudes him round on all sides,

And pitchy darknesse hides. Justice and judgment stand As propps on either hand, Whereon his throne abides.

io The fire before him goes,

To asshes turnes his foes: His flashing lightnings maketh, That Earth beholding quaketh. The mountaines at his sight, 15 His sight that is by right

The Lord of all this all, Doe fast on melting fall; As wax by fiers might.

The heav'ns his justice tell, 20 Noe lesse they all that dwell

And have on earth their beeing, Are gladd his glory seeing. Shame then, shame may you see, That Idoll-servers be, 25 And trust in Idolls place:

But let before his face

All Angells bow their knee.

PSALM 97 229

When Sion this did here,

How did her joyes appeare! 30 How were to mirth invited

All townes in Juda sited!

For thou Lord rulest right:

Thou thron'd in glory bright Sitt'st high: they all by thee 35 Be rul'd who Rulers be,

Thy might above all might.

Who love God, love him still: And haters be of ill. For he their lives preserveth, 40 Whome he as his reserveth

Now light and joy is sowne To be by good men mowne. You just, with joyfull voice Then in the Lord rejoyce: 45 His holynesse make knowne.

^30

PSALM 98 CANT ATE DOMINO

O sing Jehova, he hath wonders wrought,

A song of praise that newnesse may commend: His hand, his holy arme alone hath brought

Conquest on all that durst with him contend, 5 He that salvation doth his ellect attend,

Long hid, at length hath sett in open view: And now the unbeleeving Nations taught

His heavnly justice, yelding each their due.

His bounty and his truth the motives were, 10 Promised of yore to Jacob and his race Which evYy Margine of this earthy spheare Now sees performed in his saving grace. Then earth, and all possessing earthy place, O sing, O shout, O triumph, O rejoyce: 15 Make lute a part with vocall musique beare,

And entertaine this king with trumpetts noise.

Rore, Sea, all that trace the bryny sands: Thou totall globe and all that thee enjoy:

You streamy rivers clapp your swymming hands: 20 You Mountaines echo each at others joy, See on the Lord this service you imploy, Who comes of earth the crowne and rule to take:

And shall with upright justice judg the lands, And equall lawes among the dwellers make.

231

PSALM 99 DOMINUS REGNAVIT

What if nations rage and frett? What if Earth doe mine threate? Loe our state Jehova guideth, He that on the Cherubs rideth.

5 Greate Jehova Sion holdes,

High above what Earth enfolds: Thence his sacred name with terror, Forceth truth from tongues of error.

Thron'd he sitts a king of might, 10 Mighty soe, as bent to right:

For how can but be maintained Right, by him who right ordained?

O then come Jehova sing: Sing our God, our Lord our king: 15 At the footstoole sett before him,

(He is holy) come, adore him.

Moses erst and Aron soe, (These did high in Priesthood goe) Samuell soe unto him crying, 20 Got their sutes without denying.

But from cloudy Piller then

God did daine to talk with men:

He enacting they observing,

From his will there was no swerving.

232 PSALM 99

25 Then our God Jehova thou,

Unto them thy eare didst bowe: Gratious still and kindly harted, Though for sinne they somwhile smarted.

O then come Jehova sing: 30 Sing our God, our Lord, our king.

In his Sion mount before him (He is holy) come, adore him.

233

PSALM 100 JUBILATE DEO

O all you landes, the treasures of your joy

In mery shout upon the Lord bestow: Your service cheerfully on him imploy,

With triumph song into his presence goe. 5 Know first that he is God; and after know

This God did us, not we our selves create: We are his flock, for us his feedings grow:

We are his folk, and he upholds our state. With thankfullnesse O enter then his gate: 10 Make through each porch of his your praises ring, All good, all grace, of his high name relate,

He of all grace and goodnesse is the spring. Tyme in noe termes his mercy comprehends, From age to age his truth it self extends.

^34

PSALM 101 MISERICORDIAM ET JUDICIUM

When, now appointed king, I king shall be, What mercy then, what justice use I will, I here, O Lord, in song protest to thee.

Till that day come thou me the crowne shalt give, 5 Deepe study I on vertue will bestow:

And pure in hart at home retired lyve.

My lowly eye shall levell at no ill:

Who fall from thee, with me not one shall stand: Their waies I shall pursue with hatred still.

10 Mischievous heads farre off from me shall goe: Malicious hartes I never will admitt: And whisp'ring biters all will overthrow.

Ill shall I brooke the proud ambitious band, [swelle:

Whose eyes looke high, whose puffed hartes doe 15 But for truth-tellers seek and search the land.

Such men with me my Counsailors shall sitt:

Such evermore my officers shall be, Men speaking right, and doing what is fitt.

Noe fraudulent within my house shall dwell: 20 The cunning coyning tongue shall in my sight

Be not endur'd, much lesse accepted well.

As soone as I in all the land shall see

A wicked wretch, I shall him hate outright; And of vile men Jehovas city free.

235

PSALM 102 DOMINE, EXAUDI

0 Lord, my praying heare:

Lord, lett my cry come to thine eare.

Hide not thy face away, But haste and aunswer me,

In this my most, most misserable day, Wherein I pray, and cry to thee.

My daies as smoke are past: My bones as flaming fuell waste:

Mowne downe in me (alas) With Scythe of sharpest paine,

My hart is withered like the wounded grasse, My Stomak doth all foode disdaine.

Soe leane my woes me leave,

That to my flesh my bones do cleave:

And soe I bray and howle, As use to howle and bray

The lonely Pellican and desert Owle, Like whom I languish long the day.

1 languish soe the day,

The night in watch I waste away;

Right as the Sparow sitts, Bereft of spowse, or sonne:

Which, irk'd, alone with dolors deadly fitts, To company will not be wonne.

236 PSALM 102

25 As day to day succeeds,

So shame on shame to me proceeds

From them that doe me hate: Who of my wrack soe boast,

That wishing ill, they wish but my estate, 30 Yet think they wish of ills the most.

Therefore my bread is clay, Therefore my teares my wine alay:

For how else should it be, Sith thou still angry art, 35 And seem'st for nought to have advaunced me,

But me, advaunced, to subvert?

The sunn of my life daies

In clines to west with falling raies,

And I as hay am dride: 40 While yet in stedfaste seate

Eternall thou, eternally dost bide, Thy memory noe yeares can freat.

O then at length arise: On Sion cast thy mercies eyes. 45 Now is the time that thou To mercy shouldst incline

Concerning her: O Lord, the tyme is now, Thy self for mercy didst assigne.

Thy servauntes waite the day 50 When she, who like a carcasse lay

Stretch'd forth on Ruines beir Shall soe arise and live,

That Nations all Jehovas name shall feare, All kings to thee shall glory give:

55 Because thou hast a new

Made Sion stand, restor'd to view

PSALM 102 237

Thy glorious presence there: Because thou hast, I say,

Beheld our woes, and not refus'd to heare 60 What wretched we did playning pray.

This of record shall bide To this and ev'ry age beside:

And they commend thee shall Whom thou a new shalt make, 6g That from the prospect of thy heav nly hall Thy eye of earth survey did take,

Harkning to prisoners grones, And setting free condempned ones:

That they, when Nations come, 70 And Realmes to serve the Lord,

In Sion, and in Salem might become Fitt meanes his honor to record.

But what is this? if I In the mid way should fall and dye? 75 My God, to thee I pray, Who canst my praier give;

Turne not to night the noonetide of my day, Since endlesse thou dost agelesse live.

The earth, the heaven stands 80 Once founded, formed by thy hands:

They perish, thou shalt bide: They olde, as clothes, shall weare,

Till changing still, full change shall them betide, Uncloth'd of all the clothes they beare.

85 But thou art one, still one:

Tyme interest in thee hath none,

Then hope, who godly be, Or come of godly Race:

Endlesse your blisse; as never ending he, 3 His presence your unchanged place.

238

PSALM 103 BENEDIC, ANIMA

My soule, my hart, And every inward part, Praise high Jehova, praise his holy name: My hart, my soule, 5 Jehovas name extoll:

What gratious he Doth, and hath done for thee, Be quick to mind, to utter be not lame.

For his free grace 10 Doth all thy sinnes deface,

He cures thy sicknesse, healeth all thy harme. From greedy grave That gaspes thy life to have, He setts thee free: 15 And kindly makes on thee

All his Compassions, all his mercies swarme.

He doth thee still

With flowing plenty fill: He eagle-like doth oft thy age renew, 20 The Lord hys right

Unto the wronged wight

Doth ever yeld:

And never cease to shield With Justice them, whom guile and fraude pursue.

25 His way and trade

He knowne to Moses made, His wonders to the sonnes of Israeli The Lord, I meane, Jehova; who doth leane

PSALM 103 239

30 With mildest will

To Ruth and mercy still; As slow to wrath, as swift to doing well.

When he doth chide

He doth not chiding bide: 35 His anger is not in his treasures laide.

He doth not serve

Our synnes, as sinnes deserve:

Nor recompence

Unto us each offence 40 With due revenge in equall ballance weighd.

For looke how farre

The Sphere of farthest starre Drownes that proportion earthly Center beares:

Soe much, and more 45 His never empty store

Of grace and love

Beyond his synnes doth prove Who ever hym with due devotion feares.

Nay looke how farre 50 From east removed ar

The westerne lodgings of the weary sunne: Soe farre, more farre, From us removed are, By that greate love 55 Our faultes from him doe prove,

What ever faultes and follies we have done.

And looke how much

The neerly touching touch The father feeles towards his sonne most deare, 0 Affects his hart,

At ev'ry froward part

Plaid by his child:

Soe mercifull, soe mild, Is he to them that beare him awfull feare.

240 PSALM 103

65 Our potter he

Knowes how his vessells we In earthy matter lodg'd this fickle forme: Fickle as glasse As flowres, that fading passe, 70 And vanish soe,

No not their place we know, Blasted to death with breath of blustring storme.

Such is our state;

But farre in other rate, 75 Gods endlesse Justice and his mercy stand,

Both on the good,

And their religious brood;

Who uncontroFd

Sure league with him doe hold, 80 And doe his lawes not only understand.

Jehova greate

Sits thron'd in starry seate: His kingdome doth all kingdoms comprehend.

You angells strong, 85 That unto him belong,

Whose deedes accord

With his commanding word, Praises and thanks upon Jehova spend.

Spirits of might, 90 You that his battaills fight,

You ministers that willing work his will: All things that he Hath wrought, where soe they be, His praise extoll: 95 Thou with the rest, my soule,

Praises and thanks spend on Jehova still.

241

PSALM 104 BENEDIC, ANIMA MEA

Make O my soule the subject of thy Songe Th'eternall Lord: O Lord, O God of might,

To thee, to thee, all roiall pompes belonge, Clothed art thou in state and glory bright: For what is else this Eye-delighting light

But unto thee a garment wide and long? The vaunted heaven but a Curtaine right,

A Canopy, thou over thee hast hunge?

The rafters that his Parlors roofe sustaine,

In Chev'ron he on christall waters bindes: He on the windes, he on the cloudes doth raigne,

Riding on cloudes, and walking on the windes.

Whose winged blasts his word as ready findes To poast from him, as Angells of his traine:

As to effect the purposes he mindes He makes, no lesse, the flamy fier faine.

By him the earth a stedf ast base doth beare,

And stedf ast soe, as tyme nor force can shake: Which once round waters garment-like did weare,

And hills in seas did lowly lodging take.

But seas from hills a swift descent did make, When swelling high by thee they chidden were:

Thy thunders rore did cause their conduites quake, Hastning their hast with spurr of hasty feare.

242 PSALM 104

25 Soe waters fledd, so mountaines high did rise, So humble Valleys deepely did descend, All to the place thou didst for them devise: Where bounding Seas with unremoved end, Thou badst they should them selves no more extend 30 To hide the earth which now unhidden lies:

Yet from the mountaines rocky sides didst send Springs whispring murmurs, Rivers roring cries.

Of these the beasts which on the planes doe feede All drinck their fill: with these their thirst allay 35 The Asses wild and all that wildly breede: By these in their self-chosen stations stay The free-borne fowles, which through the empty way Of yeelding aire wafted with winged speed, To art-like notes of nature-tuned lay 40 Make earelesse bushes give attentive heed.

Thou, thou of heav'n the windowes dost unclose, Dewing the mountaines with thy bounties raine:

Earthe, greate with yong, her longing doth not lose, The hopfull ploughman hopeth not in vayne. 45 The vulgar grasse, whereof the beast is faine,

The rarer hearb man for him self hath chose: All things in breef, that life in life maintaine,

From Earths old bowells fresh and yongly growes.

Thence Wyne, the counter-poison unto care: 50 Thence Oile, whose juyce unplaites the folded brow:

Thence bread, our best, I say not daintiest fare,

Propp yet of hartes, which else would weakly bow: Thence, Lord, thy leaved people bud and blow Whose Princes thou, thy Cedars, dost not spare 55 A fuller draught of thy cupp to allow,

Thus highly rais'd above the rest they are.

PSALM 104 243

Yet highly rais'd they doe not proudly scorne To give small birdes an humble entertaine,

Whose brickie neastes are on their branches borne, 60 While in the Firrs the Storks a lodging gaine.

Soe highest hills rock-loving Goates sustayne;

And have their heads with clyming traces worne: That safe in Rocks the Connyes may remaine,

To yield them Caves, their rocky ribbs are torne.

65- Thou makest the Moone, the Empresse of the night, Hold constant course with most unconstant face: Thou makst the sunne the Chariot-man of light, Well knowe the start and stop of dayly race. When he doth sett and night his beames deface, 70 To roame abroade wood-burgesses delight, Lions, I meane, who roreing all that space, Seeme then of thee to crave their food by right, v

When he retornes, they all from field retire,

And lay them downe in Cave, their home, to rest: 75 They rest, man stirrs to win a workmans hire,

And works till sunn hath wrought his way to west. Eternall Lord who greatest art and best, How I amaz'd thy mighty workes admire! Wisdome in them hath every part possesst, 80 Wherto in me, no wisdome can aspire.

Behold the Earth, how there thy bounties flow!

Looke on the Sea extended hugely wide: [goe,

What watry troops swymme, creepe, and crawle, and

Of greate, and small, on that, this, ev'ry side! 85 There the saile-winged shipps on waves doe glide:

Sea-monsters there, their plaies and pastymes show:

And all at once in seasonable tyde Their hungry eyes on thee their feeder throw.

244 PSALM 104

Thou givst, they take; thy hand it self displaies, 90 They, filled, feele the plenties of thy hand:

All darkned lye deprived of thy Rays,

Thou tak'st their breath, not one can longer stand. They dye, they turne to former dust and sand, Till thy life-giving Sp rit doe mustring raise 95 New companies, to reenforce each band

Which still supplied, never whole decaies.

Soe may it, oh! soe may it ever goe,

Jehovas workes his glorious gladdnesse be, [grow, Who touching Mountaynes, Mountaynes smoaking 100 Who eyeing Earth, Earth quakes with quivering

As for my self, my seely self, in me [knee.

While life shall last, his worth in song to show

I framed have a resolute decree, And thankfull be, till being I forgoe.

105 O that my song might good acceptance finde: How should my hart in great Jehova joy! O that some plague this irreligious kinde,

Ingrate to God, would from the earth destroy! Meane while, my soule, uncessantly employ 110 To high Jehovas praise my mouth and mynd: Nay, all (since all his benefitts enjoy) Praise him whom bandes of time noe age can binde.

line 58 entertaine: reception (as of a guest).

^45

PSALM 105 CONFITEMINI DOMINO

Jehovas praise, Jehovas holy fame

O shew O sound, his actes to all relate: To him your songs, your psalmes unto him frame;

Make your discourse his wonders celebrate. 5 Boast ye God-searchers in his sacred name

And your contracted hartes with joy dilate: To him, his arke, his face, lett be intended Your due inquest, with service never ended.

Record, I say, in speciall memory 10 The miracles he wrought, the lawes he gave, His servantes you, O Abrahams progeny

You Jacobs sonnes, whome he doth chosen save. We first and most on him our God relye All be noe boundes his jurisdiction have: 15 And he eternally that treaty mindeth,

Which him to us, untearmed ages bindeth:

A treaty first with Abraham begun,

After againe, by oath, to Isaack bound, Lastly to Isaacks god-beholding sonne 20 Confirm'd, and made inviolably sound. I give in fee (for soe the graunt did runne),

Thee and thine heirs the Cananeian ground: And that when few they were, few, unregarded, Yea strangers too, where he their lott awarded.

25 They strangers were, and roam'd from land to land,

From Realme to Realme: though seatlesse, yet secure;

24D PSALM 105

And soe remote from wrong of meaner hand

That kings for them did sharp rebuke endure. Touch not I chardge you, my anointed band, 30 Nor to my Prophetts least offence procure. Then he for Famyn spake: scarse had he spoken, When Famyn came, the staff of bread was broken.

But he for them to Aegipt had foresent The slave-sold Joseph kindly to prepare: 35 Whose feete if fretting Irons did indent,

His soule was clog'd with steely boultes of care; Till fame abroad of his divining went,

And heav'nly sawes such wisdome did declare That him a message from the king addressed 40 Of bondage ridd, of freedome repossessed.

Noe sooner freed, the Monark in his handes

Without controll both house and state doth lay;

He Rulers rules, Commanders he commands; Wills and all doe: prescribes and all obay. 45 While thus in tearmes of highest grace he stands, Loe, Israeli to Aegipt takes his way,

And Jacobs lyne from Holy Sem descended,

To sojourne comes where Cham his tentes extended.

Who now but they, in strength and number flowe? 50 Rais'd by their god their haters farre above? For, chang'd by him, their entertainers grow

With guile to hate, who erst with truth did love. But he with sacred Moses wills to goe

Aron his choise, those mischief es to remove: 55 By whose greate workes their senders glory blazed,

Made Chams whole land with frightfull signes amazed.

Darkness from day the wonted sunne doth chase (For both he bidds and neither dares rebell),

Late watry Nilus lookes with bloudy face: 60 How fisshes die, what should I stand to tell?

Or how of noisome froggs the earth-bred race Croak where their princes sleepe, not only dwell?

PSALM 105 247

How lice and vermyn heav'nly voice attending Doe swarming fall, what quarter not offending?

65 Noe rayny cloude but breakes in stony haile:

For cheerefull lightes dismayfull lightnings shine: Not shine alone, their firy strokes assaile

Each taller plant: worst fares the figg and vyne, Nor, calFd, to come, doe Catterpillers faile 70 With locustes more than counting can define: By these the grasse, the grace of fieldes is wasted, The fruites consumed by owners yet untasted.

Their eldest-borne, that Countries hopefull spring,

Prime of their youth, his plague doth lastly wound; 75 Then rich with spoile, he out his flock doth bring; In all their tribes not one a weakling found. Aegipt once wisht, now feares, their tarrying,

And gladdly sees them on their journey bound; Whome God in heate a shading cloude provideth, 80 In dark with lamp of flamy piller guideth.

Brought from his store, at sute of Israeli

Quailes in whole Beavies each remove pursue;

Him self from skies, their hunger to repell,

Candies the grasse with sweete congealed dew. 85 He woundes the Rock, the Rock doth, wounded, well: Welling affoordes new streames to Channells new,

All for God's mindfull will can not be dryven

From sacred word once to his Abraham given.

Soe then in joyfull plight, his loved bands 90 His chosen troupes with triumph on he traines: Till full possession of the neighboure lands,

With painlesse harvest of their thancklesse paines, He safely leaves in their victorious hands,

Where nought for them to doe henceforth remaines, 95 But only to observe and see fullfilled,

What he (to whome be praise) hath said and willed.

line 84 Candies: encrusts, as with hoar-frost.

248

PSALM 106 CONFITEMINI DOMINO

Where are the hymnes, where are the honors due To our good God, whose goodness knowes no end?

Who of his force can utter what is true? Who all his praise in praises comprehend? 5 O blessed they whose well advised sight

Of all their life the levell straight doe bend,

With endlesse ayming at the mark of right.

Lord, for the love thou dost thy people beare, Graunt thought of me may harbor in thy mind: 10 Make me with them thy safeties liv'ry weare, That I may once take notice in what kinde

Thy kindnesse is on thine elected showne: That I may gladdness in their gladdness finde,

Boasting with them, who boast to be thine owne.

15 Indeede we have as our fore-fathers done,

Done ill, done wronge, unjustly, wickedly: For (that I may begin where they begun)

Thy workes in Egipt wrought, they passed by, Quite out of thought thy many bounties fell, 20 And at the sea they did thy pacience try:

At the Red Sea, they did, I say, rebell.

Yet God, (O goodness), saved from his name These Mutiners that this his might might show,

For he the waters did rebuking blame, 25 The waters left at his rebuke to flow

On sandy deepe as on the desert sands; Unwett in waves he made his people goe:

Setting them safe from all their haters hands.

PSALM 106 249

For look how fast their foes did them pursue, 30 Soe fast, more fast the sea pursu'd their foes:

All drencht, all dead, not one left of the Crue.

Then, loe, beliefe, then thankfullnesse arose In faithlesse, gracelesse hartes: but in a trice Oblyvion all remembraunce overgrowes 35 Of his great workes, or care of his advise.

For, gluttonous, they flesh in desert crave,

That they forsooth might try th'allmighties might:

As glutton fitts, they flesh in desert have, For fully fedd, yet far'd in pining plight. 40 What should I utter how from Moses they And holy Aron, sacred in Gods sight,

Through envy sought to take the rule away?

The very earth such mischiefe griev'd to beare And, opning, made her gaping throate the grave, 45 Where Dathan and Abiran buried were,

Buried alive with Tentes and all they have;

Whose complices the flash of angry fire

Surprised soe, none could from burning save,

In asshes rak'd they found their treasons hire.

50 A molten god they did in Horeb frame,

And what? forsooth, the suckling of a Cow; Their heav'nly glory chang'd to beastly shame,

They, more than beastes, before a beast did bow. A Calfe, nay image of a Calfe they serv'd, 55 Whose highest worshipp, hay they should alow;

God was forgott, who had them soe preserv'd;

Preserv'd them soe by miracles of might,

Done in the plaines where fertile Nilus flowes And wondred workes, which fearefully did fright, 60 The Oker bancks their passage did inclose.

Therefore their wrack he meant; which while he meant,

Moses, his chosen, in the gapp arose, And turn'd his wrath from wrackfull punishment.

250 PSALM 106

What more? the land that well deserv'd desire 65 With fond disdaine, mistrustfull, they reject:

Their tentes doe flame with hott rebellious fire,

Jehovas wordes receav'd with no respect. For which he in the desert overthrew

Them selves, their sonnes, with fathers fault infect, 70 Scattred, exil'd, no certaine Country knew.

For they to Pehor, filthy idol, went,

And what had bin to dead things sacrific'd,

Forbidden foode, abhominably spent, Soe God with anger, mightely surpris'd, 75 His hurtfull hand against their health did raise; But Phinees, justice done, their lives repris'd,

And for that justice purchas'd endlesse praise.

Could this suffice? Nay farther at the brooke, The brooke of brail, they did the Lord incense: 80 Which then his name of their contention tooke; Where Moses self did smart for their offence,

For inly angred that he rashly spake, Forgetting due respect and reverence,

Which for his rashnesse God did angry make.

85 After their sonnes came to that lovely land, Noe better minded, albe better blest, Would not roote out, as stoode with his command,

The Pagan plants, who then the place possest, But grew together up, and did as they, 90 In Idoll service forward as the best:

In Idoll service roote of their decay.

For they both sonnes and daughters offered Unto their gods; gods? no, they devills were:

Whose guiltlesse bloud, which wastfully they shed, 95 Imbru'd the Idolls Canaan did beare:

The land defiled was with murthers done, Whiles they in workes no filthiness forbeare,

And, in conceiptes, a whooring mainly run.

PSALM 106 251

Soe God incensed grew against his owne, 100 And plainly did his heritage detest: Left them to be by strangers overthrowne, Lorded by foes, by enimies opprest. Often he freed them by his force divine :

But when their witts would give his wrath no rest, 105 Left them at length in worthy plagues to pine.

He left them long yet left them not at last

But saw their woes, and heard their waylfull cries

Which made him call to thought his cov'nant past. Soe chang'd, not only in him self did rise 110 Repentant pitty of their passed paines: But their captives now relenting eyes

His ruth of them to tender yelding traines.

Goe on, O God, as them, soe us to save: Rally thy troopes that widely scattred be, 115 That their due thankes, thy holynesse may have;

Their glorious praise, thy heav'nly pow'r may see.

O God, of Izrael our God, our Lord, Eternall thankes be to eternall thee:

Lett all the earth with praise approve my word.

252

PSALM 107 CONFITEMINI DOMINO

O celebrate Jehovas praise,

For gratious he and good is found; And noe precinct, noe space of daies,

Can his greate grace and goodness bound. 5 Say you with me, with me resound

Jehovas praise with thankfulness: Whose bands of perill he unbound,

When tyrants hate did you oppresse.

How many, and how many tymes, 10 From early East, from evening West,

From thirsty wastes, from frosty clymes,

Hath he dispersed, brought to rest! How many sav'd, who deepe distrest, And straying farre from path and towne, 15 With want and drouth soe sore were prest,

That drouth well neer their lives did drownel

They cry'd to him in woefull plight;

His succour sent did end their woe. From error, train'd, he led them right, 20 And made to peopled places goe.

Such then in song his mercies show,

His wonders done to men display: Who, in the hungry, hunger soe,

Soe doth in thirsty, thirst alay.

25 How many fast imprisoned lye

In shade of death, and horrors blind, Whose feete as Iron fetters tye,

Soe heavy anguish cloggs their mind!

PSALM 107 253

Whom though the Lord did Rebells finde, 30 Despising all he did advise,

Yet when their hart with grief declin'd Now helplesse quite and hoplesse lies.

They cry to him in wofull plight;

His succour sent doth end their woe. 35 From death to life, from darke to light

With broken boltes he makes them goe. Such then in song his mercy show,

His wonders done to men display; The gates of brasse who breaketh so, 40 So make the iron yeld them way.

How many wantonly missled,

While, fooles, they follow Follies traine, For sinne confined to their bed,

This guerdon of their folly gainel 45 Their lothing soule doth foode refraine,

And hardly, hardly failing breath Can now his ending gasp restraine

From entring at the gate of death.

They cry to him in wofull plight: 50 His succour sent doth end their woe,

His word puts all their paine to flight,

And free from sicknesse makes them goe. Such then in song his mercy show His wonders done to men display, 55 Tell gladly of his workes they know And sacrifice of praises pay.

How many mounting winged tree For trafBque, leave retiring land,

And on huge waters busied be, 60 Which bancklesse flow on endlesse sand!

These, these indeed, well understand, Enform'd by their feare-open ey,

The wonders of Jehovas hand

While on the waves they rocking ly.

254 PSALM 107

65 He bids, and straight on moisty maine The blustring tempest falling flies: The starrs doe dropp bedasht with raine,

Soe huge the waves in combat rise. Now shipp with men do touch the skies: 70 Now downe, more downe than Center falls;

Their might doth melt, their courage dies Such hideous sights, each sense apalls.

For now the whirlwinde makes them wheele: Now stop'd in midst of broken round 75 As drunckard use, they staggring reele,

Whose head-lame feete can feele no ground. What helpes to have a Pilot sound,

Where wisdome wont to guide the sterne Now in dispairfull danger droun'd, 80 Which wisdoms eye can nought discerne?

They cry to him in wofull plight;

His succour sent doth end their woe. Of Seas and winds he partes the fight:

To wisshed port with joy they row. 85 Such then in song his mercies show;

His wonders done to men display: Make peoples presse his honor know,

At princes thrones his praise bewray.

How many whers doth he convert 90 Well watred grounds to thirsty sand!

And saltes the soile for wicked hart The dwellers beare that till the land! How oft againe his gratious hand,

To watry pooles doth desertes change! 95 And on the fields that fruitlesse stand,

Makes trickling springs unhoped range!

Suppose of men that live in want

A Colony he there do make, They dwell, and build, and sow, and plant, 100 And of their paines greate profitt take.

PSALM 107 255

His blessing doth not them forsake,

But multiplies their childrens store: Nay, ev'n their Cattaill, for their sake,

Augmentes in number more and more.

105 They stand while he their state sustaines: Then comes againe that harmefulle day Which brings the enterchange of paines,

And their encrease turnes to decay. Nor strange; for he, exiled stray, 110 Makes greatest kings scorn'd where they goe: The same from want the poore doth waigh, And makes like heards their houses grow.

See this, and joy this thus to see,

All you whose judgements judge aright: 115 You whose conceites distorted be, Stand mute amazed at the sight. How wise were he, whose wisdome might

Observe each course the Lord doth hold, To light in men his bounties light, 120 Whose providence doth all enfoldl

line 58 traffique: means of transport.

256

PSALM 108 PARATUM COR MEUM

To sing and play my hart is bent, Is bent God's name to solemnize,

Thy service O my tongue, present: Arise my lute, my harp arise. 5 My self will up with dawning skies,

And so in song report thy praise,

No eare but shall conceave my laies As farre as Earth extended lies.

For, Lord, the heav'ns how ever high, 10 Are lower fane than thy sweet grace:

Thy truth on stedfast wings doth fly, Aspiring up to cloudy space. O then thy self in highest place Above the heav'ns, Jehova, show: 15 And thence on all this earth below

Display the sunn-beames of thy face,

To sett thy dearly loved free,

To helpe and heare me when I pray.

Hark, hark, so shall, so shall it be, 20 Him self doth from his temple say.

Then make we heere a mery stay,

And let me part out Sichems fields :

The land that Succothes valley yelds, By Pearch and pole divided lay.

PSALM 108 257

25 Myne Gilead is, Manashe mine:

Ephraims armes shall guard the king: My law shall Juda right define, While I my shoe at Edom fling. Thee, Moab, I will humbled bring 30 To wash my feete in servile place:

Thou Palestine, my late disgrace, Triumphed, shalt my triumph sing.

But who shall cause us Edom take, And enter Edoms strongest towne; 35 Who; but thou God, us'd to forsake

Our troopes, and at our sutes to frowne? Then help us ere distrest we drowne: Who trusts in man doth vainly trust. In only God prevaile we must, 40 He, he, shall tread our haters downe.

line 24 Pearch and pole: measuring instruments (equivalent in length to 5^2 yards).

258

PSALM 109 DEUS LAUDEM

Since thus the wicked, thus the fraudulent, Since liers thus enforce my blame: O God, God of my praise, Be not in silence pent: 5 For their malitious wordes against me raise

Engins of hate, and causelesse battry frame.

Causeless? ay me! quite contrary to cause My love they doe with hate repay: With treasons lawlesse spight 10 They answer frendshipps lawes,

And good with ill, and help with harme requite: What resteth now, but that to thee I pray?

I pray then what? that lorded at command Of some vile wretch I may him see: 15 That fittly still his foe

To thwart his good may stand: That, judg'd, from judgment he condempn'd may goe, Yea to his plague, his praier turned be.

That speedy death cutt off his wofull life, 20 Another take his place and port: His children fatherlesse, And husbandlesse his wife, May wandring begg, and begg in such distresse, Their beggred homes may be their best resort.

PSALM 109 259

25 That usurers may all he hath ensnare,

And strangers reape what he hath sowne: That none him friend at all, None with compassions care Embrace his brood, but they to wrack may fall, 30 And, falne, may lye in following age unknowne.

That not his owne alone, but ev'ry cryme Of fathers and forefathers hand, May in God's sight abide: Yea, to eternall tyme, 35 Synne of his mother and his mothers side, May in his mind, who is eternall, stand;

That he and they soe farre may be f orgott, That neither print of being leave What humane nature will; 40 For he remembred not,

But sought a wretch inhumanly to spill And would of life an humbled hart bereave.

He loved mischief; mischief with him goe: He did noe good; then doe him none, 45 Be wretchedness his cloake,

Into him soaking soe, As water dronken inwardly doth soake,

As oile through flesh doth search the hidden bone.

Be woe, I say, his garment large and wide 50 Fast girt with girdle of the same. Soe be it, be it aye, Such misery betide Unto all such as thirsting my decay,

Against my soule such deadly falshood frame.

260 PSALM 109

55 But thou, O Lord, my Lord, soe deale with me As doth thy endlesse honor fitt: And for thy glories sake Let me deliverance see, For want and woe my life their object make, 60 And in my brest my hart doth wounded sitt.

I fade and faile as shade with falling sunn: And as the Grasshopper is tost, Place after place I leese; While fast hath nigh undone 65 The witherd knotts of my disjoynted knees, And dried flesh all juyce and moisture lost.

Worse yet alas! I am their scorne, their nod, When in their presence I me show; But thou, thou me uphold, 70 My Lord, my gratious God:

O save me in thy mercies manifold,

Thy hand, thy work, make all men on me know.

They curse me still, but blesse thou where they curse: They rise, but shame shall bring them downe. 75 And this my joy shall be,

As bad disgrace, or worse, Shall them attyre than ever clothed me,

Trailing in trayne a synfull shamefull gowne.

Then, then will I Jehovas workes relate 80 Where multitudes their meeting have: Because still nigh at hand To men in hard estate He in their most extreamities doth stand,

And guiltlesse lives from false condempners save.

26l

PSALM 110 DIXIT DOMINUS

Thus to my lord, the Lord did say: Take up thy seate at my right hand, Till all thy foes that proudly stand,

I prostrate at thy footestoole lay. From me thy staffe of might

Sent out of Sion goes:

As victor then prevaile in fight,

And rule repining foes.

But as for them that willing yeld, 10 In solempne robes they glad shall goe:

Attending thee when thou shalt show Triumphantly thy troopes in field:

In field as thickly sett With warlike youthfull trayne 15 As pearled plaine with dropps is wett,

Of sweete Auroras raine.

The Lord did sweare, and never he What once he sware will disavow: As was Melchisedech soe thou, 20 An everlasting priest shalt be.

At hand still ready prest

To guard thee from annoy,

Shall sitt the Lord that loves thee best,

And kings in wrath destroy.

262 PSALM 110

25 Thy Realme shall many Realmes containe:

Thy slaughtred foes thick heaped ly: With crusshed head ev'n he shall dye, Who head of many Realmes doth raigne. If passing on these waies 30 Thou tast of troubled streames:

Shall that eclips thy shining raies? Nay light thy glories beames.

263

PSALM 111 CONFITEBOR TIBI

At home, abroad most willingly I will Bestow on God my praises uttmost skill: Chaunting his workes, workes of unmatched might, Deem'd so by them, who in their search delight.

5 Endlesse the honor to his powre pertaines: From end as f arre his justice eake remaines, Gratious and good and working wonders soe, His wonders never can forgotten goe. In hungry waste he fedd his faithful Crue,

10 Keeping his league, and still in promise true. Lastly his strength he caus'd them understand, Making them lords of all the heathens land. Now what could more each promise, doome, decree, Of him confirme sure, just, unmov'd to bel

15 Preserved his folk, his league eternall fram'd: Quake then with f eare when holy he is nam'd. Reverence of him is Perfect wisdoms well: Stand in his lawe, so understand you well. The praise of him (though wicked hartes repine)

20 Unbounded bides, noe time can it define.

264

PSALM 112 BEATUS VIR

O in how blessed state he standeth,

Who soe Jehova feareth, That in the things the Lord commandeth

His most delight appeareth!

5 The branches from that body springing

On the earth shall freshly flourish: Their pedigree from good men bringing The Lord with blisse will nourish.

The happy house wherein he dwelleth 10 Well stored shall persever:

The treasure, justly got, he telleth, Shall bide his owne for ever.

For he, when woe them over-cloudeth, The darkned hartes enlighteth: 15 His mildness them and mercy shrowdeth

His justice for them fighteth.

He is both good and goodness loveth,

Most liberall and lending: All business wherein he moveth 2,0 With sound advice attending.

He, firmly propt for ever falling, His name exempt from dying:

Can heare ill newes without appalling, His hart on God relying;

PSALM 112 265

25 Hys hart (I say) which strongly staid

Is free from feare preserved: Till on his foes he view displaid The plagues by them deserved.

He gives where needs, nay rather straweth, 30 His justice never ending:

Soe honors hand him higher draweth With glad applause ascending.

Of good I meane: for wicked wretches Shall seeing fume, and fuming 35 Consume to nought, their fruitless fetches

To nought with them consuming.

line 29 straweth: bestreweth.

266

PSALM 113 LAUDATE, PUERI

O you that serve the Lord, To praise his name accord: Jehova now and ever Commending, ending never, 5 Whom all this earth resoundes,

From East to Westerne boundes.

He Monarch raignes on high; His glory treades the sky. Like him who can be counted, 10 That dwells soe highly mounted?

Yet stooping low beholds What heav'n and earth enfolds.

From dust the needy soule, The wretch from miry hole 15 He lifts: yea kings he makes them,

Yea kings his people takes them. He gives the barren wife A fruitfull mothers life.

267

PSALM 114 IN EXITU ISRAEL

At what tyme Jacobs race did leave of Aegipt take,

And Aegipts barbrous folk forsake: Then, then our God, our king, elected Jacobs race

His temple there and throne to place. The sea beheld and fledd: Jordan with swift returne

To twinned spring his streames did turne. The mountaines bounded soe, as, fedd in fruitfull ground,

The fleezed Rammes doe frisking bound. The hillocks capreold soe, as wanton by their dammes

We capreoll see the lusty lambes. O sea, why didst thou fly? Jordan, with swift returne

To twinned spring, what made thee turne? Mountaines, why bounded ye, as, fedd in fruitfull

The fleezed Rammes doe frisking bound? [ground,

Hillocks why capreold ye, as wanton by their dammes

We capreoll see the lusty lambes? Nay you, and Earth with you, quake ever at the sight

Of God Jehova, Jacobs might, Who in the hardest Rocks makes standing waters grow

And purling springs from flints to flow.

line 9 capreold: capered.

268

PSALM 115 NON NOBIS, DOMINE

Not us I say, not us, But thine owne name respect, eternall Lord:

And make it glorious, To show thy mercy and conflrme thy word. 5 Why Lord, why should these nations say, Where doth your God now make his stay?

You ask where our God is? In heav'n enthron'd, no mark of mortal ey.

Nor hath, nor will he misse 10 What likes his will, to will effectually. What are your idolls? we demand: Gold, silver, workes of workmens hand.

They mouthes, but speechlesse, have: Eyes sightlesse; eares, no newes of noies can tell: 15 Who them their noses gave

Gave not their noses any sence of smell; Nor handes can feele, nor feete can goe, Nor signe of sound their throates can show.

And wherin differ you, 20 Who having made them, make of them your trust?

But Israel pursue Thy trust in God, the targett of the just. O Arons howse, the like doe yee: He is their aid, their targett he.

PSALM 115 269

25 All that Jehovah feare,

Trust in Jehovah, he our aid and shield: He us in mind doth beare,

He will to us aboundant blessings yeeld;

Will evermore with grace and good 30 Bless Jacobs howse, blesse Arons brood.

Blesse all that beare him awe, Both great and small, the conduites of his store,

He never dry shall draw, But you and youres enrich still more and more. 35 Blest, O thrice blest, whom he hath chose, Who first with heav'ns did earth enclose.

Where height of highest skies Removed most from floore of lowly ground

With vaulted roofe doth rise: 40 Him selfe tooke up his dwelling there to found. To mortall men he gratious gave The lowly ground to hold and have.

And why? his praise to show: Which how can dead men, Lord, in any wise? 45 Who downe descending goe

Into the place where silence lodged lies? But save us: we thy praise record Will now, and still: O praise the Lord.

27°

PSALM 116 DILEXI QUONIAM

The Lord receaves my cry,

And me good eare doth give: Then love hym still will I,

And praise him while I live. 5 Fast bound in bonds of death,

With deadly anguish thralled: When grief nigh stopt my breath,

Upon his name I called.

I call'd, and thus I said: 10 O Lord my bands unbind.

I found him prone to aid,

I found him just and kind, The simples surest guard, By me of right esteem'd: 15 Whom he distressed heard

From hard distresse redeem'd.

My soule turmoild with woes, Now boldly turne to rest,

Such changes on thee showes 20 Who greatest is and best.

My life from death is past,

Mine eyes have dried their weeping:

My slipping foote stands fast, My self live in his keeping.

n6 271

Beleeving as I spake,

(Such woe my witts did blind) I said, when I did quake,

I all men liers finde; Which, finding false, to thee

What thancks, Lord, shall I render, Who showring blisse on me

Dost me soe truly tender?

My cup with thanks shall flow

For freedom from my thrall: Which I in flames will throw,

And on thy name will call. To thee my vowes will pay,

Thy people all beholding: Who deare their deaths dost weigh,

That are to thee beholden.

This I, thy servant, taste,

Thy slave, thy handmaids sonne: Whose bands thou broken hast,

And fettring chaines undone; Who unto thee for this

A sacrifice of praising To offer will not misse,

Thy name with honor raising.

Thou, whom no times enfold,

Shalt have what I did vow: And they shall all behold,

Who to thy scepter bow, The place, that holy place

Before thy house extended; The very middle space

In Sion comprehended.

272

PSALM 117 LAUDATE DOMINUM

P raise him that ay Remaines the same: A 11 tongues display Iehovas fame.

5 S ing all that share

This earthly ball: His mercies are Expos'd to all: L ike as the word

io Once he doth give,

Rold in record, D oth tyme outlive.

*73

PSALM 118 CONFITEMINI DOMINO

The Lord is good, you see and know; Acknowledg then and praise him soe: For soe his bounty it extendeth, Noe age can say, loe here it endeth.

Thou chosen Israel allway, With me be prest the same to say: For soe his bounty it extendeth, Noe age can say, loe here it endeth.

You that of sacred Aron came Be prest with me to say the same: For soe his bounty it extendeth, Noe age can say, loe here it endeth.

And you his fearers all the rest The same to say with me be prest: For soe his bounty it extendeth, Noe age can say, loe here it endeth.

I somtime straitned lay in thrall: So lying I on God did call, God answere gave me, when I called, And me unlarging, me unthralled.

Jehova doth my party take; Should feare of man then cause me quake? Nay with my frends sith God is placed, How can my foes but be disgraced?

274 PSALM ll8

25 More safe it is on God to stay, Than confidence on man to lay: More safe who God his refuge taketh, Than he who kings his succour maketh.

Of enimies all sortes that be, 30 On ev'ry part inviron'd me:

But I their sinewes cut and quailed, Jehovas name soe much prevailed.

They me inviron'd yet againe, Againe they did me straitly strayne: 35 But I their sinewes cut and quailed, Jehovas name soe much prevailed.

They me inviron'd yet anew, And swarming fast like bees they flew: As fire in thornes they quickly quailed, 40 Soe to their wrack his name prevailed.

Indeede thou sore at me did thruste, Yet by his succour stand I must. In him my strength, of him my ditty, He did my soule in thralldom pitty.

45 You righteous troope with me rejoyce: Consort with myne your joyful! voice: Say prais'd his hand, yea double praised, Be his strong hand so highly raised.

For be assur'd I shall not dy; 50 But live Gods works to testify:

Who though he sore did scurging paine me, He hath but scurg'd, he hath not slaine mee.

Who opens to me Justice gate? I, entring, may Gods praise relate. 55 This gate unto Jehova showeth

By this to Him the righteous groweth.

PSALM ll8 275

Here, here O Lord, I will thee praise, Who didst my life to saf ty raise : The stone the builders erst refused 60 In corner now is laied and used.

This workmanshipp in deed divine Doth in our eyes with wonder shine: God made this day, he did us send it, In joy and mirth then lett us spend it.

65 O help us Lord, O help, we say, O prosper, prosper us we pray: Blest in thy name who comming rideth, Blest in thy house who dwelling bideth.

Thy house, Lord mighty God, whence we 70 Both have our light and sight to see: Tie fast the lambe on Alter lying, The cords to horned corners tying.

0 God, my mighty God thou art, And I to thee will praise impart:

75 O God thou art my God, and ever

1 will extoll thee, ceasing never.

The Lord is good you see and know: Acknowledg then and praise him soe, For soe his bounty it extendeth, 80 Noe age can say, loe here it endeth.

276

PSALM 119 BE ATI IMMACULATI

An undefiled course who leadeth, And in Jehovas doctrine treadeth, How blessed hel How blest they be 5 Who still his testimonies keeping,

Doe seeke him still with hearty seeking!

For whom in walke Gods way directeth, Sure them no sinnfull blott infecteth Of deede or word: 10 For thou, O Lord,

Hast to be done thy lawes commanded, Not only to be understanded.

O were my stepps soe staid from swerving, That I me to thy hests observing 15 Might wholy give:

Then would I live With constant cheere all chaunces brooking, To all thy precepts ever looking.

Then would I worshipp thee sincerely, 20 When what thy Justice bidds severely

Thou shouldst me teach:

I would noe breach Make of thy law to me betaken: O leave me not in whole forsaken.

PSALM 119 27 J

B

By what correcting line

May a yong man make streight his crooked way By levell of thy lore divine? Sith then with soe good cause 5 My hart thee seekes, O Lord, I seeking pray Let me not wander from thy lawes.

Thy speeches have I hidd Close locked up in Caskett of my hart: Fearing to do what they forbid. 10 But this cannot suffice:

Thou wisest Lord, who ever blessed art, Yet make me in thy statutes wise.

Then shall my lipps declare The sacred lawes that from thy mouth proceed: 15 And teach all nations what they are;

For what thou dost decree, To my conceit, farre more delight doth breed,

Than worlds of wealth, if worlds might be.

Thy precepts, therefore, I 20 Will my continuall meditation make:

And to thy pathes will have good eye; The orders of thee sett Shall cause me in them greatest pleasure take, Nor once will I thy wordes forgett.

Conferre, O Lord This benefitt on me, That I may live, and keepe thy word. Open mine eyes, They may the riches see, Which in thy law enfolded lies.

A Pilgrim right On earth I wandring live, O barre me not thy statutes light.

278 PSALM 119

10 I waste and spill,

While still I longing grieve, Grieve, longing for thy judgments still.

Thou proud and high Dost low and lowly make: 15 Curst from thy rule who bend awry.

What shame they lay On me, then from me take: For I have kept thy will allway.

Let princes talk, 20 And talk their worst of me:

In thy decrees my thoughts shall walk. All my delight Thy witnest will shalbe: My councell to advise me right.

D

Dead as if I were, My soule to dust doth cleave: Lord keepe thy word, and doe not leave

Me here: 5 But quicken me anew.

When I did confesse My sinnfull waies to thee, As then thy eare thou didst to me

Addresse: 10 Soe teach me now, thy statutes true.

Make that I may know And throughly understand What waie to walk thou dost command, Then show 15 Will I thy wonders all.

Very woe and greif My soule doe melt and fry; Revive me Lord, and send me thy Relief; 20 And lett on me thy comfort fall.

PSALM lig 279

From the lyers trace, From falshoods wreathed way, O save me Lord, and graunt I may Embrace 25 The law thou dost commend.

For the path ay right, Where truth unfained goes, My tongue to tread hath gladly chose: My sight 30 Thy judgmentes doth, as guides, attend.

Since therefore, O Lord, Still did I, still I doe So neerly, deerly cleave unto

Thy word: 35 All shame from me avert.

Then loe, loe then I Will tread, yea running tread The trace which thy commandements lead:

When thy 40 Free grace hath fully freed my hart.

E

Explaine, O Lord, the way to me, That thy divine edicts enfold: And I to end will runne it right. O make my blinded eyes to see, And I thy law will hold: yea hold Thy law with all my hartes delight.

O be my guide, O guide me soe,

I thy commandments path may pace:

Wherein to walk my hart is faine.

O bend it then to things that show

True wittness of thy might and grace,

And not to hungry thirst of gaine.

Avert mine eye, it may not view Of vanity the falsed face:

And strength my treadings in thy trade,

280 PSALM lig

Lett doings prove thy sayings true To him that holds thy servants place, And thee his awe, his feare hath made.

Thou then my feare, remove the feare 20 Of comming blame from carefull me,

For gratious are thy judgmentes still: Behold, to me thy precepts deare, Most deare, and most delightful be: O lett thy justice aid my will.

Franckly poure O Lord on me Saving grace to sett me free: That, supported, I may see Promise truly kept by thee.

5 That to them who me defame,

Roundly I may answere frame: Who because thy word and name Are my trust, thus seeke my shame.

Thy true word O do not make 10 Utterly my mouth forsake:

Since I thus still waiting wake, When thou wilt just vengaunce take.

Then loe I thy doctrine pure, Sure I hold, will hold more sure: 15 Nought from it shall me alure,

All the time my time shall dure.

Then as brought to widest way From restraint of straitest stay, All their thincking night and day: 20 On thy law my thoughtes shall lay.

Yea then unto any king Wittnesse will I any thing, That from thee can wittnesse bring: In my face no blush shall spring.

PSALM 119 28l

25 Then will I sett forth to sight

With what pleasure, what delight, I embrace thy preceptes right, Whereunto all love I plight.

Then will I, with either hand 30 Clasp the rules of thy command:

There my study still shall stand, Striving them to understand.

Grave deeply in remembring mind

My trust, thy promise true: This only joy in griefe I find,

Thy words my life renue. 5 Though proudly scorn'd, yet from thy lore

I no way have declin'd: I hold for comfort what of yore

Thy dooms, O Lord, defin'd.

I quake to view how people vile, 10 Doe from thy doctrine swerve:

Thy just edicts ev'n in exile Did me for musick serve. I keepe thie learning and in night Record Jehovas stile: 15 Observing still thy precepts right,

Loe this I have the while.

H

High Jehova once I say,

For my choice and lott I take, I will sure his wordes obay.

Hott and harty sute I make, Praying thus evn to thy face:

Pitty me for thy words sake. Ev'ry path, and every pace

282 PSALM lig

Taught by thee, observing well, To thy rule I frame my race. 10 Least upon delaies I dwell

But to keepe, contend with speed

What to me thy precepts tell. By lewd robbers brought to need, From my losses, of thy lawes 15 Never did neglect proceed.

Midnights watch thy praises cause, While that me from bed and rest

Thought of thy just judgments drawes. Felowship and frendshipps hest, 20 With thy fearers all I hold,

Such as hold thy biddings best.

Lord the earth can scarce enfold, What thou dost benignly give: Let me then by thee be told 25 In thy learning how to live.

In all kindness, thou, O Lord, Hast to me perform'd thy word: This now resteth that I learne From thy skill a skillfull tast, 5 Good from evill to discerne,

On thy lawes whose trust is plac't.

Yet unhumbled I did stray: Now I will thy words obay. Thou that art soe highly good 10 Nothing can thy goodness reach,

Thou where floweth bounties flood Willing me thy statutes teach.

What if proud men on me lie? I will on thy lawes rely. 15 Wallow they in their delights,

Fatt in body, fatt in mind:

I the pleasures of my sprightes Will unto thy doctrine bind.

PSALM lig 283

Now I find the good of woe, 20 How thy hests it makes me know:

Of whose mouth the lectures true, Are alone all wealth to me:

Millions then, and Mines adue, Gold and silver drosse you be.

K

Knitt and conformed by thy hand

Hath been ev'ry part of me: Then make me well to understand, Conceiving all thou dost command: 5 That when me thy fearers see,

They for me may justly joy:

Seeing what I look't from thee

In thy word I now enjoy.

O Lord, thy judgmentes just I know; 10 When thy scurges scurged me,

Thou, in that doing, nought didst show That might thy promise overthrow. Let me then thy comfort see Kindly sent as thou hast said: 15 Bring thy mercies life from thee:

On thy lawes my joyes are laid.

Let blame and shame the proud betide

Falsly who subverted me: Whose meditations shall not slide, 20 But fast in thy commandments bide.

So shall I thy fearers see

On my part who know thy will:

While I purely worshipp thee,

Blott nor blush my face shall fill.

Looking and longing for deliverance

Upon thy promise, mightlesse is my mind,

284 PSALM lig

Sightlesse myne eyes, which often I advaunce Unto thy word, 5 Thus praying: when, O Lord,

When will it be I shall thy comfort find?

I like a smoked bottle am become:

And yet the wine of thy commandments hold. Ay me! when shall I see the totall summe 10 Of all my woes?

When wilt thou on my foes Make wronged me thy just reveng behold?

Their pride hath digged pitts me to ensnare, Which with thy teachings, how doth it agree? 15 True or more truly, Truth thy precepts are: By falshood they Would make of me their pray: Let truth, O Lord, from falshood rescue me.

Nigh quite consunid by them on earth I ly: 20 Yet from thy statutes never did I swerve.

Lord, of thy goodness quicken me, and I Will still pursue Thy testimonies true, And all the biddings of thy lipps observe.

M

Most plainly, Lord, the frame of sky

Doth show thy word decayeth never; And constant stay of earth descry

Thy word, that staid it, staieth ever. 5 For by thy lawes they hold their standings,

Yea all things do thy service try: But that I joy'd in thy commandings,

I had my self bene sure to dye.

Thy word that hath revived me 10 I will retaine, forgetting never:

Lett me, thine owne, be sav'd by thee Whose statutes are my studies ever.

PSALM lig 285

I mark thy will the while their standings The wicked take, my bane to be: 15 For I no close of thy commandings,

Of best things else, an end, I see.

N

Nought can enough declare How I thy learning love: Whereon all day my meditation lies; By whose edicts I prove 5 Farre than my foes more wise,

For they a wisdome never-failing are.

My teachers all of old

May now come learne of me, Whose studies tend but to thy wittnest will: 10 Nay who most aged be,

Thought therefore most of skill, In skill I passe, for I thy precepts hold.

I did refraine my feete

From ev'ry wicked way, 15 That they might firmly in thy statutes stand.

Nor ever did I stray From what thy lawes command, For I of thee have learned what is meete.

How pleasing to my tast! 20 How sweete thy speeches be!

Noe touch of hony so affects my tongue.

From whose edicts in me Hath such true wisdome sprong, That all false waies quite out of love I cast.

O

O what a lanterne, what a lampe of light

Is thy pure word to me! To cleere my pathes, and guide my goings right. I sware and sweare againe, 5 I of the statutes will observer be,

Thou justly dost ordaine.

PSALM ng

The heavy weightes of greif oppresse me sore:

Lord, raise me by thy word, As thou to me didst promise heretofore. 10 And this unforced praise,

I for an offring bring, accept O Lord,

And show to me thy waies.

What if my life ly naked in my hand, To ev'ry chaunce expos'd! 15 Should I forgett what thou dost me command? No, no, I will not stray From thy edicts though round about enclos'd With snares the wicked lay.

Thy testimonies, as mine heritage, 20 I have retained still:

And unto them my hartes delight engage;

My hart which still doth bend, And only bend, to do what thou dost will,

And doe it, to the end.

People that inconstant be, Constant hatred have from me: But thy doctrine changelesse ever Holds my love that changeth never.

S For thou, the closett where I hide

The shield whereby I safe abide: My confidence expects thy promise just. Hence, away you cursed crue, Gett you gone, that rid from you

10 I at better ease and leisure,

Maie performe my Gods good pleasure: O Lord, as thou thy word didst give, Sustaine me soe that I may live, Nor make me blush, as frustrate of my trust.

15 Be my Piller, be my stay,

Safe then I shall swerve no way: All my witt and understanding Shall then work on thy commanding,

PSALM lig 287

For under foote thou treadst them all, 20 Who swerving from thy preceptes fall:

And vainly in their guile and treason trust. Yea the wicked sort by thee All as drosse abjected be: Therefore what thy proof approveth, 25 That my love entirely loveth.

And such regard of thee I make, For feare of thee my flesh doth quake: And of thy lawes, thy lawes severely just.

Quitt and cleere from doing wrong,

0 lett me not betraied be Unto them, who ever strong

Doe wrongly seeke to mine me. 5 Nay, my Lord,

Baile thy servant on thy word: And lett not these that soare too high By my low stoope yet higher fly.

Eye doth faile while I not faile 10 With eye thy safety to pursue:

Looking when will once prevaile, And take effect, thy promise true. All I crave,

I at mercies hand would have: 15 And from thy wisdome, which I pray

May cause me know thy law and way.

Since thy servant still I stay,

My understanding, Lord, enlight: So enlight it that I may 20 Thy ordinaunces know aright.

Now, O now

Time requires, O Lord, that thou Thy lawes defence shouldst undertake: For now thy law they sorely shake.

25 Hope whereof makes that more deere

1 thy edicts and statutes hold,

288 PSALM lig

Than if gold to me they were,

Yea than they were the purest gold;

Makes that right

Are thy precepts in my sight: Makes that I hate each lying way, That from their truth, may cause me stray.

R

Right wonderfull thy testimonies be;

My hart to keepe them I, therefore, bend. Their very threshold gives men light, And gives men sight, 5 That light to see:

Yea ev'n to babes doth understanding lend.

Opening my mouth: I dranck a greedy draught, And did on them my whole pleasure place. Looke then, O Lord, and pitty me 10 As erst I see

Ordain'd and taught

By thee, for them whose hartes thy name embrace.

Of all my goings make thy word the guide, Nor lett injustice upon me raigne: 15 From them that false accusers be

Lord, sett me free: Soe never slide

Shall I from what thy statutes do ordayne.

Shine on thy servant with thy faces beames, 20 And thoroughly me thy commandments teach; From fountaines of whose watry eyes Doe welling rise Of teares huge streames,

Viewing each where thy doctrines daily breach.

Sure, Lord, thy self art just,

Thy lawes as rightful be:

What rightly bid thou dost,

PSALM 119 289

Is firmly bound by thee. 5 I flame with zeale to see

My foes thy word forgett:

Pure wordes, whereon by me A servantes love is sett.

Though bare, and though debast 10 I yet thy rules retainer

Whose doomes do endlesse last, And doctrine true remayne. In presure, and in paine My joyes thy preceptes give: 15 No date thy judgmentes daine;

O make me wise to lyve.

To thee my harty plaint I send,

Lord turne thine eare

My plainte to heare, For to thy law my life I bend 5 Since I have envoked thee;

Lett me, Lord, thy succour see: And what thy ordinaunces will I will persist observing still.

My cry more early than the day 10 Doth daily rise:

Because mine eyes Upon thy promise waiting stay; Eyes, I say, which still prevent Watches best to watching bent: 15 Esteeming it but pleasing paines

To muse on that thy word containes.

O in thy mercy heare my voice, And as thy lawes Afforde the cause 20 So make me, Lord, revyv'd rejoyce.

Lord, thou seest the gracelesse crue Presse me neere, who me pursue.

290 PSALM 119

As for the doctrine of thy law

They farre from it them selves withdraw.

25 That Lord, thou seest, and this I see:

Thou ev'ry where To me art neere, For true, nay, truth thy precepts be. Now, though not now first, I know, 30 For I knew it long ago:

That firmly founded once by thee Thy ordinance no end can see.

View how I am distressed,

And lett me be released: For Iooke what me thy word hath bidden Out of my mind hath never slidden.

5 Then be my causes deemer:

Be thou my soules redeemer: And as good hope thy word doth give me, Lett with good help thy worke relieve me.

Where wickednesse is loved, 10 There health is farre removed.

For since thy sole edicts containe it,

Who serch not them, how can they gaine it?

Thy mercies are so many, Their number is not any: 15 Then as thou usest, Lord, to use me, Revive me now, and not refuse me.

Exceeding is their number That me pursue and cumber: Yet what thy wittnesse hath defined, 20 From that my stepps have not declined.

I saw, and grieved seeing Their waies, who wayward beeing, With guileful! stubborness withstanded What by thy speeches was commanded.

PSALM lig 291

25 Since therefore plaine is proved

That I thy lawes have loved: Looke Lorde, and here thy bounty showing Restore my life now feeble growing.

This in thy doctrine raigneth 30 It nought but truth containeth:

This in thy Justice brightly shineth, Thy just edictes no date defmeth.

W

Wrong'd I was by men of might, Hottly chas'd and hard assailed:

Little they my hart to fright, But, O much, thy words prevailed: 5 Words to me of more delight,

Than rich booty wonne by fight.

Fraud doe I with hate detest, But with love embrace thy learnings, Seav'n times daily ere I rest, 10 Sing thy doomes and right discernings.

Whom who love, with peace are blest, Plenteous peace without unrest.

Doing what thy precepts will I thy help have long expected: 15 My soule by thy doctrine still,

Loved most, is most directed.

Thy edicts my deedes fullfill Who survaist my good and ill.

Yeeld me this favour, Lord, My plaint may presse into thy sight, And make me understand aright

According to thy word.

PSALM lig

5 Admitt to sight I say

The praier that to thee I send, And unto me thy help extend, Who on thy promise stay.

Then from my lipps shall flow 10 A holy hymn of praise to thee:

When I, thy scholer, taught shalbe By thee thy lawes to know.

Then shall my tongue declare And teach againe what thou hast taught: 15 All whose decrees to triall brought

Most just, nay justice are.

0 then reach out thy hand, And yeeld me aid I justly crave, Since all things I forsaken have,

20 And chosen thy command.

1 looke, I long, O Lord,

To see at length thy saving grace: And only doe my gladdness place, In thy glad-making word.

25 I know my soule shall live,

And, living, thee due honor yeeld:

I know thy law shall be my shield,

And me all succour give.

As sheep from shepherd gone 30 So wander I: O seeke thy sheep,

Who soe in mind thy precepts keep, That I forgett not one.

line (G) 1 Grave: impressed deeply. line (I) 23 adue: Farewell. line (T) 13 prevent: anticipate.

293

PSALM 120 AD DOMINUM

As to th'Etemall often in anguishes Erst have I called, never unanswered, Againe I call, againe I calling Doubt not againe to receave an answer.

5 Lord ridd my soule from treasonous eloquence

Of filthy forgers craftily fraudulent: And from the tongue where lodg'd resideth Poison'd abuse, mine of beleevers.

Thou that reposest vainly thy confidence 10 In wily wronging; say by thy forgery

What good to thee? what gaine redoundeth? What benefitt from a tongue deceitfull?

Though like an arrow strongly delivered It deeply pierce, though like to a Juniper 15 It coales doe cast, which quickly fired,

Flame very hott, very hardly quenching?

Ah God! too long heere wander I banished, Too long abiding barbarous injury: With Kedar and with Mesech harbour'd, 20 How? in a tent, in a howslesse harbour.

Too long, alas, too long have I dwelled here With frendly peaces furious enemies: Who when to peace I seeke to call them, Faster I find to the warre they arme them.

294

PSALM 121 LEV AVI OCULOS

What? and doe I behold the lovely mountaines, Whence comes all my reliefe, my aid, my comfort? O there, O there abides the worlds Creator, Whence comes all my reliefe, my aid, my comfort.

5 March, march lustily on, redoubt no falling:

God shall guide thy goings: the Lord thy keeper Sleepes not, sleepes not a whit, no sleepe no slumber Once shall enter in Israelis true keeper.

But whome named I Israelis true keeper? 10 Whome? but only Jehova: whose true keeping Thy saving shadow is : not ever absent When present perill his reliefe requireth.

March then boldly, by day no sunne shall hurt thee With beames too violently right reflected. 15 Feare no jorny by night: the Moony vapors Shall not cast any mist to breed thy grevaunce.

Nay from ev'ry mishapp, from ev'ry mischief Safe thou shalt by Jehovas hand be garded: Safe in all thy goings, in all thy commings, 20 Now thou shalt by his hand, yea still be guarded.

295

PSALM 122 LAETATUS SUM

O fame most joyfull! O joy most lovly delightfull! Loe, I do heare Godds temple, as erst, soe againe be

[frequented, And we within thy porches againe glad-wonted abiding, Lovly Salem shall find: thou Citty rebuilt as a Citty, Late disperst, but now united in absolute order. Now there shalbe the place for Gods holy people

[appointed First to behold his pledg, then sing allmighty Jehova. Now there shalbe the seate, where not to be justiced only All shall freely resort whom strife, hate, injury vexeth: But where Davids house and ofspring, heav'nly beloved, Shall both Judges sitt and raigne Kings throned in honor. Pray then peace to Salem: to her frends all happy

[proceeding, Wish to her walls all rest, to her fortes all blessed

[aboundance. This with cause I doe pray, since from these blisses a

[blessing My brother and kinsman, my friend and contry deriveth; This I doe wish and more, if more good rest to be

[wished, Since our God here builds him an howse, allmighty

[Jehova.

296

PSALM 123 AD TE LEVAVI OCULOS MEOS

Unto thee, oppressed, thou greate commander of heaven Heav'nly good attending, lift I my earthy seeing Right as a waiters eye on a graceful master is holden; As the look of waitresse fix'd on a lady lieth:

5 Soe with erected face, untill by thy mercy relieved, O Lord, expecting, begg we thy frendly favour. Scorn of proud scorners, reproach of mighty reprochers, Our sprights cleane ruined, fills with an inly dolor. Then frend us, favour us, Lord then with mercy relieve

[us,

10 Whose scornfull miseries greatly thy mercy needeth.

^97

PSALM 124 NISI QUIA DOMINUS

Say Israel, doe not conceale a verity

Had not the Lord assisted us, Had not the Lord assisted us what tyme arose

Against us our fierce enimies: 5 Us all at once long since they had devoured up,

They were soe fell, soe furious. If not, the angry gulphes, the streames most horrible

Had drowned us: soe drowned us, That in the deepe bene tombed, at least on the deepe 10 Had tumbled, our dead Carcases.

But Lord, what honor shall thy people yeeld to thee,

From greedy teeth delivered? Escaped as the f owle, that oft breaking the ginn,

Beguiles the fowlers wilynesse. 15 For sure this is thy work, thy name protecteth us,

Who heavn, who earth hast fashioned.

line 13 ginn: trap, snare.

298

PSALM 125 QUI CONFIDUNT

As Sion standeth very firmly stedfast, Never once shaking: soe, on high, Jehova Who his hope buildeth, very firmly stedfast

Ever abideth.

5 As Salem braveth with her hilly bullwarkes Roundly enforced: soe the greate Jehova Closeth his servantes, as a hilly bullwark

Ever abiding;

Though Tirantes hard yoke with a heavy pressure 10 Wring the just shoulders: but a while it holdeth Lest the best minded by too hard abusing

Bend to abuses.

As to the well-workers, soe the right beleevers; Lord favour further; but a vaine deceiver, 15 Whose wryed footing not aright directed

Wandreth in error,

Lord hym, abjected, set among the number Whose doings lawless, study bent to mischiefe Mischief expecteth: but upon thy chosen 20 Peace be for ever.

299

PSALM 126 IN CONVERTENDO

When long absent from lovly Sion By the Lords conduct home we returned, We our sences scarsly beleeving Thought meere visions moved our fancy.

5 Then in our merry mouthes laughter abounded, Tongues with gladdness lowdly resounded While thus wondring Nations whispered: God with them most roially dealeth.

Most true: with us thou roially dealest, 10 Woe is expired, sorow is vanished:

Now Lord, to finish throughly thy working Bring to Jerusalem all that are exiles.

Bring to Jerusalem all that are exiles, So by thy comfort newly refreshed 15 As when southern sunn-burnt regions

Be by cold fountaines freshly relieved.

Oft to the plowman soe good happ hapneth, What, with teares, to the ground he bequeathed, Season of harvest timely retorning, 20 He, before wofull, joyfully reapeth.

Why to us may not as happly happen To sow our businesse, wo fully weeping: Yet when businesse growes to due ripeness, To see our businesse joyfully reaped?

300

PSALM 127 NISI DOMINUS

The house Jehova builds not, We vainly strive to build it: The towne Jehova guards not, We vainly watch to guard it.

5 No use of early rising:

As uselesse is thy watching: Not aught at all it helpes thee To eate thy bread with anguish.

As unto weary sences 10 A sleepie rest unasked:

Soe bounty commeth uncaus'd From him to his beloved.

Noe not thy children hast thou By choise, by chaunce, by nature; 15 They are, they are Jehovas

Rewardes from him rewarding.

The multitude of infantes A good man holdes, resembleth The multitude of arrowes, 20 A mighty Archer holdeth.

Hys happiness triumpeth Who beares a quiver of them: Noe countenance of haters Shall unto him be dreadfull.

301

PSALM 128 BEATI OMNES

All happiness shall thee betide,

That dost Jehova feare: And walking in the pathes abide, By him first troden were.

The labours of thy handes Desired fruit shall beare,

And where thy dwelling stands All blisse, all plenty there.

Thy wife a vine, a fruitfull vine

Shall in thy parlor spring: Thy table compasse children thine As Olive plants in ring.

On thee I say, on thee, That f ear'st the heav'nly king,

Such happinesse shall he, He shall from Sion bring.

Yea, while to thee thy breath shall hold,

Though running longest race, Thou Salem ever shalt behold In wealth and wished case:

And childrens children view While Jacobs dwelling place

Noe plagues of warre pursue, But giftes of peace shall grace.

PSALM 129 SAEPE EXPUGNAVERUNT

Oft and ever from my youth, Soe now, Israel may say:

Israel may say for truth, Ofte and ever my decay 5 From my youth their force hath sought:

Yet effect it never wrought.

Unto them my back did yeeld

Place and paine (O height of woe) Where as in a plowed field, 10 Long and deepe did furrowes goe.

But O just Jehova, who Hast their plow-ropes cutt in two!

Tell me you that Sion hate,

What you thinck shall be your end? 15 Terror shall your mindes amate:

Blushe and shame your faces shend. Mark the wheate on howses topp: Such your harvest, such your cropp.

Wither shall you where you stand; 20 Gather'd? noe: but, wanting sapp,

Filling neither reapers hand,

Nor the binders inbow'd lapp. Nay who you shall reape or bind Common kindnesse shall not find.

PSALM 129 303

25 Such as travail by the way,

Where as they their paines imploy, Shall not once saluting say,

God speed frendes, God give you joy: He in whome all blessing raignes, 30 Blesse your selves, and blesse your paines.

line 15 amate: dismay.

304

PSALM 130 DE PROFUNDIS

From depth of grief

Where droun'd I ly, Lord for relief To thee I cry: 5 My earnest, vehement, cryeng, prayeng,

Graunt quick, attentive, hearing, waighing.

O Lord, if thou

Offences mark, Who shall not bow 10 To beare the cark?

But with thy justice mercy dwelleth, Whereby thy worshipp more excelleth.

On thee, my soule On thee, O Lord 15 Dependeth whole,

And on thy word, Though sore with blott of sinne defaced, Yet surest hope hath firmly placed.

Who longest watch,

20 Who soonest rise,

Can nothing match

The early eyes;

The greedy eyes my soule erecteth,

While Gods true promise it expecteth.

PSALM 130 305

25 Then Israel

On God attend: Attend him wel,

Who still thy frend, In kindness hath thee deere esteemed, 30 And often, often, erst redeemed.

Now, as before;

Unchanged he Will thee restore Thy state will free; 35 All wickedness from Jacob driving

Forgetting follies, f aultes forgiving.

line 10 cark: burden. "If thou Lorde wylt be extreme to marcke what is done a mysse, Oh Lorde who may abyde it?" ( Great Bible, 1539).

306

PSALM 131 DOMINE, NON EST

A lofty hart, a lifted ey Lord thou dost know I never bare:

Lesse have I borne in things too hygh A medling mind, or clyming care. 5 Looke how the wained babe doth fare,

O did I not? yes soe did I: None more for quiett might compare

Ev'n with the babe that wain'd doth ly. Heare then and learne, O Jacobs race, 10 Such endlesse trust on God to place.

line 5 wained: weaned.

307

PSALM 132 MEMENTO, DOMINE

Lord call to mynd, nay keepe in minde

Thy David and thy Davids paines: Who once by othe and vow did bind Himself to him who ay remaynes, That mighty one, That God in Jacob known.

My howse shall never harbor mee,

Nor bedd alow my body rest, Nor eyes of sleepe the lodging bee, Nor ey-lidds slendrest slumbers nest: Untill I finde A plott to please my mind:

I find, I say, my mind to please,

A plott wherin I may errect A howse for him to dwell at ease, Who is ador'd with due respect: That mighty one The God in Jacob known.

The plott thy David then did name,

We heard at Ephrata it lay: We heard, but bent to find the same, Were faine to seeke an other way: Ev'n to the fields That woody fear yeelds.

308 PSALM 132

25 And yet not there, but heere O heere

We find now settled what we sought: Before the stoole thy feete doth beare Now entring in, wee, as wee ought, Adore thee will, 30 And duly worshipp still.

Then enter, Lord, thy fixed rest,

With Arke the token of thy strength, And let thy priests be purely drest In robes of Justice laied at length: 35 Let them bee glad

Thy gracefull blisse have had.

For David, once thy servants sake

Doe not our kings, his seede reject: For thou to him this othe did'st make, 40 This endless othe: I will erect,

And hold thy race Enthrond in Roiall place.

Nay if thy race my league observe, And keepe the cov nants I sett down, 45 Their race againe I will preserve

Eternally to wear thy Crown: No lesse thy throne Shall ever bee their owne.

For Syon which I loved best, 50 I chosen have noe seate of change:

Heere heere shall bee my endless rest, Heere will I dwell, nor hence will range: Unto the place I beare such love and grace.

55 Such grace and love that evermore

As blisse from gratious loving me, Shall blesse her vittaile, blesse her store, That evn the poore who in her bee

PSALM 132 309

With store of bread 60 Shall, fully, all bee fedd.

In her my priests shall nought anoy: Nay cladd they shall with safty be. O how in her with cause shall joy Who there as tenants hold of mee! 65 Whose tenure is

By grace my fields of blisse.

O how in her shall sprowt and spring

The scepter Davids hand did beare! How I my Christ, my sacred king, 70 As light in lantern placed there

With beames devine, Will make abroad to shine!

But as for them who spite and hate Conceave to him, they all shall down, 75 Down cast by mee to shamefull state,

While on him self his happy Crown Shall up to skies With fame and glory rise.

line 57 vittaile: food.

3io

PSALM 133 ECCE QUAM BONUM

How good, and how beseeming well

It is that wee,

Who brethren be, As brethren, should in concord dwell.

S Like that deere oile, that Aron beares,

Which fleeting down To foote from crown Embalms his beard, and robe he weares.

Or like the teares the morne doth shedd, 10 Which ly on ground

Empearled round On Sion or on Hermons hedd.

For join'd therewith the Lord doth give Such grace, such blisse: 15 That where it is,

Men may for ever blessed live.

3ii

PSALM 134 ECCE NUNC

You that Jehovas servants are, Whose carefull watch, whose watchfull care, Within his house are spent; Say thus with one assent: 5 Jehovas name be praised.

Then let your handes be raised To holiest place, Where holiest grace Doth ay 10 Remaine:

And say Againe, Jehovas name be praised. Say last unto the company, 15 Who tarryeng make

Their leave to take: All blessings you accompany, From him in plenty showered, Whom Sion holds embowered, 20 Who heav n and earth of nought hath raised.

312

PSALM 135 LAUDATE NOMEN

O praise the name whereby the Lord is known, Praise him I say, you that his servants be:

You whose attendance in his howse is shown, And in the courtes before his howse we see, 5 Praise God, right tearmed God, for good is he:

O sweetly sing

Unto his name, the sweetest, sweetest thing.

For of his goodness Jacob hath he chose,

Chose Israel his own Domain to be. 10 My tongue shall speake, for well my conscience knowes,

Greate is our God, above all gods is he;

Each branch of whose inviolate decree Both heav'ns doe keepe, And earth, and sea, and seas unbounded deepe;

15 From whose extreames drawne up by his command In flaky mists, the reaking vapors rise: Then high in cloudes incorporate they stand:

Last out of cloudes raine flowes, and lightning flies; No lesse a treasure in his storehouse lies 20 Of breathing blasts,

Which oft drawn foorth in wind his pleasure wastes.

He, from best man to most despised beast,

Aegipts first borne in one night overthrew: And yet not so his dreadfull showes he ceas'd,

f>SALM 135 313

But did them still in Aegipts mid'st renew:

Not only meaner men had cause to rue, But ev'n the best Of Pharos court, the king among the rest.

He many Nations, mighty Kings destroi'd:

Sehon for one, who rul'd the Amorites, And huge-lim'd Og, who Basans crown enjoy'd,

Yea all the kingdoms of the Cananites,

Whose heritage he gave the Izraelites, His chosen train, Their heritage for ever to remain.

Therefore, O Lord, thy name is famous still, The memory thy ancient wonders gott,

Tyme well to world his message may fulfill, And back retorne to thee, yet never blott Out of our thoughts: for how should be forgo tt

The Lord that so

Forgives his servant, plagues his servants fo?

What difference, what unproportion'd odds To thee, these Idolls gold and silver beare;

Which men have made, yet men have made their godds! Who though mouth, ey, and eare, and nose they

[weare Yet neither speake, nor looke, nor smell, nor heare.

O Idolls right

Who Idolls make, or Idolls make your might.

But you that are of Israelis descent,

O praise the Lord: you that of Aron came

O praise the Lord; you Levies howse assent To praise the Lord: you, all his fearers, frame Your highest praise to praise Jehovas name.

His praises still

Salem resound, resound O Sion hill.

314

PSALM 136 CONFITEMINI

O praise the Lord where goodness dwells, For his kindness lasteth ever:

O praise the God all gods excells, For his bounty endeth never.

5 Praise him that is of lords the Lord,

For his kindnesse lasteth ever: Who only wonders doth afford, For his bounty endeth never;

Whose skillfull art did vault the skies, io For his kindnesse lasteth ever:

Made earth above the waters rise, For his bounty endeth never;

Who did the luminaries make, For his kindnesse lasteth ever: 15 The Sunn, of day the charge to take,

For his bounty endeth never;

The Moone and Starrs in night to raign,

For his kindnesse lasteth ever: Who Egipts eldest born hath slayn, 20 For his bounty endeth never;

And brought out Israel from thence, For his kindnesse lasteth ever:

With mighty hand and strong defence, For his bounty endeth never;

PSALM 136 315

Who cutt in two the russhy sea,

For his kindnesse lasteth ever: And made the middest Jacobs way,

For his bounty endeth never;

Who Pharo and his Army droun'd,

For his kindnesse lasteth ever: And led his folk through desert ground,

For his bounty endeth never;

Greate kings in battaile overthrew,

For his kindnesse lasteth ever: Yea mighty kings, most mighty slue,

For his bounty endeth never;

Both Sehon king of Amorites,

For his kindnesse lasteth ever: And Ogg the king of Basanites,

For his bounty endeth never;

For heritage their kingdoms gave,

For his kindness lasteth ever: His Israeli to hold and have,

For his bounty endeth never;

Who minded us dejected low,

For his kindness lasteth ever: And did us save from force of foe,

For his bounty endeth never;

Who fills with foode each feeding thing,

For his kindnesse lasteth ever: Praise God who is of heavns the king,

For his bounty endeth never.

316

PSALM 137 SUPER FLUMINA

Nigh seated where the river flowes,

That watreth Babells thanckfull plaine,

Which then our teares in pearled rowes Did help to water with their raine, 5 The thought of Sion bred such woes,

That though our harpes we did retaine,

Yet uselesse, and untouched there

On willowes only hang'd they were.

Now while our harpes were hanged soe, 10 The men whose captives then we lay

Did on our griefs insulting goe,

And more to grieve us, thus did say: You that of musique make such show, Come sing us now a Sion lay. 15 O no, we have nor voice, nor hand

For such a song, in such a land.

Though farre I lye, sweete Sion hill, In forraine soile exil'd from thee,

Yet let my hand forgett his skill, 20 If ever thou forgotten be:

And lett my tongue fast glued still Unto my roofe ly mute in me:

If thy neglect within me spring,

Or ought I do, but Salem sing.

PSALM 137 317

£5 But thou, O Lord, shalt not forgett

To quitt the paines of Edoms race, Who causelessly, yet hottly sett

Thy holy citty to deface, Did thus the bloody victors whett 30 What time they entred first the place:

Downe, downe with it at any hand Make all flatt plaine, lett nothing stand.

And Babilon, that didst us waste,

Thy self shalt one daie wasted be: |$5 And happy he, who what thou hast

Unto us done, shall do to thee, Like bitterness shall make thee tast,

Like wofull objects cause thee see: Yea happy who thy little ones Shall take and dash against the stones.

3i8

PSALM 138 CONFITEBOR TIBI

Ev'n before kings by thee as gods commended, And angells all, by whom thou art attended,

In harty times I will thy honor tell.

The pallace where thy holiness doth dwell 5 Shall be the place, where falling downe before thee, With reverence meete I prostrate will adore thee.

There will I sing how thou thy mercy sendest, And to thy promise due performance lendest, Whereby thy name above all names doth fly. 10 There will I sing, how when my carefull cry Mounted to thee, my care was streight released, My courage by thee mightily encreased.

Sure Lord, all Kings that understand the story Of thy contract with me, nought but thy glory 15 And meanes shall sing whereby that glory grew; Whose highly seated eye yet well doth view With humbled look the soule that lowly lieth, And, farr aloofe, aspiring things espieth.

On ev'ry side, though tribulation greive me, 20 Yet shalt thou aid, yet shalt thou still relieve me,

From angry foe thy succor shall me save.

Thou Lord shalt finish what in hand I have: Thou Lord, I say, whose mercy lasteth ever, Thy work begun, shall leave unended never.

319

PSALM 139 DOMINE, PROBASTI

O Lord in me there lieth nought, But to thy search revealed lies: For when I sitt Thou markest it: No lesse thou notest when I rise: Yea closest closett of my thought Hath open windowes to thine eyes.

Thou walkest with me when I walk, When to my bed for rest I go, I find thee there, And ev'ry where: Not yongest thought in me doth grow, No not one word I cast to talk, But yet unutt'red thou dost know.

If forth I march, thou goest before, If back I torne, thou com'st behind: Soe foorth nor back Thy guard I lack, Nay on me too, thy hand I find. Well I thy wisdom may adore,

But never reach with earthy mind.

To shunn thy notice, leave thine ey, O whither might I take my way? To starry spheare? 5 Thy throne is there.

PSALM 139

To dead mens undelightsome stay? There is thy walk, and there to ly Unknown, in vain I should assay.

O Sun, whome light nor flight can match, 30 Suppose thy lightfull flightfull wings

Thou lend to me, And I could flee As farr as thee the ev'ning brings: Ev'n ledd to West he would me catch, 35 Nor should I lurk with western things.

Doe thou thy best, O secret night, In sable vaile to cover me: Thy sable vaile Shall vainly faile: 40 With day unmask'd my night shall be,

For night is day, and darkness light, O father of all lights, to thee.

Each inmost peece in me is thine: While yet I in my mother dwelt, 45 All that me cladd

From thee I hadd. Thou in my frame hast strangly delt: Needes in my praise thy workes must shine So inly them my thoughts have felt.

50 Thou, how my back was beam-wise laid, And raftring of my ribbs, dost know: Know'st ev'ry point Of bone and joynt, How to this whole these partes did grow, 55 In brave embrodry faire araid,

Though wrought in shopp both dark and low.

Nay fashionless, ere forme I tooke, Thy all and more beholding ey My shapelesse shape 60 Could not escape:

90

LK:

PSALM 139 321

All these tyme fram'd successively Ere one had beeing, in the booke Of thy foresight, enrol'd did ly.

My God, how I these studies prize, 65 That doe thy hidden workings show!

Whose summ is such, Noe suume soe much: Nay summ'd as sand they summlesse grow. I lye to sleepe, from sleepe I rise, ) Yet still in thought with thee I goe.

My God if thou but one wouldst kill,

Then straight would leave my further chase This cursed brood Inur'd to blood: ; Whose gracelesse tauntes at thy disgrace

Have aimed oft: and hating still

Would with proud lies thy truth outface.

Hate not I them, who thee doe hate? Thyne, Lord, I will the censure be. \ Detest I not

The canckred knott, Whom I against thee banded see? O Lord, thou know'st in highest rate I hate them all as foes to me.

j Search me, my God, and prove my hart, Examyne me, and try my thought: And mark in me If ought there be That hath with cause their anger wrought. > If not (as not) my lives each part,

Lord safely guide from danger brought.

Iline 28 assay: attempt.

322

PSALM 140 ERIPE ME, DOMINE

Protect me Lord, preserve me, sett me free From men that be soe vile, soe violent:

In whose entent both force and fraud doth lurk My bane to work: whose tongues are sharper things 5 Than Adders stings: whose rusty lipps enclose A poisons hoorde, such in the Aspick growes.

Save I say, Lord, protect me, sett me free From these that be so vile, so violent:

Whose thoughts are spent in thinking how they may 10 My stepps betray: how nett of fowle misshape May me entrapp : how hidd in traitor grasse Their conning cord may catch me as I passe.

But this, O Lord, I hold: my God art thou:

Thou eare wilt bowe, what time thy aid I pray, 15 In thee my stay, Jehova: thou dost arme

Against all harme, and guard my head in field.

O then to yeeld these wicked their desire

Do not accord, for still they will aspire.

But yeeld O Lord, that ev'n the head of those 20 That me enclose, of this their hott pursute

May taste the frute: with deadly venome stung Of their owne tongue, loe, loe, I see they shall: Yea coales shall fall, yea flames shall fling them low, Ay unrestor'd, to drown in deepest wo.

PSALM 140 323

25 For Hers, Lord, shall never firmly stand

And from the land who violently live

Mischief shall drive: but well I know the poore Thou wilt restore: restore th'afflicted wight, That in thy sight the just may howses frame, 30 And glad record the honor of thy name.

3M

PSALM 141 DOMINE, CLAMAVI

To thee Jehova, thee I lift my cryeng voice, O banish all delay, and lett my plaintfull noise,

By thy quick-hearing-eare be carefully respected. As sweete perfume to skies lett what I pray ascend: Lett these uplifted hands, which prayeng, I extend,

As ev'ning sacrifice be unto thee directed.

Ward well my words, O Lord, (for that it is I pray) A watchfull Sentinell at my mouthes passage lay, At wickett of my lipps stand ay a f aithfull porter; 10 Incline me not to ill, nor lett me loosly goe

A mate in work with such, whence no good work dotlj

[grow! And in their flattring baites, lett me be no consorter

But lett the good-man wound, most well I shall it take

Yea price of his rebukes as deerest balme shall make,

15 Yea more shall for him pray, the more his words sha

[grieve m< And as for these, when once the leaders of their crue By thee be brought to stoope, my wordes most sweetl

[tru Shall in the rest so worke that soon they shall belie\

[m

PSALM 141 325

Mean while my bones the grave, the grave expects my

[bones, 20 Soe broken, hewn, disperst, as least respected stones,

By careless Mason drawn from caves of worthless

[quarry; But thou O Lord, my Lord, since thus thy servants ey Repleate with hopfull trust, doth on thy help rely, Faile not that trustfull hope, that for thy helpe doth

[tarry.

25 O soe direct my feete they may escape the hands

Of their entangling snare, which for me pitched stands; And from the wicked netts for me with craft they

[cover. Nay for these fowlers, once, thy self a fowler be, And make them fowly fall where netts are laid by thee; 30 But where for me they lay, let me leap freely over.

3*6

PSALM 142 VOCE MEA AD DOMINUM

My voice to thee it self extreamly strayning,

Cries praying, Lord, againe it cryeng praieth: Before thy face the cause of my complayning,

Before thy face my cases mapp it laieth 5 Wherein my soule is painted

In doubtfull way a stranger: But, Lord, thou art acquainted,

And knowst each path, where stick the toiles of danger. For me, mine ey to evry coast directed 10 Lights not on one that will soe much as know me: My life by all neglected,

Ev'n hope of help is now quite perish'd from me.

Then with good cause to thee my spiritt flieth,

Flieth, and saith: O Lord my safe abiding 15 Abides in thee: in thee all-only lieth

Lott of my life, and plott of my residing. Alas, then yeeld me hearing,

For wearing woes have spent me: And save me from their tearing, 20 Who hunt me hard, and daily worse torment me. O change my state, unthrall my soule enthralled:

Of my escape then will I tell the story: And with a crown enwalled

Of godly men, will glory in thy glory.

3^7

PSALM 143 DOMINE, EXAUDI

Heare my entreaty Lord, the suite, I send, With heed attend,

And as my hope and trust is Reposed whole in thee:

So in thy truth and justice Yeeld audience to me.

And make not least beginning

To judge thy servants sinning: For Lord what living wight Lives synnlesse in thy sight?

0 rather look with ruth upon my woes, Whom ruthlesse foes

With long pursute have chased, And, chased, at length have cought,

And, cought, in tomb have placed With dead men out of thought.

Ay me! what now is left me?

Alas! all knowledg reft me, All courage faintly fledd,

1 have nor hart, nor hedd.

The best I can is this, nay this is all That I can call

Before my thoughts, surveying Tymes evidences old,

All deedes with comfort waighing, That thy hand-writyng hold.

3^8 PSALM 143

Soe hand and hart conspiring I lift, no lesse desiring Thy grace I may obtayne, 30 Then drought desireth raine.

Leave then delay, and let his cry prevaile, Whom force doth faile:

Nor lett thy face be hidden From one, who may compare 35 With them whose death hath bidden

Adiew to life and care.

My hope, let mercies morrow

Soone chase my night of sorrow. My help, appoint my way, 40 I may not wandring stray.

My cave, my closett where I wont to hide, In troublous tyde

Now from these troubles save me, And since my God thou art, 45 Prescribe how thou wouldst have me

Performe my duties part.

And lest awry I wander,

In walking this Meander, Be thy right sprite my guide, 50 To guard I go not wide.

Thy honor, justice, mercy crave of thee O Lord that me,

Reviv'd, thou shouldst deliver From pressure of my woes, 55 And in destructions river

Engulph and swallow those,

Whose hate thus makes in anguish,

My soule afflicted languish: For meete it is so kind 60 Thy servant should thee find.

line 48 Meander: winding course.

3^9

PSALM 144 BENEDICTUS DOMINUS

Prais'd bee the Lord of might,

My rock in all allarms, By whom my handes doe fight,

My fingers manage armes; My grace, my guard, my fort,

On whom my safety staies: To whom my hopes resort

By whom my realme obaies.

Lord what is man that thou

Should'st tender soe his fare? What hath his child to bow

Thy thoughts unto his care? Whose neerest kinn is nought,

No Image of whose daies More livly can bee thought,

Than shade that never staies.

Lord bend thy arched skies

With ease to let thee down; And make the stormes arise

From mountaines fuming crown. Let follow flames from sky,

To back their stoutest hand: Lett fast thy Arrowes fly,

Dispersing thickest band.

PSALM 144

Thy heavnly helpe extend And lift me from this flood:

Let mee thy hand defend From hand of forraine brood,

Whose mouth no mouth at all, 30 But forge of false entent,

Wherto their hand doth fall As aptest instrument.

Then in new song to thee Will I exalt my voice: 35 Then shall, O God, with mee

My tenn-string'd Lute rejoyce. Rejoyce in him, I say,

Who roiall right preserves And saves from swords decay 40 His David that him serves.

O Lord, thy help extend,

And lift mee from this flood: Lett mee thy hand defend

From hand of forrain brood 45 Whose mouth no mouth at all

But forge of false entent, Whereto their hand doth fall

As aptest instrument.

Soe then our sonnes shall grow 50 As plants of timely spring:

Whom soone to fairest show

Their happy growth doth bring. As pillers both doe beare And garnish kingly hall: 55 Our daughters straight and faire,

Each howse embellish shall.

Our store shall ay bee full,

Yea shall such fullness finde Though all from thence wee pull, 60 Yet more shall rest behind.

PSALM 144 33I

The millions of encrease

Shall breake the wonted fold: Yea such the sheepy presse,

The streetes shall scantly hold.

65 Our heards shall brave the best:

Abroad no foes alarme: At home to breake our rest,

No cry, the voice of harme. If blessed tearme I may 70 On whom such blessings fall:

Then blessed blessed they Their God Jehovah call.

33*

PSALM 145 EXALTABO TE

My God, my king, to lift thy praise

And thanck thy most thank-worthy name

I will not end, but all my daies

Will spend in seeking how to frame 5 Recordes of thy deserved fame

Whose praise past-praise, whose greatness such,

The greatest search can never touch.

Not in one age thy works shall dy,

But elder eft to yonger tell 10 Thy praisefull powre: among them I

Thy excellencies all excell

Will muse and marke: my thoughts shall dwell Upon the wonders wrought by thee, Which wrought beyond all wonder be.

15 Both they and I will tell and sing

How forcefull thou, and fearefull art: Yea both will willing wittness bring, And unto comming tymes impart Thy greatness, goodness, just desert: 20 That all who are, or are to be,

This hymne with joy shall sing to thee.

Jehova doth with mildness flow,

And full of mercy standeth he: Greate doubt if he to wrath more slow, 25 Or unto pardon prompter be,

For nought is from his bounty free:

PSALM 145 333 I

His mercies do on all things fall That he hath made, and he made all.

Thus Lord, all creatures thou hast wrought, Though dumb, shall their Creator sound:

But who can uttraunce add to thought,

They most whom speciall bonds have bound, (For best they can, who best have found)

Shall blaze thy strength, and glad relate

Thy more than glorious kingdoms state;

That all may know the state, the strength Thy more than glorious kingdom showes

Which longest tyme to tymelesse length Leaves undefin'd: nor ages close As age to age succeeding growes,

Can with unstedfast chang procure

But still it must, and stedfast dure.

Thou dost the faint from falling stay, Nay more, the falne againe dost raise:

On thee their lookes all creatures lay, Whose hunger in due tyme alaies Thy hand: which when thy will displaies,

Then all that on the aire do feede,

Receave besides what food they neede.

Each way, each working of thy hand Declare thou art both just and kind,

And nigh to all dost alway stand.

Who thee invoke, invoke with mynd, Not only mouth: O they shall fynd,

He will his fearers wish fulfill,

Attend their cry, and cure their ill.

334 psalm 145

He will his lovers all preserve:

He will the wicked all destroy. To praise him then as these deserve, 60 O then my mouth thy might employ:

Nay all that breathe, recorde with joy His sacred names eternall praise, While race you runne of breathing daies.

line 31 who: i.e., they who.

335

PSALM 146 LAUDA ANIMA MEA

Upp, up my soule, advaunce Jehovas praise,

His only praise: for fixed is in me To praise Jehova all my living daies And sing my God, untyll I cease to be. 5 O lett not this decree

A fond conceite deface,

That trust thou maist in earthy princes place: That any sonne of man Can thee preserve, for not him self he can.

10 His strength is none: if any in his breath:

Which, vapor'd foorth, to mother earth he goes: Nay more, in his, his thoughts all find their death. But blessed he, who for his succour knowes The God that Jacob chose: 15 Whose rightly level'd hope

His God Jehova makes his only scope, So strong he built the skies, The feeldes, the waves, and all that in them lies.

He, endless true, doth yeeld the wronged right, 20 The hungry feedes, and setts the fett'red free: The lame to limbs, the blind restores to sight, Loveth the just, protects who strangers be. The widowes piller he, He orphans doth support: 25 But heavy lies upon the godlesse sort.

He everlasting raignes, Syon, thy God from age to age remaines.

336

PSALM 147 LAUDATE DOMINUM

Sing to the Lord, for what can better be,

Than of our God that we the honor sing? With seemly pleasure what can more agree,

Than praisefull voice, and touch of tuned string? 5 For lo, the Lord againe to forme doth bring

Jerusalems long ruinated walls: And Jacobs house, which all the earth did see Dispersed erst, to union now recalls. And now by him their broken hearts made sound, 10 And now by him their bleeding wounds are bound.

For what could not, who can the number tell Of starrs, the torches of his heav'nly hall? And tell so readily, he knoweth well

How ev'ry starre by proper name to call. 15 What greate to him, whose greatness doth not fall Within precincts? whose powre no lymits stay? Whose knowledges all number soe excell,

Not numbring number can their number lay? Easy to him to lift the lowly just; 20 Easy to down proud wicked to the dust.

O then Jehovas causefull honor sing,

His, whom our God we by his goodness find: O make harmonious mix of voice and string

To him, by whom the skies with cloudes are lin'd: 25 By whom the rayne from cloudes to dropp assign'd Supples the clodds of sommer-scorched fields, Fresheth the mountaines with such needefull spring, Fuell of life to mountaine cattaile yeeldes,

psalm 147 337

From whom young ravens careless old forsake, 30 Croaking to him of Almes, their diett take.

The stately shape, the force of bravest steed Is farre too weake to work in him delight: No more in him can any pleasure breed In flying footman, foote of nimblest flight. 35 Nay, which is more, his fearers in his sight Can well of nothing but his bounty brave; Which never failing, never letts them neede,

Who fixt their hopes upon his mercies have. O then Jerusalem, Jehova praise, 40 With honor due thy God, O Sion, raise.

His strength it is thy gates doth surely barre:

His grace in thee thy children multiplies: By him thy borders ly secure from warres: And finest flowre thy hunger satisfies. 45 Nor meanes he needes: for fast his pleasure flies, Borne by his word, when ought him list to bid. Snowes woolly locks by him wide scattered are, And hoary plaines with frost, as asshes, hid; Gross icy gobbetts from his hand he flings, 50 And blowes a cold too strong for strongest things.

He bidds again and yce in water flowes, As water erst in yce congealed lay: Abroad the southern wind, his melter, goes, The streames relenting take their wonted way; 55 O much is this, but more I come to say,

The wordes of fife he hath to Jacob tolde: Taught Israeli, who by his teaching knowes

What lawes in life, what rules he wills to hold. No Nation els hath found him half soe kind, 60 For to his light, what other is not blynd?

line 16 precincts: boundaries, line 26 Supples: softens.

PSALM 148 LAUDATE DOMINUM

Inhabitants of heav'nly land

As loving subjectes praise your king: You that among them highest stand, In highest notes Jehova sing. Sing Angells all, on carefull wing,

You that his heralds fly, And you whom he doth soldiers bring In feild his force to try.

O praise him Sunne, the sea of light,

O praise him Moone, the light of sea: You preaty stairs in robe of night, As spangles twinckling do as they. Thou spheare within whose bosom play

The rest that earth emball: You waters banck'd with starry bay, O praise, O praise him all.

All these I say advaunce that name, That doth eternall beeing show: Who bidding, into forme and frame, Not beeing yet, they all did grow. All formed, framed, founded so, Till ages uttmost date They place retaine, they order know, They keepe their first estate.

PSALM 148 3391

25 When heavn hath prais'd, praise earth anew: You Dragons first, her deepest guests, Then soundlesse deepes, and what in you Residing low, or moves, or rests; You flames affrighting mortall brests: 30 You stones that cloudes do cast,

You feathery snowes from wynters nests, You vapors, sunnes appast.

You boisterous windes, whose breath fullfills What in his word, his will setts down: 35 Ambitious mountaines, curteous hills:

You trees that hills and mountaines crown: Both you that proud of native gown

Stand fresh and tall to see: And you that have your more renown, 40 By what you beare, than be.

You beastes in woodes untam'd that range:

You that with men famillier go: You that your place by creeping change, Or airy streames with feathers row; 45 You stately kings, you subjects low

You Lordes and Judges all: You others whose distinctions show, How sex or age may fall;

All these I say, advaunce that name 50 More high than skies, more low than ground

And since, advaunced by the same,

You Jacobs sonnes stand cheefly bound; You Jacobs sonnes be cheefe to sound Your God Jehovas praise: 55 So fitts them well on whom is found,

Such blisse he on you laies.

line 32 appast: food, repast.

PSALM 149 CANT ATE DOMINO

In an earst unused song

To Jehova lift your voices: Make his favourites among

Sound his praise with eheerefull noises. Jacob, thou with joy relate Him that hath refram'd thy state: Sonnes whom Sion entertaineth Boast in him who on you raigneth.

Play on harp, on tabret play,

Daunce Jehova publique daunces: He their state that on him stay, Most afflicted, most advaunces. O how glad his saincts I see! Ev'n in bed how glad they be! Heav'nly hymnes with throat unfolding, Swordes in hand twice-edged holding.

Plague and chastise that they may

Nations such as erst them pained, Yea, their kings, in fetters lay; Lay their Nobles fast enchained, That the doom no stay may lett, By his sentence on them sett. Lo! what honor all expecteth, Whom the Lord with love affecteth!

34^

PSALM 150 LAUDATE DOMINUM

O laud the Lord, the God of hosts commend, Exault his pow'r, advaunce his holynesse: With all your might lift his allmightinesse:

Your greatest praise upon his greatness spend.

5 Make Trumpetts noise in shrillest notes ascend:

Make lute and lyre his loved fame expresse: Him lett the pipe, him lett the tabret blesse, Him organs breath, that windes or waters lend.

Lett ringing Timbrells soe his honor sound, 10 Lett sounding Cymballs soe his glory ring,

That in their tunes such mellody be found,

As fitts the pompe of most Triumphant king. Conclud: by all that aire, or life enfold, Lett high Jehova highly be extold.

343

APPENDIX

For comparative purposes a single psalm (Psalm 58) referred to in the Introduction (p. xxi) is printed here as it appears in four sources used by Sidney and the Countess of Pembroke, and in six English metrical versions of the psalm, representa- tive of the diction of the sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. They are (1) the English prose psalter appended to the Book of Common Prayer, the text of which is that of Coverdale's "Great Bible" of 1539, (2) the Geneva Bible, Geneva, 1560, (3) the Bishops' Bible, London, 1568, (4) Les Pseaumes Mis en rime Francoise Par Clement Marot, & Theodore de Beze (1st ed. 1562), Geneva, 1577, (5) The Whole Booke of Psalmes Collected into English Meeter, by Thomas Sternhold, John Hopkins, and others ( 1st ed. 1562), London, 1580, (6) George Sandys' A Paraphrase upon the Psalms of David, London, 1636, (7) Nahum Tate and N. Brady's A New Version of the Psalms of David, Lon- don, 1698, (8) Isaac Watts's The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament, London, 1719, (9) Christopher Smart's A Translation of the Psalms of David, London, 1765, and (10) John Keble's The Psalter: or Psalms of David: in English verse, Oxford, 1839.

344 APPENDIX

L Biblical Versions

PRAYER BOOK PSALTER PSALM 58

Are your mindes set upon righteousnes, O ye congregation: and do ye judge the thing that is right, O ye sonnes of men?

Yea, ye imagine mischief e in your heart upon the earth: and your hands deale with wickednes.

The ungodly are froward even from their mothers wombe: as soone as they be borne they go astray, and speake lyes.

They are as venomous as the poyson of a serpent: even like the deafe Adder that stoppeth her eares.

Which refuseth to heare the voyce of the charmer: charme he never so wisely.

Breake their teeth (O God) in their mouthes, smite the chaw- bones of the lions, O Lord: let them fal away like water that runneth apace, and when they shoot their arrowes, let them be rooted out.

Let them consume away like a snayle, and be like the untimely fruite of a woman: and let them not see the sunne.

Or ever your pottes bee made whot with thornes: so let in- dignation vexe him, even as a thing that is rawe.

The righteous shall re Joyce when hee seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his footsteps in the blood of the ungodly.

So that a man shall say, verily there is a reward for the right- eous: doubtlesse there is a God that judgeth the earth.

APPENDIX 345

GENEVA BIBLE PSALM 58

1 Is it true? O Congregacion, speake ye justly? O sonnes of men, judge ye uprightly?

2 Yea, rather ye imagine mischief in your heart: your hands execute crueltie upon the earth.

3 The wicked are strangers from the worn be: even from the belly have they erred, & speake lies.

4 Their poison is even like the poison of a serpent: like the deafe adder that stoppeth his eare.

5 Which heareth not the voyce of the inchanter, thogh he be moste expert in charming.

6 Breake their teeth, O God, in their mouthes: breake the jawes of the yong lions, O Lord.

7 Let them melt like the waters, let them passe away: when he shooteth his arrowes, let them be as broken.

8 Let him consume like a snaile that melteth, 6- like the untimelie frute of a woman, that hath not sene the sunne.

9 As rawe flesh before your pottes fele the fyre of thornes: so let him carie them away as with a whirle winde in his wrath.

0 The righteous shal rejoyce when he seeth the vengeance: he shal wash his fete in the blood of the wicked.

1 And men shal say, Verely there is frute for the righteous: doutles there is a God that judgeth in the earth.

BISHOPS' BIBLE PSALM 58

O Ye that consult together, pronounce ye truely the thing that is just? O ye sonnes of men judge you ac- cording to equitie?

Nay, rather ye imagine mischief e in your heart: your handes waygh as in a ballaunce wickednes upon the earth.

346 APPENDIX

3 The ungodly are straungers even from their mothers wombe: assoone as they be borne, they go astray and speake a lye.

4 They have poyson (within them) lyke to the poyson of a serpent: they be lyke the deafe adder that stoppeth her eares, and wyll not heare the voyce of charmers, though he be never so skilfull in charming.

5 Breake their teeth O Lorde in their mouthes: smite a sunder the chawe bones of Lions O God.

6 Let them be dissolved as into water, let them come to naught of them selves: and when they shoote their ar- rowes, let them be as broken.

7 Let them creepe away lyke a snayle that foorthwith con- sumeth to naught: or lyke the untimely fruite of a woman, let them not see the sunne.

8 As a greene thorne (kindled with fyre, goeth out) before your pottes be made whot: even so let a furious rage bring him to naught.

9 The righteous wyll rejoyce when he seeth the venge- aunce: he wyll washe his foote steppes in the blood of the ungodly.

10 And every man shall say, veryly there is a rewarde for the righteous: doubtlesse there is a God that judgeth in the earth.

II. Metrical Versions

BEZE PSALM 58

Notre vous conseillers qui estes Liguez & bandez contre moy, Dites un peu en bonne foy, Est-ce justice que vous faites? Enfans d'Adam, vous meslez-vous De faire la raison a tous?

Aincois vos ames desloyales Ne pensent qu'a meschancete, Et ne pesez qu'inquite

APPENDIX 347

10 En vos balances inegales:

Car les meschans des qu'ils sont nez Du Seigneur sont alienez.

lis ne sont depuis leur naissance Que se fornuoyer en mentant: 15 Et portent du venim autant

Qu'un serpent tout plein de nuisance, Ou qu'un aspic sourd, & bouchant Son oreille encontre le chant.

Tel n'oit la voix magicienne 20 Des enchanteurs, tant soyent prudens:

Casse-leur la gueule & les dents, O Dieu, par la puissance tienne: Romps la machoire aux lionceaux Qui ont, O Dieu, le coeur si faux.

25 Ainsi que 1'eau courant grand'erre,

D'eux-mesmes ils s'ecouleront:

Et les traicts qu'ils descoucheront,

Tomberont en pieces a terre.

Ils se fondront a la facon 30 Qu'on voit tarir le limacon:

Ainsi que Tenfant qui trespasse, Sans avoir veu jour ne clarte, Comme un fruit hors sa meurete : II faut que Dieu brise & fracasse 5 Leurs jeunes espines, devant

Qu'elles s'eslevent plus avant.

Adonc tout plein d'esjouissance L'innocent qu'on a oppresse Voyant desrompu & casse ) Le pervers par juste vengeance,

Dedans le sang se baignera De ce meschant: Et puis dira,

L'innocent ne perd point sa peine, C'est un poinct du tout asseure: 5 Quoy que le juste ait endure,

348 APPENDIX

C'est une chose bien certaine, Qu il est un Dieu qui juge ici Les bons & les mauvais aussi.

STERNHOLD-HOPKINS PSALM 58

Ye Rulers which are put in trust

To judge of wrong and right: Be all your judgements true and just,

Not knowing meede or might? 5 Nay, in your hearts ye marke and muse,

In mischief e to consent: And where you should true justice use,

Your hands to bribes are bent.

This wicked sort in their birth day 10 Have erred on this wise:

And from their mothers wombe alway

Have used craft and lies. In them the poyson and the breath Of serpents doe appeare: 15 Yea, like the Adder that is deafe,

And fast doth stop his eare.

Because he will not heare the voice Of one that charmeth well:

No, though he were the chiefe of choyce, 20 And did therein excell.

O God, breake thou their teethe at once, Within their mouth throughout:

The tuskes that in their great jaw bones Like Lyons whelps hang out.

25 Let them consume away and waste,

As waters runne forth-right: The shafts that they doe shoote in haste, Let them be broke in flight.

APPENDIX 349

As snailes doe waste within the shell, 30 And unto slime doe runne:

As one before his time that fell, And never saw the Sunne.

Before the thornes that now are yong, To bushes big shall grow: 35 The stormes of anger waxing strong,

Shall take them ere they know. The just shall joy, it doth them good,

That God doth vengeance take : And they shall wash their feete in blood 40 Of them that him forsake.

Then shall the world shew forth and tell,

That good men have reward: And that a God on earth doth dwell,

That justice doth regard.

SANDYS PSALM 58

Pernicious Counsellors! Give you Sincere advise? to Justice true? Or Virtue but in show pursue?

Your Hearts are still on Mischief bent; 5 Your Hands impure and violent;

Nor favour Truth, nor Wrong prevent.

Even from the womb they blindly stray; Borne, and perverted in one day; Lie, slander, flatter, and betray:

10 Like Serpents with black poyson swell;

And charm th'inchanter ne're so well, More deaf than Asps, his Charms repell.

Lord, slit their Tongues, before they speak; Strike out their Teeth, which tear the Weak; 15 And the young Lions grinders break.

350 APPENDIX

As Sun-beat Snow, so let them thaw;

And when their weakned Bowes they draw,

Let their crackt Arrowes flie like straw.

Let them like Snailes consume away; 220 And as untimely Births decay,

Which never saw the cheerfull Day.

Before their pots can feele the brier, God in the Whirl-wind of his Ire, Shall blast alive, and burn with fire.

25 Sinne with Revenge at length shall meet;

The Godly shall rejoice to see't; And in their blood shall wash their feet.

Then erring Mortals shall confesse, There are Rewards for Righteousnesse, 30 And Plagues for such as doe transgresse.

TATE AND BRADY PSALM 58

Speak, O ye Judges of the Earth,

if just your Sentence be, Or, must not Innocence appeal

to Heavn from your Decree? 5 Your wicked Hearts and Judgments are

alike by Malice sway'd: Your griping Hands by weighty Bribes

to Violence betray'd.

To Virtue Strangers from the Womb, 10 their Infant-steps went wrong:

They prattled Slander, and in Lies employ'd their lisping Tongue. No Serpent of parch'd Africk's breed does ranker Poyson bear; 15 The drowsie Adder will as soon

unlock his sullen Ear.

APPENDIX 351

Unmov'd by good Advice, and deaf

as Adders they remain; From whom the skilful Charmer's Voice 20 can no Attention gain.

Defeat, O God, their threatening Rage,

and timely break their Pov/r: Disarm these growing Lion's Jaws,

e'er practis'd to devour.

25 Let now their Insolence, at height,

like ebbing Tides be spent; Their shiver'd Darts deceive their Aim

when they their Bow have bent. Like Snails let them dissolve to Slime; 30 like hasty Births become,

Unworthy to behold the Sun, and Dead within the Womb.

E'er Thorns can make the Flesh-pots boil, tempestuous Wrath shall come 35 From God, and snatch 'em hence, alive,

to their eternal Doom. The Righteous shall rejoyce to see

their Crimes such Vengeance meet, And Saints in Persecutors Blood, 40 shall dip their harmless Feet.

Transgressors then with Grief shall see

just men Rewards obtain; And own a God whose Justice will

the guilty Earth arraign.

WATTS PSALM 58

Judges, who rule the World by Laws, Will ye despise the righteous Cause,

When th'injur'd Poor before you stands? Dare ye condemn the righteous Poor, And let rich Sinners 'scape secure,

While Gold and Greatness bribe your Hands?

352 APPENDIX

Have ye forgot or never knew That God will judge the Judges too?

High in the Heavens his Justice reigns; 10 Yet you invade the Rights of God, And send your bold Decrees abroad

To bind the Conscience in your Chains.

A poison'd Arrow is your Tongue, The Arrow sharp, the Poison strong, 15 And Death attends where e'er it wounds:

You hear no Counsels, Cries or Tears; So the deaf Adder stops her Ears

Against the Power of charming Sounds.

Break out their Teeth, Eternal God, 20 Those Teeth of Lions dy'd in Blood;

And crush the Serpents in the Dust: As empty Chaff, when Whirlwinds rise, Before the sweeping Tempest flies, So let their Hopes and Names be lost.

25 Th'Almighty thunders from the Sky,

Their Grandeur melts, their Titles die, As Hills of Snow dissolve and run,

Or Snails that perish in their Slime,

Or Births that come before their Time, 30 Vain Births, that never see the Sun.

Thus shall the Vengeance of the Lord Safety and Joy to Saints afford;

And all that hear shall join and say, "Sure there's a God that rules on high, 35 "A God that hears his children cry,

"And will their Sufferings well repay."

SMART PSALM 58

Ye congregation of the tribes, On justice do you set your mind;

And are ye free from guile and bribes Ye judges of mankind?

APPENDIX 353

5 Nay, ye of frail and mortal mould

Imagine mischief in your heart; Your suffrages and selves are sold Unto the gen'ral mart.

Men of unrighteous seed betray 10 Perverseness from their mother's womb;

As soon as they can run astray, Against the truth presume.

They are with foul infection stain'd, Ev'n with the serpent's taint impure; 15 Their ears to blest persuasion chain'd,

And lock'd against her lure.

Tho' Christ himself the pipe should tune,

They will not to the measure tread, Nor will they with his grief commune 20 Tho' tears of blood he shed.

Lord, humanize their scoff and scorn,

And their malevolence defeat; Of water and the spirit born

Let grace their change compleat.

25 Let them with pious ardour burn,

And make thy holy church their choice; To thee with all their passions turn, And in thy light rejoice.

As quick as lightning to its mark, 30 So let thy gracious angel speed;

And take their spirits in thine ark To their eternal mead.

The righteous shall exult the more As he such pow'rful mercy sees, 35 Such wrecks and ruins safe on shore,

Such tortur'd souls at ease.

So that a man shall say, no doubt,

The penitent has his reward; There is a God to bear him out, 40 And he is Christ our Lord.

354 APPENDIX

KEBLE PSALM 58

Will ye maintain indeed The scorn'd and smother'd right? At your award, ye mortal seed, Shall equity have might?

5 Nay, but in heart ye frame

All evil: in all lands Ye weigh, and measure out, and aim The rapine of your hands.

As aliens from the womb 10 Th'ungodly start aside;

E'en from their mothers' breasts they roam, Their false hearts wandering wide.

A loathsome gall they yield, As gall of aspic fell; 15 Like the deaf adder, who hath seal'd

His ear against the spell;

Whom whisperers ne'er might take, Nor wily sorcerer win With deepest lore.— Almighty, break 20 Their teeth, their lips within.

Come shiver with strong arm The lion's jaws, O Lord! This way and that, to shame and harm As water they are pour'd.

25 Each arrow they would shoot

Falls shiver'd from the bow; They pass like melting snail, or fruit Of some untimely throe.

They ne'er saw morning ray: — 30 Yes— ere your cauldrons know

The thorn, His winds shall sweep away Green wood and brands that glow.

APPENDIX 355

The just in joyful mood Th'avenging storm will view, 35 And wash his footsteps in the blood

Of yon rebellious crew;

Till man on earth shall cry, "The righteous soul hath yet "His meed: O yet a God on high 40 "To judge the world is set."

356

SOURCES

In the third volume of his edition of Sidney's Works (Cam- bridge, 1923) Feuillerat printed Psalms 1-43 from the Pens- hurst MS. and gave (often inaccurately) variant readings from eight other manuscripts. Since that date five more manu- scripts have come to light. I am very much indebted to Pro- fessor William Ringler, who very generously provided me with a complete list of the manuscripts known to him some time before the publication of his own new edition of The Poems of Sir Philip Sidneij (Oxford, 1962). The fourteen manuscripts are:

(A) Rt. Hon. Viscount de Lisle, v.c, g.c.m.g., Pens- hurst Place

(B) Bodleian, Rawlinson poet. 25

(C) Bodleian, Rawlinson poet. 24

(D) Wadham College, Oxford, 25

(E) Queen's College, Oxford, 341

(F) Trinity College, Cambridge, O. 1.51

(G) Trinity College, Cambridge, R. 3.16 (H) British Museum, Add. 12048

(I) British Museum, Add. 12047

(/) Dr. B. E. Juel-Jensen, Headington, Oxford

(K) British Museum, Add. 46372

(L) Huntington Library, HM 100

(M) Huntington Library, HM 117

(N) Bibliotheque de TUniversite de Paris, 1110

Professor Ringler's aim has been to reconstruct the wording of Sidney's original text of Psalms 1-43 by eliminating the Countess of Pembroke's later revisions. I, on the other hand,

sources 357

print from A the finally revised form of the text of Psalms 1-150. Sidney's holograph is lost and Ringler therefore used B as his copy-text. This manuscript, although copied by Dr. Samuel Woodford as late as 1694-5, is a careful transcript of a damaged original that was the Countess of Pembroke's working copy. The Woodford MS. is unique in preserving the original versions of thirty psalms later crossed out and of seven others marked for partial revision. Unfortunately the manu- script is incomplete and Psalms 88-102 and 130-150 are wanting.

A large intermediate group of manuscripts (C, D, E, G, H> K, L, M, and N) contain revised versions of the majority of these psalms but only A and / (which was copied from A) contain all the final revisions. F is unusual in that its versions of Psalms 1-26 contain many readings found elsewhere only in the intermediate group of manuscripts, while its versions of Psalms 27-150 are clearly copied from A, though with a large number of additional scribal errors. I contains a carelessly transcribed selection of eighty-two psalms arranged in arbi- trary order. I have therefore used A as my copy-text and in the case of manifest errors have adopted the readings of B or, where B is defective, of K.

A number of psalms appear in earlier or variant versions as follows: in B only 44, 46, 50, 53, 58, 60, 62, 63, 64, 69, 71, 80, 86, 105, 108, 117; in B and Z, 68; in I only, 89 and 113; in B, Z, K, and N, 75; in B, E, H, Z, and L, 122; in B, C, D, E, G, H, K, L, M, and N, sections G, H, S, W, of 119; in G and M, 120-127 inclusive; in IV, 131. In addition, the original of B also contained earlier versions of 49, 70, 76, 85, 110, 113, and 118, which were later marginally emended, as were the final stanzas of Psalms 1, 16, 22, 23, 26, 29, and 31. In this edition the original title page, which is wanting in both A and J, is taken from C. Psalms 1-3 are wanting in A, and as / was not available for inspection at the time of going to press, I have printed these versions from K. The revised version of the final stanza of Psalm 1 is preserved only in J and is reprinted here from Professor Ringler's edition (op. cit., p. 270 n.). / includes a unique dedicatory poem to Queen Elizabeth and the Count- ess of Pembroke's "To the Angell Spirit of the most excellent Sir Phillip Sydney," an earlier draft of which has been hitherto

358 SCOURCES

incorrectly attributed to Samuel Daniel. It is probable that these two introductory poems, as well as Psalms 1-3, appeared on the leaves that are now lacking in A.

Verbal emendations to the text of the Penshurst MS., in- dicated by reference to the psalm and line number, are listed below. In each case the rejected reading is placed in paren- theses:

8.8 ever (over), 9.38 stay (stray), 9.56 of (on), 10.10 That (The), 10.47 hoodwinkt (hudwinck), 12.2 doe (doth), 15.3 of life an (a life of), 17.3 with (to), 17.9 When (Where), 17.28 still (do), 18.54 by thee orecome (orecome by thee), 18.70 that (as), 18.80 inchaine (enchain'd), 21.30 have hated (hated), 25.43 names (name), 26.12 I would not once (will not), 28.28 safety (safely), 33.7 harp (hart), 33.9 Viols (Vialls), 33.42 Tymes tyme (Tymes, tymes), 34.61 approach (appoach), 34.67 true sight (sight), 36.26 shall we (we shall), 37.64 to begging (a begging), 39.35 makst (makes), 43.17 Tabernacles (Tabernacle), 44.39 See (Loe), 47.14 Kings . . . your (King . . . you), 49.10 though greate (great), 55.11 Deaths (death), 56.42 Whither (Whether), 58.5 O no (No), 59.32 They (Their), 59.60 a-buy (aby), 62.28 tis (is), 65.17 doth (doe), 65.35 doe (doth), 66.54 from (in), 68.77 tme (thee), 69.23 Mote (Note), 69.45 un- sunck, unmyred (from such & myred), 76.30 do (doth), 88.22 Whom (Who), 88.43 will (wilt), 88.69 fettling (fretting), 89.15 praises (praise), 89.71 first-born (first-bornes), 89.120 ayde (age), 93.1 in (with), 94.48 the (they), 96.35 feedeth (fieldeth), 98.3 hath (have), 104.68 knowe (knowes), 106.18 wrought (nought), 107.11 wastes (coastes), 107.13 who (how), 109.69 thou, thou (thou), 118.19 God (Gods), 119(A). 6 still (self), ii9(F).29 with (will), 119 (L). 22 Will (Which), ii9(R).i4 upon (now upon), 124.13 ginn (grynn), 132.24 fear (Tear), 132.56 As (A), 137.32 flatt plaine (platt pais), 140.6 hoorde (hurd), 142.10 Lights not on one (Light not one), 145.60 then (thou).

359

BIBLIOGRAPHY

The following list indicates all works that make significant reference to the Psalms of Sir Philip Sidney and the Countess of Pembroke.

Addison, Joseph: Steele, Sir Richabd; and others: The Guardian, No. 18, April 1, 1713.

Ballard, George: Memoirs of Several Ladies of Great Britain. Oxford: 1752, pp. 259-64.

Baroway, Israel: "The Accentual Theory of Hebrew Pros- ody," Journal of English Literary History, Vol. 17, 1950,

PP. 115-35. Boas, F. S.: Sir Philip Sidney, Representative Elizabethan. New York: John De Graff, 1956; London: Staples Press,

1955, PP. 154-8.

Bourne, Henry R. Fox: A Memoir of Sir Philip Sidney. London: 1862, pp. 268-70.

Brooke, William T.: Old English Psalmody. London: Wil- liam Reeves, 1916, pp. 46-51.

Brown, Douglas, ed.: Selected Poems from George Herbert, with a few representative poems by his contemporaries. London: Hutchinson and Co., i960.

Butler, Samuel (Bishop of Lichfield) : Sidneiana. London: 1837.

Buxton, John: Sir Philip Sidney and the English Renaissance. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1954; London: Macmillan and Co., 1954, pp. 152-5.

Campbell, Lily Bess: Divine Poetry and Drama in Six- teenth-Century England. Berkeley: University of Calif or-

360 BIBLIOGRAPHY

nia Press, 1959; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,

1959, PP- 50-4.

Costello, Louisa: Memoirs of Eminent Englishwomen. Lon- don: R. Bentley, 1844. Vol. I, pp. 334-70.

Cotton, H.: "On Psalmody," The Christian Remembrancer, III, June 1821, pp. 327-31.

Drake, Nathan: Mornings in Spring. London: 1828. Vol. I, pp. 113-211.

Farr, Edward: Select Poetry, Chiefly Devotional, of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. Cambridge: 1845. Vol. I, pp.

53-85. Feuillerat, Albert: The Complete Works of Sir Philip

Sidney. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1912-

26. Vol. Ill, pp. viii-ix, 187-246, 408-21. Glass, H. A.: The Story of the Psalters from 154Q to 1885.

London: 1888, pp. 26-7. Grosart, the Rev. Alexander B.: The Complete Poems of

Sir Philip Sidney. 2 vols., London: 1873. 3 vols., London:

1877. H. T. R.: "Lady Mary Sidney and Her Writings," The Gen-

tlemans Magazine, XXIV, 1845, pp. 129-36, 254-9,

364-70. Harington, Henry: Nugae Antiquae. London: 1779. Vol. I,

pp. 277-96, Vol. II, p. 159. Heltzel, Virgil B., and Hudson, Hoyt H., eds.: Nobilis or a

View of the Life and Death of a Sidney and Lessus

Lugubris by Thomas Moffet (1553-1604). San Marino,

California: Huntington Library Publications, 1940, p. 74;

Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1940. Holland, John: The Psalmists of Britain. London: 1843. Vol.

I, pp. 194-218. Julian, John: A Dictionary of Hymnology. New York: Dover

Publications, 1957; London: John Murray, 1907. Luce, Alice: The Countess of Pembroke's Antonie. Weimar:

1897. Macdonald, George: England's Antiphon. London: 1868,

pp. 86-90. Martz, Louis L.: The Poetry of Meditation. New Haven:

Yale University Press, 1954, pp. 273-8; Oxford: Oxford

University Press, 1955.

BIBLIOGRAPHY 36 1

McLure, Norman E., ed.: The Letters and Epigrams of Sir John Harington. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1930, p. 89; Oxford: Oxford University Press,

1930- Montgomery, Robert L.: Symmetry and Sense; The Poetry

of Sir Philip Sidney. Austin: University of Texas Press,

1961, pp. 20-6.

Nicholson, Brinsley: "The Sidneian Psalms/' The Athe- naeum, July 16, 1881, p. 79.

Pratt, Waldo S.: The Music of the French Psalter of 1562. New York: Columbia University Press, 1939; Oxford: Ox- ford University Press, 1939.

Riese, Teut: Die englische Psalmdichtung im sechzehnten Jahrhundert. Minister i. W.: H. Buschmann, Abt. Helios- Verlag, 1937.

Ringler, William: The Poems of Sir Philip Sidney. New York: Oxford University Press, 1962.

Rohr-Sauer, Philipp von: English Metrical Psalms from 1600-1660. Freiburg i. Br.: Poppen and Ortmann, 1938.

Ruskin, John: The Works of John Ruskin, edited by E. T. Cook and A. Wedderburn. New York: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1903-12; London: George Allen and Unwin, 1903-12, Vol. XXXI, pp. xxi-xxxv, 103-320.

Singer, Samuel W., ed.: The Psalmes of David translated into . . . verse . . . by Sir Philip Sidney, and . . . the Countess of Pembroke. London: Chiswick Press, 1823.

Smith, Hallett: "English Metrical Psalms in the Sixteenth Century and Their Literary Significance," Huntington Library Quarterly, Vol. 9, No. 3, May 1946, pp. 268-71.

Spencer, Theodore: "The Poetry of Sir Philip Sidney/' Jour- nal of English Literary History, Vol. 12, December 1945,

PP. 254-5- Stevens, John: Music and Poetry in the Early Tudor Court.

London: Methuen and Co., 1961. Summers, Joseph H.: George Herbert, His Religion and Art.

Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1954; London,

Chatto and Windus, 1954. Tannenbaum, Samuel A.: Sir Philip Sidney (a concise

bibliography). Elizabethan Bibliographies, No. 23. New

York: Samuel Aaron Tannenbaum, 1941.

362 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Wallace, Malcolm W.: The Life of Sir Philip Sidney. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1916; Cambridge: Cam- bridge University Press, 1915, pp. 323-5.

Walpole, Horace: A Catalogue of Royal and Noble Authors of England, edited by Thomas Park. London: J. Scott, 1806, Vol. II, pp. 190-8.

Warren, Clarence H.: Sir Philip Sidney; A Study in Con- flict. London: Thomas Nelson and Sons, 1936, pp. 160-1.

Wilson, Mona: Sir Philip Sidney. New York: Oxford Uni- versity Press, 1932; London: Gerald Duckworth and Co.,

1931. Young, Frances Campbell (Berkeley): Mary Sidney,

Countess of Pembroke. London: David Nutt, 1912.

Zouch, Thomas: Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Sir

Philip Sidney. New York: 1808, pp. 398-400.

UNIV. OF FLORIDA

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