5

Of sun, or moon, or star throughout the year,

Or man, or woman. Yet I argue not
Against Heav’n’s hand or will, nor bate a jot
Of heart or hope; but still bear

up

and steer Right onward. What supports me, dost thou ask?

The conscience, Friend, to’have lost them overply'd

In liberty's defense, my noble task,
Of which all Europe talks from side to side.
This thought might lead me through the world's

vain mask
Content though blind, had I no better guide.

II

XXIII.

* On his deceased WIFE.

Methought I saw my late espoused saint

Brought 7. Against Heav'n's hand &c] It Whereof all Europe rings from fide was at first in the Manuscript God's

to fide. band: and one jot in the printed This thought might lead me through copies is a jot in the Manuscript.

this world's vain mask 8. but ftill bear up and steer Content though blind, had I no Right onward. ] In the Manu

other guide. script it was at first,

The Manuscript has the advantage but still attend to steer over the printed editions, unless Uphillward.

rings may be thought better than talks from fide to side.

There is 12. Of which all Europe talks something very pleasing, as well as

from side to fide. &c] In the very noble, in this conscious virtue printed copies these lines are thus, and magnanimity of a great poet;

and

T

T
Brought to me like Alcestis from the

grave, Whom Jove's great fon to her glad husband gave, Rescued from death by force, though pale and

faint. Mine, as whom walh'd from spot of child-bed taint

5 Purification in the old Law did fave, And such, as yet once more I trust to have

Full fight of her in Heav'n without restraint, Came vested all in white, pure as her mind :

Her face was veil'd, yet to my fancied fight

Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shin'd So clear, as in no face with more delight.

But O as to embrace me the inclin'd, I wak’d, she fled, and day brought back my night.

PSALMS.

2.

and for the same reason no part of like Alcestis from the grave, Mr. Pope's works affords greater &c] Alcestis was the wife of Adpleasure than what he says of him- metus king of Thessaly, who beself and his writings, especially in ing dangerously ill obtain'd by the his imitation of the first Satire of means of Apollo, that he mould Horace, and in his Satires intitled recover, if any body else would from the year 1738.

die in his stead. His wife volun

tarily offer'd herself, but Hercules * This was his second wife, Ca- intervening rescued her from death, tharine the daughter of Captain and brought her back again to her Woodcock of Hackney, who lived husband. Our author borrows the with him not above a year after allusion from a play of Euripides their marriage, and died in child called Alcestis. bed of a daughter.

R4

BLA

248
P S A · L M M S.

PSALMI. Done into verse, 1653.
Less’d is the man who hath not walk'd astray

In counsel of the wicked, and i'th' way
Of sinners hath not stood, and in the seat
Of scorners hath not fat. But in the

great Jehovah's law is ever his delight,

5 And in his law he studies day and night. He shall be as a tree which planted grows By watry streams, and in his season knows To yield his fruit, and his leaf shall not fall, And what he takes in hand shall prosper all. Not so the wicked, but as chaff which fann'd The wind drives, so the wicked shall not stand In judgment, or abide their trial then, Nor finners in th' assembly of just men. For the Lord knows th’upright way of the juft

, 15 And the way of bad men to ruin must. Ps A L. II. Done Aug. 8. 1653. Terzette.

HY do the Gentiles tumult, and the nations

Muse a vain thing, the kings of th’earth upstand With pow'r, and princes in their congregations Lay deep their plots together through each land

Against

W

Against the Lord and his Messiah. dear ?

5 Let us break off, say they, by strength of hand Their bonds, and cast from us, no more to wear, Their twisted cords: He who in Heav'n doth

dwell Shall laugh, the Lord shall scoff them, then severe Speak to them in his wrath, and in his fell

And fierce ire trouble them; but I, saith he,

Anointed have my King (though ye rebel)
On Sion my holy' hill. A firm decree

I will declare; the Lord to me hath faid
Thou art my Son, I have begotten thee

15 This day; ask of me, and the grant is made;

As thy poffeffion I on thee bestow

Th’Heathen, and as thy conquest to be sway'd Earth’s utmost bounds: them shalt thou bring full

low With iron scepter bruis’d, and them disperse 20

Like to a potter's vessel shiver'd so.
And now be wise at length ye Kings averse,

Be taught ye Judges of the earth; with fear

Jehovah serve, and let your joy converse With trembling; kiss the Son left he appear 25

In

In
anger

and
ye perifh in the

way,
If once his wrath take fire like fuel fere,
Happy all those who have in him their stay.

L

How many

5

ORD how many are my foes !

!
those
That in arms against me rise!

Many are they
That of my life distrustfully thus say,
No help for him in God there lies.
But thou Lord art my shield, my glory,

Thee through my story
Th' exalter of my head I count;

;
Aloud I cry'd
Unto Jehovah, he full soon reply'd
And heard me from his holy mount.
I lay and slept, I wak'd again,

For
my

sustain
Was the Lord. Of

The populous rout
I fear not, though incamping round about

10

many millions

15

They