ENGLISH POEMS. A PARAPHRASE ON PSALM CXIV. This and the following Psalm were done by the Author at fifteen years old (1624). WHEN the blest seed of Terah's faithful son Of Him that ever was and aye shall last, PSALM CXXXVI. LET us with a gladsome mind Ever faithful, ever sure. Let us blaze his name abroad, O let us his praises tell, Who doth the wrathful tyrants quell; For his, &c. Who with his miracles doth make Amazed heaven and earth to shake; For his, &c. Who by his wisdom did create The painted heavens so full of state; For his, &c. Who did the solid earth ordain To rise above the watery plain ; For his, &c. Who, by his all-commanding might, Did fill the new-made world with light; ΙΟ 19 For his, &c. And caused the golden-tressèd sun All the day long his course to run; 30 The hornèd moon to shine by night He, with his thunder-clasping hand, And, in despite of Pharao fell, He brought from thence his Israel; The ruddy waves he cleft in twain. Of the Erythræan main; For his, &c. The floods stood still, like walls of glass, For his, &c. But full soon they did devour The tawny king with all his power; His chosen people he did bless In the wasteful wilderness; For his, &c. In bloody battle he brought down He foiled bold Seon and his host, For his, &c. And large-limbed Og he did subdue, For his, &c. And to his servant Israel He gave their land, therein to dwell; For his, &c. 39 50 59 70 He hath, with a piteous eye, For his, &c. And freed us from the slavery Of the invading enemy; All living creatures he doth feed, Let us, therefore, warble forth His mighty majesty and worth ; That his mansion hath on high, ON THE DEATH OF A FAIR INFANT DYING Anno ætatis 17 (1626). I. O FAIREST flower, no sooner blown but blasted, That did thy cheek envermeil, thought to kiss, 79 90 II. For, since grim Aquilo, his charioteer, By boisterous rape the Athenian damsel got, Of long uncoupled bed and childless eld, Which 'mongst the wanton gods a foul reproach was held. III. So, mounting up in icy-pearlèd car, Through middle empire of the freezing air He wandered long, till thee he spied from far; But, all unwares, with his cold-kind embrace, IV. Yet art thou not inglorious in thy fate; But then transformed him to a purple flower: V. Yet can I not persuade me thou art dead, Or that thy corse corrupts in earth's dark womb, 20 30 |