FROM HORACE. ALL barbarous people and their princes too, The very wandering Scythians do. FROM HORACE. THE power that did create can change the scene FROM EURIPIDES. THIS is true liberty, when freeborn men FROM HORACE. LAUGHING, to teach the truth, What hinders? As some teachers give to boys FROM HORACE. JOKING decides great things. Stronger and better oft than earnest can. FROM SOPHOCLES. "TIS you that say it, not I. You do the deeds, And your ungodly deeds find me the words. Psalms.' PSALM 1. DONE INTO VERSE, 1653. BLESS'D is the man who hath not walk'd astray Of sinners hath not stood, and in the seat And in his law he studies day and night. PSALM II. DONE AUG. 8, 1653. TERZETTE. WHY do the Gentiles tumult, and the nations 1 Milton's father composed Psalm tunes; and metrical Psalmody was very popular in Milton's time. Against the Lord and his Messiah dear? 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, said He, Anointed have my King (though ye rebel) On Sion my holy hill. A firm decree I will declare; the Lord to me hath said Thou art my Son, I have begotten thee This day; ask of me, and the grant is made; As thy possession I on thee bestow The Heathen, and as thy conquest to be sway'd Earth's utmost bounds: then shalt thou bring full low With iron sceptre bruised, and them disperse Like to a potter's vessel shiver'd so. And now be wise at length, ye Kings averse, If once his wrath take fire like fuel sere. Many are they That of my life distrustfully thus say But thou, Lord, art my shield, my glory, Th' exalter of my head I count: Unto Jehovah, He full soon replied Was the Lord. Of many millions The populous rout I fear not, though encamping round about On the cheek-bone all my foes, Of men abhorr'd Hast broke the teeth. This held was from the Lord; Thy blessing on thy people flows. PSALM IV. Aug. 10, 1653. ANSWER me when I call, And set at large; now spare, Now pity me, and hear my earnest pray'r. Great ones, how long will ye My glory have in scorn, How long be thus forborn Still to love vanity, To love, to seek, to prize Things false and vain, and nothing else but lies? Yet know the Lord hath chose, Chose to Himself apart, The good and meek of heart; i The verb used as a substantive. "So 'disturb,' in P. L, VI. 549."-TODD. |