Where the great vision of the guarded mount1209
Looks toward Namancos1210 and Bayona’s 1211 hold—
Look homeward, Angel, now, and melt with ruth,1212
And O, ye dolphins, waft 1213 the hapless youth.
Weep no more, woeful shepherds, weep no more,
For Lycidas your sorrow is not dead,
Sunk though he be beneath the wat’ry floor!
So sinks the day-star 1214 in the ocean bed
And yet anon1215 repairs 1216 his drooping head
And tricks1217 his beams, and with new spangled ore 1218
Flames in the forehead of the morning sky.
So Lycidas sunk low, but mounted high,
Through the dear might of Him that walked the waves!
Where other groves and other streams along
With nectar pure his oozy 1219 locks he laves1220
And hears the unexpressive 1221 nuptial song
In the blest kingdoms meek, of joy and love.
There entertain him all the saints above,
In solemn 1222 troops,1223 and sweet societies 1224
That sing, and singing in their glory move,1225
And wipe the tears forever from his eyes.
Now, Lycidas, the shepherds weep no more!
Henceforth thou art the genius 1226 of the shore
In thy large 1227 recompense,1228 and shalt be good
To all that wander in that perilous flood.
Thus sang the uncouth 1229 swain to th’ oaks and rills,1230
While the still morn went out with sandals gray.
He touched the tender stops of various quills,1231
With eager thought warbling his Doric 1232 lay.
And now the sun had stretched out 1233 all the hills,
And now was dropped into the western bay.
At last he rose and twitched 1234 his mantle blue:
Tomorrow to fresh woods, and pastures new.
THE FIFTH ODE OF HORACE, BOOK ONE
1646–48?
Quis multa gracilis te puer in rosa, rendered almost word for word, without rhyme, according to the Latin measure,1235 as near as the [English] language will permit.
What slender youth, bedewed with liquid odors,
Courts 1236 thee on roses in some pleasant cave,
Pyrrha? For whom bind’st thou
In wreaths thy golden hair,
Plain 1237 in thy neatness? 1238 O how oft shall he
On faith and changèd gods complain, and seas
Rough with black winds and storms
Unwonted 1239 shall admire,1240
Who now enjoys thee credulous 1241 all gold?
Who always vacant,1242 always amiable,
Hopes thee, of flattering gales
Unmindful? Hapless 1243 they
To whom thou, untried,1244 seem’st fair. Me in my vowed 1245
Picture 1246 the sacred wall declares t’ have hung 1247
My dank and drooping weeds 1248
To the stern god of sea.
ON THE NEW FORCERS OF CONSCIENCE, UNDER THE LONG PARLIAMENT
1647?
Because you have thrown off your prelate 1249 lord
And with stiff 1250 vows renounced his liturgy,1251
To seize the widowed whore, plurality 1252
From them whose sin ye envied, not abhorred,
Dare ye for this adjure1253 the civil sword
To force our consciences that Christ set free,
And ride us with a classic1254 hierarchy
Taught ye by mere A.S.1255 and Rutherford?1256
Men whose life, learning, faith, and pure intent
Would have been held in high esteem with Paul
Must now be named and printed heretics
By shallow Edwards1257 and Scotch what d’ye call.1258
But we do hope to find out all your tricks,
Your plots and packings, worse than those of Trent,1259
That so the Parliament
May with their wholesome and preventive shears
Clip your phylactries1260 (though bauk1261 your ears),
And succor our just fears
When they shall read this clearly in your charge:
New presbyter is but old priest writ large.
PSALMS 1–81262
August 1653
1
Blessed is the man who hath not walked astray
In counsel of the wicked, and i’ th’ way
Of sinners hath not stood, and in the seat
Of scorners hath not sat. But in the great
Jehovah’s Law is ever his delight,
And in His Law he studies day and night.
He shall be as a tree which, planted, grows
By wat’ry 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 1263 which fanned 1264
The wind drives, so the wicked shall not stand 1265
In judgment, or abide 1266 their trial then,
Nor sinners in the assembly of just men.
For the Lord knows th’ upright way of the just,
And the way of bad men to ruin1267 must.
2
Why do the gentiles1268 tumult,1269 and the nations
Muse1270 a vain thing? The kings of the earth upstand 1271
With power, and princes in their congregations 1272
Lay deep their plots together, through each land,
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 1273 them, then, severe,1274
Speak to them in His wrath, and in His fell 1275
And fierce 1276 ire 1277 trouble 1278 them. But I saith He
Anointed hath 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
Th’ heathen, and as thy conquest (to be swayed 1279 )
Earth’s utmost bounds. Them shalt thou bring full low,
With iron scepters bruised,1280 and them disperse
Like to a potter’s vessel, shivered so.
And now be wise at length,1281 ye kings averse,1282
Be taught, ye judges of the earth—with fear
Jehovah serve, and let your joy converse1283
With trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he appear
In anger and ye perish in the way,1284
If once his wrath take fire, like fuel sere.1285
Happy all those who have him in their stay.1286
3
When he1287 fled from Absalom.1288
Lord, how many are my foes,
How many 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 story1289
Th’ exalter of my head I count.
Aloud I cried
Unto Jehovah. He full soon1290 replied
And heard me from His holy mount.
I lay and slept, I waked again,
For my sustain
Was the Lord. Of many millions
The populous rout 1291
I fear not, though encamping round about
They pitch1292 against me their pavilions.1293
Rise, Lord. Save me, my God, for Thou
Hast smote 1294 ere now
On the cheek-bone all my foes,
Of men abhorred
Hast broke the teeth. This help was fr
om the Lord,
Thy blessing on Thy people flows.
4
Answer me when I call,
God of my righteousness.1295
In straits1296 and in distress
Thou didst me disenthrall 1297
And set at large.1298 Now spare,
Now pity me, and hear my earnest prayer.
Great ones, how long will ye
My glory have in scorn?
How long be this forborn1299
Still to love vanity,
To love, to seek, to prize
Things false and nothing else but lies?
Yet know the Lord hath chose,
Chose to Himself apart
The good and meek of heart
(For whom to choose He knows).
Jehovah from on high
Will hear my voice, what time1300 to Him I cry.
Be awed,1301 and do not sin.
Speak to your hearts alone,
Upon your beds, each one,
And be at peace within.
Offer the offerings just1302
Of righteousness, and in Jehovah trust.
Many there be that say
“Who yet will show us good?”
Talking like this world’s brood! 1303
But Lord, thus let me pray:
On us lift up the light,
Lift up the favor of Thy count’nance bright.
Into my heart more joy
And gladness Thou has put
Than when a year of glut1304
Their stores1305 doth over-cloy1306
And from their plenteous grounds1307
With vast increase their corn1308 and wine abounds.
In peace at once will I
Both lay me down and sleep,
For Thou alone dost keep
Me safe, where ere I lie.
As in a rocky cell
Thou, Lord, alone in safety mak’st me dwell.
5
Jehovah, to my words give ear,
My meditation1309 weigh,1310
The voice of my complaining hear,
My King and God, for unto Thee I pray.
Jehovah, Thou my early voice
Shalt in the morning hear.
I’ th’ morning I to Thee, with choice,1311
Will rank 1312 my prayers and watch till Thou appear.
For Thou art not a God that takes
In wickedness delight.
Evil with Thee no biding 1313 makes.
Fools or madmen stand 1314 not within Thy sight.
All workers of iniquity 1315
Thou hat’st, and them unblessed
Thou wilt destroy that speak a lie.
The bloodi’ and guileful 1316 man God doth detest.
But I will in Thy mercies dear,
Thy numerous mercies go
Into Thy house, I in Thy fear 1317
Will towards Thy holy temple worship low.1318
Lord, lead me in Thy righteousness,
Lead me because of those
That do observe 1319 if I transgress.1320
Set Thy right ways before 1321 where my step goes.
For in his 1322 falt’ring mouth unstable 1323
No word is firm or sooth:1324
Their inside troubles miserable,
An open grave their throat; their tongue they smooth.
God, find them guilty, let them fall
By their own counsels quelled,1325
Push them in their rebellions all
Still on, for against Thee they have rebelled.
Then all who trust in Thee shall bring
Their joy, while Thou from blame
Defend’st them. They shall ever sing
And shall triumph in Thee, who love Thy name.
For Thou, Jehovah, wilt be found
To bless the just man still,1326
As with a shield. Thou will surround
Him with Thy lasting favor and good will.
6
Lord, in Thine anger do not reprehend 1327 me,
Nor in Thy hot displeasure me correct.
Pity me, Lord, for I am much deject,
Am very weak and faint. Heal and amend me,
For all my bones that even with anguish ache
Are troubled, yea, my soul is troubled sore.
And Thou, O Lord, how long? Turn, Lord, restore 1328
My soul, O save me for Thy goodness sake,
For in death is no remembrance of Thee.
Who in the grave can celebrate Thy praise?
Wearied I am with sighing out my days,
Nightly my couch1329 I make a kind of sea,
My bed I water with my tears, mine eye
Through grief consumes,1330 is waxen 1331 old and dark
I’ th’ midst of all mine enemies, that mark.1332
Depart all ye that work iniquity! 1333
Depart from me, for the voice of my weeping
The Lord hath heard, the Lord hath heard my prayer,
My supplication 1334 with acceptance fair
The Lord will own,1335 and have me in His keeping.
Mine enemies shall be all blank 1336 and dashed 1337
With much confusion, then grown red with shame
They shall return in haste the way they came,
And in a moment shall be quite abashed.1338
7
Upon the words of Chush, the Benjamite,1339 against him.1340
Lord, my God, to Thee I fly,
Save me and secure me under
Thy protection, while I cry,
Lest as a lion (and no wonder)
He haste to tear my soul asunder—
Tearing, and no rescue nigh.
Lord, my God, if I have thought
Or done this, if wickedness
Be in my hands, if I have wrought 1341
Ill to him that meant me peace,
Or to him have rendered 1342 less
And not freed my foe for naught,1343
Let th’ enemy pursue my soul
And overtake it, let me tread 1344
My life down to the earth and roll
In the dust my glory dead—
In the dust, and there outspread
Lodge 1345 it with dishonor foul.
Rise, Jehovah, in Thine ire,1346
Rouse Thyself amidst the rage
Of my foes, that urge 1347 like fire,
And wake 1348 for me, their furi’1349 assuage.1350
Judgment here1351 thou didst engage1352
And command, which I desire.
So th’ assemblies of each nation
Will surround Thee, seeking right.
Thence to Thy glorious habitation
Return on high, and in their sight.
Jehovah judgeth most upright
All people, from this world’s foundation.1353
Judge me, Lord, be judge in this
According to my righteousness
And the innocence which is
Upon me. Cause at length to cease
Of evil men the wickedness,
And their power, that do amiss.1354
But the just establish1355 fast,1356
Since Thou art the just God that tries1357
Hearts and reins.1358 On God is cast
My defence, and in Him lies,
In Him who both just and wise
Saves th’ upright of heart at last.1359
God is a just judge, and severe,1360
And God is every day offended.
If th’ unjust will not forbear 1361
His sword He whets,1362 His bow hath bended
Already, and for him intended
The tools of death, that waits1363 Him near.
(His arrows purposely made He
For them that persecute.)1364 Behold,
He1365 travels big 1366 with vanity,
Trouble he hath conceived of old
As in a womb, and from that mould
Hath at length brought forth a lie.
> He digged a pit, and delved 1367 it deep,
And fell into the pit he made.
His mischief that due1368 course1369 doth keep,
Turns on his head, and his ill trade 1370
Of violence will undelayed
Fall on his crown1371 with ruin steep.1372
Then will I Jehovah’s praise
According to His justice raise,1373
And sing the name and deity
Of Jehovah, the most high.
8
O Jehovah, our Lord, how wondrous great
And glorious is Thy name through all the earth!
So as above the Heav’ns Thy praise to set
Out of the tender mouths of latest birth.
Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings Thou
The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems Page 11