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XXIII. ON HIS DECEASED WIFE.

METHOUGHT I saw my late espoused saint

Brought to me, like Alcestis, from the grave,

Whom Jove's great son to her glad husband gave, Rescued from death by force, tho' pale and faint. Mine, as whom wash'd from spot of child-bed taint Purification in the old Law did save,

And such, as yet once more I trust to have Full sight 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 sight Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shin'd So clear, as in no face with more delight.

But O, as to embrace me she inclin❜d,

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I wak'd, she fled, and day brought back my night.*

* The original various readings to the sonnets from the Cambridge MS. may be seen in Mr. Todd's edition of Milton's Poet. Works, (1809,) vol. vi. p. 500-3.

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PSALMS.

PSALM I. DONE INTO VERSE, 1653.

BLESS'D is the man who hath not walk'd astray
In counsel of the wicked, and i' th' way

Of sinners hath not stood,

Of scorners hath not sat.

and in the seat

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 watery 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 sinners in th' assembly of just men.

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For the Lord knows th' upright way of the just, 15 And the of bad men to ruin must.

way

PSALM II. DONE AUG. 8, 1653. TERZette.

WHY 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 the Lord and his Messiah dear?

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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 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

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Th' Heathen, and as thy conquest to be sway'd Earth's utmost bounds: them 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;
Be taught, ye Judges of the earth; with fear
Jehovah serve, and let your joy converse
With trembling; kiss the Son, lest he appear
anger, and ye perish in the way,

In

If once his wrath take fire like fuel sere.

Happy all those who have in them their stay.

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18 Heathen Warton in both editions reads 'The Heaven.' Todd.

PSALM III. AUG. 9, 1653.

WHEN HE FLED FROM ABSALOM.

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 story

Th' exalter of my head I count;

Aloud I cried

Unto Jehovah, he full soon replied
And heard me from his holy mount.

I lay and slept, I wak'd again,
For my sustain

Was the Lord. Of many millions

The populous rout

I fear not, though encamping round about They pitch against me their pavilions.

Rise, Lord, save me, my God, for thou

Hast smote ere now

On the cheek-bone all my foes,

Of men abhorr'd

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[Lord;

Hast broke the teeth. This help was from the

Thy blessing on thy people flows.

14 my sustain] The verb converted into a substantive. So 'disturb,' in P. L. vi. 549. Todd.

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PSALM IV. AUG. 10, 1653.

ANSWER me when I call,
God of my righteousness,
In straits and in distress
Thou didst me disenthrall

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,

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How long be thus forborne

Still to love vanity,

To love, to seek, to prize

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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;

(For whom to choose he knows)

Jehovah from on high

Will hear my voice what time to him I cry.

Be aw'd, and do not sin,

Speak to your hearts alone,

Upon your beds, each one,

And be at peace within.

Offer the offerings just

Of righteousness, and in Jehovah trust.

Many there be that say,

Who yet will show us good?

Talking like this world's brood;

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