FRANCIS DAVISON.

FRANCIS DAVISON is chiefly known as editor of and principal contributor to the "Poetical Rhapsody," a valuable collection of miscellaneous verses, first published in 1602. The two first of the pleasing specimens of his poetical abilities, here given, are from his "Divine Poems."

FRANCIS DAVISON.

REPENTANCE.

THOUGH late, my heart, yet turn at last,
And shape thy course another way;
"Tis better lose thy labour past,

Than follow on to sure decay :

What though thou long have stray'd awry? In hope of grace, for mercy cry.

Though weight of sin doth press thee down, And keep thee grovelling on the ground; Though black Despair, with angry frown, Thy wit and judgment quite confound; Though time and wit have been misspent ; Yet grace is left, if thou repent.

Weep then, my heart; weep still, and still;
Nay, melt to floods of flowing tears;
Send out such shrieks as heaven may fill,
And pierce thine angry Judge's ears;

And let thy soul, that harbours sin,
Bleed streams of blood to drown it in.

Then shall thine angry Judge's face
To cheerful looks itself apply;
Then shall thy soul be fill'd with grace,

And fear of death constrain'd to fly :
Even so, my God! oh, when ? how long?
I would-but sin is too, too strong.

I strive to rise-sin keeps me down;
I fly from sin-sin follows me:
My will doth reach at glory's crown-
Weak is my strength, it will not be:
See, how my fainting soul doth pant!
Oh let thy strength supply my want.

SAPPHICS UPON THE PASSION OF CHRIST.

HATRED eternal, furious revenging,
Merciless raging, bloody persecuting,
Scandalous speeches, odious revilings,
Causeless abhorring;

Impious scoffings by the very abjects,
Dangerous threatening by the priests anointed,
Death full of torment in a shameful order,
Christ did abide here.

He, that in glory was above the angels,
Changed his glory for an earthly carcass,
Yielded his glory to a sinful outcast,

Glory refusing.

Me, that in bondage many sins retained,

He for his goodness-for his goodness onlyBrought from hell torments to the joys of heaven, Not to be number'd;