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TO CYRIAC SKINNER.*

CYRIAC, whose grandsire, on the royal bench
Of British Themis, with no mean applause
Pronounc'd, and in his volumes taught, our laws,
Which others at their bar so often wrench;
To-day deep thoughts resolve with me to drench 5
In mirth that, after, no repenting draws;
Let Euclid rest, and Archimedes pause,
And what the Swede intends, and what the
French :

To measure life learn thou betimes, and know
Tow'rd solid good what leads the nearest way;
For other things mild Heaven a time ordains,
And disapproves that care, though wise in show,
That with superfluous burden loads the day,
And, when God sends a cheerful hour, refrains.

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LAWRENCE, of virtuous father virtuous son,
Now that the fields are dank, and ways are mire,
Where shall we sometimes meet, and by the fire
Help waste a sullen day, what may be won
From the hard season gaining ? time will run
On smoother, till Favonius re-inspire
The frozen earth, and clothe in fresh attire
The lily' and rose, that neither sow'd nor spun."
What neat repast shall feast us, light and choice,

Of Attic taste, with wine whence we may rise 10 To hear the lute well touch'd, or artful voice, Warble immortal notes, and Tuscan air?

He who of those delights can judge, and spare To interpose them oft, is not unwise.

This persecution of the Protestants in Piedmont broke out in 1655. In May, that year, Cromwell wrote several letters to the Duke of Savoy, and other potentates and states, complaining of that persecution. Echard tells us, that he proclaimed a fast, and caused large contributions to be gathered for them in England; that he sent his agents to the Duke of Savoy, a prince with whom he had no correspondence or commerce, and, the next year, so engaged Cardinal Mazarine, and even terrified the Pope himself, without so much as doing any favour to the English Roman Catholics, that the Duke thought it necessary to restore all that he had taken from them, and renewed all those privileges they had formerly enjoyed. "So great (adds Echard) was the terror of his name; nothing being more usual than his saying, that his ships in the Mediterranean should visit Civita Vecchia, and the sound of his cannon should be heard in Rome."

This Mr. Lawrence was the son of the President of Cromwell's council.

ON HIS DECEASED WIFE.t

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, though pale and

faint.

taint

Mine, as whom wash'd from spot of child-bed taint Purification in th' old Law did save,

And such, as yet once more I trust to have Full sight of her in Heaven 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: 11 But O! as to embrace me she inclin'd,

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

* Cyriac Skinner was the son of William Skinner, Esq. and grandson of Sir Vincent Skinner, and his mother was daughter of the famous Lord Chief Justice Coke. Mr. Wood relates that he was one of Harrington's political club, and sometimes held the chair; and further adds, that he was a merchant's son of London, an ingenious young gentleman, and scholar to John Milton.

This was his second wife, Catharine, the daughter of Captain Woodcock of Hackney, who lived with him not above a year after their marriage, and died in child-bed of a daughter.

L

PSALMS.

PSALM I.

[Done into verse, 1653.]

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

PSALM II.

[Done August 8, 1653.]

Terzetti.

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PSALM IV.

[August 10, 1653.]

ANSWER me when I call,
God of my righteousness;
In straits, and in distress,
Thou didst me disinthral
And set at large; now spare,

Now pity me, and hear my earnest prayer.
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

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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;

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(For whom to choose he knows)

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Jehovah from on high

And fierce ire trouble them; but I, saith he, Anointed have my King (though ye rebel)

Will hear my voice, what time to him I cry. Be awed, and do not sin;

On Sion my holy' hill. A firm decree

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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: them shalt thou bring full

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Who yet will show us good?
Talking like this world's brood;
But, Lord, thus let me pray;
On us lift up the light,

Lift up the favour of thy count'nance bright. 30 Into my heart more joy

And gladness thou hast put,

Than when a year of glut

Their stores doth over-cloy,

And from their plenteous grounds

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With vast increase their corn and wine abounds.

In peace at once will I

Both lay me down and sleep;

Me safe where'er I lie ;

For thou alone dost keep

As in a rocky cell

Thou, Lord! alone, in safety mak'st me dwell.

PSALM V.

[August 12, 1653.]

JEHOVAH! to my words give ear,

My meditation weigh;

The voice of my complaining hear, My King and God; for unto thee I pray.

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Lead me, because of those

That do observe if I transgress;

Set thy ways right before, where my step goes.
For, in his faltering mouth unstable,

No word is firm or sooth:

Their inside, troubles miserable;

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An open grave their throat, their tongue they smoothe.

God! find them guilty, let them fall

By their own counsels quell'd;

Push them in their rebellions all

Still on; for against thee they have rebell'd.
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;

As with a shield, thou wilt surround Him with thy lasting favour and good will.

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 the world's foundation.
Judge me, Lord; be judge in this

30 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.

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PSALM VI.

[August 13, 1653.]

My defence, and in him lies:

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In him who, both just and wise,

Saves the upright of heart at last.

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Who in the grave can celebrate thy praise? 10
Wearied I am with sighing out my days;
Nightly my couch I make a kind of sea;
My bed I water with my tears; mine eye

Through grief consumes, is waxen old and dark
I' th' midst of all mine enemies that mark.

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Depart, all ye that work iniquity,
Depart from me; for the voice of my weeping
The Lord hath heard; the Lord hath heard my
prayer

My supplication with acceptance fair
The Lord will own, and have me in his keeping. 20
Mine enemies shall all be blank, and dash'd

With much confusion; then, grown red with

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(His arrows purposely made he

For them that persecute:) Behold,
He travels big with vanity;
Trouble he hath conceiv'd of old,
As in a womb; and from that mold
Hath at length brought forth a lie.

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Be in my hands; if I have wrought

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14 Return now, God of Hosts! look down
From heaven, thy seat divine;
Behold us, but without a frown,'
And visit this thy' vine.

15 Visit this vine, which thy right hand
Hath set, and planted 'long,'
And the young branch, that for thyself
Thou hast made firm and strong.

16 But now it is consum'd with fire,
And cut with axes' down;
They perish at thy dreadful ire,
At thy rebuke and frown.

17 Upon the man of thy right hand
Let thy 'good' hand be laid;'
Upon the son of man, whom thou
Strong for thyself hast made.

18 So shall we not go back from thee
To ways of sin and shame ;'
Quicken us thou; then gladly' we
Shall call upon thy Name.

19 Return us, and thy grace divine,'
Lord God of Hosts! vouchsafe;"
Cause thou thy face on us to shine,
And then we shall be safe.

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65

70

75

80

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4 Lord God of Hosts! how long wilt thou,
How long wilt thou declare

Thy + smoking wrath, and angry brow'
Against thy people's prayer!

5 Thou feed'st them with the bread of tears; Their bread with tears they eat;

And mak'st them ‡ largely drink the tears 'Wherewith their cheeks are wet.'

6 A strife thou mak'st us and a prey' To every neighbour foe;

Among themselves they || laugh, they play,
And flouts at us they throw.

7 Return us, and thy grace divine,'
O God of Hosts! vouchsafe;'
Cause thou thy face on us to shine,
And then we shall be safe.

8 A vine from Egypt thou hast brought,
"Thy free love made it thine,'

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And drov'st out nations proud and haught,' 35 To plant this' lovely' vine.

9 Thou didst prepare for it a place,
And root it deep and fast,

That it began to grow apace,'
'And' fill'd the land at last.'

10 With her 'green' shade that cover'd'all,'

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The hills were overspread;'

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Her boughs as high as' cedars tall 'Advanc'd their lofty head.'

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1 GOD in the great assembly stands 'Of kings and lordly states;' Among the gods, t on both his hands He judges and debates.

2 How long will ye ‡ pervert the right
With judgment false and wrong,
Favouring the wicked, by your might,'
Who thence grow bold and strong?'

3 Regard the weak and fatherless,
Dispatch the poor man's cause,
And raise the man in deep distress
By just and equal laws.

4 Defend the poor and desolate,
And rescue from the hands
Of wicked men the low estate
Of him that help demands.'

10 At Endor quite cut off, and roll'a As dung upon the plain.

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Giddy and restless' let them reel' Like stubble from the wind.

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14 As when' an aged' wood takes fire

Which on a sudden strays,'

The greedy' flame runs higher and higher 55 Till all the mountains blaze;

15 So with thy whirlwind them pursue, And with thy tempest chase;

16 And, till they ‡ yield thee honour due, Lord! fill with shame their face.

17 Ashamed, and troubled let them be, Troubled, and sham'd for ever;

Ever confounded, and so die

With shame, and scape it never.'

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2 For lo, thy furious' foes 'now' †† swell
And tt storm outrageously,
And they that hate thee 'proud and fell'
Exalt their heads full high.

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3 Against thy people they ‡‡ contrive Their plots and counsels deep; Them to insnare they chiefly strive, Whom thou dost hide and keep.

• Bagnadath-el.

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Bekerev. Tishphetu gnavel. Hatzdiku. Jimmotu. tt Jehemajun. Sod. Jirthjagnatsu gnal. 11 Tsephuneca.

Shiphtu-dal.

Shiphta.

#Jagnarimu.

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