Either man's work or his own gifts; who beft 10 Bear his mild yoke, they ferve him beft: his state Is kingly; thoufands at his bidding speed, And poft o'er land and ocean without rest; They alfo ferve who only stand and wait.

XX.

To Mr. LAWRENCE.

Lawrence, of virtuous father virtuous son,
Now that the fields are dank, and ways are mire,
Where shall we fometimes meet, and by the fire
Help waste a fullen day, what may be won
From the hard feason gaining? time will run
On smoother, till Favonius re-inspire
The frozen earth, and clothe in fresh attire
The lilly' and rofe, that neither fow'd nor fpun.
What neat repast shall feast us, light and choice,
Of Attic tafte, with wine, whence we may rife 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 fpare
To interpofe them oft, is not unwise.

XXI.

To CYRIAC SKINNER.

Cyriac, whofe grandfire 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 fo often wrench;
To day deep thoughts refolve with me to drench 5
In mirth, that after no repenting draws;
Let Euclid reft and Archimedes pause,
And what the Swede intends, and what the French,

Το

To measure life learn thou betimes, and know Toward folid good what leads the neareft way; 10 For other things mild Heav'n a time ordains, And difapproves that care, though wife in show, That with fuperfluous burden loads the day, And when God sends a chearful hour, refrains.

Cyriac, this three years day these eyes, though clear,
To outward view, of blemish or of spot,
Bereft of light their feeing have forgot,
Nor to their idle orbs doth fight appear
Of fun, or moon, or ftar throughout the year,
Or man, or woman. Yet I argue not

5

Against Heav'n's hand or will, nor bate a jot Of heart or hope; but still bear up and steer Right onward. What fupports me, dost thou ask? The confcience, Friend, to have loft them overply'd In liberty's defenfe, my noble task, Of which all Europe talks from fide to fide. This thought might lead me through the world'svain Content though blind, had I no better guide. [mask

XXIII.

On his deceased WIFE.

Methought I saw my late efpoufed faint

II

Brought to me like Alceftis from the grave, Whom Jove's great fon to her glad husband gave, Refcued from death by force, though pale and faint. Mine, as whom wash'd from spot of child-bed taint -5 Purification in the old Law did fave,

And fuch, as yet once more I trust to have,
Full fight of her in Heav'n without restraint,

Came

Came vested all in white, pure as her mind;
Her face was veil'd, yet to my fancied fight
Love, fweetness, goodness, in her person shin'd
So clear, as in no face with more delight.
But O as to embrace me fhe inclin'd,

I wak'd, fhe fled, and day brought back my night

PSAL M S.

PSALM I. Done into verse, 1653,

Lefs'd is the man who hath not walk'd aftray
In counsel of the wicked, and i'th' way
of finners hath not stood, and in the feat
Of fcorners hath not fat. But in the great
Jehovah's law is ever his delight,

And in his law he ftudies day and night.
He shall be as a tree which planted grows
By watry ftreams, and in his feafon knows
To yield his fruit, and his leaf fhall not fall,
And what he takes in hand fhall profper all.
Not fo the wicked, but as chaff which fann'd
The wind drives, fo the wicked fhall not stand
In judgment, or abide their trial then,
Nor finners in th' assembly of just men.
For the Lord knows th' upright way of the juft, 15
And the way of bad men to ruin must.

PSAL. II. done Aug. 8. 1653. Terzette.

WHY

HY do the Gentiles tumult, and the nations Mufe a vain thing, the kings of th' earth upftand

With pow'r, and princes in their congregations Lay deep their plots together through each land

Againft

Against the Lord and his Meffiah dear?

Let us break off, fay they, by ftrength of hand Their bonds, and caft from us, no more to wear, Theirtwiftedcords: He who in Heav'n doth dwell Shall laugh, the Lord fhall feoff them, then fevere Speak to them in his wrath, and in his fell

And fierce ire trouble them; but I, faith 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; afk of me, and the grant is made; As thy poffeffion I on thee beltow

IO

Th' Heathen, and as thy conqueft to be fway'd Earth's utmoft bounds: them fhalt thou bring full low With iron fcepter bruis'd, and them difperfe 20 Like to a potter's veffel fhiver'd fo.

And now be wife at length ye Kings averse,
Be taught ye Judges of the earth; with fear
Jehovah ferve, and let your joy converse
With trembling; kifs the Son left he
In anger and ye perish in the way,
If once his wrath take fire like fuel fere.
Happy all those who have in him their stay.

appear

25

PSAL. III. Aug. 9. 1653. When he fled from

L

Abfalom.

ORD how many are my foes!
How many thofe

That in arms against me rife!

Many are they

That of my life diftruftfully thus fay,

No help for him in God there lies.

But thou Lord art my fhield, my glory,
Thee through my story

Th

Th' exalter of my head I count;
Aloud I cry'd

Unto Jehovah, he full foon reply'd
And heard me from his holy mount.
I lay and flept, I wak'd again,
For my fuftain

Was the Lord. Of many millions

The populous rout

I fear not, though incamping round about
They pitch against me their pavilions,
Rife, Lord, fave me my God, for thou
Haft fmote ere now

On the check-bone all my foes,

Of men abhorr'd

15

20

Haft broke the teeth. This help was from the Lord; Thy bleffing on thy people flows.

A

PSAL, IV, Aug. 10. 1653.

NSWER me when I call,
God of my righteousness,

In ftraits and in distress

Thou didst me difinthrall

And fet at large; now fpare,

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 falfe and vain, and nothing else but lies?

Yet know the Lord hath chofe,

Chose to himself apart,

The good and meek of heart

(For whom to choose he knows)

Jehovah