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,

5

10

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

13. I wak'd, she fled, &c.] So in Adam's dream, Par. Lost, viii. 478.

She disappear'd, and left me dark, I wak'd, &c.

This Sonnet therefore proves the improbability of Bentley's correction, who would substitute straight instead of dark. But perhaps Milton, in the text, yet

with a conceit, alludes to his blindness, "day brought back "my night." See much the same conceit in Sonn. xix. 7.

Doth God exact day-labour, light denied.

T. Warton.

* These Sonnets are not without their merit: yet, if we except two or three, there is neither the grace nor exactness of Milton's hand in them. The sort of composition in our language is difficult to the best rhymist, and Milton was a very bad one.

Besides, his genius rises above, and, as we may say, overflows, the banks of this narrow confined poem, pontem indignatus Araxes. Hurd.

a

Birch has printed a Sonnet said to be written by Milton, in 1665, when he retired to Chalfont on account of the plague, and to have been lately seen inscribed on the glass of window in that place. Life, p. xxxviii. It has the word sheene as a substantive. But Milton was not likely to commit a scriptural mistake. For the Sonnet improperly represents David as punished by a pestilence for his adultery with Bathsheba. Birch, however, had been informed by Vertue, that he had seen a satirical medal, struck upon Charles the Second, abroad, without any legend, having a correspondent device. T. Warton.

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, 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 th' upright way of the just,
And the way of bad men to ruin must.

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

5

10

15 5

10

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 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
Th' Heathen, and as thy conquest to be sway'd
Earth's utmost bounds: them shalt thou bring full low
With iron sceptre bruis'd, 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
In anger, and ye perish in the way,

If once his wrath take fire like fuel sere.
Happy all those who have him in their stay.

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

15

20

25

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 incamping 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

5

10

15

20

Hast broke the teeth. This help was from the Lord; Thy blessing on thy people flows.

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,
How long be thus forborne
Still to love vanity,

5

10

To love, to seek, to prize

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;

But, Lord, thus let me pray,

On us lift up the light

Lift up the favour of thy count'nance bright.

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

With vast increase their corn and wine abounds.

In peace at once will I

Both lay me down and sleep,

For thou alone dost keep,

Me safe where'er I lie;

As in a rocky cell

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

15

20

25

30

35

40