XX.

To Mr. LAWRENCE. 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 5

On smoother, till Favonius re-inspire
The frozen earth, and clothe in fresh attire

The lilly’and rose, that neither sow'd nor spun. What neat repaft 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.

XXI. .
To CYRIAC SKINN E R.
Cyriac, whose gransire 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 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 9

- To

Toward solid good what leads the nearest way;

For other things mild Heav'n a time ordains,
And disapproves that care, though wise in show,

That with superfluous burden loads the day,
And when God sends a chearful hour, refrains.

XXII.

To the same. :
Cyriac, this three years day these eyes, though clear,

To outward view, of blemish or of spot,
Bereft of light their seeing have forgot,

Nor to their idle orbs doth fight appear
Of sun, or moon, or star throughout the year, 5

Or man, or woman. Yet I argue not

Against Heav’n’s hand or will, nor bate a jot Of heart or hope; but still bear up and steer Right onward. What supports me, dost thou ask?

The conscience, Friend, to' have lost them over

In liberty's defence, my noble task, ply'd Of which all Europe talks from side to side. (mask

This thought might lead me thro’the world's vain Content though blind, had I no better guide.

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 husbånd 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 fave,
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 light 10

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

P Less’d is the man who hath not walk'd astray D In counsel of the wicked, and i'th'way Of finners 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 watry 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. 10 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

Nor finners in the assembly of just men.
For the Lord knows th’upright way of the just, 15
And the way of bad men to ruin must.

PSA L. II. done Aug. 8. 1653. Terzette.
W H Y do the Gentiles tumult, and the nations

VV Muse a vain thing, the kings of th’earth upWith pow'r,and princesin theircongregations (stand Lay deep their plots together through each land ,

Against the Lord and his Messiah dear? 5 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 10

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 15 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 fulllow With iron scepter bruis’d, and them disperse 20

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

Nn

Je

Jehovah serve, and let your joy converse With trembling; kiss the Son left he appear 25

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. PSA L. III. Aug. 9. 1653. When he fled from

Abfalom.
I ORD how many are my foes !

How many those
That in arms against me rise!

Many are they
That of my life diftruftfully 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 cry'd
Unto Jehovah, he full soon reply'd
And heard me from his holy mount.
I lay and slept, I wak'd again,

For my sustain
Was the Lord. Of many millions 15

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