TO CYRIAC SKINNER.*

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CYRIAC, whose grandsire, on the royal bench
Of British Themnis, 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
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; 10
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.

TO THE SAME.

CYRIAC, this three-years-day those eyes, though clear,

To outward view, of blemish or of spot,
Bereft of light, their secing have forgot;
Nor to their idle orbs doth sight appear
Of sun, or moon, or star, throughout the year,
Or man, or woman. Yet I argue not

Against Heaven's hand or will, nor bate a jot
Of heart of hope; but still bear up and steer
Right onward. What supports me dost thou ask?
The conscience, Friend, to have lost them over-
plied

In liberty's defence, my noble task,

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*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.

Of which all Europe rings from side to side. This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask

Content, though blind, had I no better guide.

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 husband gave,
Rescued from death by force, though pale and faint.
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, 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.

*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.

PSALMS.

PSALM I.

[Done into verse, 1653.]

LESS'D is the man who hath not walk'd astray
counsel of the wicked, and i' th' way
f sinners hath not stood, and in the seat
f scorners hath not sat: but in the great
ehovah's law is ever his delight,

nd in his law he studies, day and night.
le shall be as a tree which planted grows
y wat'ry streams, and in his season knows
'o yield his fruit, and his leaf shall not fall,
nd what he takes in hand shall prosper all.
fot so the wicked, but as chaff which fann'd
'he wind drives, so the wicked shall not stand
a judgment, or abide their trial then,

for sinners in th' assembly of just men.

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or the Lord knows the upright way of the just, 15 ind the way of bad men to ruin must.

PSALM II.

[Done August 8, 1653.]

Terzetti.

WHY do the Gentiles tumult, and the nations
Muse a vain thing, the kings of th' earth upstand
With power, and princes in their congregations
ay deep their plots together through each land
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 heaven 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 hiil. 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

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The 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 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
Jehovah serve, and let your joy converse
With trembling; kiss the Son lest he appear
In anger, and ye perish in the way,
f once his wrath take fire, like fuel sere.

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PSALM III.

[August 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,

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 encamping 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

Hast broke the teeth.

Lord;

This help was from the

Thy blessing on thy people flows.

PSALM IV.

[August 10, 1653.]

ANSWER me when I call,
God of my righteousness;
In straits, and in distress,
Thou didst me disenthral

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?

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I

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;

(For whom to choose he knows,)

Jehovah from on high

Will hear my voice, what time to him I cry.

Be awed, 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;

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