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XXII. TO THE SAME.

CYRIAC, this three years day these ey To outward view, of blemish or of Bereft of light their seeing have fo Nor to their idle orbs doth sight a Of sun, or moon, or star, throughou Yet I argue

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Or man, or woman. Against Heav'n's hand or will, no Of heart or hope; but still bear u Right onward. What supports me, d The conscience, Friend, t' have los In liberty's defence, my noble task

8 And what the Swede intends] So the MS.

And what the Swede intend,' which in othe And what the Swedes intend.' Newton.

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all Europe rings from side to side, hought might lead me through the world's ain mask

nt though blind, had I no better guide.

XIII. ON HIS DECEASED WIFE.

UGHT I saw my late espoused saint ght to me, like Alcestis, from the grave, m Jove's great son to her glad husband gave, ied from death by force, tho' pale and faint. is whom wash'd from spot of child-bed ication in the old Law did save, [taint such, as yet once more I trust to have sight of her in Heav'n without restraint, vested all in white, pure as her mind: face was veil'd, yet to my fancied sight 10 , sweetness, goodness, in her person shin'd r, as in no face with more delight.

O, as to embrace me she inclin'd,

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

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s] So the printed copies before Newton's edition,

'talks' is substituted from the MS. instead of 'rings.'

net thus concluded before Newton's ed.

f all Europe rings from side to side.

ught might lead me through this world's vain mask, though blind, had I no other guide.' Todd.

e original various readings to the sonnets from the ge MS. may be seen in Mr. Todd's edition of Milet. Works, (1809,) vol. vi. p. 500-3.

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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

and in the seat
But in the great

Of sinners hath not stood,
Of scorners hath not sat.
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 watery 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. TERZETTI.

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
Against the Lord and his Messiah dear?

5

10

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d have my King (though ye rebel) y holy' hill. A firm decree eclare; the Lord to me hath said t my Son, I have begotten thee ask of me, and the grant is made; possession I on thee bestow then, and as thy conquest to be sway'd tmost bounds: them shalt thou bring 1 low

on sceptre bruised, and them disperse a potter's vessel shiver'd so.

be wise at length ye Kings averse,

ght, ye Judges of the earth; with fear h serve, and let your joy converse

abling ;
er, and ye perish in the way,

kiss the Son lest he appear

his wrath take fire like fuel sere.

l those who have in them their stay.

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en] Warton in both editions reads 'The Hea1.

No help for him in God there lies.
But thou, Lord, art my shield, my §
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,

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