And now, though late, the modest Rose H. W. [VARIATIONS. 1. This day dame Nature'-A.-3. Fresh juice'-A.-7. Or else my Friend'-B C.-8. ‘Did early watch the'-B C.-11. 'Already did the groue'-B C.-13. 'the ayre was mild'—B C.-14. 'The mornes were sweet, the meadows smil'd' -B C.-16. 'Sanded'-B. 'Sandied'-C.-18. 'She stroakes' -B C.-19. 'Both feild and garden'-B C.-20. 'With Crocus, Tulip'-B. 'Tulips'—A.-23, 'looks gay, and'-A, 6 was gay'B C.] [IN the letter in which Sir Henry Wotton announced to the King that he had taken Deacon's Orders (1627), he says, "if I can produce nothing else for the use of Church and State, yet it shall be comfort enough to the little remnant of my life, to compose some Hymns unto his endless glory, who hath called me (for which his Name be ever blessed), though late to his Service, yet early to the knowledge of his truth, and sense of his mercy." (Rel. Wotton. p. 329, ed. 1672.) As No. XIII. was written before that time, during one of his Venetian Embassies, this Psalm, and the Hymn written during sickness, (No. XIV.) are the only results of this design which we possess. Lord Aston, who has inserted the translation among his "Select Psalms in Verse," (1811, p. 185,) calls it "the finest specimen" he has "met with of sacred poetry among our earlier authors."] Y Soul, exalt the Lord with Hymns of Praise: M Whose Throne of State is cloath'd with And round about hast robe'd Thy self with Light: Who like a Curtain hast the Heavens display'd, And in the watry Roofs thy Chambers laid: Whose Chariots are the thickned Clouds above; Who on his* Base the Earth didst firmly found, The Waves that rise would drown the highest Hill, Where surging Floods and valing Ebbs can tell, Who hath dispos'd, but thou, the winding way * So eds. 1651 and 1654. In ed. 1672, 'this'—, The Mounts are watred from thy dwelling place; But even the Cedars that so proudly stand. So have the Fowls their sundry seats to breed; Nor can the Heavenly Lights their course forget, Thou mak'st the Night to over-vail the Day: O Lord, when on thy various works we look, How richly furnish'd is the Earth we tread! There go* the Ships that furrow out their way; So eds. 1651 and 1654. In ed. 1672, it is misprinted, There go to the Ships-. Which yet have scope among the rest to play, They gather when Thy gifts thou dost divide; Their stores abound, if Thou thy hand enlarge; Confus'd they are, when Thou thy beams dost hide; In dust resolv'd, if Thou their breath discharge; Again, when Thou of Life renew'st the seeds, Be ever gloried here Thy Soveraign Name, That thou may'st smile on all which thou hast made; Whose frown alone can shake this earthly frame, And at whose touch the Hills in smoak shall vade! Let Sinners fail, let all Profaneness cease ; His Praise (my Soul) His Praise shall be thy Peace. H. WOTTON.* 'H. W.' ed. 1654. |