The Complete Poetry of John Milton (50 page)
Read The Complete Poetry of John Milton Online
Authors: John Milton
Tags: #English; Irish; Scottish; Welsh, #Poetry, #European
35
And drov’st out Nations
proud and haut
To plant this
lovely
Vine.
9
Thou did’st prepare for it a place
And root it deep and fast
That it
began to grow apace
,
40
And
fill’d the land
at last.
10
With her
green
shade
that
cover’d
all
,
The Hills were
over-spread
,
Her Bows as
high as
Cedars tall
Advanc’d their lofty head.
45
11
Her branches
on the western side
Down to the Sea she sent,
And
upward
to that river
wide
Her other branches
went.
12
Why hast thou laid her Hedges low
50
And brok’n down her Fence,
That all may pluck her, as they go,
With rudest violence?
13
The
tusked
Boar out of the wood
Up turns it by the roots,
55
Wild Beasts there brouze, and make their food
Her Grapes and tender Shoots.
14
Return now, God of Hosts, look down
From Heav’n, thy Seat divine,
Behold
us, but without a frown
,
60
And visit this
thy
Vine.
15
Visit this Vine, which thy right hand
Hath set, and planted
long
,
And the young branch, that for thy self
Thou hast made firm and strong.
65
16
But now it is consum’d with fire,
And cut
with Axes
down.
They perish at thy dreadfull ire,
At thy rebuke and frown.
17
Upon the man of thy right hand
70
Let thy
good
hand be
laid
,
Upon the Son of Man, whom thou
Strong for thy self hast made.
18
So shall we not go back from thee
To wayes of sin and shame
,
75
Quick’n us thou, then
gladly
wee
Shall call upon thy Name.
19
Return us,
and thy grace divine
Lord God of Hosts voutsafe,
Cause thou thy face on us to shine,
80
And then we shall be safe.
(
Apr. 1648
)
1
In accord with usual practice in printing biblical texts, Milton pointed out that “all but what is in a different Character [i.e., italicized] are the very words of the Text, translated from the Original.” The nine psalms were rendered in the common measure (ballad stanza) of standard psalters (e.g., Sternhold and Hopkins), paraphrasing rather than translating, and expanding or compressing original verses as desired. Marginal notes cite the Hebrew (or a more literal translation). Written during the civil wars, the subject matter and tone of the psalms may reflect Milton’s dejection from the course of events and his hope for the future under enlightened leadership. See also the discussion by William B. Hunter, Jr., in
PQ
, XL (1961), 485-94.
a
Gnorera.
b
Gnashanta.
c
Shalish.
d
Jilgnagu.
1
To God our strength sing loud,
and clear
Sing loud to God
our King
,
To Jacobs God,
that all may hear
Loud acclamations ring.
5
2
Prepare a Hymn, prepare a Song,
The Timbrel hither bring,
The
cheerfull
Psaltry bring along
And Harp
with
pleasant
string.
3
Blow,
as is wont
, in the new Moon
10
With Trumpets
lofty sound
,
Th’ appointed time, the day wheron
Our solemn Feast
comes round.
4
This was a Statute
giv’n of old
For Israel
to observe
,
15
A Law of Jacobs God,
to hold
From whence they might not swerve.
5
This he a Testimony ordain’d
In Joseph,
not to change
,
When as he pass’d through Ægypt land;
20
The Tongue I heard was strange.
6
From burden,
and from slavish toyl
I set his shoulder free;
His hands from pots,
and mirie soyl
Deliver’d were
by me.
5
7
When trouble did thee sore assail,
On me then
didst thou call,
And I to free thee
did not fail
,
And led thee out of thrall
I answer’d thee in
a
thunder deep
30
With clouds encompass’d round;
I tri’d thee at the water
steep
Of Meriba
renown’d.
8
Hear O my people,
heark’n well
,
I testifie to thee
35
Thou antient stock of
Israel,
If thou wilt list to mee,
9
Throughout the land of thy abode
No alien God shall be,
Nor shalt thou to a forein God
40
In honour bend thy knee.
10
I am the Lord thy God which brought
Thee out of Ægypt land;
Ask large enough, and I,
besought
,
Will grant thy full demand.
45
11
And yet my people would not
hear
,
Nor
hearken to my voice;
And Israel
whom I lov’d so dear
Mislik’d me for his choice.
12
Then did I leave them to their will
50
And to their wandring mind;
Their own conceits they follow’d still
Their own devises blind.
13
O that my people would
be wise
To
serve me
all their daies
,
55
And O that Israel would
advise
To
walk my
righteous
waies.
14
Then would I soon bring down their foes
That now so proudly rise
,
And turn my hand against
all those
60
That are
their enemies.
15
Who hate the Lord should
then be fain
To
bow to him and bend,
But
they, his People, should remain
,
Their time should have no end.
65
16
And we would feed them
from the shock
With flour of finest wheat,
And satisfie them from the rock
With Honey
for their Meat.
(
Apr. 1648
)
a
Besether ragnam.
1
God in the
a
great
a
assembly stands
Of Kings and lordly States
,
Among the gods
b
on both his hands
He judges and debates.
5
2
How long will ye
c
pervert the right
With
c
judgment false and wrong,
Favouring the wicked
by your might
,
Who thence grow bold and strong?