Home Lost Spaces Laocoön Lives Thomas Fairfax Publications Contact


Psal 22 (MS. Fairfax 40, The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford)


MS. Fairfax 40 index
<< Psal 21
Psal 23 >>
Psal 22
Psal 22
Psal 22
Psal 22
Psal 22
"Psal 22". MS. Fairfax 40, The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford.

Transcription

O My god why is thy presence thus retir'd
And when assistance need so far remote
Who wth my daly cries am almost tired
But yitt my wofull plaints thou hearest nott
For And in the night the time when all finds rest
I only am disturb'd by an an unquiet brest

Yitt thou art holy Good the trust our storys tell
Our fathers had in thee distress being nie
O thou who dost all Israels prayse excell
How ready was to helpe when they did crie
Continue't still though by reproach I am
To men a scorne to thee a worme noe man

* * * * * * * – wanting see the Postscript

But as from Natures liuing Tombe
Thou madest me hope when small as I
When first thou tookest me from the wombe
And on my mothers brest did lie
Sence from th my birth on thee I'me cast
Preserue me now as a fore thou hast

When thou seemes gone & frighting terrors come
Let not thy presence att then att distance be
Least I by Bassans bulls be ouer come
Wch fiercely falls wth gaging mouths on me
Or like the roaring Lions hunger-bitt
Deuouring all that in their pawes they gitt

Distiling teares my life doth wast
My melting hart like wax disolue
When trembling ioynts hath boones displac'd
What can then strenght thus gone resoulue
Or prayse thee wth the tongue that also must
To iawes be tied when I am brought to dust

The wicked crew seeing this did flock
Like dogs whos nature keene & fierce
But In this more cruel that could mocke
When they my hands & feet did peirce
Though they my numbred boones might know
A glance of pitty from eyes none would show

As men iniurious not yet content
My garments deuide amongst them all
My sacred vesstments wch they have rent
By lotts doe cast on whom't shal fall
But Lord be thou nott far to bring
Deliuerance from these men of sin

Amongst those that to thy house resort
In a religious holy awe vnto thy name
I'le pay my vow'd obseruances & report
Thyn acts thatt iustly purchas fame
Such finds nott only here all worldly food
But shall liue wth thee in eternal good

To keepe his soule aliue who can
For all men must to dust desend
Though pride exalt thee now, know o man
Those plumes shall be abased fall & thou must bend
But to the right & him who he shall raise
This he hath done shall be ther song of prayse

 

          Postscript

Not scorning only But derision too
When thus deiected my poor soule they see
Ther spitful gesturs Lipps & Head doe show
And what is worse in high contempt of thee
Sense he in god doth trust (say they) let him
Deliuer those he soe delighted in

Modernized Text

My God, why is thy presence thus retired
And when [I] assistance need so far remote,
Who with my daily cries am almost tired,
But yet my woeful plaints thou hearest not?
And in the night, the time when all finds rest,
I am disturbed by an unquiet breast.

Yet thou art good: the trust our stories tell
Our fathers had in thee, distress being nigh.
Oh, thou who dost all Israel's praise excel,
How ready was to help when they did cry.
Continue't still though by reproach I am
To men a scorn, to thee a worm, no man.

Not scorning only, but derision too,
When thus dejected my poor soul they see.
Their spiteful gestures, lips and head do show,
And what is worse in high contempt of thee.
'Since he in God doth trust', say they, 'let him
Deliver those he so delighted in.'

But as from nature's living tomb
Thou madest me hope when small as I,
When first thou tookest me from the womb
And on my mother's breast did lie.
Since from my birth on thee I'm cast,
Preserve me now as 'fore thou hast.

When thou seems gone and frighting terrors come,
Let not thy presence then at distance be,
Lest I by Bashan's bulls be overcome
Which fiercely falls with ga[p]ing mouths on me;
Or like the roaring lions, hunger-bit,
Devouring all that in their paws they get.

Distilling tears my life doth waste,
My melting heart like wax disolve.
When trembling joints hath bones displaced,
What can then strength thus gone resolve,
Or praise thee with the tongue that also must
To jaws be tied when I am brought to dust.

The wicked crew seeing this did flock
Like dogs whose nature's keen and fierce,
In this more cruel that could mock
When they my hands and feet did pierce.
Though they my numbered bones might know,
A glance of pity none would show.

As men injurious, not yet content,
My garments divide amongst them all,
My sacred vestments which they have rent
By lots do cast on whom't shall fall.
But, Lord, be thou not far to bring
Deliverance from these men of sin.

Amongst those that to thy house resort
In holy awe unto thy name
I'll pay observance, and report
Thine acts that justly purchace fame.
Such finds not only here all worldly food
But shall live with thee in eternal good.

To keep his soul alive, who can,
For all men must to dust descend?
Though pride exalt thee, know, oh man,
Those plumes shall fall and thou must bend.
But to the right and him who he shall raise
This he hath done shall be their song of praise.

<< Psal 21
Psal 23 >>
MS. Fairfax 40 index

 


Twitter link image Mail link image Home link image