Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/127

 TRANSLATIONS

��PSALM I

(1653)

BLEST is the man who hath not walked

astray

In counsel of the wicked, and i' the way Of sinners hath not stood, and in the seat Of scorners hath not sat; but in the great 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. 10

Not so the wicked; but, as chaff which

fanned The wind drives, so the wicked shall not

stand

In judgment, or abide their trial then, Nor sinners in the assembly of just men. For the Lord knows the upright way of the

just, And the way of bad men to ruin must.

��PSALM II (Augusts, 1653 Terzetti)

WHY do the Gentiles tumult, and the na- tions

Muse a vain thing, the kings of the earth upstand

With power, and princes in their congre- gations

Lay 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 Hea- ven 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 hill." 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 The Heathen, and, as thy conquest to be

swayed, Earth's utmost bounds: them shalt thou

bring full low

With iron sceptre bruised, and them dis- perse 20 Like to a potter's vessel shivered 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 ap- pear

In anger, and ye perish in the way, If once his wrath take fire, like fuel

sere. Happy all those who have in him their stay.

��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, The exalter of my head I count:

Aloud I cried 10

Unto Jehovah; he full soon replied, And heard me from his holy mount. I lay and slept; I waked 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 20

On the cheek-bone all my foes,

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