Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 16.djvu/368

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But still to learn and to obey The law of God is his delight, In that employ himself all day, And reads and thinks thereon at [1] night.

For as a tree, whose spreading root By some prolifick stream is fed Produces [2] fair and lively fruit, And numerous boughs adorn its head;

Whose very [3] leaves, tho' storms descend, In lively verdure still appear: Such blessings always shall attend The man that does the Lord revere.

[1] A man must have some time to sleep: so that I will change this verse thus: "And thinks and dreams thereon all night."

[2] Look ye, you must thin the boughs at the top, or your fruit will be neither fair nor timely.

[3] Why, what other part of a tree appears in a lively verdure, beside the leaves? Read, These very leaves on which you spend Your woeful stuff, may serve for squibs: Such blessings always shall attend The madrigals of Dr. Gibbs.

The above may serve for a tolerable specimen of Swift's remarks. The whole should be given, if it were possible to make them intelligible without copying the version which is ridiculed; a labour for which our readers would scarcely thank us. A few detached stanzas, however, with the dean's notes on them, shall be transcribed.

Why do the heathen nations rise, And in mad tumults join! Confederate kings vain plots [1] devise Against the Almighty's reign!

But those that do thy laws refuse, In pieces thou shalt break; [2] And with an iron sceptre bruise The disobedient [3] neck.

Ye earthly kings, the caution hear, Ye rules, learn the fame [4]; Serve God with reverence, and with fear [5] His joyful praise proclaim.

[1] I don't believe that ever kings entered into plots and confederacies against the reign of God Almighty.

[2] After a man is broken in pieces, it is no great matter to have his neck bruised.

[3] Neak.

[4] Rulers must learn it, but kings may only hear it.

[5] Very proper, to make a joyful proclamation with fear. [1] For