Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 16.djvu/369

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[1] For should the madness of his foes Th' avenging God incense, Happy are they that can repose In him their confidence [2].

No fears shall then my soul depress , Though thus my enemies increase: [3] And therefore now arise, O Lord , And graciously thy help afford.

And thus [4] to grant a sure defence Belongs to God's [5] omnipotence.

[1] For should the foes of David's ape Provoke his gray-goose quills, Happy are they that can escape The vengeance of his pills.

[2] Admirably reasoned and connected!

[3] He desires God's help because he is not afraid of his enemies; others, I think, usually desire it when they are afraid.

[4] The doctor has a mighty affection for the particle thus: he uses it four times in this (the 3d) Psalm, and 100 times in other places; and always wrong.

[5[5] [sic] That is as much as to say, hatthat [sic] he that can do all things can defend a man; which I take to be an undoubted truth.

But you, my frail [6] malicious foes. Who do my power despise, Vainly how long will ye oppose, And [7] falsely calumnize!

Since those alone the Lord has blest Who do from sin refrain, He therefore grants what I request [8], And hears when I [9] complain.

Then shall my soul with more divine And solid joys abound; Than they with stores of corn and wine, Those earthly riches, crown 'd [10].

[6] Are they malicious out of frailty, or frail out of malice?

[7] That is, they say false things falsely. — I will discover the doctor's secret of making coherence and connexions in the Psalms, that he brags of in his title and preface: he lays violent hands on certain particles (such as and, when, since, for, but, thus, so, &c.) and presses them to his service on all occasions, sore against their wills, and without any regard whether the sense will admit them or not.

[8] It is plain the doctor never requested to be a poet.

[9] If your requests be granted, why do you complain?

[10] I have heard of a crown or garland of corn; but a crown of wine is new, and can hardly be explained, unless we suppose the wine to be in icicles. And