Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 16.djvu/370

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And thus confiding, Lord, in thee, I take my calm repose [1]; For thou each night protectest me, From all my [2] treacherous foes.

Thy heavy hand restrain; [3] With mercy, Lord, correct: Do not ([4] as if in high disdain) My helpless soul reject.

[1] And yet, to show I tell no fibs, Thou hast left me in thrall To Hopkins eke, and doctor Gibbs The vilest rogue of all.

[2] Ay, and open foes too; or his repose would not be very calm.

[3] Thy heavy hand restrain; Have mercy, Dr. Gibbs: Do not, I pray thee, paper stain With rhymes retail'd in dribbs.

[4] That bit is a most glorious botch.

For how shall I sustain [5] Those ills which now I bear? My vitals are consum'd with pain, [6] My soul oppress'd with care!

Lord, I have pray'd in [7] vain, So long, so much opprest; My very [8] cries increase my pain, And tears prevent my rest:

These do my sight impair, And flowing eyes decay; While to my enemies I fear Thus [9] to become a prey.

[5] The squeaking of a hoggrel.

[6] To listen to thy doggrel.

[7] The doctor must mean himself; for, I hope, David never thought so.

[8] Then he is a dunce for crying.

[9] That is, he is afraid of becoming a prey to his enemies while his eyes are sore.

If I've not spar'd him, though he's grown My causeless [1] enemy; Then let my life and fortune [2] crown Become to him a prey.

But, Lord, thy kind assistance [3] lend; Arise in my defence: According to thy laws [4] contend For injur'd innocence.

That all the nations that oppose May then confess thy power; Therefore assist my righteous cause, That they may thee adore:

[1] If he be grown his causeless enemy, he is no longer guiltless.

[2] He gives a thing before he has it, and gives it to him that has it already; for Saul is the person meant.

[3] But why lend? does he design to return it back when he has done with it?

[4] Profane rascal! he makes it a struggle and contention between God and the wicked. For