The Complete Poetry of John Milton (51 page)
Read The Complete Poetry of John Milton Online
Authors: John Milton
Tags: #English; Irish; Scottish; Welsh, #Poetry, #European
15
Of wicked men the low estate
Of him
that help demands.
5
They know not nor will understand,
In darkness they walk on,
The Earths foundation all are
f
mov’d
20
And
f
out of order gon.
6
I said that ye were Gods, yea all
The Sons of God most high.
7
But ye shall die like men, and fall
As other Princes
die.
5
8
Rise God,
g
judge thou the earth
in might
,
This
wicked
earth
g
redress,
For thou art he who shalt by right
The Nations all possess.
(
Apr. 1648
)
a
Bagnadath-el.
b
Bekerev.
c
Tishphetu gnavel.
d
Shiphtudal.
e
Hatzdiku.
f
Jimmotu.
g
Shiphta.
1
Be not thou silent
now at length
O God hold not thy peace,
Sit not thou still O God of
strength
,
We cry and do not cease.
5
2
For lo thy
furious
foes
now
a
swell
And
a
storm outrageously,
And they that hate thee
proud and fell
Exalt their heads full high.
3
Against thy people they
b
contrive
10
c
Their Plots and Counsels deep,
d
Them to ensnare they chiefly strive
e
Whom thou dost hide and keep.
4
Come let us cut them off, say they,
Till they no Nation be,
15
That Israels name for ever may
Be lost in memory.
5
For they consult
f
with all their might,
And all as one in mind
Themselves against thee they unite
20
And in firm union bind.
6
The tents of Edom, and the brood
Of
scornful
Ishmael,
Moab, with them of Hagars blood
That in the Desart dwell
25
7
Gebal and Ammon
there conspire
,
And
hateful
Amalec,
The Philistims, and they of Tyre
Whose bounds the Sea doth check.
8
With them
great
Asshur also bands
30
And doth confirm the knot
,
All these have lent their armed hands
To aid the Sons of Lot.
9
Do to them as to Midian
bold
That wasted all the Coast
,
35
To Sisera, and as
is told
Thou didst
to Jabins
hoast
,
When
at the brook of Kishon
old
They were repulsi and slain
,
10
At Endor quite cut off, and rowl’d
40
As dung upon the plain.
11
As Zeb and Oreb evil sped
So let their Princes speed,
As Zeba, and Zalmunna
bled
So let their Princes
bleed.
45
12
For they amidst their pride have said
By right now shall we seize
Gods houses, and
will now invade
g
Their stately Palaces.
13
My God, oh make them as a wheel,
50
No quiet let them find
,
Giddy and
restless
let
them reel
Like stubble from the wind.
14
As
when
an
aged
wood takes fire
Which on a sudden straies
,
55
The
greedy
flame runs higher and higher
Till all the mountains blaze,
15
So with thy whirlwind them pursue,
And with thy tempest chase;
60
Lord fill with shame their face.
17
Asham’d and troubl’d let them be,
Troubl’d and sham’d for ever,
Ever confounded, and so die
With shame,
and scape it never.
45
18
Then shall they know that thou whose name
Jehova is alone,
Art the most high,
and thou the same
O’re all the earth
art one.
(
Apr. 1648
)
a
Jehemajun.
b
Jagnarimu.
c
Sod.
d
Jithjagnatsugnal
e
Tsephuneca.
f
Lev jachdau.
h
They seek thy Name
, Heb.
1
That is, both “Gods houses” and “Their stately Palaces.”
1
How lovely are thy dwellings fair!
O Lord of Hoasts, how dear
The
pleasant
Tabernacles are
Where thou dost dwell so near!
5
2
My Soul doth long and almost die
Thy Courts O Lord to see,
My heart and flesh aloud do crie,
O living God, for thee.
3
There ev’n the Sparrow
freed from wrong
10
Hath found a house of
rest
,
The Swallow there, to lay her young
Hath built her
brooding
nest,
Ev’n
by
thy Altars Lord of Hoasts
They find their safe abode
,
15
And home they fly from round the Coasts
Toward thee
, My King, my God.
4
Happy, who in thy house reside
Where thee they ever praise,
5
Happy, whose strength in thee doth bide,
20
And in their hearts thy waies.
6
They pass through Baca’s
thirstie
Vale,
That dry and barren ground
As through a fruitfull watry Dale
Where Springs and Showrs abound.
25
7
They journey on from strength to strength
With joy and gladsom cheer
Till
all before
our
God
at length
In Sion do appear.
8
Lord God of Hoasts hear
now
my praier,
30
O Jacobs God give ear,
9
Thou God our shield look on the face
Of thy anointed
dear.
10
For one day in thy Courts
to be
Is better,
and more blest
35
Then
in the joyes of Vanity
,
A thousand daies
at best.
I in the temple of my God
Had rather keep a dore
Then dwell in Tents,
and rich abode
40
With Sin
for evermore.
11
For God the Lord both Sun and Shield
Gives grace and glory
bright
,
No good from them shall be with-held
Whose waies are just and right.
45
11
Lord
God
of Hoasts
that raignst on high
,
That man is
truly
blest,
Who
only
on thee doth relie,
And in thee only rest.