Of fun, or moon, or ftar throughout the year, Or man, or woman. Yet I argue not 5 Against Heav'n's hand or will, nor bate a jot Of heart or hope; but ftill bear up and steer Right onward. What fupports me, doft thou ask? The conscience, Friend, to' have lost them overply'd In liberty's defense, my noble task, Of which all Europe talks from fide to fide. II This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask Content though blind, had I no better guide. Brought to me like Alceftis from the grave, Whom Jove's great fon to her glad husband gave, Rescued from death by force, though pale and faint. Mine, as whom wash'd from spot of child-bed taint 5 And such, as yet once more I trust to have I wak'd, fhe fled, and day brought back my night. and for the fame reason no part of Mr. Pope's works affords greater pleasure than what he fays of himfelf and his writings, efpecially in his imitation of the firft Satire of Horace, and in his Satires intitled from the year 1738. * This was his fecond wife, Catharine the daughter of Captain Woodcock of Hackney, who lived with him not above a year after their marriage, and died in childbed of a daughter. PSALMS. 2.-like Alceftis from the grave, &c] Alceftis was the wife of Admetus king of Theffaly, who being dangeroufly ill obtain'd by the means of Apollo, that he should recover, if any body elfe would die in his ftead. His wife voluntarily offer'd herself, but Hercules intervening refcued her from death, and brought her back again to her hufband. Our author borrows the allufion from a play of Euripides called Alceftis. R 4 In counsel of the wicked, and i' th' way W PSAL. II. Done Aug. 8. 1653. Terzette. HY do the Gentiles tumult, and the nations Mufe a vain thing, the kings of th'earth upftand With pow'r, and princes in their congregations Lay deep their plots together through each land Againft Against the Lord and his Meffiah dear? 5 Let us break off, fay they, by ftrength of hand Their bonds, and caft from us, no more to wear, Their twisted cords: He who in Heav'n doth dwell Shall laugh, the Lord fhall fcoff them, then severe Speak to them in his wrath, and in his fell And fierce ire trouble them; but I, faith he, 10 15 Th' Heathen, and as thy conqueft to be sway'd Earth's utmost bounds: them fhalt thou bring full low With iron scepter bruis'd, and them difperfe 20 And now be wife at length ye Kings averse, 25 In In anger and ye perifh in the way, If once his wrath take fire like fuel fere. Happy all those who have in him their stay. L PSA L. III. Aug. 9. 1653. When he fled from Abfalom. ORD how many are my foes! That in arms against me rise! That of my life diftruftfully thus fay, Th' exalter of my head I count; Aloud I cry'd Unto Jehovah, he full foon reply'd 5 10 |