other in the Bodleian," * which, says the historian of English Poetry, " much resembles in style and measure this just mentioned," and he adds, and he adds, "if not the

same, it is of equal antiquity."

Among the Cotton MSS. is another copy of this translation.

In the same repository is a beautiful vellum MS. containing the seven penitential Psalms, from which the 51st hath been selected for the following work.

The next MS Psalm in point of date, that has fallen in the way of the Editor, is the 142d by the learned Sir Thomas Smith, Secretary to Edward VI. and Queen Elizabeth; but though curious as the production of so eminent a scholar and statesman, it is not sufficiently correct for publication..

* History of English Poetry, vol. i. p. 23.

+ Vespasian. D. vii.

1414.

MS. 1853. 4. D. Psalmi Thomæ Brampton,

Another MS. of the seven penitential Psalms occurs also in the British Museum.

Robert Smyth, one of the many sufferers in the reign of Queen Mary, has rendered the first part of the 119th Psalm, but not with sufficient merit to entitle it at this day to be brought to light.

The same library likewise contains a MS translation of fifty Psalms by Sir William Forest, with a poetical preface, and a dedication to the Protector Somerset.

Another MS+ preserved there, contains about forty Psalms, many of which are extremely well done, by Francis and Christopher Davison, Joseph Bryan, and Richard Gipps. Francis Davison is well known to all lovers of early English Poetry, as editor of a valuable collection, called the Poetical Rhapsodie." From this MS. the Editor hath selected four

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+ Harl. MSS. 6930.

Psalms. The version of the 1st Psalm by Gipps has uncommon merit: as also has that of the 133d by Bryan; it is indeed, in one passage, deformed by the introduction of an heathen image, which perhaps might have been a sufficient reason for rejecting it altogether, but the eight concluding lines are of such admirable delicacy, that the Editor could not resist the temptation of laying them before the public.

In the long list of authors, who have translated particular Psalms, occur names of the highest celebrity; Bacon and Milton have each made choice of his favourite Psalms, and rendered them in verse. con, however, admirable as he is as a prosewriter, like *Tully, falls infinitely beneath

Ba

*Juvenal's admirable criticism on Cicero's famous verse is well known,

"O fortunatam natam me consule Romam : "Antoni gladios potuit contemnere, si sic "Omnia dixisset."

SAT. X. 122.

himself, when he turns bis great mind to poetry; whilst Milton seems to have made an almost verbal translation his primary object, and having thus cramped and fettered himself, it is not surprizing that he should fly with " flagging wing," and that

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66

here at least his

should soar."

song with middle flight Of Bacon's Psalms, the 1st

and 90th are the best; of Milton's, the 84th, the *114th, and the 136th.

The

"The 114th Psalm, (says an excellent critic) which he has rendered both into English and Greek paraphrase, appears to have attracted his notice, by a particularly beautiful turn of lines found in it." "The most striking character of his poetical style is formed by the turn of words,

Glory to him, whose just avenging ire

• Had driven out th' ungodly from his sight,

And th' habitations of the just; to him

PAR. LOST, B. vii.

Serpit odoriferas per opes levis aura Favoni,

Aura sub innumeris humida nata rosis.'

ELEG. 3.

two last were done, when he was only fifteen* years of age. Cowley,

"Whose muse did make Religion a delight," has introduced the 114th Psalm in his Davideis, but it is unworthy of his fine genius. Bishop Hurd has justly remarked of this great poet and excellent man, that every thing he wrote, is either so good,

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or so bad, that in all reason a separation "should be made;" the Editor regrets that the only Psalm he can find in his works, comes under the latter description,

With these both his English and Latin poems abound." Cursory Remarks on some of the ancient English Poets, particularly Milton, p. 129.

* Mr. Warton, in his excellent edition of Milton's minor Poems, has thrown together some of the most striking stanzas in Milton's Psalms, p. 397, 2d edit.

+ Preface to the Bishop's edition of his select Works.