Poems on Several Subjects

The 148h PSALM paraphrased*.

D EGIN, my foul, th’exalted lay,
D Let each enraptured thought obey,

And praise th’Almighty's name ;
Lo! heav'n, and earth, and seas, and skies
In one melodious concert rise
To swell th’inspiring theme!

11. Ye * The Author of this paraphrase ations were made in that copy, was greatly surprised, upon look- which are adopted verbatim in the ing over the Christian Magazine Christian Magazine, the Author for September 1760, to find it in- finds, that his manuscript, and not ferted there, with an elegant intro- the printed copy, has fallen into the ductory letter, and afcribed to an hands of some very modeft GentleEMINENT PHYSICIAN. man. This affair is too trifling It was in truth written by Mr. to be treated seriously. Only Ogilvie, when he was very young, Mr. Ogilvie thought it necessary was originally printed in the Scots to assign the reason for which it Magazine for February 1753, and appears in the present Collection. was dated from Edinburgh, where He owes an acknowledgment to the he happened at that time to spend person who sent this piece to the the season for his education. He Authors of the Christian Magais greatly mistaken, if the initial zine, for the high panegyric which Jetters of his game are not sub. he is pleased to make on it; but is joined to the Poem. Some years afraid that he will not receive an acafterwards it was sent to an eminent knowledgment from the EMINENT Englifs Bookseller (who, if he hap- PHYSICIAN, for afcribing to pens to read this note, will reccl- HIM the performance of a boy led the fact); and as a few altero of fixteen,

Ye fields of light, celestial plains,
Where gay transporting beauty reigns,

Ye scenes divinely fair !
Your Maker's wondrous power proclaim,
Tell how he form'd your shining frame,
And breath’d the fluid air.

III.
Ye Angels, catch the thrilling sound !
While all th’adoring throngs around

His wond'rous mercy fing;
Let every listening faint above
Wake all the tuneful soul of love,

And touch the sweetest string.

rou

iv.
Join, ye loud spheres, the vocal choix !
Thou dazzling Orb of liquid fire

The mighty Chorus aid:
Soon as grey Evening gilds the plain,
Thou Moon, protract the melting strain,

And praise Him in the shade.

Thou Heav'n of heav'ns, His vast abode,
Ye clouds, proclaim your forming God!

Ye Thunders, speak His power!,”

Lo!

Lo! on the Lightnings gleamy wing
In triumph walks th’Eternal King,

Th' astonish'd worlds adore*.

VI.

Whate'er the gazing eye can find,
That warms or soothes the musing mind,

United praise bestow;
Ye Dragons, found His dreadful name
To heav'n aloud, and roar acclaim,

Ye swelling Deeps, below!

VII.
Let every element rejoice :
Ye Tempests, raise your mighty voice

To Him who bid you roll! ( His praise in softer notes declare Each whispering breeze of yielding air,

And breathe it to the soul.

VIII. To

* There is in this verse four Whether these verses (which lines wholly different both from are among the best in the poem) Mr. Ogilvie's original manuscript were or were not inserted in the and from the printed copy. They

y copy sent to England, the Auare, as follows.

thor cannot positively determine. ---proclaim your forming God, Who call'd yon worlds from night! He believes they are his own. Ye shades difpell! ---th'Eternal faid! However, he has substituted four At once th’involving darkness fled, new lines in their place.

And Nature fprung to light.

VIII.
To Him, Ye graceful cedars, bowl
Ye towering Mountains, bending low,

Your great Creator own!
Tell, when affrighted Nature shook,
How Sinai kindled at His look,

And trembled at His frown.

: IX.
Ye Flocks that haunt the humble vale,
Ye Insects fluttering on the gale,

In mutual concourse rise !
Crop the gay rose's vermeil bloom,
And waft its spoils, a sweet perfume,

In Incense to the skies.

Wake all, ye mounting throngs, and sing!
Ye plumy warblers of the Spring,

Harmonious anthems raise,
To him who shap'd your finer mould,
Who tip'd your glittering wings with gold,
. And tun'd your voice to praise.

XI.

Let man, by nobler passions sway'd.
The feeling heart, the judging head,

In heav'nly praise employ;

Spread

Spread His tremendous name around,
Till heav’n’s broad arch ring back the found,
The general burst of joy.

XII.
Ye, whom the charms of grandeur please,
Nurs’d on the filky lap of Ease,

Fall prostrate at his throne !
Ye Princes, Rulers, all adore !
Praise Him, Ye Kings! who makes your power
An image of His own.

XIII.
Ye Fair, by nature form’d to move,
O praise th' eternal source of love

With Youth's enlivening fire !
Let Age take up the tuneful lay, .
Sigh His blest name ;-then foar away,

And ask an Angel's lyre.

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