PARAPHRASE OF THE FIRST PSALM THE man, in life wherever plac'd, Who walks not in the wicked's way, Nor from the seat of scornful pride But with humility and awe Still walks before his God. That man shall flourish like the trees, But he whose blossom buds in guilt For why? that God the good adore, THE FIRST SIX VERSES OF THE NINETIETH PSALM VERSIFIED O THOU, the first, the greatest friend Of all the human race! Whose strong right hand has ever been Before the mountains heav'd their heads Beneath Thy forming hand, Before this ponderous globe itself Arose at Thy command; That Pow'r which rais'd and still upholds From countless, unbeginning time Those mighty periods of years Which seem to us so vast, Thou giv’st the word: Thy creature, man, Is to existence brought; Again Thou say'st, "Ye sons of men, Return ye into nought!" Thou layest them, with all their cares, As with a flood Thou tak'st them off They flourish like the morning flow'r, But long ere night cut down it lies A PRAYER, IN THE PROSPECT OF DEATH O THOU unknown, Almighty Cause Of all my hope and fear! In whose dread presence, ere an hour, If I have wander'd in those paths Of life I ought to shun, As something, loudly, in my breast, Thou know'st that Thou hast formèd me With passions wild and strong; Has often led me wrong. Where human weakness has come short, Do Thou, All-Good-for such Thou art- Where with intention I have err'd, No other plea I have, But, Thou art good; and Goodness still STANZAS, ON THE SAME OCCASION WHY am I loth to leave this earthly scene? Have I so found it full of pleasing charms? Some drops of joy with draughts of ill betweenSome gleams of sunshine 'mid renewing storms, Is it departing pangs my soul alarms? Or death's unlovely, dreary, dark abode? For guilt, for guilt, my terrors are in arms: I tremble to approach an angry God, And justly smart beneath His sin-avenging rod. Fain would I say, "Forgive my foul offence," But, should my Author health again dispense, Then how should I for heavenly mercy pray O Thou, great Governor of all below! If I may dare a lifted eye to Thee, Thy nod can make the tempest cease to blow, Or still the tumult of the raging sea: With that controlling pow'r assist ev'n me, FICKLE FORTUNE A FRAGMENT THOUGH fickle Fortune has deceived me, I'll act with prudence as far 's I'm able, RAGING FORTUNE-FRAGMENT OF SONG O RAGING Fortune's withering blast My stem was fair, my bud was green, But luckless Fortune's northern storms IMPROMPTU—“I'LL GO AND BE A SODGER" O WHY the deuce should I repine, And be an ill foreboder? I'm twenty-three, and five feet nine, I I'll go and be a sodger! gat some gear wi' mickle care, I held it weel thegither; But now it's gane, and something mair— I'll go and be a sodger! SONG "NO CHURCHMAN AM I" Tune "Prepare, my dear Brethren, to the tavern let's fly." No churchman am I for to rail and to write, The peer I don't envy, I give him his bow; Here passes the squire on his brother-his horse; There centum per centum, the cit with his purse; But see you the Crown how it waves in the air? There a big-belly'd bottle still eases my care. The wife of my bosom, alas! she did die; I once was persuaded a venture to make; "Life's cares they are comforts"-a maxim laid down By the Bard, what d'ye call him, that wore the black gown; And faith I agree with th' old prig to a hair, A STANZA ADDED IN A MASON LODGE Then fill up a bumper and make it o'erflow, |