XVIII. William Byrd. Psalme XV. Edward Farr, ed. 1845. Select Poetry, Chiefly Devotional, of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth

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Edward Farr, ed. Select Poetry of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. 1845.

Psalme XV

XVIII. William Byrd


O LORD, 1 who in thy sacred tent
And holy hill shall dwell?
Euen he that both in heart and minde
Dooth studie to do well.

In life vpright, in dealing iust,	5
And he that from his heart
The truth doth speak with singlenes,
All falshood set apart.

With tongue besides that hurts no man,
By false and ill report;	10
Nor friends nor neighbours harme will doe
Whereuer he resort.

That hates the bad, and loues the good,
And faith that neuer breakes;
But keepes alwaies, though to his losse,	15
The woord that once he speakes.

Nor filthy gaine by loue that seekes,
Nor wealth so to possesse;
Nor that for bribes the guiltlesse soule
Doth labour to oppresse.	20

Like as a mount, so shall he stand:
Nothing shall him remoue,
That thus shall do, the Lord hath said;
Nor man can it disproue.

Note 1. XVIII. William Byrd.—He was one of the “Gentlemen of the Queene’s Maiestie’s honorable Chappell.” In 1583 he published a work entitled “Medius: Psalmes, Sonets, and Songs of Sadness and Pietie,” from which the following specimens are derived. In the original copies the poetry is set to music. [back]

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