Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

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

Psalme XCI

VI. Sir Philip Sidney and the Countess of Pembroke

TO him the Highest keepes

In closet of his care;

Who in th’ Allmightie’s shadow sleepes,

For one affirme I dare:

Jehova is my fort,

My place of safe repaire;

My God, in whom of my support

All hopes reposed are.

From snare the fowler laies,

He shall thee sure unty:

The noisome blast that plaguing straies

Untoucht shall passe thee by.

Soft hiv’d with wing and plume

Thou in his shrowd shalt ly,

And on his truth noe lesse presume,

Then most in shield affy.

Not mov’d with frightfull night,

Nor arrow shott by day:

Though plague, I say, in darknesse fight,

And wast at noontide slay.

Nay, allbe thousands here,

Ten thousands there decay;

That ruine to approach thee nere

Shall finde no force nor way.

But thou shalt live to see,

And seeing to relate,

What recompences shared be

To ev’ry godlesse mate.

When once thou mak’st the Lord

Protector of thy state,

And with the Highest canst accord

To dwell within his gate:

Then ill, nay, cause of ill,

Shall farr excluded goe:

Nought thee to hurt, much lesse to kill,

Shall nere thy lodging grow.

For angells shall attend

By him commanded soe,

And thee in all such waies defend

As his directions show.

To beare thee with regard

Their hands shall both be spred;

Thy foote shall never dash too hard

Against the stone misled.

Soe thou on lions goe,

Soe on the aspick’s head;

On lionet shall hurtlesse soe

And on the dragon tread.

Loe, me, saith God, he loves,

I therefore will him free:

My name with knowledge he approves,

That shall his honor be.

He asks when paines are rife,

And streight receiv’d doth see

Help, glory, and his fill of life,

With endlesse health from me.