TRANSLATION

OF

CERTAINE PSALMES

INTO

ENGLISH VERSE.

BY

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

FRANCIS LO. VERULAM, VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN.

LONDON:

Printed for Hanna Barret, and Richard Whittaker; and are to be sold at the signe of the King's Head in Paul's Church Yard.

1625.

TO HIS VERY GOOD FRIEND

MR. GEORGE HERBERT.

THE pains that it pleased you to take about some of my writings I cannot forget; which did put me in mind to dedicate to you this poor exercise of exercise of my sickness. Besides, it being my manner for dedications, to choose those that I hold most fit for the argument, I thought that in respect of divinity and poesy met, (whereof the one is the matter, the other the stile of this little writing,) I could not make better choice. So, with signification of my love and acknowledgment, I ever rest

Your affectionate Friend,

FR. ST. ALBAN.

TRANSLATION OF CERTAIN PSALMS.

THE TRANSLATION OF THE IST PSALM.

WHO never gave to wicked reed
A yielding and attentive ear;

Who never sinner's paths did tread,

Nor sat him down in scorner's chair;
But maketh it his whole delight
On law of God to meditate,
And therein spendeth day and night:
That man is in a happy state.

He shall be like the fruitful tree,
Planted along a running spring,
Which, in due season, constantly

A goodly yield of fruit doth bring:
Whose leaves continue always green,

And are no prey to winter's pow'r:
So shall that man not once be seen

Surprised with an evil hour.