The Works

DR. SWIFT'S REMARKS*

On "The first Fifteen Psalms of David translated into + Lyric Verse. Proposed as an Essay supplying the Perspicuity and Coherence according to the Modern Art of Poetry; not known to have been attempted before t in any Language. With a Preface containing some Observations of the great and general Defectives of || the present Version in Greek, Latin, and English; by Dr. [James] Gibbs §. London, printed by J. Mathews, for J. Bartley, overagainst Gray's Inn, in Holborn. 1701."

+ Bagpipe.

Nor I hope ever will again.

il this and

Sternholdides. SWIFT.

By a memorandum on the first page it appears that these Remarks were thought
valuable by one who must be allowed to have been of no inconsiderable rank both as
a poet and a humourist: "The following manuscript was literally copied from the
printed original, found in the library of Dr. J. Swift, dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin.
The marginal notes and parodies were written by the Dean's own hand, except such as
are distinguished with this mark (4), with which I am only chargeable.

"Witness my hand, this 25th day of February, 1745.
WILLIAM DUNKIN.
"N. B. The original was by me presented to his excellency Philip Dormer Stanhope
earl of Chesterfield, lord lieutenant general and general governor of Ireland.

[PSALM OF DAVID [1].

Comparing the different state of the righ-
teous and the wicked, both in this and the
next world.

THRICE happy he that doth refuse

With impious [2] sinners to combine ;
Who ne'er their wicked way pursues,
And does the sinners seat [3] decline.

But still to learn and to obey

The law of God is his delight, Tu
In that employs himself all day,

DR. GIBBS.

Whose very [6] leaves tho' storms descend,

In lively verdure still appear:

Such blessings always shall attend The man that does the Lord revere.

The above may serve for a tolerable specimen of Swift's Remarks. The whole should be given, if it were possible to make them intelligible without copying the version which is ridiculed; a labour for which our readers would scarcely thank us. A few detached stanzas, however, with the Dean's notes on them, shall be transcribed.

DR. GIBBS.

Why do the heathen nations rise,
And in mad tumults join!

Confederate kings vain plots [1] devise
Against the Almighty's reign!

DR. GIBBS,

But those that do thy laws refuse,
In pieces thou shalt break;
[2] And with an iron sceptre bruise
The disobedient [3] neck.

Ye earthly kings, the caution bear,
Ye rulers, learn the same [4];

Serve God with reverence, and with fear [5]
His joyful praise proclaim.

[1] For should the madness of his foes

Th' avenging God incense,

Happy are they that can repose
In him their confidence [z].

DR. SWIFT.

[2] After a man is broken in pieces, it is no great matter to have his neck bruised.

[3] Neak.

[4] Rulers must learn it,
but kings may only bear it.
[5] Very proper, to make
a joyful proclamation with fear.

[1] For should the foes of
David's ape

Provoke his gray-goose
quills,

Happy are they that can
escape

The vengeance of his pills.

[2] Admirably reasoned and connected!

DR. GIBBS.

No fears shall then my soul depress
Though thus my enemies increase:
[3] And therefore now arise, O Lord
And graciously thy help afford.

And thus [4] to grant a sure defence
Belongs to God's. [5] omnipotence.

But you, my frail [6] malicious foes, Who do my power despise,

DR. SWIFT.

Deprease, Loard, Scoticè
[3] He desires God's help
because he is not afraid of his
enemies; others, I think, usu-
ally desire it when they are
afraid.

[4] The doctor has a mighty
affection for the particle thus ::
he uses it four times in this
(the 3d) Psalm, and 100 times
in other places; and always
wrong.

[5] That is as much as to
say, that he that can do all
things can defend a man; which
I take to be an undoubted
truth.

[6] Are they malicious out of frailty, or fraid out of mas lice?

VOL. XXIV.

圖書

The Works, 第 24 卷