 | The Literary Works of James Smetham |  |
262
PARAPHRASE—PSALM XLV.
Merry heart within me sing,
Tune the laughing lyre again,
Fluent tongue and flying pen,
Spread the praises of the king.
Tune the laughing lyre again,
Fluent tongue and flying pen,
Spread the praises of the king.
Fairest, dearest, best beloved,
From thy honey-flowing lips
Grace or wisdom ever drips,
By the mind of God approved.
From thy honey-flowing lips
Grace or wisdom ever drips,
By the mind of God approved.
O most mighty, gird thy sword,
Mount thy white horse pacing high,
Clothed with dazzling majesty,
Ride in state before the Lord!
Mount thy white horse pacing high,
Clothed with dazzling majesty,
Ride in state before the Lord!
White-robed warrants of success,
Meekness, Truth, before thee ride;
But the blade is flashing wide
Which shall every wrong redress.
Meekness, Truth, before thee ride;
But the blade is flashing wide
Which shall every wrong redress.
Keen and swift thine arrows fly
In among the serried crowd;
Darkly frowning, scoffing loud,
Smitten through and through they die.
In among the serried crowd;
Darkly frowning, scoffing loud,
Smitten through and through they die.
Steadfast crown and sceptre calm
Shine upon thy stable throne
Built in righteousness alone,
Fragrant with the anointing balm.
Shine upon thy stable throne
Built in righteousness alone,
Fragrant with the anointing balm.
263
Incense rises from thy robe,
Myrrh and cassia's odorous sighs
From the ivory palace rise,
Fill the sky and flood the globe.
Myrrh and cassia's odorous sighs
From the ivory palace rise,
Fill the sky and flood the globe.
Bending beauties wreathed and crowned,
Who on knees of kings were nursed,
Stand: thy Queen in order first:
Wait thy wish and gird thee round.
Who on knees of kings were nursed,
Stand: thy Queen in order first:
Wait thy wish and gird thee round.
Musing while the maidens sing,
Listen what the voices say:
“Leave thy lesser loves to-day;
Spread thy beauty to the king.”
Listen what the voices say:
“Leave thy lesser loves to-day;
Spread thy beauty to the king.”
Tyrian maids bring purple gifts;
Wealth comes hoping to appease:
All things crowd thy will to please,
As the coloured pageant shifts.
Wealth comes hoping to appease:
All things crowd thy will to please,
As the coloured pageant shifts.
See the monarch's daughter move
Splendid soul'd, while Ophir's sheen,
Ruby, sapphire, topaz keen,
Glisten in the light of love!
Splendid soul'd, while Ophir's sheen,
Ruby, sapphire, topaz keen,
Glisten in the light of love!
Trooping virgins, hymning choirs,
Pass the lofty palace doors,
Throng the vast and gleaming floors,
Sing and strike the thrilling lyres.
Pass the lofty palace doors,
Throng the vast and gleaming floors,
Sing and strike the thrilling lyres.
264
Fruitful bride, thou wilt not fade;
Sons and daughters born to thee
Sit for ever on thy knee
With thy name immortal made.
Sons and daughters born to thee
Sit for ever on thy knee
With thy name immortal made.
Sept. 30, 1868.
| The Literary Works of James Smetham | |