Classic Poem

Domaine, ne in furore, etc.

I.

Lord, while thy just rage is biding,
Do not, do not fall to chiding
With poor faulty me:
Nor let me, while my sins' fuel
More inflames thy fury cruel,
Lord, corrected be!

II.

But for pity, pity lend me,
Precious balm of health oh send me,
Restless, healthless wight;
Sickness, my youth's blossom plucking,
And my blood and marrow sucking,
Leaves me strengthless quite.

III.

Neither are my pains so bounded,
But my soul is worse confounded,
And more deadly ill.
How long shall I be neglected?
How long from thy sight rejected?
Still, Jehovah, still?

IV.

Lord, serene thine eyes o'erclouded;
Let my trembling soul be shrouded
From eternal death:
Into mirth change thou my passion;
Let me yet of thy compassion
Draw this vital breath!

V.

Draw this breath; for they do never
Think on thee, when Death doth sever
From this too loved light!
In the silent grave who raises
Voice, or harp to sound thy praises,
Sleeping in Death's night?

VI.

I with sighs and sobs am tired,
Spending not in sleep desired
Black night's hours of rest;
But mine eyes, my life's juice spending,
Drown with showers of tears, ne'er ending,
My oft-tumbled nest.

VII.

Grown a stranger to all gladness,
My face with consuming sadness
Withered is, and dried:
In my youth I am grown aged;
My foes, with wrongs ne'er assuaged,
My head grey have made.

VIII.

But hence, workers of my evils,
Men in show, in practice devils,
Hence, away, depart:
For the Lord hath heard with pity
The sigh-broken, tear-steeped ditty
Of my vexed heart!

IX.

Heard? yea heard with acceptation
My most humble deprecation,
And hath viewed my tears;
He heard me, when I complained
Unto him with heart unfeigned;
And hath cheered my fears.

X.

Oh, my foes, for fear then tremble;
Blood in your pale cheeks assemble,
Pale with guiltiness;
Turn your coward backs, faint-hearted,
With deserved shame subverted,
In all wretchedness.