106 A TRANSLATION OF CERTAIN PSALMS. 



And bread, that is all viands firmament, 



And gives a firm and solid nourishment ; 



And wine, man s spirits for to recreate ; 



And oil, his face for to exhilarate. 



The sappy cedars, tall like stately tow rs, 



High-flying birds do harbour in their bow rs : 



The holy storks, that are the travellers, 



Choose for to dwell and build within the firs ; 



The climbing goats hang on steep mountains side ; 



The digging conies in the rocks do bide. 



The moon, so constant in inconstancy, 



Doth rule the monthly seasons orderly ; 



The sun, eye of the world, doth know his race, 



And when to shew, and when to hide his face. 



Thou makest darkness, that it may be night, 



When as the savage beasts, that fly the light, 



As conscious of man s hatred, leave their den, 



And range abroad, secur d from sight of men. 



Then do the forests ring of lions roaring, 



That ask their meat of God, their strength restoring ; 



But when the day appears, they back do fly, 



And in their dens again do lurking lie. 



Then man goes forth to labour in the field, 



Whereby his grounds more rich increase may yield. 



O Lord, thy providence sufficeth all ; 



Thy goodness, not restrained, but general 



Over thy creatures : the whole earth doth flow 



With thy great largess pour d forth here below. 



Nor is it earth alone exalts thy name, 



But seas and streams likewise do spread the same. 



