Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Edward Farr, ed. Select Poetry of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. 1845.

Psalme CXLVIII

VI. Sir Philip Sidney and the Countess of Pembroke

INHABITANTS of heav’nly land,

As loving subjectes praise your king:

You that among them highest stand,

In highest notes Jehova sing.

Sing angells all, on carefull wing,

You that his heralds fly,

And you whom he doth soldiers bring

In field his force to try.

O praise him, sunne, the sea of light;

O praise him, moone, the light of sea;

You pretie starrs in robe of night,

As spangles twinckling, do as they.

Thou spheare, within whose bosom play

The rest that earth emball;

You waters banck’d with starry bay;

O praise, O praise him all!

All these, I say, advaunce that name,

That doth eternall being show:

Who bidding, into forme and frame,

Not being yet, they all did grow:

All formed, framed, founded so,

Till ages’ uttmost date,

They place retaine, they order know,

They keepe their first estate.

When heav’n hath prais’d, praise earth anew:

You dragons first, her deepest guests;

Then soundlesse deepes, and what in you

Residing low, or moves, or rests.

You flames affrighting mortall brests;

You cloudes that stones do cast;

You feathery snowes from wynter’s nests,

You vapors, sunnes appast.

You boisterous windes, whose breath fulfills

What in his word his will setts down:

Ambitious mountaines, curteous hills,

You trees that hills and mountaines crown:

Both you, that proud of native gown

Stand fresh and tall to see,

And you that have your more renown,

By what you beare, then be.

You beasts in woodes untam’d that range,

You that with men familier go,

You that your place by creeping change,

Or airy streames with feathers row.

You stately kings, you subjects low,

You lordes and judges all:

You others, whose distinctions shew

How sex or age may fall.

All these, I say, advaunce that name

More hygh then skies, more low then ground:

And since, advaunced by the same,

You Jacob’s sonnes stand cheefly bound,

You Jacob’s sonnes be cheefe to sound

Your God Jehova’s praise:

So fitts them well on whom is found

Such blisse he on you laies.