The 148th PSALM paraphrased*. B 1. EGIN, my foul, th' exalted lay, Lo! heav'n, and earth, and feas, and fkies To fwell th' infpiring theme! * The Author of this paraphrase was greatly surprised, upon looking over the Chriftian Magazine for September 1760, to find it inferted there, with an elegant introductory letter, and afcribed to an EMINENT PHYSICIAN. It was in truth written by Mr. Ogilvie, when he was very young, was originally printed in the Scots Magazine for February 1753, and was dated from Edinburgh, where he happened at that time to spend the feafon for his education. He is greatly mistaken, if the initial letters of his name are not fubjoined to the Poem. Some years afterwards it was sent to an eminent Englife Bookfeller (who, if he happens to read this note, will reccl let the fact); and as a few alter 11. Ye ations were made in that copy, which are adopted verbatim in the Christian Magazine, the Author finds, that his manuscript, and not the printed copy, has fallen into the hands of fome very modeft Gentle man. This affair is too trifling to be treated feriously. Only Mr. Ogilvie thought it neceffary to affign the reason for which it appears in the prefent Collection. He owes an acknowledgment to the perfon who fent this piece to the Authors of the Chriftian Magazine, for the high panegyric which he is pleafed to make on it; but is afraid that he will not receive an acknowledgment from the EMINENT PHYSICIAN, for afcribing to HIM the performance of a boy of fixteen. II. Ye fields of light, celeftial plains, Your Maker's wond'rous power proclaim, III. Ye Angels, catch the thrilling found! Let every liftening faint above Wake all the tuneful foul of love, And touch the sweeteft ftring. IV. Join, ye loud fpheres, the vocal choir! Thou dazzling Orb of liquid fire Soon as grey Evening gilds the plain, V. Thou Heav'n of heav'ns, His vaft abode, Ye Thunders, fpeak His power!, Lo! Lo! on the Lightnings gleamy wing Th' astonish'd worlds adore *. VI. Whate'er the gazing eye can find, That warms or foothes the mufing mind, Ye Dragons, found His dreadful name Let Ye fwelling Deeps, below! VII. every element rejoice: Ye Tempefts, raise your mighty voice His praise in fofter notes declare *There is in this verse four lines wholly different both from Mr. Ogilvie's original manufcript and from the printed copy. They are, as follows. ---proclaim your forming God, Who call'd yon worlds from night! Ye fhades difpell!---th'Eternal faid! At once th’involving darkness fled, And Nature sprung to light. VIII. To Whether thefe verfes (which are among the best in the poem) were or were not inferted in the copy fent to England, the Author cannot pofitively determine. He believes they are his own. However, he has fubftituted four new lines in their place. VIII. To Him, Ye graceful cedars, bow! Tell, when affrighted Nature shook, And trembled at His frown. IX. Ye Flocks that haunt the humble vale, Ye Infects fluttering on the gale, In mutual concourfe rife! Crop the gay rofe's vermeil bloom, And waft its spoils, a fweet perfume, In Incense to the skies. X. Wake all, ye mounting throngs, and fing! Harmonious anthems raife, To him who shap'd your finer mould, Who tip'd your glittering wings with gold, XI. Let man, by nobler paffions sway'd. The feeling heart, the judging head, In heav'nly praise employ ; Spread |