" Poesy is a gift of the gods
and cometh not from deep Hebrew study nor from vast learning, and we must
accept Ainsworth's pious enthusiasm in the place of poetic fervor. Of the
quality of his work, however, it is best to judge for one's self. Here is
his rendition of the Nineteenth Psalm, so well known to us in verse by
Addison's glorious "The spacious firmament on high." The prose version is
printed in one column and the verse by its side.
1. To the Mayster of the Musik: A Psalm of David
2. The heavens, doo tel the glory of God: and the out-spred firmament
shevveth; the work of his hand.
3. Day unto day uttereth speech: and night unto night manifesteth
knowledge:
4. No speech, and no words: not heard is their voice
5. Through all the earth, gone-forth is their line: and unto the
utmost-end of the world their speakings: he hath put a tent in them for
the sun.
6. And he; as a bridegroom, going-forth out of his privy-chamber:
joyes as a mighty-man to run a race
7. From the utmost end of the heavens is his egress; and his
compassing-regress is unto the utmost-ends of them: and none _is_
hidd, from his heat.
2. The heav'ne, doo tel the glory of God and his firmament dooth
preach.
3. work of his hands. Day unto day dooth largely-utter speach and night
unto night dooth knowledge shew
4.
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