"Dublin, 26th, of May, 1748."
The "Epistle Dedicatory" to Princess Anne, in Dr. Gibbs's volume, has also been annotated, chiefly by Dr. Dunkin; but as these are mostly too filthy to be published, I have omitted the few notes by Swift, which consist merely of marginalia corrections of words and a few satirical interpolations of no great consequence. I have corrected Dr. Gibbs's text by the original edition of his "Paraphrase" (1701). The corrections were necessary, since the transcript could not be absolutely relied on.
[T.S.]
On "The first Fifteen Psalms of David, translated into Lyric Verse: Proposed as an Essay, supplying the Perspicuity and Coherence according to the Modern Art of Poetry; not known to have been attempted before in any Language. With a Preface containing some Observations of the great and general Defectiveness of former Versions in Greek, Latin, and English. By Dr. [James] Gibbs. London: printed by J. Mathews, for John Hartley, over-against Gray's-Inn, in Holborn. MDCCI."
THE FIRST FIFTEEN PSALMS, TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH VERSE.
DR GIBBS. DR SWIFT.
I. PSALM OF DAVID, (1) (1)I warn the reader that
Comparing the different state of the this is a lie, both here
righteous and the wicked, both in this and all over the book;
and the next world. for these are not Psalms
of David, but of Dr.
Gibbs.
1 Thrice happy he! that does refuse. (2) But I suppose with
With impious (2) sinners to combine; pious sinners a man may
Who ne'er their wicked way pursues, combine safely enough
And does the scorner's seat(3)decline (3)What part of speech
is it?
2 But still to learn, and to obey (4) All.
The Law of God is his delight;
In that employs himself all day, (5) A man must have
And reads and thinks thereon at(4) some time to sleep; so
night.(5) that I will change the
verse thus:
"And thinks and dreams
thereon all night."
3 For as a tree, whose spreading root (6) Look ye; you must
By some prolific stream is fed, thin the boughs at the
Produces (6) fair and timely fruit, top, or your fruit will
And numerous boughs adorn its head: be neither fair or
Whose (7) very leaves, tho' storms descend, timely.
In lively verdure still appear
(7) Why, what other part
Whose (7) very leaves, tho' storms descend, of a tree appears in lively.
In lively verdure still appear; verdure, beside the
Such blessings always shall attend leaves?
The man that does the Lord revere. These very leaves on
which you penn'd
Your woeful stuff, may
serve for squibs:
Such blessings always
shall attend
The madrigals of Dr.
Gibbs.
4 Like chaff with every wind disperst:(1) (1) "Dispurst,"
[rhyming with "curst">[ Pronounce this like a
blockhead.