Of thy abode,

And in my powers not stirre abroad,

But leave me to my load:

O what a damp and shade

Doth me invade!

No stormie night

Can so afflict or so affright,

As thy eclipsed light.

*  *  *  *  *

The Parody of Scripture may be raised above mere travesty by a vein of earnestness in the motive. Luther intended no violence to the first Psalm when he thus parodied it:—