The Songs of the Old Testament Translated into English Measures, Title page – Table of contents
THE SONGS OF The OLD Teſtament, Tranſlated into Engliſh Meaſures, preſeruing the Naturall Phraſe and genuine Senſe of the holy Text: and with as little circumlocution as in moſt proſe TRANSLATIONS.
To eueryevery Song is added a new and eaſie TVNE, and a ſhort Prologue alſo, deliuering the effect and Vſe thereof, for the profit of vnlearned READERS.
By GEORGE WITHER.
Cum priuilegio & permiſſu Superiorum.
LONDON, Printed by T. S. 1621.
TO THE MOST Reuerend Father in God, GEORGE, by the Diuine Prouidence, Lord Arch biſhop of Canterbury, Primate, &c. and to the reſt of the moſt Reuerend Archbiſhops.
To the Reuerend Fathers alſo, the L. Biſhops, and to all other the deuout Paſtors and Superintendents, of the Churches of Great Britaine, and Ireland.
GEORGE WITHER, their humble Seruant, wiſheth all encreaſe of Spirituall graces: and to their Chriſtian diſpoſure, ſubmits Himſelfe and this Endeauour.
Moſt Reuerend Fathers, &c.
THe many pious Inſtructions, and Chriſtian Pledges, which I hauehave at your hands, and by your meanes receiued of our holy Mother the Church, hauehave ſo oft informed me, in that Wherewithall a yong man ought to cleanſe his way; and ſo much confirmed me in the comfortable ſtudy thereof: That (howſoeuer the vaine inclinations of youth tempted the contrary) I was euer conſcionably fearefull of trifling away all my firſt age, in the pleaſures of Senſualitie. Yea, ſo often hauehave you rung in my eares that gratious and moſt ſerious Memorandum of the holy Ghoſt; Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth, &c. That (more often then I ſhould hauehave beene) I was thereby put in minde, both to contemplate the works and mercies of the Almighty: and to endeauour alſo (as the ſlenderneſſe of my vnderſtanding, and the frailties of my yeeres would giuegive leaue) ſo to imploy my ſelfe, that the little time I purpoſed to ſpend well, might (if it were poſſible) produce ſomething, which (being as well profitable to others as to my ſelfe) would make a little recompence for thoſe many dayes, my youth and the temptations of the world, would force me idlely to conſume.
And I thanke God; ſomewhat hath beene already effected, which (notwithſtanding my owne perſonall vnworthineſſe) the Church hath vouchſafed with a motherly approbation, both to receiue at my hand, and by her reuerend Authority to deliuer ouer alſo vntounto others: Whereby I hauehave beene encouraged, to proceed according to thoſe beginnings, and (as a teſtimony as w…ll of gratitude, as of obedience) now to conſecrate vntounto the vſe, of good men, and in the name of your RRces this; the little gaine of my one Talent. Being a Metricall Tranſlation of thoſe ſacred Canonicall Songs diſperſed in the Old Teſtament, and anciently vſed to be ſung by the Primitiue Churches: My Thankefulneſſe it witneſſeh in this; that I offer vp the beſt fruit of my labours vntounto thoſe, by whom I was firſt taught how to be ſo imployed: and my obedience is alſo teſtified, both in thus ſubmitting it vntounto your graue Cenſures, and in hauing thus, according to your deſires, imployed my poore faculty in the ſeruice of the Church. For neither by any vaine-glorious humour of my owne, nor by the motion of any giddy Seperatiſts, but by ſome of you, was I firſt called and encouraged to this worke. In the performance whereof, I hauehave been euer mindfull of that Religious reuerence, which was fit to be obſerued in ſo weighty an vndertaking. And I hope, I hauehave ſo effected the ſame; as Gods Maieſtie may be praiſed in it, your RRces, pleaſed with it, good Chriſtians benefitted by it, and my owne ſoule receiue comfort therein.
The liberty I hauehave taken, and the manner of my proceeding in this Tranſlation hath been little diff…rent from that, which (in my Preparation to the Pſalter) I profeſſed to vſe in the Tranſlation of the Pſalmes; and I doubt not, but the greateſt fault which ſhall be diſcouered therein, vponupon notice giuen, may be aſoone (almoſt) amended as found out.
That to the glory of God they may be ſung either in publike, or in priuate, as your RRces ſhall ſee cauſe; I hauehave endeauoured to procure from ſome of our b…ſt M…ſitians, ſuch Notes as (being eaſie, and proper to the matter) might the more accommodate them, for the praiſe of God, according to the laudable cuſtome of ſinging now in vſe. Moreouer; that ſuch as are delighted with thoſe Exerciſes, may not make meere ſenſual Muſicke, but expreſſe melody both …cceptable to God and profitable to themſelues, by knowing the Vſe, and meaning of what they ſing. I hauehave (according to the Truth, and agreeable to the doctrine of the Ancient Fathers) prefixed a briefe Prologue before eueryevery Song. Wherein I firſt ſhew the generall meaning and ſcope of it, according to the litterall Senſe: then, how in the ſpirituall and moſt principal Senſe, it hath reſpect to the Miſteries of our Chriſtian Religion; and that each Song doth appertaine vntounto vsus, vponupon ſome occaſions, in this age of the Church, as properly as it did to them, for whom they were firſt compoſed. Which in the Arguments themſelues, is ſo euidently and particularly declared, as I hope it will be well perceiued, it was not my owne idle fantaſie which directed me.
This your RRces doe well know, and how the vſe of theſe Hymnes hath been continued in the Primitiue Churches; yea, and retained euen to this day in many Congregations, as not impertinent to vsus of the laſt Ages. And to me it ſeemeth they neuer were (all at once) ſo much vſe-full, as now in theſe times, if the neceſſities of this Age be w…ll conſidered. For which Cauſe; being thus to your hands preſented, ready fitted for vſe, according to the kinde of Muſicke now beſt approued of for ſubiects of this nature; And ſeeing alſo, they are both deſired, and may without any knowne inconuenience be generally admitted of: I doubt not but you will be pleaſed to recommend the practiſe of them to all thoſe who are willingly diſpoſed for ſuch Exerciſes. For, though ſome ſcoffing Iſmaelites may deride this addition of Songs, to that ouer-many which (as they thinke) the Church already hath. Neuertheleſſe; You, who by your experiences finde, that the humane nature in all things requires variety, to keepe it from loathing; and by your ſpirituall knowledges are aſſured, that God prouides for his Church, neither more nor leſſe of any thing then ſhall be requiſite. Euen you alſo know; that theſe are not to be accou…ted a vaine, or burthenſome addition to our Pſalmes: eſpecially when the Apocriphall Inuentions of m…n may there hauehave place.
And when theſe ſhall be compared with thoſe Meaſur…s we hauehave hitherto made vſe of in our deuotions, I doubt not (ſeeing the matter is of the ſame Authority) but the manner of expreſſing it ſhall make this no leſſe worthy of entertainment then that; (and though I ſhould ſay more worthy, I thinke it were no arrogance.) For (if I miſtake not) as naturally hauehave I expreſt the ſenſe of theſe Songs, and as plainely as moſt proſe Tranſlations hauehave yet done. And, if any indifferent man, who knowes the Poeſie and power of the Engliſh tongue may be my Iudge; I aſſure my ſelfe, hee will cenſure the expreſſion to be ſuch, as that it ſhall neither be obſcure to the meaneſt capacities, nor contemptible to the beſt Iudgments: but becomming the purpoſe it was intended for. I hauehave not lept on a ſudden into this employment; but in ſtudies of this nature hauehave now conſumed almoſt the yeeres of an Apprentiſhip. And if it be well weighed: Firſt, how full of ſhort ſentences and ſuddain breakings off, ſuch like ſcriptures are: Secondly, how frequently theſe particles For, But, and ſuch like, which are gracefull in the Originall, will ſeeme to obſcure the dependancy of ſenſe in the Engliſh phraſe, if they be not carefully needed: Thirdly, how harſh the Muſicke will be, if the Pauſes be not vſually reduced vntounto the ſame place, which they hauehave in the firſt Stanza of each Song: Fourthly, how many other differences there muſt be betweene this kinde of Lyricall verſe and what is ſmoothed onelyonly for the reading: Fiftly, how the Tranſlator is tyed to make choiſe, not of what is eaſieſt, but of that kind of verſe which may become beſt the nature of eueryevery Song: Sixtly, how he is bound not onelyonly to the Senſe, but to the very words (or words of the ſame power) which another hath vſed: Laſtly, how beſide all this ſtrictneſſe, he is euen in conſcience alſo conſtrained, ſo to expreſſe things by circumlocution (when he ſhall be forced to it) as that, although his phraſe be of the ſame power, it will not be warrantable vnleſſe it be ſo alſo done, that the manner of ſpeaking, peculiar to theſe writings, may be all the way perceiued by thoſe vnderſtanding Readers who are acquainted therewith. I ſay, If all theſe circumſtances be well conſidered (and how difficult they make it, to cloſe vp eueryevery Stanza with a Period, or ſome ſuch point as the voyce may a while decently pauſe there) I am both perſwaded a worke of of this nature, would neither be haſtily aduentured vponupon againe by any other; nor my labour herein be altogether diſeſteemed: who hauehave bin mindful of all thoſe, & many other particulars, conſiderable in ſuch a buſines.
And now; that it may be finiſhed with more exactnes, then my owne induſtry is able to adde vntounto it.
(If in any part of theſe Songs the genuine Senſe be not yet well expreſſed,) vponupon reaſon giuen, and the l…ſt notiſe vouchſafed from any of your RRces, after the view of this; I ſhall be ready to amend it, according to your directions. Or if the Tunes hauehave not w…ll ſuted the nature of them; Thoſe who hauehave formerly beſtowed their paines (and many other alſo) will be liberall of their beſt Art, more to apt them for the glory of God. For, although this Booke hath already the allowance appointed by Authority, and ſo much the approbation of many other good men, as that they deſire it generally publiſhed (at leaſt) for their priuate deuotions: Yet, knowing theſe vndertakings can neuer be too perfect, I hauehave purpoſed this Impreſſion for no other end, but to be diſtributed among your RRces, and my other ſpeciall friends. That if there be any ouerſight committed, or ought neceſſary omitted in them; it might be reformed and ſupplied in the next Edition, by warning and inſtruction from ſome of You.
But, I hope it ſhall not be found very defectiue; And in my Epiſtle to make anſwere vntounto thoſe many obiections, which vulgar vnderſtandings will be apt to frame againſt this vndertaking; I thinke it alſo needleſſe. Becauſe you, to whom (onelyonly) I at this time preferre it, are all ſufficient enough without information from me, to perceaue how friuolous thoſe doubts and cauils be, which the weakeneſſe of ſuch are apt to inuent.
And if your RRces be herewith ſatisfied, I value not how the wits of our age ſhall cenſure the Stile I hauehave vſed; for though many of them are well acquainted with the raptures in Hero and Leander, the expreſſions in Venus and Adonis, and with the elegancies becomming a wanton Sonnet; yet in theſe Lyricks, in the naturall ſtraine of theſe Poems, in the power of theſe voyces, and in the proprieties befitting theſe ſpirituall things, their ſenſuall capacities, are as ignorant as meere Ideots: and had it the Poeticall phraſes they fancy, I ſhould hate it; or were it ſuch as they might praiſe, I would burne it.
That which I feare will be the greateſt blemiſh to this labour; is, my owne indignity. For I muſt confeſſe, I am the more vnworthy to be imployed in theſe holy things: Seeing I am none of thoſe, who are allowed to intermeddle with the Myſteries of our Chriſtian Sanctuary. Neuertheleſſe, if what I hauehave performed be allowable in it ſelfe, and by your approbations once conſecrated to a holy Vſe, doubtleſſe (if no mans Will ſtand for a Reaſon) it ſhal be no leſſe auaileable, then if ſome eminent Father of the Church had laboured therein. And whenſoeuer it ſhall be againe vndertaken, this I am certaine of; No man will go about it with a heart more deſirous to be rectified, or more fearefull to offend againſt the M•tie of theſe Scriptures.
And I truſt no man will enuy me the honour of this employment: For, though it be no meane contentment to a Chriſtian (whoſe ſoule is touched with the vnderſtanding of theſe things) to be any way an inſtrument of Gods glory, yet (if we tru…ly conſider it) that which I hauehave aſpired vntounto therby, makes me in regard of You, or in reſpect but of the meaneſt of thoſe who are admitted to adminiſter the bleſſed Sacraments, no more then a hewer of wood, or a drawer of water, for the old Sacrifices, was in compariſon of the Leuite, who offered on the golden Alter.
God knowes with what minde I hauehave proceeded in this endeuour; and therefore Reward and Acceptation from aboue the Sunne I am certaine of. But the courſe of things below the Sunne, I hauehave ſo well conſidered, that ſhould I reach the perfection of what I went about, yet all my labour might be no to purpoſe. For as the Preacher ſaith, Eccl. 9.11. I hauehave ſeene vnderunder the Sunne, that the race is not to the ſwift, nor the battell to the ſtrong, nor yet bread to the wiſe, nor riches to men of vnderſtanding, nor fauour to men of knowledge; but time and chance commeth to them all.
If my paines ſhall be aiudged vnneceſſary, yet my comfort is, I hauehave onelyonly ſpent my owne meanes about it, and not vnderunder the colour or pretence of being imployed, fedde my ſelfe fat on the patrimonies of the Church, without effecting (or ſo much as intending) any thing to her aduantage. And if it be thought profitable; that profit ſhall be gained without hinderance to any other mans preferment. For I neuer intend (though my neceſſities were more importunate) to petition for ſo much as a lay-Prebend in recompence of my labours. Only your benediction, your loues, & your holy Prayers, next vntounto Gods glory, is my principall aime. And ſeeing neither the manner of my education, nor the courſe of my life, nor the performance of this worke (though I will not iuſtifie my ſelfe) can yet appeare to be ſuch as may diſparage the Church to receiue theſe endeauours at my hands: So much confidence hauehave I in your Fatherly diſpoſitions towards all well affected perſons, of what outward condition ſoeuer they be, that I am verely perſwaded you would not for a few ouer-ſights, ſleight all my paines; but rather to the encouragement of others (for no affront in theſe ſtudies can diſhearten me) graciouſly vouchſafe in ſome meaſure to accept what I here make humble proffer of vntounto your RRces. Which if you pleaſe to doe, I ſhall euer acknowledge my ſelfe obliged for your Chriſtian reſpect, and ſtudy ſuch things, as (perhaps) will make me hereafter more worthy of your eſteeme.
So, preſuming that if I hauehave deliuered Reaſon, it ſhal be with your Wiſedomes, eueryevery whit as Authenticke as if I had begun, continued, and ended this Epiſtle with the Prouerbs, or ouer-worne Sentences of olde Authors: I humbly wiſh (according to the cuſtome of my Countrey on this day) a happy NEVV-YEERE to all your RRces, and to the whole Church, in her ſeuerall af…ires, a moſt proſperous ſucceſſe.
Ianuary the 1. 1621.
A Table of the Songs.
Song.
Pag.
1 The firſt Song of Moſes.
1
2 The ſecond Song of Moſes.
6
3 The Song of Deborah. &c.
15
4 The Song of Hannah.
24
5 Nehemiahs Prayer.
29
6 King Lemuels Song.
34
7 The firſt Song of Eſay.
38
8 The ſecond Song of Eſay.
42
9 The third Song of Eſay.
45
10 Hezekiahs Prayer.
50
11 Hezekiahs Thankeſgiuing.
53
12 The Prayer of Daniel.
59
13 The Prayer of Ionah.
6…
14 The Prayer of Habakkuk.
6…