The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland Volume IV Part 5

13. The Wonder, a Woman keeps a Secret, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. This play was acted with success.

14. The Cruel Gift, or The Royal Resentment; a Tragedy; acted at the Theatre-Royal 1716, for the story of this play consult Sigismonda and Guiscarda, a Novel of Boccace.

15. A Bold Stroke for a Wife, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields 1717, dedicated to the Duke of Wharton. Besides these plays Mrs. Centlivre has written three Farces; Bickerstaff's Burying, or Work for the Upholders. The Gotham Election. A Wife well Managed.

[Footnote A: See Bayer's Political State, vol. xxvi. p.670.]

Dr. NICHOLAS BRADY,

This revd. gentleman was son of Nicholas Brady, an officer in the King's army, in the rebellion 1641, being lineally descended from Hugh Brady, the first Protestant bishop of Mieath[A]. He was born at Bandon in the county of Cork, on the 28th of October 1659, and educated in that county till he was 12 years of age, when he was removed to Westminster school, and from thence elected student of Christ's Church, Oxford. After continuing there about four years, he went to Dublin, where his father resided, at which university he immediately commenced bachelor of arts. When he was of due standing, his Diploma for the degree of doctor of divinity was, on account of his uncommon merit, presented to him from that university, while he was in England, and brought over by Dr. Pratt, then senior travelling-fellow, afterwards provost of that college. His first ecclesiastical preferment was to a prebend, in the Cathedral of St. Barry's in the city of Cork, to which he was collared by bishop Wettenhal, to whom he was domestic chaplain. He was a zealous promoter of the revolution, and suffered for it in consequence of his zeal. In 1690, when the troubles broke out in Ireland, by his interest with King James's general, Mac Carty, he thrice prevented the burning of Bandon town, after three several orders given by that Prince to destroy it. The same year, having been deputed by the people of Bandon, he went over to England to pet.i.tion the Parliament, for a redress of some grievances they had suffered, while King James was in Ireland. During his stay here, and to the time of his death, he was in the highest esteem among all ranks of persons in this kingdom, for his eminent attachment to the true interest of his country. Having quitted his preferments in Ireland, he settled in London, where he, being celebrated for his abilities in the pulpit, was elected minister of St. Catherine-Cree Church, and lecturer of St. Michael's Woodstreet. He afterwards became minister of Richmond in Surry, and Stratford upon Avon in Warwickshire, and at length, rector of Clapham in the county above-mentioned; which last, together with Richmond, he held to the time of his death. He was also chaplain to the duke of Ormond's troop of Horse-guards, as he was to their Majesties King William, and Queen Anne. He died on the 20th of May 1726, in the 67th year of his age, leaving behind him the reputation of a good man; he was of a most obliging, sweet, affable temper, a polite gentleman, an excellent preacher, and no inconsiderable poet.

His compositions in poetry are chiefly these,

1. A New Version of the Psalms of David, performed by him, in conjunction with Mr. Tate, soon after he settled in London; now sung in most churches of England, and Ireland, instead of that obsolete and ridiculous Version made by Sternhold, and Hopkins, in the reign of King Edward VI. As the 104th Psalm is esteemed one of the most sublime in the whole book, we shall present the reader with the two first Parts of his Version of that Psalm as a specimen. There have not been less than forty different Versions, and Paraphrases of this Psalm, by poets of very considerable eminence, who seem to have vied with one another for the superiority. Of all these attempts, if we may trust our own judgment, none have succeeded so happily as Mr. Blackclock, a young gentleman now resident at Dumfries in Scotland. This Paraphrase is the more extraordinary, as the author of it has been blind from his cradle, and now labours under that calamity; it carries in it such elevated strains of poetry, such picturesque descriptions, and such a mellifluent flow of numbers, that we are persuaded, the reader cannot be displeased at finding it inserted here.

Dr. Brady also translated the aeneid of Virgil, which were published by subscription in four volumes octavo, the last of which came out in 1726, a little before the author's death.

He also published in his life-time three Volumes of Sermons in 8vo. each consisting of 14, all printed in London; the first in 1704, the second in 1706, and the third in 1713. After the Dr's. death, his eldest son, who is now a clergyman, published three other Volumes of his father's Sermons, each also consisting of 14, printed in London 1730, 8vo. Amongst his sermons there is one preached on St. Cecilia's day, in vindication of Church-music, first printed in 1697, in 4to.

PSALM CIV.

1. Bless G.o.d my soul; thou, Lord alone, Possessest empire without bounds: With honour thou art crown'd, thy throne Eternal Majesty surrounds.

2. With light thou dost thy self enrobe, And glory for a garment take; Heav'n's curtain stretch'd beyond the globe, The canopy of state to make.

3. G.o.d builds on liquid air, and forms His palace-chambers in the skies: The clouds his chariots are, and storms The swift-wing'd steeds with which he flies.

4. As bright as flame, as swift as wind His ministers Heav'ns palace fill; To have their sundry tasks a.s.sign'd, All proud to serve their Sovereign's will.

5., 6. Earth on her center fix'd he set, Her face with waters over spread; Not proudest mountains dar'd as yet To lift above the waves their head!

7. But when thy awful face appear'd, Th' insulting waves dispers'd; they fled When once thy thunder's voice they heard, And by their haste confess'd their dread.

8. Thence up by secret tracts they creep, And gushing from the mountain's side, Thro' vallies travel to the deep; Appointed to receive their tide.

9. There hast thou fix'd the ocean's mounds, The threat'ning surges to repel: That they no more o'erpa.s.s their bounds, Nor to a second deluge swell.

PART II.

10. Yet, thence in smaller parties drawn, The sea recovers her lost hills: And starting springs from every lawn, Surprize the vales with plenteous rills.

11. The fields tame beasts are thither led Weary with labour, faint with drought, And a.s.ses on wild mountains bred, Have sense to find these currents out.

12. There shady trees from scorching beams, Yield shelter to the feather'd throng: They drink, and to the bounteous streams Return the tribute of their song.

13. His rains from heav'n parch'd hills recruit, That soon transmit the liquid store: 'Till earth is burthen'd with her fruit, And nature's lap can hold no more.

14. Gra.s.s for our cattle to devour, He makes the growth of every field: Herbs, for man's use, of various pow'r, That either food or physic yield.

15. With cl.u.s.ter'd grapes he crowns the vine To cheer man's heart oppress'd with cares: Gives oil that makes his face to shine.

And corn that wasted strength repairs.

PSALM CIV. imitated by THOMAS BLACKCLOCK.

Arise my soul! on wings seraphic rise!

And praise th' Almighty sov'reign of the skies!

In whom alone essential glory shines, Which not the Heav'n of Heav'ns, nor boundless s.p.a.ce confines!

When darkness rul'd with universal sway, He spoke, and kindled up the blaze of day; First fairest offspring of th' omnific word!

Which like a garment cloath'd it's sovereign lord.

He stretch'd the blue expanse, from pole to pole, And spread circ.u.mfluent aether round the whole.

Of liquid air he bad the columns rise, Which prop the starry concave of the skies.

Soon as he bids, impetuous whirlwinds fly, To bear his sounding chariot thro' the sky: Impetuous whirlwinds the command obey, Sustain his flight, and sweep th' aerial way.

Fraught with his mandates from the realms on high, Unnumber'd hosts of radiant heralds fly; From orb to orb, with progress unconfin'd, As lightn'ing swift, resistless as the wind.

His word in air this pondr'ous ball sustain'd.

"Be fixt, he said."-And fix'd the ball remain'd.

Heav'n, air, and sea, tho' all their stores combine.

Shake not its base, nor break the law divine.

At thy almighty voice, old ocean raves, Wakes all his force, and gathers all his waves; Nature lies mantled in a watry robe, And sh.o.r.eless ocean roils around the globe; O'er highest hills, the higher surges rise, Mix with the clouds, and leave the vaulted skies.

But when in thunder, the rebuke was giv'n, That shook th' eternal firmament of heav'n, The dread rebuke, the frighted waves obey, They fled, confus'd, along th' appointed way, Impetuous rushing to the place decreed, Climb the steep hill, and sweep the humble mead: And now reluctant in their bounds subside; Th' eternal bounds restrain the raging tide: Yet still tumultuous with incessant roar, It shakes the caverns, and a.s.saults the sh.o.r.e.

By him, from mountains, cloth'd in livid snow, Thro' verdant vales, the mazy fountains flow.

Here the wild horse, unconscious of the rein, That revels boundless, o'er the wide champaign, Imbibes the silver stream, with heat opprest To cool the fervour of his glowing breast.

Here verdant boughs adorn'd with summer's pride, Spread their broad shadows o'er the silver tide: While, gently perching on the leafy spray, Each feather'd songster tunes his various lay: And while thy praise, they symphonize around, Creation ecchoes to the grateful sound.

Wide o'er the heav'ns the various bow he bends.

Its tincture brightens, and its arch extends: At the glad sign, aerial conduits flow, The hills relent, the meads rejoice below: By genial fervour, and prolific rain, Gay vegetation cloaths the fertile plain; Nature profusely good, with bliss o'er-flows, And still she's pregnant, tho' she still bestows: Here verdant pastures, far extended lie, And yield the grazing herd a rich supply!

Luxuriant waving in the wanton air, Here golden grain rewards the peasant's care!

Here vines mature, in purple cl.u.s.ters glow, And heav'n above, diffuses heav'n below!

Erect and tall, here mountain cedars rise, High o'er the clouds, and emulate the skies!

Here the winged crowds, that skim the air, with artful toil, their little dams prepare, Here, hatch their young, and nurse their rising care!

Up the steep-hill ascends the nimble doe, While timid conies scour the plains below; Or in the pendent rocks elude the scenting foe.

He bade the silver majesty of night, Revolve her circle, and increase her light.

But if one moment thou thy face should'st hide, Thy glory clouded, or thy smiles denied, Then widow'd nature veils her mournful eyes, And vents her grief, in universal cries!

Then gloomy death, with all his meagre train; Wide o'er the nations spreads his iron reign!

Sea, earth, and air, the bounteous ravage mourn, And all their hosts to native dust return!

Again thy glorious quickning influence shed, The glad creation rears its drooping head: New rising forms, thy potent smiles obey, And life re-kindles at the genial ray; United thanks replenish'd nature pays, And heaven and earth resound their Maker's praise.

When time shall in eternity be lost, And h.o.a.ry nature languish into dust, Forever young, thy glories shall remain, Vast as thy being, endless as thy reign!

Thou from the realms of everlasting day, See'st all thy works, at one immense survey!

Pleas'd at one view, the whole to comprehend, Part join'd to part, concurring to one end.

If thou to earth, but turn'st thy wrathful eyes, Her basis trembles, and her offspring dies.

Thou smit'st the hills, and at th' almighty blow, Their summits kindle, and their entrails glow.

While this immortal spark of heav'nly flame, Distends my breast, and animates my frame, To thee my ardent praises shall be born, On the first breeze, that wakes the blushing morn: The latest star shall hear the pleasing sound, And nature, in full choir shall join around!

When full of thee, my soul excursive flies, Thro' earth, air, ocean or thy regal skies, From world, to world, new wonders still I find!

And all the G.o.dhead bursts upon my mind!

When, wing'd with whirlwinds, vice shall take her flight, To the wide bosom of eternal night, To thee my soul shall endless praises pay; Join! men and angels! join th' exalted day!

a.s.sign'd a province to each rolling sphere, And taught the sun to regulate the year.

At his command wide hov'ring o'er the plain, Primaeval night resumes her gloomy reign.

Then from their dens impatient of delay, The savage monsters bend their speedy way, Howl thro' the s.p.a.cious waste and chase the frighted prey.

Here walks the s.h.a.ggy monarch of the wood, Taught from thy providence to ask his food: To thee O Father! to thy bounteous skies, He rears his main, and rolls his glaring eyes.

He roars, the desarts tremble wide around!

And repercusive hills repeat the sound.

Now purple gems, the eastern skies adorn, And joyful nature hails th' opening morn; The rovers conscious of approaching day, Fly to their shelters, and forget their prey.

Laborious man, with moderate slumber blest, Springs chearful to his toil, from downy rest; Till grateful ev'ning with her silver train, Bid labour cease, and ease the weary swain!

Hail, sovereign Goodness! All productive mind!

On all thy works, thyself inscribed we find!

How various all! how variously endow'd!

How great their number! and each part how good!

How perfect then must the great parent shine!

Who with one act of energy divine, Laid the vast plan, and finish'd the design.

Where e'er the pleasing search my thoughts pursue, Unbounded goodness opens to my view.

Nor does our world alone, its influence share; Exhaustless bounty, and unwearied care, Extend thro' all th' infinitude of s.p.a.ce, And circle nature with a kind embrace.

The wavy kingdoms of the deep below, Thy power, thy wisdom, and thy goodness shew, Here various beings without number stray, Croud the profound, or on the surface play.

Leviathan here, the mightiest of the train, Enormous! sails inc.u.mbent o'er the main.