Volume Iii Part 52 (1/2)

III. When thou, O Lord, shalt stand disclos'd In Majesty severe, And sit in Judgment on my Soul, O how shall I appear!

IV. But thou hast told the troubled Mind, Who does her Sins lament, The timely Tribute of her Tears Shall endless Woe prevent.

V. Then see the Sorrows of my Heart, Ere yet it be too late; And hear my Saviour's dying Groans, To give those Sorrows Weight.

VI. For never shall my Soul despair Her Pardon to procure, Who knows thine only Son has dy'd To make her Pardon sure.

'There is a n.o.ble Hymn in _French_, which Monsieur _Bayle_ has celebrated for a _very fine one_, and which the famous Author of the Art of Speaking calls an _Admirable one_, that turns upon a Thought of the same Nature. If I could have done it Justice in _English_, I would have sent it you translated; it was written by Monsieur _Des Barreaux_; who had been one of the greatest Wits and Libertines in _France_, but in his last Years was as remarkable a Penitent. [2]

'Grand Dieu, tes jugemens sont remplis d'equite; Tojours tu prens plaisir a nous etre propice: Mais j'ai tant fait de mal, que jamais ta bonte Ne me pardonnera sans choquer ta Justice.

Ouy, mon Dieu, la grandeur de mon impiete Ne laisse a ton pouvoir que le choix du suplice: Ton interest s' oppose a ma felicite; Et ta clemence meme attend que je perisse.

Contente ton desir puis qu'il t'est glorieux; Offense toy des pleurs qui coulent de mes yeux; Tonne, frappe, il est temps, rens moi guerre pour guerre.

J'adore en perissant la raison qui t'aigrit: Mais dessus quel endroit tombera ton tonnerre, Qui ne soit tout convert du sang de_ JESUS CHRIST.'

'If these Thoughts may be serviceable to you, I desire you would place them in a proper Light, and am ever, with great Sincerity,'

_SIR_,

_Yours, &c_.

O.

[Footnote 1: _an_ in first reprint.]

[Footnote 2: Jacques Vallee Seigneur des Barreaux, born in Paris in 1602, was Counsellor of the Parliament of Paris, and gave up his charge to devote himself to pleasure. He was famous for his songs and verses, for his affability and generosity and irreligion. A few years before his death he was converted, and wrote the pious sonnet given above, which had been very widely praised and quoted. In his religious days he lived secluded at Chalon sur Saone, where he died, in 1673.]

No. 514. Monday, October 20, [1] 1712. Steele.

'Me Parna.s.si deserta per ardua, dulcis Raptat Amor; juvat ire jugis qua nulla priorum Castaliam molle divert.i.tur Orbita Clivo.'

Virg.

_Mr._ SPECTATOR,