DR. GIBBS.
[1] For should the madness of his foes
Th' avenging God incense,
Happy are they that can repose
In him their confidence [2].
No fears shall then my soul depress[1],
Though thus my enemies increase:
[3] And therefore now arise, O Lord[1],
And graciously thy help afford.
And thus [4] to grant a sure defence
Belongs to God's [5] omnipotence.
DR. SWIFT.
[1] For should the foes of David's ape Provoke his gray-goose quills, Happy are they that can escape The vengeance of his pills.
[2] Admirably reasoned and connected!
[3] He desires God's help because he is not afraid of his enemies; others, I think, usually desire it when they are afraid.
[4] The doctor has a mighty affection for the particle thus: he uses it four times in this (the 3d) Psalm, and 100 times in other places; and always wrong.
[5 That is as much as to say, hat he that can do all things can defend a man; which I take to be an undoubted truth.
DR. GIBBS.
But you, my frail [6] malicious foes.
Who do my power despise,
Vainly how long will ye oppose,
And [7] falsely calumnize!
Since those alone the Lord has blest
Who do from sin refrain,
He therefore grants what I request [8],
And hears when I [9] complain.
Then shall my soul with more divine
And solid joys abound;
Than they with stores of corn and wine,
Those earthly riches, crown 'd [10].
DR. SWIFT.
[6] Are they malicious out of frailty, or frail out of malice?
[7] That is, they say false things falsely. — I will discover the doctor's secret of making coherence and connexions in the Psalms, that he brags of in his title and preface: he lays violent hands on certain particles (such as and, when, since, for, but, thus, so, &c.) and presses them to his service on all occasions, sore against their wills, and without any regard whether the sense will admit them or not.
[8] It is plain the doctor never requested to be a poet.
[9] If your requests be granted, why do you complain?
[10] I have heard of a crown or garland of corn; but a crown of wine is new, and can hardly be explained, unless we suppose the wine to be in icicles.
