VIII. Henry Ainsworth

BY Babel’s rivers there sate wee,

Yea wept, when wee did mind Sion;

The willowes that amidds it bee

Our harps we hanged them upon:

For songs of us there ask did they

That had us captive led along;

And mirth they that us heaps did lay,

Sing unto us some Sion’s song.

Jehovah’s song how sing shall wee

Within a forreyn people’s land?

Jerusalem, if I doe thee

Forget, forget let my right hand,

Cleave let my tongue to my palat,

If I do not in mind thee bear;

If I Jerusalem doe not

Above my cheifest joy prefer.

Remember, Lord, to Ædom’s sonns

Day of Jerusalem, who sayd,

Rase, rase to her foundations!

Daughter of Babel, wastful layd,

O blessed he that thy reward

Payes thee, which thou rewardest us!

O blessed he that takes, and hard

Against the rock thy babes doth crush!