On Translating the Psalms

One of the earliest specimens of English verse written by an English-born Jew addressed to Daniel Israel Lopez Laguna, who published in 1720 a metrical translation of the Psalms in Spanish under the title “Espejo fiet de Vidas.”

HOW great thy Thoughts, how Glorious thy Designs,

How every Musick varies in thy Lines;

The Praise of God in every Verse is found,

Art strengthening Nature, Sense improv’d by Sound;

Your strains are Regularly Bold and Please,

With unforst Care and unaffected Ease:

Whene’er I look in thy Delightful Page,

The Godly Verse my busy Thoughts engage,

And David’s Psalms so Perfect does appear

True to the Sense, Harmonious to the Ear.

Happy the Man who strings his tuneful Lyre,

That like King David’s Harp, it do’s Inspire:

Thrice Happy thee and Worthiest to Dwell,

Amongst those Precepts thou hast Sung so well;

Your Wondrous Song with Raptures I Rehearse,

Then ask who wrought this Miracle of Verse:

Triumph LAGUNA with Immortal Lays

’Tis you alone that do’s Deserve this Praise:

’Tis you alone could chuse so great a Theme,

That all the world in Duty must Esteem.

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