PSALM XLV.

George Burgess

Thou fairer than the sons of man,
Thy lips bedew'd with peace,
So bless'd of God ere time began,
So bless'd when time shall cease!

Gird on thy thigh thy conqu'ring blade,
Majestic Prince of might!
Ride prosp'ring on, in pomp array'd,
Meek Lord of truth and right!

Thy strong right hand shall point thy path
Where vict'ry's terrors speed;
And banded hearts that dare thy wrath
On thy sharp shafts shall bleed.

Forever and forever sure,
Thy throne, O God, remains;
A sceptre firm, while worlds endure,
Thy righteous sceptre reigns.

Truth was thy love, and sin thy hate,
And therefore on thy head
Hath God, thy God, in matchless state,
The oil of gladness shed.

Thy robes the aloes rich perfumes,
And myrrh, and cassia sweet;
And songs from iv'ry palace-rooms
Thy princely presence greet.

And maids, of many a royal line,
With thy belov'd one stand,
Where, crown'd from Ophir's distant mine,
She smiles at thy right hand.

Daughter of kings, incline thine ear;
Forget thy father's hall:
The King, thy Lord, has thee most dear;
Oh, love him more than all!

Tyre's glitt'ring tow'rs their gift shall send,
Thy nuptial pomp to grace;
And Gentile lords shall lowly bend,
And sue thy fav'ring face.

Within, how fair the queenly bride!
In robes with gold inwrought,
She comes all glorious to thy side,
By circling virgins brought.

With songs and joy thy courts they tread,
And heirs of royal birth
To ev'ry land thy race shall spread,
And rule the happy earth.

Beyond thy fathers' storied page
Shall glow thy children's day;
And tribes and realms, from age to age,
Shall join my votive lay.