Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

'There is a noble 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 onc, that turns upon a thought of the same nature. If I could have done it justice in English I would have sent it to 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.

Grand Dieu, tes jugemens sont remplis d'equité;
Toujours tu prens plasir à nous être propice.
Mais j'ai tant fait de mal, que jamais ta bonté
Ne me pardonnera, sans choquer ta justice.
Oui, mon Dieu, la grandeur de mon impieté
Ne laisse à ton puvoir que le choix du suplice:
Ton interest s'oppose à ma felicité:

Et ta clemence même 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 tems, 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 couvert du sang de JESUS CHRIST.

"If these thoughts may be serviceable to I you, desire you would place them in a proper light, and am ever with great sincerity,

'Sir, yours, &c.'

TO NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX AND

TILDEN FOUNDATIONS

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][merged small]
[graphic]
[ocr errors]
[graphic]
« ÎnapoiContinuă »