The
induction
is signed 'Fr.
John Donne
PAGE =424=. PSALME 137.
This Psalm is found in a MS. collection of metrical psalms (Rawlinson
Poetical 161), in the Bodleian Library, transcribed by a certain R.
Crane. The list of authors is Fr. Dav. , Jos. Be. , Rich. Cripps, Chr.
Dav. , Th. Carry. That Davison is the author of this particular Psalm
is strongly suggested by the poetical _Induction_ which in style and
verse resembles the psalm.
The induction is signed 'Fr. Dav. ' The
first verse runs:
Come Urania, heavenly Muse,
and infuse
Sacred flame to my invention;
Sing so loud that Angells may
heare thy lay,
Lending to thy note attention.
PAGE =429=. SONG.
_Soules joy, now I am gone, &c. _ George Herbert, in the _Temple_,
gives _A Parodie_ of this poem, opening:
Soul's joy, when thou art gone,
And I alone,
Which cannot be,
Because Thou dost abide with me,
And I depend on Thee.
The parody does not extend beyond the first verse.
It was one of the aims of Herbert to turn the Muse from profane love
verses to sacred purposes. Mr. Chambers points to another reference
to this poem in some very bad verses by Sir Kenelm Digby in Bright's
edition of Digby's _Poems_ (p. 8), _The Roxburghe Club_.
APPENDIX C.
I. POEMS FROM ADDITIONAL MS. 25707.