DR. GIBBS.
And thus confiding, Lord, in thee,
I take my calm repose [1];
For thou each night protectest me,
From all my [2] treacherous foes.
Thy heavy hand restrain;
[3] With mercy, Lord, correct:
Do not ([4] as if in high disdain)
My helpless soul reject.
DR. SWIFT.
[1] And yet, to show I tell no fibs,
Thou hast left me in thrall
To Hopkins eke, and doctor Gibbs
The vilest rogue of all.
[2] Ay, and open foes too; or his repose would not be very calm.
[3] Thy heavy hand restrain;
Have mercy, Dr. Gibbs:
Do not, I pray thee, paper stain
With rhymes retail'd in dribbs.
[4] That bit is a most glorious botch.
DR. GIBBS.
For how shall I sustain
[5] Those ills which now I bear?
My vitals are consum'd with pain,
[6] My soul oppress'd with care!
Lord, I have pray'd in [7] vain,
So long, so much opprest;
My very [8] cries increase my pain,
And tears prevent my rest:
These do my sight impair,
And flowing eyes decay;
While to my enemies I fear
Thus [9] to become a prey.
DR. SWIFT.
[5] The squeaking of a hoggrel.
[6] To listen to thy doggrel.
[7] The doctor must mean himself; for, I hope, David never thought so.
[8] Then he is a dunce for crying.
[9] That is, he is afraid of becoming a prey to his enemies while his eyes are sore.
DR. GIBBS.
If I've not spar'd him, though he's grown
My causeless [1] enemy;
Then let my life and fortune [2] crown
Become to him a prey.
But, Lord, thy kind assistance [3] lend;
Arise in my defence:
According to thy laws [4] contend
For injur'd innocence.
That all the nations that oppose
May then confess thy power;
Therefore assist my righteous cause,
That they may thee adore:
DR. SWIFT.
[1] If he be grown his causeless enemy, he is no longer guiltless.
[2] He gives a thing before he has it, and gives it to him that has it already; for Saul is the person meant.
[3] But why lend? does he design to return it back when he has done with it?
[4] Profane rascal! he makes it a struggle and contention between God and the wicked.
