The Psalms of David: “...the poet, he nothing affirmeth, and therefore never lieth”

By Sir Philip Sidney

Sir Philip Sidney was born on 30th November 1554 at Penshurst Place, Kent. He was educated at Shrewsbury School and Christ Church, Oxford.

In 1572, at the age of 18, he was elected to Parliament as a Member for Shrewsbury. Despite his domestic commitments Sidney spent the next several years travelling through Germany, Italy, Poland, the Kingdom of Hungary and Austria.

Returning to England in 1575, Sidney met Penelope Devereux who became the inspiration for his beautiful sonnet sequence ‘Astrophel and Stella’.

Life now became rather more complicated with his quarrel with Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford. The result was that Sidney challenged de Vere to a duel, which Elizabeth then forbade. Sidney wrote a long letter to the Queen explaining the foolishness of her proposed French marriage. Elizabeth bristled at his presumption, and Sidney, realising his error, retired from court.

His artistic pursuits were more peaceful and more significant for his lasting fame. During the years of absence from court, Sidney wrote the first draft of ‘The Arcadia’ and ‘The Defence of Poesy’.

Sidney was promoted to General of Horse in 1583, his enthusiasm for the Protestant struggle was now given a free rein when he was appointed governor of Flushing in the Netherlands in 1585. Later that year, he joined Sir John Norris in the Battle of Zutphen, fighting for the Protestant cause against the Spanish. During the battle, he was shot in the thigh.

Sir Philip Sidney died of gangrene 26 days later, on 17th October 1586 at Arnhem. He was a mere 31 years of age.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Portable Poetry
• Release date: Oct 7, 2018
• ISBN: 9781787801905

Book preview

The Psalms of David by Sir Philip Sidney

Sir Philip Sidney was born on 30th November 1554 at Penshurst Place, Kent.  He was educated at Shrewsbury School and Christ Church, Oxford.

In 1572, at the age of 18, he was elected to Parliament as a Member for Shrewsbury. Despite his domestic commitments Sidney spent the next several years travelling through Germany, Italy, Poland, the Kingdom of Hungary and Austria.

Returning to England in 1575, Sidney met Penelope Devereux who became the inspiration for his beautiful sonnet sequence ‘Astrophel and Stella’.

Life now became rather more complicated with his quarrel with Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford.  The result was that Sidney challenged de Vere to a duel, which Elizabeth then forbade. Sidney wrote a long letter to the Queen explaining the foolishness of her proposed French marriage. Elizabeth bristled at his presumption, and Sidney, realising his error, retired from court.

His artistic pursuits were more peaceful and more significant for his lasting fame. During the years of absence from court, Sidney wrote the first draft of ‘The Arcadia’ and ‘The Defence of Poesy’.

Sidney was promoted to General of Horse in 1583, his enthusiasm for the Protestant struggle was now given a free rein when he was appointed governor of Flushing in the Netherlands in 1585.  Later that year, he joined Sir John Norris in the Battle of Zutphen, fighting for the Protestant cause against the Spanish.  During the battle, he was shot in the thigh.

Sir Philip Sidney died of gangrene 26 days later, on 17th October 1586 at Arnhem.  He was a mere 31 years of age.

Index of Contents

PSALM I - Beatus Vir

PSALM II - Quare Fremuerunt Gentes?

PSALM III - Domine, Quid Multiplici?

PSALM IV - Cum Invocarem

PSALM V - Verba Mea Auribus

PSALM VI - Domine, Ne In Furore

PSALM VII - Domine, Deus Meus

PSALM VIII - Domine, Dominus Noster

PSALM IX - Confitebor Tibi

PSALM X - Ut Quid, Domine?

PSALM XI - In Domino Confido

PSALM XII - Salvum Me Fac

PSALM XIII - Usque Quo, Domine?

PSALM XIV - Dixit Insipiens

PSALM XV - Domine, Quis Habitabit

PSALM XVI - Conserva Me

PSALM XVII - Exaudi, Domine, Justitiam

PSALM XVIII - Diligam Te

PSALM XIX - Cœli Enarrant

PSALM XX - Exaudiat Te Dominus

PSALM XXI - Domine, In Virtute Tua

PSALM XXII - Deus, Deus, Meus

PSALM XXIII - Dominus Regit Me

PSALM XXIV - Domini Est Terra

PSALM XXV - Ad Te, Domine

PSALM XXVI - Judica Me, Domine

PSALM XXVII - Dominus Illuminatio

PSALM XXVIII - Ad Te, Domine Clamabo

PSALM XXIX - Afferte Domino

PSALM XXX - Exaltabo Te, Domine

PSALM XXXI - In Te, Domine, Speravi

PSALM XXXII - Beati, Quorum Remissa Sunt

PSALM XXXIII - Exultate, Justi

PSALM XXXIV - Benedicam Domino

PSALM XXXV - Judica, Domine

PSALM XXXVI - Dixit Injustus

PSALM XXXVII - Noli Æmulari

PSALM XXXVIII - Domine, Ne In Furore

PSALM XXXIX - Dixi, Custodiam

PSALM XL - Expectans Expectavi

PSALM XLI - Beatus Qui Intelligit

PSALM XLII - Quem Admodum

PSALM XLIII - Judica Me, Deus

SIR PHILIP SIDNEY – A SHORT BIOGRAPHY

SIR PHILIP SIDNEY – A CONCISE BIBLIOGRAPHY

THE PSALMS OF DAVID

PSALM I

Beatus Vir

He blessed is who neither loosely treades

The straying stepps as wicked counsaile leades;

Ne for badd mates in waie of sinning wayteth,

Nor yet himself with idle scorners seateth;

But on God's lawe his harte's delight doth binde,

Which, night and dale, he calls to marking minde.

He shall be lyke a freshly planted tree,

To which sweet springs of waters neighbours be;

Whose braunches fails not timelie fruite to nourish,

Nor with'red leafe shall make it faile to flourish:

So all the things whereto that man doth bend

Shall prosper still with well-succeeding end.

Such blessings shall not wycked wretches see,

But lyke vyle chaffe with wind shall scattred be;

For neither shall the men in sin delighted

Consist, when they to highest doome are cited,

Ne yet shall suff'red be a place to take

Where godly men do their assembly make.

For God doth know, and knowing doth approue,

The trade of them that iust proceedings loue;

But they that sinne in sinnfull breast do cherish,

The way they go shalbe their waie to perish.

PSALM II

Quare Fremuerunt Gentes?

What ayles this Heathenish rage? what do these people meane,

To mutter murmurs vaine?

Why do these earthly kings and lords such meeting make,

And counsel jointly take

Against the Lord of lords, the Lord of ev'ry thing,

And His anoynted king?

Come, let us break their bonds, say they,—and fondly say,

And cast their yoakes away.

But He shall them deride who by the Heav'n's is