his arms. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. BORN A.D. 1554; DIED A.D. 1586. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY, the brightest ornament of the court of Elizabeth, was the son of Sir Henry Sidney of Penshurst, the favourite of King Edward VI., who expired in He was educated at Shrewsbury, and at Christ Church, Oxford. On leaving the University he went abroad and travelled extensively in various parts of Europe. He was in Paris on the night of the Massacre of St. Bartholomew, and took refuge in the house of Sir Francis Walsingham, the English Ambassador. returned to England in 1575, and speedily gained the favour and confidence of Queen He Elizabeth (who called him "her Philip "), and the admiration and esteem of all classes, which he won not only by the beauty of his person, the charm of his manners, and the brilliancy of his accomplishments, but by the purity and integrity of his life. So great was his reputation abroad, as well as at home, that the crown of Poland is said to have been offered him. He served in the Netherlands under the Earl of Leicester, where he was appointed Governor of Flushing, and General of the Horse. He died of a wound received in a skirmish at Zutphen, at the early age of thirty-two. It was after receiving his mortal wound that the well-known incident occurred, thus narrated by his friend, Lord Brooke. "Being thirsty with excess of bleeding, he called for some drink, which was presently brought him; but as he was putting the bottle to his mouth he saw a poor soldier carried along, who had eaten his last at the same feast, ghastly casting up his eyes at the same bottle. Which Sir Philip perceiving took it from his head before he drank, and delivered it to the poor man with these words Thy necessity is yet greater than mine!'" The intelligence of his death caused universal lamentation throughout Europe, and he received the honour of a public funeral. Assisted by his accomplished sister the Countess of Pembroke, he wrote a metrical version of the Psalms, one or two specimens of which are given, more on account of their authorship than for their intrinsic merit. For joined therewith the Lord doth give That where it is Men may for ever blessed live. PS. CXXXIX. O LORD, in me there lieth nought Thou markest it, No less Thou notest when I rise; Yea, closest closet of my thought Hath open windows to Thine eyes. Thou walkest with me when I walk, And everywhere; Not youngest thought in me doth grow, To shun Thy notice, leave Thine eye, Thy throne is there: To dead men's undelightsome stay? There is thy walk, and there to lie Unknown in vain I should essay. O Sun! whom light nor flight can match, Suppose thy lightful, flightful wings Thou lend to me, And I could flee As far as thee the evening brings; E'en led to west He would me catch, Nor should I lurk with western things. Do thou thy best, O secret night! In sable veil to cover me; The sable veil Shall vainly fail, With day unmasked my night shall be: For night is day, and darkness light, O Father of all lights, to Thee. PS. XCVI. SING, and let the song be new, Of the help, the health He sendeth, Make each country know His worth: All the gods, for awe and glory, 1 Go, adore Him in the place Where His pomp is most displayed; Stayless world shall now be stayed; Starry roof and earthy floor, Sea, and all thy wideness yieldeth, Now rejoice, and leap, and roar. Leafy infants of the wood, Fields and all that on you feedeth, Dance, oh dance at such a good. For Jehovah cometh, lo! Lo to reign Jehovah cometh; |