N01640:28
Psalterium Americanum. The Book of Psalms, in a translation exactly conformed unto the original;…
Psalterium Americanum. The Book of Psalms, in a translation exactly conformed unto the original; but all in blank verse. : Fitted unto the tunes commonly used in our churches. Which pure offering is accompanied with illustrations, digging for hidden treasures in it; and rules to employ it upon the glorious and various intentions of it. : Whereunto are added, some other portions of the sacred Scripture, to enrich the cantional.
Boston: printed by S. Kneeland for B. Eliot, 1718
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
§. 5. MOST certainly, our Translation of the PSALMS, without the Fetters of Rhyme upon it, can be justly esteemed no prejudice to the Character of Poetry in the performance. For indeed, however it is now appropriated, according to the true sense of the Term, to Rhythm it self a Similis Desinentia, or, a likeness of sound in the last Syllables of the Verse, is not essential. Old Bede will give you such a Definition of Rhythm, and bring other Authorities besides Austins for it, that Scaliger thereupon holds, all Verses wherein Regard is had unto the Number of Syllables, to have a claim unto it. Be that as the Critics on the Term shall please, our Translation is all in Metre; and really more tied unto Measure, than the Original appears to have been, by all the Examinations that have as yet been employed upon it. For, however it might be with the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy, and with the ⟨p. xii⟩Book of Job, and of the Proverbs; My incomparable Master Alsted allows me to say, That in the PSALMS, Nullum canticum sit metricis legibus astrictum, sed mera soluta sit cratio, character Poetico animuta.
§. 5. MOST certainly, our Translation of the PSALMS, without the Fetters of Rhime upon it, can be justly esteemed no prejudice to the Character of Poetry in the performance. For indeed, however it is now appropriated, according to the true sense of the Term, to Rhythme it self a Similis Desinentia, or, a likeness of sound in the last Syllables of the Verse, is not essential. Old Bede will give you such a Definition of Rhythme, and bring other Authorities besides Austins for it, that Scaliger thereupon holds, all Verses wherein Regard is had unto the Number of Syllables, to have a claim unto it. Be that as the Criticks on the Term shall please, our Translation is all in Metre; and really more tied unto Measure, than the Original appears to have been, by all the Examinations that have as yet been employ'd upon it. For, however it might be with the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy, and with the ⟨p. xii⟩Book of Job, and of the Proverbs; My incomparable Master Alsted allows me to say, That in the PSALMS, Nullum canticum sit metricis legibus astrictum, sed mera soluta sit cratio, charactere Poetico animuta.