By Alexander Pope, is here given in order to bring before Manx readers the translation of Mr. Kewley. Long were the critics divided on the morality of Pope’s verses, and bitter were their controversies, and at length they were wisely suffered to expire.

Translated into Manx by Mr. Kewley, of Ballafreer. This translation is from a MS., written about the year 1812, and has not, I believe, been printed. It is considered a good specimen of Manx versification, and is thus given for the facility of easy reference.

I.

Father of all ! in every age,
In every clime adored,
By saint, by savage, and by sage,
Jehovah, Jove, or Lord!

II.

Thou Great First Cause, least understood,
Who all my sense confined
To know but this, that Thou art good,
And that myself am blind ;

III.

Yet gave me, in this dark estate,
To see the good from ill;
And binding Nature fast in fate,
Left free the human will.

IV.

What conscience dictates to be done,
Or warns me not to do,
This, teach me more than hell to shun,
That, more than heaven pursue.

V.

What blessings thy free bounty gives,
Let me not cast away;
For God is paid when man receives
To enjoy is to obey.

VI.

Yet not to earth’s contracted span
Thy goodness let me bound,
Or think thee Lord alone of man,
When thousand worlds are round.

VII.

Let not this weak unknowing hand
Presume thy bolts to throw,
And deal damnation round the land,
On each I judge thy foe.

VIII.

If I am right, thy grace impart,
Still in the right to stay;
If I am wrong, O teach my heart
To find that better way!

IX.

Save me alike from foolish pride,
Or impious discontent,
At aught thy wisdom has denied,
Or aught thy goodness lent.

X.

Teach me to feel another’s woe,
To hide the fault I see :
That mercy I to others show,
That mercy show to me.

XI.

Mean though I am, not wholly so,
Since quicken’d by thy breath:
0 lead me wheresoe’er I go,
Through this day’s life or death!

XII.

This day be bread and peace my lot:
All else beneath the sun,
Thou know’st if best bestow’d or not,
And let thy will be done.

XIII.

To thee, whose temple is all space;
Whose altar, earth, sea, skies
One chorus let all being raise
All nature’s incense rise!

I.

Rieau er dyn chroe Ayr jeh dagh nhee,
Sheer dhyts ta ooashley ermayrn,
Yn Noo, Ashoonagh, as Chreestee,
JEHOVAH, JOVE, ny CHIARN!

II.

Ard Oyr dagh teshiaght mie as sie,
‘Sbeg shione dooin mooads dty phooar,
She uss ny lomarcan ta mie,
As shin ayns dellid wooar;

III.

Son ooilley shen Tou er nyn rheyre,
Lesh tushtey as resoon;
Ayns kianley dooghys kiart as chair,
Daag reamys-aighey dooin.

IV.

Shen ta cooinsheanse roym dy leedeil,
Ny noi resoon cur raue,
Shoh soilshagh dou nurin hregeil,
Shen geearree gerjagh Niau

V.

Maynrys dty vannaghtyn foayroil,
Lhig don gyn lhiggey sheese;
Son JEE nie boggey jon y ghoaill;
Ghoys soylley ‘yioot lesh booise.

VI.

Cha nee gys shoh ‘lhig dooys y hayrn
Dty vieys wooar cha cruin,
Chiarn chammah dooin as da thousane,
Dy heihll mygrayrt-y-mooin:

VII.

Niartee m’annoonid ommijagh
Nagh jeanym briwnys creoie,
Ny seylagh coayl-anmey-dy bragh,
Dauesyn erihiam ta dt’oi.

VIII.

My ta mee chairagh, our dou grayse,
Dy voddym geiyrt d’an chair;
My ta mee olk, O, insh dou saase
Dy voddym gaase ny share!

IX.

Saue mee veih moyrn fardail y theihll,
Veih seayhyn as anvea,
Gynlinyrkey lhiam ayns dagh failleil,
Shier freayll my chassan rea.

X.

Lhig dou gys irimshey bradr chyndaa,
As cheillyn fooil sheelnane
My noidyn s’dewil ta d’olk gimraa,
Leih dooys myr leihym’s daue.

XI.

Ga ta mee treih foast ta my vioys,
Paart jeh dty obbyr vie:
O leeid mee sthill ayns keeayll as foays,
Derrey nee oo m’eamagh thie!

XII.

Jui dy row beaghey cooie my chren;
Freill mee veih oyr dy phlaynt,
Shione dhtys ere ta mee er my hon,
As dty aigney’s dyrew jeant.

XIII.

Hoods ta dty Hiamble feayn gyn alone:
Dty altar, ooir, as aer;
Ardveylley dooghys as ny tayn!
Dy row dy bragh dty chair!