Petrarchs seven penitentiall psalms paraphrastically translated: With other Philosophicall Poems, and a Hymne to Christ vpon the Crosse. Written by George Chapman |
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Please with thy place.
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 | Petrarchs seven penitentiall psalms |  |
Please with thy place.
God hath the whole world perfect made, & free;His parts to th' vse of all. Men then, that be
Parts of that all, must as the generall sway
Of that importeth, willingly obay
In euerie thing, without their powres to change.
He that (vnpleasd to hold his place) will range,
Can in no other be containd, thats fit:
And so resisting all is crusht with it.
But he that knowing how diuine a frame
The whole world is, and of it all can name
(Without selfe flatterie) no part so diuine
As he himselfe, and therefore will confine
Freely, his whole powres, in his proper part:
Goes on most god-like. He that striues t'inuert
The vniuersall course, with his poore way:
Not onely, dustlike, shiuers with the sway;
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Beares not so cursed, and so damn'd a birth.
This then the vniuersall discipline
Of manners comprehends: a man to ioyne
Himselfe with th' vniuerse, and wish to be
Made all with it, and go on, round as he.
Not plucking from the whole his wretched part,
And into streights, or into nought reuert:
Wishing the complete vniuerse might be
Subiect to such a ragge of it, as he.
But to consider great necessitie,
All things, as well refract, as voluntarie
Reduceth to the high celestiall cause:
Which he that yeelds to, with a mans applause,
And cheeke by cheeke goes, crossing it, no breath,
But like Gods image followes to the death:
That man is perfect wise, and euerie thing,
(Each cause and euerie part distinguishing)
In nature, with enough Art vnderstands,
And that full glorie merits at all hands,
That doth the whole world, at all parts adorne,
And appertaines to one celestiall borne.
| Petrarchs seven penitentiall psalms | |