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[The Courte of Vertu

contaynynge many holy songes, Sonettes, psalmes and ballettes] [by John Hall]

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The iust innocent complayneth on sclanderous tongues.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The iust innocent complayneth on sclanderous tongues.

Like as the larke within the marlions foote
from solace supplanted it were with me,
if thou lord wert not my buckler and boote:
at whose hand I hope saluacion to see.

109

My hope and helth lord is only in thee,
My castell of comfort my shylde and defence:
From sclanderous tongues Lorde delyuer me,
That thei no iust cause haue through myne offence.
So shall their deceites turne to their own shame
Although for a tyme they chance to preuayle:
When truthe shall be tryde, and vired by fame,
Their falshod may faynte and vtterly quayle.
For they doe reporte that I neuer did,
My iudgement and cause I yelde vnto thee,
That out of this wo ryght fayne would be ryd,
And neuer did why so sclandred to be.
Oh mercifull lord creator of all,
I doe remember men sclandered thee:
Great diuell and Belzebub they did the call,
Thy myracles dayly though they did see.
If thou se it good thy seruant to trie
By sclander of tongues and vntrue reporte:
For pacience thy gifte, to suffer I crye,
Rememberyng thee, my selfe to comforte.
For helpe at thy hande I only resorte,
Resolue their harde hartes and cause them relent:
For they that loue euell doe alwayes suporte
All suche as to lyes and sclaunder are bent.
Yet if thy wyll weare that they myght repent
Confessing their fault, their falshod and guyle:
To comfort somwhat the poore innocent,
That falshod and lyes hath put in exyle.

[109]

Thy glory so should we largely expresse
And teache it to men, and cause them to feare,
Whiche were for this crime a perfect redresse,
For nothyng so much could make thē forbeare.
Thus all my whole cause to thee I commit,
My matters with thee I alway decyse:
Iustly in iudgement because thou doest syt,
And ryghteousnes is thy whole exercyse.
O lord geue thē grace, to leaue ther great crime,
And me for to suffer, & walke without blame:
So wyll I endeuor from tyme to tyme,
To blesse and to prayse thy most holy name.