Odes In Imitation of the Seaven Penitential Psalmes with Sundry other Poemes and ditties tending to deuotion and pietie [by Richard Rowlands] |
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OF THE INVENTION, OR fynding of the Crosse of Christ. |
 | Odes In Imitation of the Seaven Penitential Psalmes |  |
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OF THE INVENTION, OR fynding of the Crosse of Christ.
In Britaine soile faire Helena was bred,
The woorthy Empresse of the world of yore,
The cause that Yorck, Romes glory more did spred,
Then Rome it self could euer spred before,
There was shee borne, and there shee brought him foorth,
That brought Roomes diademe to greatest woorth.
The woorthy Empresse of the world of yore,
The cause that Yorck, Romes glory more did spred,
Then Rome it self could euer spred before,
There was shee borne, and there shee brought him foorth,
That brought Roomes diademe to greatest woorth.
To greatest woorth for that hee it adorned,
Eu'n with the Crosse in midle top of all,
Raising to honor that which pagans scorned,
And honouring therein him self withall,
VVhose tytle now, Great Constantyne became,
First Romaine Emperor of Christian name.
Eu'n with the Crosse in midle top of all,
Raising to honor that which pagans scorned,
And honouring therein him self withall,
VVhose tytle now, Great Constantyne became,
First Romaine Emperor of Christian name.
Good Siluister that sat in Peeters chaire,
Succeeding those that all had suffred death,
Now to saluation did the soule prepare,
Of Constantyne by teaching him the faith,
VVhereby himself an endlesse lyf might haue,
VVhose now conuersion many lyues did saue.
Succeeding those that all had suffred death,
Now to saluation did the soule prepare,
Of Constantyne by teaching him the faith,
VVhereby himself an endlesse lyf might haue,
VVhose now conuersion many lyues did saue.
For when his mercy, mercy him had gayned,
And hee in sacred font had bathed bin,
His soule and bodies weal hee both obtayned,
In beeing cur'd of leprosy and sin,
Then that the more hee might Christes glory reare
He on his creast his cognisance did weare,
And hee in sacred font had bathed bin,
His soule and bodies weal hee both obtayned,
In beeing cur'd of leprosy and sin,
Then that the more hee might Christes glory reare
He on his creast his cognisance did weare,
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It was the signe that heau'n to him did shew,
For patron of the ensigne he should beare,
VVhen gainst Maxentius hee in armes did go,
And vnto his encouragement did heare,
An Angels voice, that in the ayre did cry,
Thow in this signe shalt haue the victory.
For patron of the ensigne he should beare,
VVhen gainst Maxentius hee in armes did go,
And vnto his encouragement did heare,
An Angels voice, that in the ayre did cry,
Thow in this signe shalt haue the victory.
All which did so this noble moother moue
To due esteeme of such a sacred signe,
As this of him, that so much merits loue,
To whome her hearts deere loue shee did resigne,
That ardent zeale, did animate her mynde,
To seeke where shee his hiddē crosse might fynde.
To due esteeme of such a sacred signe,
As this of him, that so much merits loue,
To whome her hearts deere loue shee did resigne,
That ardent zeale, did animate her mynde,
To seeke where shee his hiddē crosse might fynde.
Led by desyre that kindled was of loue,
She tooke her voyage to the holy land,
Faith was her guyde, hope did her wil approue,
Speed did assist, to what shee tooke in hand.
Desyre, and loue, and faith, and hope, & speed,
Did all concur, to her deseruing meede.
She tooke her voyage to the holy land,
Faith was her guyde, hope did her wil approue,
Speed did assist, to what shee tooke in hand.
Desyre, and loue, and faith, and hope, & speed,
Did all concur, to her deseruing meede.
And as her feet did trauaile on the ground,
Her inward mynde did vp to heauen stie,
VVhere the right holy land was to be found,
Of him whose presence this did sanctify,
So what in earth her bodyes trauaile sought,
In heauen her mynde in more perfection wrought.
Her inward mynde did vp to heauen stie,
VVhere the right holy land was to be found,
Of him whose presence this did sanctify,
So what in earth her bodyes trauaile sought,
In heauen her mynde in more perfection wrought.
And there high God beholding her intent,
And knowing wel whereto deuotion tends,
And that it all vnto himself is ment,
That vnto ought approching him intends,
Did eu'n accept her ardent feruour sutch,
As earst her faith that did his vesture tutch.
And knowing wel whereto deuotion tends,
And that it all vnto himself is ment,
That vnto ought approching him intends,
Did eu'n accept her ardent feruour sutch,
As earst her faith that did his vesture tutch.
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And so concurr'd to what shee went about,
That his hid crosse so hidden might not bee,
But shee at last it happely found out,
Though doubtful which the right one was of three,
Vntil a corps laid on it; dyd renyue,
Shewing withal; her faith to bee alyue.
That his hid crosse so hidden might not bee,
But shee at last it happely found out,
Though doubtful which the right one was of three,
Vntil a corps laid on it; dyd renyue,
Shewing withal; her faith to bee alyue.
It was the third day of the month of May.
The worldes faire may-pole thus was found againe,
And now rear'd vp that long obscured lay,
As yf reseru'd for her owne honors gayne,
whome faith, and loue, & hope, & zeale, did raise,
To raise therein her glorious fame and praise.
The worldes faire may-pole thus was found againe,
And now rear'd vp that long obscured lay,
As yf reseru'd for her owne honors gayne,
whome faith, and loue, & hope, & zeale, did raise,
To raise therein her glorious fame and praise.
L'ENVOY.
Somtyme the Crosse as sundry recordes tel,Deryuing vertue from our Sauiours death,
Hath had the force, the diuel to expel,
And by the same confirmed Christian faith,
But now it seemes, faith hath sustayned losse,
Because the diuel hath chaste away the crosse.
| Odes In Imitation of the Seaven Penitential Psalmes | |