 | The workes of Sir Thomas More |  |
21
Twelue rules of Iohn Picus Earle of Mirandula, partely exciting, partely directing a man in spiritual bataile.
[The .i. rule.]
If we refuse the way of vertue for that it is paīful for the like cause oughte wee to refuse the way of sin
Because we must haue warre continuall
Against the worlde, the fleshe, the deuill that aye
Enforce themselfe to make vs bonde and thrall,
Let him remember, that chese what way he shall.
Euen after the worlde, yet must he nede sustain
Sorowe, aduersitee, labour, grief, and payne.
The .ii. rule.
Thinke in this wretched worldes besy wo,
The battaile more sharpe, and lenger is ywis,
with more labour and lesse fruite also,
In whiche the ende of labour: labour is:
And when the worlde hath left vs after this
Uoide of all vertue: the rewarde when we die
Is nought but fire and paine perpetually.
The battaile more sharpe, and lenger is ywis,
with more labour and lesse fruite also,
In whiche the ende of labour: labour is:
And when the worlde hath left vs after this
Uoide of all vertue: the rewarde when we die
Is nought but fire and paine perpetually.
The .iii. rule.
Consider well, that foly it is and vaine
To looke for heauen with pleasure and delight,
Sith Christ our lorde and soueraine captayne
Ascended neuer but by manly fight,
And bitter passion: then wer it no right,
That any seruaunt, ye will your selfe recorde,
Shoulde stande in better condicion than his lorde.
To looke for heauen with pleasure and delight,
Sith Christ our lorde and soueraine captayne
Ascended neuer but by manly fight,
And bitter passion: then wer it no right,
That any seruaunt, ye will your selfe recorde,
Shoulde stande in better condicion than his lorde.
The .iiii. rule.
Thinke howe that we not onely shoulde not grudge,
But eke be glad and ioyfull of this fight,
And longe therefore, although we could not iudge
Howe that thereby redounde vnto vs might
Any profite, but onely for delight,
To be conformed and like in some behauiour,
To Iesu Christ our blessed lorde and sauiour.
But eke be glad and ioyfull of this fight,
And longe therefore, although we could not iudge
Howe that thereby redounde vnto vs might
Any profite, but onely for delight,
To be conformed and like in some behauiour,
To Iesu Christ our blessed lorde and sauiour.
As often as thou dost warre and striue,
By the resistence of any sinfull mocion,
Against any of thy sensuall wittes fiue,
Cast in thy minde as oft with good deuocion,
Howe thou resemblest Christ, as with sowre pocion
If thou paine thy tast: remember there withall,
How Christ for thee tasted eisill and gall.
By the resistence of any sinfull mocion,
Against any of thy sensuall wittes fiue,
Cast in thy minde as oft with good deuocion,
Howe thou resemblest Christ, as with sowre pocion
If thou paine thy tast: remember there withall,
How Christ for thee tasted eisill and gall.
If thou withdrawe thine handes, and forbere,
The rauen of anyething: remember than,
How his innocent handes nailed were,
If thou be tempt with pride: thinke how that whan
He was in forme of God: yet of a bond man,
He toke the shape and humbled himself for thee
To the most odious and vyle death of a tree.
22
How his innocent handes nailed were,
If thou be tempt with pride: thinke how that whan
He was in forme of God: yet of a bond man,
He toke the shape and humbled himself for thee
To the most odious and vyle death of a tree.
Consider when thou art moued to be wroth,
He who that was god, and of all men the best,
Seyng himself scorned and scourged both,
And as a thefe betwene two theues threst,
With all rebuke and shame: yet from his brest
Came neuer signe of wrath or of disdain,
But paciently endured all the pain.
He who that was god, and of all men the best,
Seyng himself scorned and scourged both,
And as a thefe betwene two theues threst,
With all rebuke and shame: yet from his brest
Came neuer signe of wrath or of disdain,
But paciently endured all the pain.
Thus euery snare and engine of the deuill
If thou this wise peruse them by and by,
There can be none so cursed or so euill,
But to some vertue thou mayst it apply,
For oft thou shalt, resisting valiauntly,
The fendes might and sotle fiery darte:
Our sauiour Christ resemble in some part.
If thou this wise peruse them by and by,
There can be none so cursed or so euill,
But to some vertue thou mayst it apply,
For oft thou shalt, resisting valiauntly,
The fendes might and sotle fiery darte:
Our sauiour Christ resemble in some part.
The .v. rule.
Remember wel, that we in no wise must,
Neither in the foresaid esperitual armour,
Nor any other remedy put our trust:
But onely in the vertue strength of our sauiour,
For he it is, by whose mighty powre,
The worlde was vainquished and his prince cast out,
whiche raygned before in all the earth about.
Neither in the foresaid esperitual armour,
Nor any other remedy put our trust:
But onely in the vertue strength of our sauiour,
For he it is, by whose mighty powre,
The worlde was vainquished and his prince cast out,
whiche raygned before in all the earth about.
In him let vs trust to ouercome all euill,
In him let vs put our hope and confidence,
To subdue the fleshe and maister the deuil,
To him be al honour and lowly reuerence:
Oft should we require with al our diligence,
with praier, with teares, and lamentable plaintes.
The aide of his grace and his holy saintes.
In him let vs put our hope and confidence,
To subdue the fleshe and maister the deuil,
To him be al honour and lowly reuerence:
Oft should we require with al our diligence,
with praier, with teares, and lamentable plaintes.
The aide of his grace and his holy saintes.
The .vi. rule.
One sinne vainquished loke thou not tary,
But lye in awayte for an other euery houre,
For as a woode Lion the fende our aduersarie,
Runneth about, seking whom he may deuoure,
wherefore continually vpon thy towre
Lest he thee vnpurueid, and vnready catche
Thou must with the prophete stande and kepe watche.
But lye in awayte for an other euery houre,
For as a woode Lion the fende our aduersarie,
Runneth about, seking whom he may deuoure,
wherefore continually vpon thy towre
Lest he thee vnpurueid, and vnready catche
23
The .vii. rule.
Enforce thy self not onely for to stande,
Unuainquished against the deuils might,
But ouer that take valiauntly on hande
To vainquish him and put him vnto flight,
And that is whan of the same dede thought or sight,
By whiche he would haue thee with sinne contracte:
Thou takest occasion of some good vertuous acte.
Unuainquished against the deuils might,
But ouer that take valiauntly on hande
To vainquish him and put him vnto flight,
And that is whan of the same dede thought or sight,
By whiche he would haue thee with sinne contracte:
Thou takest occasion of some good vertuous acte.
Sometime he secretely casteth in thy minde,
Some laudable dede to stirre thee to pride,
As vainglory maketh many a man blinde,
But let humilitie be thy sure guide,
Thy good worke to god let it be applide
Thinke it not thine, but a gift of his,
Of whose grace vndoubtedly all goodnes is.
Some laudable dede to stirre thee to pride,
As vainglory maketh many a man blinde,
But let humilitie be thy sure guide,
Thy good worke to god let it be applide
Thinke it not thine, but a gift of his,
Of whose grace vndoubtedly all goodnes is.
The .viii. rule.
In time of battaile so put thy self in preace,
As though thou shouldest after that victorie
Enioy for euer a perpetual peace:
For god of his goodnes and liberall mercy
May graunt thee gift, and eke thy proude enemy,
Confounded and rebuked by thy battaile,
Shall thee no more happely for very shame assaile.
As though thou shouldest after that victorie
Enioy for euer a perpetual peace:
For god of his goodnes and liberall mercy
May graunt thee gift, and eke thy proude enemy,
Confounded and rebuked by thy battaile,
Shall thee no more happely for very shame assaile.
But when thou maist once the triumphe obtaine,
Prepare thy self and trimme thee in thy geare,
As thou shouldest incontinent fight again,
For if thou be ready, the deuil wil thee feare,
wherefore in any wise so euen thou thee beare,
That thou remember and haue euer in memorie,
In victory battaile, in battaile victorie.
Prepare thy self and trimme thee in thy geare,
As thou shouldest incontinent fight again,
For if thou be ready, the deuil wil thee feare,
wherefore in any wise so euen thou thee beare,
That thou remember and haue euer in memorie,
In victory battaile, in battaile victorie.
The .ix. rule.
If thou thinke thy selfe well fensed and sure,
Against euery sottle suggestion of vice,
Consider fraile glasse may no distres endure,
And great aduentures oft curse the dice:
Ieoparde not to farre therefore and ye be wise,
But euer more eschew the occasions of sinne,
For he that loueth peril shall perishe therein.
Against euery sottle suggestion of vice,
Consider fraile glasse may no distres endure,
And great aduentures oft curse the dice:
Ieoparde not to farre therefore and ye be wise,
But euer more eschew the occasions of sinne,
For he that loueth peril shall perishe therein.
The .x. rule.
In all temptacion withstande the beginning,
The cursed infantes of wretched Babilon,
To suffer them waxe is a ieopardous thing,
Beate oute their braynes therefore at the stone,
Perilous is the canker, that catcheth the bone,
To late commeth the medicine, if thou let the sore,
By long continuaunce encrease more and more.
The cursed infantes of wretched Babilon,
To suffer them waxe is a ieopardous thing,
24
Perilous is the canker, that catcheth the bone,
To late commeth the medicine, if thou let the sore,
By long continuaunce encrease more and more.
The .xi. rule.
Though in the time of the battaile and warre,
The conflict seme bitter sharpe and sowre,
yet consider, it is more pleasure farre,
Ouer the deuill to be a conqueroure,
Then is in the vse of thy beastly pleasoure,
Of vertue more ioy the conscience hath within,
Then outwarde the body of all his filthy sinne.
The conflict seme bitter sharpe and sowre,
yet consider, it is more pleasure farre,
Ouer the deuill to be a conqueroure,
Then is in the vse of thy beastly pleasoure,
Of vertue more ioy the conscience hath within,
Then outwarde the body of all his filthy sinne.
In this point many men erre for negligence:
For they compare not the ioye of the victory,
To the sensuall pleasure of their concupiscence,
But like rude beastes vnaduisedly,
Lacking discrecion thei compare and apply,
Of their foule sinne the voluptuous delight
To the laberous trauaile of the conflict and fight.
For they compare not the ioye of the victory,
To the sensuall pleasure of their concupiscence,
But like rude beastes vnaduisedly,
Lacking discrecion thei compare and apply,
Of their foule sinne the voluptuous delight
To the laberous trauaile of the conflict and fight.
And yet alas he that oft hath knowne,
what griefe it is by long experience,
Of his cruel enemy to be ouerthrowne,
Should once at the least wise do his diligence
To proue and assay with manly defence,
what pleasure there is, what honour peace and rest,
In glorious victory triumphe and conquest.
what griefe it is by long experience,
Of his cruel enemy to be ouerthrowne,
Should once at the least wise do his diligence
To proue and assay with manly defence,
what pleasure there is, what honour peace and rest,
In glorious victory triumphe and conquest.
The .xii. rule.
Though thou be tempted, dispaire thee nothing,
Remember the glorious apostle saint Poule,
whan he had sene god in his parfit being,
Lest such reuelacion should his heart extolle.
His fleshe was suffred rebell against the soule,
This did almightie god of his goodnes prouide,
To preserue his seruaunt fro the daunger of pride.
Remember the glorious apostle saint Poule,
whan he had sene god in his parfit being,
Lest such reuelacion should his heart extolle.
His fleshe was suffred rebell against the soule,
This did almightie god of his goodnes prouide,
To preserue his seruaunt fro the daunger of pride.
And here take hede that he whom god did loue,
And for his most especial vessell chose,
Rauished into the thirde heauen aboue,
yet stode in peril lest pride might him depose,
well ought we then our heartes fence and close,
Against vain glory, the mother of reprief,
The very crop and roote of al mischief.
And for his most especial vessell chose,
Rauished into the thirde heauen aboue,
yet stode in peril lest pride might him depose,
well ought we then our heartes fence and close,
Against vain glory, the mother of reprief,
The very crop and roote of al mischief.
Against this pompe and wretched worldes glosse,
Consider how Christ the lorde soueraine powere,
Humbled himselfe for vs vnto the crosse,
And paraduenture death within one howre,
Shal vs bereue, wealthe riches and honowre,
And bring vs downe full lowe bothe small and great,
To vile carein and wretched wormes meate.
25
Humbled himselfe for vs vnto the crosse,
And paraduenture death within one howre,
Shal vs bereue, wealthe riches and honowre,
And bring vs downe full lowe bothe small and great,
To vile carein and wretched wormes meate.
The twelue weapons haue we more at length declared as foloweth.
- The pleasure litle and shorte
- The folowers griefe and heauinesse.
- The losse of a better thyng,
- This life a dreame and a shadowe.
- The death at our hande and vnware,
- The feare of impenitente departing.
- Eternal ioye, eternall payne,
- The nature and dignitie of man,
- The peace of a good minde,
- The great benefites of God,
- The painefull crosse of Christ,
- The witnes of martirs, and exaumple of saintes.
The twelue weapons of spirituall battayle, which euery manne shoulde haue at hand when the plessure of a sinnefull temptacion commeth to his minde.
The pleasure litle and short.
Consider wel the pleasure that thou hast,Stande it in touching or in wanton light,
In vaine smell, or in thy licorous tast.
Or finally in whatsoeuer delite,
Occupied is thy wretched appetite,
Thou shalt it finde, when thou hast at cast,
Little, simple, short, and sodainly past.
The folowers griefe and heauines.
Any good worke if thou with labour do,The labour goth, the goodnes doth remayne,
If thou do euill with pleasure ioyned thereto,
The pleasure, whiche thine euill worke doth contayne,
Glideth his way, thou maist him not restraine,
The euil then in thy brest cleaueth behynde,
with grudge of heart, and heauines of minde.
The losse of a better thing.
When thou laborest thy pleasure for to bye,Uppon the price looke thou thee well aduise,
Thou sellest thy soule therefore euen by and by,
To thy moste vtter dispiteous enemies,
O madde marchaunt, O foolish marchandise,
To bye a tryfle, O childishe reckening,
26
This life a dreame and a shadowe.
This wretched life, the trust and confidenceOf whose continuaunce maketh vs bolde to synne,
Thou perceiuest well by experience,
Sithe that houre, in which it did beginne,
It holdeth on the course, and will not linne,
But fast it runneth on, and passen shall,
As dothe a dreame or shadow on the wall.
Death at our hande and vnware.
Consider well that euer night and daye,while that we besily prouide and care
For our disport reuill myrth and playe,
For pleasaunt melody and daintie fare,
Death stealeth on full slily and vnware.
He lieth at hande, and shall vs enterprise,
we wote not howe soone, nor in what manerwise.
Feare of impenitent departing.
If thou shouldest god offende, thinke howe therefore,Thou were foorthwith in very ieopardous case:
For happly thou shouldest not liue an houre more
Thy sinne to clense, and though thou hadst space,
yet paraduenture shouldst thou lacke the grace,
well ought we then be ferde to done offence,
Impenitent lest we departen hence.
Eternall rewarde eternall payne.
Thou seest this worlde is but a thorowe fare,See thou behaue thee wisely with thine hoost,
Hence must thou nedes departe naked and bare,
And after thy desert looke to what coost
Thou art conuaide at such time as thy goost
From this wretched carcas shall disseuer,
Be it ioye or paine, endure it shall for euer.
The nature and dignitie of man.
Remember how God hath made thee reasonable,Lyke vnto his ymage and figure,
And for thee suffered paines intollerable,
That he for angel neuer would endure:
Regarde O man thine excellent nature,
Thou that with angell art made to bene egall,
For very shame be not the deuils thrall.
The peace of a good mynde.
Why louest thou so this brotle worldes ioye,Take all the mirth, take all the fantasies,
Take euery game, take euery wanton toye,
27
And among them all on warrantise
Thou shalt no pleasure comparable finde
To thinwarde gladnes of a vertuous minde.
The great benefites of god.
Beside that god thee bought and fourmed both,Many a benefite hast thou receiued of his,
Though thou haue moued him often to be wroth,
yet he thee kept hath and brought thee vp to this,
And dayly calleth vpon thee to his blisse,
How maist thou then to him vnlouing bee,
That euer hath bene so louyng vnto thee?
The painefull crosse of Christ.
whan thou in flame of the temptacion friest,Thinke on the very lamentable paine,
Thinke on the piteous crosse of woful Christ,
Thinke on his bloode bet out at euery vaine,
Thinke on his precious heart carued in twayne,
Thinke howe for thy redempcion all was wrought,
Let hym not leese that he so dere hath bought.
The witnes of martirs and example of saintes.
Sinne to withstande saye not thou lackest myght,Suche allegacions foly it is to vse,
The witnes of sainctes and martirs constaunt sight,
Shall thee of slouthfull cowardise accuse,
God will thee helpe, if thou do not refuse,
If other haue stande or this: thou maist eftsone,
Nothing impossible is that hath bene done.
The twelue propertees we haue at length more openly expressed in Balade, as it foloweth.
- To loue one alone, and contempne al other for that one.
- To thinke him vnhappy, that is not with his loue.
- To adourne himself for the pleasure of his loue.
- To suffer all thyng, though it were death, to be with his loue.
- To desyre also to suffer shame harme for his loue, and to thynke that hurt swete.
- To be with his loue euer, as he maye, if not in dede, yet in thought.
- To loue all thyng that pertayneth vnto his loue.
- To coueit the praise of his loue, and not to suffer any dispraise.
- To beleue of his loue al thynges excellente, and to desyre that al folk should thynke the same.
- To wepe often with his loue, in presence for ioy, in absence for sorow,
- To languish euer and euer to burne in the desire of his loue.
- To serue his loue, nothing thinking of any rewarde or profite.
The twelue properties or condicions of a louer.
28
[The .i. propertee.]
The
first point is to loue but one alone,
And for that one all other to forsake,
For whoso loueth many, loueth none:
The floode that is in many channels take,
In eche of them shall feble streames make,
The loue that is deuided among many,
Unneth suffiseth that euery part haue any.
And for that one all other to forsake,
For whoso loueth many, loueth none:
The floode that is in many channels take,
In eche of them shall feble streames make,
The loue that is deuided among many,
Unneth suffiseth that euery part haue any.
So thou that hast thy loue sette vnto god,
In thy remembraunce this emprint and graue,
As he in soueraine dignitie is odde,
So will he in loue no parting felowes haue:
Loue him therfore with all that he thee gaue,
For body, soule, witte, cunnyng, minde and thought
Parte will he none, but either all or nought.
In thy remembraunce this emprint and graue,
As he in soueraine dignitie is odde,
So will he in loue no parting felowes haue:
Loue him therfore with all that he thee gaue,
For body, soule, witte, cunnyng, minde and thought
Parte will he none, but either all or nought.
The .ii. propertee.
Of his loue lo the sight and company
To the louer so gladde and pleasaunt is,
That whoso hath the grace to come thereby,
He iudgeth him in perfit ioy and blisse,
And whoso of that company dothe misse,
Liue he in neuer so prosperous estate,
He thinketh him wretched and infortunate.
To the louer so gladde and pleasaunt is,
That whoso hath the grace to come thereby,
He iudgeth him in perfit ioy and blisse,
And whoso of that company dothe misse,
Liue he in neuer so prosperous estate,
He thinketh him wretched and infortunate.
So shoulde the louer of God esteme that he,
which all the pleasure hath, mirth and disport
That in this worlde is possible to be,
yet tyll the tune that he may once resort,
Unto that blessed ioyfull heauenly port,
Where he of god maye haue the glorious sight,
Is voide of perfit ioye and sure delight.
which all the pleasure hath, mirth and disport
That in this worlde is possible to be,
yet tyll the tune that he may once resort,
Unto that blessed ioyfull heauenly port,
Where he of god maye haue the glorious sight,
Is voide of perfit ioye and sure delight.
The .iii. propertee.
The third point of a perfit louer is,
To make him freshe to see that al thing bene,
Appointed wel, and nothing set a mis,
But all well fashioned, proper, goodly, clene,
That in his parsone there be nothing sene,
In speache, apparaile, gesture, looke or pace,
That may offende or minish any grace.
To make him freshe to see that al thing bene,
Appointed wel, and nothing set a mis,
But all well fashioned, proper, goodly, clene,
That in his parsone there be nothing sene,
In speache, apparaile, gesture, looke or pace,
That may offende or minish any grace.
So thou that wilt with god geat into fauour,
Garnish thy selfe vp in as goodly wise,
As comely be, as honest in behauour,
As it is possible for thee to deuise,
I meane not hereby, that thou shouldest arise,
And in the glasse vppon thy body prowle,
But with faire vertue to adourne thy soule.
29
As comely be, as honest in behauour,
As it is possible for thee to deuise,
I meane not hereby, that thou shouldest arise,
And in the glasse vppon thy body prowle,
But with faire vertue to adourne thy soule.
The .iiii. propertee.
If loue be strong, hote, mightie, and feruent,
There maye no trouble, grief, or sorow fall,
But that the louer would be well content
All to endure, and thinke it eke to small,
Though it wer death, so he might there withall
The ioyfull presence of that parson get,
On whom he hath his heart and loue yset.
There maye no trouble, grief, or sorow fall,
But that the louer would be well content
All to endure, and thinke it eke to small,
Though it wer death, so he might there withall
The ioyfull presence of that parson get,
On whom he hath his heart and loue yset.
Thus should of god the louer be content
Any distres or sorow to endure,
Rather then to be from god absent,
And glad to die, so that he maye be sure
By his departing hence for to procure,
After this valey darke, the heauenly light,
And of his loue the glorious blessed sight.
Any distres or sorow to endure,
Rather then to be from god absent,
And glad to die, so that he maye be sure
By his departing hence for to procure,
After this valey darke, the heauenly light,
And of his loue the glorious blessed sight.
The .v. propertee.
Not onely a louer content is in his hart,
But coueteth eke, and longeth to sustaine
Some labour, incommoditee, or smart,
Losse, aduersitee, trouble, grief, or paine,
And of his sorowe ioyfull is and faine,
And happy thinketh himself, that he may take
Some misaduenture for his louers sake.
But coueteth eke, and longeth to sustaine
Some labour, incommoditee, or smart,
Losse, aduersitee, trouble, grief, or paine,
And of his sorowe ioyfull is and faine,
And happy thinketh himself, that he may take
Some misaduenture for his louers sake.
Thus shouldest thou, that louest god also
In thine heart wish, coueit and be glad
For him to suffer trouble paine and wo:
For whom if thou be neuer so wo bestad,
yet thou ne shalt sustain be not adrad,
Half the dolour grief and aduersitee,
That he already suffred hath for thee.
In thine heart wish, coueit and be glad
For him to suffer trouble paine and wo:
For whom if thou be neuer so wo bestad,
yet thou ne shalt sustain be not adrad,
Half the dolour grief and aduersitee,
That he already suffred hath for thee.
The .vi. propertee.
The parfite louer longeth for to be
In presence of his loue bothe night and daie,
And if it happly so be fal: that he
May not as he would: he wil yet as he maie
Euer be with his loue, that is to saie,
Where his heauy body nil be brought,
He wil be conuersaunt in minde and thought.
In presence of his loue bothe night and daie,
And if it happly so be fal: that he
May not as he would: he wil yet as he maie
Euer be with his loue, that is to saie,
Where his heauy body nil be brought,
He wil be conuersaunt in minde and thought.
30
Lo in lyke maner the louer of god shoulde,
At the least in suche wise as he maye,
If he may not in suche wise as he would,
Be present with god, and conuersaunt alwaye:
For certes who so list, he maye puruay,
Though all the worlde woulde him therefro bereuen,
To beare his body in earth, his minde in heuen.
At the least in suche wise as he maye,
If he may not in suche wise as he would,
Be present with god, and conuersaunt alwaye:
For certes who so list, he maye puruay,
Though all the worlde woulde him therefro bereuen,
To beare his body in earth, his minde in heuen.
The .vii. propertee.
There is no page or seruaunt moste or lest,
That doth vpon his loue attende and waite,
There is no little worme no simple best,
Ne none so small a trifle or conceyte,
Lase, girdle, point, or proper gloue straite,
But that if to his loue it haue bene nere,
The louer hath it precious, lief, and dere.
That doth vpon his loue attende and waite,
There is no little worme no simple best,
Ne none so small a trifle or conceyte,
Lase, girdle, point, or proper gloue straite,
But that if to his loue it haue bene nere,
The louer hath it precious, lief, and dere.
So euery relique, ymage, or picture,
That doth pertaine to goddes magnificence,
The louer of god shoulde with al besy cure
Haue it in loue, honour, and reuerence,
And specially geue them preeminence,
whiche daily done his blessed bodye wurche,
The quicke reliques, the ministers of his churche.
That doth pertaine to goddes magnificence,
The louer of god shoulde with al besy cure
Haue it in loue, honour, and reuerence,
And specially geue them preeminence,
whiche daily done his blessed bodye wurche,
The quicke reliques, the ministers of his churche.
The .viii. propertee.
A very louer aboue al earthly thing
Coueiteth and longeth euermore to here
Thonour, laude, commendacion and praising,
And euery thyng that may the fame clere
Of his loue he maye in no manere
Endure to here that therefro mighten vary,
Or any thyng sowne in to the contrary.
Coueiteth and longeth euermore to here
Thonour, laude, commendacion and praising,
And euery thyng that may the fame clere
Of his loue he maye in no manere
Endure to here that therefro mighten vary,
Or any thyng sowne in to the contrary.
The louer of god should coueit in like wise
To here his honour, woorship, laude, and praise,
whose soueraine goodnes none heart may comprise,
whom hell, earth, and all the heauen obaise,
whose perfite louer ought by no maner waise
To suffer the cursed wordes of blasphemy,
Or any thing spoken of god vnreuerently.
To here his honour, woorship, laude, and praise,
whose soueraine goodnes none heart may comprise,
whom hell, earth, and all the heauen obaise,
whose perfite louer ought by no maner waise
To suffer the cursed wordes of blasphemy,
Or any thing spoken of god vnreuerently.
The .ix. propertee.
A very louer beleueth in his mynde,
On whom so euer he hath his heart Ibente,
That in that person menne maye nothing finde,
But honorable, worthye, and excellent,
And eke surmountyng farre in his entent
All other that he hath knowen by sight or name,
And woulde that euery manne should thinke thesame.
On whom so euer he hath his heart Ibente,
That in that person menne maye nothing finde,
But honorable, worthye, and excellent,
And eke surmountyng farre in his entent
31
And woulde that euery manne should thinke thesame.
Of god likewise so wonderfull and hie
All thing esteme and iudge his louer ought.
So reuerence, woorshippe, honour, and magnifie,
That all the creatures in this worlde I wrought
In comparison should he sette at nought,
And glad be if he might the meane deuise,
That all the worlde would thinken in likewise.
All thing esteme and iudge his louer ought.
So reuerence, woorshippe, honour, and magnifie,
That all the creatures in this worlde I wrought
In comparison should he sette at nought,
And glad be if he might the meane deuise,
That all the worlde would thinken in likewise.
The .x. propertee.
The louer is of colour dead and pale,
There will no slepe in to his eyes stalke,
He sauoureth neither meate, wine, nor ale,
He mindeth not, what menne about him talke,
But eate he, drinke he, sitte, lye downe or walke,
He burneth euer as it were with a fire
In the feruent heate of his desire.
There will no slepe in to his eyes stalke,
He sauoureth neither meate, wine, nor ale,
He mindeth not, what menne about him talke,
But eate he, drinke he, sitte, lye downe or walke,
He burneth euer as it were with a fire
In the feruent heate of his desire.
Here shoulde the louer of god ensaumple take
To haue him continually in remembraunce,
with him in prayer and meditacion wake,
whyle other playe, reuil, sing, and daunce,
None earthly ioye, disporte, or vayne pleasaunce
Should him delite, or any thyng remoue
His ardent minde from god his heauenly loue.
To haue him continually in remembraunce,
with him in prayer and meditacion wake,
whyle other playe, reuil, sing, and daunce,
None earthly ioye, disporte, or vayne pleasaunce
Should him delite, or any thyng remoue
His ardent minde from god his heauenly loue.
The .xi. propertee.
Diuersly passioned is the louers hart,
Now pleasaunt hope, now dread and grieuous fere,
Now perfit blisse, now bitter sorowe smart,
And whither his loue be with him or els where,
Oft from his eyes there falleth many a tere
For very ioy, when they together bee,
when thei be sundred for aduersitee.
Now pleasaunt hope, now dread and grieuous fere,
Now perfit blisse, now bitter sorowe smart,
And whither his loue be with him or els where,
Oft from his eyes there falleth many a tere
For very ioy, when they together bee,
when thei be sundred for aduersitee.
Lyke affeccions feleth eke the brest
Of gods louer in prayer and meditacion,
whan that his loue liketh in him rest,
with inward gladnes of pleasaunt contemplacion,
Out breake the teares for ioy and delectacion:
And whan his loue list eft to parte him fro
Out breake the teares againe for paine and woe.
Of gods louer in prayer and meditacion,
whan that his loue liketh in him rest,
with inward gladnes of pleasaunt contemplacion,
Out breake the teares for ioy and delectacion:
And whan his loue list eft to parte him fro
Out breake the teares againe for paine and woe.
The .xii. propertee.
A very louer will his loue obaye,
His ioye it is, and all his appetite
To payne himselfe in all that euer he maye
That parsone, in whome he sette hath his delite
Diligentely to serue bothe daie and nighte
For verie loue, without any regarde
To any profite, gwerdone, or rewarde.
His ioye it is, and all his appetite
To payne himselfe in all that euer he maye
32
Diligentely to serue bothe daie and nighte
For verie loue, without any regarde
To any profite, gwerdone, or rewarde.
So thou likewise, that haste thine hearte I sette
Upwarde to God so well thy selfe endeuer,
So studiouslye that nothing maie thee lette
Not for his seruice any wise disseuere:
Freelye looke eke thou serue that thereto neuer
Truste of rewarde or profite dooe thee bynde:
But onelye faithfull hearte and louinge minde.
Upwarde to God so well thy selfe endeuer,
So studiouslye that nothing maie thee lette
Not for his seruice any wise disseuere:
Freelye looke eke thou serue that thereto neuer
Truste of rewarde or profite dooe thee bynde:
But onelye faithfull hearte and louinge minde.
Wageles to serue three thinges maie vs moue,
Firste if the seruice selfe be desirable,
Seconde if thei whom that we serue and loue
Bee verie good and verye amiable,
Thirdelye of reason bee we seruisable
withoute the gapyng after any more,
To suche as haue done muche for vs before.
Firste if the seruice selfe be desirable,
Seconde if thei whom that we serue and loue
Bee verie good and verye amiable,
Thirdelye of reason bee we seruisable
withoute the gapyng after any more,
To suche as haue done muche for vs before.
Serue God for loue then, not for hope of meede,
what seruice maie so desirable bee,
As where all turneth to thyne owne spede?
who is so good, so louelye eke as hee,
who hath all readye done so muche for thee,
As hee that firste thee made: and on the roode,
Efte thee redemed with his precious bloode.
what seruice maie so desirable bee,
As where all turneth to thyne owne spede?
who is so good, so louelye eke as hee,
who hath all readye done so muche for thee,
As hee that firste thee made: and on the roode,
Efte thee redemed with his precious bloode.
A praier of Picus Mirandula vnto God
O holy God of dreadfull maiestee,
Uerely one in three, and three in one,
whome Angels serue whose worke all creatures bee,
whiche heauen and earth directest all alone,
we thee beseche good Lorde with wofull mone,
Spare vs wretches, and washe awaye our gilt,
That we be not by thy iuste anger spilt.
Uerely one in three, and three in one,
whome Angels serue whose worke all creatures bee,
whiche heauen and earth directest all alone,
we thee beseche good Lorde with wofull mone,
Spare vs wretches, and washe awaye our gilt,
That we be not by thy iuste anger spilt.
In straite balaunce of rigorous iudgement
If thou shouldest our sinne ponder and waye:
who able were to beare thy punishement?
The whole engine of all this worlde I saie,
The engine that enduren shall for aye,
with suche examinacion might not stande
Space of a moment in thine angry hande.
If thou shouldest our sinne ponder and waye:
who able were to beare thy punishement?
The whole engine of all this worlde I saie,
The engine that enduren shall for aye,
with suche examinacion might not stande
Space of a moment in thine angry hande.
33
who is not borne in sinne originall?
who dothe not actuall sinne in sundry wise?
But thou good lorde art he that sparest all,
with pitious mercy tempering iustice:
For as thou dost rewardes vs deuise
Aboue our merite, so dost thou dispence
Thy punishment farre vnder our offence.
who dothe not actuall sinne in sundry wise?
But thou good lorde art he that sparest all,
with pitious mercy tempering iustice:
For as thou dost rewardes vs deuise
Aboue our merite, so dost thou dispence
Thy punishment farre vnder our offence.
More is thy mercy farre then all our sinne,
To geue them also that vnworthy bee,
More godly is, and more mercy therein,
Howbeit, worthy ynough are thei pardee,
Be thei neuer so vnworthy: whom that hee
List to accept, whiche where so euer he taketh,
whom he vnworthy findeth worthy maketh.
To geue them also that vnworthy bee,
More godly is, and more mercy therein,
Howbeit, worthy ynough are thei pardee,
Be thei neuer so vnworthy: whom that hee
List to accept, whiche where so euer he taketh,
whom he vnworthy findeth worthy maketh.
wherefore good lorde that aye mercifull art,
Unto thy grace and soueraine dignitee,
we sely wretches crye with humble heart
Our sinne forgeat, and our malignitee,
with piteous eyes of thy benignitee,
Frendely looke on vs once, thine owne we bee,
Seruauntes or sinners whither it liketh thee.
Unto thy grace and soueraine dignitee,
we sely wretches crye with humble heart
Our sinne forgeat, and our malignitee,
with piteous eyes of thy benignitee,
Frendely looke on vs once, thine owne we bee,
Seruauntes or sinners whither it liketh thee.
Sinners if thou our crime beholde certaine,
Our crime the worke of our vncorteyse mynde,
But if thy giftes thou beholde againe,
Thy giftes noble wonderfull and kinde,
Thou shalt vs then thesame parsones finde,
which are to thee and haue be long space,
Seruauntes by nature, children by thy grace.
Our crime the worke of our vncorteyse mynde,
But if thy giftes thou beholde againe,
Thy giftes noble wonderfull and kinde,
Thou shalt vs then thesame parsones finde,
which are to thee and haue be long space,
Seruauntes by nature, children by thy grace.
But this thy goodnes wringeth vs alas,
For we, whom grace had made thy children dere,
Are made thy gilty folke by our trespace,
Sinne hath vs gilty made this many a yere,
But let thy grace, thy grace that hath no pere,
Of our offence surmounten all the preace,
That in our sinne thine honour may encreace.
For we, whom grace had made thy children dere,
Are made thy gilty folke by our trespace,
Sinne hath vs gilty made this many a yere,
But let thy grace, thy grace that hath no pere,
Of our offence surmounten all the preace,
That in our sinne thine honour may encreace.
For though thy wisedome, though thy soueraigne powre,
May other wise appeare sufficiently,
As thinges whiche thy creatures euery howre,
All with one voice declare and testifie,
Thy goodnes, yet thy singuler mercy,
Thy piteous heart, thy gracious indulgence
Nothing so clerely sheweth as our offence.
May other wise appeare sufficiently,
As thinges whiche thy creatures euery howre,
All with one voice declare and testifie,
Thy goodnes, yet thy singuler mercy,
34
Nothing so clerely sheweth as our offence.
What but our synne hath shewed that mighty loue,
whiche able was thy dreadfull magestee,
To drawe downe into earth fro heauen aboue,
And crucifie god, that we poore wretches wee,
Should from our filthy sinne yclensed bee,
with bloode and water of thine owne side,
That streamed from thy blessed woundes wide.
whiche able was thy dreadfull magestee,
To drawe downe into earth fro heauen aboue,
And crucifie god, that we poore wretches wee,
Should from our filthy sinne yclensed bee,
with bloode and water of thine owne side,
That streamed from thy blessed woundes wide.
Thy loue and pitie thus O heauenly king,
Our euill maketh, matter of thy goodnes,
O loue, O pitie our wealth aie prouiding,
O goodnes seruing thy seruantes in distres,
O loue, O pitie wel nigh now thankles
O goodnes mightie gracious and wise,
And yet almost vainquished with our vyce.
Our euill maketh, matter of thy goodnes,
O loue, O pitie our wealth aie prouiding,
O goodnes seruing thy seruantes in distres,
O loue, O pitie wel nigh now thankles
O goodnes mightie gracious and wise,
And yet almost vainquished with our vyce.
Graunt I thee praie, suche heat into mine heart,
That to this loue of thine may be egal:
Graunt me fro Sathanas seruice to astart,
with whom me rueth so long to haue be thrall
Graunt me good lorde, and creatour of all,
The flame to quenche of all sinnefull desire,
And in thy loue sette all mine heart a fire.
That to this loue of thine may be egal:
Graunt me fro Sathanas seruice to astart,
with whom me rueth so long to haue be thrall
Graunt me good lorde, and creatour of all,
The flame to quenche of all sinnefull desire,
And in thy loue sette all mine heart a fire.
That whan the iorney of this deadly life
My sely goost hath finished, and thence
Departen must. without his fleshly wife
Alone into his lordes high presence
He maye thee finde: O well of indulgence,
In thy lordeship not as a lorde: but rather
As a very tender louing father.
My sely goost hath finished, and thence
Departen must. without his fleshly wife
Alone into his lordes high presence
He maye thee finde: O well of indulgence,
In thy lordeship not as a lorde: but rather
As a very tender louing father.
Amen.
| The workes of Sir Thomas More | |