Petrarchs seven penitentiall psalms paraphrastically translated: With other Philosophicall Poems, and a Hymne to Christ vpon the Crosse. Written by George Chapman |
 |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IIII. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
|
For good men.
|
|
 | Petrarchs seven penitentiall psalms |  |
For good men.
A good man want? will God so much denyHis lawes, his witnesses, his ministrie?
Which onely for examples he maintaines
Against th'vnlearnd, to proue, he is, and raignes:
And all things gouerns iustly: nor neglects
Things humane, but at euery part protects
A good man so, that if he liues or dies,
All things sort well with him? If he denies
A plenteous life to me, and sees it fit
I should liue poorely; What, alas, is it?
But that (refusing to endanger me
In the forlorne hope of men rich and hie,)
Like a most carefull Captaine, he doth sound
Retraite to me; makes me come backe, giue ground
To any, that hath least delight to be
A scuffler in mans warre for vanitie?
And I obey, I follow, and I praise
My good Commander. All the cloudie daies
Of my darke life, my enuied Muse shall sing
68
Glad tidings to the obscure few he keepes:
Tell his high deeds, his wonders, which the deepes,
Of pouertie, and humblesse, most expresse,
And weepe out (for kinde ioy) his holinesse.
| Petrarchs seven penitentiall psalms | |