 | Poems of Thomas, Lord Vaux |  |
III. OF THE INSTABILITIE OF YOUTH.
When I looke backe and in my selfe behold
The wandring wayes that youth could not descry:
And marke the fearful course that youth did hold,
And mette in mind, each steppe youth strayed awry;
My knees I bowe, and from my hart I call,—
O Lord, forget these faultes and follies all!
The wandring wayes that youth could not descry:
And marke the fearful course that youth did hold,
And mette in mind, each steppe youth strayed awry;
My knees I bowe, and from my hart I call,—
O Lord, forget these faultes and follies all!
For now I see, how voyde youth is of skill;
I see also his prime time and his end;
I doo confesse my faultes and all my ill,
And sorow sore for that I did offend,
And with a mind repentant of all crimes,
Pardon I aske for youth, ten thousand times.
I see also his prime time and his end;
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And sorow sore for that I did offend,
And with a mind repentant of all crimes,
Pardon I aske for youth, ten thousand times.
The humble hart hath daunted the proud mind;
Eke Wysedome hath giuen Ignorance a fall;
And Wit hath taught that Folly could not find,
And Age hath Youth her subiect and her thrall.
Therefore I pray, O Lord of life and truth,
Pardon the faultes committed in my youth!
Eke Wysedome hath giuen Ignorance a fall;
And Wit hath taught that Folly could not find,
And Age hath Youth her subiect and her thrall.
Therefore I pray, O Lord of life and truth,
Pardon the faultes committed in my youth!
Thou that diddest graunt the wise king his request,
Thou that in Whale Thy prophet didst preserue,
Thou that forgauest the wounding of Thy brest,
Thou that didst saue the theefe in state to sterue:
Thou onely God, the Giuer of all grace,
Wipe out of mind, the path of youth's vaine race!
Thou that in Whale Thy prophet didst preserue,
Thou that forgauest the wounding of Thy brest,
Thou that didst saue the theefe in state to sterue:
Thou onely God, the Giuer of all grace,
Wipe out of mind, the path of youth's vaine race!
Thou that by power, to life didst raise the dead,
Thou that of grace restord'st the blind to sight,
Thou that for loue Thy life and loue out bled,
Thou that of fauour, madest the lame go right.
Thou that canst heale, and helpe in all assayes,
Forgiue the gilth that grewe in youthe's vaine wayes!
Thou that of grace restord'st the blind to sight,
Thou that for loue Thy life and loue out bled,
Thou that of fauour, madest the lame go right.
Thou that canst heale, and helpe in all assayes,
Forgiue the gilth that grewe in youthe's vaine wayes!
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And now since I, with faith and doubtlesse mind,
Do flye to thee by prayer to appease Thy yre;
And since that Thee I onely seeke to finde,
And hope by faith to attayne my iust desire:
Lord mind no more youthe's error and vnskill,
And able age to doo Thy holy will!
Do flye to thee by prayer to appease Thy yre;
And since that Thee I onely seeke to finde,
And hope by faith to attayne my iust desire:
Lord mind no more youthe's error and vnskill,
And able age to doo Thy holy will!
| Poems of Thomas, Lord Vaux | |