PETRARCHS SEVEN PENITENTIALL PSALMS PARAPHRASTICALLY TRANSLATED With other Philosophicall POEMS and a HYMNE to Christ vpon the Crosse. Written by GEORGE CHAPMAN Arri. Epict. Progressus sum in medium pacem Omnibus hominibus proclamo At mihi quod viuo detraxerit inuida turba Post obitum duplici foenore reddet honos LONDON Imprinted for MATTHEVV SELMAN dwelling in Fleete-streete neare Chancerie lane 1612. TO THE RIGHT WORTHILY HONORD graue and ingenuous Fauorer of all vertue Sir Edw. Phillips Knight Maister of the Rolles c. SIR though the name of a Poeme beares too light and vaine a Character in his forhead either to answer my most affectionate desire to do you honour or deserue your acceptance yet since the subiect matter is graue and sacred enough how rudely soeuer I haue endeuored to giue it grace and elocution I presumed to preferre to your emptiest leisure of reading this poore Dedication In the substance and soule of whose humane and diuine obiect the most wise and religious that euer writ to these purposes I haue for so much as this little containes imitated and celebrated Good life and the true feeling of our humane birth and Being being the end of it all and as I doubt not your iudiciall and noble apprehension will confesse the chiefe end of whatsoeuer else in all authoritie and principalitie Notwithstanding either for the slendernesse of the volume or harshnesse of the matter I haue not dared to submit it as the rest of my weake labors to my most gracious and sacred Patron the Prince reseruing my thrice humble dutie to his Highnesse for some much greater labours to which it hath pleased him to command me And thus most truly thankfull for all your right free and honorable fauours I humbly and euer rest The most vnfained and constant obseruer of you and yours Geo. Chapman PETRARCHS SEVEN PENITENTIALL PSALMES PSALME I. Heu mihi Misero 1. O Me wretch I haue enrag'd My Redeemer and engag'd My life on deaths slow foote presuming I haue broke his blessed lawes Turning with accursed cause Sauing loue to wrath consuming 2. Truths straite way my will forsooke And to wretched bywaies tooke Brode rough steepe and full of danger Euery way I labour found Anguish and delighte vnsound To my iourneyes end a stranger 3. Rockes past fowles wings tooke my flighâ—â— All my dayes spent all my nights Toyles and streights though still repelling One or other beast I met Shunning that for which I swet Wild beasts dens were yet my dwelling 4. Pleasure that all paine subornes Making beds of ease on thornes Made me found with ruine sleeping Rest in Torments armes I sought All good talkt but all ill thought Laught at what deseru'd my weeping 5. What is now then left to do What course can I turne me to Danger such vâ—icap't toyles pitching All my youths faire glosse is gone Like a shipwracke each way blownâ— Yet his pleasures still bewitching 6. I delay my Hauen to make Nor yet safeties true way take On her left hand euer erring I a little see my course Which in me the warre makes worse Th' vse of that small sight deferring 7. Oft I haue attempted flight Th' old yoke casting but his weight Thou Nature to my bones impliest O that once my necke were easde Straight it were were thy powre pleasd O of all things high thou highest 8. O could I my sinne so hate I might loue thee yet though late But my hope of that is sterued Since mine owne hands make my chaines Iust most iust I grant my paines Labour wrings me most deserued 9. Mad wretch how deare haue I bought Fetters with mine owne hands wrought Freely in deaths ambush falling I made and the foe disposde Nets that neuer will be losde More I striue the more enthralling 10. I look't by and went secure In paths slipperie and impure In my selfe my sinne still flattering I thought youths flowre still would thriue Follow'd as his storme did driue With it all his hemlockes watering 11. Said what thinke I of th'extreames Ere the Meane hath spent his beames Each Age hath his proper obâ—ect God sees this and laughs to see Pardon soone is goâ— My knee When I will repent is subiect 12. Custome then his slaue doth claime Layes on hands that touch and maime Neuer cour'd repented neuer Flight is then as vaine as late Faith too weake to cast out Fate Refuge past my reach is euer 13. I shall perish then in sinne If thy aide Lord makes not in Mending what doth thus depraue me Minde thy word then Lord and leâ—d Thy worke thy hand crowne my end From the iawes of Sathan saue me All glorie to the Father be And to the Sonne as great as he With the coequall sacred Spirit Who all beginnings were before Are and shall be euermore Glorie all glorie to their merit PSALME II. Inuocabo quem offendi 1. I Will inuoke whom I inflam'd Nor will approch his fierie throne in feare I will recall nor be asham'd Whom I cast off and pierce againe his eare Hope quite euen lost I will restore And dare againe to looke on heauen The more I fall inuoke the more Prayre once will speed where â—are is euer giuen 2. In heauen my deare Redeemer dwels His eare yet let downe to our lowest sounds His hand can reach the deepest hels His hand holds balmes for all our oldest wounds I in my selfe do often die But in him I as oft reuiue My health shines euer in his eye That heales in hell and keepes euen death aliue 3. Feare all that would put feare on me My sinne most great is but much more his grace Though ill for worse still alterd be And I in me my eagrest foe embrace Yet Truth in this hath euer stood The blackest spots my sinnes let fall One drop of his most precious blood Can cleanse and turne to purest luorie all 4. Strike Lord and breake the rockes that grow In these red seas of thy offence in me And cleansing fountaines thence shall flow Though of the hardest Adamant they be As cleare as siluer seas shall rore Descending to that noysome sinke Where euery houre hels horride Bore Lies plung'd and drownd doth his vomits drinke 5. Race Lord my sinnes inueterate skarres And take thy new-built Mansion vp in me Though powre failes see my wils sharpe warres And let me please euen while I anger thee Let the remembrance of my sinne With sighs all night ascend thine eare And when the morning light breakes in Let health be seene and all my skies be cleare 6. Thus though I temper ioyes with cares Yet keepe thy mercies constant as my crimes I le cherish with my faith my prayres And looke still sighing vp for better times My selfe I euermore will feare But thee my rest my hope still keepe Thy darkest clouds thy lightnings cleare Thy thunders rocke me that breake others sleepe 7. My purgatorie O Lord make My bridall chamber wedded to thy will
it confounds me nor leaues place for breath Oft I attempt to flie and meditation Contends to shake off my old yoke of death But to my bones cleaues the vncur'd vexation 10. O that at length my necke his yoke could cleare Which would be straite wouldst thou ô highest will it O that so angrie with my sinne I were That I could loue thee though thus late fulfill it 11. But much I feare it since my freedome is So with mine owne hands out of heart sterued And I must yeeld my torment iust in this Sorrow and labor wring me most deserued 12. Mad wretch what haue I to my selfe procured Mine owne hands forg'd the chains I haue endur'd 13. In deaths blacke ambush with my will I fell And wheresoeuer vulgar brode waies traine me Nets are disposde for me by him of hell When more retir'd more narrow paths containe me 14. There meete my feete with fitted snares as sure I wretch looke downeward and of one side euer And euerie slipperie way I walke secure My sins forget their traitrous flatteries neuer 15. I thought the grace of youth could neuer erre And follow'd where his boundles force wold driue me Said to my selfe Why should th'extremes deterre Before youths season of the meane depriue me 16. Each age is bounded in his proper ends God I know sees this but he laughs and sees it Pardon at any time on prayre attends Repentance still weeps when thy wish decrees it 17. Then vilest custome challengeth his slaue And laies on hand that all defence denies me And then no place reseru'd for flight I haue Subdu'd I am and farre my refuge flies me 17. Die'in my sinne I shall vnlesse my aide Stoopes from aloft of which deserts depriue me Yet haue thou mercie Lord helpe one dismaide Thy word retain from hell moâ—â—h retriue me All glorie to the Father be And to the Sonne as great as he With the coequall sacred Spirit Who all beginnings were before Are and shall be euermore Glorie all glorie to their merit A HYMNE TO OVR Sauiour on the Crosse. HAile great Redeemer man and God all haile Whose feruent agonie tore the temples vaile Let sacrifices out darke Prophesies And miracles and let in for all these A simple pietie a naked heart And humble spirit that no lesse impart And proue thy Godhead to vs being as rare And in all sacred powre as circulare Water and blood mixt were not swet from thee With deadlier hardnesse more diuinitie Of supportation then through flesh and blood Good doctrine is diffusde and life as good O open to me then like thy spread armes That East West reach all those misticke charmes That hold vs in thy life and discipline Thy merits in thy loue so thrice diuine It made thee being our God assume our man And like our Champion Olympian Come to the field gainst Sathan and our sinne Wrastle with torments and the garland winne From death hell which cannot crown our browes But blood must follow thornes mixe w t thy bowes Of conquering â—awâ—ell fast naild to thy Crosse Are all the glories we can here engrosse Proue then to those that in vaine glories place Their happinesse here thy hold not by thy grace To those whose powres proudly oppose thy lawes Oppressing Vertue giuing Vice applause They neuer manage iust authoritie But thee in thy deare members crucifie Thou couldst haue come in glorie past them all With powre to force thy pleasure and empale Thy Church with brasse Adamant that no swine Nor theeues nor hypocrites nor fiends diuine Could haue broke in or rooted or put on Vestments of Pietie when their hearts had none Or rapt to ruine with pretext to saue Would pompe and radiance rather not out braue Thy naked truth then cloath or countnance it With grace and such sincerenesse as is fit But since true pietie weares her pearles within And outward paintings onely pranke vp sinne Since bodies strengthned soules go to the wall Since God we cannot serue and Beliall Therefore thou putst on earths most abiect plight Hid'st thee in humblesse vnderwentst despight Mockerie detraction shame blowes vilest death These thou thy souldiers taughtst to fight beneath Mad'st a commanding President of these Perfect perpetuall bearing all the keyes To holinesse and heauen To these such lawes Thou in thy blood writst that were no more cause T' enflame our loues and feruent faiths in thee Then in them truths diuine simplicitie T were full enough for therein we may well See thy white finger furrowing blackest hell In turning vp the errors that our sence And sensuall powres incurre by negligence Of our eternall truth-exploring soule All Churches powres thy writ word doth controule And mixt it with the fabulous Alchoran A man might boult it out as floure from branne Easily discerning it a heauenly birth Brake it but now out and but crept on earth Yet as if God lackt mans election And shadowes were creators of the Sunne Men must authorise it antiquities Must be explor'd to spirit and giue it thies And controuersies thicke as flies at Spring Must be maintain'd about th' ingenuous meaning When no stile can expresse it selfe so cleare Nor holds so euen and firme a character Those mysteries that are not to be reacht Still to be striu'd with make them more impeacht And as the Mill fares with an ill pickt grist When any stone the stones is got betwist Rumbling together fill the graine with grit Offends the eare sets teeth an edge with it Blunts the pict quarrie so t will grinde no more Spoyles bread and scants the Millars custom'd store So in the Church when controuersie fals It marres her musicke shakes her batterd wals Grates tender consciences and weakens faith The bread of life taints makes worke for Death Darkens truths light with her perplext Abysmes And dustlike grinds men into sects and schismes And what 's the cause the words deficiencie In volume matter perspicutitie Ambition lust and damned auarice Peruert and each the sacred word applies To his prophane ends all to profite giuen And puâ—snets lay to catch the ioyes of heauen Since truth and reall worth men seldome sease Impostors most and sleightest learnings please And where the true Church like the nest should be Of chast and prouident Alcione To which is onely one straight orifice Which is so strictly fitted to her sise That no bird bigger then her selfe or lesse Can pierce and keepe it or discerne th' accesse Nor which the sea it selfe on which t is made Can euer ouerflow or once inuade Now wayes so many to her Altars are So easie so prophane and populare That torrents charg'd with weeds and sin-drownd beasts Breake in lode cracke them sensuall ioyes and feasts Corrupt their pure fumes and the slendrest flash Of lust or profite makes a standing plash Of sinne about them which men will not passe Looke Lord vpon them build them wals
with it But he that knowing how diuine a frame The whole world is and of it all can name Without selfe flatterie no part so diuine As he himselfe and therefore will confine Freely his whole powres in his proper part Goes on most god-like He that striues t' inuert The vniuersall course with his poore way Not onely dustlike shiuers with the sway But crossing God in his great worke all earth Beares not so cursed and so damn'd a birth This then the vniuersall discipline Of manners comprehends a man to ioyne Himselfe with th'vniuerse and wish to be Made all with it and go on round as he Not plucking from the whole his wretched part And into streights or into nought reuert Wishing the complete vniuerse might be Subiect to such a ragge of it as he But to consider great necessitie All things as well refract as voluntarie Reduceth to the high celestiall cause Which he that yeelds to with a mans applause And cheeke by cheeke goes crossing it no breath But like Gods image followes to the death That man is perfect wise and euerie thing Each cause and euerie part distinguishing In nature with enough Art vnderstands And that full glorie merits at all hands That doth the whole world at all parts adorne And appertaines to one celestiall borne Of sodaine Death VVHat action wouldst y u wish to haue in hand If sodain death shold come for his coÌ„mand I would be doing good to most good men That most did need or to their childeren And in aduice to make them their true heires I would be giuing vp my soule to theirs To which effect if Death should find me giuen I would with both my hands held vp to heauen Make these my last words to my deitie Those faculties thou hast bestowd on me To vnderstand thy gouernment and will I haue in all fit actions offerd still To thy diuine acceptance and as farre As I had influence from thy bounties starre I haue made good thy forme infusde in me Th'anticipations giuen me naturally I haue with all my studie art and prayre Fitted to euerie obiect and affaire My life presented and my knowledge taught My poore saile as it hath bene euer fraught With thy free goodnesse hath bene ballast to With all my gratitude What is to do Supply it sacred Sauiour thy high grace In my poore gifts receiue againe and place Where it shall please thee thy gifts neuer die But hauing brought one to felicitie Descend againe and helpe another vp c. Height in Humilitie WHy should I speak impeâ—ious courtiers faire Lest they exclude thee at thy Court repaire If they shall see me enter willingly Let them exclude me If necessitie Driue me amongst them and they shut the dore I do my best and they can do no more Gods will and mine then weigh'd I his preferre Being his vow'd lackey and poore sufferer I trie what his will is and will with it No gate is shut to me that shame must fit Shamelesse intruders Why feare I disgrace To beare ill censure by a man of face Will any thinke that impudence can be An equall demonstration of me T is kingly Cyrus said Antisthenes When thou doest well to heare this ill of these But many pitie thy defects in thee I mocke them euer that so pittie me Strangers they are and know not what I am Where I place good and ill nor euer came Where my course lies but their 's the world may know They lay it out onely to name and show If comfort follow truth of knowledge still They meete with little truth for if their skill Get not applause their comfort comes to nought I studie still to be they to be thought Are they lesse frustrate of their ends then I Or fall they lesse into the ils they flie Are they industrious more lesse passionate Lesse faltring in their course more celebrate Truth in their comforts But they get before Much in opinion True they seeke it more For stay in competence THou that enioyst onely enough to liue Why grieu'st thou that the giuer does not giue Foode with the fullest when as much as thou He thinkes him emptie T is a state so low That I am fearefull euerie howre to sinke Well said Vnthankfull fearefull eate and drinke And feare to sterue still Knowst thou not who sings Before the theefe The penurie of things Whither conferres it Drawes it not one breath With great satietie End not both in death Thy entrailes with thy want together shrinke He bursts with cruditie and too much drinke Will not thy want then with a chearefull eye Make thee expect death whom sterne tyrannie Empire and all the glut of thirstie store Shun with pale cheekes affrighted â—uermore Earth is a whore and brings vp all her brats With her insatiate gadflie euen her flats High as her â—ilâ— looke lusting lusting still No earthly pleasure euer hath her fill Turne a new leafe then thirst for things past death And thou shalt neuer thinke of things beneath How should I thirst so hauing no such heatâ— Fast pray to haue it better neuer eate Then still the more thou 〈◊〉 the more desâ—re But wilt thou quench this ouerneedie fire Canst thou not write nor reade nor keepe a gateâ— Teach children be a porter That poore state Were base and hatefull Is that base to thee That is not thy worke That necessitie Inflicts vpon thee that inuades thee to Onely as head-aches and agues do That the great Ordrer of th'vniuerse sees So good he puts it in his master peece But men will scorne me Let them then go by They will not touch thee he that shifts his eye To others eye-browes must himselfe be blind Leau'st thou thy selfe for others t is the mind Of all that God and euery good forsakes If he goes thy way follow if he takes An opposite course canst thou still go along And end thy course Go right though all else wrong But you are learn'd and know Philosophie To be a shift to salue necessitie Loue syllogismes figures and to make All men admire how excellent you spake Your caution is to keepe a studious eye Lest you be caught with carpes of sophistrie To bâ— a man of reading when alas All these are caught in a Plebeians case None such poore fooles incontinent couetous Atheisticall deceitfull villanous Shew me thy studies end and what may be Those weights and measures that are vsde by thee To mete these ashes barreld vp in man Is not the wreath his that most truly can Make a man happie And in short is that Any way wrought more then in teaching what Will make a man most ioyfully embrace The course his end holds and his proper place Not suffering his affections to disperse But fit the maine sway of the vniuerse Of the Will THe empire of the Will is euer sau'd Except lost by it selfe when t is deprau'd Of Man MAn is so soueraigne and diuine a state That not contracted and elaborate The