life of john picus earl of mirandola - The Center for Thomas More ...

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Twelve Rules of Spiritual Battle
Lacking discretion they compare and apply°
Of their foul sin the voluptuous delight
To the labourous travail of the conflict and fight. ∆1
And yet alas he that oft hath known
What grief it is by long experience
Of his cruel enemy to be overthrown,
Should once at the leastwise do his diligence
To prove and essay° with manly defence
What pleasure there is, what honour, peace and rest
In glorious victory, triumph and conquest. ∆2
The Twelfth Rule.
Though thou be tempted, despair thee nothing: 3
Remember ⌐ the glorious apostle Saint ¬ Paul
When he had seen God in His perfect being,
Lest such revelation should his heart extol,
His flesh was suffered rebel against his soul:
This did almighty God of His goodness provide
To preserve His servant from the danger of pride. 4
And here take heed that he whom God did love, ∆5
And for His most especial ∆6 vessel chose,
Ravished into the third heaven above,
1 apply compare, weigh against / 9 essay assay, put to the test
Δ1. But like . . . fight: In these four lines, More significantly expands and alters the Latin Sed
comparant pugnam voluptati, “Rather they compare the battle with the pleasure” (CW 1:374, 375).
Δ2. And yet . . . conquest: In these seven lines, More significantly expands and alters the Latin
& tamen homo qui milies expertus est quid sit cedere tentationi deberet semel saltem experiri quid sit vincere
tentationem, “and yet a person who has experienced a thousand times what it is like to yield to
temptation should experience at least once what it is like to conquer temptation” (CW 1:374, 375).
3. Though thou . . . nothing: Here More condenses the Latin propterea quod tentaris ne credas te a deo
derelictum aut deo parum gratum esse aut parum iustum & perfectum, “just because you are tempted, do
not think that God has abandoned you or that you are less pleasing to God or less righteous
and perfect” (CW 1:374, 375).
4. Paul . . . of pride: Here and in the following lines (57.23–58.1), the allusion is to 2 Corinthians
12:1–10, wherein Saint Paul says he received “a thorn . . . in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to
harass [him], to keep [him] from being too elated” (RSV).
Δ5. he whom God did love: The Latin is Paulus (CW 1:374).
Δ6. most especial: The Latin is electionis, “chosen” (CW 1:374, 375).
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