life of john picus earl of mirandola - The Center for Thomas More ...
life of john picus earl of mirandola - The Center for Thomas More ...
life of john picus earl of mirandola - The Center for Thomas More ...
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74 <strong>Thomas</strong> <strong>More</strong>’s Life <strong>of</strong> John Picus<br />
Thy love and pity, thus, O heavenly King,<br />
Our evil maketh matter <strong>of</strong> Thy goodness,<br />
O love, O pity, our wealth aye providing,<br />
O goodness serving Thy servants ⌐ in distress, ¬<br />
O love, O pity, well nigh now thankless,<br />
O goodness, ⌐ mighty, gracious and wise, ¬<br />
And yet almost vanquished with our vice.<br />
Grant, I <strong>The</strong>e pray, such heat into mine heart 2<br />
That to this love <strong>of</strong> Thine may be equal;<br />
Grant me from Satan’s service to astart,°<br />
With whom me rueth° so longe to have be thrall¦;<br />
Grant me¦, ⌐ good Lord and Creator <strong>of</strong> all, ¬<br />
<strong>The</strong> flame to quench <strong>of</strong> all sinful desire 3<br />
And in Thy love set all mine heart afire;<br />
That when the journey <strong>of</strong> this deadly <strong>life</strong><br />
My silly ghost hath finishèd, and thence<br />
Departen must ⌐ without his fleshly wife, 4¬<br />
Alone into his Lordés ⌐ high ¬ presence,¦<br />
He may <strong>The</strong>e find, ⌐ O well <strong>of</strong> indulgence, ¬<br />
⌐ In Thy lordship ¬ not as a lord, but rather<br />
As ⌐ a very tender loving ¬ father. ⌐ Amen. ¬ ¦<br />
11 astart escape / 12 me rueth I regret<br />
¦12 <strong>More</strong> omits excusso deposuisse iugo, “and let us cast <strong>of</strong>f his yoke” (CW 1:380, 381). /<br />
13 <strong>More</strong> omits precor, “I beg you” (CW 1:380, 381). / 20 <strong>More</strong> omits Promissi regni felici sorte<br />
potitus, “coming to possess the happy lot <strong>of</strong> the promised kingdom” (CW 1:380, 381). /<br />
23 <strong>More</strong> omits FINIS, “THE END” (CW 1:380, 381).<br />
2. mine heart: <strong>The</strong> Latin is nostris cordibus, “our hearts” (CW 1:380, 381). In these last two stanzas,<br />
<strong>More</strong> changes several first person plural to first person singular <strong>for</strong>ms.<br />
3. <strong>The</strong> flame . . . desire: <strong>The</strong> Latin is extingui vesanae incendia mentis, “that the flames <strong>of</strong> our mad minds<br />
may be quenched” (CW 1:380, 381).<br />
4. fleshly wife: A metaphor <strong>for</strong> the body.<br />
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