Religion
My heart goes forth in love to Thee
Translated by John Brownlie (1896) · From Hymns of the Early Church (1896)
My heart goes forth in love to Thee,
O God, who first hast lovèd me;
My freedom, lo, I lay aside,
Thy willing slave whate'er betide.
May memory ne'er a thought suggest,
That comes not forth at Thy behest;
And may the mind no wisdom know,
That God all wise doth not bestow.
May nothing be desired by me,
Save what I know is willed by Thee;
And what of Thine I e'er attain,
I render back to Thee again.
Take what Thou gavest—all is Thine;
Dispose as suits Thy will divine;
Rule, Lover of my soul; I rest
In Thy blest will who knowest best.
That I may love Thee as I will,
O let Thy love my bosom fill;
This gift alone endureth aye—
All else are dreams that flit away.
Codex Note
Latin: O Deus, ego amo Te, nam prior Tu amasti me. Brownlie: credited by many to the author of the hymn with the same first line (Francis Xavier), but doubtful; probably the work of an admirer. Author unknown.
Cite this poem
MLA
Anonymous Latin Hymns. “My heart goes forth in love to Thee.” Translated by John Brownlie. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-latin-hymns/4/.
Chicago
Anonymous Latin Hymns. “My heart goes forth in love to Thee.” Translated by John Brownlie. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-latin-hymns/4/.
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