Resignation

Help me, holy Lord !
thou who didst create heaven and earth
and all wonders,
my glory-King !
which are therein,
Lord eternal !
great and manifold !
I to thee, great God !
my soul commend,
and my own body,
and my words and my works,
sagacious Lord !
and all my members,
Guardian of light !
and my manifold
thoughts.
Signify to me,
Guardian of the stars !
where it be best
for my soul
to observe
my Creator's will,
that I may live to thee
in everything,
and in myself,
just King !
counsel raise.
Let no arch thief
me in darkness injure,
though that I my Creator,
the King of glory,
more faintly have obey'd,
the powerful Lord,
than it were wise in me.
Grant me grace,
living God !
of my pernicious baleful deeds :
I of the penalty am mindful,
Glory of kings !
that I may come to thee, if I can.
Give thou me, my Lord !
time and understanding,
and patience, and mindfulness
of everything,
which thou to me, just King !
wilt send
in probation.
Now thou knowest in me
sinful deeds many,
yet cherish me,
Lord ! for thy mercy,
though that I have perpetrated more
dread crimes
than me God permitted :
I have then need,
that I, nath'less, thy,
holy King of heaven !
grace cultivate,
in my transient days.
A life after the other
I see and seek,
that me afterwards there
the merciful God will grant,
of everlasting joy ;
life allow me,
though I more slowly
have repair'd my baleful deeds,
than were the behests
of the holy heavenly Power.
Yes ! thou here gav'st me much,
* * *
placed my hope in thee,
my dread forethoughts,
that they fastly
stand confirm'd.
Imbue my mind,
God, King of spirits !
with ready counsel.
Now I hasten to thee,
Father of mankind !
from this world ;
now I know that I shall
sustain me then,
Ruler of destinies !
in thy glorious joy,
and let me depart ;
Lord of the good !
save my soul.
When too many hostile ones
enviously have assail'd me,
I have then
in the Lord comfort ;
though that I ere in my time little
merited of mercies,
yet let angels me
into thy presence take,
Saviour King !
Lord ! for thy mercy,
though that I many crimes
did from day to day,
yet let thou the devil never me,
thy limb, lead
on a hateful journey,
lest they in that presumption
may rejoice,
for that they to themselves
seem'd better,
the overweening angels,
than Christ eternal :
they deceiv'd themselves in that belief,
therefore shall they long,
beings accursed,
exile suffer :
protect thou me and punish them.
When the storm comes
against my spirit,
save then,
mighty Lord !
my soul ;
protect it and cherish it,
Father of mankind !
benignantly remember'd ;
save it, eternal God !
Lord strong in might !
Now is my
mind stain'd with sins,
and for my soul I am,
for its hostile courses fearful,
though thou hast given me many
blessings on this earth.
To thee be thanks for all
the rewards and mercies
which thou hast given me ;
for this not merits
any were in me ;
yet for all this I
will courage
have, and laugh,
and exult,
prepare myself for departure,
and hasten
myself to the journey,
which I must undertake,
my soul prepare,
and all that 'fore God
suffer with cheerful mind :
now I am bound
fast in my soul.
Surely in me will the Lord chastise
some of the sins,
which I myself cannot
readily understand.
I have God
anger'd, Lord of mankind,
therefore was I thus bitterly
chastis'd before this world,
as my sinful works were,
great before men ;
so that I martyrdom
awful suffer.
I am not a skilful judge,
wise before the multitude,
for I these words speak
hastening on departure.
So at the beginning me befell
miseries on earth,
that I ever lack'd,
each year,
all good ;
meditative of hardships
more than in other things,
fear among people :
for I driven am
poor from my country.
The lone one may not this,
of social joys depriv'd,
longer suffer,
the friendless exile :
the Creator is with him wroth,
he grieves in his youth,
and them at all times,
* * *
men aid,
augment his miseries,
and he all that suffers,
the reproach of men,
and his soul is ever sad,
his mind at morn sick.
I of myself most fitly
say this lament,
and of my journey speak
with longing eager,
and on the water think.
Knows not my * *
* * *
why I buy
a boat on the sea,
a vessel on the billow.
I have not much of gold,
not indeed of that friend,
which might support me
for the journey ;
now I myself may not,
for my poverty,
my will obey.
I for calumny may not
any of mankind
in my mind love,
man in the land.
O my Lord !
mighty Protector !
that I in mind am sick,
bitterly vex'd.
The retribution is along
of thee, after * *
I in the light may not,
without hardships,
in any way,
a poor mortal,
the earth * *