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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
EGERTON MANUSCRIPT: 94, by THOMAS WYATT Poet Analysis Poet's Biography
First Line: Although thou see the outrageous clime aloft
Last Line: For that in him they set their trust forever.
Alternate Author Name(s): Wyat, Thomas
Variant Title(s): Psalm 37. Noli Emulari
First Line: Although thou see the outrageous clime aloft
Last Line: For that in him they set their trust forever.
Alternate Author Name(s): Wyat, Thomas
Variant Title(s): Psalm 37. Noli Emulari
Although thou see th'outrageous clime aloft,
Envy not thou his blind prosperity.
The wealth of wretches, though it seemeth soft,
Move not thy heart by their felicity.
They shall be found like grass turned into hay
And as the herbs that wither suddenly.
Stablish thy trust in God, seek right alway,
And on the earth thou shalt inhabit long.
Feed and increase such hope from day to day.
And if with God thou time thy hearty song
He shall thee give whatso thy heart can lust.
Cast upon God thy will, that right thy wrong.
Give him the charge for he, upright and just,
Hath cure of thee and of thy cares all.
And he shall make thy truth to be discussed
Bright as the sun; and thy righeousness shall
(The curseds' wealth though now do it deface)
Shine like the daylight that we the noon call.
Patiently abide the Lord's assured grace.
Bear with even mind the trouble that he sends.
Dismay thee not, though thou see the purchase
Increase of some, for such like luck God sends
To wicked folk. . .
Restrain thy mind from wrath that ay offends.
Do way all rage, and see thou do eschew
By their like deed such deeds for to commit;
For wicked folk their overthrow shall rue.
Who patiently abide and do not flit,
They shall possede the world from heir to heir.
The wicked shall of all his wealth be quit
So suddenly, and that without repair,
That all his pomp and his staring array
Shall from thine eye depart as blast of air.
The sober then the world shall wield, I say,
And live in wealth and peace so plentiful.
Him to destroy the wicked shall assay
And gnash his teeth eke with girning ireful.
The Lord shall scorn the threat'nings of the wretch
For he doth know the tide is night at full
When he shall sink and no hand shall him seech.
They have unsheathed eke their bloody brands
And bent their bow to prove if they might reach
To overthrow the. . .
Bare of relief the harmless to devour.
The sword shall pierce the heart of such that fonds.
Their bow shall break in their most endeavour.
A little living gotten rightfully
Passeth the riches and eke the high power
Of that that wretches have gathered wickedly.
Perish shall the wickeds' posterity
And God shall stablish the just assuredly.
The just men's days the Lord doth know and see;
Their heritage shall last for evermore.
And of their hope beguiled they shall not be
When dismal days shall wrap the t'other sore.
They shall be full when other faint for food.
Therewhilst shall fail these wicked men therefore.
To God's enemies such end shall be allowed
As hath lamb's grease, wasting in the fire,
That is consumed into a smoky cloud.
Borrow'th th'unjust without will or desire
To yield again; the just freely doth give
Where he seeth need as mercy doth require.
Who will'th him well for right therefore shall live;
Who banneth him shall be rooted away.
His steps shall God direct still and relieve,
And please him shall what life him lust assay.
And though he fall under foot, lie shall not he;
Catching his hand, for God shall straight him stay.
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Nor yet his seed foodless seen for to be.
The just to all men merciful hath been,
Busy to do well; therefore his seed, I say,
Shall have abundance, alway fresh and green.
Flee ill, do good, that thou mayst last alway.
For God doth love for evermore the right.
Never his chosen doth he cast away.
Forever he them mindeth day and night;
And wicked seed alway shall waste to naught.
The just shall wield the world as their own right
And long thereon shall dwell as they have wrought.
With wisdom shall the wise man's mouth him able;
His tongue shall speak alway even as it ought.
With God's learning he hath his heart stable;
His foot therefore from sliding shall be sure.
The wicked watcheth the just for to disable,
And for to slay him doth his busy cure.
But God will not suffer him for to quail
By tyranny, nor yet by fault unpure
To be condemned in judgement without fail.
Await therefore the coming of the Lord.
Live with his laws, in patience to prevail,
And he shall raise thee of thine own accord
Above the earth, in surety to behold
The wickeds' death that thou may it record.
I have well seen the wicked sheen like gold,
Lusty and green as laurel lasting ay;
But even anon and scant his seat was cold.
When I have passed again the self same way
Where he did reign, he was not to be found;
Vanished he was for all his fresh array.
Let uprightness be still thy steadfast ground;
Follow the right: such one shall alway find
Himself in peace and plenty to abound.
All wicked folk, reversed, shall be untwined
And wretchedness shall be the wickeds' end.
Health to the just from God shall be assigned.
He shall them strength whom trouble should offend.
The Lord shall help, I say, and them deliver
From cursed hands, and health unto them send,
For that in him they set their trust forever.