| |
| WHEN 1 I looke back, and in myselfe behold | |
| The wandring waies that youth could not descry, | |
| And marke the fearful course that youth did hold, | |
| And mete in minde ech step youth strayed awry; | |
| My knees I bow, and from my heart I call, | 5 |
| O Lord, forget these faultes and follies all. | |
| |
| For now I see how voide youth is of skill, | |
| I also see his prime-time and his end; | |
| I doo confesse my faultes and all my ill, | |
| And sorrow sore for that I did offend; | 10 |
| And with a minde repentant of all crimes | |
| Pardon I aske for youth ten thousand times. | |
| |
| The humble hart hath daunted the proud minde; | |
| Eke wisdome hath giuen ignorance a fall; | |
| And wit hath taught that folly could not finde; | 15 |
| And age hath youth her subiect and her thrall: | |
| Therefore I pray, O Lord of life and trueth, | |
| Pardon the faultes committed in my youth. | |
| |
| Thou, that didst graunt the wise king his request; | |
| Thou, that in whale the prophet didst preserue; | 20 |
| Thou, that forgauest the woundings of thy brest; | |
| Thou, that didst saue the theefe in state to sterue; | |
| Thou, onely God, the giuer of all grace. | |
| Wipe out of minde the path of youthe’s vaine race. | |
| |
| Thou, that to life by power didst raise the dead; | 25 |
| Thou, that restordst the blind to perfect sight; | |
| Thou, that for loue thy life and loue outblead; | |
| Thou, that of fauour madest the lame go right; | |
| Thou, that canst heale and helpe in all assayes, | |
| Forgiue the guilt that grew in youth’s vaine waies. | 30 |
| |
| And now, since I, with faith and doubtlesse minde, | |
| Do flie to Thee, by praier to appease thy ire; | |
| And since that Thee I onely seeke to finde, | |
| And hope by faith to attaine my just desire; | |
| Lord, minde no more youth’s errour and unskill, | 35 |
| And able age to doo thy holy will. | |
