Light within the Shade: Eight Hundred Years of Hungarian Poetry

He Supplicates the Lord to Protect Him in His Exileand Extend to Him His Further Blessings

12 | Light within the Shade He Supplicates the Lord to Protect Him in His Exile and Extend to Him His Further Blessings (To the melody of “Ancient Lamentations”) O loving God and kind, in whose mighty hand I placed my existence, Watch over my days, lead me in my ways, Thou art all my substance. Since I was a child, Thou alone I held all my hope and staying; As a son out-clepes in his father’s steps, I walked ever praying. Again only in Thou all my trust lies now, in my hope and frailty, And on Thee would lean, and unto Thy reign I have pledged my fealty. What would it Thee boot if in peril’s doubt I should be corrupted, Him whom Thou hast won through Thy blessed Son as Thine own adopted? Heed the humble claim on Thine own great name, this my supplication, Show Thy charity, and benignity, in my fair good fortune. Vouchsafe my desire, this my trusting prayer, all Thy goodness grant me, Bless this head of mine, whose whole faith is Thine, in my steps prevent me! As that fairest dew, that Thou sprinklest new on the springtime blossom, Scatter now for me Thy sweet charity on Thy servant’s bosom. bá l i n t ba l a ssi | 13 That, till death destroy, my heart full of joy magnify Thy story, This before all things, this above all things, bless Thy name of glory. This prayer writ by me by the Western Sea, Oceanus’ shore: Fifteen hundred years had gathered to their tears one and ninety more. 1591 ...