SAINT PETERS Complaynt - by Robert Southwell: 181-216/792

In Thabor's joyes I eger was to dwell,
An earnest friend while pleasures light did shine,
But when ecclipsed glory prostrate fell,
These zealous heates to sleepe I did reseign;
And now, my mouth hath thrise his name defil'd, [185]
That cry'd so loud three dwellings there to build.

When Christ attending the distresseful hower
With his surcharged brest did blesse the ground,
Prostrate in pangs, rayning a bleeding shower,
Me, like my selfe, a drowsie friend he found; [190]
Thrise in his care, sleepe closed by careless eye,
Presage, how him my tongue should thrise deny.

Parting from Christ my fainting force declin'd,
With lingring foote I followed him a loofe,
Base feare out of my hart his love unshrind, [195]
Huge in high words, but impotent in proofe
My vaunts did seeme hatcht under Samsons locks,
Yet woman's wordes did give me murdring knocks.

So farre luke warme desires in crasie love,
Farre off in neede with feeble foote they trayne: [200]
In tydes they swimme, low ebbes they scorne to prove,
They seeke their friends delights, but shun their paine.
Hire of a hireling minde is earned shame:
Take now thy due: beare thy begotten blame.

Ah, coole remisnes, vertues quartane fever, [205]
Pyning of love, consumption of grace:
Old in the cradle, languor dying ever,
Soules wilfull famine, sinnes soft stealing pace,
The undermining evill of zealous thought,
Seeming to bring no harmes, till all be brought. [210]

O portresse of the doore of my disgrace;
Whose toung, unlockt the trueth of vowed minde;
Whose wordes, from cowardes hart did courage chase,
And let in death-full feares my soul to blinde,
O, hadst thou bene the portresse to my tomb: [215]
When thou wert portresse to that cursed roome.

Notes

The Transfiguration. JJ Tissot. Brooklyn Museum.

[l181] Thabor's joyes: A reference to the Transfiguration on Mount Thabor:

[1] And after six days Jesus taketh unto him Peter and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart: [2] And he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow. [3] And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with him. [4] And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. [5] And as he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them. And lo, a voice out of the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him. [6] And the disciples hearing, fell upon their face, and were very much afraid. [7] And Jesus came and touched them: and said to them, Arise, and fear not. [8] And they lifting up their eyes saw no one but only Jesus. [Matthew 17]

Peter himself refers to this remarkable event in one of his letters:

[16] For we have not by following artificial fables, made known to you the power, and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ; but we were eyewitnesses of his greatness. [17] For he received from God the Father, honour and glory: this voice coming down to him from the excellent glory: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. [18] And this voice we heard brought from heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount. [19] And we have the more firm prophetical word: whereunto you do well to attend, as to a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: [20] Understanding this first, that no prophecy of scripture is made by private interpretation. [2 Peter 1]

This text is particularly pertinent to the Protestant innovation of private interpretation of scripture. On the one hand, the poet uses Peter's denial as a metaphor for the denial of their faith by Catholics of this period through fear of the illegitimate 'virgin' queen of England, Elizabeth. In another sense, many in England are being forced through fear to deny Peter (in his primacy) and thus reject the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Christ.

[l186] three dwellings:

[4] And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

[l197] Samsons locks: Samson's life and exploits are recounted in the Book of Judges, Chapters 13-14. He is known for his strength and for his courage. The reference to his locks is significant since Samson allowed himself to betray the secret of his strength to a woman, Dalila. He fell in love with a woman named Dalila who was bribed by the Philistines to betray him into their hands. After deceiving her three times as to the source of his strength, he finally yields to her and confesses that his power is due to the fact that his head has never been shaved. Dalila treacherously causes his locks to be shorn and he falls helpless into the hands of the Philistines who put out his eyes and cast him into prison.

[l205] remisnes: remissness. Carelessness, negligence; laxity.

[l205] quartane: A fever that recurs (by inclusive reckoning) every fourth day (i.e. at intervals of approximately seventy-two hours); a quartan fever; (a case of) quartan malaria. Now hist. and rare.

[l211] portresse: the ancilla or handmaid/maidservant whose questions prompted Peter's denials. It is interesting to note the use of the word in Mary's response to Gabriel, providing a contrast to Peter's lack of courage:

[38] And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. [Luke 1]