Meditation On The Inconstancy And Vanity Of The World Poem by Mary Stuart

When it is meet for rest to be our guide
And for a while set every care aside,
A memory of my bitter life doth creep
And robs my heart of all desire to sleep,
Holding an image clear before my face
Of good and evil swiftly changing place,
Whose burden brings into my eyes
A mood of sadness and all pleasure flies;
Then afterwards, to lighten my despond,
I enter discourse, not on shallow ground,
Considering the world's inconstancy
And mortals' lack of true security;
Judging by that nothing is permanent
Nor good, nor bad beneath the firmament,
Which suddenly sets me remembering
The words of wisdom of that prudent king.
I have (he said) sought out each pleasure's way
Which can no longer my desires allay:
But I have seen upon the earth's round ball
Naught but vanity, folly therewithal,
That I have witnessed where'er I have been
In our lifetime for I have often seen
Those who touch the heavens with their brow
Suddenly struck down when fierce storms blow.
The greatest monarch, emperor or king
Is not sure of rank, nor life nor anything.
To build a palace and store wealth away
So quickly turns into loss and decay.
Coming from a generous family
Does not prevent living unhappily.
Fine clothes and sport and dance and laughter
Leave only grieving and remorse thereafter;
And beauty, so delightful to behold,
Deserts us utterly as we grow old:
To live at ease and drink our fill
Leads also to more suffering and ill:
Great wealth and wisdom, many friends beside,
Is no sure way of being satisfied.
In short, all worldly goods in human life
Are quickly lost, and gained by bitter strife:
How doth it serve our purpose to believe
In vanities that flatter to deceive?
We must attempt to seek a higher place
For true repose, for pleasure and for grace.
Where those who, pure of heart, find their reward
When they return to the true Saviour Lord;
For our eternal lot awaits in heaven,
Preordained, a birthright to us given.
But which of us, O kindest Father, still
Can claim this fortune, save it be thy will
That he abandon sin and all offence
By having made a worthy penitence?
Who can renounce the world upon his own
To honour, love and cleave to thee alone?
None for sure unless thy tender mercy come
To warn and guide him to thy heavenly home;
Therefore, O almighty Father and Lord,
Look upon me with thy benign regard
As you looked on that woman full of sin
Who at thy feet poured out her ceaseless pain;
As you looked upon Peter just the same,
He who already had forsworn thy name.
And, as to them, grant me thy grace I pray
So that thy mercy wash my sins away.
In taking my heart from a world like this,
I'll seek to make it win eternal bliss.
Grant, O Lord, your patience unto me,
With love and faith and always trust in thee.
Grant me devotion and humility
With pure intent to serve you loyally:
Send me your prudence that I may remain
Free from sinfulness and mortal stain.
Never take thy truth away from me,
Fill me with meekness and with charity:
Let chastity and perseverance
Live in my heart with all obedience.
From every error, Lord, protect my path,
And every day, O Christ, protect the faith
That my mother Church has given me
Where I withdraw to let myself be free
From sin and ignorance and pride,
The road where everlasting woes abide.
Grant, Lord, that my guardian Angel always
Be close to me and offer you my praise,
My prayers, my tears, my sighs, so to impart
All the just desires of my heart.
May thy Holy Spirit shine on me always
While you will me to live out my earthly days.
And when, Lord, in your bounteous clemency
You wish to free me from captivity,
Where my spirit has its dwelling in this life,
Full of sorrows, torments and of strife,
Remember me and grant to me, I pray,
Thy mercy's power and trust in it alway,
My love for you engraved upon my heart,
An offering to replace my just desert.
Therefore, my God, do not forsake me now,
And when I reach my final end also,
Following in thy paths, grant that it be my due
That at the last I draw near unto you.