👈The Tears of St Peter (1587-1596)
El Greco (Domḗnikos Theotokópoulos) 1541-1614
Museo Soumaya at Plaza Carso, Mexico.
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Why did the yeelding sea, like marble way,
Support a wretch more wauering then the waues? [140]
Whom doubt did plunge, why did the waters stay?
Vnkind in kindnesse, murthering while it saues:
Oh that this tongue had then been fishes' food,
And I deuour'd, before this cursing mood!
Why did the waters of the sea of Galilee, which like all waters normally give way to solid objects, become as firm as a path of solid marble, able to support the weight of of a pitiful wretch, who was more wavering and fluctuating than the waves themselves? When he doubted through his want of faith, why did he start to sink and why did the waters cease to provide a firm support?
The tongue of this wretch, so kind and careful when his personal interests were concerned, but unkind and indifferent to others; taking pains to save his own skin but at the same time betraying others, even unto death.
If only this tongue had been food for fishes, and I myself had been completely devoured before my denial and betrayal of Christ with oaths and curses!
Note. These lines recall the following incident related in St Matthew’s Gospel:
And having dismissed the multitude, he went into a mountain alone to pray. And when it was evening, he was there alone. But the boat in the midst of the sea was tossed with the waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking upon the sea. And they seeing him walk upon the sea, were troubled, saying: It is an apparition. And they cried out for fear. And immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying: Be of good heart: it is I, fear ye not. And Peter making answer, said: Lord, if it be thou, bid me come to thee upon the waters. And he said: Come. And Peter going down out of the boat, walked upon the water to come to Jesus. But seeing the wind strong, he was afraid: and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying: Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretching forth his hand took hold of him, and said to him: O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt? And when they were come up into the boat, the wind ceased. [Matt. 23-32]
139. yeelding. Yield. a. intransitive. To give way under some natural or mechanical force, so as to collapse, stretch, bend, crack, etc.; vid. 1579 T. Lodge Protogenes 26 Looke for wonders where musike worketh,..the bowels of the earth yeld where the instrument soundeth.
140. wavering. Waver. 2. To sway to and fro, as if in danger of falling; to reel, stagger, totter. a. Of persons, their sentiments, etc.: To exhibit doubt or indecision; to change or vary; to fluctuate or vacillate (between); to falter in resolution or allegiance; to show signs of giving way. Vid. 1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Matt. i. 20, 21 Why art thou vexed? why doest thou wauer in & out?
1609 W. Shakespeare Louers Complaint in Sonnets sig. K3 And nice affections wauering stood in doubt If best were as it was, or best without.
141. stay. There are two possible senses: 1) remain in place (whilst he sank); and 2) To cease or desist from some specified activity. Vid. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. vii. sig. F8 He hearkned, and did stay from further harmes. Hence, when Peter’s want of faith cause him to start sinking, why did the waters cease to provide support as solid as marble?
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There surges, depths and seas, vnfirme by kind, [145]
Rough gusts, and distance both from ship and shoare,
Were titles to excuse my staggering mind;
Stout feet might falter on that liquid floare:
But heer no seas, no blasts, no billowes were,
A puffe of woman's wind bred all my feare. [150]
There on the Sea of Galilee, the depth of water and surging of the waves, naturally ever-changing, together with the squally gusts of wind and the distance I was from the safety of the ship and the shore — all these might be excuses for losing my presence of mind, and even the sturdiest and most valiant might falter on such a shifting, watery base.
But here there were no seas, with great, swelling waves, and no blasts of the wind; there were only the few words of a woman, her breath being the wind, as it were, that generated the fear within me.
145. vnfirme. Unfirm. insecure; unstable, unsteady; a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) ii. iv. 32 Our fancies are more giddie and vnfirme..Then womens are.
148. Stout. There are several possible senses here: 1) Proud, haughty, arrogant. a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) i. i. 185 As stout and proud as he were Lord of all. Peter’s pride comes before his fall. 2) Valiant, brave; undaunted. a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) iii. viii. 19 A stouter Champion neuer handled Sword. 3) Strongly built; capable of bearing rough weather. 1622 in W. Foster Eng. Factories India 1622–3 (1908) 114 Hath made us promyse to furnishe three stoutt shippes.
floare. Floor.
liquid. Not fixed or stable. In poetical and rhetorical language often used for: Watery. 1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida i. iii. 39 And anon, behold The strong ribbd barke through liquid mountaines cut.
149. billowes. A great swelling wave of the sea, produced generally by a high wind; but often used . . . . poetically for ‘the sea’. Vid. 1589 A. Jenkinson in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations ii. 358 And much adoe to keepe our barke from sinking, the billowe was so great.
150. A puff of woman's winde: a reference to Peter's denial when questioned by a maidservant:
But Peter sat without in the court: and there came to him a servant maid, saying: Thou also wast with Jesus the Galilean. But he denied before them all, saying: I know not what thou sayest. And as he went out of the gate, another maid saw him, and she saith to them that were there: This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I know not the man. [Matthew xxvi. 69-72]
In the particular historical context, the maidservant may also represent the 'virgin' queen Elizabeth. Many Catholics, questioned by her agents about their faith, would also fall into denial and betrayal, through fear of the reprisals. See ll 276 & 288.
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O coward troups, far better arm'd then harted!
Whom angrie words, whom blowes could not prouoke;
Whom thogh I taught how sore my weapon smarted,
Yet none repaide me with a wounding stroke.
Oh no! that stroke could but one moity kill; [155]
I was reseru'd both halfes at once to spill.
Those cowardly men were well-armed with their swords and clubs, but there was no fight in their hearts. Our angry protests and our attempts to defend the Lord failed to provoke a reaction. Even though I showed how much pain my sword could inflict, nobody retaliated by striking and wounding me.
Oh no, that could not be. Such a blow could kill only one half; I was being retained to kill both halves at once.
Note. The scene shifts back to Peter’s actions in Gethsemane when a band of soldiers arrived with Judas and Christ was seized.
As he yet spoke, behold Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the ancients of the people. And he that betrayed him, gave them a sign, saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he, hold him fast. And forthwith coming to Jesus, he said: Hail, Rabbi. And he kissed him. And Jesus said to him: Friend, whereto art thou come? Then they came up, and laid hands on Jesus, and held him.Then they came up, and laid hands on Jesus, and held him. And behold one of them that were with Jesus, stretching forth his hand, drew out his sword: and striking the servant of the high priest, cut off his ear. Then Jesus saith to him: Put up again thy sword into its place: for all that take the sword shall perish with the sword. [Matt. xxvi. 47-52]
151. harted. Hearted. 3. Full of heart; spirited, courageous. a1552 J. Leland Itinerary (1711) V. 21 Coltes..better fed then harted or apt for War.
153. sore. Sorely. To a grievous or serious extent; greatly. With great force or vigour; strongly. To a great extent; greatly, very much. 1606 G. W. tr. Justinus Hist. xxxv. 113 So sore hated was Demetrius among all men.
Smarted. Smart. 2. transitive. To cause (physical or mental) pain to; to hurt, sting, be painful to. 1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos ii. 30 Than pardon we for pity gaue, this wayling smartes us so.
155. moity. Moiety. A half, one of two equal parts. 1567 G. Fenton tr. M. Bandello Certaine Tragicall Disc. (1898) II. 259 The one halfe or moytie of their mynde.
156. to spill. transitive. To destroy by depriving of life; to put (or bring) to death; to slay or kill. a1545 Now synge We ii, in J. Skelton Poet. Wks. (1843) I. 144 Thus was I spylt, Man, for thy gylte, And not for myne.
Note. The two halves. One interpretation is that the two halves refer to the lives of Peter: his earthly life and eternal life for his soul and risen body in Heaven. A blow from the enemies of Christ would bring to an end his earthly life; but his mortal sin in betraying of Christ would bring to an end the hope of eternal life.
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Totus tuus ego sum
Et omnia mea tua sunt;
Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam.
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