Lyricist:Jacob Micyllus in Sylvarum libri quinque (Peter Brubach, Frankfurt, 1564)
The first of two poems under the title Confide et ama (the second being Vivere vis recte). Confide et ama ("trust and love") was the motto of George of Austria (1505–1557), illegitimate son of Emperor Maximilan I and Prince-Bishop of Liège.
In both settings of the text, one voice sings Confide et ama as an ostinato.
Confisus Domino tua pectora crede Tonanti
omnis ut illius stet tua cura fide.
Nec metus aut rabies ab eo te separet ulla
fracta licet toto corruat orbe salus.
Inde tuo si quis studio aut ope postulet uti
debita cui rerum sors alimenta negat.
Esse velis aliis talis tibi qualis es ipse
et mala vicini damna putare tua.
Tempora dum praesens mortalia finiat aevum
atque alio veniens nos levet aura polo
Maxima sic geminis dicta lex scripta tabellis
a Domino Sinai tradita in arce jugi.
English translation
Confident in your heart, believe in the Thundering Lord,
that all your care of him may stand by faith.
May neither any fear nor madness separate you from him,
though salvation collapse in the whole world.
Then if someone may demand to use your knowledge or power,
by debt to him, fate denies sustenance.
Be such as you would wish others to be to you,
and consider yours the bad losses of your neighbour.
Until the time that the present mortal age ends
and the coming breeze raises us to another pole.
Thus states the greatest law, written on twin tablets
handed down by the Lord on the height of the summit of Sinai.
Latin text
English translation