1633. A servant with this clause Makes drudgery divine; Who sweeps a room as for Thy laws This is the famous stone That turneth all to gold; For that which God doth touch and own Cannot for less be told. 20 24 I GOT me flowers to straw Thy way, The sun arising in the East, Though he give light, and th' East perfume, 4 1633. If they should offer to contest Yet though my flowers be lost, they say 8 12 George Herbert. THE PULLEY WHEN God at first made Man, Having a glass of blessings standing byLet us (said He) pour on him all we can; Let the world's riches, which dispersed lie, Contract into a span. .So strength first made a way, Then beauty flow'd, then wisdom, honour, When almost all was out, God made a stay, For if I should (said He) Bestow this jewel also on My creature, He would adore My gifts instead of Me, And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature: So both should losers be. 5 ΙΟ 15 Yet let him keep the rest, But keep them with repining restlessness; 1633. 20 George Herbert. VIRTUE SWEET day, so cool, so calm, so bright! Sweet rose, whose hue angry and brave Thy root is ever in its grave, And thou must die. Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses, My music shows ye have your closes, Only a sweet and virtuous soul, Like season'd timber, never gives; But though the whole world turn to coal, Then chiefly lives. 8 12 16 George Herbert. 1633. LOVE TRIUMPHANT E'EN like two little bank-dividing brooks, That wash the pebbles with their wanton streams, And having ranged and search'd a thousand nooks, Meet both at length in silver-breasted Thames, Where in a greater current they conjoin: So I my Best-Belovèd's am; so He is mine. E'en so we met; and after long pursuit, E'en so we join'd: we both became entire; No need for either to renew a suit, For I was flax and he was flames of fire: Our firm-united souls did more than twine; So I my Best-Belovèd's am; so He is mine. 6 12 If all those glittering Monarchs that command 18 mine. 1635? Francis Quarles. |