Love
LOVE bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,
mmmmmGuilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
mmmmmFrom my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
mmmmmIf I lack’d any thing.
‘A guest,’ I answer’d, ‘worthy to be here.’
mmmmmLove said, ‘You shall be he.’
‘I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,
mmmmmI cannot look on thee.’
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
mmmmm‘Who made the eyes but I?’
‘Truth, Lord, but I have marr’d them: let my shame
mmmmmGo where it doth deserve.’
‘And know you not,’ says Love, ‘who bore the blame?’
mmmmm‘My dear, then I will serve.’
‘You must sit down,’ says Love, ‘and taste my meat.’
mmmmmSo I did sit and eat.
George Herbert (1593-1633)
One of the 'Metaphysical Poets', George Herbert sent a manuscript to his friend Nicholas Ferrar, to publish if he thought they might "turn to the advantage of any dejected poor soul", otherwise to burn them.
In 1633 all of his English poems were published in "The Temple: Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations". The book went through eight editions by 1690, and proved to be immensely popular, and rated by some as the best poetry in the English language.
The collection forms something of a mystagogy, a journey beginning at "The Church Porch", they proceed via "The Altar" to "The Sacrifice", and so onwards ...
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