“John Donne” and “George Herbert”

IAH 221B

Summer 2016

George Herbert Readings

“Faith”

1      Lord , how couldst thou so much appease 2  Thy wrath for sinne, as when mans sight was dimme, 3  And could see little, to regard his ease, 4     And bring by Faith all things to him? 5     Hungrie I was, and had no meat: 6  I did conceit a most delicious feast; 7  I had it straight, and did as truly eat, 8     As ever did a welcome guest. 9     There is a rare outlandish root, 10  Which when I could not get, I thought it here: 11  That apprehension cur'd so well my foot, 12     That I can walk to heav'n well neare. 13     I owed thousands and much more: 14  I did beleeve that I did nothing owe, 15  And liv'd accordingly; my creditor 16     Beleeves so too, and lets me go. 17     Faith makes me any thing, or all 18  That I beleeve is in the sacred storie: 19  And where sinne placeth me in Adams fall, 20     Faith sets me higher in his glorie. 21     If I go lower in the book, 22  What can be lower then the common manger? 23  Faith puts me there with him, who sweetly took 24     Our flesh and frailtie, death and danger. 25     If blisse had lien in art or strength, 26  None but the wise or strong had gained it: 27  Where now by Faith all arms are of a length; 28     One size doth all conditions fit. 29     A peasant may beleeve as much 30  As a great Clerk, and reach the highest stature. 31  Thus dost thou make proud knowledge bend & crouch 32     While grace fills up uneven nature. 33     When creatures had no reall light 34  Inherent in them, thou didst make the sunne, 35  Impute a lustre, and allow them bright; 36     And in this shew, what Christ hath done. 37     That which before was darkned clean 38  With bushie groves, pricking the lookers eie, 39  Vanisht away, when Faith did change the scene: 40     And then appear'd a glorious skie. 41     What though my bodie runne to dust? 42  Faith cleaves unto it, counting evr'y grain 43  With an exact and most particular trust, 44     Reserving all for flesh again.

“The Quidditie”

1  My God, a verse is not a crown, 2  No point of honour, or gay suit, 3  No hawk, or banquet, or renown, 4  Nor a good sword, nor yet a lute: 5  It cannot vault, or dance, or play; 6  It never was in France or Spain ; 7  Nor can it entertain the day 8  With a great stable or demain: 9  It is no office, art, or news, 10  Nor the Exchange, or busie Hall; 11  But it is that which while I use 12  I am with thee, and Most take all .

“The Collar”

1      I struck the board, and cry'd, No more, 2              I will abroad. 3     What? shall I ever sigh and pine? 4  My lines and life are free; free as the rode, 5     Loose as the winde, as large as store. 6           Shall I be still in suit? 7     Have I no harvest but a thorn 8     To let me bloud, and not restore 9  What I have lost with cordiall fruit? 10              Sure there was wine 11        Before my sighs did drie it: there was corn 12           Before my tears did drown it. 13     Is the yeare onely lost to me? 14           Have I no bayes to crown it? 15  No flowers, no garlands gay? all blasted? 16              All wasted? 17     Not so, my heart: but there is fruit, 18              And thou hast hands. 19           Recover all thy sigh-blown age 20  On double pleasures: leave thy cold dispute 21  Of what is fit, and not forsake thy cage, 22              Thy rope of sands, 23  Which pettie thoughts have made, and made to thee 24     Good cable, to enforce and draw, 25              And be thy law, 26     While thou didst wink and wouldst not see. 27              Away; take heed: 28              I will abroad. 29  Call in thy deaths head there: tie up thy fears. 30              He that forbears 31           To suit and serve his need, 32              Deserves his load. 33  But as I rav'd and grew more fierce and wilde 34              At every word, 35     Me thoughts I heard one calling, Childe : 36           And I reply'd, My Lord .

“The Pulley”

1      When God at first made man, 2  Having a glasse of blessings standing by; 3  Let us (said he) poure on him all we can: 4  Let the worlds riches, which dispersed lie, 5     Contract into a span. 6     So strength first made a way; 7  Then beautie flow'd, then wisdome, honour, pleasure: 8  When almost all was out, God made a stay, 9  Perceiving that alone of all his treasure 10     Rest in the bottome lay. 11     For if I should (said he) 12  Bestow this jewell also on my creature, 13  He would adore my gifts in stead of me, 14  And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature. 15     So both should losers be. 16     Yet let him keep the rest, 17  But keep them with repining restlesnesse: 18  Let him be rich and wearie, that at least, 19  If goodnesse leade him not, yet wearinesse 20     May tosse him to my breast.

“Death”

1  Death , thou wast once an uncouth hideous thing, 2        Nothing but bones, 3     The sad effect of sadder grones: 4  Thy mouth was open, but thou couldst not sing. 5  For we consider'd thee as at some six 6        Or ten yeares hence, 7     After the losse of life and sense, 8  Flesh being turn'd to dust, and bones to sticks. 9  We lookt on this side of thee, shooting short; 10        Where we did finde 11     The shells of fledge souls left behinde, 12  Dry dust, which sheds no tears, but may extort. 13  But since our Saviours death did put some bloud 14        Into thy face; 15     Thou art grown fair and full of grace, 16  Much in request, much sought for, as a good. 17  For we do now behold thee gay and glad, 18        As at dooms-day; 19     When souls shall wear their new aray, 20  And all thy bones with beautie shall be clad. 21  Therefore we can go die as sleep, and trust 22        Half that we have 23     Unto an honest faithfull grave; 24  Making our pillows either down, or dust.