George Herbert- Collected Poetical Works

by George Herbert

  To a plague and public woe.

  Come away, 25

  Help our decay.

  Man is out of order hurl’d,

  Parcell’d out to all the world.

  Lord, thy broken consort raise,

  And the music shall be praise. 30

  JUDGEMENT.

  Almighty Judge, how shall poor wretches brook

  Thy dreadful look,

  Able a heart of iron to appal,

  When thou shalt call

  For ev’ry man’s peculiar book? 5

  What others mean to do, I know not well;

  Yet I hear tell,

  That some will turn thee to some leaves therein

  So void of sin,

  That they in merit shall excel. 10

  But I resolve, when thou shalt call for mine,

  That to decline,

  And thrust a Testament into thy hand:

  Let that be scann’d.

  There thou shalt find my faults are thine. 15

  HEAVEN.

  O who will show me those delights on high?

  Echo. I.

  Thou Echo, thou art mortal, all men know.

  Echo. No.

  Wert thou not born among the trees and leaves? 5

  Echo. Leaves.

  And are there any leaves, that still abide?

  Echo. Bide.

  What leaves are they? impart the matter wholly.

  Echo. Holy. 10

  Are holy leaves the Echo then of bliss?

  Echo. Yes.

  Then tell me, what is that supreme delight?

  Echo. Light.

  Light to the mind: what shall the will enjoy? 15

  Echo. Joy.

  But are there cares and business with the pleasure?

  Echo. Leisure.

  Light, joy, and leisure; but shall they persever?

  Echo. Ever. 20

  LOVE III.

  Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,

  Guilty of dust and sin.

  But quick-ey’d Love, observing me grow slack

  From my first entrance in,

  Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning, 5

  If I lack’d anything.

  A guest, I answer’d, worthy to be here:

  Love said, You shall be he.

  I the unkind, ungrateful? Ah my dear,

  I cannot look on thee. 10

  Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,

  Who made the eyes but I?

  Truth Lord, but I have marr’d them: let my shame

  Go where it doth deserve.

  And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame? 15

  My dear, then I will serve.

  You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat:

  So I did sit and eat.

  FINIS.

  Glory be to God on high,

  And on earth peace,

  Good will towards men.

  THE CHURCH MILITANT

  Almighty Lord, who from thy glorious throne

  Seest and rulest all things ev’n as one:

  The smallest ant or atom knows thy power,

  Known also to each minute of an hour:

  Much more do Commonweals acknowledge thee, 5

  And wrap their policies in thy decree,

  Complying with thy counsels, doing nought

  Which doth not meet with an eternal thought.

  But above all, thy Church and Spouse doth prove

  Not the decrees of power, but bands of love. 10

  Early didst thou arise to plant this vine,

  Which might the more endear it to be thine.

  Spices come from the East; so did thy Spouse,

  Trim as the light, sweet as the laden boughs

  Of Noah’s shady vine, chaste as the dove; 15

  Prepar’d and fitted to receive thy love.

  The course was westward, that the sun might light

  As well our understanding as our sight.

  Where th’ Ark did rest, there Abraham began

  To bring the other Ark from Canaan. 20

  Moses pursu’d this; but King Solomon

  Finish’d and fixt the old religion.

  When it grew loose, the Jews did hope in vain

  By nailing Christ to fasten it again.

  But to the Gentiles he bore cross and all, 25

  Rending with earthquakes the partition-wall:

  Only whereas the Ark in glory shone,

  Now with the cross, as with a staff, alone,

  Religion, like a pilgrim, westward bent,

  Knocking at all doors, ever as she went. 30

  Yet as the sun, though forward be his flight,

  Listens behind him, and allows some light,

  Till all depart: so went the Church her way,

  Letting, while one foot stept, the other stay

  Among the eastern nations for a time, 35

  Till both removèd to the western clime.

  To Egypt first she came, where they did prove

  Wonders of anger once, but now of love.

  The ten Commandments there did flourish more

  Than the ten bitter plagues had done before. 40

  Holy Macarius and great Anthony

  Made Pharaoh Moses, changing th’ history.

  Goshen was darkness, Egypt full of lights,

  Nilus for monsters brought forth Israelites.

  Such power hath mighty Baptism to produce 45

  For things misshapen, things of highest use.

  How dear to me, O God, thy counsels are!

  Who may with thee compare?

  Religion thence fled into Greece, where arts

  Gave her the highest place in all men’s hearts. 50

  Learning was pos’d, Philosophy was set,

  Sophisters taken in a fisher’s net.

  Plato and Aristotle were at a loss,

  And wheel’d about again to spell Christ-Cross.

  Prayers chasèd syllogisms into their den, 55

  And Ergo was transform’d into Amen.

  Though Greece took horse as soon as Egypt did,

  And Rome as both: yet Egypt faster rid,

  And spent her period and prefixèd time

  Before the other. Greece being past her prime, 60

  Religion went to Rome, subduing those,

  Who, that they might subdue, made all their foes.

  The Warrior his dear scars no more resounds,

  But seems to yield Christ hath the greater wounds,

  Wounds willingly endur’d to work his bliss, 65

  Who by an ambush lost his Paradise.

  The great heart stoops, and taketh from the dust

  A sad repentance, not the spoils of lust:

  Quitting his spear, lest it should pierce again

  Him in his members, who for him was slain. 70

  The Shepherd’s hook grew to a sceptre here,

  Giving new names and numbers to the year.

  But th’ Empire dwelt in Greece, to comfort them

  Who were cut short in Alexander’s stem.

  In both of these Prowess and Arts did tame 75

  And tune men’s hearts against the Gospel came:

  Which using, and not fearing skill in th’ one,

  Or strength in th’ other, did erect her throne.

  Many a rent and struggling th’ Empire knew,

  (As dying things are wont) until it flew 80

  At length to Germany, still westward bending,

  And there the Church’s festival attending:

  That as before Empire and Arts made way,

  (For no less harbingers would serve than they)

  So they might still, and point us out the place 85

  Where first the Church should raise her downcast face.

  Strength levels grounds, Art makes a garden there;

  Then showers Religion, and makes all to bear.

  Spain in the Empire shar’d with Germany,

  But England in the higher victory: 90

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p; Giving the Church a crown to keep her state,

  And not go less than she had done of late.

  Constantine’s British line meant this of old,

  And did this mystery wrap up and fold

  Within a sheet of paper, which was rent 95

  From time’s great Chronicle, and hither sent.

  Thus both the Church and Sun together ran

  Unto the farthest old meridian.

  How dear to me, O God, thy counsels are!

  Who may with thee compare? 100

  Much about one and the same time and place,

  Both where and when the Church began her race,

  Sin did set out of Eastern Babylon,

  And travell’d westward also: journeying on

  He chid the Church away, where’er he came, 105

  Breaking her peace, and tainting her good name.

  At first he got to Egypt, and did sow

  Gardens of gods, which ev’ry year did grow,

  Fresh and fine deities. They were at great cost,

  Who for a god clearly a sallet lost. 110

  Ah, what a thing is man devoid of grace,

  Adoring garlic with an humble face,

  Begging his food of that which he may eat,

  Starving the while he worshippeth his meat!

  Who makes a root his god, how low is he, 115

  If God and man be sever’d infinitely!

  What wretchedness can give him any room,

  Whose house is foul, while he adores his broom?

  None will believe this now, though money be

  In us the same transplanted foolery. 120

  Thus sin in Egypt sneaked for a while;

  His highest was an ox or crocodile,

  And such poor game. Thence he to Greece doth pass,

  And being craftier much than Goodness was,

  He left behind him garrisons of sins 125

  To make good that which ev’ry day he wins.

  Here Sin took heart, and for a garden-bed

  Rich shrines and oracles he purchasèd:

  He grew a gallant, and would needs foretell

  As well what should befall, as what befell. 130

  Nay, he became a poet, and would serve

  His pills of sublimate in that conserve.

  The world came both with hands and purses full

  To this great lottery, and all would pull.

  But all was glorious cheating, brave deceit, 135

  Where some poor truths were shuffled for a bait

  To credit him, and to discredit those

  Who after him should braver truths disclose.

  From Greece he went to Rome: and as before

  He was a God, now he’s an Emperor. 140

  Nero and others lodg’d him bravely there,

  Put him in trust to rule the Roman sphere.

  Glory was his chief instrument of old:

  Pleasure succeeded straight, when that grew cold.

  Which soon was blown to such a mighty flame, 145

  That though our Saviour did destroy the game,

  Disparking oracles, and all their treasure,

  Setting affliction to encounter pleasure;

  Yet did a rogue with hope of carnal joy

  Cheat the most subtle nations. Who so coy, 150

  So trim, as Greece and Egypt? yet their hearts

  Are given over, for their curious arts,

  To such Mahometan stupidities,ith the one make war to cea

  As the old heathen would deem prodigies.

  How dear to me, O God, thy counsels are! 155

  Who may with thee compare?

  Only the West and Rome do keep them free

  From this contagious infidelity.

  And this is all the Rock, whereof they boast,

  As Rome will one day find unto her cost. 160

  Sin being not able to extirpate quite

  The Churches here, bravely resolv’d one night

  To be a Churchman too, and wear a Mitre:

  This old debauchèd ruffian would turn writer.

  I saw him in his study, where he sat 165

  Busy in controversies sprung of late.

  A gown and pen became him wondrous well:

  His grave aspect had more of heav’n than hell:

  Only there was a handsome picture by,

  To which he lent a corner of his eye. 170

  As Sin in Greece a Prophet was before,

  And in old Rome a mighty Emperor;

  So now being Priest he plainly did profess

  To make a jest of Christ’s three offices:

  The rather since his scatter’d jugglings were 175

  United now in one both time and sphere.

  From Egypt he took petty deities,

  From Greece oracular infallibilities,

  And from old Rome the liberty of pleasure,

  By free dispensings of the Church’s treasure. 180

  Then in memorial of his ancient throne

  He did surname his palace, Babylon.

  Yet that he might the better gain all nations,

  And make that name good by their transmigrations;

  From all these places, but at divers times, 185

  He took fine vizards to conceal his crimes:

  From Egypt anchorism and retir’dness,

  Learning from Greece, from old Rome stateliness:

  And blending these he carri’d all men’s eyes,

  While Truth sat by, counting his victories: 190

  Whereby he grew apace and scorn’d to use

  Such force as once did captivate the Jews;

  But did bewitch, and finely work each nation

  Into a voluntary transmigration.

  All post to Rome: Princes submit their necks 195

  Either t’ his public foot or private tricks.

  It did not fit his gravity to stir,

  Nor his long journey, nor his gout and fur.

  Therefore he sent out able ministers,

  Statesmen within, without doors cloisterers: 200

  Who without spear, or sword, or other drum

  Than what was in their tongue, did overcome;

  And having conquer’d, did so strangely rule,

  That the whole world did seem but the Pope’s mule.

  As new and old Rome did one Empire twist; 205

  So both together are one Antichrist,

  Yet with two faces, as their Janus was;

  Being in this their old crackt looking-glass.

  How dear to me, O God, thy counsels are!

  Who may with thee compare? 210

  Thus Sin triumphs in Western Babylon;

  Yet not as Sin, but as Religion.

  Of his two thrones he made the latter best,

  And to defray his journey from the east.

  Old and new Babylon are to hell and night, 215

  As is the moon and sun to heav’n and light.

  When th’ one did set, the other did take place,

  Confronting equally the law and grace.

  They are hell’s landmarks, Satan’s double crest:

  They are Sin’s nipples, feeding th’ east and west. 220

  But as in vice the copy still exceeds

  The pattern, but not so in virtuous deeds;

  So though Sin made his latter seat the better,

  The latter Church is to the first a debtor.

  The second Temple could not reach the first: 225

  And the late reformation never durst

  Compare with ancient times and purer years;

  But in the Jews and us deserveth tears.

  Nay, it shall ev’ry year decrease and fade;

  Till such a darkness do the world invade 230

  At Christ’s last coming, as his first did find:

  Yet must there such proportions be assign’d

  To these diminishings, as is between

  The spacious world and Jewry to be seen.

  Religion stands on tip-toe in our land, 235
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  Ready to pass to the American strand.

  When height of malice, and prodigious lusts,

  Impudent sinning, witchcrafts, and distrusts

  (The marks of future bane) shall fill our cup

  Unto the brim, and make our measure up; 240

  When Seine shall swallow Tiber, and the Thames

  By letting in them both, pollutes her streams:

  When Italy of us shall have her will,

  And all her calendar of sins fulfil;

  Whereby one may foretell, what sins next year 245

  Shall both in France and England domineer:

  Then shall Religion to America flee:

  They have their times of Gospel, ev’n as we.

  My God, thou dost prepare for them a way

  By carrying first their gold from them away: 250

  For gold and grace did never yet agree:

  Religion always sides with poverty.

  We think we rob them, but we think amiss:

  We are more poor, and they more rich by this.

  Thou wilt revenge their quarrel, making grace 255

  To pay our debts, and leave our ancient place

  To go to them, while that which now their nation

  But lends to us, shall be our desolation.

  Yet as the Church shall thither westward fly,

  So Sin shall trace and dog her instantly: 260

  They have their period also and set times

  Both for their virtuous actions and their crimes.

  And where of old the Empire and the Arts

  Usher’d the Gospel ever in men’s hearts,

  Spain hath done one; when Arts perform the other, 265

  The Church shall come, and Sin the Church shall smother:

  That when they have accomplishèd their round,

  And met in th’ east their first and ancient sound,

  Judgement may meet them both and search them round.

  Thus do both lights, as well in Church as Sun, 270

  Light one another, and together run.

  Thus also Sin and Darkness follow still

  The Church and Sun with all their power and skill.

  But as the Sun still goes both west and east;

  So also did the Church by going west 275

  Still eastward go; because it drew more near

  To time and place, where judgement shall appear.

  How dear to me, O God, thy counsels are!

  Who may with thee compare?

  L’ENVOY.

  King of Glory, King of Peace,

  With the one make war to cease;

  With the other bless thy sheep,

  Thee to love, in thee to sleep.

  Let not Sin devour thy fold, 5

  Bragging that thy blood is cold,

  That thy death is also dead,

  While his conquests daily spread;