Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Edward Farr, ed. Select Poetry of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. 1845.

O’ Tears

LXXX. Doctor Brooke

WHO would have thought there could have bin

Such joy in tears wept for our sin?

Mine eyes have seen, my heart hath proved,

The most and best of earthly joys,

The sweets of love and being loved,

Masks, feasts, and playes, and such like toyes;

Yet this one tear which now doth fall

In true delight exceeds them all.

Indeed, mine eyes at first let in

Those guests that did these woes begin;

Therefore mine eyes in tears and grief

Are justly drown’d: but that those tears

Should comfort bring, is past belief,—

Oh God, in this thy grace appears;

Thou that mak’st light from darkness spring,

Mak’st joyes to weep, and sorrowes sing.

Oh where am I? what may I think?

Help, help! alass, my heart doth sink:

Thus lost in seas of wo,

Thus laden with my sin,

Waves of despair dash in,

And threat my overthrow.

What heart opprest with such a weight

Can chuse but break, and perish streight?

Yet as at sea in storms men choose

The ship to save, their goods to loose:

So in this fearful storm,

This danger to prevent,

Before all hope be spent,

I’le choose the lesser harm;

My tears to seas I will convert,

And drown my eyes, to save my heart.

Oh God, my God! what shall I give

To thee in thanks? I am and live

In thee, and thou didst safe preserve

My health, my fame, my goods, my rent;

Thou makest me eat while others sterve,

And sing while others do lament.

Such unto me thy blessings are,

As if I were thy only care.

But, oh my God! thou art more kind,

When I look inward on my mind:

Thou fillest my heart with humble joy,

With patience, meekness, fervent love

(Which doth all other loves destroy),

With faith (which nothing can remove),

And hope assured of heaven’s bliss;—

This is my state,—thy grace is this.