Henry Charles Beeching, ed. (1859–1919). Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse. 1903.
By George Herbert (1593–1633)Employment
| HE that is weary, let him sit. | |
| My soul would stir | |
| And trade in courtesies and wit, | |
| Quitting the fur | |
| To cold complexions needing it. | 5 |
| Man is no star, but a quick coal | |
| Of mortal fire: | |
| Who blows it not, nor doth control | |
| A faint desire, | |
| Lets his own ashes choke his soul. | 10 |
| Life is a business, not good-cheer; | |
| Ever in wars. | |
| The sun still shineth there or here, | |
| Whereas the stars | |
| Watch an advantage to appear. | 15 |
| Oh that I were an orange-tree, | |
| That busy plant! | |
| Then should I ever laden be, | |
| And never want | |
| Some fruit for him that dressed me. | 20 |
| But we are still too young or old; | |
| The man is gone | |
| Before we do our wares unfold: | |
| So we freeze on, | |
| Until the grave increase our cold. | 25 |