Henry Charles Beeching, ed. (1859–1919). Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse. 1903.

By George Herbert (1593–1633)

From “The Church Porch”: Health


SLIGHT those who say amidst their sickly healths,
Thou liv’st by rule. What doth not so but man?
Houses are built by rule, and commonwealths.
Entice the trusty sun, if that you can,
From his ecliptic line; beckon the sky.	5
Who lives by rule then keeps good company.

Who keeps no guard upon himself is slack,
And rots to nothing at the next great thaw.
Man is a shop of rules, a well-truss’d pack,
Whose every parcel under-writes a law.	10
Lose not thyself, nor give thy humours way;
God gave them to thee under lock and key.