Henry Charles Beeching, ed. (1859–1919). Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse. 1903.
By George Herbert (15931633)Love
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. | |