Henry Charles Beeching, ed. (1859–1919). Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse. 1903.
By George Herbert (1593–1633)The Pulley
| WHEN God at first made man, | |
| Having a glass of blessings standing by, | |
| Let us (said He) pour on him all we can: | |
| Let the world’s riches, which dispersèd lie, | |
| Contract into a span. | 5 |
| So strength first made a way; | |
| Then beauty flow’d, then wisdom, honour, pleasure: | |
| When almost all was out, God made a stay, | |
| Perceiving that alone of all His treasure | |
| Rest in the bottom lay. | 10 |
| For if I should (said He) | |
| Bestow this jewel also on my creature, | |
| He would adore My gifts instead of Me, | |
| And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature. | |
| So both should losers be. | 15 |
| Yet let him keep the rest, | |
| But keep them with repining restlessness: | |
| Let him be rich and weary, that at least | |
| If goodness lead him not, yet weariness | |
| May toss Him to My breast. | 20 |