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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  201. A Hymn to God the Father

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

John Donne. 1573–1631

201. A Hymn to God the Father

WILT Thou forgive that sin where I begun, 
  Which was my sin, though it were done before? 
Wilt Thou forgive that sin through which I run, 
  And do run still, though still I do deplore? 
When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done;         5
        For I have more. 
 
Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I have won 
  Others to sin, and made my sins their door? 
Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I did shun 
  A year or two, but wallow’d in a score?  10
When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done; 
        For I have more. 
 
I have a sin of fear, that when I’ve spun 
  My last thread, I shall perish on the shore; 
But swear by Thyself that at my death Thy Son  15
  Shall shine as He shines now and heretofore: 
And having done that, Thou hast done; 
        I fear no more.