Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Robert Herrick. 15911674275. Litany to the Holy Spirit
IN the hour of my distress, | |
When temptations me oppress, | |
And when I my sins confess, | |
Sweet Spirit, comfort me! | |
When I lie within my bed, | 5 |
Sick in heart and sick in head, | |
And with doubts discomforted, | |
Sweet Spirit, comfort me! | |
When the house doth sigh and weep, | |
And the world is drown’d in sleep, | 10 |
Yet mine eyes the watch do keep, | |
Sweet Spirit, comfort me! | |
When the passing bell doth toll, | |
And the Furies in a shoal | |
Come to fright a parting soul, | 15 |
Sweet Spirit, comfort me! | |
When the tapers now burn blue, | |
And the comforters are few, | |
And that number more than true, | |
Sweet Spirit, comfort me! | 20 |
When the priest his last hath pray’d, | |
And I nod to what is said, | |
‘Cause my speech is now decay’d, | |
Sweet Spirit, comfort me! | |
When, God knows, I’m toss’d about | 25 |
Either with despair or doubt; | |
Yet before the glass be out, | |
Sweet Spirit, comfort me! | |
When the tempter me pursu’th | |
With the sins of all my youth, | 30 |
And half damns me with untruth, | |
Sweet Spirit, comfort me! | |
When the flames and hellish cries | |
Fright mine ears and fright mine eyes, | |
And all terrors me surprise, | 35 |
Sweet Spirit, comfort me! | |
When the Judgment is reveal’d, | |
And that open’d which was seal’d, | |
When to Thee I have appeal’d, | |
Sweet Spirit, comfort me! | 40 |