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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  286. Love

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

George Herbert. 1593–1632

286. Love

LOVE bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back, 
      Guilty of dust and sin. 
But quick-eyed 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.