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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  303. Praise and Prayer

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

Sir William Davenant. 1606–1668

303. Praise and Prayer

PRAISE is devotion fit for mighty minds, 
  The diff’ring world’s agreeing sacrifice; 
Where Heaven divided faiths united finds: 
  But Prayer in various discord upward flies. 
 
For Prayer the ocean is where diversely         5
  Men steer their course, each to a sev’ral coast; 
Where all our interests so discordant be 
  That half beg winds by which the rest are lost. 
 
By Penitence when we ourselves forsake, 
‘Tis but in wise design on piteous Heaven;  10
In Praise we nobly give what God may take, 
  And are, without a beggar’s blush, forgiven.