The H. Scriptures I

George Herbert 1593 (Montgomery) – 1633 (Bemerton)



Oh Book! infinite sweetness! let my heart
Suck ev'ry letter, and a honey gain,
Precious for any grief in any part;
To clear the breast, to mollify all pain.
Thou art all health, health thriving, till it make
A full eternity:  thou art a mass
Of strange delights, where we may wish and take.
Ladies, look here; this is the thankfull glass,
That mends the looker's eyes:  this is the well
That washes what it shows.  Who can endear
Thy praise too much? thou art heav'n's Lidger here,
Working against the states of death and hell.
Thou art joy's handsel:  heav'n lies flat in thee,
Subject to ev'ry mounter's bended knee.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

36 sec read
79

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABABCDCDEFFEGG
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 618
Words 113
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14

George Herbert

The Very Reverend Honourable George Herbert was an Anglican priest. more…

All George Herbert poems | George Herbert Books

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