The Church Floore

George Herbert 1593 (Montgomery) – 1633 (Bemerton)



The Church-floore.

MArk you the floore? that square & speckled stone,
                             Which looks so firm and strong,
                                          Is Patience:

And th’ other black and grave, where with each one
                             Is checker’d all along,
                                          Humilitie:

The gentle rising, which on either hand
                             Leads to the Quire above,
                                          Is Confidence:

But the sweet cement, which in one sure band
                             Ties the whole frame, is Love
                                          And Charitie.

Hither sometimes Sinne steals, and stains
The marbles neat and curious veins:
But all is cleansed when the marble weeps.
Sometimes Death, puffing at the Doore,
Blows all the dust about the floore:
But while he thinks to spoil the room, he sweeps.

Blest be the Architect, whose art
Could build so strong in a weak heart.
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Submitted by brian_s on October 17, 2017

Modified on March 05, 2023

36 sec read
68

Quick analysis:

Scheme XAB XAC CDB CDC EEFGGF CC
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 962
Words 122
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 3, 3, 3, 3, 6, 2

George Herbert

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

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