George Herbert


SINNE.  (I)                     

LORD, with what care hast thou begirt us round !
      Parents first season us :  then schoolmasters
      Deliver us to laws ;  They send us bound
To rules of reason, holy messengers,

Pulpits and sundayes, sorrow dogging sinne,
      Afflictions sorted, anguish of all sizes,
      Fine nets and stratagems to catch us in,
Bibles laid open, millions of surprises,

Blessings beforehand, tyes of gratefulnesse,
      The sound of glorie ringing in our eares ;
      Without, our shame ;  within, our consciences ;
Angels and grace, eternall hopes and fears.

      Yet all these fences and their whole aray
      One cunning bosome-sinne blows quite away.




Source:
Herbert, George. The Poetical Works of George Herbert.
New York: D. Appleton and Co., 1857. 52-53.



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