George Herbert


THE TEMPER. (II)

IT cannot be.   Where is that mightie joy,
        Which just now took up all my heart ?
        Lord !  if thou must needs use thy dart,
Save that, and me ;  or sin for both destroy.

The grosser world stands to thy word and art ;
        But thy diviner world of grace
        Thou suddenly dost raise and race,
And ev'ry day a new Creatour art.

O fix thy chair of grace, that all my powers
        May also fix their reverence :
        For when thou dost depart from hence,
They grow unruly, and sit in thy bowers.

Scatter, or binde them all to bend to thee :
        Though elements change, and heaven move ;
        Let not thy higher Court remove,
But keep a standing Majestie in me.




Source:
Herbert, George. The Poetical Works of George Herbert.
New York: D. Appleton and Co., 1857. 68.


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