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George Herbert (1593-1633)

Jordan (I)


              1Who says that fictions only and false hair
              2Become a verse? Is there in truth no beauty?
              3Is all good structure in a winding stair?
              4May no lines pass, except they do their duty
              5      Not to a true, but painted chair?

              6Is it no verse, except enchanted groves
              7And sudden arbours shadow coarse-spun lines?
              8Must purling streams refresh a lover's loves?
              9Must all be veil'd, while he that reads, divines,
            10      Catching the sense at two removes?

            11Shepherds are honest people; let them sing;
            12Riddle who list, for me, and pull for prime;
            13I envy no man's nightingale or spring;
            14Nor let them punish me with loss of rhyme,
            15      Who plainly say, my God, my King.

Notes

1] In the Old Testament (Deut. 27) crossing the Jordan is described as the sign of becoming the chosen people. It became a Christian symbol of redemption through baptism.

11] Shepherds: in literary usage, poets.

12] pull for prime: draw for winning card in the game of primero.

Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.

Original text: George Herbert, The temple. Sacred poems and private ejaculations, edited by N. Ferrar (Cambridge: T. Buck and R. Daniel, 1633). STC 13183. Facs. edn. Menston: Scolar Press, 1968. PR 3507 T45 1633A. Also The Bodleian Manuscript of George Herbert's Poems: A Facsimile of Tanner 307, Introduced by Amy M. Charles and Mario A. Di Cesare. Delmar: Scholars' Facsimiles and Reprints, 1984. PR 3507 T45 1984 ROBA.
First publication date: 1633
RPO poem editor: N. J. Endicott
RP edition: 3RP 1.211-12.
Recent editing: 2:2002/2/13

Rhyme: ababa

Other poems by George Herbert

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