The Pulley
The Pulley
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.
1 When God at first made man,
2Having a glass of blessings standing by,
3 "Let us," said he, "pour on him all we can;
4Let the world's riches, which dispersed lie,
5 Contract into a span."
6 So strength first made a way;
7Then beauty flow'd, then wisdom, honour, pleasure;
8 When almost all was out, God made a stay,
9Perceiving that alone of all his treasure,
10 Rest in the bottom lay.
11 "For if I should," said he,
12"Bestow this jewel also on my creature,
13 He would adore my gifts instead of me,
14And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature:
15 So both should losers be.
16 "Yet let him keep the rest,
17But keep them with repining restlessness;
18 Let him be rich and weary, that at least,
19If goodness lead him not, yet weariness
20 May toss him to my breast."
Publication Start Year
1633
RPO poem Editors
N. J. Endicott
RPO Edition
3RP 1.215-16.
Rhyme