Love (III)
Love (III)
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.
1Love bade me welcome, yet my soul drew back,
2 Guilty of dust and sin.
3But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack
4 From my first entrance in,
5Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
6 If I lack'd anything.
7"A guest," I answer'd, "worthy to be here";
8 Love said, "You shall be he."
9"I, the unkind, the ungrateful? ah my dear,
10 I cannot look on thee."
11Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
12 "Who made the eyes but I?"
13"Truth, Lord, but I have marr'd them; let my shame
14 Go where it doth deserve."
15"And know you not," says Love, "who bore the blame?"
16 "My dear, then I will serve."
17"You must sit down," says Love, "and taste my meat."
18 So I did sit and eat.
Publication Start Year
1633
RPO poem Editors
N. J. Endicott
RPO Edition
3RP 1.217.
Rhyme