Sin (I)
Sin (I)
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.
1Lord, with what care hast thou begirt us round!
2 Parents first season us; then schoolmasters
3 Deliver us to laws; they send us bound
4To rules of reason, holy messengers,
5Pulpits and Sundays, sorrow-dogging sin,
6 Afflictions sorted, anguish of all sizes,
7 Fine nets and stratagems to catch us in,
8Bibles laid open, millions of surprises,
9Blessings beforehand, ties of gratefulness,
10 The sound of glory ringing in our ears,
11 Without, our shame, within, our consciences,
12Angels and grace, eternal hopes and fears.
13 Yet all these fences and their whole array
14 One cunning bosom-sin blows quite away.
Publication Start Year
1633
RPO poem Editors
N. J. Endicott
RPO Edition
3RP 1.208.
Rhyme
Form