Ah! when I had what most I did admire,
And seen of life's delights the last extremes,
I found all but a rose hedg'd with a brier,

An ought, a thought, a show of mocking dreams. Henceforth on Thee, mine only good, I'll think, For only Thou canst grant what I do crave; Thy nail my pen shall be, Thy blood mine ink, Thy winding-sheet my paper, study, grave.

And till that soul forth of this body flee,
No hope I'll have, but only, only Thee.

ROBERT HERRICK

AN ODE TO GOD

Deer God,

If Thy smart Rod
Here did not make me sorrie,
I sho'd not be

With Thine, or Thee,

In Thy eternall Glorie.

But since

Thou didst convince

My sinnes, by gently striking;

Add still to those

First stripes, new blowes,

According to Thy liking.

Feare me,

Or scourging teare me;
That thus from vices driven,

I may from Hell

Flie up, to dwell

With Thee, and Thine in Heaven.

HIS LETANIE, TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

In the houre of my distresse,
When temptations me oppresse,
And when I my sins confesse,
Sweet Spirit comfort me!

When I lie within my bed,
Sick in heart and sick in head,
And with doubts discomforted,
Sweet Spirit comfort me!

When the house doth sigh and weep,
And the world is drown'd in sleep,
Yet mine eyes the watch do keep;
Sweet Spirit comfort me!

When the artlesse Doctor sees
No one hope, but of his Fees,
And his skill runs on the lees;
Sweet Spirit comfort me!

When his Potion and his Pill,
Has, or none, or little skill,
Meet for nothing, but to kill;
Sweet Spirit comfort me!

When the passing-bell doth tole,
And the Furies in a shole
Come to fright a parting soule;
Sweet Spirit comfort me!

When the tapers now burne blue,
And the comforters are few,

And that number more then true;
Sweet Spirit comfort me!

When the Priest his last hath praid, And I nod to what is said,

'Cause my speech is now decaid; Sweet Spirit comfort me!

When (God knowes) I'm tost about,
Either with despaire, or doubt;

Yet before the glasse be out,
Sweet Spirit comfort me!

When the Tempter me pursu'th
With the sins of all my youth,
And halfe damns me with untruth;
Sweet Spirit comfort me!

When the flames and hellish cries Fright mine eares and fright mine eyes, And all terrors me surprise;

Sweet Spirit comfort me!

When the Judgment is reveal'd
And that open'd which was seal'd,
When to Thee I have appeal'd;
Sweet Spirit comfort me!

GRACE FOR A CHILD

I

What God gives, and what we take,
'Tis a gift for Christ His sake:
Be the meale of Beanes and Pease,
God be thank'd for those, and these;
Have we flesh, or have we fish,
All are Fragments from His dish.
He His Church save, and the King,
And our Peace here, like a Spring,
Make it ever flourishing.

II

Here a little child I stand,
Heaving up my either hand;
Cold as Paddocks though they be,
Here I lift them up to Thee,
For a Benizon to fall

On our meat, and on us all. Amen.

TO KEEP A TRUE LENT

Is this a Fast, to keep

The Larder leane?

And cleane

From fat of Veales, and Sheep?

Is it to quit the dish

Of flesh, yet still

To fill

The platter high with Fish?

Is it to fast an houre,

Or ragg'd to go,

Or show

A down-cast look, and a sowre?