A HYMN TO GOD THE FATHER (First published 1631) Wilt Thou forgive that sin where I begun, For I have more. Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I have won 5 10 I have a sin of fear, that when I have spun Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright, 5 Sweet rose, whose hue angrie and brave And thou must die. Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses, Only a sweet and vertuous soul, 5 10 15 THE PULLEY (From the same) When God at first made man, So strength first made a way; Then beautie flow'd, then wisdome, honour, When almost all was out, God made a stay, "For if I should,' said He, 'Bestow this jewell also on My creature, 20 Yet let him keep the rest, But keep them with repining restlessnesse: THE ELIXIR (From the same) Teach me, my God and King, And what I do in anything To do it as for Thee: 5 Not rudely, as a beast, 10 To runne into an action; But still to make Thee prepossest, And give it his perfection. A man that looks on glasse, Or if he pleaseth, through it passe, All may of Thee partake: 15 Which with his tincture for Thy sake,' Will not grow bright and clean. 20 A servant with this clause Who sweeps a room as for Thy laws, This is the famous stone That turneth all to gold; For that which God doth touch and own THE COLLAR (From the same) I struck the board, and cry'd, 'No more; What, shall I ever sigh and pine? My lines and life are free; free as the road, Shall I be still in suit? Have I no harvest but a thorn To let me bloud and not restore What I have lost with cordiall fruit? Sure there was wine, 5 10 Before my sighs did drie it; there was corn Before my tears did drown it; Is the yeare onely lost to me? Have I no bayes to crown it, No flowers, no garlands gay? all blasted, 15 All wasted? Not so, my heart; but there is fruit, Recover all thy sigh-blown age On double pleasures; leave thy cold dispute Thy rope of sands Which pettie thoughts have made; and made to thee Good cable, to enforce and draw, And be thy law, While thou didst wink and wouldst not see. Away! take heed; I will abroad. Call in thy death's-head there, tie up thy fears; He that forbears To suit and serve his need Deserves his load. 20 25 30 But as I raved and grew more fierce and wilde At every word, 35 Methought I heard one calling, 'Childe'; And I reply'd, 'My Lord.' Henry Vaughan 1621-1695 THE RETREATE (From Silex Scintillans, Part I., 1650) Happy those early dayes, when I 15 Before I taught my tongue to wound A sev'rall sinne to ev'ry sense, But felt through all this fleshly dresse 20 Bright shootes of everlastingnesse. O how I long to travell back, And tread again that ancient track! That I might once more reach that plaine, Where first I left my glorious traine; |