George Herbert

My soul's a shepherd too; a flock it feeds Of thoughts, and words, and deeds.

Man is no star, but a quick coal Of mortal fire: Who blows it not, nor doth control A faint desire, Lets his own ashes choke his soul.

Who says that fictions only and false hair Become a verse? Is there in truth no beauty? Is all good structure in a winding stair?

Whether I fly with angels, fall with dust, Thy hands made both, and I am there; Thy power and love, my love and trust Make one place ev'ry where.

Let all the world in ev'ry corner sing, My God and King.

My tender age in sorrow did begin: And still with sicknesses and shame Thou didst so punish sin, That I became Most thin. With thee

Lord, who createdst man in wealth and store, Though foolishly he lost the same, Decaying more and more, Till he became Most poor: With thee

I got me flowers to strew Thy way, I got me boughs off many a tree: But Thou wast up by break of day, And brought'st Thy sweets along with Thee.

Yet Lord restore thine image, hear my call: And though my hard heart scare to thee can groan, Remember that thou once didst write in stone.

The worst speak something good; if all want sense, God takes a text, and preacheth Pa-ti-ence.

Sundays observe; think when the bells do chime, 'Tis angels' music.

Chase brave employment with a naked sword Throughout the world.

Man is God's image; but a poor man is Christ's stamp to boot: both images regard.

Be useful where thou livest.

Be calm in arguing: for fierceness makes Error a fault, and truth discourtesy.

Wit's an unruly engine, wildly striking Sometimes a friend, sometimes the engineer.

By no means run in debt: take thine own measure. Who cannot live on twenty pound a year, Cannot on forty.

By all means use sometimes to be alone.

Dare to be true. Nothing can need a lie: A fault, which needs it most, grows two thereby.

Drink not the third glass, which thou canst not tame, When once it is within thee.

A verse may finde him,who a sermon flies And turns delight into a sacrifice.

Wouldst thou both eat thy cake and have it?

Man is one world, and hath Another to attend him.

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