The Pulley
When God at first made man,
Having a glass of blessings standing by;
“Let Us,” said He, “pour on him all We can:
Let the world's riches, which disperséd lie,
Contract into a span.”
So strength first made a way;
Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honor, pleasure:
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that alone of all His treasure
Rest in the bottom lay.
“For if I should,” said He,
“Bestow this jewel also on my creature,
He would adore My gifts in stead of Me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature:
So both should losers be.
“Yet let him keep the rest,
But keep them with repining restlessness:
Let him be rich and weary, that at least,
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness
May toss him to My breast.”
George Herbert
No comments:
Post a Comment