Frailtie

by George Herbert

George Herbert

Lord, in my silence how do I despise
What upon trust
Is styled honour, riches, or fair eyes;
But is fair dust!
I surname them guilded clay,
Deare earth, fine grasse or hay;

In all, I think my foot doth ever tread
Upon their head.
But when I view abroad both regiments,
The world's, and thine;
Thine clad with simplenesse, and sad events;
The other fine,
Full of glorie and gay weeds,
Brave language, braver deeds:
That which was dust before, doth quickly rise,
And prick mine eyes.
O brook not this, lest if what even now
My foot did tread,
Affront those joyes, wherewith thou didst endow,
And long since wed
My poore soul, ev'n sick of love;
It may a Babel prove,
Commodious to conquer heav'n and thee
Planted in me.





Last updated January 14, 2019