O hand of mine, to be suspected ever,
And hunger to be ended never, never;
Which nor Emathian torrent rushing red,
Nor Daunia, nor vast brood of Slaughter bred,
Will satiate; yea, the whole human family 5
Too small with thy prodigious paunch to vie!
Man primitive, they say, in oak-trees dwelt,
And caverns which Time’s hollowing touch had felt:
There bore they offspring; there their offspring grew —
Grew too the trees which shelter’d them from view. 10
Nor thence was I shut out; for from one tree
Acorns gave life, trunk roof, boughs DEATH for me.
Meantime the youths the floral-feast attend;
Thither from toil set free the rustics wend;
The cross-roads ring with the thick-coming feet, 15
Resonant the air as crowd with crowd doth meet.
Here, as about the grassy slopes they rest,
One turns all things to scorn and bitter jest,
Stinging his neighbour, who retorts with hate;
Reproaches stick, anon exasperate; 20
The crowd divides into two sides, and swift
All blindly rage, unknowing of the drift:
Like the cross-roads, they seem at random hurl’d;
Strange weapons used by Passion and unfurl’d,
Which makes an armory of the whole wide world. 25
Bacchus sustains the strife; to those who drink
All things are double, save life — upon that think:
One’s fell’d with stones, one ‘neath fire-harden’d stake;
Part i’ their cups pour forth their life, part shake
It i’their plates. Now louder grows the rout; 30
Immoderate drinking rages all about,
In turn excites the blood, and pours it out.
Such War’s first-fruits; such the beginnings be
Of the sharp sports of young Tisiphone.
But such untutor’d and rough killing ne’er 35
Pleas’d DEATH, who sought for skill refin’d and rare;
Approves the clever man-slayer; schools the young,
By dainty diet to high efforts strung,
By mimic fights — rehearsals of true war —
And lines of bristling battle stretch’d afar; 40
And winters spent beneath the raging sky,
While in their goat-hair tents cold-pierc’d they lie;
And all to grow adepts at slaying men
In lawful war, and from red slaughter gain
Fame, as inventors of destruction fell, 45
And foster-sons of Death and yawning Hell.
Yea, the eager youth slays at the mimic stakes
His thousands, and his thirst for glory slakes.
Good gods! for Virtue’s self where shall we find
Such zeal as for the slaughter of mankind? 50.
Shall we, who own one life and then must die,
Destroy six hundred lives all wantonly?
Yet the Hydra, sad of doing hurt, will grow
When men dig iron from earth’s depths below;
And brass, of crime prolific and blood-stain’d, 55
Feeds on the world unsated, “unrestrain’d.
Why should I reckon-up the engines of war
With which the old times bristl’d wide and far?
Ballistæ, scorpio of Sicilian master,
And English bows, which brought the Gaul disaster; 60
Clubs, slings — by which, on Heaven’s high help relying,
When rose the Philistine God’s host defying,
Breathless the pious shepherd left him lying;
Add chariots, with British pole scythe-arm’d,
Mowing down all they meet, themselves unharm’d; 65
The battering-ram, fruit of Demetrius’ skill,
Crashing along. So were men wont to kill.
But still there lack’d that engine most of all
Meet for men’s crimes — it no curse can miscall:
The melting iron in the furnace glowing, 70
The metal molten in its channel flowing,
A tube comes forth, a prodigy, one-ey’d —
As if with Homer’s Cyclops it had vied —
That deadly orifice its power and pride.
Then upon wheels ’tis plac’d, like curule chair, 75
And DEATH himself triumphant sits down there.
Fire-dust is added — Orcus gave it birth —
A sweetmeat of Hell’s table, not of Earth,
Sulphurous, mephitic, to fiends causing mirth.
To this a ball is join’d — not such as grew 80
Within the acorn’s cup, before men knew
The ears of corn down-bending in the dew:
A ball of lead, and, as if conscious, livid;
Pluto’s red minister — epistle vivid
Of Fate, lead-seal’d — bursting the web of Life 85
With all its threads; cutting sheer as a knife
Held by the wasted Atropos the old,
In many a hoary legend long enroll’d.
These being join’d, behold the gunner stand
With live tow lifted in his fatal hand: 90
Fann’d by the wind, the infernal dust it lights,
And flashing onwards, all the mass ignites.
No more the Fury keeps within her cave,
But, girt with treacherous lightning, doth outbrave
The Day; and flying forth with horrid sound, 95
A dread explosion thunders all around.
A hiss is heard, which cleaves the sky and Hell.
Nor may be caught beneath the hideous yell
The music of the spheres, or groans of demons fell.
Wing’d with a whirlwind, belching pitchy cloud, 100
The ball tears headlong on with roarings loud;
Cities fall fear-struck; huge walls fly asunder;
Yea, the Earth’s chambers, fragile, shake in wonder;
A thousand bodies stretch’d along the plain,
At one dread blow are found among the slain. 105
Not so the plague, not so a star malign
Did e’er destroy; lo, here the proof, the sign,
Cocytus’ skiff groans with its crowding load,
And the tir’d boatman begs help of his god.
Nor hurts the ball alone; the attendant gale no
Breathes death, and makes the life it fed to fail.
Say, Furies, whence this monster sprang to light.
Night begot Ætna; Chaos begot Night;
Ætna fire-breathing Cacus; Cacus gave
Ixion to Greek song; he in dark cave 115
Begot a monk, of clouds; who, his dim cell
Frequenting, shadow’d o’er with Night and Hell,
First made with dust this horrid portent fell.
Who would deny that monks do meditate
On death and mournful dust, and emulate 120
The lowly, unto whom each downward thing
Which dwells beneath the earth can gladness bring?
Nor yet e’en here DEATH’S violence endeth all;
There leaps forth, worse than powder-driv’n ball,
The Jesuit, who seeks to blast the world, 125
Scorning explosions which destruction hurl’d
On bodies, not on souls, and seldom found
In king’s blood deckt; but with a foolish sound
Obstreperous blazoning their guilt around.
Here I do fix the summit of my power; 130
Men, ye are done for, body and soul; this hour
Let all the world now serve, and serving cower. G.
XXXIII. Triumphus Christiani in Mortem.
The Christian’s Triumph over Death.
What dost thou say, O Death? what boasts are thine?
A mighty vaunter thou, and murderer fine.
What shall I do? who neither hedge-stakes wield,
/>
.Nor hows, nor scorpions, nor engines wheel’d,
Nor swords, nor catapults, nor battering-ram.
What then? I face thee with the Cross and Lamb! G.
XXXIV. In Johannem ί’πιστήθίοΐ’.
To John on the Breast (of Christ).
Ah, let me quaff now, thou who drinkest deep:
Unto thyself wilt His whole bosom keep?
Dost intercept the fount open to all?
Nay, for me too the pour’d-out blood did fall:
And thence I claim rights in that breast divine,
And milk roll’d down with blood demand as mine;
Till I, such grace being link’d with sin forgiven,
Stay’d on His arm assay God’s throne in heaven. R. WI.
XXXV. Ad Dominum.
Soli Deo Gloria.
To the Lord.
Christ! glory, sweetness, Hybla of the mind,
Heart’s crown, where my soul’s strife and peace I find;
Nay, let me, let me see Thee, oft I say,
And on Thine eyes expire, my Life, — I pray, —
If I may die; or if life is sight-born,
Why, soon to die with prayers, live I forlorn?
Thou Who didst cure the blind, ah, let me see!
Dost deem it sight when I behold not Thee?
I swear I see not: if Thou forbid’st this,
With Thine own Face prevent me — and ’tis bliss, R. WI.
THE END
The Poems
Herbert received a good education that led to his admission in 1609 as a student at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he excelled in languages, rhetoric and music.
LIST OF POEMS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
THE TEMPLE
THE DEDICATION.
THE CHURCH-PORCH.
PERIRRHANTERIUM
SUPERLIMINARE
THE CHURCH
THE ALTAR.
THE SACRIFICE.
THE THANKSGIVING.
THE REPRISAL.
THE AGONY.
THE SINNER.
GOOD FRIDAY.
REDEMPTION.
SEPULCHRE.
EASTER.
EASTER-WINGS.
HOLY BAPTISM I.
HOLY BAPTISM II.
NATURE.
SIN I.
AFFLICTION I.
REPENTANCE.
FAITH.
PRAYER I.
THE HOLY COMMUNION.
ANTIPHON I.
LOVE I.
LOVE II.
THE TEMPER I.
THE TEMPER II.
JORDAN I.
EMPLOYMENT I.
THE HOLY SCRIPTURES I.
THE HOLY SCRIPTURES II.
WHITSUNDAY.
GRACE.
PRAISE I.
AFFLICTION II.
MATINS.
SIN II.
EVENSONG.
CHURCH-MONUMENTS.
CHURCH-MUSIC.
CHURCH-LOCK AND KEY.
THE CHURCH-FLOOR.
THE WINDOWS.
TRINITY SUNDAY.
CONTENT.
THE QUIDDITY.
HUMILITY.
FRAILTY.
CONSTANCY.
AFFLICTION III.
THE STAR.
SUNDAY.
AVARICE.
TO ALL ANGELS AND SAINTS.
EMPLOYMENT II.
DENIAL.
CHRISTMAS.
UNGRATEFULNESS.
SIGHS AND GROANS.
THE WORLD.
COLOSS. 3:3
VANITY I.
LENT.
VIRTUE.
THE PEARL
AFFLICTION IV.
MAN.
ANTIPHON II.
UNKINDNESS.
LIFE.
SUBMISSION.
JUSTICE I.
CHARMS AND KNOTS.
AFFLICTION (5).
MORTIFICATION.
DECAY.
MISERY.
JORDAN II.
PRAYER II.
OBEDIENCE.
CONSCIENCE.
SION.
HOME.
THE BRITISH CHURCH.
THE QUIP.
VANITY II.
THE DAWNING.
IESU.
BUSINESS.
DIALOGUE.
DULLNESS.
LOVE-JOY.
PROVIDENCE.
HOPE.
SIN’S ROUND.
TIME.
GRATEFULNESS.
PEACE.
CONFESSION.
GIDDINESS.
THE BUNCH OF GRAPES.
LOVE UNKNOWN.
MAN’S MEDLEY.
THE STORM.
PARADISE.
THE METHOD.
DIVINITY.
EPHES. 4:30. GRIEVE NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT, & C.
THE FAMILY.
THE SIZE.
ARTILLERY.
CHURCH-RENTS AND SCHISMS.
JUSTICE II.
THE PILGRIMAGE.
THE HOLDFAST.
COMPLAINING.
THE DISCHARGE.
PRAISE II.
AN OFFERING.
LONGING.
THE BAG.
THE JEWS.
THE COLLAR.
THE GLIMPSE.
ASSURANCE.
THE CALL.
CLASPING OF HANDS.
PRAISE III.
JOSEPH’S COAT.
THE PULLEY.
THE PRIESTHOOD.
THE SEARCH.
GRIEF.
THE CROSS.
THE FLOWER.
DOTAGE.
THE SON.
A TRUE HYMN.
THE ANSWER.
A DIALOGUE-ANTHEM.
THE WATER-COURSE.
SELF-CONDEMNATION.
BITTER-SWEET.
THE GLANCE.
THE 23D PSALM.
MARY MAGDALENE.
AARON.
THE ODOUR. 2 COR. 2:15
THE FOIL.
THE FORERUNNERS.
THE ROSE.
DISCIPLINE.
THE INVITATION.
THE BANQUET.
THE POSY.
A PARODY.
THE ELIXIR.
A WREATH.
DEATH.
DOOMSDAY.
JUDGEMENT.
HEAVEN.
LOVE III.
FINIS.
THE CHURCH MILITANT
L’ENVOY.
SONNETS.
TO MY SUCCESSOR.
THE HOLY COMMUNION.
LOVE.
TRINITY SUNDAY.
EVEN-SONG.
THE KNELL.
PERSEVERANCE.
TO THE RIGHT HON. THE L. CHANCELLOR BACON.
A PARADOX. THAT THE SICK ARE IN BETTER STATE THAN THE WHOLE.
TO THE LADY ELIZABETH QUEEN OF BOHEMIA.
L’ENVOY.
GEORGII HERBERTI ANGLI
ILLUSTRISS. CELSISSIMÓQUE CAROLO, WALLIAE, & IUUENTUTIS PRINCIPI.
REUERENDISSIMO IN CHRISTO PATRI AC DOMINO, EPISCOPO VINTONIENSI, &C.
I. AD REGEM INSTITUTI EPIGRAMMATICI RATIO.
II. AD MELVINUM.
III. AD EUNDEM. IN MONSTRUM VOCABULI ANTI-TAMI-CAMI-CATEGORIA.
IV. PARTITIO ANTI-TAMI-CAMI-CATEGORIA.
V. IN METRI GENUS.
VI. DE LARUAT GORGONE.
VII. DE PRAESULUM FASTU.
VIII. DE GEMIN ACADEMI.
IX. DE S. BAPTISMI RITU
X. DE SIGNACULO CRUCIS.
XI. DE IURAMENTO ECCLESIAE.
XII. DE PURIFICATIONE POST PUERPERIUM.
XIII. DE ANTICHRISTI DECORE PONTIFICALI.
XIV. DE SUPERPELLICEO.
XV. DE PILEO QUADRATO.
XVI. IN CATHARUM.
XVII. DE EPISCOPIS.
XVIII. AD MELVINUM: DE IJSDEM.
XIX. DE TEXTORE CATHARO.
XX. DE MAGICIS ROTATIBUS.
XXI. AD FRATRES.
; XXII. DE LABE MACULÍSQUE.
XXIII. DE MUSIC SACR.
XXIV. DE EDEM.
XXV. DE RITUUM VSU.
XXVI. DE ANNULO CONIUGALI.
XXVII. DE MUNDIS & MUNDANIS.
XXVIII. DE ORATIONE DOMINIC.
XXIX. IN CATHARUM QUENDAM.
XXX. DE LUP LUSTRI VATICANI.
XXXI. DE IMPOSITIONE MANUUM.
XXXII. SUPPLICUM MINISTRORUM RAPTUS.
XXXIII. DE AUTORUM ENUMERATIONE.
XXXIV. DE AURI SACR FAME.
XXXV. AD SCOTIAM. PROTREPTICON AD PACEM.
XXXVI. AD SEDUCTOS INNOCENTES.
XXXVII. AD MELVINUM.
XXXVIII. AD EUNDEM.
XXXIX. AD SEREN. REGEM.
XL. AD DEUM.
I. HOMO, STATUA.
II. PATRIA.
III. IN STEPHANUM LAPIDATUM.
IV. IN SIMONEM MAGUM.
V. IN S. SCRIPTURAS.
VI. IN PACEM BRITANNICAM.
VII. AUARITIA.
VIII. IN LOTIONEM PEDUM APOSTOLORUM.
IX. IN D. LUCAM.
X. PAPAE TITULUS NEC DEUS NEC HOMO.
XI. TRIBUTI SOLUTIO.
XII. TEMPESTAS CHRISTO DORMIENTE.
XIII. BONUS CIUIS.
XIV. IN VMBRAM PETRI.
XV. MARTHA: MARIA.
XVI. AMOR.
XVII. IN SUPERBUM.
XVIII. IN EUNDEM.
XIX. AFFLICTIO.
XX. IN ‘KENODOZIAN’
XXI. IN GULOSUM.
XXII. IN IMPROBUM DISERTUM.
XXIII. CONSOLATIO.
XXIV. IN ANGELOS.
XXV. ROMA.
XXVI. VRBANI VIII PONT. RESPONS.
XXVII. RESPONS. AD VRB. VIII.
XXVIII. AD VRBANUM VIII PONT.
XXX. IN THOMAM DIDYMUM.
XXXI. IN SOLARIUM.
XXXII. TRIUMPHUS MORTIS.
XXXIII. TRIUMPHUS CHRISTIANI. IN MORTEM.
XXXIV. IN IOHANNEM ‘EPISTETHION’
XXXV. AD DOMINUM.
I. AD DOMINUM MORIENTEM.
II. IN SUDOREM SANGUINEUM.
III. IN EUNDEM.
IV. IN LATUS PERFOSSUM.
V. IN SPUTUM & CONUICIA.
VI. IN CORONAM SPINEAM.
VII. IN ARUND. SPIN. GENUFLEX. PURPUR.
VIII. IN ALAPAS.
IX. IN FLAGELLUM.
X. IN VESTES DIUISAS.
XI. IN PIUM LATRONEM.
XII. IN CHRISTUM CRUCEM ASCENSURUM.
XIII. CHRISTUS IN CRUCE.
XIV. IN CLAUOS.
XV. INCLINATO CAPITE. JOH. 19.
XVI. AD SOLEM DEFICIENTEM.
XVII. MONUMENTA APERTA.
XVIII. TERRAE-MOTUS.
XIX. VELUM SCISSUM.
XX. PETRAE SCISSAE.
XXI. IN MUNDI SYMPATHIAM CUM CHRISTO.
IN OBITUM HENRICI PRINCIPIS WALLIAE.
INNUPTA PALLAS, NATA DIESPITRE.
IN NATALES ET PASCHA CONCURRENTES.
IN OBITUM SERENISSIMAE REGINAE ANNAE.
AD AUTOREM INSTAURATIONIS MAGNAE.
COMPARATIO INTER MUNUS SUMMI CANCELLARIATUS ET LIBRUM.
IN HONOREM ILLUSTR. D. D. VERULAMIJ, STI ALBANI, MAG. SIGILLI CUSTODIS POST EDITAM AB EO INSTAURATIONEM MAGNAM.
George Herbert- Collected Poetical Works Page 30