Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Love bade me welcome (George Herbert)


  Love bade me welcome:  yet my soul drew back,
     Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-ey’d Love, observing me grow slack
     From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,
     If I lacked anything.
                       
A guest, I answer’d, worthy to be here:
     Love said, You shall be he.
I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah my dear,
     I cannot look on thee.
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
     Who made the eyes but I?

Truth Lord, but I have marr’d them:  let my shame
     Go where it doth deserve.
And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame?
     My dear, then I will serve.
You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat:
     So I did sit and eat.

--George Herbert, Love

Image source:  Daniel Bonnell, The Road to Emmaus (2002)

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