Herbert: Love III

[tree_and_leaf]

OK, it's a total cliche, but it's a cliche because it's good..

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 lack'd anything.

"A guest," I answer'd, "worthy to be here";
Love said, "You shall be he."
"I, the unkind, the 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

Comments

[schreibergasse.livejournal.com]

...and Choir Director sung it (at least, I /presume/ it was that setting) at communion.

[parrot-knight.livejournal.com]

It doesn't reach out to me as a piece of music as much as other Vaughan Williams compositions do, but another performance might be better.