GEORGE HERBERT (1593-1633)
THE COLLAR
1 I struck the board, and cried, "No more!
2 I will abroad.
3 What! shall I ever sigh and pine?
4 My lines and life are free; free as the road,
5 Loose as the wind, as large as store.
6 Shall I be still in suit?
7 Have I no harvest but a thorn
8 To let me blood, and not restore
9 What I have lost with cordial fruit?
10 Sure there was wine
11 Before my sighs did dry it; there was corn
12 Before my tears did drown it.
13 Is the year only lost to me?
14 Have I no bays to crown it?
15 No flowers, no garlands gay? all blasted?
16 All wasted?
17 Not so, my heart; but there is fruit,
18 And thou hast hands.
19 Recover all thy sigh-blown age
20 On double pleasures; leave thy cold dispute
21 Of what is fit and not; forsake thy cage,
22 Thy rope of sands,
23 Which petty thoughts have made, and made to thee
24 Good cable, to enforce and draw,
25 And be thy law,
26 While thou didst wink and wouldst not see.
27 Away! take heed;
28 I will abroad.
29 Call in thy death's-head there; tie up thy fears;
30 He that forbears
31 To suit and serve his need
32 Deserves his load."
33 But as I rav'd, and grew more fierce and wild
34 At every word,
35 Me thoughts I heard one calling, "Child";
36 And I replied, "My Lord."