Sonnet (I)

George Herbert 1593 (Montgomery) – 1633 (Bemerton)



My God, where is that ancient heat towards thee,
   Wherewith whole showls of Martyrs once did burn,
   Besides their other flames? Doth Poetry
Wear Venus livery? only serve her turn?
Why are not Sonnets made of thee? and layes
   Upon thine Altar burnt? Cannot thy love
   Heighten a spirit to sound out thy praise
As well as any she? Cannot thy Dove
Out-strip their Cupid easily in flight?
   Or, since thy wayes are deep, and still the fame,
   Will not a verse run smooth that bears thy name!
Why doth that fire, which by thy power and might
   Each breast does feel, no braver fuel choose
   Than that, which one day, Worms, may chance refuse?

    

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 16, 2023

35 sec read
45

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABABCDCDEFFECC
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 660
Words 117
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14

George Herbert

The Very Reverend Honourable George Herbert was an Anglican priest. more…

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