The Quip

George Herbert 1593 (Montgomery) – 1633 (Bemerton)



The merry World did on a day
With his train-bands and mates agree
To meet together where I lay,
And all in sport to jeer at me.

First Beauty crept into a rose,
Which when I pluck'd not, "Sir," said she,
"Tell me, I pray, whose hands are those?"
But Thou shalt answer, Lord, for me.

Then Money came, and chinking still,
"What tune is this, poor man?" said he;
"I heard in music you had skill:"
But Thou shalt answer, Lord, for me.

Then came brave Glory puffing by
In silks that whistled, who but he?
He scarce allow'd me half an eye:
But Thou shalt answer, Lord, for me.

Then came quick Wit and Conversation,
And he would needs a comfort be,
And, to be short, make an oration:
But Thou shalt answer, Lord, for me.

Yet when the hour of Thy design
To answer these fine things shall come,
Speak not at large, say, I am Thine;
And then they have their answer home.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 16, 2023

51 sec read
144

Quick analysis:

Scheme abab cbcB dbdB ebeB fbfB gxgx
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 849
Words 173
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

George Herbert

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

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    What is the term for the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza.
    A Dithyramb
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    C Enjambment
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