The Agony

George Herbert 1593 (Montgomery) – 1633 (Bemerton)



Philosophers have measur'd mountains,
Fathom'd the depths of the seas, of states, and kings,
Walk'd with a staff to heav'n, and traced fountains:
But there are two vast, spacious things,
The which to measure it doth more behove:
Yet few there are that sound them; Sin and Love.

Who would know SIn, let him repair
Unto mount Olivet; there shall he see
A man so wrung with pains, that all his hair,
His skin, his garments bloody be.
Sin is that press and vice, which forceth pain
To hunt his cruel food through ev'ry vein.

Who knows not Love, let him assay
And taste that juice, which on the cross a pike
Did set again abroach, then let him say
If ever he did taste the like.
Love is that liquor sweet and most divine,
Which my God feels as blood; but I, as wine.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on May 04, 2023

45 sec read
362

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABABCC DEDEFF EGXGHH
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 759
Words 147
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 6, 6, 6

George Herbert

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

All George Herbert poems | George Herbert Books

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