The World

George Herbert 1593 (Montgomery) – 1633 (Bemerton)



Love built a stately house, where Fortune came,
And spinning fancies, she was heard to say
That her fine cobwebs did support the frame,
Whereas they were supported by the same;
But Wisdom quickly swept them all away.

The Pleasure came, who, liking not the fashion,
Began to make balconies, terraces,
Till she had weakened all by alteration;
But reverend laws, and many a proclomation
Reforméd all at length with menaces.

Then entered Sin, and with that sycamore
Whose leaves first sheltered man from drought and dew,
Working and winding slily evermore,
The inward walls and summers cleft and tore;
But Grace shored these, and cut that as it grew.

Then Sin combined with death in a firm band,
To raze the building to the very floor;
Which they effected,--none could them withstand;
But Love and Grace took Glory by the hand,
And built a braver palace than before.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 21, 2023

45 sec read
94

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABAAB CXCCX DEDDE FDFFD
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 852
Words 152
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 5, 5, 5, 5

George Herbert

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

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