| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
| |
| George Herbert. 1593–1632 |
| |
| 284. A Dialogue |
| |
| Man. | SWEETEST Saviour, if my soul | |
| Were but worth the having, | |
| Quickly should I then control | |
| Any thought of waving. | |
| But when all my care and pains | 5 |
| Cannot give the name of gains | |
| To Thy wretch so full of stains, | |
| What delight or hope remains? | |
| | | Saviour. | What, child, is the balance thine, | |
| Thine the poise and measure? | 10 |
| If I say, 'Thou shalt be Mine,' | |
| Finger not My treasure. | |
| What the gains in having thee | |
| Do amount to, only He | |
| Who for man was sold can see; | 15 |
| That transferr'd th' accounts to Me. | |
| | | Man. | But as I can see no merit | |
| Leading to this favour, | |
| So the way to fit me for it | |
| Is beyond my savour. | 20 |
| As the reason, then, is Thine, | |
| So the way is none of mine; | |
| I disclaim the whole design; | |
| Sin disclaims and I resign. | |
| | | Saviour. | That is all: if that I could | 25 |
| Get without repining; | |
| And My clay, My creature, would | |
| Follow My resigning; | |
| That as I did freely part | |
| With My glory and desert, | 30 |
| Left all joys to feel all smart—— | |
| | | Man. | Ah, no more! Thou break'st my heart! | |
| |
|
GLOSS: savour] savoir, knowing. |
|
|
