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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  77. His Pilgrimage

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

Sir Walter Raleigh. 1552–1618

77. His Pilgrimage

GIVE me my scallop-shell of quiet, 
  My staff of faith to walk upon, 
My scrip of joy, immortal diet, 
  My bottle of salvation, 
My gown of glory, hope’s true gage;         5
And thus I’ll take my pilgrimage. 
 
Blood must be my body’s balmer; 
  No other balm will there be given: 
Whilst my soul, like quiet palmer, 
  Travelleth towards the land of heaven;  10
Over the silver mountains, 
Where spring the nectar fountains; 
        There will I kiss 
        The bowl of bliss; 
And drink mine everlasting fill  15
Upon every milken hill. 
My soul will be a-dry before; 
But, after, it will thirst no more.