| Herbert J.C. Grierson, ed. (18861960). Metaphysical Lyrics & Poems of the 17th C. 1921. |
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| George Herbert |
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| 86. Jordan |
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| WHO sayes that fictions onely and false hair | |
| Become a verse? Is there in truth no beautie? | |
| Is all good structure in a winding stair? | |
| May no lines passe, except they do their dutie | |
| Not to a true, but painted chair? | 5 |
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| Is it no verse, except enchanted groves | |
| And sudden arbours shadow course-spunne lines? | |
| Must purling streams refresh a lovers loves? | |
| Must all be vail'd, while he that reades, divines, | |
| Catching the sense at two removes? | 10 |
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| Shepherds are honest people; let them sing: | |
| Riddle who list, for me, and pull for Prime: | |
| I envie no mans nightingale or spring; | |
| Nor let them punish me with losse of ryme, | |
| Who plainly say, My God, My King. | 15 |
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