Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. II. The Seventeenth Century: Ben Jonson to Dryden
George Herbert (15931633)Aaron
H
Light and perfections on the breast,
Harmonious bells below, raising the dead
To lead them unto life and rest:
Thus are true Aarons drest.
Defects and darkness in my breast,
A noise of passions ringing me for dead
Unto a place where is no rest:
Poor priest, thus am I drest.
I have, another heart and breast,
Another music, making live, not dead,
Without Whom I could have no rest:
In Him I am well drest.
My alone-only heart and breast,
My only music striking me ev’n dead,
That to the old man I may rest,
And he in Him new-drest.
Perfect and light in my dear breast,
My doctrine tun’d by Christ, Who is not dead,
But lives in me while I do rest,
Come, people; Aaron’s drest.