View source for George Herbert, The Deniall (1633)

'''GEORGE HERBERT (1593-1632), Deniall.'''

<br>
:When my devotions could not pierce<br>
:::::Thy silent eares;<br>
Then was my heart broken, as was my verse:<br>
::My breast was full of fears<br>
:::::And disorder:<br>


:My bent thoughts, like a brittle bow,<br>
:::::Did fly asunder:<br>
Each took his way; some would to pleasures go,<br>
::Some to the warres and thunder<br>
:::::Of alarms.<br>


:As good go any where, they say,<br>
:::::As to benumme<br>
Both knees and heart, in crying night and day,<br>
::''Come, come, my God, O come''!<br>
:::::But no hearing.<br>


:O that thou shouldst give dust a tongue<br>
:::::To crie to thee,<br>
And then not heare it crying! all day long<br>
::My heart was in my knee,<br>
:::::But no hearing.<br>


:Therefore my soul lay out of sight,<br>
:::::Untun'd, unstrung:<br>
My feeble spirit, unable to look right,<br>
::Like a nipt blossome, hung<br>
:::::Discontented.<br>


:O cheer and tune my heartlesse breast,<br>
:::::Deferre no time;<br>
That so thy favours granting my request,<br>
::They and my minde may chime,<br>
:::::And mend my ryme.<br>



'''Notes''': 10: alarms = state of surprise with fear and terror; 12: benumme = make numb; 24: nipt = here 'destroyed by frost' or 'cut off'; 29: chime = sound in harmony; 30: mend = repair)

'''Source''': The temple Sacred poems and private ejaculations. By Mr. George Herbert, late oratour of the Universitie of Cambridge. Cambridge : Printed by Thomas Buck and Roger Daniel: and are to be sold by Francis Green, stationer in Cambridge, [1633] [http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2003&res_id=xri:eebo&rft_id=xri:eebo:image:6444:40 EEBO]

[[Category:17th century|1633]]
[[Category:1630s|1633]]
[[Category:By author|Herbert, George]]