George Herbert. The Pearl.

George Herbert

THE PEARL.
Matt.  XIII.

I KNOW the wayes of learning ;  both the head
And pipes that feed the presse, and make it runne ;
What reason hath from nature borrowed,
Or of itself, like a good huswife, spunne
In laws and policie ;  what the starres conspire,
What willing nature speaks, what forc�d by fire ;
Both th� old discoveries, and the new-found seas,
The stock and surplus, cause and historie :
All these stand open, or I have the keyes :
Yet I love thee.

I know the wayes of honour, what maintains
The quick returns of courtesie and wit :
In vies of favours whether partie gains,
When glorie swells the heart, and moldeth it
To all expressions both of hand and eye,
Which on the world a true love-knot may tie,
And bear the bundle, wheresoe�er it goes :
How many drammes of spirit there must be
To sell my life unto my friends or foes :
Yet I love thee.

I know the wayes of pleasure, the sweet strains,
The lullings and the relishes of it ;
The propositions of hot bloud and brains ;
What mirth and musick mean ;  what love and wit
Have done these twentie hundred yeares, and more :
I know the projects of unbridled store :
My stuffe is flesh, not brasse;  my senses live,
And grumble oft, that they have more in me
Then he that curbs them, being but one to five :
Yet I love thee.

I know all these, and have them in my hand :
Therefore not sealed, but with open eyes
I flie to thee, and fully understand
Both the main sale, and the commodities ;
And at what rate and price I have thy love ;
With all the circumstances that may move :
Yet through these labyrinths, not my groveling wit,
But thy silk twist let down from heav�n to me,
Did both conduct and teach me, how by it
To climbe to thee.

Source:
Herbert, George. The Poetical Works of George Herbert.
New York: D. Appleton and Co., 1857. 112-113.

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