Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume IV. The Higher Life. 1904. | | | | VI. Human Experience | | The Gifts of God | | George Herbert (1593–1633) |
| | | WHEN God at first made man, | |
| Having a glass of blessings standing by, | |
| Let us (said he) pour on him all we can: | |
| Let the world’s riches, which dispersèd lie, | |
| Contract into a span. | 5 |
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| So strength first made a way; | |
| Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honor, pleasure: | |
| When almost all was out, God made a stay, | |
| Perceiving that, alone, of all his treasure, | |
| Rest in the bottom lay. | 10 |
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| For if I should (said he) | |
| Bestow this jewel also on my creature, | |
| He would adore my gifts instead of me, | |
| And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature: | |
| So both should losers be. | 15 |
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| Yet let him keep the rest, | |
| But keep them with repining restlessness: | |
| Let him be rich and weary, that, at least, | |
| If goodness lead him not, yet weariness | |
| May toss him to my breast. | 20 | | | |
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