Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume IV. The Higher Life. 1904. | | | | VI. Human Experience | | “Said I not so?” | | George Herbert (1593–1633) |
| | | SAID I not so,—that I would sin no more? | |
| Witness, my God, I did; | |
| Yet I am run again upon the score: | |
| My faults cannot be hid. | |
| |
| What shall I do?—make vows and break them still? | 5 |
| ’T will be but labor lost; | |
| My good cannot prevail against mine ill: | |
| The business will be crost. | |
| |
| O, say not so; thou canst not tell what strength | |
| Thy God may give thee at the length. | 10 |
| Renew thy vows, and if thou keep the last, | |
| Thy God will pardon all that’s past. | |
| Vow while thou canst; while thou canst vow, thou may’st | |
| Perhaps perform it when thou thinkest least. | |
| |
| Thy God hath not denied thee all, | 15 |
| Whilst he permits thee but to call. | |
| Call to thy God for grace to keep | |
| Thy vows; and if thou break them, weep. | |
| Weep for thy broken vows, and vow again: | |
| Vows made with tears cannot be still in vain. | 20 |
| Then once again | |
| I vow to mend my ways; | |
| Lord, say Amen, | |
| And thine be all the praise. | | | | |
|
|
