Love (I)

Portrait of George Herbert
George Herbert 1593–1633

Immortal love, authour of this great frame, Sprung from that beautie which can never fade; How hath man parcel'd out thy glorious name, And thrown it on that dust which thou hast made,

While mortall love doth all the title gain! Which siding with invention, they together Bear all the sway, possessing heart and brain, (Thy workmanship) and give thee share in neither.

Wit fancies beautie, beautie raiseth wit: The world is theirs; they two play out the game, Thou standing by: and though thy glorious name Wrought our deliverance from th' infernall pit,

Who sings thy praise? onely a skarf or glove Doth warm our hands, and make them write of love.

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