TO MY WORTHY FRIEND MASTER GEORGE SANDYS, ON HIS TRANSLATION OF THE PSALMS. I PRESS not to the choir, nor dare I greet The holy place with my unhallow'd feet ; My unwash'd Muse pollutes not things divine Nor mingles her prophaner notes with thine ; Here humbly, at the porch she stays,                                   5 And with glad ears sucks in thy sacred lays. So devout penitents of old were wont, Some without doore and some beneath the font, To stand and hear the Church's liturgies, Yet not assist the solemne exercise.                                   10 Sufficeth her, that she a lay-place gain, To trim thy vestments, or but bear thy train ; Though nor in tune, nor wing she reach thy lark, Her lyric feet may dance before the Ark. Who knows, but that her wand'ring eyes, that run              15 Now hunting glow-worms, may adore the sun ? A pure flame may, shot by Almighty power Into her breast, the earthy flame devour ? My eyes in penitential dew may steep That brine, which they for sensual love did weep.                 20 So, though 'gainst Nature's course, fire may be quench'd With fire, and water be with water drench'd, Perhaps my restless soul, tired with pursuit Of mortal beauty, seeking without fruit Contentment there, which hath not, when enjoy'd              25 Quench'd all her thirst, nor satisfied, though cloy'd, Weary of her vain search below, above In the first fair may find th' immortall love. Prompted by thy example then, no more In moulds of clay will I my God adore ;                             30 But tear those idols from my heart, and write What his blest Spirit, not fond love, shall indite. Then I no more shall court the verdant bay, But the dry leafless trunk on Golgotha, And rather strive to gain from thence one thorn,                 35 Then all the flourishing wreaths by Laureates worn.

to Works of Thomas Carew

Site copyright ©1996-2002 Anniina Jokinen. All Rights Reserved.
Created by Anniina Jokinen on May 3, 2002.