Logos Virtual Library: George Herbert: The Temple: The Church: The Rose

George Herbert

George Herbert (1593-1633)

The Temple

The Rose

Presse me not to take more pleasure

In this world of sugred lies,
And to use a larger measure

Then my strict, yet welcome size.

First, there is no pleasure here:

Colour’d griefs indeed there are,
Blushing woes, that look as cleare

As if they could beautie spare.

Or if such deceits there be,

Such delights I meant to say;
There are no such things to me,

Who have pass’d my right away.

But I will not much oppose

Unto what you now advise;
Onely take this gentle rose,

And therein my answer lies.

What is fairer then a rose?

What is sweeter? yet it purgeth.
Purgings enmitie disclose,

Enmitie forbearance urgeth.

If then all that worldlings prize

Be contracted to a rose;
Sweetly there indeed it lies,

But it biteth in the close.

So this flower doth judge and sentence

Worldly joyes to be a scourge:
For they all produce repentance,

And repentance is a purge.

But I health, not physick choose:

Onely though I you oppose,
Say that fairly I refuse,
For my answer is a rose.