George Herbert(1593–1633)
Man
My G o d , I h e a r d this day
T h a t n o n e d o t h build a stately h a b i t a t i o n ,
B u t h e that m e a n s t o d w e l l t h e r e i n .
W h a t h o u s e m o r e stately h a t h t h e r e b e e n ,
Or can be, than is Man to whose creationcompared to
All things are in decay.
For M a n is every thing,
A n d m o r e : he is a tree, yet bears m o r e fruit;1
A beast, yet is or s h o u l d be m o r e :
Reason and speech we only bring.
Parrots m a y t h a n k us, if t h e y are n o t m u t e ,
T h e y g o u p o n t h e s c o r e . 2
M a n is all s y m m e t r y ,
Full o f p r o p o r t i o n s , o n e l i m b t o a n o t h e r ,
A n d all to all t h e w o r l d b e s i d e s : 3
E a c h part m a y call t h e f u r t h e s t , brother;
For head with foot hath private amity, 0friendship
And both with moons and tides. 4
N o t h i n g h a t h got s o far,
B u t m a n h a t h c a u g h t a n d k e p t it, as his prey.
His eyes dismount 0 the highest star:bring down to Earth
He is in little all the sphere. 0
Herbs gladly cure our flesh, because that they
Find their acquaintance there.
For us t h e w i n d s do b l o w ,
T h e e a r t h d o t h rest, h e a v e n m o v e , a n d f o u n t a i n s f l o w .
N o t h i n g w e s e e b u t m e a n s o u r g o o d ,
As o u r d e l i g h t or as o u r treasure:
The whole is either our cupboard of food,
Or cabinet of pleasure.
T h e stars h a v e u s t o bed;
Night draws the curtain, which the sun withdraws;
Music and light attend our head.
All t h i n g s u n t o o u r flesh are k i n d 0kin
In their d e s c e n t a n d b e i n g ; to o u r m i n d
I n their a s c e n t a n d c a u s e .
E a c h t h i n g is full of duty:5
W a t e r s u n i t e d are o u r navigation;
D i s t i n g u i s h e d , o u r h a b i t a t i o n ;
B e l o w , o u r drink; a b o v e , o u r m e a t ;
B o t h are o u r c l e a n l i n e s s . H a t h o n e s u c h b e a u t y ?
T h e n h o w are all t h i n g s n e a t ? 6
M o r e servants w a i t o n M a n
T h a n he'll take n o t i c e of: in every p a t h
He treads d o w n that w h i c h d o t h b e f r i e n d h i m 7
W h e n s i c k n e s s m a k e s h i m p a l e a n d w a n .
O m i g h t y love! M a n is o n e world, a n d h a t h
A n o t h e r t o a t t e n d h i m .
S i n c e t h e n , m y G o d , t h o u h a s t
So brave a p a l a c e built, O d w e l l in it,
T h a t it m a y d w e l l w i t h t h e e at last!
Till t h e n , a f f o r d u s s o m u c h wit,
T h a t , a s t h e w o r l d serves us, w e m a y serve t h e e ,
A n d b o t h t h y servants be.