George Herbert(1593–1633)
The Collar
I struck the board 0 and cried, "No more;table
I will abroad.
W h a t ? shall I ever sigh a n d p i n e ?
My l i n e s a n d life are free, f r e e as t h e road,
Loose as the wind, as large as store. 0abundance
Shall I be still in suit4
H a v e I no harvest b u t a t h o r n
T o let m e b l o o d , a n d n o t restore
What I have lost with cordial 0 fruitlife-giving
S u r e t h e r e w a s w i n e
B e f o r e my s i g h s did dry it; t h e r e w a s c o r n
B e f o r e my tears did d r o w n it.
Is t h e year o n l y lost to m e ?
Have I no bays 5 to crown it,
N o f l o w e r s , n o garlands gay All blasted
All w a s t e d ?
N o t so, my heart; b u t t h e r e is fruit,
A n d t h o u hast h a n d s .
R e c o v e r all thy s i g h - b l o w n a g e
O n d o u b l e p l e a s u r e s : leave thy c o l d d i s p u t e
Of w h a t is fit a n d not. F o r s a k e thy c a g e ,
T h y r o p e o f s a n d s , 6
Which petty thoughts have made, and made to thee
Good cable, to enforce and draw,
A n d b e thy law,
While thou didst wink 0 and wouldst not see.shut your eyes
Away! take heed;
I will abroad.
Call in thy d e a t h ' s - h e a d 7 there; tie up thy fears.
H e that forbears
T o suit a n d serve his n e e d ,
D e s e r v e s his load.
B u t as I raved a n d g r e w m o r e f i e r c e a n d wild
At every w o r d ,
Methought I heard one calling, Child!
And I replied, My Lord.