WHEN great @3Love@1 Did remove From above Heer to prove His delicious Art; He took A Crook And in's look Was as plain A Swain In grain, And did play his part With as harmlesse genuine Grace As Sheepherd e'r did trace @3Sichems@1 feilds all flowrie face. 2 In a Meed Where no Weed E'r did breed, He did feed His unspotted sheep: No meat So sweet E'r did greet Lips which kisst The Nest Of best Dainties which did sleep On the bedds of Paradise So rich in sprightfull spice And inlivening Rareties. 3 For the Fare His sweet Care Did prepare, Was his dear And allpretious Flesh, Which He Made free Equalitie To each guest And drest The Feast In a mystik Dish: Thus his sheep to entertain, And their poor love to gain, He himself Heavns Lamb is slain. 4 He is slain And doth strain Might & main Everie vein To yeild up each drop; Which flood Of Blood Might make good Heavn & Bliss To dress Up his Lambs abundant Cup: All about whose noble Brimm Pure liquid Life doth swimm Sweetly to eternize Them. 5 Then to keep These his sheep Safe asleep From the deep Rage of Wolfe & Bear, Each Hand Doth stand Open, and Feet & Side Gape wide To hide All whoe nestle there: These five rubie folds alone Give safe protection To the Flocks that thither run. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BY THE FIRESIDE by ROBERT BROWNING A THOUGHT SUGGESTED BY A VIEW, OF SADDLEBACK IN CUMBERLAND by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE TO THE WATER NYMPHS DRINKING AT THE FOUNTAIN by ROBERT HERRICK THE PLOUGH; A LANDSCAPE IN BERKSHIRE by RICHARD HENGIST (HENRY) HORNE TO THE FOUR COURTS, PLEASE by JAMES STEPHENS THE HARES; A FABLE by JAMES BEATTIE |