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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


SELF-CONDEMNATION by GEORGE HERBERT

Poet Analysis

First Line: THOU WHO CONDEMNEST JEWISH HATE
Last Line: WITHOUT EXCUSE OR CLOAK.
Subject(s): HATE; JEWS; JUDAISM;

THOU who condemnest Jewish hate
For choosing Barabbas a murderer
Before the Lord of glorie;
Look back upon thine own estate;
Call home thine eye, that busie wanderer:
That choice may be thy storie.

He that doth love, and love amisse,
This worlds delights before true Christian joy,
Hath made a Jewish choice:
The world an ancient murderer is;
Thousands of souls it hath and doth destroy
With her enchanting voice.

He that hath made a sorrie wedding
Between his soul and gold, and hath preferr'd
False gain before the true,
Hath done what he condemnes in reading:
For he hath sold for money his deare Lord,
And is a Judas-Jew.

Thus we prevent the last great day,
And judge our selves. That light which sin and
Did before dimme and choke, [passion
When once those snuffes are ta'en away,
Shines bright and cleare, ev'n unto condemnation,
Without excuse or cloak.



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