Classic and Contemporary Poetry
CHARITAS NIMIA; OR THE DEAR BARGAIN, by RICHARD CRASHAW Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Lord, what is man? Why should he coste thee Last Line: As then in death, so now in love. Subject(s): Humility | ||||||||
Lord, what is man? why should he coste thee So dear? what had his ruin lost thee? Lord what is man? that thou hast overbought So much a thing of nought? Love is too kind, I see; and can Make but a simple merchant man. 'Twas for such sorry merchandise Bold Painters have putt out his Eyes. Alas, sweet lord, what wer't to thee If there were no such wormes as we? Heav'n ne're the lesse still heavn would be, Should Mankind dwell In the deep hell. What have his woes to doe with thee? Let him goe weep O're his own wounds; SERAPHIMS will not sleep Nor spheares let fall their faithfull rounds. Still would The youthfull SPIRITS sing; And still thy spatious Palace ring. Still would those beauteous ministers of light Burn all as bright, And bow their flaming heads before thee; Still thrones and Dominations would adore thee; Still would those ever-wakefull sons of fire Keep warm thy prayse Both nights and dayes, And teach thy lov'd name to their noble lyre. Let froward Dust then doe it's kind; And give it self for sport to the proud wind. Why should a peice of peevish clay plead shares In the AEternity of thy old cares? Why shouldst thou bow thy awfull Brest to see What mine own madnesses have done with me? Should not the king still keepe his throne Because some desperate Fool's undone? Or will the world's Illustrious eyes Weep for every worm that dyes? Will the gallant sun E're the lesse glorious run? Will he hang down his golden head Or e're the sooner seek his western bed, Because some foolish fly Growes wanton, and will dy? If I were lost in misery, What was it to thy heavn and thee? What was it to thy pretious blood If my foul Heart call'd for a floud? What if my faithlesse soul and I Would needs fall in With guilt and sin? What did the Lamb, that he should dy? What did the lamb, that he should need, When the wolf sins, himself to bleed? If my base lust Bargain'd with Death and well-beseeming dust, Why should the white Lamb's bosom write The purple name Of my sin's shame? Why should his unstaind brest make good My blushes with his own heart-blood? O my SAVIOUR, make me see How dearly thou hast payd for me; That lost again my LIFE may prove As then in DEATH, so now in love. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE HERETIC: 4. HUMILITY by LOUIS UNTERMEYER I THINK CONSTANTLY OF THOSE WHO WERE TRULY GREAT by MICHAEL BLUMENTHAL THE CLOD AND THE PEBBLE, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE THE SHEPHERD BOY'S SONG, FR. THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS by JOHN BUNYAN THE HAPPIEST HEART by JOHN VANCE CHENEY THE RESOLVE by MARY LEE CHUDLEIGH THE HOUSE BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD by SAM WALTER FOSS PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 24. AR-RAFI by EDWIN ARNOLD A HYMN [TO THE NAME AND] IN HONOR OF SAINT TERESA by RICHARD CRASHAW A SONG [OF DIVINE LOVE] by RICHARD CRASHAW AN EPITAPH UPON HUSBAND AND WIFE WHO DIED AND WERE BURIED by RICHARD CRASHAW |
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