Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LOVE AND HUMILITY, by HENRY MORE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LOVE AND HUMILITY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Far have I clambered in my mind
Last Line: That thou maist raise me with the just.
Variant Title(s): Charitie And Humilitie;an Hymn In Honour Of Charitie And Humilitie
Subject(s): Humility


Farre have I clambred in my mind
But nought so great as love I find:
Deep-searching wit, mount-moving might
Are nought compar'd to that good spright.
Light of delight and soul of blisse!
Sure source of lasting happinesse!
Higher then Heaven! lower then hell!
What is thy tent? where maist thou dwell?
My mansion hight humilitie,
Heavens vastest capabilitie.
The further it doth downward tend
The higher up it doth ascend;
If it go down to utmost nought
It shall return with that it sought.
Lord stretch thy tent in my strait breast,
Enlarge it downward, that sure rest
May there be pight; for that pure fire
Wherewith thou wontest to inspire
All self dead souls. My life is gone,
Sad solitude's my irksome wonne.
Cut off from men and all this world
In Lethes lonesome ditch I'm hurld.
Nor might nor sight doth ought me move,
Nor do I care to be above.
O feeble rayes of mentall light!
That best be seen in this dark night,
What are you? what is any strength
If it be not laid in one length
With pride or love? I nought desire
But a new life or quite t'expire.
Could I demolish with mine eye
Strong towers, stop the fleet stars in skie,
Bring down to earth the pale-fac'd Moon,
Or turn black midnight to bright Noon:
Though all things were put in my hand,
As parch'd as dry as th'Libyan sand
Would be my life if Charity
Were wanting. But Humility
Is more then my poore soul durst crave
That lies intombd in lowly grave.
But if't were lawfull up to send
My voice to Heaven, this should it rend.
Lord thrust me deeper into dust
That thou maist raise me with the just.




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