SUNDAY. O Day most calm, most bright, The fruit of this, the next world's bud, The indorsement of supreme delight, Writ by a Friend, and with His blood; The couch of time, care's balm and bay The week were dark, but for thy light; Thy torch doth show the way. SUNDAY. The other days and thou Make up one man; whose face thou art, Knocking at heaven with thy brow: The workydays are the back-part; The burden of the week lies there, Making the whole to stoop and bow, Till thy release appear. Man had straight forward gone To endless death: but thou dost pull And turn us round, to look on One, Whom, if we were not very dull, We could not choose but look on still; Since there is no place so alone, The which He doth not fill. Sundays the pillars are, On which heaven's palace arched lies: The other days fill up the spare And hollow room with vanities, They are the fruitful beds and borders In God's rich garden: that is bare, Which parts their ranks and orders. The Sundays of man's life, Threaded together on Time's string, Make bracelets to adorn the wife Of the eternal glorious King. On Sunday heaven's gate stands ope; Blessings are plentiful and rife— More plentiful than hope. SUNDAY. This day my Saviour rose, Who want herbs for their wound. The rest of our creation Our great Redeemer did remove With the same shake, which at His passion Did the earth and all the things move. As Samson bore the doors away, Christ's hands, though nail'd, wrought our salvation, And did unhinge that day. The brightness of that day And fit for paradise. Thou art a day of mirth: And where the week-days trail on ground, Thy flight is higher, as thy birth: O let me take thee at the bound, Leaping with thee from seven to seven, Till that we both, being toss'd from earth, Fly hand in hand to heaven! George Herbert. CELIA'S TRIUMPH. See the chariot at hand here of love, Wherein my lady rideth! And well the car Love guideth. Unto her beauty; But enjoy such a sight, Do but look on her eyes, they do light Do but look on her, she is bright Do but mark, her forehead's smoother |