Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,

Guilty of dust and sin.

But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack

From my first entrance in,

Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,

If I lacked anything.

 

‘A guest’, I answered, ‘worthy to be here.’

Love said, ‘You shall be he.’

‘I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,

I cannot look on thee.’

Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,

‘Who made the eyes but I?’

 

‘Truth, Lord, but I have marred them; let my shame

Go where it doth deserve.’

‘And know you not’, says Love, ‘who bore the blame?’

‘My dear then I will serve.’

‘You must sit down’, says Love, ‘and taste my meat.’

              So I did sit and eat.

 

George Herbert (1593-1633).