Thought for the day

George Herbert's, The Pilgrimage, read by Richard Wallace


THE PILGRIMAGE

by George Herbert


I travell'd on, seeing the hill, where lay
                              My expectation.
             A long it was and weary way.
             The gloomy cave of Desperation
I left on th'one, and on the other side
                              The rock of Pride.

And so I came to Phansies medow strow'd
                              With many a flower:
             Fair would I here have made abode,
             But I was quicken'd by my houre.
So to Cares cops I came, and there got through
                              With much ado.

That led me to the wilde of Passion, which
                              Some call the wold;
             A wasted place, but sometimes rich.
             Here I was robb'd of all my gold,
Save one good Angell, which a friend had ti'd
                              Close to my side.

At length I got unto the gladsome hill,
                              Where lay my hope,
             Where lay my heart; and climbing still,
             When I had gain'd the brow and top,
A lake of brackish waters on the ground
                              Was all I found.

With that abash'd and struck with many a sting
                              Of swarming fears,
             I fell, and cry'd, Alas my King;
             Can both the way and end be tears?
Yet taking heart I rose, and then perceiv'd
                              I was deceiv'd:

My hill was further: so I flung away,
                              Yet heard a crie
             Just as I went, None goes that way
             And lives: If that be all, said I,
After so foul a journey death is fair,
                              And but a chair.
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