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George Herbert - Peace
Work rating: Medium

Sweet Peace, where dost thou dwell? I humbly crave,
                    Let me once know.
     I sought thee in a secret cave,
            And ask`d, if Peace were there,
A hollow winde did seem to answer, No:
                    Go seek elsewhere.

I did; and going did a rainbow note:
                    Surely, thought I,
     This is the lace of Peace`s coat:
            I will search out the matter.
But while I lookt the clouds immediately
                    Did break and scatter.

Then went I to a garden and did spy
                    A gallant flower,
     The crown Imperiall: Sure, said I,
            Peace at the root must dwell.
But when I digg`d, I saw a worm devoure
                    What show`d so well.

At length I met a rev`rend good old man;
                    Whom when for Peace
     I did demand, he thus began:
            There was a Prince of old
At Salem dwelt, who liv`d with good increase
                    Of flock and fold.

He sweetly lived; yet sweetnesse did not save
                    His life from foes.
     But after death out of his grave
            There sprang twelve stalks of wheat:
Which many wondring at, got some of those
                    To plant and set.

It prosper`d strangely, and did soon disperse
                    Through all the earth:
     For they that taste it do rehearse,
            That vertue lies therein;
A secret vertue, bringing peace and mirth
                    By flight of sinne.

Take of this grain, which in my garden grows,
                    And grows for you;
     Make bread of it: and that repose
            And peace, which ev`ry where
With so much earnestnesse you do pursue
                    Is onely there.
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