Ye Sacred limbs,A richer blazon I will layOn you than first I found:That like celestial kings,Ye might with ornaments of joyBe always crown'd.A deep vermilion on a red,On that a scarlet I will lay,With gold I'll crown your head,Which like the Sun shall ray.With robes of glory and delightI'll make you bright.Mistake me not, I do not mean to bringNew robes, but to display the thing:Nor paint, nor clothe, nor crown, nor add a ray,But glorify by taking all away.
Ye Sacred limbs,A richer blazon I will layOn you than first I found:That like celestial kings,Ye might with ornaments of joyBe always crown'd.A deep vermilion on a red,On that a scarlet I will lay,With gold I'll crown your head,Which like the Sun shall ray.With robes of glory and delightI'll make you bright.Mistake me not, I do not mean to bringNew robes, but to display the thing:Nor paint, nor clothe, nor crown, nor add a ray,But glorify by taking all away.
Ye Sacred limbs,A richer blazon I will layOn you than first I found:That like celestial kings,Ye might with ornaments of joyBe always crown'd.A deep vermilion on a red,On that a scarlet I will lay,With gold I'll crown your head,Which like the Sun shall ray.With robes of glory and delightI'll make you bright.Mistake me not, I do not mean to bringNew robes, but to display the thing:Nor paint, nor clothe, nor crown, nor add a ray,But glorify by taking all away.
Ye Sacred limbs,
A richer blazon I will lay
On you than first I found:
That like celestial kings,
Ye might with ornaments of joy
Be always crown'd.
A deep vermilion on a red,
On that a scarlet I will lay,
With gold I'll crown your head,
Which like the Sun shall ray.
With robes of glory and delight
I'll make you bright.
Mistake me not, I do not mean to bring
New robes, but to display the thing:
Nor paint, nor clothe, nor crown, nor add a ray,
But glorify by taking all away.
The naked thingsAre most sublime, and brightest show,When they alone are seen:Men's hands than Angels' wingsAre truer wealth even here below:For those but seem.Their worth they then do best reveal,When we all metaphors remove,For metaphors conceal,And only vapours prove.They best are blazon'd when we seeThe anatomy,Survey the skin, cut up the flesh, the veinsUnfold: the glory there remains:The muscles, fibres, arteries, and bonesAre better far than crowns and precious stones.
The naked thingsAre most sublime, and brightest show,When they alone are seen:Men's hands than Angels' wingsAre truer wealth even here below:For those but seem.Their worth they then do best reveal,When we all metaphors remove,For metaphors conceal,And only vapours prove.They best are blazon'd when we seeThe anatomy,Survey the skin, cut up the flesh, the veinsUnfold: the glory there remains:The muscles, fibres, arteries, and bonesAre better far than crowns and precious stones.
The naked thingsAre most sublime, and brightest show,When they alone are seen:Men's hands than Angels' wingsAre truer wealth even here below:For those but seem.Their worth they then do best reveal,When we all metaphors remove,For metaphors conceal,And only vapours prove.They best are blazon'd when we seeThe anatomy,Survey the skin, cut up the flesh, the veinsUnfold: the glory there remains:The muscles, fibres, arteries, and bonesAre better far than crowns and precious stones.
The naked things
Are most sublime, and brightest show,
When they alone are seen:
Men's hands than Angels' wings
Are truer wealth even here below:
For those but seem.
Their worth they then do best reveal,
When we all metaphors remove,
For metaphors conceal,
And only vapours prove.
They best are blazon'd when we see
The anatomy,
Survey the skin, cut up the flesh, the veins
Unfold: the glory there remains:
The muscles, fibres, arteries, and bones
Are better far than crowns and precious stones.
Shall I not thenDelight in those most sacred treasuresWhich my great Father gave,Far more than other menDelight in gold? Since these are pleasuresThat make us brave!Far braver than the pearl and goldThat glitter on a lady's neck!The rubies we behold,The diamonds that deckThe hands of queens, compared untoThe hands we view;The softer lilies and the roses areLess ornaments to those that wearThe same, than are the hands, and lips and eyesOf those who those false ornaments so prize.
Shall I not thenDelight in those most sacred treasuresWhich my great Father gave,Far more than other menDelight in gold? Since these are pleasuresThat make us brave!Far braver than the pearl and goldThat glitter on a lady's neck!The rubies we behold,The diamonds that deckThe hands of queens, compared untoThe hands we view;The softer lilies and the roses areLess ornaments to those that wearThe same, than are the hands, and lips and eyesOf those who those false ornaments so prize.
Shall I not thenDelight in those most sacred treasuresWhich my great Father gave,Far more than other menDelight in gold? Since these are pleasuresThat make us brave!Far braver than the pearl and goldThat glitter on a lady's neck!The rubies we behold,The diamonds that deckThe hands of queens, compared untoThe hands we view;The softer lilies and the roses areLess ornaments to those that wearThe same, than are the hands, and lips and eyesOf those who those false ornaments so prize.
Shall I not then
Delight in those most sacred treasures
Which my great Father gave,
Far more than other men
Delight in gold? Since these are pleasures
That make us brave!
Far braver than the pearl and gold
That glitter on a lady's neck!
The rubies we behold,
The diamonds that deck
The hands of queens, compared unto
The hands we view;
The softer lilies and the roses are
Less ornaments to those that wear
The same, than are the hands, and lips and eyes
Of those who those false ornaments so prize.
Let verityBe thy delight; let me esteemTrue wealth far more than toys:Let sacred riches be,While falser treasures only seem,My real joys.For golden chains and bracelets areBut gilded manacles, wherebyOld Satan doth ensnare,Allure, bewitch the eye.Thy gifts, O God, alone I'll prize,My tongue, my eyes,My cheeks, my lips, my ears, my hands, my feet;Their harmony is far more sweet;Their beauty true. And these in all my waysShall themes become and organs of Thy praise.
Let verityBe thy delight; let me esteemTrue wealth far more than toys:Let sacred riches be,While falser treasures only seem,My real joys.For golden chains and bracelets areBut gilded manacles, wherebyOld Satan doth ensnare,Allure, bewitch the eye.Thy gifts, O God, alone I'll prize,My tongue, my eyes,My cheeks, my lips, my ears, my hands, my feet;Their harmony is far more sweet;Their beauty true. And these in all my waysShall themes become and organs of Thy praise.
Let verityBe thy delight; let me esteemTrue wealth far more than toys:Let sacred riches be,While falser treasures only seem,My real joys.For golden chains and bracelets areBut gilded manacles, wherebyOld Satan doth ensnare,Allure, bewitch the eye.Thy gifts, O God, alone I'll prize,My tongue, my eyes,My cheeks, my lips, my ears, my hands, my feet;Their harmony is far more sweet;Their beauty true. And these in all my waysShall themes become and organs of Thy praise.
Let verity
Be thy delight; let me esteem
True wealth far more than toys:
Let sacred riches be,
While falser treasures only seem,
My real joys.
For golden chains and bracelets are
But gilded manacles, whereby
Old Satan doth ensnare,
Allure, bewitch the eye.
Thy gifts, O God, alone I'll prize,
My tongue, my eyes,
My cheeks, my lips, my ears, my hands, my feet;
Their harmony is far more sweet;
Their beauty true. And these in all my ways
Shall themes become and organs of Thy praise.