Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack,
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,
If I lack'd anything.
A guest, I answer'd, 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 marr'd 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 tast me meat:
So I did sit and eat.
Introduced by a friend, retired English master, the second line confused me, why 'Dust', I wondered but he suggested it might refer to that which sticks to us through life and experience.
Genesis 2: 7 tells how God created man from the dust of the earth and Herbert would have believed in the doctrine of original sin - that all bear the burden of Adam's transgression and are sinful by nature. Love (Christ) both changes and redeems if one is willing to sit and eat.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Thank you Curmudgeon, good response with which I agree.