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Poems Divine, and Humane

By Thomas Beedome

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The Present.
  
  
  
  

The Present.

What shall I doe my God for thee?
Thee, that hast done so much for me.
For when I opened first the wombe to live
In this low soyle
Of sweate and toyle,
Thou didst the meanes and guidance give.
My age is but a span or two,
A twist, which death can soone undoe:
A white, shot at by many an ayming dart,
A restlesse ball,
Banded by all,
Adversities that tosse a heart.
Then search within me, and without,
Imploy thy notice round about:


Survey me well, and finde in which part lyes.
A thing so fit,
That I may it
Preferre to thee for sacrifice.
Though some present thee gold; or some
Rich Easterne smels, Myrrhe, Synamum,
Or some proclaime thee in a deeper straine,
Which dyes before,
'Tis twice read o're,
In its owne wombe, and tombe, their braine.
Let me bring thee, my God, a heart,
Entitled thine in every part,
Next that, a Verse like this, on which mine
Be longer set,
Than to forget,
That such a present thou shouldst fine.
Let others, so with men their credites prove,
They show them wealth and wit; I thee my love,
T. B.