“Heaven,” by George Herbert

From The Temple (1633)

O who will show me those delights on high?
Echo. I.
Thou Echo, thou art mortall, all men know.
Echo. No.
Wert thou not born among the trees and leaves?
Echo. Leaves.
And are there any leaves, that still abide?
Echo. Bide.
What leaves are they? impart the matter wholly.
Echo. Holy.
Are holy leaves the Echo then of blisse?
Echo. Yes.
Then tell me, what is that supreme delight?
Echo. Light.
Light to the minde: what shall the will enjoy?
Echo. Joy.
But are there cares and businesse with the pleasure?
Echo. Leisure.
Light, joy, and leisure; but shall they persevere?
Echo. Ever.

George Herbert (1593–1633)

George Herbert was the fifth son of an eminent Welsh family and the seventh of ten children. He attended Westminster School at the age of ten, and was one of three to win scholarships to Trinity College, Cambridge.

He received two degrees and was elected a major fellow of Trinity. Two years after graduating, he was appointed reader in Rhetoric at Cambridge, and in 1620 he was elected public orator.

He resigned as orator in 1627, and in 1630 he took holy orders in the Church of England. He spent the remainder of his life as a rector in Bemerton near Salisbury, where he preached, wrote poetry, and helped rebuild the church.