Peace by George Herbert

Lyrics

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 wind 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 looked the clouds immediately Did break and scatter Then went I to a garden and did spy A gallant flowеr The crown-imperial: Sure, said I Pеace at the root must dwell But when I digged, I saw a worm devour What showed 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 lived with good increase Of flock and fold He sweetly lived; yet sweetness did not save His life from foes But after death out of his grave There sprang twelve stalks of wheat; Which many wond'ring at, got some of those To plant and set It prospered strangely, and did soon disperse Through all the earth: For they that taste it do rehearse That virtue lies therein; A secret virtue, bringing peace and mirth By flight of sin 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 earnestness you do pursue Is only there