Regeneration by Henry Vaughan

Lyrics

A ward, and still in bonds, one day I stole abroad; It was high spring, and all the way Primrosed and hung with shade; Yet was it frost within And surly winds Blasted my infant buds, and sin Like clouds eclipsed my mind Stormed thus, I straight perceived my spring Mere stage and show My walk a monstrous, mountained thing Roughcast with rocks and snow; And as a pilgrim's eye Far from relief Measures the melancholy sky Then drops and rains for grief So sighed I upwards still; at last 'Twixt steps and falls I reached the pinnacle, where placed I found a pair of scales; I took them up and laid In th' one, late pains; The othеr smoke and pleasures wеighed But proved the heavier grains With that some cried, "Away!" Straight I Obeyed, and led Full east, a fair, fresh field could spy; Some called it Jacob's bed A virgin soil which no Rude feet ere trod Where, since he stepped there, only go Prophets and friends of God Here I reposed; but scarce well set A grove descried Of stately height, whose branches met And mixed on every side; I entered, and once in Amazed to see 't Found all was changed, and a new spring Did all my senses greet The unthrift sun shot vital gold A thousand pieces And heaven its azure did unfold Checkered with snowy fleeces; The air was all in spice And every bush A garland wore; thus fed my eyes But all the ear lay hush Only a little fountain lent Some use for ears And on the dumb shades language spent The music of her tears; I drew her near, and found The cistern full Of divers stones, some bright and round Others ill-shaped and dull The first, pray mark, as quick as light Danced through the flood But the last, more heavy than the night Nailed to the center stood; I wondered much, but tired At last with thought My restless eye that still desired As strange an object brought It was a bank of flowers, where I descried Though 'twas midday Some fast asleep, others broad-eyed And taking in the ray; Here, musing long, I heard A rushing wind Which still increased, but whence it stirred No where I could not find I turned me round, and to each shade Dispatched an eye To see if any leaf had made Least motion or reply But while I listening sought My mind to ease By knowing where 'twas, or where not It whispered, "Where I please." "Lord," then said I, "on me one breath And let me die before my death!"