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To God (8)

by Robert Herrick, 1647

With golden censers, and with incense, here
Before Thy virgin-altar I appear,
To pay Thee that I owe, since what I see
In, or without, all, all belongs to Thee.
Where shall I now begin to make, for one
Least loan of Thine, half restitution?
Alas! I cannot pay a jot; therefore
I’ll kiss the tally, and confess the score.
Ten thousand talents lent me, Thou dost write;
’Tis true, my God, but I can’t pay one mite.

Published in Noble Numbers
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