Lenten Literature

Can you tell what work this is from that you read?

1. "For after Christmas comes crabbed Lent, that will have fish for flesh and simpler cheer. But then the weather of the world chides with winter; the cold withdraws itself, the clouds uplift, and the rain falls in warm showers on the fair plains. Then the flowers come forth, meadows and grove are clad in green, the birds make ready to build, and sing sweetly for solace of the soft summer that follows thereafter. The blossoms bud and blow in the hedgerows rich and rank, and noble notes enough are heard in the fair woods.
   After the season of summer, with the soft winds, when zephyr breathes lightly on seeds and herbs, joyous indeed is the growth that waxes thereout when the dew drips from the leaves beneath the blissful glance of the bright sun. But then comes harvest and hardens the grain, warning it to wax ripe ere the winter. The drought drives the dust on high, flying over the face of the land; the angry wind of the welkin wrestles with the sun; the leaves fall from the trees and light upon the ground, and all brown are the groves that but now were green, and ripe is the fruit that once was flower. So the year passes into many yesterdays, and winter comes again, as it needs no sage to tell us."


2. From George Herbert's Poem on Lent (1633)

It 's true, we cannot reach Christ's fortieth day;
Yet to go part of that religious way,
                       Is better than to rest:
We cannot reach our Savior's purity;
Yet are bid, Be holy ev'n as he.
                       In both let 's do our best.

Who goeth in the way which Christ hath gone,
Is much more sure to meet with him, than one
                       That travelleth by-ways:
Perhaps my God, though he be far before,
May turn, and take me by the hand, and more
                       May strengthen my decays.

Yet Lord instruct us to improve our fast
By starving sin and taking such repast
                       As may our faults control:
That ev'ry man may revel at his door,
Not in his parlor; banqueting the poor,
                       And among those his soul.

 

3. TO KEEP A TRUE LENT

by Robert Herrick

 IS this a fast, to keep

                The larder lean ?

                            And clean 

From fat of veals and sheep ? 



Is it to quit the dish 

                Of flesh, yet still 

                            To fill 

The platter high with fish ? 



Is it to fast an hour, 

                Or ragg’d to go, 

                            Or show 

A downcast look and sour ? 



No ;  ‘tis a fast to dole 

                Thy sheaf of wheat,

                            And meat,

Unto the hungry soul. 



It is to fast from strife,

                From old debate 

                            And hate ; 

To circumcise thy life. 



To show a heart grief-rent ; 

                To starve thy sin, 

                            Not bin ; 

And that’s to keep thy Lent. 

So, will you keep Lent?  Fast from homework, perhaps ; )?  I think you can do better.