| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| George Herbert. 1593–1632 |
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| 281. Virtue |
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| SWEET day, so cool, so calm, so bright! | |
| The bridal of the earth and sky— | |
| The dew shall weep thy fall to-night; | |
| For thou must die. | |
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| Sweet rose, whose hue angry and brave | 5 |
| Bids the rash gazer wipe his eye, | |
| Thy root is ever in its grave, | |
| And thou must die. | |
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| Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses, | |
| A box where sweets compacted lie, | 10 |
| My music shows ye have your closes, | |
| And all must die. | |
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| Only a sweet and virtuous soul, | |
| Like season'd timber, never gives; | |
| But though the whole world turn to coal, | 15 |
| Then chiefly lives. | |
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