Love (iii)

Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,
              Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
              From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
              If I lacked anything.

“A guest,” I answered, “worthy to be here”:
             Love said, “You shall be he.”
“I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,
             I cannot look on thee.”
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
             “Who made the eyes but I?”

“Truth, Lord; but I have marred them; let my shame
              Go where it doth deserve.”
“And know you not,” says Love, “who bore the blame?”
              “My dear, then I will serve.”
“You must sit down,” says Love, “and taste my meat.”
              So I did sit and eat.

George Herbert, Love (iii)