When my devotions could not pierce

Thy silent eares;

Then was my heart broken, as was my verse:

My breast was full of fears

And disorder:

My bent thoughts, like a brittle bow,

Did flie asunder:

Each took his way; some would to pleasures go,

Some to the warres and thunder

Of alarms.

As good go any where, they say,

As to benumme

Both knees and heart, in crying night and day,

Come, come, my God, O come,

But no hearing.

O that thou shouldst give dust a tongue

To crie to thee,

And then not heare it crying! all day long

My heart was in my knee,

But no hearing.

Therefore my soul lay out of sight,

Untun'd, unstrung:

My feeble spirit, unable to look right,

Like a nipt blossome, hung

Discontented.

O cheer and tune my heartlesse breast,

Deferre no time;

That so thy favours granting my request,

They and my minde may chime,

And mend my ryme.