Religion

Againe, of the same (ANd yet blinde Iustice sees hr Sword to sheath)

by John Davies of Hereford c. 1565–1618

From Essaies (1612)

Religion

ANd yet blinde Iustice sees hr Sword to sheath,
if any offer her a Sheath of Gold;
Nay, high and hardy Hands oft sincke beneath
the abiect Gift and Giuer, to vphold.

There's nought more free than gift: yet nought more ties
the Hand, that takes them, to the Girs will:
And yet (h woe therefore) some, gody-wise,
take Gifts, as good: and giue, as gifts were ill.

Were I a Diuell, yet were I liberall,
(in this damn'd Age) I would be seru'd with Saints:
For, if I sent bright Angels to them all,
they would adore me, maugre all restraints:
But, were I GOD, if Gold were not my Friend,
Pure Saints, in shew, would lothe me like a Fiend.

MLA

Hereford, John Davies of. “Againe, of the same (ANd yet blinde Iustice sees hr Sword to sheath).” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/davies_jh/82/.

Chicago

Hereford, John Davies of. “Againe, of the same (ANd yet blinde Iustice sees hr Sword to sheath).” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/davies_jh/82/.

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