Religion
That there is no peace to the Wicked
From Essaies (1612)
THe Wickeds rest is like the raging Deepe,
whose smoothest Peace is rough intestine War:
With whose Alar'ms they often start in sleepe;
whose Heart-strings, with such fretting Stops, doe iarre
Yet as the Sea seemes calme, as other Brookes,
till Windes arise, wherewith they rage as mad;
So, oft the Wicked-man as smoothly lookes
in prosperous state, as he whom GOD doth glad.
And in this plight, he Saint it can aswell
(at least in shew) as can the holiest Saint:
Yea, can (for glory) in Good-workes excell;
and, Pietie in Word and Deed depaint:
But when Afflictions flawes beginne to blow,
He playes the Diuell both in Deed and Show.
Cite this poem
MLA
Hereford, John Davies of. “That there is no peace to the Wicked.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/davies_jh/94/.
Chicago
Hereford, John Davies of. “That there is no peace to the Wicked.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/davies_jh/94/.
Read this poem with the Codex →