HIS LITANY, TO THE HOLY SPIRIT Analysis

In the hour of my distress,

When temptations me oppress,

And when I my sins confess,

Sweet Spirit, comfort me!



When I lie within my bed,

Sick in heart, and sick in head,

And with doubts discomforted,

Sweet Spirit, comfort me!



When the house doth sigh and weep,

And the world is drown'd in sleep,

Yet mine eyes the watch do keep,

Sweet Spirit, comfort me!



When the artless doctor sees

No one hope, but of his fees,

And his skill runs on the lees,

Sweet Spirit, comfort me!



When his potion and his pill,

Has, or none, or little skill,

Meet for nothing but to kill,

Sweet Spirit, comfort me!



When the passing-bell doth toll,

And the furies in a shoal

Come to fright a parting soul,

Sweet Spirit, comfort me!



When the tapers now burn blue,

And the comforters are few,

And that number more than true,

Sweet Spirit, comfort me!



When the priest his last hath pray'd,

And I nod to what is said,

'Cause my speech is now decay'd,

Sweet Spirit, comfort me!



When, God knows, I'm tost about

Either with despair, or doubt;

Yet, before the glass be out,

Sweet Spirit, comfort me!



When the tempter me pursu'th

With the sins of all my youth,

And half damns me with untruth,

Sweet Spirit, comfort me!



When the flames and hellish cries

Fright mine ears, and fright mine eyes,

And all terrors me surprise,

Sweet Spirit, comfort me!



When the Judgment is reveal'd,

And that open'd which was seal'd;

When to Thee I have appeal'd,

Sweet Spirit, comfort me!

.: death bed :.

This poem is practically about a man on his death bed. there is nothing to do but confess his sins and make things right with the world because no doctor, no pill, or any medicine can save him. He is unsure to where he will go in the afterlife. With every segment it ends with "sweet spirit comfort me" which is a repitition. The ryhming scheme is AAAB,CCCB,DDDB and so on. This poem is written during the renaissance period and it is evident in the writing.

| Posted on 2005-06-16 | by Approved Guest