The Pulley

When God at first made man,
   Having a glass of blessings standing by --
Let us (said he) pour on him all we can;
   Let the world’s riches which dispersed lie,
Contract into a span.
   So strength first made a way;
Then beauty flow’d, then wisdom, honour, pleasure:
   When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that, alone, of all His treasure,
   Rest in the bottom lay
For if I should (said He)
   Bestow this jewel also on My creature,
He would adore My gifts instead of Me,
   And rest in nature, not the God of Nature: So both should losers be.
Yet let him keep the rest,
   But keep them with repining restlessness;
Let him be rich and weary, that at least
   If goodness lead him not, yet weariness
May toss him to My breast.

​     -George Herbert