THE RAINBOW.
A rainbow and the sun breaking through cloud.
Discourage not yourselves, although you see
The weather black, and storms prolonged be.
What though it fiercely rains and thunders loud,
Behold there is a rainbow in the cloud,
Wherein a trustful promise may be found,
That quite your little worlds shall not be drown’d.
The sunshine through the foggy mists appear,
The low’ring sky begins again to clear;
And though the tempest yet your eyes affright,
Fair weather may befall you long ere night.
Such comfort speaks our Emblem unto those
Whom stormy persecution doth inclose;
And comforts him, that for the present sad,
With hopes that better seasons may be had.
There is not trouble, sorrow, nor distress,
But mitigation hath, or some release.
Long use or time the storm away will turn,
Else patience makes it better to be borne.
Yea; sorrow’s low’ring days will come and go,
As well as prosp’rous hours of sunshine do;
And when ’tis past, the pain that went before
Will make the following pleasure seem the more.
For He hath promis’d, whom we may believe,
His blessing unto those that mourn and grieve;
And that though sorrow much dejects their head,
In ev’ry need we shall be comforted.
This promise I believe; in ev’ry grief
Perform it, Lord, and help my unbelief.
So others viewing how thou cheerest me,
Shall in all sorrows put their trust in thee.
George Wither, 1588–1667.