George Herbert and his times . esupon his friend Ferrar, he was not slow to adoptone for his own household. It was his practice, strictly at the canonical hours of ten and four,to appear with his wife and three nieces and hisservants at the Church prayers in the little chapel-of-ease opposite the parsonage ; and the unwontedcustom soon attracted many of his parishionersand gentlemen of the district. Also, some ofthe meaner sort of his parish did so love andreverence Mr. Herbert that they would let theirplough rest when Mr. Herberts saints bell rungto prayers, that they might also offer their d
George Herbert and his times . esupon his friend Ferrar, he was not slow to adoptone for his own household. It was his practice, strictly at the canonical hours of ten and four,to appear with his wife and three nieces and hisservants at the Church prayers in the little chapel-of-ease opposite the parsonage ; and the unwontedcustom soon attracted many of his parishionersand gentlemen of the district. Also, some ofthe meaner sort of his parish did so love andreverence Mr. Herbert that they would let theirplough rest when Mr. Herberts saints bell rungto prayers, that they might also offer their devo-tions to God with him, and would then returnback to their plough. These services at Church,however, were not allowed to interfere with hisprivate devotions, or with the household worship,the short prayers of which were always of a setform, and concluded with the collect for the dayor week. As at Cambridge, his principal recreation wasmusic. He is said to have composed hymns andanthems, which he set to music and sang to his. S3 BEMERTON: THE PARSON IN HIS CURE 233 lute or viol ; and in spite of his love of retirement,he usually walked twice every week to theCathedral services at Salisbury, and also tookpart there at an appointed private musicmeeting; for which innocent practices he ap-pears to have thought it necessary to offer theapology that religion does not banish mirth, butonly moderates and sets rules to it. If it be true that most of the Temple poemswere composed at this time, many of their imagesor illustrations may have been suggested by thequiet rural scenery through which he passed inhis walks between the retired parsonage and theancient Cathedral city. Every foot of the mileor more of nearly level high-road, with its bor-dering fields, flowers, and hedges, must havebecome intimately known to him ; as his ownslender figure, in its dark clerical habit and whitebands, could not fail to grow familiar to all wholived or went by the way. But it may be doubtedif most of
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