_George Herbert._--Will any one of your correspondents, skilled in solving
enigmas, kindly give me an exposition of this short poem of George
Herbert's? It is entitled--
"HOPE.
"I gave to Hope a watch of mine; but he
An anchor gave to me.
Then an old prayer-book I did present,
And he an optic sent.
With that, I gave a phial full of tears;
But he a few green ears.
Ah, loiterer! I'll no more, no more I'll bring;
I did expect a ring."