The poetical works of Thomas Traherne faithfully reprinted from the author's original manuscript together with Poems of Felicity reprinted from the Burney manuscript and Poems from Various Sources: Edited with preface and notes by Gladys I. Wade |
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Insatiableness. |
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 | The poetical works of Thomas Traherne |  |
Insatiableness.
I.
No Walls confine! Can nothing hold my Mind?
Can I no Rest nor Satisfaction find?
Must I behold Eternity
And see
What Things abov the Hev'ns be?
Will nothing serv the Turn?
Nor Earth, nor Seas, nor Skies?
Till I what lies
In Time's beginning find;
Must I till then for ever burn?
Can I no Rest nor Satisfaction find?
Must I behold Eternity
And see
What Things abov the Hev'ns be?
Will nothing serv the Turn?
Nor Earth, nor Seas, nor Skies?
Till I what lies
In Time's beginning find;
Must I till then for ever burn?
Not all the Crowns; not all the heaps of Gold
On Earth; not all the Tales that can be told,
Will Satisfaction yield to me:
Nor Tree,
Nor Shade, nor Sun, nor Eden, be
A Joy: Nor Gems in Gold,
(Be't Pearl or precious Stone,)
Nor Spring, nor Flowers,
Answer my Craving Powers,
Nor any Thing that Eyes behold.
On Earth; not all the Tales that can be told,
201
Nor Tree,
Nor Shade, nor Sun, nor Eden, be
A Joy: Nor Gems in Gold,
(Be't Pearl or precious Stone,)
Nor Spring, nor Flowers,
Answer my Craving Powers,
Nor any Thing that Eyes behold.
Till I what was before all Time descry,
The World's Beginning seems but Vanity.
My Soul doth there long Thoughts extend
No End
Doth find, or Being comprehend:
Yet somwhat sees that is
The obscure shady face
Of endless Space,
All Room within; where I
Expect to meet Eternal Bliss.
The World's Beginning seems but Vanity.
My Soul doth there long Thoughts extend
No End
Doth find, or Being comprehend:
Yet somwhat sees that is
The obscure shady face
Of endless Space,
All Room within; where I
Expect to meet Eternal Bliss.
II
This busy, vast, enquiring Soul
Brooks no Controul,
No Limits will endure,
Nor any Rest: It will all see,
Not Time alone, but ev'n Eternity.
What is it? Endless sure.
Brooks no Controul,
No Limits will endure,
Nor any Rest: It will all see,
Not Time alone, but ev'n Eternity.
What is it? Endless sure.
'Tis mean Ambition to define
A single World:
To many I aspire,
Tho one upon another hurl'd:
Nor will they all, if they be all confin'd,
Delight my Mind.
A single World:
To many I aspire,
Tho one upon another hurl'd:
Nor will they all, if they be all confin'd,
Delight my Mind.
202
This busy, vast, enquiring Soul
Brooks no Controul:
'Tis very curious too.
Each one of all those Worlds must be
Enricht with infinit Variety
And Worth; or 'twill not do.
Brooks no Controul:
'Tis very curious too.
Each one of all those Worlds must be
Enricht with infinit Variety
And Worth; or 'twill not do.
'Tis nor Delight nor perfect Pleasure
To have a Purse
That hath a Bottom in its Treasure,
Since I must thence endless Expense disburse.
Sure there's a GOD (for els there's no Delight)
One Infinit.
To have a Purse
That hath a Bottom in its Treasure,
Since I must thence endless Expense disburse.
Sure there's a GOD (for els there's no Delight)
One Infinit.
| The poetical works of Thomas Traherne | |