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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 | The poetical works of Thomas Traherne |  |
V
[Mankind is sick, the World distemper'd lies]
1
Mankind is sick, the World distemper'd lies,Opprest with Sins and Miseries.
Their Sins are Woes; a long corrupted Train
Of Poyson, drawn from Adam's vein,
Stains all his Seed, and all his Kin
Are one Disease of Life within.
They all torment themselves!
The World's one Bedlam, or a greater Cave
Of Mad-men, that do alwaies rave.
2
The Wise and Good like kind Physicians are,That strive to heal them by their Care.
They Physick and their Learning calmly use,
Although the Patient them abuse.
For since the Sickness is (they find)
A sad Distemper of the Mind;
All railings they impute,
All Injuries, unto the sore Disease,
They are expresly come to ease!
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3
If we would to the Worlds distemper'd MindImpute the Rage which there we find,
We might, even in the midst of all our Foes,
Enjoy and feel a sweet Repose:
Might pity all the Griefs we see,
Anointing every Malady
With precious Oyl and Balm;
And while ourselves are Calm, our Art improve
To rescue them, and shew our Love.
4
But let's not fondly our own selves beguile;If we Revile 'cause they Revile,
Our selves infected with their sore Disease,
Need others Helps to give us ease.
For we more Mad then they remain,
Need to be cut, and need a Chain
Far more than they. Our Brain
Is craz'd; and if we put our Wit to theirs,
We may be justly made their Heirs.
5
But while with open eyes we clearly seeThe brightness of his Majesty;
While all the World, by Sin to Satan sold,
In daily Wickedness grows old,
Men in Chains of Darkness lye,
In Bondage and Iniquity,
And pierce and grieve themselves!
The dismal Woes wherein they crawl, enhance
The Peace of our Inheritance.
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6
We wonder to behold our selves so nighTo so much Sin and Misery,
And yet to see our selves so safe from harm!
What Amulet, what hidden Charm
Could fortifie and raise the Soul
So far above them; and controul
Such fierce Malignity!
The brightness and the glory which we see
Is made a greater Mystery.
7
And while we feel how much our GOD doth loveThe Peace of Sinners, how much move,
And sue, and thirst, intreat, lament and grieve,
For all the Crimes in which they live,
And seek and wait, and call again,
And long to save them from the pain
Of Sin, from all their Woe!
With greater thirst, as well as grief we try,
How to relieve their Misery.
8
The life and splendour of Felicity,Whose floods so overflowing be,
The streams of Joy which round about his Throne,
Enrich and fill each Holy One,
Are so abundant, that we can
Spare all, even all to any Man!
And have it all our selves!
Nay have the more! We long to make them see
The sweetness of Felicity.
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9
While we contemplate their Distresses, how,Blind Wretches, they in bondage bow,
And tear and wound themselves, and vex and groan,
And chafe and fret so near His Throne,
And know not what they ail, but lye
Tormented in their Misery
(Like Mad-men that are blind)
In works of darkness nigh such full Delight:
That they might find and see the sight,
10
What would we give! that they might likewise seeThe Glory of his Majesty!
The joy and fulness of that high delight,
Whose Blessedness is infinite!
We would even cease to live, to gain
Them from their misery and pain,
And make them with us reign.
For they themselves would be our greatest Treasures
When sav'd, our own most Heavenly Pleasures.
11
O holy JESUS who didst for us die,And on the Altar bleeding lie,
Bearing all Torment, pain, reproach, and shame,
That we by vertue of the same,
Though enemies to God, might be
Redeem'd, and set at liberty.
As thou didst us forgive,
So meekly let us Love to others shew,
And live in Heaven on Earth below!
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12
Let's prize their Souls, and let them be our Gems,Our Temples and our Diadems,
Our Brides, our Friends, our fellow-Members, Eyes
Hands, Hearts and Souls, our Victories,
And Spoils and Trophies, our own Joyes!
Compar'd to Souls all else are Toyes!
O JESUS, let them be
Such unto us, as they are unto thee,
Vessels of Glory and Felicitie!
13
How will they love us, when they find our CareBrought them all thither where they are!
When they conceive, what terrour 'tis to dwell
In all the punishments of Hell:
And in a lively manner see,
O Christ, eternal Joyes in thee!
How will they all delight
In praising thee for us, with all their might,
How sweet a Grace, how infinite!
| The poetical works of Thomas Traherne | |