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 |
 | 1. |
The Choice. |
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
 | 2. |
| 3. |
 | The poetical works of Thomas Traherne |  |
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The Choice.
1
When first Eternity Stoopd down to Nought,And in the Earth its Likeness sought,
When first it out of Nothing framd the Skies,
And formd the Moon and Sun
That we might see what it had don,
It was so Wise,
That it did prize
Things truly Greatest Brightest fairest, Best.
All which it made, and left the rest.
2
Then did it take such Care about the Truth,Its Daughter, that even in her Youth,
Her face might Shine upon us, and be known,
That by a better fate,
It other Toys might Antedate,
As soon as shewn;
And be our own,
While we were hers; And that a Virgin Love
Her best Inheritance might prove.
3
Thoughts undefiled, Simple, Naked, Pure;Thoughts Worthy ever to endure,
Our first and Disengaged thoughts it lovs,
And therfore made the Truth,
In Infancy and Tender Youth,
So Obvious to
Our Easy view
That it doth prepossess our Soul, and proves
The Caus of what it all Ways moves.
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4
By Merit and Desire it doth allure;For Truth is so Divine and Pure,
So Rich and Acceptable, being seen,
(Not parted, but in Whole)
That it doth Draw and force the Soul,
As the Great Queen
Of Bliss, between
Whom and the Soul, no one Pretender ought
Thrust in, to Captivat a Thought.
5
Hence did Eternity contrive to makeThe Truth so fair for all our Sake.
That being Truth, and Fair and Easy too,
While it on all doth Shine,
We might by it becom Divine
Being led to Woo
The Thing we view,
And as chast Virgins Early with it joyn,
That with it we might likewise Shine.
6
Eternity doth give the richest ThingsTo evry Man, and makes all Kings.
The Best and Richest Things it doth convey
To all, and evry one.
It raised me unto a Throne!
Which I enjoy,
In such a Way,
That Truth her Daughter is my chiefest Bride,
Her Daughter Truth's my chiefest Pride.
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7
All mine! And seen so Easily! How Great, how Blest!How soon am I of all possest!
My Infancie no Sooner Opes its Eys,
But Straight the Spacious Earth
Abounds with Joy Peace Glory Mirth
And being Wise,
The very Skies,
And Stars do mine becom; being all possest
Even in that Way that is the Best.
| The poetical works of Thomas Traherne | |