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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 Enquirie.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 I. 
  
 II. 
  
 III. 
  
 IV. 
  
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47

The Enquirie.

1

Men may delighted be with Springs,
While Trees and Herbs their Senses pleas,
And taste even living Nectar in the Seas:
May think their Members things
Of Earthly Worth at least, if not Divine,
And Sing becaus the Earth for them doth Shine.

2

But can the Angels take Delight,
To see such Faces here beneath?
Or can Perfumes indeed from Dunghils breath?
Or is the World a Sight
Worthy of them? Then may we Mortals be
Surrounded with Eternal Claritie.

3

Even Holy Angels may com down
To walk on Earth, and see Delights,
That feed and pleas, even here, their Appetites.
Our Joys may make a Crown
For them. And in his Tabernacle Men may be
Like Palmes with the Cherubs mingled see.

4

Mens Sences are indeed the Gems,
Their Praises the most Sweet Perfumes,
Their Eys the Thrones, their Hearts the Heavnly Rooms,
Their Souls the Diadems,
Their Tongues the Organs which they lov to hear,
Their Cheeks and faces like to theirs appear.

48

5

The Wonders which our God hath done,
The Glories of his Attributes,
Like dangling Apples or like Golden Fruits,
Angelick Joys become.
His Wisdom Shines, on Earth; his Lov doth flow,
Like Myrrh or Incense, even here below.

6

And shall not we such Joys possess,
Which God for Man did chiefly make?
The Angels hav them only for our sake!
And yet they all confess
His Glory here on Earth to be Divine,
And that his GODHEAD in his Works doth shine.