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 Præface
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 | The poetical works of Thomas Traherne |  |
92
The Præface
On Shining Banks we could nigh Tagus walk;
In flow'ry Meads of rich Pactolus talk;
Bring in the Druids, and the Sybills view;
See what the Rites are which the Indians do;
Derive along the channel of our Quill
The Streams that flow from high Parnassus hill;
In flow'ry Meads of rich Pactolus talk;
Bring in the Druids, and the Sybills view;
See what the Rites are which the Indians do;
Derive along the channel of our Quill
The Streams that flow from high Parnassus hill;
Ransack all Nature's Rooms, and add the things
Which Persian Courts enrich; to make Us Kings:
To make us Kings indeed! Not verbal Ones,
But reall Kings, exalted unto Thrones;
And more than Golden Thrones! 'Tis this I do,
Letting Poëtick Strains and Shadows go.
Which Persian Courts enrich; to make Us Kings:
To make us Kings indeed! Not verbal Ones,
But reall Kings, exalted unto Thrones;
And more than Golden Thrones! 'Tis this I do,
Letting Poëtick Strains and Shadows go.
I cannot imitat their vulgar Sence
Who Cloaths admire, but not the Man they fence
Against the Cold; and while they wonder at
His Rings, his precious Stones, his Gold and Plate;
The middle piece, his Body and his Mind,
They over-look; no Beauty in them find:
God's Works they slight, their own they magnify,
His they contemn, or careless pass them by;
Who Cloaths admire, but not the Man they fence
Against the Cold; and while they wonder at
His Rings, his precious Stones, his Gold and Plate;
The middle piece, his Body and his Mind,
They over-look; no Beauty in them find:
God's Works they slight, their own they magnify,
His they contemn, or careless pass them by;
Their woven Silks and wel-made Suits they prize,
Valu their Gems, but not more precious Eys:
Their Useful Hands, their Tongues and Ruby Lips,
Their polisht Flesh where whitest Lillies mix
With blushing Roses and with saphire Veins,
The Bones, the Joints, and that which els remains
Valu their Gems, but not more precious Eys:
Their Useful Hands, their Tongues and Ruby Lips,
Their polisht Flesh where whitest Lillies mix
With blushing Roses and with saphire Veins,
The Bones, the Joints, and that which els remains
93
Within that curious Fabrick, Life and Strength,
I'th' wel-compacted bredth and depth and length
Of various Limbs, that living Engins be
Of glorious worth; God's Work they will not see:
Nor yet the Soul, in whose concealed Face,
Which comprehendeth all unbounded Space,
GOD may be seen; tho she can understand
The Length of Ages and the Tracts of Land
That from the Zodiac do extended ly
Unto the Poles, and view Eternity.
I'th' wel-compacted bredth and depth and length
Of various Limbs, that living Engins be
Of glorious worth; God's Work they will not see:
Nor yet the Soul, in whose concealed Face,
Which comprehendeth all unbounded Space,
GOD may be seen; tho she can understand
The Length of Ages and the Tracts of Land
That from the Zodiac do extended ly
Unto the Poles, and view Eternity.
Ev'n thus do idle Fancies, Toys, and Words,
(Like gilded Scabbards sheathing rusty Swords)
Take vulgar Souls; who gaze on rich Attire
But God's diviner Works do ne'r admire.
(Like gilded Scabbards sheathing rusty Swords)
Take vulgar Souls; who gaze on rich Attire
But God's diviner Works do ne'r admire.
T. T.
| The poetical works of Thomas Traherne | |