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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Innocence. |
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 | The poetical works of Thomas Traherne |  |
Innocence.
1
But that which most I wonder at, which most
I did esteem my Bliss, which most I boast
And ever shall applaud, is, that within
I felt no Stain, no Spot of Sin.
I did esteem my Bliss, which most I boast
And ever shall applaud, is, that within
I felt no Stain, no Spot of Sin.
No Darkness then did over-shade,
But all within was pure and bright,
No Guilt did crush, nor Fear invade,
But all my Soul was full of Light.
But all within was pure and bright,
No Guilt did crush, nor Fear invade,
But all my Soul was full of Light.
A joyful Sense exempt from Fear
Is all I can remember;
The very Night to me was clear,
'Twas Summer in December.
Is all I can remember;
The very Night to me was clear,
'Twas Summer in December.
2
A serious Meditation did employ
My Soul within, which, taken up with Joy,
Did seem no outward thing to note, but fly
All Objects that do feed the Ey:
My Soul within, which, taken up with Joy,
Did seem no outward thing to note, but fly
All Objects that do feed the Ey:
103
While it those very Objects did
Admire, and prize, and prais, and lov,
Which in their Glory most are hid;
Which Presence only doth remov:
Admire, and prize, and prais, and lov,
Which in their Glory most are hid;
Which Presence only doth remov:
Their constant daily Presence I
Rejoicing at did see;
And that which takes them from the Ey
Of others, offer'd them to me.
Rejoicing at did see;
And that which takes them from the Ey
Of others, offer'd them to me.
3
No inward Stain inclined my Will
To Avarice or Pride: My Soul was still
With Admiration fill'd; no Lust nor Strife
Polluted then my Infant-Life.
To Avarice or Pride: My Soul was still
With Admiration fill'd; no Lust nor Strife
Polluted then my Infant-Life.
No Fraud nor Anger in me mov'd,
No Malice, Jealousy, or Spight;
All that I saw I truly lov'd.
Contentment only and Delight
No Malice, Jealousy, or Spight;
All that I saw I truly lov'd.
Contentment only and Delight
Were in my Soul. O Hev'n, what Bliss
Did I enjoy and feel!
What powerful Delight did this
Inspire! For this I daily kneel.
Did I enjoy and feel!
What powerful Delight did this
Inspire! For this I daily kneel.
4
Whether it be that Nature is so pure,
And Custom only vicious; or to cure
Its Depravation, God did Guilt remov
To fix in me a Sense of 's Lov
And Custom only vicious; or to cure
Its Depravation, God did Guilt remov
To fix in me a Sense of 's Lov
So early; or that 'twas one Day
Wherin this Happiness I found,
Whose Strength and Brightness so do ray
That still it seems me to surround:
Wherin this Happiness I found,
Whose Strength and Brightness so do ray
That still it seems me to surround:
104
What e'r it was, it is a Light
So endless unto me,
That I a World of tru Delight
Did then, and to this day do, see.
So endless unto me,
That I a World of tru Delight
Did then, and to this day do, see.
5
That Prospect was the Gate of Hev'n; that Day
The ancient Light of Eden did convey
Into my Soul: I was an Adam there,
A little Adam in a Sphere
The ancient Light of Eden did convey
Into my Soul: I was an Adam there,
A little Adam in a Sphere
Of Joys: O there my ravisht Sense
Was entertain'd in Paradise;
And had a Sight of Innocence
Which was to mee beyond all Price.
Was entertain'd in Paradise;
And had a Sight of Innocence
Which was to mee beyond all Price.
An Antepast of Heven sure!
For I on Earth did reign:
Within, without me, all was pure:
I must becom a Child again.
For I on Earth did reign:
Within, without me, all was pure:
I must becom a Child again.
| The poetical works of Thomas Traherne | |