University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
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

collapse section1. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 I. 
  
 II. 
  
 III. 
  
 IV. 
  
collapse section2. 
  
  
  
  
collapse section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
The Vision.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
  
  
  
  
  
collapse section3. 
collapse section1. 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
 VI. 
 VII. 
collapse section2. 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
collapse section3. 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
 VI. 
 VII. 
collapse section4. 
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
  
collapse section5. 
 1. 
 2. 
 3. 
 4. 
 5. 
 6. 

The Vision.

Flight is but the Præparative: the Sight
Is deep and infinit.
Indeed, 'tis all the Glory, Light, and Space,
The Joy and blest Variety
That doth adorn the Godhead's Dwelling-place

110

'Tis all that Ey can see.
Even Trades themselvs, view'd with celestial Sight,
And Cares, and Sins, and Woes, giv Light.
Order the Beauty ev'n of Beauty is,
It is the Rule of Bliss,
The very Life and Form and Caus of Pleasure;
Which if we do not understand,
Ten thousand heaps of vain, tho massy, Treasure
Will but oppress the Land:
In Blessedness its self we that shall miss
(Being blind) which is the Sum of Bliss.
First then behold the World as thine, and well
Note that where thou dost dwell:
See all the Beauty of the spacious Case;
Lift up thy pleas'd and ravisht Eys;
Admire the Glory of this hevenly Place,
And all its Blessings prize.
That Sight well seen thy Spirit that prepare
To make all other things more rare.
Mens Woes shal be but Foils unto thy Bliss,
Thou once enjoying this:
Trades shal adorn and beautify the Earth;
Their Ignorance shall make thee bright;
Were not their Griefs Democritus's Mirth?
Their Slips shal keep thee right:
All shall be thine Advantage; all conspire
To make thy Bliss and Virtu higher.
To see the glorious Fountain and the End;
To see all Creatures tend
To thy Advancement, and so sweetly close
In thy Repose: To see them shine
In serviceable Worth; and even Foes,
Among the rest, made Thine:

111

To see all these at once unite in thee
Is to behold Felicity.
To see the Fountain is a Blessed thing;
It is to see the King
Of Glory face to face: But yet the End,
The deep and wondrous End, is more;
In that the Fount we also comprehend,
The Spring we there adore:
For in the End the Fountain is best shewn,
As by Effects the Caus is known.
From One, to One, in One, to see All things;
Perceiv the King of Kings
My God and Portion; to see his Treasures
Made all mine own, my Self the End
Of his great Labors! 'Tis the Life of Pleasures
To see my self His Friend!
Who All Things finds convey'd to him alone,
Must needs adore The Holy One.