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. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Fullnesse.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 I. 
  
 II. 
  
 III. 
  
 IV. 
  
expand section2. 
expand section3. 


33

Fullnesse.

That Light, that Sight, that Thought,
Which in my Soul at first He wrought,
Is sure the only Act to which I may
Assent to Day:
The Mirror of an Endless Life,
The Shadow of a Virgin Wife,
A Spiritual World Standing within,
An Univers enclosd in Skin.
My Power exerted, or my Perfect Being,
If not Enjoying, yet an Act of Seeing.
My Bliss
Consists in this,
My Duty too
In this I view.
It is a Fountain or a Spring,
Refreshing me in evry thing.
From whence those living Streams I do derive
By which my Thirsty Soul is kept alive.
The Centre and the Sphere
Of my Delights are here.
It is my Davids Tower,
Where all my Armor lies,
The Fountain of my Power,
My Bliss, my Sacrifice:
A little Spark,
That shining in the Dark,
Makes, and encourages my Soul to rise.
The Root of Hope, the Golden Chain,
Whose End is, as the Poets feign,
Fastned to the very Throne
Of Jove.

34

It is a Stone,
On which I sit,
An Endless Benefit,
That being made my Regal Throne,
Doth prove
An Oracle of his Eternal Love.