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 poetical works of Thomas Traherne |  |
The Person.
1
Ye Sacred Lims,A richer Blazon I will lay
On you, then first I found:
That like Celestial Kings,
Ye might with Ornaments of Joy
Be always Crownd.
A Deep Vermilion on a Red,
On that a Scarlet I will lay,
With Gold Ile Crown your Head,
Which like the Sun shall Ray.
With Robes of Glory and Delight
Ile make you Bright.
Mistake me not, I do not mean to bring
New Robes, but to Display the Thing:
Nor Paint, nor Cloath, nor Crown, nor add a Ray,
But Glorify by taking all away.
43
2
The Naked ThingsAre most Sublime, and Brightest shew,
When they alone are seen:
Mens Hands then Angels Wings
Are truer Wealth even here below:
For those but seem.
Their Worth they then do best reveal,
When we all Metaphores remove,
For Metaphores conceal,
And only Vapours prove.
They best are Blazond when we see
The Anatomie,
Survey the Skin, cut up the Flesh, the Veins
Unfold: The Glory there remains.
The Muscles, Fibres, Arteries and Bones
Are better far then Crowns and precious Stones.
3
Shall I not thenDelight in these most Sacred Treasures
Which my Great Father gave,
Far more then other Men
Delight in Gold? Since these are Pleasures,
That make us Brave!
Far Braver then the Pearl and Gold
That glitter on a Ladies Neck!
The Rubies we behold,
The Diamonds that Deck
The Hands of Queens, compard unto
The Hands we view;
The Softer Lillies, and the Roses are
Less Ornaments to those that Wear
The same, then are the Hands, and Lips, and Ey
Of those who those fals Ornaments so prize.
44
4
Let VeritieBe thy Delight: let me Esteem
True Wealth far more then Toys:
Let Sacred Riches be,
While falser Treasures only seem,
My real Joys.
For Golden Chains and Bracelets are
But Gilded Manicles, wherby
Old Satan doth ensnare,
Allure, Bewitch the Ey.
Thy Gifts O God alone Ile prize,
My Tongue, my Eys,
My cheeks, my Lips, my Ears, my Hands, my Feet;
Their Harmony is far more Sweet;
Their Beauty true. And these in all my Ways
Shall Themes becom, and Organs of thy Praise.
| The poetical works of Thomas Traherne | |