Poetics

HEAVEN

O who will show me those delights on high? Echo. I.

Thou Echo, thou art mortall, all men know. Echo. No.

Wert thou not born among the trees and leaves? Echo. Leaves.

And are there any leaves, that still abide? Echo. Bide.

What leaves are they? impart the matter wholly. Echo. Holy.

Are holy leaves the Echo then of blisse? Echo. Yes.

Then tell me, what is that supreme delight? Echo. Light.

Light to the minde: what shall the will enjoy? Echo. Joy.

But are there cares and businesse with the pleasure? Echo. Leisure.

Light, joy, and leisure; but shall they persevere? Echo. Ever.

Featured Poet

GEORGE HERBERT

(1593-1633)

George Herbert was the fifth son of an eminent Welsh family and the seventh of ten children. He attended Westminster School at the age of ten, and was one of three to win scholarships to Trinity College, Cambridge.

He received two degrees and was elected a major fellow of Trinity. Two years after graduating, he was appointed reader in Rhetoric at Cambridge, and in 1620 he was elected public orator.

He resigned as orator in 1627, and in 1630 he took holy orders in the Church of England. He spent the remainder of his life as a rector in Bremerton near Salisbury, where he preached, wrote poetry, and helped rebuild the church.

THE ELIXIR

Teach me, my God and King, In all things Thee to see, And what I do in anything To do it as for Thee.

Not rudely, as a beast, To run into an action; But still to make Thee prepossest, And give it his perfection.

A man that looks on glass, On it may stay his eye; Or if he pleaseth, through it pass, And then the heav’n espy.

All may of Thee partake: Nothing can be so mean, Which with his tincture—”for Thy sake”— Will not grow bright and clean.

A servant with this clause Makes drudgery divine: Who sweeps a room as for Thy laws, Makes that and th’ action fine.

This is the famous stone That turneth all to gold; For that which God doth touch and own Cannot for less be told.

CURRICULUM FROM ROMAN ROADS PRESS