Thomas Traherne

The Prospect was the Gate of Heaven, that
The ancient Light of Eden did convey Into my Soul:
I was an Adam there,
A little Adam in a Sphere Of Joys

My naked simple Life was I; That Act so strongly shin’d Upon the earth, the sea, the sky, It was the substance of my mind; The sense itself was I
I felt no dross nor matter in my soul, No brims nor borders, such as in a bowl We see
My ...

His Power bounded, greater is in might,
Than if let loose, 'twere wholly infinite
He could have made an endless sea by this,
But then it had not been a sea of bliss

But that which most I wonder at, which most I did esteem my bliss, which most I boast, And ever shall enjoy, is that within I felt no stain, nor spot of sin
No darkness then did overshade, But all within was pure and bright, No guilt did crus...

News from a foreign country came, As if my treasures and my joys lay there; So much it did my heart inflame, 'Twas wont to call my soul into mine ear; Which thither went to meet Th' approaching sweet, And on the threshold stood To entertain the se...

A learned and a happy ignorance Divided me From all the vanity, From all the sloth, care, pain, and sorrow that advance The madness and the misery Of men
No error, no distraction I Saw soil the earth, or overcloud the sky
I knew not that...

O Nectar
O delicious stream
O ravishing and only pleasure
Where        Shall such another theme  Inspire my tongue with joys or please mine ear

For giving me desire,
An eager thirst, a burning ardent fire,
A virgin infant flame,
A love with which into the world I came,

In making bodies Love could not
Itself, or art, unless it made them less
O what a monster had in man been seen,
Had every thumb or toe a mountain been

For all the mysteries, engines, instruments, wherewith the world is filled, which we are able to frame and use to thy glory
For all the trades, variety of operations, cities, temples, streets, bridges, mariner's compass, admirable picture, sc...

Sure Man was born to meditate on things, And to contemplate the eternal springs Of God and Nature, glory, bliss, and pleasure; That life and love might be his Heavenly treasure; And therefore speechless made at first, that
Might in himself pr...

In Salem dwelt a glorious King,
Raised from a shepherd's lowly state;
That did His praises like an angel
Who did the World create