From ‘Wonder’, by Thomas Traherne
How like an angel came I down!
How bright are all things here!
When first among his works I did appear
O how their glory me did crown?
The world resembled his eternity
In which my soul did walk;
And every thing that I did see
Did with me talk.
The skies in their magnificence
The lively, lovely air;
Oh how divine, how soft, how sweet, how fair!
The stars did entertain my sense
And all the works of GOD so bright and pure,
So rich and great did seem,
As if they ever must endure
In my esteem.
A native health and innocence
Within my bones did grow,
And while my God did all his glories show,
I felt a vigour in my sense
That was all SPIRIT. I within did flow
With seas of life, like wine;
I nothing in the world did know,
But ‘twas divine.
My favourite word in these stanzas is ‘entertain’ in the line ‘The stars did entertain my sense’.
Get Britain's best politics newsletters
Register to get The Spectator's insight and opinion straight to your inbox. You can then read two free articles each week.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just £1 a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just £1 a monthAlready a subscriber? Log in