Where, from above, the milder sun How could such sweet and wholesome hours HENRY VAUGHAN (1622-1695) was a Welshman, and was educated at Jesus College, Oxford. He studied first law and then medicine, and began to practise as a physician about 1645. In 1646 he published a small volume entitled 'Poems, with the Tenth Satyre of Juvenal Englished'. Another volume, ‘Olor. Iscanus: a Collection of some select Poems and Translations,' was probably written in 1647, but was not published until 1651, when it was printed by his brother. Vaughan fell much under the influence of George Herbert, and in 1650 appeared 'Silex Scintillans: or Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations', which was followed by a second part in 1655. He also wrote a small volume of devotion in prose: The Mount of Olives. In 1678 Thalia Rediviva was published, and with it several other poems by Vaughan and a few pieces by his twin-brother, Thomas. THE NIGHT JOHN III. 2 THROUGH that pure virgin shrine, That sacred veil drawn o'er Thy glorious noon, Wise Nicodemus saw such light As made him know his God by night. Most blest believer he! Who in that land of darkness and blind eyes And, what can never more be done, 10 Oh, who will tell me where He found Thee at that dead and silent hour? Within whose sacred leaves did lie No mercy-seat of gold, No dead and dusty cherub, nor carved stone, Where trees and herbs did watch and peep Dear Night! this world's defeat; The stop to busy fools; care's cheek and curb; Which none disturb! Christ's progress and His prayer-time; The hours to which high Heaven doth chime. God's silent, searching flight; When my Lord's head is filled with dew, and all His still, soft call; His knocking-time; the soul's dumb-watch, Where all my loud, evil days Calm and unhaunted as is thy dark tent, Is seldom rent; Then I in heaven all the long year Would keep, and never wander here. 20 30 10 But living where the sun Doth all things wake, and where all mix and tire To every mire ; And by this world's ill-guiding light There is in God-some say A deep but dazzling darkness; as men here Oh, for that Night! where I in Him 50 THOMAS TRAHERNE (1636 ?-1674) appears to have been the son of 'John Traherne Shoemaker' of Hereford. Little is known of his life. It is probable that he was of Welsh descent, but the only accounts of his youth are to be found in the poetic descriptions of childhood, of which his writings are full. He was educated at Brasenose College, Oxford, entered the ministry, and was appointed 'clerk' at Crendenhill, Herefordshire, in 1657. Among his prose works are Centuries of Meditations (from which is taken the extract printed in this book), Roman Forgeries, a controversial pamphlet directed against the Church of Rome, and a treatise on Christian Ethics. In 1667 he became chaplain to Sir Orlando, afterwards Lord Bridgman, and it was at his patron's house at Teddington that he died. His poems were not published until long after his death, and for almost two centuries he was practically forgotten. DUMBNESS SURE Man was born to meditate on Things, Of God and Nature, Glory, Bliss, and Pleasure, That Life and Love might be his Heavenly Treasure: Might in himself profoundly busied be; And not vent out, before he hath taken in Wise Nature made him deaf too, that he might This, my dear friends, this was my blessed case; Then did I dwell within a world of light, Where I did feel strange thoughts, and such things see The satisfaction of all true desire : "Twas to be pleased with all that God hath done; To see, love, covet, have, enjoy, and praise in one; Sincere, and single in a blessed view Of all His gifts. Thus was I pent within Until the avenues being open laid, Whole legions entered, and the forts betrayed; A temple and a teacher I did find, With a large text to comment on. No ear But The office of a priest; and I being dumb |