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THE

WORKS

OF

GEORGE HERBERT

'"fu, -/O^A A^ A'i/»" fit mo^( W^'Vi/ w

i'xo Vll'f7etKL WOVtf : nwffMn ,7^,

C«'h**^Vh- 'I ?J*» 4 \

fli*. MV,, nt

Herbert's autograph of P* w/0 Discerpta, xviii (Dr. Williams's Library. MS. Jones B 62)

THE

WORKS

OF

GEORGE HERBERT

Edited with a Commentary by F. E.

sometime Fellow of All Souls College

0 X F At the CLARENDON PRESS

Oxford University Press, Amen House, London E.G. 4

GLASGOW NEW YORK TORONTO MELBOURNE WELLINGTON BOMBAY CALCUTTA MADRAS KARACHI CAPE TOWN IBADAN

Geoffrey Cumberlege, Publisher to the University

FIRST PUBLISHED 1941

Reprinted lithographically in Great Britain

at the University Press, Oxford

from corrected sheets of the first edition

*945» 1953

PREFACE

main object of this edition is to establish the text JL of The Temple by providing a more complete and more accurate collection of the evidence than has been hitherto available. The principles which I have adopted, after much trial and error, for determining the relative authority of the two manuscripts and the first edition are set out in section vii of the Introduction. The Temple was fortunate in having Thomas Buck, a scholar and a lover of literature, for its first printer. The five editions for which he was responsible all testify to his continued vigilance. After his retirement the degeneration of the text set in. I have, however, recorded the variants of all the seventeenth-century editions, since, although they have no authority, many of the errors which they introduced have had a long life and have been able to mislead critics as acute as Coleridge. I have also recorded the variants due to Walton, because the popularity of his Lives has given them wide currency. Mrs. Bernard Hall has generously placed at my disposal the notes on the text made by her late husband, a lifelong and devoted student of Her- bert's poems. Although his theory about the manuscripts, communicated to The Times Literary Supplement of 26 October 1933, w^s in my judgement disproved by Mr. John Sparrow in a letter to the same journal on 14 December, some of the emendations suggested by him deserve to be recorded.

The authenticity of the occasional writings is discussed in the Commentary. There is new evidence (see pp. 570-2) for ascribing to Herbert the nucleus at least of Outlandish Proverbs. Professor H. G. Wright published in 1935 a transcript of seventy-two proverbs made by Sir Henry Herbert in 1637, three years before the appearance in print of Outlandish Proverbs. By the kindness of the Hon. Lady Langman I have had access to a collection of more than 200 of the proverbs, contained in a Little Gidding Story-Book, which she inherited from her Ferrar ancestors.

For the Latin texts I have had the help of Mr. Bruce

vi PREFACE

Goldie and Mr. Lionel James. As these texts reach us from widely differing sources — autographs and manuscript copies, some books printed in Herbert's lifetime and others thirty years after his death — they present a distracting variety of spelling and accentuation. I have throughout adopted the standard of spellings and accents which Herbert himself used, with occasional inconsistencies and oversights, in the autographs of his Latin poems. Although many of the youthful poems have little merit, it may be hoped that Mr. Edmund Blunden's verse-translations in Essays and Studies by members of the English Association, vol. xix, will revive interest in Herbert's elegies on his mother and in the vigor- ous poem, 'Triumphus Mortis', which has its prose counter- part in the third Oration.

There are some additions to the corpus of Herbert's writings: an English poem to Bacon (p. 209); a long gossip- ing letter to Sir Robert Harley, included by the kindness of the Duke of Portland (p. 367); extracts from two letters to Nicholas Ferrar (pp. 577-8); a paper of advice for Arthur Woodnoth, included by the kind permission of Magdalene College, Cambridge, and of the Cambridge University Press and with the cordial assent of its discoverer, Dr. Ber- nard Blackstone (p. 380); and a Latin speech on the occasion of James I leaving Cambridge in 1622/3 (p. 443).

'No poet except Donne is in such need of a commentator as Herbert.' Ten years after Dean Beeching wrote these words in 1895, the late Professor George Herbert Palmer's edition of The English Works of George Herbert appeared and put every student of Herbert in his debt; but he leaves some of Herbert's many obscurities unexplained, and not all his explanations are acceptable. Even the plainness of Herbert's diction is sometimes deceptive, because words still in familiar use are used by him in senses which are now obsolete. I have had the advantage, denied to previous editors, of using the Oxford English Dictionary. Whoever read The Temple for the purposes of this dictionary must have read it with exemplary care. For the interpretation of specially difficult passages I have had much help from Mrs. H. S. Bennett, Mr. H. F. B. Brett-Smith, Miss K. M. Lea, and Mr. John

PREFACE vii

Sparrow. As might be expected, Bacon's and, still more, Donne's writings supply many striking parallels to Herbert's thoughts and expressions. He was also evidently familiar with Sidney's and Southwell's poems. He owes little to any other literary source except the Bible, from which he sought to 'suck ev'ry letter, and a hony gain'. The Autho- rized Version appeared when he was in his nineteenth year, and I have therefore in quoting from it retained the spelling of the text of 1 6 1 1 .

The late Mr. A. Edward Newton brought from America and placed in the Bodleian Library for my use his specially fine copy of the first edition of The Temple, and he completed his kindness by allowing photographs of two pages to be taken for illustration of this volume. For permission to make and use other photographs I have to thank the authorities of the Bodleian Library and of Dr. Williams's Library, Gordon Square, London.

In dealing with the proofs I have received valuable help and suggestions from my former tutor, the Rev. Dr. H. E. D. Blakiston (for the Introduction), and from Miss K. M. Lea and Mr. John Butt (for the Commentary). The long list of those who have helped me with their special knowledge is a happy illustration of the generosity of scholars. It is a pleasure to acknowledge my indebtedness to the Rev. M. F. Alderson (of Bemerton), Mr. Norman Ault, Miss K. I. Barratt, Dr. Bernard Blackstone, Mr. G. Brimley Bowes, the Rev. Dr. S. W. Carruthers, Dr. R. W. Chapman, Pro- fessor G. N. Clark, the late Rev. Dr. G. A. Cooke, Mr. H. R. Creswick, the Rev. M. C. D'Arcy, S.J., the Rev. R. Trevor Davies, Professor W. J. Entwistle, the Rev. A. M. Farrer, the Rev. Canon W. H. Ferguson (of Salisbury), Professor C. Foligno, Mr. A. D. Franklin, Mr. Strickland Gibson of the Bodleian Library, the late Dr. R. W. T. Gunther, Sir Arthur Hill, Mr. J. Isaacs, Mr. J. D. K. Lloyd (of Montgomery), the Rev. Dr. W. F. Lofthouse, Professor L. C. Martin, Mr. Francis Meynell (for the loan of photo- stats), Mr. Francis Needham, Professor D. Nichol Smith, Dr. C. T. Onions, Mr. G. S. H. Pearson (of Baynton), Pro- fessor E. Allison Peers, Mr. H. L. Pink of the Cambridge

via PREFACE

University Library, the Earl of Powis, Mr. S. C. Roberts of the Cambridge University Press, Professor G. Rudler, Professor C. J. Sisson, the Rev. Dr. J. H. Srawley (of Lincoln), Mr. W. Force Stead, the Rev. Dr. Darwell Stone, Mr. Geoffrey Tillotson, the late Rev. W. H. Tozer (of Dauntsey), Dr. C. C. J. Webb, and Professor H. G. Wright.

I have also to thank the Registrary of the University of Cambridge for access to the Orator's Book, and the Libra- rians of Clare, Pembroke, St. John's, Magdalene and Trinity Colleges, Cambridge, the Bodleian Library, the Cambridge University Library, the University of St. Andrews Library, the British Museum, Dr. Williams's Library, Harvard College Library, the Henry E. Hunting- ton Library and other libraries, both public and private, in this country and in the United States.

I am most grateful to the Delegates of the Clarendon Press for going forward with this book in spite of the War, and to the staff of the Press for their unremitting care and skill. Such technical excellence is appropriately bestowed on the work of a poet who had a peculiar delight in 'neatness' and form.

F. E. H.

l<) January 1941

NOTE

I TAKE the opportunity of a reprint to add a fact of bio- graphical importance. There seems good reason to identify the poet with the George Herbert who was elected M.P. for Montgomery in 1624 and again in Charles I's first parlia- ment which met on 18 May 1625 and was dissolved on 12 August (W. R. Williams, Par/. Hist, of Wales, i89c, pp. 147-8). By 1626 the poet was in deacon's orders and in that year his brother Sir Henry was elected for Montgomery 1 should also like to draw attention to Professor F P Wil- son s 'A Note on George Herbert's "The Ouidditie" ' (Review of English Studies, Oct. I943), and to Professor L. de Sehncourt s George Herbert' (Hibbert Journal, July I94U- A few mistakes are now corrected.

'945 F. E. H.

CONTENTS

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS USED IN FOOTNOTES AND COMMENTARY xx

INTRODUCTION

i. Biography ........ xxi

ii. Contemporary and later Reputation .... xxxix

in. Manuscripts of The Temple poems .... 1

iv. Early Editions of The Temple . . . . Ivi

v. A Priest to the Temple and other writings . . . Ixiii

vi. Modern Editions of Herbert's Works . . . Ixv

vii. The Text of The Temple Ixx

THE TEMPLE. Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations . . i

The Printers to the Header ...... 3

The Dedication ........ 5

THE CHURCH-PORCH. P erirrhanterium . .... 6

Superliminare . . . . . . . 25

THE CHURCH ........ 26

(For convenient reference the poems are listed in alphabetical order?)

Aaron . . . . . . . . . 174

Affliction

i. When first thou didst entice to thee my heart . . 46

ii. Kill me not ev'ry day . . . . . .62

in. My heart did heave, and there came forth, O God! . -73

iv. Broken in pieces all asunder . . . . .89

v. My God, I read this day . . . . -97

The Agonie . . . . . . . -37

The Altar 26

Anagram of the Virgin Marie . . . . 77

To all Angels and Saints . . . . . -77

The Answer ........ 169

Antiphon

i. Let all the world in ev'ry corner sing . . . 53

ii. Praised be the God of love . . . . 92

Artillerie . . . . . . . . 139

Assurance . . . . . . . . 155

Avarice ......... 77

CONTENTS

The Bag 151

The Banquet . . 181

H. Baptisme

i. As he that sees a dark and shadie grove . . -43

ii. Since, Lord, to thee . . . . . -44

Bitter-sweet . . . . . . . . 171

The British Church . . . . . . .109

The Bunch of Grapes. . . . . . .128

Businesse . . . . . . . . 113

The Call 156

Charms and Knots . . . . . . .96

Christmas ........ 80

The Church-floore ....... 66

Church-lock and key ....... 66

Church-monuments ....... 64

Church-musick . . . . . . . 65

Church-rents and schismes . . . . . .140

Gasping of hands . . . . . . 157

The Collar ........ 15^

Coloss. iii. 3. Our life is hid with Christ in God . . .84

The H. Communion . . . . . . • 52

Complaining . . . . . . . • T43

Confession . . . . . . . .126

Conscience ........ 105

Constancie . . . . . . . .72

Content ......... 68

The Crosse . . . . . . . .164

The Dawning . . . . . . . .112

Death ......... 185

Decay ......... 99

Deniall ......... JQ

Dialogue . . . . . . . .114

A Dialogue- An theme. Chris f tan. Death . . . .169

The Discharge . . . . . . . .144

Discipline . . . . . . . .178

Divinitie . . . . . . . . 1 34

Dooms-day . . . . . . . .186

Dotage 167

Dulnesse . . . . . . . .115

Easter . 41

CONTENTS xi

Easter-wings . . . . . . . - 43

The Elixir . . . . . . . . 1 84

Employment

i. If as a flowre doth spread and die . . . -57

ii. He that is weary, let him sit . . . 78

Ephes. iv. 30. Grieve not the Holy Spirit, &c, . . . 1 3 5

Even-song ........ 63

Faith ......... 49

The Familie . . . . . . . . 1 36

The Flower . . . . . . . .165

The Foil 175

The Forerunners . . . . . . .176

Frailtie . . . . . . . . 71

Giddinesse . . . . . . . .127

The Glance . . . . . . . .171

The Glimpse . . . . . . . . 1 54

Good Friday . . . . . . . 38

Grace ......... 60

Gratefulnesse . . . . . . . .123

Grief ......... 164

Grieve not the Holy Spirit, &c. . . . . . 1 3 5

Heaven . . . . . . . . .188

The Holdfast 143

Home ......... 107

Hope . . . . . . . . .121

Humilitie ........ 70

A true Hymne . . . . . . . .168

The Invitation . . . . . . -179

Jesu . . . . . . . . .112

The Jews . . . . . . . .152

Jordan

i. Who sayes that fictions onely and false hair . . 56

ii. When first my lines of heav'nly joyes made mention . .102

Josephs coat . . . . . . . -159

Judgement . . . . . . . .187

Justice

i. I cannot skill of these thy wayes . . . -95

ii. O dreadfull Justice, what a fright and terrour . .141

xii CONTENTS

Lent 86

Life 94

Longing. ........ 148

Love

i. Immortall Love, authour of this great frame . . . 54

ii. Immortall Heat, O let thy greater flame . . • 54

in. Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back . .188

Love-joy . . . . . . • .116

Love unknown . . . . . . .129

Man ......... 90

Mans medley . . . . . . . . 1 3 1

Marie Magdalene . . . . . . . 173

Mattens. ........ 62

The Method . 133

Miserie . . . . . . . . .100

Mortification . . . . . . . .98

Nature . . . . . . . -45

Obedience ........ 104

The Odour. 2 Cor. ii. 15 ...... 174

An Offering ........ 1*47

Our /iff is hid with Christ in God . . . . .84

Paradise. . . . . . . . .132

AParodie 183

Peace . . . . . . . . .124

The Pearl. Matt. xiii. 45 . . . . .88

The Pilgrimage ....... 141

ThePosie 182

Praise

i. To write a verse or two is all the praise . . .61

ii. King of Glorie, King of Peace . .... 146

in. Lord, I will mean and speak thy praise . . -157

Prayer

i. Prayer the Churches banquet, Angels age . . 51

ii. Of what an easie quick accesse ..... 103

The Priesthood . . . . . . .160

Providence . . . . . . . .116

The23dPsalme I72

The Pulley IJ9

CONTENTS xiii

The Quidditie ........ 69

The Quip . . . . . . . . 1 10

Redemption ........ 40

Repentance ........ 48

The Reprisall ........ 36

The Rose ........ 177

The Sacrifice ........ 26

Saints vide Angels . . . . . . 77

Schismes vide Church-rents . . . . . .140

The H. Scriptures

i. Oh Book! infinite sweetnesse! let my heart . . .58

H. Oh that I knew how all thy lights combine . . -58

The Search 162

Self-condemnation . . . . . . .170

Sepulchre ........ 40

Sighs and Grones . . . . . . .83

Sinne

i. Lord, with what care hast thou begirt us round ! . • 45

n. O that I could a sinne once see ! .... 63

The Sinner . . . . . . . .38

Sinnes round . . . . . . . .122

Sion ......... 106

The Size 137

The Sonne ........ 167

The Starre ........ 74

The Storm . . . . . . . . 132

Submission ........ 95

Sunday . . . . . . . . -75

The Temper

i. How should I praise thee, Lord! how should my rymes . 55

u. It cannot be. Where is that mightie joy . . 56

The Thanksgiving . . . . . . -35

Time ......... 122

Triniue Sunday . . . . . . .68

Ungratefulnesse . . . . . . .82

Unkindnesse ........ 93

xiv CONTENTS

Vanitie

i. The fleet Astronomer can bore . . . . -85

n. Poore silly soul, whose hope and head lies low . .in

Vertue 87

The Water-course . . . . . . .170

Whitsunday . . . . . . . -59

The Windows 67

The World 84

A Wreath 185

THE CHURCH MILITANT . . . . . . .190

L'Envoy . . . . . . . .199

ENGLISH POEMS IN THE WILLIAMS MS. NOT IN- CLUDED IN THE TEMPLE

The H. Communion ....... 200

Love ......... 201

Trinity Sunday ........ 202

Euen-song ......... 203

The Knell ......... 204

Perseverance ........ 204

POEMS FROM WALTON'S LIVES

Two Sonnets sent to his Mother, New-year 1609/10 . . 206

To my Successor ........ 207

Another version (from Fuller's Holy State)

DOUBTFUL POEMS

On Sir John Danvers (senior) ...... 208

On Henry Dan vers, Earl of Dan by ..... 208

To the Right Hon. the L. Chancellor (Bacon) . . . 209

A Paradox. That the Sicke are in better State then the Whole . 209 To the Queene of Bohemia . , . . . .211

L'Envoy . . . . . . . .213

The Convert. An Ode . . . . . . .213

Psalms I-VII 214

A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE, OR, THE COUNTRY PARSON The Authour to the Reader . . . . . .224

i. Of a Pastor ....... 225

n. Their Diversities . . . . . .225

HI. The Parson's Life ...... 227

CONTENTS xv

mi. The Parson's Knowledg ..... 228

v. The Parson's Accessary Knowledges . . . .229

vi. The Parson praying . . . . . • 231

vii. The Parson preaching . . . . . .232

vni. The Parson on Sundays . . . . . 235

ix. The Parson's state of Life . . . . . 236

x. The Parson in his house . . . . .239

xi. The Parson's Courtesie ...... 243

xn. The Parson's Charity ...... 244

xin. The Parson's Church ...... 246

xiv. The Parson in Circuit ...... 247

xv. The Parson Comforting ..... 249

xvi. The Parson a Father . . . . . .250

xvn. The Parson in Journey . . . . . .250

xvni. The Parson in Sentinell . . . . .252

xix. The Parson in reference . . . . .252

xx. The Parson in God's stead . . . . .254

xxi. The Parson Catechizing . . . . . 255

xxn. The Parson in Sacraments . . . . . 257

xxm. The Parson's Completenesse . . . . .259

xxiv. The Parson arguing ...... 262

xxv. The Parson punishing . . . . . -263

xxvi. The Parson's eye ...... 264

xxvn. The Parson in mirth ...... 267

xxvin. The Parson in Contempt ..... 268

xxix. The Parson with his Church- Wardens . . . 269

xxx. The Parson's Consideration of Providence . . . 270

xxxi. The Parson in Liberty ...... 272

xxxn. The Parson's Surveys ...... 274

xxxni. The Parson's Library . . . . . .278

xxxiv. The Parson's Dexterity in applying of Remedies . . 280

xxxv. The Parson's Condescending . . . . -283

xxxvi. The Parson Blessing . . . . . .285

xxxvn. Concerning detraction ...... 286

The Authour's Prayers before and after Sermon . . .288

CORNARO'S TREATISE OF TEMPERANCE. Translated into English by Mr. George Herbert . . . . . .291

BRIEFE NOTES ON VALDESSO'S CONSIDERATIONS, AND A LETTER TO THE TRANSLATOR . . .304

OUTLANDISH PROVERBS. Selected by Mr. G. H. . .321

917.15 b

xvi CONTENTS

JACULA PRUDENTUM 356

LETTERS

i. To his Mother. [New-year 1609/10] . . . -363

n. To Sir J[ohn] D[anvers]. [1617/18] . . . -363

in. To the same. 1 8 March 1617/18 .... 364

iv. To Mr. Henry Herbert. [1618] . . . . 365

v. To the truly Noble Sir J.D. [16 1 8] . . . .366

vi. To Sir Robert Harley. 26 Dec. 1618 .... 367

vii. To Sir John Danvers. [Sept. 1619] . . . .369

vin. To the same. 6 Oct. 1619 . . . . '37°

ix. To the same. 19 Jan. 1619/20 ..... 371

x. For my dear sick Sister. 6 Dec. 1620 . . . . 371

xi. To his Mother, in her sickness. 29 May 1622 . . '372

xn. To Sir Henry Herbert. [? Autumn 1630] . . . 375

xin. To the Lady Anne, Countess of Pembr. and Montg. 10 Dec.

1631 376

xiv. To Sir Henry Herbert. 21 March [1631/2] . . . 377

xv. To Mr. Nicholas Ferrar. [March 1631/2] . . . 378

xvi. To the same ....... 379

xvn. To Sir Henry Herbert. 7 June [1631 or 1632] . . 379

Reasons for Arthur Woodnoth's living with Sir John Danvers

[Oct. 1631] 380

THE WILL OF GEORGE HERBERT . . . .382

MUSAE RESPONSORIAE ad Andreae Melvini Scoti Anti-Tami- Cami-Cattgoriam . . . . . . . .384

PASSIO DISCERPTA 404

LUCUS 410

MEMORIAE MATRIS SACRUM (otherwise known as Parentalia) 422

ALIA POEMATA LATINA

In Obitum Henrici Principis Walliae. (Two poems.) 1612 . 432

In Natales et Pascha Concurrentes. [1618 or 1629] . . . 434

In Obitum Reginae Annae. 1619 . . . . -435

Ad Autorem Instaurationis Magnae. [Oct. 1620] . . • 435

Comparatio inter Munus Summi Cancellariatus et Librum. [Nov.

1620] 435

In Honorem D.D. Verulamij, Su Albani. [1620/1 or 1621] . 436

CONTENTS xvii

Aethiopissa ambit Cesium Diuersi Coloris Virum. . . -437

Dum petit Infantem. 12 Mar. 1622/3 • .... 437

In Obitum Francisci Vicecomitis Sancti Albani. 1626 . . 438

In Sacram Anchoram Piscatoris. [1631] . . . '43$

An English version of the above . . . . -439

Another version ....... 439

ORATIONES

i. Oratio coram Dominis Legatis. 27 Feb. 1622/3 • • 44°

ii. Oratio in Discessum Regis ab Academia. 12 Mar. 1622/3 . 443

in. Oratio Principis Caroli Reditum ex Hispanijs celebrans. 8 Oct.

1623 444

EPISTOLAE

i. To the Marquis of Buckingham [Jan. 1617/18] . . 456

ii. To Sir Robert Naunton [June 1619] . . . -457

in. To King James I. 20 May 1620 .... 458

iv. To the same. 14 June 1620 ..... 460

v. To Francis Lord Verulam, Chancellor [June 1620] . . 460

vi. To Sir R. Naunton, Secretary of State [June 1620] . . 461

vii. To Sir Fulk G revile, Chancellor of the Exchequer [June 1620] 462

vm. To Francis Lord Verulam, Chancellor. 4 Nov. 1620 . 463

ix. To Sir Henry Montagu, Treasurer. 18 Dec. 1620 . . 464

x. To Sir R. Naunton, elected Burgess. 13 Jan. 1620/1 . 465

xi. To Sir Thomas Coventry, Attorney-General. 29 Jan. 1620/1 465

xn. To Sir Robert Heath, Solicitor-General. 29 Jan. 1620/1 . 466

xin. To the Archbishop of Canterbury (Abbot). 29 Jan. 1620/1 466

xiv. To Francis Viscount St. Alban, Chancellor. 29 Jan. 1620/1 467

xv. To Sir James Ley, Chief Justice. 6 Feb. 1620/1 . . 468

xvi. To Lionel Lord Cranfield, Treasurer. 8 Oct. 1621 . . 469

xvn. To Robert Creighton. 6 May [? 1627] . . . 470

xvin. To the Bishop of Winchester (And re wes). [1619] . . 471

COMMENTARY 475

APPENDIX

Andrew Melville's Anti-Tami-Cami-Categoria . . . 609

INDEX OF FIRST LINES 615

ILLUSTRATIONS

Herbert's autograph of Passio Discerpta, XVIII (Dr. Williams's

Library, MS. Jones B 62) . . . . Frontispiece

Title-page of the dated first edition of The Temple (Mr. A. E.

Newton's copy) . . . . . . . p. I

'The Altar' from p. 18 of the dated first edition of The Temple

(Mr. A. E. Newton's copy) ..... To face p. 26

Title-page of 'A Priest to the Temple* in Herberts Remains, 1652 . ^.223

Title-page of 'Outlandish Proverbs' in Witts Recreations, 1640 (the Bodleian copy, in which the words 'By Mr. G.//.' are obliterated by hand) ....... To face p. 320

Tide-page of Oratio Principis Caroli Re di turn cele brans, 1623 To face p. 444

ABBREVIATIONS

USED IN FOOTNOTES AND COMMENTARY

B = MS. Tanner 307 in the Bodleian Library (see p. 1).

W— MS. Jones B 62 in Dr. Williams's Library (see p. Hi).

A.V. = The Holy Bible: an exact reprint in roman type of the Authorized

Version of 1611. Oxford, 1911.

B.C.P. = The Book of Common Prayer. R. Barker, London, 1611. B.M. = The British Museum. Bodl. = The Bodleian Library, Oxford. D.N.B. = The Dictionary of National Biography. Gibson = The Temple, ed. E. C. S. Gibson, and edn. 1905. Grosart = The Complete Works of George Herbert, ed. A. B. Grosart.

3 vols. 1874. Hall = 'The Text of George Herbert', by Bernard G. Hall, in The Times

Literary Supplement, 26 Oct. 1933. O.E.D. = The Oxford English Dictionary. 1933. Onions = A Shakespeare Glossary, by C. T. Onions. 1911. Palmer = The English Works of George Herbert, ed. G. H. Palmer. 3 vols.

3rd edn. 1915. Pickering= The Works of George Herbert. Vol. i, Remains, 1836; vol. ii,

Poems, 1835.

Walton = 'Life of Herbert' in Lives, 1670.

Willmott = The Works of George Herbert, ed. R. A. Willmott. 1854. conj. = conjectural emendation.

corr. to = corrected in the MS. by the original copyist. corr. by 2nd hand to = corrected in the MS. by a hand other than that of the

original copyist. om. = omitted.

The editions of The Temple from 1633 to ^09 are cited by the year of publication, the 2nd edition, issued in the same year as the ist, being cited as 1633*, and the *seventh Edition' without imprint as undated yth edn. The edition of 1695, using the sheets of 1674 without alteration, is ignored. Such a description as 1638- is used to imply that a reading first adopted in 1638 was retained in subsequent editions of the seventeenth century, and 1638-60 implies that a reading first adopted in 1638 kept its place in all editions up to and including that of 1660.

For works other than The Temple the MS. or printed book used as the. basis of the text is named first in the footnotes, and all deviations from it are noted. Other MSS. and printed books containing the text are separately named in the appropriate footnotes.

INTRODUCTION

i. Biography

GEORGE HERBERT, the fifth son of Richard and Magdalen Herbert, was born on 3 April 1593. As Walton candidly admits that Herbert, in his earlier years at Cambridge, 'put too great a value on his parts and parent- age', something must be said of his ancestry. The Her- berts, a family of Norman descent, had by 1210 taken root in Wales and by the beginning of the fifteenth century, through intermarriage with leading Welsh families and by favour of the Crown, had become the most conspicuous Border family. George's eldest brother Edward describes their great-grandfather, Sir Richard, a nephew of the first Herbert to become earl of Pembroke, as 'steward, in the time of King Henry the Eighth, of the lordships and marches of North Wales, East Wales, and Cardiganshire'.1 He states that Sir Richard and their grandfather Edward, who died a few weeks after George was born, 'lived in Mont- gomery Castle', an ancient Border fortress of which the Herberts were hereditary governors, but that 'my grand- father erected in his age' another house, Blackhall, 'a low building, but of great capacity',2 which is believed to have been in the north-east part of the town. Oley and Walton state that George Herbert was born in the Castle, and certainly it continued to be habitable until its demolition by the Parliamentarians in 1 649, and was intermittently the residence of George's brother Edward from the age of i8,3 but the more commodious Elizabethan house may have been the birthplace of George; it is significant that a marginal note printed in Donne's sermon commemorating Herbert's mother describes her husband as 'Rich. Herbert of Blache- hall in Montgomery, Esqu*

The painted effigies of Herbert's parents are on the splendid Renaissance tomb in Montgomery Church.

1 Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Autobiography, ed. Sidney Lee, 1906, p. 5.

2 Ibid. p. 4. 3 Ibid. p. 23.

xxii INTRODUCTION

Richard Herbert is described by his son Edward,1 who was himself later known as 'the black Lord Herbert', as 'black- haired and bearded, as all my ancestors of his side are said to have been', handsome but of 'somewhat stern look', a terror to evil-doers, yet one to whom even his enemies could appeal successfully for justice; though a man of affairs, he had a good knowledge of Latin and history. But, as he was buried on 15 October 1596, when his son George was aged only three years and a half, the influence of home upon his younger children belongs almost wholly to his gifted wife.

Magdalen, daughter of Sir Richard Newport of High Ercall and Eyton, reputed to be the largest landowner in Shropshire, was left a widow with seven sons (including William, born posthumously) and three daughters, ''lobs number and lobs distribution (as shee her selfe would very often remember)'.2 Donne knew her well for over twenty years, and probably as early as 1 6o43 addressed a verse-letter to her. On St. Mary Magdalen's Day 1607 he sent her his 'La Corona' sonnets, together with a sonnet addressed to herself and a covering letter.4 Sir Herbert Grierson suggests* that it was perhaps shortly before her second marriage at about the age of 40 to Sir John Danvers in the early spring of 1608/9 that Donne daringly began 'The Autumnall' with the lines:

No Spring^ nor Summer Beauty hath such grace, As I have seen in one Autumnal I face.

Besides such complimentary verse, there are two full- length descriptions of Magdalen Herbert's character and manner of life, in Donne's sermon at her 'month's mind' and in the long Latin poem which stands second in George Herbert's collection of elegies appended to the sermon. Even when allowance is made for the occasion and for heightened feeling, the two accounts corroborate one an- other closely and record authentic traits. Donne describes

1 Lord Herbert of Cherbury, op. cit. pp. 2-3.

2 J. Donne, A Sermon of Commemoration of the Lady DXuers (1627), p. 139.

3 The Poems of John Donne, ed. H. J. C. Grierson, ii. 132.

4 Ibid. ii. 228-9. s Ibid. ii. 62-3.

BIOGRAPHY xxiii

her high intelligence and 'sharpness of wit', as well as her devotion to the Scriptures and the services of the Church: 'the wit of our time is profaneness; nevertheless > she that loved that hated this'; 'her house was a court in the conversation of the best'. He mentions also her unremit- ting care of the household and her lavish charity, especially during 'the late heavy visitation' of the plague in 1625, when Donne himself found refuge in her house at Chelsea. George Herbert describes the orderliness of her life, in which everything had its place and its due attention — the family and household, the garden, her neighbours, her care for the needy and the sick, the offices of religion. He tells too of her love of music, her embroidery, her exquisite penmanship (for which he was himself distinguished), her pleasant and witty talk, her correspondence with men of letters. He calls her 'severa parens',1 but he says that to her he owes his love of good letters,2 and as well his second birth :3

Per te nascor in hunc globum, Exemploque tuo nascor in alterum:

Bis tu mater eras mihi.

There is much evidence to support Donne's assertion that, on the death of her husband, Mrs. Herbert 'proposed to herself, as her principal care, the education of her children'. Edward had already matriculated at Oxford as a gentleman- commoner of University College in May 1596 and in February 1598/9 he married at Eyton a cousin, Mary Herbert. Magdalen Herbert, after living for a while with her widowed mother, Lady Newport, at Eyton, took a house at Oxford for herself and the younger children and the married pair.4 The next move was to London, where Mrs. Herbert again 'took a house*. The young children had a tutor until George was 'about the age of twelve years' when or 'not long after' (Walton) he was sent to West- minster School. The school records give no date of his admission, but, if Walton is right about his age at the time, it would be in 1605. Many writers have been tempted to

1 Memoriae Matris Sacrum, xiii. 2. * Ibid. ii. 61-5.

3 Ibid. iv. 13-15. 4 Lord Herbert of Cherbury, op. cit. p. 23.

xxiv INTRODUCTION

infer that this year began Herbert's acquaintance with Lancelot Andrewes, who, as dean of Westminster, took much interest in the more promising boys. Bishop John Racket gratefully records that Andrewes 'was the first that planted me in my tender Studies'; but, as he was seven months older than Herbert, he may have entered the school earlier. In Walton's account, Mrs. Herbert com- mitted her son to the care of Dr. Neile, who was installed as dean on 5 November 1 605 (the day of the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot), Andrewes having vacated the deanery on becoming bishop of Chichester.

It is probable that for his first school year George Herbert continued to live at home, especially as Mrs. Herbert's house was 'near Charing Cross' when her son Edward visited her in 1605. After one year in the, school he was eligible for nomination as a King's Scholar, which involved residence in the school. The reputation of West- minster at the universities for classical scholarship stood higher than that of other schools, and Herbert had the best opportunities of laying the foundation of his knowledge of Latin and Greek. He would also have practice in writing such Latin epigrams on sacred the nes as he was afterwards to write at Cambridge, since it was in 1630 and probably earlier a regular employment of King's Scholars on Sunday afternoons to write 'verses upon the preacher's sermon or the epistle and gospell',1 just as Crashaw had similar practice a few years later at Charterhouse. It may even be that Herbert began at school his answers to Andrew Melville's Anti-Tami-Cami-Categoria^ which, according to Walton, was 'brought into Westminster-School, where Mr. George Herbert then, and often after, made such answers',2 but this reference to Westminster is absent from Walton's first edition (i 670). At the .election of Westminster Scholars to Christ Church, Oxford, and Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1608, Henry King was among those elected to Christ Church, and Hacket and Herbert among those elected to Trinity. Richard Ireland, who had succeeded William

1 Lusus Alteri Westmonasterienses (1863), p. 331.

BIOGRAPHY xxv

Camden as headmaster in 1598, said, at parting, to Hacket and Herbert that

he expected to have credit by them two at the University ', or would never hope for it afterwards by any while he lived: and added withal, that he need give them no counsel to follow their Books, but rather to study moderately, and use exercise; their parts being so good, that if they were careful not to impair their health with too much study, they would not fail to arrive at the top of learning in any Art or Science. 1

'Georgius Harbert' (a spelling often found, and probably corresponding to the contemporary pronunciation) was matriculated, first of the pensioners of Trinity College, on 1 8 December 1609. Another who entered Trinity from Westminster in that academic year was Charles Chauncy, the future second President of Harvard College. For the ensuing New Year's Day Herbert sent his mother two sonnets avowing his dedication to sacred poetry. From this early resolve he was never to retreat, although at times he drew back from the project of taking holy orders, which his discerning mother had early implanted in his mind. Apart from some complimentary verses to Bacon and other public personages, he wrote on religious themes only, whether in Latin or English, and Gosse has no warrant for asserting2 that Herbert destroyed his 'amatory verse' when at last he entered the ministry. The sonnets have the inevitable faults of immaturity; he was not yet seventeen. They are clearly imitative of Sir Philip Sidney; but, both in theme and manner, they already suggest the later Herbert, especially in the effective close of the second sonnet. In the fragment, which alone remains of the accompanying letter, there is an allusion to 'my late Ague', the first of many references in his letters and poems to the ill health which dogged him throughout his short life, and of which his headmaster had warned him. His first appearance in print was shortly before taking the B.A. degree, when he contributed two Latin poems to the Cambridge volume of 1612 com- memorating the death of Prince Henry, Herbert's exact

J J. Racket, A Century of Sermons (1675): Life by T. Plume, p. v. * Life and Letters of Donne > ii. 346.

xxvi INTRODUCTION

contemporary. In the Ordo Senioritatis of 1612/13 his name stood second, but the high position was in those days often accorded as much for aristocratic connexion as for intellectual distinction,1 He was elected a minor fellow of Trinity on 3 October 1614 and major fellow on 15 March 1615/16, and in 1616 proceeded to the masters degree. Among the fellows of Trinity with whom he was intimate were Herbert Thorndyke ('Thorndick nostrum'2), Robert Creighton, also of Westminster School, who succeeded Herbert as Orator, and Henry Fairfax, son of the first Lord Fairfax, who was 'familiarly acquainted' with him; 'their dispositions were much alike, and both were exemplary for learning and piety'.3 Thomas Nevile, who built the New Court of Trinity, was Master till his death in 1615, and was followed for ten years by John Richardson.

For the first few years after taking his first degree Herbert was free, so far as his health allowed, to pursue his studies in classics and divinity, except for such small amount of teaching as was involved in his holding a minor college office, that of Sublector quartae classis, from 2 October 1617. He was free also to exercise his gift for Latin and English verse. We cannot safely assign any English verse to these Cambridge years, though it is likely enough that he began 'The Church-porch' and wrote early drafts of poems which eventually found a place in The Temple. There have survived no less than nine letters at dates from shortly before his 25th birthday till he was approaching the age of 27. Six of them are to his stepfather, Sir John Danvers, who seems always to have treated him generously, and one each to his favourite brother Henry, his first cousin Sir Robert Harley and a sick sister, Elizabeth, Lady Johnes. He writes to Sir John on 18 March 1617/18: 'I want Books extremely : You know, Sir, how I am now setting foot into Divinity, to lay the platform of my future life.'4 He alludes