Henry Vaughan (1622?-1695)
The Morning-Watch
1O joys! infinite sweetness! with what flow'rs
2And shoots of glory my soul breaks and buds!
3 All the long hours
4 Of night, and rest,
5 Through the still shrouds
6 Of sleep, and clouds,
7 This dew fell on my breast;
8 Oh, how it bloods
9And spirits all my earth! Hark! In what rings
10And hymning circulations the quick world
11 Awakes and sings;
12 The rising winds
13 And falling springs,
14 Birds, beasts, all things
15 Adore him in their kinds.
16 Thus all is hurl'd
17In sacred hymns and order, the great chime
18And symphony of nature. Prayer is
19 The world in tune,
20 A spirit voice,
21 And vocal joys
22 Whose echo is heav'n's bliss.
23 O let me climb
24When I lie down! The pious soul by night
25Is like a clouded star whose beams, though said
26 To shed their light
27 Under some cloud,
28 Yet are above,
29 And shine and move
30 Beyond that misty shroud.
31 So in my bed,
32That curtain'd grave, though sleep, like ashes, hide
33My lamp and life, both shall in thee abide.
Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: Henry Vaughan, Silex Scintillans (1650). Scolar Press, 1970. PR 3669 R2 1680AC ROBA.
First publication date:
1650
RPO poem editor: N. J. Endicott
RP edition: 3RP 1.370-71.
Recent editing: 2:2002/6/7
Rhyme: abacbbcb repeating
Other poems by Henry Vaughan
