To all Angels and Saints
The Vision of the Blessed
The speaker addresses the angels and saints in glory, then expresses a heartfelt desire to pray to the Virgin Mary.
Oh glorious spirits, who after all your companies see the calm face of God without a frown or strict commands; where everyone is a king and has his crown, if not on his head, still in his hands:✦✦✦1 It's not from envy or malice that I hold back from asking for your special help: I would most gladly address my vows to you, blessed Maiden and Mother of my God, in my distress.✦ You are the holy mine from which the gold came—the great restorative for all decay in young and old. You are the cabinet where the jewel lay. Above all, it's to you I would open my soul.
Worship Reserved for God Alone
The speaker restrains himself from invoking the saints because the King commands no such thing, and all worship belongs to God alone.
But now, alas! I don't dare; for our King, whom we all adore and praise together, commands no such thing. And where his pleasure sets no order—it's your own case—you never move a wing.2 All worship belongs to him alone by right—a flower from his rich crown—and from him there's no appeal at the final hour. So we dare not steal from his garland to make a little bouquet for some lesser power.✦3 So even if others court you—if you know what's done on earth—we who don't do so won't fare any worse, since we're always ready to pay out if anyone can show our Master's hand.4
Read the original English
OH glorious spirits, who after all your bands See the smooth face of God, without a frown Or strict commands; Where ev'ry one is king, and hath his crown, If not upon his head, yet in his hands:
Not out of envie or maliciousnesse Do I forbear to crave your speciall aid: I would addresse My vows to thee most gladly, blessed Maid, And Mother of my God, in my distresse.
Thou art the holy Mine, whence came the gold, The great restorative for all decay In young and old; Thou art the Cabinet where the jewell lay: Chiefly to thee would I my soul unfold:
But now (alas!) I dare not; for our King, Whom we do all joyntly adore and praise, Bids no such thing: And where his pleasure no injunction layes, ('Tis your own case) ye never move a wing.
All worship is prerogative, and a flower Of his rich crown, from whom lyes no appeal At the last houre: Therefore we dare not from his garland steal, To make a posie for inferiour power.
Although then others court you, if ye know What's done on earth, we shall not fare the worse, Who do not so; Since we are ever ready to disburse, If any one our Masters hand can show.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Rev.22.4;Matt.5.8;1Cor.13.12 — And they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. Matt.5.8 — Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 1Cor.13.12 — For now we see in a mirror, dimly; but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
- ↩2Tim.4.8;Jas.1.12;1Pet.5.4;Rev.2.10 — From now on, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing. Jas.1.12 — Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him. 1Pet.5.4 — And when the Chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Rev.2.10 — Do not fear at all the things you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you may be tested, and you will have affliction for ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
- ↩Rev.1.6 — and he made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
- ↩Luke.1.43 — And why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
- ↩Matt.4.10;Deut.6.13 — Then Jesus said to him, 'Go away, Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and him alone shall you serve."' Deut.6.13 — You shall fear the LORD your God, and serve him, and swear by his name.
Notes
- 1 ↩Source “bands” is rendered as “companies” (heavenly troops/ranks). Less likely, but possible, is “bonds” of earthly service now past.
- 2 ↩Herbert is refusing unauthorized devotion to saints/angels: God has not commanded it, and even the angels themselves do not act without his leave ('you never move a wing').
- 3 ↩Source 'prerogative' is kept as exclusive royal right ('his alone by right'). 'Posie' is the early-modern posy (small bouquet); 'inferiour power' is the angels and saints addressed by the poem, not secular authority.
- 4 ↩"Master's hand" means Christ's warrant or signature of authorization: [REDACTED] speakers will honor the angels and saints only when God's own leave for that honor can be shown.
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