Affliction (V)
Rooted in Affliction
The speaker reflects on how God uses both joy and affliction to draw us closer, comparing the soul to a tree that is rooted more firmly by shaking.
My God, I read today that the planted Paradise wasn't as secure as your floating Ark was and is—an Ark for which you alone are the stay and anchor, confirming and strengthening it in every age whenever waves rise and tempests rage. At first we lived in pleasure, and you shared your own delights with us. When we grew self-indulgent, you used displeasure to make us yours; yet so that we might not part, just as we first shared your table, now you would taste our misery.12 There's only joy and grief. If either will convert us, we are yours. Some angels used the first; if our relief takes up the second, then your double line and various baits of either kind furnish your table as you please.3 Affliction, then, is ours. We are the trees that shaking only roots more firmly, while blustering winds destroy the soft, wanton bowers and ruffle all their elaborate knots and store.4 My God, so temper joy and woe that your bright beams may tame your bow.5
Read the original English
MY God, I read this day, That planted Paradise was not so firm, As was and is thy floting Ark; whose stay And anchor thou art onely, to confirm And strengthen it in ev'ry age, When waves do rise, and tempests rage.
At first we liv'd in pleasure; Thine own delights thou didst to us impart: When we grew wanton, thou didst use displeasure To make us thine: yet that we might not part, As we at first did board with thee, Now thou wouldst taste our miserie.
There is but joy and grief; If either will convert us, we are thine: Some Angels us'd the first; if our relief Take up the second, then thy double line And sev'rall baits in either kinde Furnish thy table to thy minde.
Affliction then is ours; We are the trees, whom shaking fastens more, While blustring windes destroy the wanton bowres, And ruffle all their curious knots and store. My God, so temper joy and wo, That thy bright beams may tame thy bow.
Notes
- 1 ↩Early modern 'board with' means share table/board as a guest, not merely lodge; rendered as 'shared your table' to keep the meal/fellowship sense that the next stanza's 'table' continues.
- 2 ↩Herbert's 'wanton' means spoiled and unrestrained by ease, not only sexual license; 'self-indulgent' carries that moral drift without archaic diction.
- 3 ↩Herbert's angling metaphor: God fishes for souls with a double line (joy and grief) and varied baits; 'furnish thy table to thy minde' means stock that catch as God wills. 'Relief' here is rescue/deliverance, not mere comfort.
- 4 ↩wanton bowres: soft, luxuriant pleasure-arbors, not deep-rooted like the trees; curious knots: carefully wrought garden patterns; store: their stock and abundance of finery.
- 5 ↩bow may mean God's weapon of judgment/affliction, which mercy's bright beams restrain; some readers also hear the covenant rainbow after storm (Gen 9).
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