Peace
Seeking Peace in Vain
The speaker searches for peace in a cave, a rainbow, and a flower, but each promise of peace proves hollow or corrupted.
Sweet Peace, where do you live? I humbly beg you—let me know just once. I looked for you in a secret cave and asked if Peace was there. A hollow wind seemed to answer, No: go look elsewhere.1 I did, and as I went, I noticed a rainbow. Surely, I thought, this is the lace of Peace's coat. I'll look into it.2 But while I looked, the clouds suddenly broke and scattered. Then I went to a garden and spotted a splendid flower, the Crown Imperial. Surely, I said, Peace must live at the root. But when I dug, I saw a worm devouring what looked so fine.
The Prince of Peace
A venerable old man recounts the story of a prince who lived at Salem, whose death brought forth fruitful grain that can be made into bread containing the peace that the seeker desires.
At last I met a good, reverend old man. When I asked him for Peace, he began like this: Long ago there was a prince who lived at Salem, and he thrived with growing flocks and folds.✦ He lived a sweet life; yet sweetness didn't save his life from his enemies. But after death, out of his grave there sprang twelve stalks of wheat; and many, amazed by them, took some of those to plant in the ground.✦ It prospered in a strange way, and soon spread throughout the earth. For those who taste it say that a virtue lies within it—a secret virtue that brings peace and joy by the fleeing of sin.✦✦ Take some of this grain that grows in my garden—and grows for you. Make bread from it; the rest and peace you’re chasing so hard everywhere else are only found there.
Read the original English
SWeet Peace, where dost thou dwell? I humbly crave, Let me once know. I sought thee in a secret cave, And ask’d, if Peace were there. A hollow winde did seem to answer, No: Go seek elsewhere.
I did; and going did a rainbow note: Surely, thought I, This is the lace of Peaces coat: I will search out the matter. But while I lookt, the clouds immediately Did break and scatter.
Then went I to a garden, and did spy A gallant flower, The Crown Imperiall: Sure, said I, Peace at the root must dwell. But when I digg’d, I saw a worm devoure What show’d so well.
At length I met a rev’rend good old man; Whom when for Peace I did demand, he thus began: There was a Prince of old At Salem dwelt, who liv’d with good increase Of flock and fold.
He sweetly liv'd; yet sweetnesse did not save His life from foes. But after death out of his grave There sprang twelve stalks of wheat: Which many wondring at, got some of those To plant and set.
It prosper'd strangely, and did soon disperse Through all the earth: For they that taste it do rehearse, That vertue lies therein; A secret vertue bringing peace and mirth By flight of sinne.
Take of this grain, which in my garden grows, And grows for you; Make bread of it: and that repose And peace, which ev'ry where With so much earnestnesse you do pursue Is onely there.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Gen.14.18;Heb.7.1-Heb.7.2 — And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; and he was priest of God Most High. Heb.7.1 — For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him. Heb.7.2 — to whom Abraham also apportioned a tenth of everything — who is first, by translation, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.
- ↩John.12.24 — Truly, truly, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
- ↩Ps.34.8 — The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
- ↩John.12.24 — Truly, truly, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
Notes
- 1 ↩Source 'winde' is early-modern spelling of 'wind'; 'hollow' keeps the empty, echoing quality of the reply.
- 2 ↩Early modern 'did a rainbow note' is inverted word order: 'noted/noticed a rainbow' while going. 'Lace' keeps the original image of ornamental edging on Peace's coat, not modern 'shoelace'.
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