You Never Know The World Aright

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by Thomas Traherne (1636-1674)


You never know the world aright till the Sea floweth in your Veins,
till you are Clothed with the Heavens, and Crowned with the Stars;
And perceive yourself to be the Sole Heir of the Whole World;
And more then so, because Men are in it who are every
one Sole Heirs, as well as you.
Till you are intimately Acquainted with that Shady
Nothing out of which this World was made;
Till your spirit filleth the whole World and the Stars are your Jewels
Till you love Men so as to Desire their Happiness
with a thirst equal to the zeal of your own.

from Centuries of Meditation

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