METAPHYSICAL POEMS OF GEORGE HERBERT

                                                                           VIRTUE

The poem 'Virtue' is George Herbert's unsurpasseable ode, which exhibits Christian view of life.  It is a moral and didactic poem which teaches us that Virtue is something supreme and everlasting.  Everything in the world must end, but a virtuous soul is immortal.  Thus, the poem urges us to follow the path of virtue.  Everything dies, but virtue is undying.

The poet calls the sweet day so cool and peaceful, which represents the union of the earth and the sky.  But the day must come to an end, and the dew- drops of the night will be like tears being shed over its death.  The colour of sweet rose is splendid red, which seems to express a mood of anger.  This sweet rose bids the rash onlooker wipe his eye.  But is must also fade away and perish.  Then the poet calls upon the sweet spring, which is full of lovely days and beautiful flowers.  This spring is like a box which contains a large number of sweet perfumes packed in it.  It has cadences also.  But the spring too must come to an end.  Infact, everything must ultimately come to an end.

Finally, the poet says that only a sweet and virtuous soul never dies.  A sweet and virtuous soul is like wood which has been strengthened by exposure to heat, moisture, etc.  Even if the whole world were to be burnt to ashes, the virtuous soul will still live on and it will then live with a greater vigour even than before.  Only a virtuous soul has and eternal life.  It will glow with life even after the death.

                                                                                                                                                    

THE PULLEY

Pulley is a mechanical device by which things are hoisted or raised to a higher level.  Here, the word 'Pulley' has been used figuratively or metaphorically to mean the feeling of weariness which will compel man to strive to raise himself towards God.

When God created man at first, there was a glass, which contained all kinds of gifts, standing close by God decided to bestow on man as many blessings as possible.  Strength was the first to come out of the glass, making a way for the others to follow.  In accordance with God's wish, the different blessings started coming out.  Strength was followed by the blessings of beauty, wisdom, honour and pleasure.  When almost all the blessings had come out of the glass and had been bestowed upon man, God paused because a certain idea occurred to Him.  God saw that only one blessing now remained in the glass, it was rest.

It occurred to God that, if this final blessing were also bestowed upon man, man would adore all the gifts in his possession and he would then pay no attention to the giver of those gifts.  He would value only those gifts and would forget Him altogether.  So, God decided to withhold this blessing of rest from man.  Without this blessing, man might find himself rich but he would also experience restlessness and fatigue.  It man would not think of God out of the goodness of his heart, he would feel compelled by his restlessness to think of God.  The want of rest would in this way serve as a pulley to hoist man upwards to God.  Thus, God's withholding the blessing of rest from man would be good both for him and for God.