Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · English Edition
Centuries of Meditations
Annotated Edition · With an Introduction, Notes and an Outline.
Explore the LexiconSwipe or use the arrow keys.
English Edition · Branch 218 of 454
The Third Century · Meditation III.4
Centuries of Meditations
p. 2184
Upon those pure and virgin apprehensions which I had in my infancy, I made this poem:
1That childish thoughts such joys inspire, Doth make my wonder, and His glory higher, His bounty, and my wealth more great It shews His Kingdom, and His work complete. In which there is not anything, Not meet to be the joy of Cherubim.2He in our childhood with us walks, And with our thoughts mysteriously He talks; He often visiteth our minds, But cold acceptance in us ever finds: We send Him often grieved away, Who else would show us all His Kingdom’s joy.3O Lord, I wonder at Thy Love, Which did my infancy so early move: But more at that which did forbear And move so long, though slighted many a year: But most of all, at last that Thou Thyself shouldst me convert, I scarce know how.4Thy gracious motions oft in vain Assaulted me: my heart did hard remain Longtime! I sent my God away Grieved much, that He could not give me His joy. I careless was, nor did regard The End for which He all those thoughts prepared.5But now, with new and open eyes, I see beneath, as if I were above the skies, And as I backward look again See all His thoughts and mine most clear and plain. He did approach, He me did woo; I wonder that my God this thing would do,6From nothing taken first ,I was; What wondrous things His glory brought to pass! Now in the World I Him behold, And me, enveloped in precious gold; In deep abysses of delights, In present hidden glorious benefits.7Those thoughts His goodness long before Prepared as precious and celestial store With curious art in me inlaid, That childhood might itself alone be said My Tutor, Teacher, Guide to be, Instructed then even by the Deitie.Socrates
Reading Centuries of Meditations · The Third Century · Meditation III.4
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
Thomas Traherne’s Centuries explore felicity, childhood vision, love, and the soul’s capacity to enjoy the world. This annotated English edition presents all 410 meditations across five Centuries, with an introduction, explanatory notes, an outline, and textual apparatus.
Historical Text
The Centuries survive in Traherne’s manuscript and were first published by Bertram Dobell in London in 1908. The supplied edition follows the corrected Dobell text, with manuscript readings documented in its Note on the Text and Textual Notes. The four complete Centuries contain one hundred meditations each; the unfinished Fifth contains ten.
About This Edition
Diotimos Editions prepared the introduction, explanatory notes, glossary, reading guide, outline, and textual apparatus for this English original. Century and meditation numbers preserve the work’s structure, while verse line breaks, italics, and struck-through manuscript cancellations remain visible. Notes accompany their passages in the reader and Book Mode.
Rights
Thomas Traherne’s historical text and Bertram Dobell’s 1908 printing are in the public domain. The introduction, notes, and apparatus are © 2026 Diotimos Editions. Historical printing and transcription links identify the edition’s copy-text; manuscript corrections and unresolved readings are documented in the supplied editorial apparatus.