Centuries of Meditations

Textual Notes

The corrections listed here were made by the method described in the Note on the Text. Among the cancelled passages Dobell left out but recorded in his notes is the struck first opening of the Fourth Century (“Since the author in the last century”), which shows that the he of that Century was at first plainly the author. About half of the corrections are misreadings of single words, and some of them matter a good deal. God’s omnipresence, not His omnipotence, is the house of the soul that lives in all things (I.54). The penitent confesses that having ears he hears not, where Dobell had him hearing with his eyes (I.93), and the lover is willing to impart his own soul, not to imperil it (IV.56). Small words carry large meanings. Others restore words Dobell’s eye passed over, as at I.74, where a whole clause on God giving the world to every one had dropped out. Some remove words he added, as when Alexander weeps for more worlds and not, as Dobell had it, for more worlds to conquer (I.22). A smaller number restore Traherne’s word order or his own grammar, such as the child who was “4 year old” (III.16). About forty concern words Traherne struck through and Dobell printed, among them the words dreams and, which he deleted from the phrase in which the lost child lives among dreams and shadows (III.14), and eight mark the words Dobell supplied for the sense.

Each entry below gives the meditation, then this edition’s reading, then Dobell’s, followed by a short note on the kind of correction. Where the manuscript’s reading is probable rather than certain, the note says so. Places where the hand could not be read with confidence keep Dobell’s reading and are not listed. The entries follow the order of the text.

I.1. love without knowing them: and with those things for love without knowing them: with those things. Omitted by Dobell; the words are in the manuscript.

I.2. drawn with the expectation and desire for drawn by the expectation and desire. Dobell’s misreading of the manuscript.

I.3. Is it not a very enriching verity? for Is it not a great enriching verity?. Dobell’s misreading of the manuscript. The reading is probable rather than certain.

I.5. contemplation of His Love in the work of redemption for contemplation of the work of His Love in the redemption. Dobell’s word order; the manuscript’s is restored.

I.5. by the methods of His Divine Wisdom for by the method of His Divine Wisdom. Dobell’s misreading of the manuscript.

I.6. It will enable you also to contemn the world for It will enable you to contemn the world. Omitted by Dobell; the words are in the manuscript.

I.8. thinking well proceedeth from ourselves for thinking well proceeded from ourselves. Dobell’s misreading of the manuscript.

I.10. For when you are once acquainted with the world for For when we are once acquainted with the world. Dobell’s misreading of the manuscript.

I.15. the Divinity, and in the wisdom of God for the Divinity, and in the wisdom of God. Struck through in the manuscript; Dobell prints the words without mark.

I.20. the Temple of God, the Palace of His children for the Temple of God, and Palace of His children. Dobell’s misreading of the manuscript. The reading is probable rather than certain.

I.22. I perceived, said Cineas for I perceive, said Cineas. Dobell’s misreading of the manuscript.

I.22. sat down and cried for more worlds. for sat down and cried for more worlds to conquer.. Not in the manuscript.

I.23. Being therefore all satisfactions are near at hand for Seeing therefore all satisfactions are near at hand. Dobell’s misreading of the manuscript.

I.23. and so made that they could not be more ours for and so made they could not be more ours. Omitted by Dobell; the words are in the manuscript. The reading is probable rather than certain.

I.25. were as precious as Gold to my infant eyes for were as pleasing as Gold to my infant eyes. Dobell’s misreading of the manuscript.

I.33. Yet as violently pursued them as if they for Yet as violently pursued them as if they. Struck through in the manuscript; Dobell prints the words without mark. The reading is probable rather than certain.

I.34. for a man to delight in gauderies like a butterfly for for a man to delight in gauderies like a butterfly. Struck through in the manuscript with nothing written in its place, so the revision is unfinished; Dobell prints the word without mark. The reading is probable rather than certain.

I.34. A work of God so Divine by reason for A work of God so Divine by reason. Struck through in the manuscript; Dobell prints the words without mark.

I.35. and he delights in them as His superadded treasures for and he delights in them as His superadded treasures. Struck through in the manuscript; Dobell prints the words without mark.

I.36. All the foundations of the Earth are out of course. for All the foundations of the World are out of course.. Dobell’s misreading of the manuscript.

I.37. the Glory of that Temple in which we live for the Glory of the Temple in which we live. Dobell’s misreading of the manuscript.

I.37. Yet is it the cause why men understand it not. for Yet it is the cause why men understand it not.. Dobell’s word order; the manuscript’s is restored.

I.40. to need no accidental trivial thing, no Splendours for to need no accidental trivial things, no Splendours. Dobell’s misreading of the manuscript.