From the book
Centuries of Meditations
Thomas Traherne · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordA cabinet is a small repository or collection of precious or curious things.
- In TraherneThe youthful seeker examines a curious cabinet in hope that happiness lies within it, then rejects it when its contents fail to answer his desire.
- In this edition“Cabinet” does not mean a governing ministry in these places.
- A place to beginThe seeker searches a curious cabinet but does not find his desired happiness there.
Meaning
A cabinet is a small repository or collection of precious or curious things. Its scale and enclosed contents make it a natural image for stored and discoverable treasure.
Use in the book
The youthful seeker examines a curious cabinet in hope that happiness lies within it, then rejects it when its contents fail to answer his desire. In the Fifth Century, infinite extent itself becomes a cabinet equal in value and beauty to its treasures. The change is instructive: the finite collection's promise is fulfilled at a scale that cannot be exhausted by looking to the bottom. The metaphor preserves the intimacy of possession while removing confinement. Infinity is not merely an empty box for valuable objects; its own perfection is part of the treasure.
Places to read
In this edition
“Cabinet” does not mean a governing ministry in these places. The image concerns a repository, with “curious” suggesting remarkable or skilfully made contents.
Source note
Primary text: III.25, V.3. The two occurrences contrast an exhaustible collection with an inexhaustible field of enjoyment.