From the book
Centuries of Meditations
Thomas Traherne · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordKing and kingdom name sovereignty and its realm.
- In TraherneThe reader becomes king over the world by discerning its parts and rejoicing in their whole composition.
- In this editionRoyal vocabulary is frequently analogical.
- A place to beginKingship consists in understanding and enjoying the composed world rather than conquering it.
Meaning
King and kingdom name sovereignty and its realm. Their devotional extension gives the soul dignity, possession, and responsibility without requiring political office.
Use in the book
The reader becomes king over the world by discerning its parts and rejoicing in their whole composition. This reign is deliberately contrasted with exhausting wars and conquests. It receives an already prepared dominion rather than creating wealth through the exclusion or defeat of rivals.
Royal comparisons also measure the value of love: a king’s favour seems more precious than a beggar’s, and divine love surpasses both. Yet the soul itself can become great and beautiful enough to make its own love precious. Kingdom language therefore describes reciprocal glorification as well as ownership. The recipient is elevated so that the response can be worthy of the giver.
Places to read
In this edition
Royal vocabulary is frequently analogical. Its emphasis on shared enjoyment prevents interpreting every kingdom as exclusive jurisdiction over other people.