From the book
Centuries of Meditations
Thomas Traherne · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordTendering means cherishing, regarding with care, or treating as precious.
- In TraherneDavid’s tendering of enemies’ lives belongs to a sequence of outward acts that express an inward relation to God.
- In this editionThe 2026 note glosses cherishing and connects the phrase with David’s sparing Saul.
- A place to beginTendering enemies’ lives forms part of David’s exemplary outward conduct.
Meaning
Tendering means cherishing, regarding with care, or treating as precious. It does not here mean formally offering something for acceptance, as in tendering a payment or resignation.
Use in the book
David’s tendering of enemies’ lives belongs to a sequence of outward acts that express an inward relation to God. Care crosses the boundary of hostility: the psalmist’s own safety or advantage does not exhaust his concern. The following references to mourning others’ sickness and showing mercy reinforce the active, protective sense. This small historical verb thus bears part of the book’s larger claim that another person can remain a treasure even when affection is difficult. The practical model complements the universal sympathy developed through contemplation elsewhere.
Places to read
- III.93Tendering enemies’ lives forms part of David’s exemplary outward conduct.
In this edition
The 2026 note glosses cherishing and connects the phrase with David’s sparing Saul. That identification explains the allusion; Traherne does not retell those episodes here.
Source note
Primary text: III.93; historical gloss and scriptural identification: 2026 edition note to III.93.