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'''"Johannes Agricola in Meditation"''' (1836) is an early [[dramatic monologue]] by [[Robert Browning]]. The poem was first published in the ''[[Monthly Repository]]''; later, it appeared in ''[[Dramatic Lyrics]]'' (1842) paired with ''[[Porphyria's Lover]]'' under the title "Madhouse Cells. |
'''"Johannes Agricola in Meditation"''' (1836) is an early [[dramatic monologue]] by [[Robert Browning]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Robert Browning's "Johannes Agricola in Meditation" |url=https://www.k-state.edu/english/baker/english233/Browning-JAM.htm |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=www.k-state.edu}}</ref> The poem was first published in the ''[[Monthly Repository]]''; later, it appeared in ''[[Dramatic Lyrics]]'' (1842) paired with ''[[Porphyria's Lover]]'' under the title "Madhouse Cells". |
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[[Johannes Agricola|Agricola's]] "meditations" serve primarily as a critique of [[ |
[[Johannes Agricola|Agricola's]] "meditations" serve primarily as a critique of [[antinomianism]].<ref name=":0" /> The speaker believes in an extreme form of [[predestination]], claiming that, since he is one of the elect, he can commit any sin without forfeiting his afterlife in heaven. |
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== |
== References == |
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<references /> |
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There's heaven above, and night by night <br> |
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I look right through its gorgeous roof;<br> |
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No suns and moons though e'er so bright<br> |
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Avail to stop me; splendour-proof<br> |
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I keep the broods of stars aloof:<br> |
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For I intend to get to God,<br> |
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For 't is to God I speed so fast,<br> |
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For in God's breast, my own abode,<br> |
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Those shoals of dazzling glory, passed,<br> |
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I lay my spirit down at last.<br> |
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I lie where I have always lain,<br> |
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God smiles as he has always smiled;<br> |
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Ere suns and moons could wax and wane,<br> |
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Ere stars were thundergirt, or piled<br> |
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The heavens, God thought on me his child;<br> |
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Ordained a life for me, arrayed<br> |
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Its circumstances every one<br> |
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To the minutest; ay, God said<br> |
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This head this hand should rest upon<br> |
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Thus, ere he fashioned star or sun.<br> |
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And having thus created me,<br> |
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Thus rooted me, he bade me grow,<br> |
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Guiltless for ever, like a tree<br> |
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That buds and blooms, nor seeks to know<br> |
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The law by which it prospers so:<br> |
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But sure that thought and word and deed<br> |
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All go to swell his love for me,<br> |
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Me, made because that love had need <br> |
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Of something irreversibly <br> |
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Pledged solely its content to be.<br> |
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Yes, yes, a tree which much ascend,<br> |
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No poison-gourd foredoomed to stoop!<br> |
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I have God's warrant, could I blend<br> |
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All hideous sins, as in a cup,<br> |
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To drink the mingled venoms up;<br> |
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Secure my nature will convert <br> |
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The draught to blossoming gladness fast:<br> |
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While sweet dews turn to the gourd's hurt,<br> |
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And bloat, and while they bloat it, blast,<br> |
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As from the first its lot was cast.<br> |
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For as I lie, smiled on, full-fed<br> |
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By unexhausted power to bless,<br> |
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I gaze below on hell's fierce bed,<br> |
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And those its waves of flame oppress,<br> |
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Swarming in ghastly wretchedness;<br> |
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Whose life on earth aspired to be<br> |
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One altar-smoke, so pure! -- to win<br> |
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If not love like God's love for me,<br> |
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At least to keep his anger in;<br> |
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And all their striving turned to sin.<br> |
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Priest, doctor, hermit, monk grown white<br> |
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With prayer, the broken-hearted nun,<br> |
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The martyr, the wan acolyte,<br> |
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The incense-swinging child, -- undone<br> |
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Before God fashioned star or sun!<br> |
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God, whom I praise; how could I praise,<br> |
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If such as I might understand,<br> |
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Make out and reckon on his ways,<br> |
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And bargain for his love, and stand,<br> |
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Paying a price at his right hand?'<br> |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{wikisource}} |
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*[http://www.k-state.edu/english/baker/english233/Browning-JAM.htm An essay] discussing the poem's historical antecedents. |
*[http://www.k-state.edu/english/baker/english233/Browning-JAM.htm An essay] discussing the poem's historical antecedents. |
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{{Robert Browning}} |
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[[Category:Poetry by Robert Browning]] |
[[Category:Poetry by Robert Browning]] |
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{{poem-stub}} |
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[[fr:Johannes Agricola in Meditation]] |
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Latest revision as of 04:11, 4 November 2024
"Johannes Agricola in Meditation" (1836) is an early dramatic monologue by Robert Browning.[1] The poem was first published in the Monthly Repository; later, it appeared in Dramatic Lyrics (1842) paired with Porphyria's Lover under the title "Madhouse Cells".
Agricola's "meditations" serve primarily as a critique of antinomianism.[1] The speaker believes in an extreme form of predestination, claiming that, since he is one of the elect, he can commit any sin without forfeiting his afterlife in heaven.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Robert Browning's "Johannes Agricola in Meditation"". www.k-state.edu. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
External links
[edit]
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
- An essay discussing the poem's historical antecedents.
