To the Lady Magdalen Herbert, of St. Mary Magdal
This poem addresses the Lady Magdalen Herbert by tracing the inheritance behind her name. It recalls that the woman of that name possessed as her fair inheritance Bethina and as jointure Magdalo, and that her active faith so highly did advance that she once knew more than the Church did know: the Resurrection. So much good is delivered of her that some Fathers are loth to believe one woman could do this, and instead think these Magdalens were two or three. The poet urges Lady Herbert to increase their number and their fame, adding to their devotion her own innocence, and to take from the example only the latter half, matched to the name she bears. In recompense, since those Magdalens harboured Christ Himself as a guest, the poet asks her to harbour these hymns, which are addressed to His dear Name.
By John Donne · First published 1670 · Genre: Religious Poetry, Metaphysical Poetry, Dedicatory Poetry · 167 words
First lines
Her of your name, whose fair inheritance / Bethina was, and jointure Magdalo, / An active faith so highly did advance, / That she once knew, more than the Church did know, / The Resurrection; so much good there is / Deliver'd of her, that some Fathers be / Loth to believe one woman could do this; / But think these Magdalens were two or three. / Increase their number, Lady, and their fame; / To their devotion add your innocence; / Take so much of th' example as of the name, / The latter half; and in some recompense, / That they did harbour Christ Himself, a guest, / Harbour these hymns, to His dear Name address'd
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To the Lady Magdalen Herbert, of St. Mary Magdalen is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Donne, dated 1670 CE.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: John Donne
- Date: 1670 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Religious Poetry, Metaphysical Poetry, Dedicatory Poetry, Devotional Literature, Encomium
- Length: 167 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
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Genres
- Religious Poetry — Centered on faith, the Resurrection, Christian devotion, and biblical themes essential to religious poetry.
- Metaphysical Poetry — Demonstrates Donne's characteristic intellectual wit, complex conceits, and profound exploration of spiritual and theological concepts.
- Dedicatory Poetry — Explicitly structured as a dedication to Lady Magdalen Herbert, exemplifying the literary form of dedicatory verse.
- Devotional Literature — Encourages Christian devotion and spiritual dedication through exhortation to faith and virtue.
Tags
religious · devotional · metaphysical · spiritual · redemption · sin · forgiveness · transformation · praise · biblical · virtue · grace