Vengeance will Sit above our Faults; but Till

Name: Vengeance will Sit above our Faults; but Till
Author: John Donne

The poem argues that Vengeance sits in judgment above human faults, but only once she takes that seat can the faults themselves be perceived; until then, people move blindly, led by Vengeance's unseen presence, and suffer the consequences of wrongdoing even as they commit it. The speaker laments that youth is especially unfortunate when it fails to guard against doing ill, since age and care already burden a person enough on their own. Among the errors accumulated over a lifetime, those committed most recently — "the last place" — are said to be the greatest in number. The speaker further observes that though people ought to repent of a wrong as soon as they begin it, they strangely fail to perceive their faults in the moment; faults become visible only after they have passed, and are felt only through the punishment that follows, not through immediate awareness. The poem closes by asserting that self-knowledge is the rarest and most valuable form of understanding: people know themselves least of all, since outward appearances so fill the mind that the soul reveals no more of itself than the eyes reveal of the world — mere form and colour. Only the one who achieves true self-knowledge possesses greater understanding than this.

By John Donne · First published 1635 · Genre: Metaphysical Poetry, Philosophical Poetry, Moral Poetry · 203 words

First lines

Vengeance will sit above our faults; but till / She there do sit, / We see her not, nor them. Thus, blind, yet still / We lead her way; and thus, whilst we do ill, / We suffer it.

Unhappy he whom youth makes not beware / Of doing ill. / Enough we labour under age, and care; / In number, th' errors of the last place are / The greatest still.

Yet we, that should the ill we now begin / As soon repent, / Strange thing! perceive not; our faults are not seen, / But past us; neither felt, but only in / The punishment.

But we know ourselves least; mere outward shows / Our minds so store, / That our souls no more than our eyes disclose / But form and colour. Only he who knows / Himself, knows more.

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Similar titles

Genres

Metaphysical Poetry — Exhibits characteristic metaphysical conceits with abstract philosophical inquiry into vengeance, moral blindness, and human nature; employs complex reasoning and paradox central to the metaphysical mode
Philosophical Poetry — Engages in deep existential and moral philosophy examining human blindness to fault, the nature of suffering, punishment, and self-knowledge as the highest wisdom
Moral Poetry — Provides moral instruction and ethical meditation on the consequences of wrongdoing, the blindness of youth to vice, and the progression of error with age
Lyric Poetry — Employs personal, contemplative voice addressing universal human condition; intimate tone of philosophical reflection suits lyric form

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Vengeance will Sit above our Faults; but Till is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Donne, dated 1635 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: John Donne
Date: 1635 CE
Language: English
Genres: Metaphysical Poetry, Philosophical Poetry, Moral Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Meditative Poetry
Length: 203 words
Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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