An Hymne Of Heavenly Love*

by Edmund Spenser — a poem card from Justes Mots

Spenser's *Hymne of Heavenly Love* traces Love as the eternal principle preceding creation, existing in God before time began. The poet repudiates his earlier secular love poetry, dedicating himself to praising divine Love. The work synthesizes Platonic philosophy with Christian theology and appeals to those seeking spiritual transformation.

[* See the sixth canto of the third book of the Faerie Queene, especially the second and the thirty-second stanzas; which, with his Hymnes of Heavenly Love and Heavenly Beauty, are evident proofs of Spenser's attachment to the Platonic school. WARTON.]

Love, lift me up upon thy golden wings
From this base world unto thy heavens hight,
Where I may see those admirable things
Which there thou workest by thy soveraine might,
Farre above feeble reach of earthly sight,
That I thereof an heavenly hymne may sing…

Themes: gratitude · friendship · admiration · love