For I was reared in the great city, pent with cloisters…
“For I was reared in the great city, pent with cloisters dim,and saw naught lovely but the sky and stars.But thou, my babe! Shalt wander like a breeze By lakes and sandy shores, beneath the cragsOf ancient mountains, and beneath the clouds,Which image in their bulk both lakes and shoresAnd mountain crags: so shall thou see and hearThe lovely shapes and sounds intelligible Of that eternal language, which thy GodUtters, who from eternity doth teachHimself in all, and al things in himselfGreat universal teacher! He shall moldThy spirit and by giving , make it ask.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The poet contrasts a confined, cloistered upbringing with the expansive, natural world, urging the child to learn from nature's universal language and divine teacher.
In simple terms: Nature teaches beyond walls.
Key Takeaway
Seek learning in nature.
Themes
nature
spirituality
education
divine
growth
Mood
awe
inspired
reflective
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Childhood education
- spiritual contemplation
- creative inspiration
- personal growth
Key Concepts
Universal language
spiritual guidance
inner development
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we hear nature's language today?
- What does 'eternal language' mean for you?
A Different Perspective
Limited by human perception of the divine.