Commentary

As elsewhere, the process might be described as walking gently around the subject before coming to a dramatic conclusion. If the opening note is meditative and expansive, we are soon brought with a jolt to the two main concepts at the end of the first stanza. Philosophers have brought great wisdom to bear upon the questions we confront, ranging across the whole world of experience, but few tackle these universal issues close to the heart of all. Sin and Love are just as 'vast' and 'spacious' as the universe itself to the person of understanding.

In his graphic depiction of the crucifixion, Herbert arrests our attention to confront humanity's besetting problem. Sin is within each of us, but we are prone to ignore its consequences. 'Yet few there are that sound them' is his realistic understanding that he is in a minority. We are tempted to ingore Sin until pain forces us to re-evaluate our priorities.

Thie final two lines summarise Herbert's argument with a neat twist. Love is the resolution of the problem. It is costly and challenging, but in the image of wine we see deep resonance. It is life-enhancing and rich, but must be handled with care; over-indulgence brings ruin.

There is an appropriate circularity in this poem. The philosophers can enjoy wine which, like Love, comes from God. but in paying attention to the crucifixion they must not overlook Sin. Herbert is not denouncing their work, but just attempting to set it within context.

That George Herbert is able to expound so vast a topic in three short verses surely suggests his confidence and skill in his abilities with language.