The Temple
George Herbert
Read by LibriVox Volunteers
George Herbert was one of the so-called Metaphysical Poets, along with John Donne and Andrew Marvel, and The Temple: Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations, published in 1633, contains all his surviving English poems. All of Herbert's poems are on religious themes and are characterised by directness of expression which, in the Metaphysical manner, is functional rather than visual.
Herbert was for a time Public Orator at the University of Cambridge but later became a rural Parish Minister. Though he was always esteemed for his oratory, the poetic skill with which he expressed his thoughts had to wait many years to be fully appreciated.
(Summary by Alan Mapstone and Wikipedia) (5 hr 21 min)
Chapters
| The Dedication | 1:18 | Read by Alan Mapstone |
| The Church Porch | 27:39 | Read by KevinS |
| Superliminare | 0:46 | Read by Alan Mapstone |
| The Church: The Altar | 1:06 | Read by Alan Mapstone |
| The Sacrifice | 15:19 | Read by Larry Wilson |
| The Thanksgiving | 3:09 | Read by Theresa E Kao |
| The Second Thanksgiving, or the Reprisall | 1:08 | Read by KevinS |
| The Agonie | 1:18 | Read by KevinS |
| The Sinner | 1:05 | Read by Larry Wilson |
| Good-Friday | 1:38 | Read by Larry Wilson |
| Redemption | 1:05 | Read by Larry Wilson |
| Sepulchre | 1:28 | Read by Larry Wilson |
| Easter and the Song, and another version | 2:15 | Read by Larry Wilson |
| Easter Wings | 1:00 | Read by KevinS |
| Holy Baptisme | 1:12 | Read by Theresa E Kao |
| Holy Baptisme | 0:56 | Read by Theresa E Kao |
| Nature | 1:08 | Read by Weadee |
| Sinne | 1:11 | Read by Weadee |
| Affliction | 3:33 | Read by Weadee |
| Repentence | 2:06 | Read by Theresa E Kao |
| Faith | 2:42 | Read by Theresa E Kao |
| Prayer | 1:11 | Read by Theresa E Kao |
| The Holy Communion | 2:14 | Read by Paula Messina |
| Antiphon | 1:05 | Read by nighthawks |
| Love | 1:58 | Read by J. McClanahan |
| The Temper | 2:02 | Read by Alan Mapstone |
| The Temper | 1:28 | Read by BeccaVO |
| Jordan | 1:12 | Read by James Campbell Martin |
| Employment | 1:42 | Read by Alan Mapstone |
| The Holy Scriptures | 2:15 | Read by Bruce Kachuk |
| Whitsunday | 2:05 | Read by Bruce Kachuk |
| Grace | 1:13 | Read by Lee Vogler |
| Praise | 1:19 | Read by Alan Mapstone |
| Affliction | 1:19 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| Mattens | 1:15 | Read by Angela Ortiz |
| Sinne | 0:51 | Read by czandra |
| Even-song | 1:58 | Read by czandra |
| Church Monuments | 1:42 | Read by czandra |
| Church Musick | 0:59 | Read by Paula Messina |
| Church Lock and Key | 1:05 | Read by Alan Mapstone |
| The Church Floore | 1:18 | Read by De Anna Lee |
| The Windows | 1:22 | Read by mleigh |
| Trinitie Sunday | 0:56 | Read by De Anna Lee |
| Content | 2:46 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| The Quidditie | 0:55 | Read by De Anna Lee |
| Humilitie | 2:22 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| Frailtie | 1:33 | Read by Alan Mapstone |
| Constancie | 2:12 | Read by De Anna Lee |
| Affliction | 1:07 | Read by KevinS |
| The Starre | 1:24 | Read by KevinS |
| Sunday | 2:46 | Read by KevinS |
| Avarice | 1:05 | Read by KevinS |
| Anagram: Mary,Army | 0:26 | Read by KevinS |
| To all Angels and Saints | 1:40 | Read by KevinS |
| Employment | 1:43 | Read by Alan Mapstone |
| Deniall | 1:47 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| Christmas | 2:25 | Read by Paula Messina |
| Ungratefulnesse | 1:37 | Read by KevinS |
| Sighs and Grones | 1:42 | Read by KevinS |
| The World | 1:20 | Read by KevinS |
| Our life is hid with Christ in God | 0:54 | Read by KevinS |
| Vanitie | 1:39 | Read by KevinS |
| Lent | 2:27 | Read by KevinS |
| Vertue | 0:57 | Read by KevinS |
| The Pearl | 2:22 | Read by KevinS |
| Tentation | 1:25 | Read by KevinS |
| Man | 2:39 | Read by KevinS |
| Antiphon | 1:12 | Read by Alan Mapstone |
| Unkindnesse | 1:27 | Read by czandra |
| Life | 1:30 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| Submission | 1:05 | Read by czandra |
| Justice | 0:59 | Read by James Campbell Martin |
| Charms and Knots | 1:18 | Read by Matt Flowitt |
| Affliction | 1:42 | Read by Matt Flowitt |
| Mortification | 2:05 | Read by Matt Flowitt |
| Decay | 1:01 | Read by MuscaDomestica |
| Miserie | 3:35 | Read by KevinS |
| Jordan | 1:13 | Read by KevinS |
| Prayer | 1:30 | Read by KevinS |
| Obedience | 2:12 | Read by KevinS |
| Conscience | 1:17 | Read by KevinS |
| Sion | 1:31 | Read by KevinS |
| Home | 4:51 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| The British Church | 1:50 | Read by Alan Mapstone |
| The Quip | 1:46 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| Vanitie | 1:26 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| The Dawning | 1:30 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| Jesu | 1:03 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| Businesse | 2:27 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| Dialogue | 2:05 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| Dulnesse | 1:41 | Read by Mark Stansbury |
| Love-Joy | 0:50 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| Providence | 9:46 | Read by Mark Stansbury |
| Hope | 0:53 | Read by mleigh |
| Sinne's Round | 1:19 | Read by Mark Stansbury |
| Time | 1:39 | Read by Mark Stansbury |
| Gratefulnesse | 1:22 | Read by Joanna Michal Hoyt |
| Peace | 2:26 | Read by Kris M |
| Confession | 1:37 | Read by Joanna Michal Hoyt |
| Giddinesse | 1:37 | Read by Mark Stansbury |
| The Bunch of Grapes | 2:08 | Read by Alan Mapstone |
| Love Unknown | 3:49 | Read by KevinS |
| Man's Medley | 1:37 | Read by KevinS |
| The Storm | 1:07 | Read by KevinS |
| Paradise | 0:59 | Read by KevinS |
| The Method | 1:23 | Read by KevinS |
| Divinitie | 1:40 | Read by KevinS |
| Grieve not the Holy Spirit | 1:56 | Read by KevinS |
| The Familie | 1:57 | Read by Sheridan Alistair |
| The Size | 3:00 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| Artillarie | 2:27 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| Church Rents or Schismes | 2:54 | Read by Sheridan Alistair |
| Justice | 1:38 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| The Pilgrimage | 1:41 | Read by Joanna Michal Hoyt |
| The Holdfast | 1:02 | Read by KevinS |
| Complaining | 1:00 | Read by KevinS |
| The Discharge | 2:31 | Read by KevinS |
| Praise | 1:10 | Read by KevinS |
| An Offering | 2:06 | Read by KevinS |
| Longing | 3:12 | Read by KevinS |
| The Bag | 2:14 | Read by KevinS |
| The Jews | 0:59 | Read by KevinS |
| The Collar | 1:45 | Read by KevinS |
| The Glimpse | 1:43 | Read by KevinS |
| Assurance | 2:27 | Read by Beeswaxcandle |
| The Call | 0:50 | Read by Beeswaxcandle |
| Clasping of Hands | 1:17 | Read by Beeswaxcandle |
| Praise | 2:12 | Read by Beeswaxcandle |
| Joseph's Coat | 1:04 | Read by Beeswaxcandle |
| The Pulley | 1:15 | Read by Beeswaxcandle |
| The Priesthood | 2:30 | Read by Beeswaxcandle |
| The Search | 3:13 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| Grief | 1:35 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| The Crosse | 2:52 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| The Flower | 3:01 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| Dotage | 1:41 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| The Sonne | 1:02 | Read by KevinS |
| A True Hymne | 1:33 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| The Answer | 1:20 | Read by Alan Mapstone |
| A Dialogue-Anthem: Christian, Death | 1:19 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| The Water-Course | 1:08 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| Self-condemnation | 1:53 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| Bitter-Sweet | 0:36 | Read by Noreen |
| The Glance | 1:21 | Read by KevinS |
| The 23d Psalm | 1:31 | Read by Kris M |
| Mary Magdalene | 1:38 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| Aaron | 1:46 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| The Odour | 2:05 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| The Foil | 0:50 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| The Forerunners | 2:50 | Read by Alan Mapstone |
| The Rose | 2:13 | Read by pattymarie |
| Discipline | 1:21 | Read by James Campbell Martin |
| The Invitation | 1:26 | Read by KevinS |
| The Banquet | 2:44 | Read by Suzanne Carol |
| The Posie | 0:57 | Read by Alan Mapstone |
| A Parodie | 1:36 | Read by Alan Mapstone |
| The Elixier | 1:26 | Read by Alan Mapstone |
| A Wreath | 1:11 | Read by Alan Mapstone |
| Death | 1:12 | Read by MuscaDomestica |
| Doomsday | 1:38 | Read by Alan Mapstone |
| Judgement | 1:02 | Read by Alan Mapstone |
| Heaven | 1:24 | Read by Alan Mapstone |
| Love | 1:30 | Read by Alan Mapstone |