The English works of George Herbert . emerton. And while too honest to conceal dis-cordant facts from him who will search his pages,he contrives to throw so strong a Hght on Herbertsthree consecrated years that few readers noticehow unHke these are to his vacillating fascinating portraiture has taken so firma hold on the popular imagination that it maytruly be said to constitute at present the most seri-ous obstacle to a cool assessment of Herbert. Torefer to the more secular and Uterary sides of thatcomplex character seems a kind of sacrilege. YetWalton himself furnishes ma
The English works of George Herbert . emerton. And while too honest to conceal dis-cordant facts from him who will search his pages,he contrives to throw so strong a Hght on Herbertsthree consecrated years that few readers noticehow unHke these are to his vacillating fascinating portraiture has taken so firma hold on the popular imagination that it maytruly be said to constitute at present the most seri-ous obstacle to a cool assessment of Herbert. Torefer to the more secular and Uterary sides of thatcomplex character seems a kind of sacrilege. YetWalton himself furnishes material for his owncorrection. To this I have directed attention, sup-plementing it with the statements of Oley, LordHerbert, Aubrey, and other contemporaries, andmaking large use also of Herberts own estimatesof himseK contained in his poems and prose writ-ings. By turning to these original sources I hopemy readers will be able to perceive the romanticcoloring of Walton, to allow for it, and to enjoythat skilful portraiture the ^ IJrophct ^ ApoftieV^^ W^Ma/iu Porch and Temple vcfiti^^^ Bazty ^fTHmm. PhilcaTophy. Haw Orient rum i^Tt^l/mpr^crid furc liiiiniiiiiiH II TRAITS OF THE MAN TRAITS OF THE MAN WITH these events in the Hfe of Herbertbefore us, let us examine those featuresof his complex character which if misconceivedprevent an understanding of his writings. A char-acter is interesting about in proportion to the op-posing traits which it harmonizes. And nowhereare such interesting characters so common asamong the men who met the conflicting forces ofthe later Renaissance. Every part of their beingresponds to a multitude of calls, and yet they im-press us as highly individual men. I shall tracethe rich and harmonious diversity of Herbert inhis physical structure, his temperamental habits,his intellect, and his religious nature. WE do not certainly know how Herbertlooked. No contemporary portrait of himexists. If one was ever painted, it has perished. Anallusion to a
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