George Herbert was born on April 3, 1593, in Montgomery, Wales, into an aristocratic and influential family. He was the seventh of ten children born to Richard Herbert, Lord of Cherbury, and Magdalen Newport. His older brother was the philosopher and poet Edward Herbert, later Lord Herbert of Cherbury.
Herbert received his early education at Westminster School in London, where he excelled in languages and music. In 1609, he entered Trinity College, Cambridge, as a scholarship student. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in 1613 and a Master's degree in 1616. During his time at Cambridge, Herbert was appointed to the prestigious position of Public Orator, a role he held from 1619 to 1627.
As Public Orator, Herbert was responsible for composing and delivering speeches in Latin to dignitaries visiting the university. This position brought him into contact with influential figures of the time, including King James I. Many expected Herbert to pursue a career in politics or the royal court.
However, Herbert's life took a different turn. He had long felt a calling to religious service, and in 1624, he was ordained as a deacon in the Church of England. After the death of King James I in 1625, Herbert left his position at Cambridge and his prospects for a secular career.
In 1630, Herbert was ordained as a priest and became the rector of the small rural parish of Fugglestone St Peter with Bemerton, near Salisbury. He dedicated himself to his pastoral duties and to writing poetry. His time as a country parson was brief but intensely productive in terms of his literary output.
Herbert's poetry is primarily religious in nature, exploring his relationship with God, his struggles with faith, and his role as a priest. His style is characterized by its intricacy, wordplay, and use of visual patterns on the page, sometimes creating "pattern poems" where the layout of the text forms a shape related to the poem's subject.
His most famous work, "The Temple," is a collection of 164 poems that was published posthumously in 1633. This collection includes some of his best-known poems such as "The Collar," "The Pulley," and "Easter Wings." Herbert's poetry often uses simple, everyday language and imagery drawn from daily life to explore complex spiritual concepts.
In addition to his poetry, Herbert wrote "A Priest to the Temple" (also known as "The Country Parson"), a prose work offering practical advice for rural clergy. This book, along with his poems, reveals Herbert's deep commitment to his pastoral role and his belief in the importance of serving his community.
Herbert was also an accomplished musician and wrote several hymns that are still sung in churches today. His poem "King of Glory, King of Peace" has been set to music multiple times and is included in many hymnals.
George Herbert died of tuberculosis on March 1, 1633, at the age of 39. On his deathbed, he gave the manuscript of "The Temple" to his friend Nicholas Ferrar, asking him to publish it if he thought it might "turn to the advantage of any dejected poor soul." The work was indeed published and quickly became popular, going through several editions in the years following Herbert's death.
Herbert's influence on English poetry has been significant and long-lasting. He is considered one of the foremost British devotional lyricists, and his work has been admired by poets as diverse as Henry Vaughan, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Gerard Manley Hopkins, T.S. Eliot, and Seamus Heaney.
Herbert's poetry is notable for its technical mastery, spiritual depth, and psychological insight. His ability to combine intellectual rigor with emotional intensity, and to express complex theological ideas in accessible language, has ensured his enduring place in the canon of English literature.
Today, George Herbert is remembered not only as a significant poet of the metaphysical school but also as a model of dedicated pastoral care. His life and work continue to be studied by scholars, enjoyed by poetry lovers, and celebrated in the Anglican Communion, where he is commemorated on February 27.
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