 > Funeral Poems > Virtue Immortal

Virtue Immortal

Author: George Herbert

This Page Includes: Full Verses of the Poem in Text. A Recording of the Poem (Audio). A Free PDF Download for reading purposes. Free Editable Google Doc Download if you wish to make changes or to personalise the poem. The page also includes what the poem is about, structure of poem and explaining the best parts.

Virtue Immortal Poem Verses

Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright,
The bridall of the earth and skie;
The dew shall weep thy fall to-night;
For thou must die.

Sweet Rose, whose hue angrie and brave
Bids the rash gazer wipe his eye,
Thy root is ever in its grave,
And all must die.

Sweet Spring, full of sweet dayes and roses,
A box where sweets compacted lie,
Thy musick shows ye have your closes,
And all must die.

Onely a sweet and vertuous soul,
Like seasoned timber, never gives;
But, though the whole world, turn to coal,
Then chiefly lives.

Audio Recording

Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as 'Virtue Immortal' can be tailored/personalised

Download Poem

Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as 'Virtue Immortal' can be tailored/personalised

Donwload As PDF

Personalised Poem

Would you like to customise this poem? You have the option to personalise it by accessing the provided link, which will direct you to Google Docs. From there, you can download the poem ‘Memories’ to your personal Google Docs account or Microsoft Word where you will be able to edit the poem however you want.

Personalised Poem

About the poem

This poem, titled "Virtue," is about the fleeting nature of life and how everything must eventually come to an end. The first stanza describes a beautiful day that will soon come to an end and emphasizes the inevitability of death. The second and third stanzas use the image of a rose and the season of spring to convey the same idea - everything has its time and must eventually wither away. However, the final stanza offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that a virtuous soul will live on even after death. The poem ends on a positive note, suggesting that a life lived with virtue and goodness will never truly die.

The Structure of Poem

The poem follows a consistent structure, consisting of four stanzas with four lines each. The first three lines of each stanza follow an ABAB rhyme scheme, while the final line of each stanza rhymes with the third line. The poem meditates on the transience of life and the inevitability of death, using the metaphor of the changing seasons and the impermanence of nature to convey this message. The final stanza offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that a "sweet and virtuous soul" can live on even in the face of death.

Best Quote from Virtue Immortal Poem

This is a quote from the poem Virtue Immortal by George Herbert

"Onely a sweet and vertuous soul, Like seasoned timber, never gives; But, though the whole world, turn to coal, Then chiefly lives."

This quote is a reminder that even though everything in the world is temporary and will eventually come to an end, a good and virtuous soul can live on beyond that end. It emphasizes the importance of focusing on cultivating inner virtues and goodness that will last beyond the fleeting things of this world.