Vertue

poem by Herbert

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July 14, 2026

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"Vertue" is a poem by George Herbert, a prominent metaphysical poet of the 17th century. The poem, found in his collection The Temple: Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations, explores the concept of virtue.12

Herbert's poetry is known for its purity of language and effectiveness in conveying spiritual themes. "Vertue" exemplifies this, utilizing prosodic elements like meter and rhyme to create a structured and meaningful experience for the reader. The poem's structure consists of three iambic tetrameters followed by one iambic dimeter, with an ABAB rhyme scheme. This technical skill, combined with Herbert's exploration of moral and spiritual concepts, makes "Vertue" a notable work in English poetry.13

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An analysis of “Vertue” by the 17th-century English poet George Herbert reveals how the elements of prosody combine into a complex organism, a life sustained by the technical means available to the poet. When the metre is scanned with the symbols, it can be seen (and heard) how…
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An analysis of “Vertue” by the 17th-century English poet George Herbert reveals how the elements of prosody combine into a complex organism, a life sustained by the technical means available to the poet. When the metre is scanned with the symbols, it can be seen (and heard) how…
Read More