Please explain the first stanza of the pulley by george herbert..
When god at first made man, having a glass of blessings standing by, " lets us," said he,"pour on him all we can, let the world's riches,whhich dispersed lie, contract into a span."
The first stanza of the poem "The Pulley" by George Herbert begins with the idea of God creating humans. It suggests that when God first created man, he had a glass of blessings ready nearby. God then says, "let us pour on him all we can," indicating the intention to bestow numerous blessings upon man. The stanza further explains that God wants to bring together all the scattered riches of the world and condense them into a small space, symbolized by the phrase "contract into a span." This stanza sets the stage for the subsequent exploration of human nature and God's purpose in granting humanity blessings.
The first stanza of the poem "The Pulley" by George Herbert is as follows:
When God at first made man,
Having a glass of blessings standing by,
"Let us," said he, "pour on him all we can;
Let the world's riches, which dispersed lie,
Contract into a span."
In this stanza, the speaker reflects on the creation of humanity by God. The phrase "having a glass of blessings standing by" suggests that God had an abundance of blessings or gifts ready to bestow upon man. The use of the word "glass" could indicate that these blessings were clear and pure, like water in a glass.
The speaker then presents a dialogue between God and himself. God says, "Let us pour on him all we can," indicating an intention to shower mankind with abundant blessings. The phrase "let the world's riches, which dispersed lie, contract into a span" expresses the idea that the vast wealth and resources scattered throughout the world should be gathered and concentrated for man's benefit.
This stanza sets the stage for the poem by establishing God's initial intent to bestow great blessings upon humanity. It hints at the potential and abundance that God has in store for humankind.