Analysis of Veni, Creator Spiritus

John Dryden 1631 (Aldwincle) – 1631 (London)



Creator Spirit, by whose aid
   The world's foundations first were laid,
   Come, visit ev'ry pious mind;
   Come, pour thy joys on human kind;
   From sin, and sorrow set us free;
   And make thy temples worthy Thee.

O, Source of uncreated Light,
   The Father's promis'd Paraclete!
   Thrice Holy Fount, thrice Holy Fire,
  Our hearts with heav'nly love inspire;
  Come, and thy Sacred Unction bring
  To sanctify us, while we sing!

Plenteous of grace, descend from high,
  Rich in thy sev'n-fold energy!
  Thou strength of his Almighty Hand,
  Whose pow'r does heav'n and earth command:
  Proceeding Spirit, our Defence,
  Who do'st the gift of tongues dispence,
  And crown'st thy gift with eloquence!

Refine and purge our earthly parts;
  But, oh, inflame and fire our hearts!
  Our frailties help, our vice control;
  Submit the senses to the soul;
  And when rebellious they are grown,
  Then, lay thy hand, and hold 'em down.

Chase from our minds th' Infernal Foe;
  And peace, the fruit of love, bestow;
  And, lest our feet should step astray,
  Protect, and guide us in the way.

Make us Eternal Truths receive,
  And practise, all that we believe:
  Give us thy self, that we may see
  The Father and the Son, by thee.

Immortal honour, endless fame,
  Attend th' Almighty Father's name:
  The Saviour Son be glorified,
  Who for lost Man's redemption died:
  And equal adoration be,
  Eternal Paraclete, to thee.


Scheme AABBCC XAXXDD XCEEFFX GGHHXX IIJJ KKCC LLMMCC
Poetic Form
Metre 01010111 01010101 1101101 11111101 11010111 01110101 11111 010101 110111010 10111101 1011011 11001111 1110111 10111100 11110101 111110101 010101001 11101111 011111100 010110101 1101010101 1010110101 01010101 01010111 11110111 11101110101 01011101 011011101 01011001 11010101 0111101 11111111 01000111 0101101 0111010101 011110 11110101 0100101 010111
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,424
Words 233
Sentences 11
Stanzas 7
Stanza Lengths 6, 6, 7, 6, 4, 4, 6
Lines Amount 39
Letters per line (avg) 27
Words per line (avg) 6
Letters per stanza (avg) 149
Words per stanza (avg) 33
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:13 min read
44

John Dryden

John Dryden was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who was made Poet Laureate in 1668. more…

All John Dryden poems | John Dryden Books

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