17. George Herbert. "The Altar," 1633.
Published here in: George Herbert. The temple. Sacred poems, and private ejaculations. Cambridge: Roger Daniel, 1641.
Rare Book Collection.

Herbert's other famous poem takes the form of a prayer and the shape of an altar. This, too, is a trope copied from ancient Greek poetry, namely "Jason's Altar" by Dosiadis of Crete (fl. 100 C.E.). The altar was a very popular motif in the seventeenth century, as will be seen elsewhere in this exhibit case.