Christopher Smart's Jubilate Agno - Fragment B1

by Jack Brummet, Poetry Editor

Kit Smart's Jubilate Agno is one of my very favorite poems of all time.  He wrote it in an insane asylum.  A "Commission of Lunacy" was taken out against Christopher Smart, and he was admitted in St. Luke's Hospital on May 6, 1757 as a "Curable Patient" by his wife Anna's stepfather John Newbery.  There is evidence that an incident took place in St. James’s Park in which he "routed all the company" (Jubilate Agno B89), an incident which may have caused his lockup.  During this time, Christopher was left alone, except for his cat Jeoffry and the occasional visitor. With nothing to do, he devoted himself to God and to writing this fantastic poem. He was released from the asylum on January 30, 1763, but his poem was not to be published until 1939.   I saw an amazing group reading of the poem in NYC in the 1980's, with readings by select famous poets.  

  
For the next few days, we will publish the entire poem--Fragments A, B1, B2, B3, B4, C, and D.  



Jubilate Agno
by Christopher Smart

FRAGMENT B, 1

Let Elizur rejoice with the Partridge, who is a prisoner of state and is proud of his keepers.

Let Shedeur rejoice with Pyrausta, who dwelleth in a medium of fire, which God hath adapted for him.

Let Shelumiel rejoice with Olor, who is of a goodly savour, and the very look of him harmonizes the mind.

Let Jael rejoice with the Plover, who whistles for his live, and foils the marksmen and their guns.

Let Raguel rejoice with the Cock of Portugal -- God send good Angels to the allies of England!

Let Hobab rejoice with Necydalus, who is the Greek of a Grub.

Let Zurishaddai with the Polish Cock rejoice -- The Lord restore peace to Europe.

Let Zuar rejoice with the Guinea Hen -- The Lord add to his mercies in the WEST!

Let Chesed rejoice with Strepsiceros, whose weapons are the ornaments of his peace.

Let Hagar rejoice with Gnesion, who is the right sort of eagle, and towers the highest.

Let Libni rejoice with the Redshank, who migrates not but is translated to the upper regions.

Let Nahshon rejoice with the Seabreese, the Lord give the sailors of his Spirit.

Let Helon rejoice with the Woodpecker -- the Lord encourage the propagation of trees!

Let Amos rejoice with the Coote -- prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

Let Ephah rejoice with Buprestis, the Lord endue us with temperance and humanity, till every cow have her mate!

Let Sarah rejoice with the Redwing, whose harvest is in the frost and snow.

Let Rebekah rejoice with Iynx, who holds his head on one side to deceive the adversary.

Let Shuah rejoice with Boa, which is the vocal serpent.

Let Ehud rejoice with Onocrotalus, whose braying is for the glory of God, because he makes the best musick in his power.

Let Shamgar rejoice with Otis, who looks about him for the glory of God, and sees the horizon compleat at once.

Let Bohan rejoice with the Scythian Stag -- he is beef and breeches against want and nakedness.

Let Achsah rejoice with the Pigeon who is an antidote to malignity and will carry a letter.

Let Tohu rejoice with the Grouse -- the Lord further the cultivating of heaths and the peopling of deserts.

Let Hillel rejoice with Ammodytes, whose colour is deceitful and he plots against the pilgrim's feet.

Let Eli rejoice with Leucon -- he is an honest fellow, which is a rarity.

Let Jemuel rejoice with Charadrius, who is from the HEIGHT and the sight of him is good for the jaundice.

Let Pharaoh rejoice with Anataria, whom God permits to prey upon the ducks to check their increase.

Let Lotan rejoice with Sauterelle. Blessed be the name of the Lord from the Lote-tree to the Palm.

Let Dishon rejoice with the Landrail, God give his grace to the society for preserving the game.

Let Hushim rejoice with the King's Fisher, who is of royal beauty, tho' plebeian size.

Let Machir rejoice with Convolvulus, from him to the ring of Saturn, which is the girth of Job; to the signet of God -- from Job and his daughters BLESSED BE JESUS.

Let Atad bless with Eleos, the nightly Memorialist e?e?s?? ????e .

Let Jamim rejoice with the Bittern -- blessed be the name of Jesus for Denver Sluice, Ruston, and the draining of the fens.

Let Ohad rejoice with Byturos who eateth the vine and is a minister of temperance.

Let Zohar rejoice with Cychramus who cometh with the quails on a particular affair.

Let Serah, the daughter of Asher, rejoice with Ceyx, who maketh his cabin in the Halcyon's hold.

Let Magdiel rejoice with Ascarides, which is the life of the bowels -- the worm hath a part in our frame.

Let Becher rejoice with Oscen who terrifies the wicked, as trumpet and alarm the coward.

Let Shaul rejoice with Circos, who hath clumsy legs, but he can wheel it the better with his wings. --

Let Hamul rejoice with the Crystal, who is pure and translucent.

Let Ziphion rejoice with the Tit-Lark who is a groundling, but he raises the spirits.

Let Mibzar rejoice with the Cadess, as is their number, so are their names, blessed be the Lord Jesus for them all.

Let Jubal rejoice with Cascilia, the woman and the slow-worm praise the name of the Lord.

Let Arodi rejoice with the Royston Crow, there is a society of them at Trumpington and Cambridge.

Let Areli rejoice with the Criel, who is a dwarf that towereth above others.

Let Phuvah rejoice with Platycerotes, whose weapons of defence keep them innocent.

Let Shimron rejoice with the Kite, who is of more value than many sparrows.

Let Sered rejoice with the Wittal -- a silly bird is wise unto his own preservation.

Let Elon rejoice with Attelabus, who is the Locust without wings.

Let Jahleel rejoice with the Woodcock, who liveth upon suction and is pure from his diet.

Let Shuni rejoice with the Gull, who is happy in not being good for food.

Let Ezbon rejoice with Musimon, who is from the ram and she-goat.

Let Barkos rejoice with the Black Eagle, which is the least of his species and the best-natured.

Let Bedan rejoice with Ossifrage -- the bird of prey and the man of prayer.

Let Naomi rejoice with Pseudosphece who is between a wasp and a hornet.

Let Ruth rejoice with the Tumbler -- it is a pleasant thing to feed him and be thankful.

Let Ram rejoice with the Fieldfare, who is a good gift from God in the season of scarcity.

Let Manoah rejoice with Cerastes, who is a Dragon with horns.

Let Talmai rejoice with Alcedo, who makes a cradle for it's young, which is rock'd by the winds.

Let Bukki rejoice with the Buzzard, who is clever, with the reputation of a silly fellow.

Let Michal rejoice with Leucocruta who is a mixture of beauty and magnanimity.

Let Abiah rejoice with Morphnus who is a bird of passage to the Heavens.

Let Hur rejoice with the Water-wag-tail, who is a neighbour, and loves to be looked at.

Let Dodo rejoice with the purple Worm, who is cloathed sumptuously, tho he fares meanly.

Let Ahio rejoice with the Merlin who is a cousin german of the hawk.

Let Joram rejoice with the Water-Rail, who takes his delight in the river.

Let Chileab rejoice with Ophion who is clean made, less than an hart, and a Sardinian.

Let Shephatiah rejoice with the little Owl, which is the wingged Cat.

Let Ithream rejoice with the great Owl, who understandeth that which he professes.

Let Abigail rejoice with Lethophagus -- God be gracious to the widows indeed.

Let Anathoth bless with Saurix, who is a bird of melancholy.

Let Shammua rejoice with the Vultur who is strength and fierceness.

Let Shobab rejoice with Evech who is of the goat kind which is meditation and pleasantry.

Let Ittai the Gittite rejoice with the Gerfalcon amicus certus in re incertâ cernitur.

Let Ibhar rejoice with the Pochard -- a child born in prosperity is the chiefest blessing of peace.

Let Elishua rejoice with Cantharis -- God send bread and milk to the children.

Let Chimham bless with Drepanis who is a passenger from the sea to heaven.

Let Toi rejoice with Percnopteros which haunteth the sugar-fens.

Let Nepheg rejoice with Cenchris which is the spotted serpent.

Let Japhia rejoice with Buteo who hath three testicles.

Let Gibeon rejoice with the Puttock, who will shift for himself to the last extremity.

Let Elishama rejoice with Mylæcos ?s?ete ?e??a µ??a??? a??t??de? . e?dete µa??a .

Let Elimelech rejoice with the Horn-Owl who is of gravity and amongst my friends in the tower.

Let Eliada rejoice with the Gier-eagle who is swift and of great penetration.

Let Eliphalet rejoice with Erodius who is God's good creature, which is sufficient for him.

Let Jonathan, David's nephew, rejoice with Oripelargus who is noble by his ascent.

Let Sheva rejoice with the Hobby, who is the service of the great.

Let Ahimaaz rejoice with the Silver-Worm who is a living mineral.

Let Shobi rejoice with the Kastrel -- blessed be the name JESUS in falconry and in the MALL

Let Elkanah rejoice with Cymindis -- the Lord illuminate us against the powers of darkness.

Let Ziba rejoice with Glottis whose tongue is wreathed in his throat.

Let Micah rejoice with the spotted Spider, who counterfeits death to effect his purposes.

Let Rizpah rejoice with the Eyed Moth who is beautiful in corruption.

Let Naharai, Joab's armour-bearer rejoice with Rock who is a bird of stupendous magnitude.

Let Abiezer, the Anethothite, rejoice with Phrynos who is the scaled frog.

Let Nachon rejoice with Parcas who is a serpent more innocent than others.

Let Lapidoth with Percnos -- the Lord is the builder of the wall of CHINA -- REJOICE.

Let Ahinoam rejoice with Prester -- The seed of the woman hath bruised the serpents head.

Let Phurah rejoice with Penelopes, the servant of Gideon with the fowl of the brook.

Let Jether, the son of Gideon, rejoice with Ecchetae which are musical grashoppers.

Let Hushai rejoice with the Ospray who is able to parry the eagle.

Let Eglah rejoice with Phalaris who is a pleasant object upon the water.

Let Haggith rejoice with the white Weasel who devoureth the honey and it's maker.

Let Abital rejoice with Ptyas who is arrayed in green and gold.

Let Maacah rejoice with Dryophyte who was blessed of the Lord in the valley.

Let Zabud Solomon's friend rejoice with Oryx who is a frolicksome mountaineer.

Let Adoniram the receiver general of the excise rejoice with Hypnale the sleepy adder.

Let Pedahel rejoice with Pityocampa who eateth his house in the pine.

Let Ibzam rejoice with the Brandling -- the Lord further the building of bridges and making rivers navigable.

Let Gilead rejoice with Gentle -- the Lord make me a fisher of men.

Let Zelophehad rejoice with Ascalabotes who casteth not his coat till a new one is prepared for him.

Let Mahlah rejoice with Pellos who is a tall bird and stately.

Let Tirzah rejoice with Tylus which is the Cheeslip and food for the chicken.

Let Hoglah rejoice with Leontophonos who will kill the lion, if he is eaten.

Let Milcah rejoice with the Horned Beetle who will strike a man in the face.

Let Noah rejoice with Hibris who is from a wild boar and a tame sow.

Let Abdon rejoice with the Glede who is very voracious and may not himself be eaten.

Let Zuph rejoice with Dipsas, whose bite causeth thirst.

Let Schechem of Manasseh rejoice with the Green Worm whose livery is of the field.

Let Gera rejoice with the Night Hawk -- blessed are those who watch when others sleep.

Let Anath rejoice with Rauca who inhabiteth the root of the oak.

Let Cherub rejoice with the Cherub who is a bird and a blessed Angel.

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