Christopher Smart's "Jubilate Agno," Fragment C

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 Jeoffrey and the occasional visitor or onlooker. 

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 He was released from the asylum on January 30, 1763, but his poem was not to be published until 1939.  

by Christopher Smart

Let Ramah rejoice with Cochineal.

Let Gaba rejoice with the Prickly Pear, which the Cochineal feeds on.

Let Nebo rejoice with the Myrtle-Leaved-Sumach as with the Skirret Jub. 2d.

Let Magbish rejoice with the Sage-Tree Phlomis as with the Goatsbeard Jub: 2d.

Let Hashum rejoice with Moon-Trefoil.

Let Netophah rejoice with Cow-Wheat.

Let Chephirah rejoice with Millet.

Let Beeroth rejoice with Sea-Buckthorn.

Let Kirjath-arim rejoice with Cacalianthemum.

Let Hadid rejoice with Capsicum Guiney Pepper.

Let Senaah rejoice with Bean Cape.

Let Kadmiel rejoice with Hemp-Agrimony.

Let Shobai rejoice with Arbor Molle.

Let Hatita rejoice with Millefolium Yarrow.

Let Ziha rejoice with Mitellia.

Let Hasupha rejoice with Turky Balm.

Let Hattil rejoice with Xeranthemum.

Let Bilshan rejoice with the Leek. David for ever! God bless the Welch March 1st 1761. N.S.

Let Sotai rejoice with the Mountain Ebony.

Let Sophereth rejoice with White Hellebore.

Let Darkon rejoice with the Melon-Thistle.

Let Jaalah rejoice with Moly wild garlick.

Let Ami rejoice with the Bladder Sena in season or out of season bless the name of the Lord.

Let Pochereth rejoice with Fleabane.

Let Keros rejoice with Tree Germander.

Let Padon rejoice with Tamnus Black Briony.

Let Mizpar rejoice with Stickadore.

Let Baanah rejoice with Napus the French Turnip.

Let Reelaiah rejoice with the Sea-Cabbage.

Let Parosh rejoice with Cacubalus Chickweed.

Let Hagab rejoice with Serpyllum Mother of Thyme. Hosanna to the memory of Q. Anne. March 8th N.S. 1761 -- God be gracious to old Windsmore.

Let Shalmai rejoice with Meadow Rue. --

Let Habaiah rejoice with Asteriscus Yellow Starwort.

Let Tel-harsa rejoice with Aparine Clivers.

Let Rehoboam rejoice with Folium Montanum. God give grace to the Young King.

Let Hanan rejoice with Poley of Crete.

Let Sheshbazzar rejoice with Polygonatum Solomon's seal.

Let Zeboim rejoice with Bastard Dittany.

Let The Queen of Sheba rejoice with Bulapathon Herb Patience.

Let Cyrus rejoice with Baccharis Plowman's Spikenard. God be gracious to Warburton.

Let Lebanah rejoice with the Golden Wingged Flycatcher a Mexican Small Bird of Passage.

Let Hagabah rejoice with Orchis. Blessed be the name of the Lord Jesus for my seed in eternity.

Let Siaha rejoice with the Razor-Fish. God be gracious to John Bird and his wife.

Let Artaxerxes rejoice with Vanelloes. Palm Sunday 1761. The Lord Strengthen me.

Let Bishlam rejoice with the Cotton-bush.

Let Mithridath rejoice with Balsam of Tolu.

Let Tabeel rejoice with the Carob-Tree.

Let Ariel rejoice with Balsam of Peru, which sweats from a tree, that flowers like the Foxglove.

Let Ebed rejoice with Balsam of Gilead. God be gracious to Stede.

Let Jarib rejoice with Balsam of Capivi. The Lord strengthen my reins.

Let Shimshai rejoice with Stelis Missletoe on Fir.

Let Joiarib rejoice with Veronica Fluellen or Speedwell.

Let Tatnai rejoice with the Barbadoes Wild Olive.

Let Ezra rejoice with the Reed. The Lord Jesus make musick of it. Good Friday 1761.

Let Josiphiah rejoice with Tower-Mustard. God be gracious to Durham School.

Let Shether-boznai rejoice with Turnera. End of Lent 1761. No. 5.

Let Jozadak rejoice with Stephanitis a vine growing naturally into chaplets.

Let Jozabad rejoice with the Lily-Daffodil. Easter Day 22nd March 1761.

Let Telem rejoice with Hart's Penny-royal.

Let Abdi rejoice with Winter-green. God be gracious to Abdy.

Let Binnui rejoice with Spotted Lungwort or Couslip of Jerusalem. God give blessing with it.

Let Aziza rejoice with the Day Lily.

Let Zabbai rejoice with Buckshorn Plaintain Coronopus.

Let Ramoth rejoice with Persicaria.

Let Athlai rejoice with Bastard Marjoram.

Let Uel rejoice with Lysimachia Loose-strife which drinks of the brook by the way.

Let Kelaiah rejoice with Hermannia.

Let Elasah rejoice with Olibanum White or Male Frankinsense from an Arabian tree, good against Catarrhs and Spitting blood from which Christ Jesus deliver me.

Let Adna rejoice with Gum Opopanax from the wounded root of a species of panace Heracleum a tall plant growing to be two or three yards high with many large wings of a yellowish green -- good for old coughs and asthmas.

Let Bedeiah rejoice with Gum Sagapenum flowing from a species of Ferula which grows in Media. Lord have mercy on my breast.

Let Ishijah rejoice with Sago gotten from the inward pith of the breadtree. The Lord Jesus strengthen my whole body.

Let Chelal rejoice with Apios Virginian Liquorice Vetch.

Let Miamin rejoice with Mezereon. God be gracious to Polly and Bess and all Canbury.

Let Zebida rejoice with Tormentil good for hæmorrhages in the mouth even so Lord Jesus.

Let Shemaria rejoice with Riciasides.

Let Jadau rejoice with Flixweed.

Let Shimeon rejoice with Squills.

Let Sheal rejoice with Scorpioides. God be gracious to Legg.

Let Ramiah rejoice with Water-Germander.

Let Jeziah rejoice with Viper's Grass.

Let Machnadebai rejoice with the Mink, a beast.

Let Meremoth rejoice with the Golden Titmouse of Surinam.

Let Mattenai rejoice with Hatchet Vetch.

Let Chelluh rejoice with Horehound.

Let Jaasau rejoice with Bird's foot.

Let Maadai rejoice with Golden Rod.

Let Sharai rejoice with Honey-flower.

Let Shashai rejoice with Smyrnium.

Let Hananiah the son of an apothecary rejoice with Bdellium.

Let Hassenaah rejoice with the White Beet. God be gracious to Hasse and all musicians.

Let Hachaliah rejoice with Muscus Arboreus.

Let Sanballat rejoice with Ground Moss found sometimes on human skulls.

Let Col-hozeh rejoice with Myrobalans, Bellerica, Chebula, Citrina, Emblica and Indica.

Let Meah rejoice with Varias, a kind of streaked panther. April 8th praise the name of the Lord.

Let Eliashib rejoice with Shepherd's Purse.

Let Azbuk rejoice with Valerianella Corn Sallet.

Let Geshem (which is Rain) rejoice with Kneeholm. Blessed be the name of the Lord Jesus for Rain and his family and for the plenteous rain this day. April 9th 1761. N.S.

Let Bavai rejoice with Calceolus Ladies Slipper.

Let Henadad rejoice with Cacalianthemum.

Let Shallun rejoice with Mullein Tapsus barbatus good for the breast.

Let Ophel rejoice with Camara.

Let Meshezabeel rejoice with Stephanomelis. Old April bless the name of the Lord Jesus.

Let Zadok the son of Baana rejoice with Viburnum.

Let Vaniah rejoice with Pug in a pinner. God be gracious to house of Vane especially Anne.

Let Besodeiah rejoice with the Nettle.

Let Melatiah rejoice with Adonis Bird's eye.

Let Jadon rejoice with Borrage.

Let Palal rejoice with the female Balsamime. God be gracious to my wife.

Let Ezer rejoice with Basella Climbing Nightshade.

Let Uzai rejoice with Meadow Sweet.

Let Zalaph rejoice with Rose-bay.

Let Halohesh rejoice with Ambrosia, that bears a fruit like a club.

Let Malchiah Son of Rechab rejoice with the Rose-colour'd flow'ring Rush.

Let Sia rejoice with Argemone Prickly Poppy.

Let Lebana rejoice with Amaranthoides Globe Amaranth.

Let Rephaiah the Son of Hur rejoice with the Berry-bearing Angelica.

Let Harhaiah of the Goldsmiths rejoice with Segullum, the earth that detects the mine.

Let Harumaph rejoice with the Upright Honeysuckle.

Let Hashabniah rejoice with the Water Melon. Blessed be the manuscripts of Almighty God.

Let Phaseah rejoice with the Cassioberry Bush.

Let Nephishesim rejoice with Cannacorus Indian Reed.

Let Tamah rejoice with Cainito Star-Apple -- God be praised for this Eleventh of April o.s. in which I enter into the Fortieth Year of my age. Blessed. Blessed. Blessed!

Let Siloah rejoice with Guidonia with a Rose-Colour'd-Flower.

Let Benjamin a Rebuilder of Jerusalem rejoice with the Rock-Rose. Newton, bless!

Let Malchijah Son of Harim rejoice with Crysanthemoides.

Let Besai rejoice with Hesperis Queen's Gilly-Flow'r.

Let Perida rejoice with Podded Fumitory.

Let Tabbaoth rejoice with Goldy Locks. God be merciful to my wife.

Let Bakbuk rejoice with Soft Thistle.

Let Hodevah rejoice with Coronilla.

Let Tobiah rejoice with Crotolaria. God be praised for his infinite goodness and mercy.

Let Mehetabeel rejoice with Hsemanthus the Blood Flower. Blessed be the name of the Blood of the Lord Jesus.

Let Bazlith rejoice with the Horned Poppy.

Let Hagaba rejoice with the Turnsole. God be gracious to Cutting.

Let Shalmai rejoice with Lycopersicum Love-apple. God be gracious to Dunn.

Let Arah rejoice with Fritillaria the Chequer'd Tulip.

Let Raamiah rejoice with the Double Sweetscented Pione.

Let Hashub Son of Pahath-moab rejoice with the French Honeysuckle.

Let Ananiah rejoice with the Corn-Flag.

Let Nahamani rejoice with the May-apple. God give me fruit to this month.

Let Mispereth rejoice with the Ring Parrakeet.

Let Nehum rejoice with the Artichoke.

Let Ginnithon rejoice with the Bottle Flower.

Let Zidkijah rejoice with Mulberry Blight. God be gracious to Gum my fellow Prisoner.

Let Malluch rejoice with Methonica Superb Lily.

Let Jeremiah rejoice with Hemlock, which is good in outward application.

Let Bilgai rejoice with Tamalapatra Indian Leaf.

Let Maaziah rejoice with Chick Pease. God be gracious to Harris White 5th of May 1761.

Let Kelita rejoice with Xiphion the Bulbous Iris.

Let Pelaiah rejoice with Cloud-Berries. God be gracious to Peele and Ferry.

Let Azaniah rejoice with the Water Lily.

Let Rehob rejoice with Caucalis Bastard Parsley.

Let Sherebiah rejoice with Nigella, that bears a white flower.

Let Beninu rejoice with Heart-Pear. God be gracious to George Bening.

Let Bunni rejoice with Bulbine -- leaves like leek, purple flower.

Let Zatthu rejoice with the Wild Service.

Let Hizkijah rejoice with the Dwarf American Sun-Flower.

Let Azzur rejoice with the Globe-Thistle.

Let Hariph rejoice with Summer Savoury.

Let Nebai rejoice with the Wild Cucumber.

Let Magpiash rejoice with the Musk.

Let Hezir rejoice with Scorpion Sena.

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