Line No 1-20 Happy-blessed ; full of rapturous joy.   Those early days — referring to the days of the poet’s childhood. The poet was quite happy when he was a child. Shin’d— shone; was bright with. My — the poet’s. Angel-infancy — divine childhood. Childhood is redolent of angelic innocence and pu­rity. In h…

Text The Retreat By Henry Vaughan The poem is extracted from Vaughan's main Volume Silex Scintillans (1650 &1655) Happy those early days! when I Shined in my angel infancy. Before I understood this place Appointed for my second race, Or taught my soul to fancy aught But a wh…