The Annotated Edition
Jubilate Agno by Christopher Smart
Read aloud in ~1 min
*Jubilate Agno* ("Rejoice in the Lamb") is a lengthy, fragmented poem by Christopher Smart, composed during his time in a mental asylum in the 1750s and 60s.
- Themes
- art, faith, freedom
§01Quick summary
What this poem is about
*Jubilate Agno* ("Rejoice in the Lamb") is a lengthy, fragmented poem by Christopher Smart, composed during his time in a mental asylum in the 1750s and 60s. It joyfully celebrates God with an exuberant list of animals, people, and everyday items, notably featuring Smart's cherished cat Jeoffry. The poem feels like a personal hymn that beautifully spiraled into a joyous expression of genuine amazement at the simplest aspects of creation.
§02Themes
Recurring themes
§03Tone & mood
How this poem feels
Ecstatic and tender, with moments of defiance. Smart writes as if joy is a moral obligation. The tone stays clear of despair, even though the backdrop of composition—years spent in a madhouse—might warrant it. There's a childlike straightforwardness to the praise, along with a scholar's accuracy; Smart, a Cambridge-educated classicist, lets that knowledge resonate through every line.
§04Symbols & metaphors
Symbols & metaphors
- The Cat Jeoffry
- Jeoffry is Smart's actual cat, but in the poem, he symbolizes a form of unconscious worship—a being that honors God just by being completely himself. He represents the notion that true devotion doesn't need theology; it only needs presence and awareness.
- The Lamb
- The title's lamb holds its traditional Christian significance — representing Christ as the sacrificial lamb — but Smart expands this to encompass all gentle, vulnerable beings. To praise the lamb is to honor the idea of innocent life.
- The Antiphon (Let / For structure)
- The alternating 'Let' and 'For' lines do more than just create a unique style; they create a conversation between petition and testimony, between asking and answering. This structure symbolizes faith as a two-way relationship.
- Light and the Sun
- Throughout the poem, light represents a divine presence and clear perception. Smart revisits solar imagery to highlight moments of spiritual confidence, contrasting the brightness of faith with the darkness of his confinement.
- Flowers and Plants
- Individual plants receive careful botanical names and are attributed with spiritual properties. They embody the belief that God's creation is endlessly detailed—each species seen as a unique expression of love rather than just a generic setting.
§05Historical context
Historical context
Christopher Smart composed *Jubilate Agno* between 1759 and 1763 while he was confined at St Luke's Hospital for Lunatics and later at a private madhouse in Bethnal Green. His 'madness' likely stemmed from a mix of religious fervor and alcoholism, but many readers have pointed out that the poem, while unconventional, has its own internal logic. Before his breakdown, Smart was a well-respected poet, having won the Seatonian Prize at Cambridge several times. The poem reflects his extensive knowledge of Hebrew poetry, classical languages, and natural history. It wasn't published until 1939, nearly 180 years after it was created, when William Force Stead discovered and edited the manuscript. Although it was written during the peak of the Augustan age of English poetry, it aligns more with a visionary, ecstatic, and prophetic tradition, resonating more closely with the Psalms of David than with the works of Alexander Pope.
§06FAQ
Questions readers ask
It translates from Latin to 'Rejoice in the Lamb.' This title indicates the poem's religious intent and its ties to the Psalms, which often urge joy. While the 'Lamb' symbolizes Christ, Smart broadens the celebration to encompass all of creation.
He spent time in asylums twice, and contemporaries like Samuel Johnson noted that his behavior was erratic. Today, many readers and scholars view his 'madness' as a mix of intense religious fervor and alcoholism. The poem is unusual yet maintains a clear logic throughout.
It offers one of the most affectionate and enduring portrayals of a pet in English poetry. The speaker observes Jeoffry with complete focus and finds praise in every little thing he does—the morning stretch, the hunt, the face-washing. It's humorous, sharp, and truly touching, making it stand out even in a lengthy, intricate poem.
Smart modeled the poem after Hebrew antiphonal poetry, where two groups or voices engage in a responsive dialogue. The 'Let' lines serve as calls or commands ('Let X praise God'), while the 'For' lines provide testimonies or reasons ('For I have observed Y'). Only the 'For' sections remain intact; most of the 'Let' lines have either been lost or are only partially preserved.
The manuscript remained unpublished until 1939, when William Force Stead edited it. Smart never intended it for publication; it was a private work, likely not meant for an audience. For almost two centuries, it went unnoticed until scholars finally acknowledged its significance.
It is filled with scripture, particularly the Psalms and the Book of Revelation. Smart's cataloguing approach reflects the lists found in Psalm 148 and 150, which invite all creatures to praise God. He also references the prophetic books, positioning himself as a modern prophet sharing God's praise from a place of captivity.
Yes, very much so — although it took some time for it to gain recognition. After its publication in 1939, it was seen as a precursor to visionary Romantic poetry and had a direct impact on poets like Allen Ginsberg, whose *Howl* reflects Smart's long-line, catalogue style. Benjamin Britten also composed music for the Jeoffry section in his 1943 cantata *Rejoice in the Lamb*.
It has no consistent metre or rhyme scheme. Each line stands alone as a distinct expression of praise, loosely inspired by the Hebrew verses in the King James Bible. The structure is open and accumulative—Smart continually adds, notices, and praises. This openness contributes to its vibrant and unusual feel.
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