The Poems of John Donne, Volume 1 (of 2)
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Title: The Poems of John Donne, Volume 1 (of 2)
Author: John Donne
Editor: Sir Herbert John Clifford Grierson
Release date: April 12, 2015 [eBook #48688]
Most recently updated: October 24, 2024
Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE POEMS OF JOHN DONNE, VOLUME 1 (OF 2) ***
THE POEMS OF JOHN DONNE
EDITED FROM THE OLD EDITIONS AND NUMEROUS MANUSCRIPTS,
WITH INTRODUCTIONS & COMMENTARY
BY
HERBERT J. C. GRIERSON M.A.
CHALMERS PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
IN THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN
VOL. I
THE TEXT OF THE POEMS WITH APPENDIXES
OXFORD
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
1912
HENRY FROWDE, M.A.
PUBLISHER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
LONDON, EDINBURGH, NEW YORK
TORONTO AND MELBOURNE
PREFACE
The present edition of Donne's poems grew out of my work as a teacher.
In the spring of 1907, just after I had published a small volume on
the literature of the early seventeenth century, I was lecturing to
a class of Honours students on the 'Metaphysical poets'. They found
Donne difficult alike to understand and to appreciate, and accordingly
I undertook to read with them a selection from his poems with a view
to elucidating difficult passages and illustrating the character
of his 'metaphysics', the Scholastic and scientific doctrines which
underlie his conceits. The only editions which we had at our disposal
were the modern editions of Donne's poems by Grosart and Chambers, but
I did not anticipate that this would present any obstacle to the task
I had undertaken. About the same time the Master of Peterhouse asked
me to undertake the chapter on Donne, as poet and prose-artist, for
the _Cambridge History of English Literature_. The result was that
though I had long been interested in Donne, and had given, while at
work on the poetry of the seventeenth century, much thought to his
poetry as a centre of interest and influence, I began to make a more
minute study of the text of his poems than I had yet attempted.
The first result of this study was the discovery that there were
several passages in the poems, as printed in Mr. Chambers' edition,
of which I could give no satisfactory explanation to my class. At
the close of the session I went to Oxford and began in the Bodleian
a rapid collation of the text of that edition with the older copies,
especially of 1633. The conclusion to which I came was that, excellent
in many ways as that edition is, the editor had too often abandoned
the reading of 1633 for the sometimes more obvious but generally
weaker and often erroneous emendations of the later editions. As he
records the variants this had become clear in some cases already, but
an examination of the older editions brought out another fact,--that
by modernizing the punctuation, while preserving no record of the
changes made, the editor had corrupted some passages in such a manner
as to make it impossible for a student, unprovided with all the old
editions, to recover the original and sometimes quite correct reading,
or to trace the error to its fountainhead.
My first proposal to the Delegates of the Clarendon Press was that I
should attempt an edition of Donne's poems resting on a collation of
the printed texts; that for all poems which it contains the edition
of 1633 should be accepted as the authority, to be departed from only
when the error seemed to be obvious and certain, and that all such
changes, however minute, should be recorded in the notes. In the
case of poems not contained in the edition of 1633, the first edition
(whether 1635, 1649, 1650, or 1669) was to be the authority and to be
treated in the same fashion. Such an edition, it was hoped, might be
ready in a year. I had finished my first collation of the editions
when a copy of the Grolier Club edition came into my hands, and I
included it in the number of those which I compared throughout with
the originals.
While the results of this collation confirmed me in the opinion I
had formed as to the superiority of the edition of 1633 to all
its successors, it showed also that that edition was certainly not
faultless, and that the text of those poems which were issued only in
the later editions was in general very carelessly edited and corrupt,
especially of those poems which were added for the first time in 1669.
This raised the question, what use was to be made of the manuscript
copies of the poems in correcting the errors of the edition? Grosart
had based his whole text on one or two manuscripts in preference to
the editions. Mr. Chambers, while wisely refusing to do this, and
adopting the editions as the basis of his text, had made frequent
reference to the manuscripts and adopted corrections from them.
Professor Norton made no use of the manuscripts in preparing the text
of his edition, but he added in an Appendix an account of one of these
which had come into his hands, and later he described some more and
showed clearly that he believed corrections were to be obtained from
this source. Accordingly I resolved to examine tentatively those which
were accessible in the British Museum, especially the transcript of
three of the _Satyres_ in Harleian MS. 5110.
A short examination of the manuscripts convinced me that it would be
very unsafe to base a text on any single extant manuscript, or even to
make an eclectic use of a few of them, taking, now from one, now
from another, what seemed a probable emendation. On the other hand
it became clear that if as wide a collation as possible of extant
manuscripts were made one would be able to establish in many cases
what was, whether right or wrong, the traditional reading before any
printed edition appeared.
A few experiments further showed that one, and a very important,
result of this collation would be to confirm the trustworthiness of
1633, to show that in places where modern editors had preferred the
reading of some of the later editions, generally 1635 or 1669, the
text of 1633 was not only intrinsically superior but had the support
of tradition, i.e. of the majority of the manuscripts. If this were
the case, then it was also possible that the traditional, manuscript
text might afford corrections when 1633 had fallen into error. At the
same time a very cursory examination of the manuscripts was sufficient
to show that many of them afforded an infinitely more correct and
intelligible text of those poems which were not published in 1633 than
that contained in the printed editions.
Another possible result of a wide collation of the manuscripts soon
suggested itself, and that was the settlement of the canon of Donne's
poems. One or two of the poems contained in the old editions had
already been rejected by modern editors, and some of these on the
strength of manuscript ascriptions. But on the one hand, no systematic
attempt had been made to sift the poems, and on the other, experience
has shown that nothing is more unsafe than to trust to the ascriptions
of individual, unauthenticated manuscripts. Here again it seemed to
the present editor that if any definite conclusion was to be obtained
it must be by as wide a survey as possible, by the accumulation of
evidence. No such conclusion might be attainable, but it was only thus
that it could be sought.
The outcome of the investigation thus instituted has been fully
discussed in the article on the _Text and Canon of Donne's Poems_ in
the second volume, and I shall not attempt to summarize it here. But
it may be convenient for the student to have a quite brief statement
of what it is that the notes in this volume profess to set forth.
Their first aim is to give a complete account of the variant readings
of the original editions of 1633, 1635, 1639, 1649-50-54 (the text in
these three is identical), and 1669. This was the aim of the edition
as originally planned, and though my opinion of the value of many
of the variants of the later editions has undergone considerable
abatement since I was able to study them in the light afforded by the
manuscripts, I have endeavoured to complete my original scheme; and I
trust it may be found that nothing more important has been overlooked
than an occasional misprint in the later editions. But I know from the
experience of examining the work of my precursors, and of revising
my own work, that absolute correctness is almost unattainable. It has
been an advantage to me in this part of the work to come after Mr.
Chambers and the Grolier Club editors, but neither of these editions
records changes of punctuation.
The second purpose of the notes is to set forth the evidence of the
manuscripts. I have not attempted to give anything like a full account
of the variant readings of these, but have recorded so much as is
sufficient for four different purposes.
(1) To vindicate the text of 1633. I have not thought it necessary
to detail the evidence in cases where no one has disputed the 1633
reading. If the note simply records the readings of the editions it
may be assumed that the manuscript evidence, so far as it is explicit
(the manuscripts frequently abound in absurd errors), is on the side
of 1633. In other cases, when there is something to be said for the
text of the later editions, and especially when modern editors have
preferred the later reading (though I have not always called attention
to this) I have set forth the evidence in some detail. At times I
have mentioned each manuscript, at others simply _all the MSS._,
occasionally just _MSS._ This last means generally that all the
positive evidence before me was in favour of the reading, but that my
collations were silent as to some of the manuscripts. My collators,
whether myself or those who worked for me, used Mr. Chambers' edition
because of its numbered lines. Now if Mr. Chambers had already adopted
a 1635 or later reading the tendency of the collator--especially
at first, before the importance of certain readings had become
obvious--was to pass over the agreement of the manuscript with this
later reading in silence. In all important cases I have verified
the reading by repeated reference to the manuscripts, but in some of
smaller importance I have been content to record the general trend of
the evidence. I have tried to cite no manuscript unless I had positive
evidence as to its reading.
(2) The second use which I have made of the manuscript evidence is
to justify my occasional departures from the text of the editions,
whether 1633 (and these are the departures which call for most
justification) or whatever later edition was the first to contain the
poem. In every such case the reader should see at a glance what was
the reading of the first edition, and on what authority it has been
altered. My aim has been a true text (so far as that was attainable),
not a reprint; but I have endeavoured to put the reader in exactly
the same position as I was myself at each stage in the construction of
that text. If I have erred, he can (in a favourite phrase of Donne's)
'control' me. This applies to spelling and punctuation as well as to
the words themselves. But two warnings are necessary. When I note a
reading as found in a number of editions, e.g. 1635 to 1654 (1635-54),
or in _all_ the editions (1633-69), it must be understood that the
spelling is not always the same throughout. I have generally noted
any variation in the use of capitals, but not always. The spelling and
punctuation of each poem is that of the _first_ edition in which it
was published, or of the manuscript from which I have printed, all
changes being recorded. Again, if, in a case where the words and not
the punctuation is the matter in question, I cite the reading of an
edition or some editions followed by a list of agreeing manuscripts,
it will be understood that any punctuation given is that of the
editions. If a list of manuscripts only is given, the punctuation, if
recorded, is that of one or two of the best of these.
In cases where punctuation is the matter in question the issue lies
between the various editions and my own sense of what it ought to be.
Wherever it is not otherwise indicated the punctuation of a poem is
that of the first edition in which it appeared or of the manuscript
from which I have printed it. I have not recorded every variant of the
punctuation of later editions, but all that affect the sense while
at the same time not manifestly absurd. The punctuation of the
manuscripts is in general negligible, but of a few manuscripts it is
good, and I have occasionally cited these in support of my own view as
to what the punctuation should be.
(3) A third purpose served by my citation of the manuscripts is to
show clearly that there are more versions than one of some poems. A
study of the notes to the _Satyres_, _The Flea_, _The Curse_, _Elegy
XI: The Bracelet_, will make this clear.
(4) A fourth, subordinate and occasional, purpose of my citation
of the manuscripts is to show how Donne's poems were understood
or misunderstood by the copyists. Occasionally a reading which is
probably erroneous throws light upon a difficult passage. The version
of _P_ at p. 34, ll. 18-19, elucidates a difficult stanza. The reading
of Q in _The Storme_, l. 38,
Yea, and the Sunne
for the usual
I, and the Sunne
suggests, what is probably correct but had not been suspected by any
editor, that 'I' here, as often, is not the pronoun, but 'Aye'.
The order of the poems is that of the editions of 1635 onwards with
some modifications explained in the Introduction. In Appendix B I
have placed all those poems which were printed as Donne's in the old
editions (1633 to 1669), except Basse's _Epitaph on Shakespeare_, and
a few found in manuscripts connected with the editions, or assigned
to Donne by competent critics, all of which I believe to be by other
authors. The text of these has been as carefully revised as that
of the undoubted poems. In Appendix C I have placed a miscellaneous
collection of poems loosely connected with Donne's name, and
illustrating the work of some of his fellow-wits, or the trend of his
influence in the occasional poetry of the seventeenth century.
The work of settling the text, correcting the canon, and preparing the
Commentary has been done by myself. It was difficult to consult others
who had not before them all the complex mass of evidence which I had
accumulated. On some five or six places in the text, however, where
final question to be decided was the intrinsic merits of the readings
offered by the editions and by the manuscripts, or the advisability of
a bolder emendation, I have had the advantage of comparing my opinion
with that of Sir James Murray, Sir Walter Raleigh, Dr. Henry Bradley,
Mr. W. A. Craigie, Mr. J. C. Smith, or Mr. R. W. Chapman.
For such accuracy as I have secured in reproducing the old editions,
in the text and in the notes, I owe much to the help of three friends,
Mr. Charles Forbes, of the Post Office, Aberdeen, who transcribed the
greater portion of my manuscript; Professor John Purves, of University
College, Pretoria, who during a visit to this country read a large
section of my proofs, comparing them with the editions in the British
Museum; and especially to my assistant, Mr. Frederick Rose, M.A., now
Douglas Jerrold Scholar, Christ Church, Oxford, who has revised my
proofs throughout with minute care.
I am indebted to many sources for the loan of necessary material. In
the first place I must acknowledge my debt to the Carnegie Trust for
the Universities of Scotland for allowing me a grant of £40 in 1908-9,
and of £30 in 1909-10, for the collation of manuscripts. Without this
it would have been impossible for me to collate, or have collated
for me, the widely scattered manuscripts in London, Petworth, Oxford,
Cambridge, Manchester, and Boston. Some of my expenses in this
connexion have been met by the Delegates of the Clarendon Press, who
have also been very generous in the purchase of necessary books, such
as editions of the Poems and the Sermons. At the outset of my work
the Governing Body of Christ Church, Oxford, lent me the copy of
the edition of 1633 (originally the possession of Sir John Vaughan
(1603-1674) Chief Justice of the Common Pleas) on which the present
edition is based, and also their copies of the editions of 1639, 1650,
and 1654. At the same time Sir Walter Raleigh lent me his copy of
the edition of 1669. At an early stage of my work Captain C. Shirley
Harris, of 90 Woodstock Road, Oxford, communicated with me about
Donne's use of the word 'Mucheron', and he was kind enough to lend me
both his manuscript, _P_, and the transcript which he had caused to be
made. By the kindness of Lord Ellesmere I was permitted to collate
his unique copy of the 1611 edition of the _Anatomy of the World_
and _Funerall Elegie_. While I was doing so, Mr. Strachan Holme, the
Librarian, drew my attention to a manuscript collection of Donne's
poems (_B_), and with his kind assistance I was enabled to collate
this at Walkden, Manchester, and again at Bridgewater House. Mr. Holme
has also furnished a photograph of the title-page of the edition of
1611. To the authorities of Trinity College, Dublin, and of Trinity
College, Cambridge, I am indebted not only for permission to collate
their manuscripts on the spot, but for kindly lending them to be
examined and compared in the Library at King's College, Aberdeen;
and I am indebted for a similar favour to the authorities of Queen's
College, Oxford. In Dublin I met Professor Edward Dowden, and no one
has been a kinder friend to my enterprise. He put at my disposal his
interesting and valuable manuscript (_D_) and all his collection of
Donne's works. He drew my attention to a manuscript (_O'F_) in Ellis
and Elvey's catalogue for 1903. Mr. Warwick Bond was good enough to
lend me the notes he had made upon this manuscript, which ultimately
I traced to Harvard College Library. With Professor Dowden, Mr. Edmund
Gosse has given me the most generous and whole-hearted assistance.
He lent me, as soon as ever I applied to him, his valuable and unique
Westmoreland MS., containing many poems which were not included in any
of the old editions. Some of these Mr. Gosse had already printed in
his own delightful _Life and Letters of John Donne_ (1899), but he has
allowed me to reprint these and to print the rest of the unpublished
poems for the first time. From his manuscript (_G_) of the _Progresse
of the Soule_, or _Metempsychosis_, I have also obtained important
emendations of the text. This is the most valuable manuscript copy
of this poem. It will be seen that Mr. Gosse is a very material
contributor to the completeness and interest of the present edition.
To the Marquess of Crewe I am indebted for permission to examine the
manuscript _M_, to which a note of Sir John Simon's had called my
attention; and to Lord Leconfield for a like permission to collate a
manuscript in his possession, of which a short description is given in
the _Hist. MSS. Commission, Sixth Report_, p. 312, No. 118. With
Mr. Whitcomb's aid I was enabled to do this carefully, and he has
subsequently verified references. Another interesting manuscript
(_JC_) was lent me by Mr. Elkin Mathews, who has also put at my
disposal his various editions of the _Lives_ of Walton and other
books connected with Donne. Almost at the eleventh hour, Mr. Geoffrey
Keynes, of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, discovered for me a copy of the
1612 edition of the _Anniversaries_, for which I had asked in vain in
_Notes and Queries_. I owe to him, and to the kind permission of
Mr. Edward Huth and the Messrs. Sotheby, a careful collation and a
photograph of the title-page.
For the Commentary Dr. Norman Moore supplied me with a note on the
Galenists and Paracelsians; and Dr. Gaster with the materials for a
note on Donne's use of Jewish Apocrypha. Professor Picavet, of the
Sorbonne, Paris, was kind enough to read in proof my notes on Donne's
allusions to Scholastic doctrines, and to make suggestions. But I have
added to these notes as they passed through the Press, and he must not
be made responsible for my errors. Mr. W. Barclay Squire and Professor
C. Sanford Terry have revised my transcripts and proofs of the music.
I desire lastly to express my gratitude to the officials of the
Clarendon Press for the care with which they have checked my proofs,
the patience with which they have accepted my changes and additions,
and the trouble they have taken to secure photographs, music, and
other details. Whatever faults may be found--and I doubt not they will
be many--in my part of the work, I think the part for which the Press
is responsible is wellnigh faultless.
H. J. C. GRIERSON.
LANGCROFT,
DINNET, ABERDEENSHIRE.
_July 15, 1912._
NOTE
The typography of the edition of 1633 has been closely followed, in
its use for example of 'u' and 'v'; and of long 's', which is avoided
in certain combinations, e.g. 'sk' (but P. 12, l. 27. 'askes'
1633) and frequently 'sb'; nor is it generally used when the letter
following 's' is elided; but there are one or two exceptions to this.
In the following places I have printed a full 'and' where 1633
contracts to '&' owing to the length of the line:
Page 12, l. 4. & whõ; P. 15, l. 40. & drove; P. 65, l. 8. & nought; P.
153, l. 105. & almes; P. 158, l. 101. & name; do., l. 107. & rockes,
&; P. 159, l. 30. & black; P. 171, l. 83. & lawes; P. 183, l. 18. &
Courts; P. 184, l. 29. & God; P. 205, l. 2. & pleasure; P. 240, l.
288. & sinke; P. 254, l. 107. & thinke; do., l. 113. & think; P. 280,
l. 24. & Mines; P. 297, l. 56. & lands; do., l. 62. & brow; P. 306,
l. 290. & lents; P. 327 (xii), l. 8. & feed; P. 337, l. 35. & thou; P.
360, l. 188. & turn'd; P. 384, l. 78. & face.
In the following places 'm' or 'n', indicated by a contraction, has
been printed in full: Page 12, l. 4. Her whõ; do. & whõ; P. 37, 1. 17.
whẽ (_bis_); P. 82, l. 46. thẽ; P. 90, l. 2. frõ; P. 128, l. 28.
Valẽtine; P. 141, l. 8. whẽ; P. 150, l. 16. thẽ; P. 159, l.
30. strãge; P. 169, l. 31. whõ; P. 257, l. 210. successiõ; P. 266, l.
513. anciẽt; P. 305, l. 255. thẽ; P. 336, l. 10. whẽ; P. 343,
l. 126. Frõ; P. 345, l. 169. thẽ; P. 387, l. 71. Pẽbrooke.
There are a few examples of the same changes in the poems printed from
the later editions, but I have not reproduced any of these editions so
completely as 1633, every poem in which, with the exception of Basse's
_An Epitaph upon Shakespeare_ (1633. p. 149 i.e. 165) has been here
reprinted.
CONTENTS OF VOL. I
SOURCE PAGE
1633 THE PRINTER TO THE UNDERSTANDERS 1
1633 HEXASTICHON BIBLIOPOLAE 3
1635 HEXASTICHON AD BIBLIOPOLAM 3
1650 DEDICATION TO THE EDITION OF 1650 4
1650 TO JOHN DONNE 5
1650 TO LUCY, COUNTESSE OF BEDFORD, WITH M. DONNES SATYRES 6
1650 TO JOHN DONNE 6
SONGS AND SONETS
1633 195 The good-morrow 7
196-7 Song 8
197-8 Womans constancy 9
198-9 The undertaking 10
199-200 The Sunne Rising 11
200-1 The Indifferent 12
201-2 Loves Vsury 13
202-4 The Canonization 14
204-5 The triple Foole 16
205-6 Lovers infiniteness 17
206-8 Song 18
208-9 The Legacie 20
209-10 A Feaver 21
211-12 Aire and Angels 22
212 Breake of day 23
213-14 The Anniversarie 24
214-17 A Valediction: of my name, in the window 25
218-19 Twicknam garden 28
219-21 A Valediction: of the booke 29
222 Communitie 32
223-4 Loves growth 33
224-5 Loves exchange 34
226 Confined Love 36
227 The Dreame 37
228-9 A Valediction: of weeping 38
229-30 Loves Alchymie 39
230-1 The Flea 40
231-2 The Curse 41
186 The Message 43
187-8 A nocturnall upon S. Lucies day, Being
the shortest day 44
189 Witchcraft by a picture 45
190-1 The Baite 46
191 The Apparition 47
192-3 The broken heart 48
193-4 A Valediction: forbidding mourning 49
277-80 The Extasie 51
280-1 Loves Deitie 54
281-2 Loves diet 55
283-5 The Will 56
285-6 The Funerall 58
286-7 The Blossome 59
288-9 The Primrose, being at Montgomery Castle,
upon the hill, on which it is situate 61
289-90 The Relique 62
290-1 The Dampe 63
291-2 The Dissolution 64
292-3 A Ieat Ring sent 65
293 Negative love 66
294 The Prohibition 67
295 The Expiration 68
295 The Computation 69
302 The Paradox 69
1635 63-4 Farewell to love 70
66-7 A Lecture upon the Shadow 71
1650 264-5 Sonnet. The Token 72
391-2 <Selfe Love> He that cannot chuse but love 73
EPIGRAMS
1633 40 Hero and Leander 75
40 Pyramus and Thisbe 75
40 Niobe 75
41 A burnt ship 75
41 Fall of a wall 76
41 A lame begger 76
Westmoreland MS. Cales and Guyana 76
" MS. Sir Iohn Wingefield 76
1633 41 A selfe accuser 76
42 A licentious person 77
42 Antiquary 77
42 Disinherited 77
42 Phryne 77
42 An obscure writer 77
42 Klockius 77
43 Raderus 78
43 Mercurius Gallo-Belgicus 78
43 Ralphius 78
Westmoreland MS. The Lier 78
ELEGIES
1633 44-5 I. Iealosie 79
45-7 II. The Anagram 80
47-8 III. Change 82
49-51 IV. The Perfume 84
51-2 V. His Picture 86
53-5 VI. Oh, let mee not 87
55-6 VII. Natures lay Ideot 89
149-50 VIII. The Comparison 90
151-2 IX. The Autumnall 92
153 X. The Dreame 95
1635 89-93 XI. The Bracelet 96
1669 86-9 XII. His parting from her 100
1635 96-7 XIII. Iulia 104
98-100 XIV. A Tale of a Citizen and his Wife 105
1633 300-2 XV. The Expostulation 108
1635 269-70 XVI. On his Mistris 111
1650 388-90 XVII. Variety 113
1669 94-7 XVIII. Loves Progress 116
97-9 XIX. Going to Bed 119
Westmoreland MS. XX. Loves Warr 122
1633 166-8 HEROICALL EPISTLE: Sapho to Philænis 124
EPITHALAMIONS, OR MARRIAGE SONGS
1633 118-22 An Epithalamion, Or marriage Song on the
Lady Elizabeth, and Count Palatine being
married on St. Valentines day 127
123-27 Eclogue. 1613. December 26 131
127-35 Epithalamion 135
135-8 Epithalamion made at Lincolnes Inne 141
SATYRES
1633 325-8 Satyre I 145
329-32 Satyre II 149
333-6 Satyre III 154
337-45 Satyre IIII 158
346-9 Satyre V 168
1650 262-4 Vpon Mr. Thomas Coryats Crudities 172
_Coryats Crudities_ In eundem Macaronicon 174
LETTERS TO SEVERALL PERSONAGES
1633 56-9 The Storme 175
59-61 The Calme 178
61-3 To S^r Henry Wotton. Sir, more then kisses 180
72-4 To S^r Henry Goodyere. Who makes the Past 183
74-5 To M^r Rowland Woodward. Like one who 185
76-7 To S^r Henry Wootton. Here's no more newes 187
Burley MS. H: W: in Hiber: belligeranti 188
1633 77-9 To the Countesse of Bedford. Madame, Reason is 189
79-82 To the Countesse of Bedford. Madame, You
have refin'd 191
82-4 To S^r Edward Herbert, at Iulyers. Man is a lumpe 193
84-7 To the Countesse of Bedford. T'have written then 195
87-90 To the Countesse of Bedford. This twilight of 198
90-3 To the Countesse of Huntingdon. Madame,
Man to Gods image 201
93-4 To M^r T. W. All haile sweet Poët 203
95 To M^r T. W. Hast thee harsh verse 205
95-6 To M^r T. W. Pregnant again 206
96 To M^r T. W. At once, from 206
Westmoreland MS. To M^r R. W. Zealously my Muse 207
" MS. To M^r R. W. Muse not that by 207
1633 97 To M^r C. B. Thy friend, whom 208
Westmoreland MS. To M^r E. G. Even as lame things 208
1633 100-1 To M^r R. W. If, as mine is 209
Westmoreland MS. To M^r R. W. Kindly I envy 210
1633 98 To M^r S. B. O Thou which 211
101 To M^r I. L. Of that short 212
99-100 To M^r B. B. Is not thy sacred 212
102 To M^r I. L. Blest are your 213
104-5 To Sir H. W. at his going Ambassador to Venice 214
106-8 To M^rs M. H. Mad paper stay 216
108-10 To the Countesse of Bedford. Honour is so 218
111 To the Countesse of Bedford. Though I be dead 220
112-13 A Letter to the Lady Carey, and M^rs Essex
Riche, From Amyens. Madame, Here where 221
115-18 To the Countesse of Salisbury. August. 1614 224
298-9 To the Lady Bedford. You that are she 227
AN ANATOMIE OF THE WORLD
1633 233-5 To the praise of the dead 229
235-51 The first Anniversary 231
252-5 A Funerall Elegie 245
OF THE PROGRESSE OF THE SOULE
1633 257-9 The Harbinger to the Progresse 249
260-77 The second Anniversarie 251
EPICEDES AND OBSEQUIES UPON THE
DEATHS OF SUNDRY PERSONAGES
1633 154-7 Elegie upon the untimely death of the
incomparable Prince Henry 267
139 To the Countesse of Bedford. _Letter introducing_ 270
140-8 Obsequies to the Lord Harrington, brother to
the Lady Lucy, Countesse of Bedford 271
66-8 Elegie on the Lady Marckham 279
69-71 Elegie on M^{ris} Boulstred 282
296-8 Elegie. Death 284
52-3 Elegie on the L. C. 287
162-3 An hymne to the Saints, and to Marquesse
Hamylton 288
EPITAPHS
1635 271 On himselfe 291
386-7 Omnibus 292
1633 before p. 1 INFINITATI SACRUM
Epistle 293
1-27 The Progresse of the Soule 295
DIVINE POEMS
1633 103 To E. of D. with six holy Sonnets 317
Walton's _Life of }To the Lady Magdalen Herbert: of St. Mary
M^r George Herbert_} Magdalen 317
HOLY SONNETS
1633 28 _La Corona_ 318
28-9 Annunciation 319
29 Nativitie 319
30 Temple 320
30-1 Crucifying 320
31 Resurrection 321
31-2 Ascention 321
_Holy Sonnets_
1635 331-2 I. Thou hast made me 322
1633 32 II. As due by many titles 322
1635 333 III. O might those sighes and teares 323
1633 33 IV. Oh my blacke Soule 323
1635 334 V. I am a little world 324
1633 33-4 VI. This is my playes last scene 324
34 VII. At the round earths imagin'd corners 325
1635 336 VIII. If faithfull soules be alike glorifi'd 325
1633 35 IX. If poysonous mineralls 326
35-6 X. Death be not proud 326
36 XI. Spit in my face you Jewes 327
37 XII. Why are wee by all creatures waited on? 327
37-8 XIII. What if this present were the worlds last
night? 328
38 XIV. Batter my heart 328
39 XV. Wilt thou love God, as he thee! 329
39-40 XVI. Father, part of his double interest 329
Westmoreland MS. XVII. Since she whom I lov'd hath payd
her last debt 330
" MS. XVIII. Show me deare Christ, thy spouse 330
" MS. XIX. Oh, to vex me, contraryes meet in one 331
1633 64-6 The Crosse 331
161-2 Resurrection, imperfect 333
168-9 The Annuntiation and Passion 334
170-1 Goodfriday, 1613. Riding Westward 336
172-85 THE LITANIE 338
1635 366-8 Vpon the translation of the Psalmes by Sir
Philip Sydney, and the Countesse of Pembroke
his Sister 348
368 Ode: Of our Sense of Sinne 350
369-70 To M^r Tilman after he had taken orders 351
1633 304-5 A Hymne to Christ, at the Authors last going
into Germany 352
306-23 The Lamentations of Ieremy, for the most part
according to Tremelius 354
1635 387-8 Hymne to God my God, in my sicknesse 368
1633 350 A Hymne to God the Father 369
Trinity College, Dublin, MS. To Christ 370
ELEGIES UPON THE AUTHOR 371
APPENDIX A
LATIN POEMS AND TRANSLATIONS
1635 278 De libro cum mutuaretur &c. 397
278 <Epigramma> 397
1650 370-1 Amicissimo, & meritissimo, Ben Jonson 398
378 To M^r George Herbert, with one of my Seals 398
379 A sheafe of Snakes used 399
385 Translated out of Gazæus 401
APPENDIX B
POEMS ATTRIBUTED TO JOHN DONNE IN THE OLD EDITIONS
(1633-1669) AND THE PRINCIPAL MS. COLLECTIONS,
ARRANGED ACCORDING TO THEIR PROBABLE AUTHOR.
I
POEMS. Probably by Sir John Roe, Knt.
1669 130-42 To S^r Nicholas Smyth. Sleep, next society 401
1635 146-7 Satyre. Men write that love and reason
disagree 406
93-5 An Elegie. Come, Fates; I feare you not 407
Hawthornden MS. An Elegie to M^{ris} Boulstred: 1602 410
Addl. MS. 10309 An Elegie. True love findes witt 412
1635 65-6 Song. Deare Love, continue 412
208-9 To Ben. Iohnson, 6 Ian. 1603 414
207-8 To Ben. Iohnson, 9. Novembris, 1603 415
209-10 To S^r Tho. Roe. 1603 416
II
1635 191-5 To the Countesse of Huntington.
That unripe side of earth 417
III
1635 272 Elegie.
Death be not proud 422
IV
1635 157-61 Psalme 137. Probably by Francis Davison.
By Euphrates Flowry side 424
V
1635 342 On the blessed Virgin Mary. Probably by
Henry Constable 427
VI
1635 372 On the Sacrament 427
VII
Stowe MS. 961 Absence. Absence, heare my protestation 428
Probably by John Hoskins.
VIII
1635 62 Song. Soules joy. Probably by the Earl of
Pembroke 429
195-6 A Dialogue 430
IX
1669 17 Break of Daye.
Stay, O sweet 432
Probably by John Dowlands.
APPENDIX C
Addl. MS. 25707 A Letter written by S^r H: G: and J: D:
alternis vicibus 433
Addl. MS. 25707 O Frutefull Garden 434
To my Lord of Pembroke 435
Of a Lady in the Black Masque 436
Burley MS. <Life.> 437
<My Love.> 437
<O Eyes!> 438
<Silence Best Praise.> 439
<Beauty in Little Room.> 440
<Loves Zodiake.> 440
<Fortune, Love, and Time.> 440
<Life a Play.> 441
A Kisse 441
Epi: B: Jo: 443
Epi: Hen: Princ: Hug^o Holland 443
O'Flaherty MS. <The Annuntiation. Additional Lines.> 443
Elegy. To Chast Love 445
Upon his scornefull Mistresse. Elegy 446
Lansdowne MS. 740 <Absence.> 447
<Tongue-tied Love.> 447
O'Flaherty MS. <Love, if a God thou art.> 448
<Great Lord of Love.> 448
<Loves Exchange.> 449
Song. Now y'have killd 450
Stowe MS. 961 Love, bred of glances 450
Bridgewater MS. To a Watch restored to its Mystres<se> 451
Egerton MS. <Ad Solem.> 451
Stephens MS. <If She Deride.> 452
<Fortune Never Fails.> 453
To His Mistress 455
Stowe MS. 961 A Paradoxe of a Painted Face 456
Sonnett. Madam that flea 459
Addl. MS. 11811 On Black Hayre and Eyes 460
Phillipps MS. Fragment of an Elegy 462
Walton's _Compleat Angler_ <Farewel, ye guilded follies.> 465
INDEX OF FIRST LINES 469
PLATES
John Donne, from the engraving prefixed to the _Poems_, 1635
_face page_ 7
John Donne, 1613, from an engraving prefixed to the prose
_Letters &c._, 1651 _face page_ 175
John Donne, from the frontispiece to _Death's Duel_, 1632
_face page_ 369
LIST OF EDITIONS REGULARLY CITED IN NOTES.
_1633_, _1635_, _1639_, _1650_, _1654_, _1669_.
Contractions:
_1633-54_ i.e. All editions between and including these dates.
_1633-69_ i.e. All the editions.
Etc.
EDITIONS OCCASIONALLY CITED.
_1649_, in lists of editions and MSS. appended to poems first
published in that edition. Textually it is identical with
_1650-54_.
_1719_, Tonson's edition.
_1855_, The Boston edition of that year--cited once.
_Grosart_, A. B. Grosart's edition of 1872-3.
_Grolier_, The Grolier Club edition of Professor Norton and
Mrs. Burnett, 1895.
_Chambers_, Mr. E. K. Chambers' edition of 1896.
LIST OF MS. SIGLA
_A10_ Additional MS. 10,309, British Museum.
_A11_ " " 11,811, "
_A18_ " " 18,646, "
_A23_ " " 23,229, "
_A25_ " " 25,707, "
_A34_ " " 34,744, "
_Ash 38_ Ashmole MS. 38, Bodleian Library.
_B_ Bridgewater MS., Bridgewater House.
_Bur_ Burley MS., formerly at Burley-on-the-Hill House, Rutland.
_C_ Cambridge University Library MS.
_Cy_ Carnaby MS., Harvard College.
_D_ Dowden MS., belonging to Professor Edward Dowden.
_E20_ Egerton MS. 2013, British Museum.
_E22_ " " 2230, "
_G_ Gosse MS. of _Metempsychosis_, belonging to Mr. Edmund Gosse.
_H39_ Harleian MS. 3910, British Museum.
_H40_ " " 4064, "
_H49_ " " 4944, "
_H51_ " " 5110, "
_HN_ Hawthornden MS., Library of Society of Antiquaries, Edinburgh.
_JC_ John Cave MS., belonging to Mr. Elkin Mathews.
_L74_ Lansdowne MS. 740, British Museum.
_L77_ " " 777, "
_Lec_ Leconfield MS., at Petworth House.
_M_ Monckton-Milnes MS., belonging to the Marquis of Crewe.
_N_ Norton MS., Harvard College.
_O'F_ O'Flaherty MS., Harvard College.
_P_ Phillipps MS., belonging to Captain C. Shirley Harris.
_Q_ Queen's College MS., Queen's College, Oxford.
_RP31_ Rawlinson Poetical MS. 31, Bodleian Library, Oxford.
_RP61_ " " " 61 " " "
_S_ Stephens MS., Harvard College.
_S96_ Stowe MS. 961, British Museum.
_TCC_ Trinity College, Cambridge, MS.
_TCD_ Trinity College, Dublin, MS. G. 2. 21.
_TCD_ (II) A second collection of poems in the same MS.
_W_ Westmoreland MS., belonging to Mr. Edmund Gosse.
The following groups are important:--
_D_, _H49_, _Lec_,
and
_A18_, _N_, _TC_, where _TC_ represents _TCC_ and _TCD_
THE PRINTER
TO THE
UNDERSTANDERS.
For this time I must speake only to you: at another, _Readers_ may
perchance serve my turne; and I thinke this a way very free from
exception, in hope that very few will have a minde to confesse
themselves ignorant.
If you looke for an Epistle, as you have before ordinary publications,
I am sory that I must deceive you; but you will not lay it to my
charge, when you shall consider that this is not ordinary, for if I
should say it were the best in this kinde, that ever this Kingdome
hath yet seene; he that would doubt of it must goe out of the Kingdome
to enforme himselfe, for the best judgments, within it, take it for
granted.
You may imagine (if it please you) that I could endeare it unto
you, by saying, that importunity drew it on; that had it not beene
presented here, it would have come to us from beyond the Seas; (which
perhaps is true enough,) That my charge and paines in procuring of
it hath beene such, and such. I could adde hereto, a promise of more
correctnesse, or enlargement in the next Edition, if you shall in the
meane time content you with this. But these things are so common, as
that I should profane this Peece by applying them to it; A Peece
which who so takes not as he findes it, in what manner soever, he
is unworthy of it, sith a scattered limbe of this Author, hath more
amiablenesse in it, in the eye of a discerner, then a whole body of
some other; Or, (to expresse him best by himselfe)
[Sidenote: _In the Storme._]
--_A hand, or eye,
By_ Hilyard _drawne, is worth a history
By a worse Painter made_;--
If any man (thinking I speake this to enflame him for the vent of
the Impression) be of another opinion, I shall as willingly spare his
money as his judgement. I cannot lose so much by him as hee will by
himselfe. For I shall satisfie my selfe with the conscience of well
doing, in making so much good common.
Howsoever it may appeare to you, it shall suffice mee to enforme you,
that it hath the best warrant that can bee, publique authority, and
private friends.
There is one thing more wherein I will make you of my counsell, and
that is, That whereas it hath pleased some, who had studyed and did
admire him, to offer to the memory of the Author, not long after his
decease, I have thought I should do you service in presenting them
unto you now; onely whereas, had I placed them in the beginning, they
might have serv'd for so many Encomiums of the Author (as is usuall
in other workes, where perhaps there is need of it, to prepare men to
digest such stuffe as follows after,) you shall here finde them in the
end, for whosoever reades the rest so farre, shall perceive that there
is no occasion to use them to that purpose; yet there they are, as an
attestation for their sakes that knew not so much before, to let them
see how much honour was attributed to this worthy man, by those that
are capable to give it. _Farewell._
[The Printer _&c._ _1633-49:_ _om. 1650-69, which substitute
Dedication_ To the _&c._ (_p._ 4)]
[2 you: _1635-49:_ you, _1633_]
[The Printer to the Vnderstanders. _1635-69:_ The Printer to
the Reader. _1633. See note_]
[28 here _1635-69: om. 1633_ (... you shall here finde them in
the end,...)]
_Hexastichon Bibliopolae._
I see in his last preach'd, and printed Booke,
His Picture in a sheet; in _Pauls_ I looke,
And see his Statue in a sheete of stone,
And sure his body in the grave hath one:
Those sheetes present him dead, these if you buy,
You have him living to Eternity.
JO. MAR.
[Hexastichon Bibliopolae. _1633-69_]
Hexastichon ad Bibliopolam.
Incerti.
_In thy Impression of_ Donnes _Poems rare,
For his Eternitie thou hast ta'ne care:
'Twas well, and pious; And for ever may
He live: Yet shew I thee a better way;
Print but his Sermons, and if those we buy,
He, We, and Thou shall live t' Eternity._
[Hexastichon ad Bibliopolam. _1635-69_]
_Dedication to the Edition of 1650._
To the Right Honourable
_William_ Lord _Craven_ Baron of
_Hamsted-Marsham_.
_My Lord_,
Many of these Poems have, for severall impressions, wandred up and
down trusting (as well they might) upon the Authors reputation;
neither do they now complain of any injury but what may proceed either
from the kindnesse of the Printer, or the curtesie of the Reader; the
one by adding something too much, lest any spark of this sacred fire
might perish undiscerned, the other by putting such an estimation upon
the wit & fancy they find here, that they are content to use it
as their own: as if a man should dig out the stones of a royall
Amphitheatre to build a stage for a countrey show. Amongst all the
monsters this unlucky age has teemed with, I finde none so prodigious,
as the Poets of these later times, wherein men as if they would level
understandings too as well as estates, acknowledging no inequality of
parts and Judgements, pretend as indifferently to the chaire of wit as
to the Pulpit, & conceive themselves no lesse inspired with the spirit
of Poetry then with that of Religion: so it is not onely the noise of
Drums and Trumpets which have drowned the Muses harmony, or the feare
that the Churches ruine wil destroy their Priests likewise, that now
frights them from this Countrey, where they have been so ingenuously
received, but these rude pretenders to excellencies they unjustly
own who profanely rushing into _Minervaes_ Temple, with noysome Ayres
blast the lawrell w^{ch} thunder cannot hurt. In this sad condition
these learned sisters are fled over to beg your L^{ps}. protection,
who have been so certain a patron both to arts and armes, and who in
this generall confusion have so intirely preserved your Honour, that
in your Lordship we may still read a most perfect character of what
_England_ was in all her pompe and greatnesse, so that although these
poems were formerly written upon severall occasions, and to severall
persons, they now unite themselves, and are become one pyramid to set
your Lordships statue upon, where you may stand like Armed _Apollo_
the defendor of the Muses, encouraging the Poets now alive to
celebrate your great Acts by affording your countenance to his poems
that wanted onely so noble a subject.
My Lord,
_Your most humble servant_
JOHN DONNE.
[To the _&c._ _1650-69_]
TO JOHN DONNE.
Donne, _the delight of Phoebus, and each Muse,
Who, to thy one, all other braines refuse;
Whose every work, of thy most early wit,
Came forth example, and remaines so, yet:
Longer a knowing, than most wits doe live;
And which no'n affection praise enough can give!
To it, thy language, letters, arts, best life,
Which might with halfe mankind maintain a strife;
All which I mean to praise, and, yet, I would;
But leave, because I cannot as I should_!
B. JONS.
[To John Donne. _1650-69, following the_ Hexastichon ad
Bibliopolam.]
To LUCY, COUNTESSE OF BEDFORD, with M. DONNES Satyres.
_Lucy_, you brightnesse of our Spheare, who are
Life of the _Muses_ day, their morning Starre!
If works (not th'Authors) their own grace should look
Whose poems would not wish to be your book?
But these, desir'd by you, the makers ends
Crown with their own. Rare Poems ask rare friends.
Yet, _Satyres_, since the most of mankind bee
Their unavoided subject, fewest see:
For none ere took that pleasure in sins sense,
But, when they heard it tax'd, took more offence.
They, then, that living where the matter is bred,
Dare for these Poems, yet, both ask, and read,
And like them too; must needfully, though few,
Be of the best: and 'mongst those best are you;
_Lucy_, you brightnefle of our Spheare, who are
The _Muses_ evening, as their morning-Starre.
B. JON.
TO JOHN DONNE.
Who shall doubt, _Donne_, where I a _Poet_ bee,
When I dare send my _Epigrammes_ to thee?
That so alone canst judge, so'alone do'st make:
And, in thy censures, evenly, dost take
As free simplicity, to dis-avow,
As thou hast best authority, t'allow.
Read all I send: and, if I finde but one
Mark'd by thy hand, and with the better stone,
My title's seal'd. Those that for claps doe write,
Let punees, porters, players praise delight,
And, till they burst, their backs, like asses load:
A man should seek great glory, and not broad.
B. JON.
[To Lucy _&c._ To John Donne _&c._ _1650-69, in sheets added
1650_. _See_ Text and Canon _&c._]
[Illustration: JOHN DONNE
From the engraving prefixed to the Poems in the Editions of 1635,
1639, 1649, 1650, 1654]
SONGS _AND_ SONETS.
_The good-morrow._
I wonder by my troth, what thou, and I
Did, till we lov'd? were we not wean'd till then?
But suck'd on countrey pleasures, childishly?
Or snorted we in the seaven sleepers den?
T'was so; But this, all pleasures fancies bee. 5
If ever any beauty I did see,
Which I desir'd, and got, t'was but a dreame of thee.
And now good morrow to our waking soules,
Which watch not one another out of feare;
For love, all love of other sights controules, 10
And makes one little roome, an every where.
Let sea-discoverers to new worlds have gone,
Let Maps to other, worlds on worlds have showne,
Let us possesse one world, each hath one, and is one.
My face in thine eye, thine in mine appeares, 15
And true plaine hearts doe in the faces rest,
Where can we finde two better hemispheares
Without sharpe North, without declining West?
What ever dyes, was not mixt equally;
If our two loves be one, or, thou and I 20
Love so alike, that none doe slacken, none can die.
[SONGS AND SONETS. _1635-69: no division into sections, 1633_]
[The good-morrow. _1633-69_, _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_
_no title_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S:_ Elegie. _S96_]
[2 lov'd? _1639-69:_ lov'd, _1633-35_]
[3 countrey pleasures, childishly? _1633-54_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _Lec:_ childish pleasures seelily? _1669_, _A18_,
_A25_, _B_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]
[4 snorted _1633-54_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S96:_
slumbred _1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _TC_
seaven sleepers _1633:_ seven-sleepers _1635-69_]
[5 this,] as _1669_]
[10 For _1633-69_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec:_ But _rest of
MSS_.]
[13 to other, worlds on _1633-54:_ to other worlds our _1669:_
to others, worlds on _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _and other MSS_.]
[14 one world _1633-69_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ our world _rest of
MSS_.]
[17 better _1633_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec:_ fitter _1635-69_,
_and rest of MSS_.]
[19 was not] is not _1669_]
[20-1 or, thou and I ... can die. _1633_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _Lec:_ or, thou and I ... can slacken, ... can die.
_Chambers:_
both thou and I
Love just alike in all, none of these loves can die.
_1635-69_, _JC_, _O'F_, _P:_
or thou and I
Love just alike in all, none of these loves can die.
_A18_, _A25_, _B_, _L74_, _S96_, _TC_
As thou and I _&c._
_H40:_
And thou and I _&c._
_S_]
_Song._
Goe, and catche a falling starre,
Get with child a mandrake roote,
Tell me, where all past yeares are,
Or who cleft the Divels foot,
Teach me to heare Mermaides singing, 5
Or to keep off envies stinging,
And finde
What winde
Serves to advance an honest minde.
If thou beest borne to strange sights, 10
Things invisible to see,
Ride ten thousand daies and nights,
Till age snow white haires on thee,
Thou, when thou retorn'st, wilt tell mee
All strange wonders that befell thee, 15
And sweare
No where
Lives a woman true, and faire.
If thou findst one, let mee know,
Such a Pilgrimage were sweet; 20
Yet doe not, I would not goe,
Though at next doore wee might meet,
Though shee were true, when you met her,
And last, till you write your letter,
Yet shee 25
Will bee
False, ere I come, to two, or three.
[Song. _1633-69:_ Song, A Songe, _or no title_, _A18_, _A25_,
_B_, _C_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[3 past yeares] times past _1669:_ past times _P_]
[11 to see] go see _1669_, _S_, _S96:_ see _most other MSS_.]
[20 sweet; _1669:_ sweet, _1633-54_]
[24 last, till] last so till _O'F_, _S_, _S96_]
[27 False, ... three] False, ere she come to two or three.
_1669_]
_Womans constancy._
Now thou hast lov'd me one whole day,
To morrow when thou leav'st, what wilt thou say?
Wilt thou then Antedate some new made vow?
Or say that now
We are not just those persons, which we were? 5
Or, that oathes made in reverentiall feare
Of Love, and his wrath, any may forsweare?
Or, as true deaths, true maryages untie,
So lovers contracts, images of those,
Binde but till sleep, deaths image, them unloose? 10
Or, your owne end to Justifie,
For having purpos'd change, and falsehood; you
Can have no way but falsehood to be true?
Vaine lunatique, against these scapes I could
Dispute, and conquer, if I would, 15
Which I abstaine to doe,
For by to morrow, I may thinke so too.
[Womans constancy. _1633-69_, _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_,
_TCD:_ _no title_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _P_, _S_]
[8 Or, _1633_, _1669:_ For, _1635-54_ (_ll._ 8-10 _in
brackets_)]
_The undertaking._
I have done one braver thing
Then all the _Worthies_ did,
And yet a braver thence doth spring,
Which is, to keepe that hid.
It were but madnes now t'impart 5
The skill of specular stone,
When he which can have learn'd the art
To cut it, can finde none.
So, if I now should utter this,
Others (because no more 10
Such stuffe to worke upon, there is,)
Would love but as before.
But he who lovelinesse within
Hath found, all outward loathes,
For he who colour loves, and skinne, 15
Loves but their oldest clothes.
If, as I have, you also doe
Vertue'attir'd in woman see,
And dare love that, and say so too,
And forget the Hee and Shee; 20
And if this love, though placed so,
From prophane men you hide,
Which will no faith on this bestow,
Or, if they doe, deride:
Then you have done a braver thing 25
Then all the _Worthies_ did;
And a braver thence will spring,
Which is, to keepe that hid.
[The undertaking. _1635-69:_ _no title_, _1633_, _B_, _D_,
_H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S:_ Platonique Love.
_A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[2 _Worthies_] _worthies_ _1633_]
[3 And yet] Yet _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_]
[7-8 art ... it, _1669:_ art, ... it _1633-54_]
[16 their] her _B_]
[18 Vertue'attir'd in _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _S_, _TC:_ Vertue in _1635-69_, _O'F_,
_Chambers_]
[26 did; _Ed:_ did. _1633-39:_ did, _1650-69_]
[27 spring,] spring _1633-39_]
_The Sunne Rising._
Busie old foole, unruly Sunne,
Why dost thou thus,
Through windowes, and through curtaines call on us?
Must to thy motions lovers seasons run?
Sawcy pedantique wretch, goe chide 5
Late schoole boyes, and sowre prentices,
Goe tell Court-huntsmen, that the King will ride,
Call countrey ants to harvest offices;
Love, all alike, no season knowes, nor clyme,
Nor houres, dayes, moneths, which are the rags of time. 10
Thy beames, so reverend, and strong
Why shouldst thou thinke?
I could eclipse and cloud them with a winke,
But that I would not lose her sight so long:
If her eyes have not blinded thine, 15
Looke, and to morrow late, tell mee,
Whether both the'India's of spice and Myne
Be where thou leftst them, or lie here with mee.
Aske for those Kings whom thou saw'st yesterday,
And thou shalt heare, All here in one bed lay. 20
She'is all States, and all Princes, I,
Nothing else is.
Princes doe but play us; compar'd to this,
All honor's mimique; All wealth alchimie.
Thou sunne art halfe as happy'as wee, 25
In that the world's contracted thus;
Thine age askes ease, and since thy duties bee
To warme the world, that's done in warming us.
Shine here to us, and thou art every where;
This bed thy center is, these walls, thy spheare. 30
[The Sunne Rising. _1633-69:_ Sunne Rising. _A18_, _L74_, _N_,
_TCC_, _TCD:_ Ad Solem. _A25_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _O'F_, _S_,
_S96:_ To the Sunne. _Cy_, _Lec_, _O'F (as a second title):_
_no title_, _B_]
[3 call] look _1669_]
[6 and] or _1669_
sowre] slowe _B_, _Cy_, _P_]
[8 offices;] offices, _1633_]
[11-14 Thy beames, ... so long: _1633 and all MSS.:_
Thy beames so reverend, and strong
Dost thou not thinke
I could eclipse and cloude them with a winke,
But that I would not lose her sight so long? _1635-69_
]
[17 spice] space _1650-54_]
[18 leftst _1633:_ left _1635-69_]
[23 us;] us, _1633_]
[24 wealth] wealth's _A25_, _C_, _P_
alchimie. _Ed:_ alchimie; _1633-69_]
[26 thus; _Ed:_ thus. _1633-69_]
_The Indifferent._
I can love both faire and browne,
Her whom abundance melts, and her whom want betraies,
Her who loves lonenesse best, and her who maskes and plaies,
Her whom the country form'd, and whom the town,
Her who beleeves, and her who tries, 5
Her who still weepes with spungie eyes,
And her who is dry corke, and never cries;
I can love her, and her, and you and you,
I can love any, so she be not true.
Will no other vice content you? 10
Wil it not serve your turn to do, as did your mothers?
Or have you all old vices spent, and now would finde out others?
Or doth a feare, that men are true, torment you?
Oh we are not, be not you so,
Let mee, and doe you, twenty know. 15
Rob mee, but binde me not, and let me goe.
Must I, who came to travaile thorow you,
Grow your fixt subject, because you are true?
_Venus_ heard me sigh this song,
And by Loves sweetest Part, Variety, she swore, 20
She heard not this till now; and that it should be so no more.
She went, examin'd, and return'd ere long,
And said, alas, Some two or three
Poore Heretiques in love there bee,
Which thinke to stablish dangerous constancie. 25
But I have told them, since you will be true,
You shall be true to them, who'are false to you.
[The Indifferent. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ A
Songe, Songe, _or no title_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96:_ Sonnet. _P_]
[3 lonenesse] lovers _1669_
maskes] sports _1669_, _S_
and _1669:_ & _1633-39:_ _om._ _1650-54_]
[12 spent] worn _1669_]
[15 mee, _1633:_ me; _1635-69_]
[17 travaile] _spelt_ travell, travel _1635-69_]
[19 sigh] sing _1669_]
[20 sweetest Part,] sweetest sweet, _1669_, _P_, _S_]
[21 and that it _1633_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S:_ it
_1635-69_, _H40_, _P:_ and it _A18_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _S96_,
_TC_]
_Loves Vsury._
For every houre that thou wilt spare mee now,
I will allow,
Usurious God of Love, twenty to thee,
When with my browne, my gray haires equall bee;
Till then, Love, let my body raigne, and let 5
Mee travell, sojourne, snatch, plot, have, forget,
Resume my last yeares relict: thinke that yet
We'had never met.
Let mee thinke any rivalls letter mine,
And at next nine 10
Keepe midnights promise; mistake by the way
The maid, and tell the Lady of that delay;
Onely let mee love none, no, not the sport;
From country grasse, to comfitures of Court,
Or cities quelque choses, let report 15
My minde transport.
This bargaine's good; if when I'am old, I bee
Inflam'd by thee,
If thine owne honour, or my shame, or paine,
Thou covet most, at that age thou shalt gaine. 20
Doe thy will then, then subject and degree,
And fruit of love, Love I submit to thee,
Spare mee till then, I'll beare it, though she bee
One that loves mee.
[Loves Vsury. _1633-69_, _L74:_ _no title_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S:_ Elegie. _S96_]
[5 raigne, _1633_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_,
_P_, _S:_ range, _1635-69_, _O'F_, _S96_. _See note_]
[6 snatch, _1633_, _1669:_ match, _1635-54_]
[7 relict] relique _1669_]
[12 that] her _1669_]
[13 sport; _1669:_ sport _1633-54:_ sport, _most MSS._]
[15 let report _1633_, _1669_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_L74_, _Lec_, _P_, _S:_ let not report _1635-54_, _O'F_,
_S96_, _Chambers_. _See note_]
[19 or paine _1633, 1669, and most MSS.:_ and paine _1635-54_,
_O'F_]
[22 fruit] fruites _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S96_]
[24 loves _1633, 1669 and all the MSS.:_ love _1635-54_]
_The Canonization._
For Godsake hold your tongue, and let me love,
Or chide my palsie, or my gout,
My five gray haires, or ruin'd fortune flout,
With wealth your state, your minde with Arts improve,
Take you a course, get you a place, 5
Observe his honour, or his grace,
Or the Kings reall, or his stamped face
Contemplate, what you will, approve,
So you will let me love.
Alas, alas, who's injur'd by my love? 10
What merchants ships have my sighs drown'd?
Who saies my teares have overflow'd his ground?
When did my colds a forward spring remove?
When did the heats which my veines fill
Adde one more to the plaguie Bill? 15
Soldiers finde warres, and Lawyers finde out still
Litigious men, which quarrels move,
Though she and I do love.
Call us what you will, wee are made such by love;
Call her one, mee another flye, 20
We'are Tapers too, and at our owne cost die,
And wee in us finde the'Eagle and the Dove.
The Phœnix ridle hath more wit
By us, we two being one, are it.
So to one neutrall thing both sexes fit, 25
Wee dye and rise the same, and prove
Mysterious by this love.
Wee can dye by it, if not live by love,
And if unfit for tombes and hearse
Our legend bee, it will be fit for verse; 30
And if no peece of Chronicle wee prove,
We'll build in sonnets pretty roomes;
As well a well wrought urne becomes
The greatest ashes, as halfe-acre tombes,
And by these hymnes, all shall approve 35
Us _Canoniz'd_ for Love:
And thus invoke us; You whom reverend love
Made one anothers hermitage;
You, to whom love was peace, that now is rage;
Who did the whole worlds soule contract, and drove 40
Into the glasses of your eyes
(So made such mirrors, and such spies,
That they did all to you epitomize,)
Countries, Townes, Courts: Beg from above
A patterne of your love! 45
[The Canonization. _1633-39_, _A18_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ Canonization. _1650-69_, _S:_
Canonizatio. _S96:_ _no title_, _B_, _H40_, _JC_]
[3 five _1633_, _1669:_ true _1635-54_
fortune] fortunes _1669_]
[4 improve, _1650-69:_ improve _1633-39_]
[7 reall] Roiall _Lec_]
[14 veines] reynes _1669_]
[15 more, _1633-54_, _Lec:_ man _1669_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]
[17 which] whom _1669_]
[18 Though] While _1669_]
[22 Dove. _Ed:_ dove, _1633-69_]
[24 are it. _1633-69:_ are it; _Chambers and Grolier_]
[25 So _1650-69:_ So, _1633-39_. _See note_
fit, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ fit. _1633-69_. _See note_]
[29 tombes and _1633-54:_ tomb or _1669_]
[30 legend] legends _1633_]
[35 these _1633:_ those _1635-69_]
[36 Love:] Love. _1633_]
[39 rage; _Ed:_ rage, _1633-69_]
[40 contract] extract _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_]
[41 eyes _1633-69:_ eyes; _Chambers_]
[42-3 _brackets_, _Ed_]
[44 Courts: Beg] Courts Beg _1669:_ courts beg _Chambers_.
_See note_
from] frow _1633_]
[45 your _1669_, _A18_, _B_, _H40_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S96_, _TC:_ our _1633-54_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_
love! _Ed:_ love. _1633-69_]
_The triple Foole._
I am two fooles, I know,
For loving, and for saying so
In whining Poëtry;
But where's that wiseman, that would not be I,
If she would not deny? 5
Then as th'earths inward narrow crooked lanes
Do purge sea waters fretfull salt away,
I thought, if I could draw my paines,
Through Rimes vexation, I should them allay,
Griefe brought to numbers cannot be so fierce, 10
For, he tames it, that fetters it in verse.
But when I have done so,
Some man, his art and voice to show,
Doth Set and sing my paine,
And, by delighting many, frees againe 15
Griefe, which verse did restraine.
To Love, and Griefe tribute of Verse belongs,
But not of such as pleases when'tis read,
Both are increased by such songs:
For both their triumphs so are published, 20
And I, which was two fooles, do so grow three;
Who are a little wise, the best fooles bee.
[The triple Foole. _1633-69_, _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_
Song _or no title_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _HN_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_]
[4 the wiser man, _1669_]
[5 If he should not deny? _P_]
[6 narrow _om._ _P:_ crooked _om._ _B_
lanes] vaines _Cy_, _P_]
[9 allay, _1633-39:_ allay. _1650-69_, _Chambers_]
[10 numbers] number _1669_]
[11 For, he tames it] He tames it much _B_]
[13 and] or _1669_]
_Lovers infinitenesse._
If yet I have not all thy love,
Deare, I shall never have it all,
I cannot breath one other sigh, to move,
Nor can intreat one other teare to fall,
And all my treasure, which should purchase thee, 5
Sighs, teares, and oathes, and letters I have spent.
Yet no more can be due to mee,
Then at the bargaine made was ment,
If then thy gift of love were partiall,
That some to mee, some should to others fall, 10
Deare, I shall never have Thee All.
Or if then thou gavest mee all,
All was but All, which thou hadst then;
But if in thy heart, since, there be or shall,
New love created bee, by other men, 15
Which have their stocks intire, and can in teares,
In sighs, in oathes, and letters outbid mee,
This new love may beget new feares,
For, this love was not vowed by thee.
And yet it was, thy gift being generall, 20
The ground, thy heart is mine, what ever shall
Grow there, deare, I should have it all.
Yet I would not have all yet,
Hee that hath all can have no more,
And since my love doth every day admit 25
New growth, thou shouldst have new rewards in store;
Thou canst not every day give me thy heart,
If thou canst give it, then thou never gavest it:
Loves riddles are, that though thy heart depart,
It stayes at home, and thou with losing savest it: 30
But wee will have a way more liberall,
Then changing hearts, to joyne them, so wee shall
Be one, and one anothers All.
[Lovers infinitenesse. _1633-69:_ Mon Tout. _A25_, _C:_ _no
title_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S:_
Elegie. _S96_
_Query_ Loves infinitenesse.]
[3 move, _Ed:_ move; _1633-69_]
[4 fall, _Ed:_ fall. _1633:_ fall; _1635-69_]
[6 teares,] teares _1633_
spent. _Ed:_ spent, _1633-69 and Grolier:_ spent; _Chambers_]
[8 Then _1633-35_, _1669:_ That _1639-54_]
[9 were] was _1669_
partiall] generall _A25_, _C_]
[11 Thee _1633:_ It _1635-69_ (it _1669_)]
[12 gavest] givest _1669_]
[13 then; _1635-54:_ then, _1633_]
[17 and letters _1633:_ in letters _1635-69_]
[19 thee. _1639-69:_ thee, _1633-35_]
[20 it] is _1633_]
[21 is _1633_, _1669:_ was _1635-54_]
[25-6 And since my heart doth every day beget New love, _&c._
_A25_.]
[29-30
Except mine come when thine doth part
And in such giving it, thou savest it: _A25_, _C_
Perchance mine comes, when thine doth parte,
And by such losing it, _&c._ _JC_
]
[31 have] love _1669:_ find _A25_, _C_]
[32 them] us _1669_]
_Song._
Sweetest love, I do not goe,
For wearinesse of thee,
Nor in hope the world can show
A fitter Love for mee;
But since that I 5
Must dye at last, 'tis best,
To use my selfe in jest
Thus by fain'd deaths to dye;
Yesternight the Sunne went hence,
And yet is here to day, 10
He hath no desire nor sense,
Nor halfe so short a way:
Then feare not mee,
But beleeve that I shall make
Speedier journeyes, since I take 15
More wings and spurres then hee.
O how feeble is mans power,
That if good fortune fall,
Cannot adde another houre,
Nor a lost houre recall! 20
But come bad chance,
And wee joyne to'it our strength,
And wee teach it art and length,
It selfe o'r us to'advance.
When thou sigh'st, thou sigh'st not winde, 25
But sigh'st my soule away,
When thou weep'st, unkindly kinde,
My lifes blood doth decay.
It cannot bee
That thou lov'st mee, as thou say'st, 30
If in thine my life thou waste,
Thou art the best of mee.
Let not thy divining heart
Forethinke me any ill,
Destiny may take thy part, 35
And may thy feares fulfill;
But thinke that wee
Are but turn'd aside to sleepe;
They who one another keepe
Alive, ne'r parted bee. 40
[Song. _1633-69:_ Song. _or no title_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_,
_D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_,
_TCC_, _TCD:_ _in A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _this with_ Send
home my long stray'd eyes _and_ The Bait _are given as_ Songs
which were made to certain ayres which were made before.]
[1-4 _In most MSS. these lines are written as two long lines,
and so with ll._ 9-12, 17-20, 25-28, 33-36]
[4 mee; _1650-69:_ mee, _1633-39_]
[5-8 But since ... dye; _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_
At the last must part 'tis best,
Thus to use my selfe in jest
By fained deaths to dye; _1635-54_, _O'F:_
Must dye at last, 'tis best,
Thus to use my self in jest
By fained death to dye; _1669_
]
[15 Speedier] Hastier _1669_]
[20 recall! _Ed:_ recall? _1633-69_]
[25 not wind _1633:_ no wind _1635-69_]
[32 Thou _1633 and MSS. generally:_ That _1635-54:_ Which
_1669_
best _1633-54:_ life _1669_]
[36 may _1633-35_, _1669:_ make _1639-54_
fulfill; _Ed:_ fulfill, _1633-69_]
[38 turn'd] lai'd _1669_]
_The Legacie._
When I dyed last, and, Deare, I dye
As often as from thee I goe,
Though it be but an houre agoe,
And Lovers houres be full eternity,
I can remember yet, that I 5
Something did say, and something did bestow;
Though I be dead, which sent mee, I should be
Mine owne executor and Legacie.
I heard mee say, Tell her anon,
That my selfe, (that is you, not I,) 10
Did kill me, and when I felt mee dye,
I bid mee send my heart, when I was gone,
But I alas could there finde none,
When I had ripp'd me,'and search'd where hearts did lye;
It kill'd mee againe, that I who still was true, 15
In life, in my last Will should cozen you.
Yet I found something like a heart,
But colours it, and corners had,
It was not good, it was not bad,
It was intire to none, and few had part. 20
As good as could be made by art
It seem'd; and therefore for our losses sad,
I meant to send this heart in stead of mine,
But oh, no man could hold it, for twas thine.
[The Legacie. _1633-69:_ Legacie. _L74:_ Song. _or no title_,
_A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_,
_S96:_ Elegie. _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[1 When I dyed last,] When last I dyed, _1669_]
[1-4 (and deare ... eternity) _Grolier_.]
[7 sent _1633_, _1669:_ meant _1635-54_
should be] might be _1669_]
[10 that is _1635-69:_ that's _1633:_ _brackets from A18_,
_N_, _TC_]
[13 none, _1633-69:_ none. _Chambers and Grolier_]
[14 When ... did _1633_, _A25_ (doe), _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_Lec_, _S_, _S96:_ When I had ripp'd, and search'd where
hearts should _1635-69_, _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _TC_ lye; _Ed:_
lye, _1633-69_, _Chambers and Grolier_. _See note_]
[18 But] For _1650-69_]
[20 part. _1633-39:_ part: _1650-69_]
[22 seem'd; _Ed:_ seem'd, _1633-69_, _Grolier, and Chambers_
our losses sad, _1633-54_, _A18_, _A25_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_,
_P_, _S96_, _TC:_ our loss be sad, _1669:_ our loss be ye
sad. _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S:_ our losses sad;
_Grolier:_ our loss be sad. _Chambers_]
[23 meant] thought _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_
this _1633:_ that _1635-69_]
_A Feaver._
Oh doe not die, for I shall hate
All women so, when thou art gone,
That thee I shall not celebrate,
When I remember, thou wast one.
But yet thou canst not die, I know; 5
To leave this world behinde, is death,
But when thou from this world wilt goe,
The whole world vapors with thy breath.
Or if, when thou, the worlds soule, goest,
It stay, tis but thy carkasse then, 10
The fairest woman, but thy ghost,
But corrupt wormes, the worthyest men.
O wrangling schooles, that search what fire
Shall burne this world, had none the wit
Unto this knowledge to aspire, 15
That this her feaver might be it?
And yet she cannot wast by this,
Nor long beare this torturing wrong,
For much corruption needfull is
To fuell such a feaver long. 20
These burning fits but meteors bee,
Whose matter in thee is soone spent.
Thy beauty,'and all parts, which are thee,
Are unchangeable firmament.
Yet t'was of my minde, seising thee, 25
Though it in thee cannot persever.
For I had rather owner bee
Of thee one houre, then all else ever.
[A Feaver. _1633-69_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S96:_ Of a
fever. _L74:_ The Fever. _B_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P:_ Fever. _A18_,
_N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no title_, _JC_]
[5 know; _Ed:_ know, _1633-69_]
[8 with] in _1669_]
[16 might] must _TCC_]
[18 beare] endure _1669_
torturing] tormenting _JC_, _O'F_ (_corr. from_ torturing)]
[19 For much _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_,
_L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ For more _1635-69_,
_O'F:_ Far more _Cy_, _P_]
[22 is soon] soon is _1669_]
[24 Are] Are an _1669_, _P_, _S96_]
[25 Yet 'twas of _1633-54:_ And here as _1669_]
[27 For] Yet _1669_]
_Aire and Angels._
Twice or thrice had I loved thee,
Before I knew thy face or name;
So in a voice, so in a shapelesse flame,
_Angells_ affect us oft, and worship'd bee;
Still when, to where thou wert, I came, 5
Some lovely glorious nothing I did see.
But since my soule, whose child love is,
Takes limmes of flesh, and else could nothing doe,
More subtile then the parent is,
Love must not be, but take a body too, 10
And therefore what thou wert, and who,
I bid Love aske, and now
That it assume thy body, I allow,
And fixe it selfe in thy lip, eye, and brow.
Whilst thus to ballast love, I thought, 15
And so more steddily to have gone,
With wares which would sinke admiration,
I saw, I had loves pinnace overfraught,
Ev'ry thy haire for love to worke upon
Is much too much, some fitter must be sought; 20
For, nor in nothing, nor in things
Extreme, and scatt'ring bright, can love inhere;
Then as an Angell, face, and wings
Of aire, not pure as it, yet pure doth weare,
So thy love may be my loves spheare; 25
Just such disparitie
As is twixt Aire and Angells puritie,
'Twixt womens love, and mens will ever bee.
[Aire and Angels. _1633-69_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no title_, _B_,
_H40_]
[4 bee; _Ed:_ bee, _1633-69_]
[5 came,] came _1633_]
[6 I did] did I _1669_
see. _Ed:_ see, _1633-69_]
[7 since _Ed:_ since, _1633-69_]
[11 who, _Ed:_ who _1633-69_]
[14 lip, eye,] lips, eyes, _1669_, _Chambers_]
[19 Ev'ry thy _1633-39_, _A18_, _B_ (Even), _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_ (Ever), _S96_, _TC:_ Thy every
_1650-69_]
[22 scatt'ring _Ed:_ scattring, _1633-35:_ scattering
_1639-69_]
[27 Aire _1633-54 and all MSS.:_ Airs _1669_, _Chambers_]
_Breake of day._
'Tis true, 'tis day; what though it be?
O wilt thou therefore rise from me?
Why should we rise, because 'tis light?
Did we lie downe, because 'twas night?
Love which in spight of darknesse brought us hether, 5
Should in despight of light keepe us together.
Light hath no tongue, but is all eye;
If it could speake as well as spie,
This were the worst, that it could say,
That being well, I faine would stay, 10
And that I lov'd my heart and honor so,
That I would not from him, that had them, goe.
Must businesse thee from hence remove?
Oh, that's the worst disease of love,
The poore, the foule, the false, love can 15
Admit, but not the busied man.
He which hath businesse, and makes love, doth doe
Such wrong, as when a maryed man doth wooe.
[Breake of day, _1633-69_, _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_
_no title or_ Sonnet, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96:_ A Songe. _A25_]
[1 day;] day, _1633_]
[5 in spight of _1633-39_, _1669_, _A25_, _JC_, _S96:_ in
dispight _1650-54_, _A18_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_,
_N_, _S_, _TC_]
[6 in despight _1633_, _1650-69:_ in spight _1635-39_
keepe] holde _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _S96_, _TC_]
[9 were] is _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_ _TC_]
[11 I lov'd] I love _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_]
[12 him, that had them _1633-54_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S:_ him
that had them (_or_ it) _A25_, _B_, _C_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_,
_TC:_ her, that had them, _1669:_ her that hath them _B_, _JC_
(it), _S96_]
[15 foule,] foole, _H40_]
[18 as when ... doth _1633_, _1669_, _A25_, _C_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _Lec_, _S_, _S96:_ as if ... should _A18_, _B_, _JC_,
_L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC:_ as when ... should _1635-54_]
_The Anniversarie._
All Kings, and all their favorites,
All glory of honors, beauties, wits,
The Sun it selfe, which makes times, as they passe,
Is elder by a yeare, now, then it was
When thou and I first one another saw: 5
All other things, to their destruction draw,
Only our love hath no decay;
This, no to morrow hath, nor yesterday,
Running it never runs from us away,
But truly keepes his first, last, everlasting day. 10
Two graves must hide thine and my coarse,
If one might, death were no divorce.
Alas, as well as other Princes, wee,
(Who Prince enough in one another bee,)
Must leave at last in death, these eyes, and eares, 15
Oft fed with true oathes, and with sweet salt teares;
But soules where nothing dwells but love
(All other thoughts being inmates) then shall prove
This, or a love increased there above,
When bodies to their graves, soules from their graves remove. 20
And then wee shall be throughly blest,
But wee no more, then all the rest;
Here upon earth, we'are Kings, and none but wee
Can be such Kings, nor of such subjects bee.
Who is so safe as wee? where none can doe 25
Treason to us, except one of us two.
True and false feares let us refraine,
Let us love nobly, and live, and adde againe
Yeares and yeares unto yeares, till we attaine
To write threescore: this is the second of our raigne. 30
[The Anniversarie. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no
title_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S:_ Ad Liviam. _S96_]
[3 times, as they passe, _1633_, _1669_ (_which brackets_
which ... pass), _MSS.:_ times, as these pass, _1635-54:_
time, as they pass, _Chambers, who attributes to 1633, 1669_]
[12 divorce. _Ed:_ divorce, _1633-69_]
[17 love _Ed:_ love; _1633-69_]
[20 to their graves] to their grave _1635-39_]
[22 wee _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ now _1633-69_. _See note_
rest; _Ed:_ rest. _1633-69_]
[23 none _om. 1669, D, H40, H49, JC, Lec, S, S96_]
[24 None are such Kings, _1669_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _S_, _S96_]
nor] and _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _S_, _S96_, bee.
_Ed:_ bee; _1633-69_]
[27 refraine,] refraine. _1669_]
[30 threescore: _Grolier:_ threescore, _1633-69_]
_A Valediction: of my name, in the window._
I.
My name engrav'd herein,
Doth contribute my firmnesse to this glasse,
Which, ever since that charme, hath beene
As hard, as that which grav'd it, was;
Thine eye will give it price enough, to mock 5
The diamonds of either rock.
II.
'Tis much that Glasse should bee
As all confessing, and through-shine as I,
'Tis more, that it shewes thee to thee,
And cleare reflects thee to thine eye. 10
But all such rules, loves magique can undoe,
Here you see mee, and I am you.
III.
As no one point, nor dash,
Which are but accessaries to this name,
The showers and tempests can outwash, 15
So shall all times finde mee the same;
You this intirenesse better may fulfill,
Who have the patterne with you still.
IIII.
Or, if too hard and deepe
This learning be, for a scratch'd name to teach, 20
It, as a given deaths head keepe,
Lovers mortalitie to preach,
Or thinke this ragged bony name to bee
My ruinous Anatomie.
V.
Then, as all my soules bee, 25
Emparadis'd in you, (in whom alone
I understand, and grow and see,)
The rafters of my body, bone
Being still with you, the Muscle, Sinew, and Veine,
Which tile this house, will come againe. 30
VI.
Till my returne, repaire
And recompact my scattered body so.
As all the vertuous powers which are
Fix'd in the starres, are said to flow
Into such characters, as graved bee 35
When these starres have supremacie:
VII.
So, since this name was cut
When love and griefe their exaltation had,
No doore 'gainst this names influence shut;
As much more loving, as more sad, 40
'Twill make thee; and thou shouldst, till I returne,
Since I die daily, daily mourne.
VIII.
When thy inconsiderate hand
Flings ope this casement, with my trembling name,
To looke on one, whose wit or land, 45
New battry to thy heart may frame,
Then thinke this name alive, and that thou thus
In it offendst my Genius.
IX.
And when thy melted maid,
Corrupted by thy Lover's gold, and page, 50
His letter at thy pillow'hath laid,
Disputed it, and tam'd thy rage,
And thou begin'st to thaw towards him, for this,
May my name step in, and hide his.
X.
And if this treason goe 55
To an overt act, and that thou write againe;
In superscribing, this name flow
Into thy fancy, from the pane.
So, in forgetting thou remembrest right,
And unaware to mee shalt write. 60
XI.
But glasse, and lines must bee,
No meanes our firme substantiall love to keepe;
Neere death inflicts this lethargie,
And this I murmure in my sleepe;
Impute this idle talke, to that I goe, 65
For dying men talke often so.
[A Valediction: Of _&c._ _D_, _H49:_ A Valediction of _&c._
_1633-69_, _H40_, _Lec_; Valediction of _&c._ _A18_, _N_,
_TCC_, _TCD:_ A Valediction of my name in the Glasse Window
_Cy:_ A Valediction to _&c._ _B:_ Valediction 4: of Glasse
_O'F:_ Valediction in Glasse _P:_ The Diamond and Glasse _S:_
Vpon the ingravinge of his name with a Diamonde in his mistris
windowe when he was to travel. _S96_ (_This is added to the
title in O'F._): _similarly, JC_]
[4 was; _Ed:_ was, _1633-69_]
[5 eye] eyes _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_,
_S96_, _TC_]
[8 I, _1633-54:_ I _1669_]
[12 am you.] see you. _1669_]
[14 accessaries _1633-69_, _O'F_, _S:_ accessary _A18_, _B_,
_Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_, _S96_, _TC_]
[15 tempests _1633_, _1669:_ tempest _1635-54_]
[19 Or, _Ed:_ Or _1633-69_]
[32 so. _1633-35:_ so, _1639-69_, _Chambers_. _See note_]
[34 flow _Ed:_ flow, _1633-69_]
[36 these _1633:_ those _1635-69_
have] had _1669_
supremacie: _1633-69:_ supremacie. _1650-69_. _See note_]
[37 So, _Ed:_ So _1633-69_]
[39 shut; _Ed:_ shut, _1633-69_]
[44 ope _1633-69_, _O'F_, _S96:_ out _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TC_]
[48 offendst] offends _1669_]
[50 and] or _1669_, _JC_, _O'F_, _S96_]
[52-3
Disputed thou it, and tame thy rage.
If thou to him begin'st to thaw for this,
_1669_]
[55 goe] growe _JC_, _O'F_, _S_]
[56 againe; _1633:_ againe: _1635-69_]
[57 this] my _1669_]
[58 pane. _1633:_ Pen, _1635-69_, _O'F_, _S_]
[60 unaware] unawares _B_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]
[64 this] thus _1635-69_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_]
_Twicknam garden._
Blasted with sighs, and surrounded with teares,
Hither I come to seeke the spring,
And at mine eyes, and at mine eares,
Receive such balmes, as else cure every thing;
But O, selfe traytor, I do bring 5
The spider love, which transubstantiates all,
And can convert Manna to gall,
And that this place may thoroughly be thought
True Paradise, I have the serpent brought.
'Twere wholsomer for mee, that winter did 10
Benight the glory of this place,
And that a grave frost did forbid
These trees to laugh, and mocke mee to my face;
But that I may not this disgrace
Indure, nor yet leave loving, Love let mee 15
Some senslesse peece of this place bee;
Make me a mandrake, so I may groane here,
Or a stone fountaine weeping out my yeare.
Hither with christall vyals, lovers come,
And take my teares, which are loves wine, 20
And try your mistresse Teares at home,
For all are false, that tast not just like mine;
Alas, hearts do not in eyes shine,
Nor can you more judge womans thoughts by teares,
Then by her shadow, what she weares. 25
O perverse sexe, where none is true but shee,
Who's therefore true, because her truth kills mee.
[Twicknam garden. _1633-69:_ _do. or_ Twitnam Garden. _A18_,
_L74_ (_in margin_), _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_,
_TCD:_ In a Garden. _B:_ _no title_, _A25_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _P_]
[3 eares] years _1669_]
[4 balms ... cure _1633_, _A25_, _D_, _H49:_ balm ... cures
_1635-69_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_,
_S96_, _TC_
thing; _Ed:_ thing, _1633:_ thing: _1635-69_]
[6 spider] spiders _1669_]
[8 thoroughly _1633-39:_ throughly _1650-69_]
[12 did] would _A18_, _A25_, _N_, _TC_]
[13 laugh,] laugh _1633_]
[14 that I may not] since I cannot _1669_]
[15 nor yet leave loving, _1633:_ _om. D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_Lec:_ nor leave this garden, _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _Cy_,
_JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]
[17 groane _A18_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _N_, _TC:_ grow
_1633-69_, _B_, _L74_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_]
[18 my yeare, _1633_, _1669_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec:_ the
yeare. _1635-54_, _A18_, _A25_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TC_]
[20 loves] lovers _1639_]
[24 womans _A18_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _N_, _TC:_ womens
_1633-69_, _Lec_, _P_, _S96_]
_A Valediction: of the booke._
I'll tell thee now (deare Love) what thou shalt doe
To anger destiny, as she doth us,
How I shall stay, though she Esloygne me thus
And how posterity shall know it too;
How thine may out-endure 5
Sybills glory, and obscure
Her who from Pindar could allure,
And her, through whose helpe _Lucan_ is not lame,
And her, whose booke (they say) _Homer_ did finde, and name.
Study our manuscripts, those Myriades 10
Of letters, which have past twixt thee and mee,
Thence write our Annals, and in them will bee
To all whom loves subliming fire invades,
Rule and example found;
There, the faith of any ground 15
No schismatique will dare to wound,
That sees, how Love this grace to us affords,
To make, to keep, to use, to be these his Records.
This Booke, as long-liv'd as the elements,
Or as the worlds forme, this all-graved tome 20
In cypher writ, or new made Idiome,
Wee for loves clergie only'are instruments:
When this booke is made thus,
Should againe the ravenous
Vandals and Goths inundate us, 25
Learning were safe; in this our Universe
Schooles might learne Sciences, Spheares Musick, Angels Verse.
Here Loves Divines, (since all Divinity
Is love or wonder) may finde all they seeke,
Whether abstract spirituall love they like, 30
Their Soules exhal'd with what they do not see,
Or, loth so to amuze
Faiths infirmitie, they chuse
Something which they may see and use;
For, though minde be the heaven, where love doth sit, 35
Beauty a convenient type may be to figure it.
Here more then in their bookes may Lawyers finde,
Both by what titles Mistresses are ours,
And how prerogative these states devours,
Transferr'd from Love himselfe, to womankinde, 40
Who though from heart, and eyes,
They exact great subsidies,
Forsake him who on them relies,
And for the cause, honour, or conscience give,
Chimeraes, vaine as they, or their prerogative. 45
Here Statesmen, (or of them, they which can reade,)
May of their occupation finde the grounds:
Love and their art alike it deadly wounds,
If to consider what 'tis, one proceed,
In both they doe excell 50
Who the present governe well,
Whose weaknesse none doth, or dares tell;
In this thy booke, such will their nothing see,
As in the Bible some can finde out Alchimy.
Thus vent thy thoughts; abroad I'll studie thee, 55
As he removes farre off, that great heights takes;
How great love is, presence best tryall makes,
But absence tryes how long this love will bee;
To take a latitude
Sun, or starres, are fitliest view'd 60
At their brightest, but to conclude
Of longitudes, what other way have wee,
But to marke when, and where the darke eclipses bee?
[A Valediction: of _&c._ _Ed:_ A Valediction of the Booke
_A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ Valediction of the booke. _D_,
_H49_, _Lec:_ Valediction 3: Of the Booke _O'F:_ The Booke
_Cy_, _P:_ Valediction to his booke. _1633-69_, _S:_ A
Valediction of a booke left in a windowe. _JC_]
[18 Records, _1633-69:_ records, _Grolier_]
[20 tome _1633-35:_ to me _1639-54:_ Tomb. _1669_, _A18_,
_Cy_, _Lec_, _N_, _S_]
[21 Idiome, _Ed:_ Idiome; _1633-69_]
[22 instruments: _Ed:_ instruments, _1633-69_. _See note_]
[25 and Goths inundate us, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _TC:_ and the Goths invade us, _1633-54_,
_S:_ and Goths invade us, _1669_, _H40_, _JC_ (or), _O'F_,
_P_]
[26 were safe; _1633:_ _rest omit semicolon_.
Universe _1633-39:_ Universe, _1650-69_]
[30 abstract] abstracted _1669_]
[32 Or, ... amuze _Ed:_ Or ... amuze, _1633-69_]
[33 infirmitie,] infirmities, _1669_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_]
[38 titles] titles, _1663_]
[39 these states] those rites _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[40 womankinde, _Ed:_ womankinde. _1633-54:_ womankinde:
_1669_]
[43 relies, _Ed:_ relies _1633:_ relies; _1635-69_]
[44 give,] give; _1635-69_]
[46 Statesmen] Tradesmen _Cy_, _P_]
[47 grounds: _Ed:_ grounds, _1633-69_]
[49 'tis, one] 'tis on _1669_]
[53 their nothing _1635-54_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _JC_ (nothings), _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TC_ (_but
the MSS. waver between_ their _and_ there): there something
_1633_, _1669_, _P_]
[55 vent _1633_, _1669:_ went _1635-54_
thoughts; abroad] thoughts abroad: _1669_]
[56 great heights] shadows _O'F_]
[63 _1669 omits_ darke]
_Communitie._
Good wee must love, and must hate ill,
For ill is ill, and good good still,
But there are things indifferent,
Which wee may neither hate, nor love,
But one, and then another prove,
As wee shall finde our fancy bent. 5
If then at first wise Nature had
Made women either good or bad,
Then some wee might hate, and some chuse,
But since shee did them so create, 10
That we may neither love, nor hate,
Onely this rests, All, all may use.
If they were good it would be seene,
Good is as visible as greene,
And to all eyes it selfe betrayes: 15
If they were bad, they could not last,
Bad doth it selfe, and others wast,
So, they deserve nor blame, nor praise.
But they are ours as fruits are ours,
He that but tasts, he that devours, 20
And he that leaves all, doth as well:
Chang'd loves are but chang'd sorts of meat,
And when hee hath the kernell eate,
Who doth not fling away the shell?
[Communitie. _1635-69:_ _no title_, _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_,
_D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_,
_S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[3 there _1635-69_, _A18_, _B_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TC_, _&c.:_
these _1633_, _D_, _Cy_, _H49_, _Lec_]
[7 had _Ed:_ had, _1633-39_]
[12 All, all _1633-54:_ All men _1669_]
[15 betrayes: _1650-69:_ betrayes, _1633-39_]
[21 well: _Ed:_ well, _1633-69_]
_Loves growth._
I scarce beleeve my love to be so pure
As I had thought it was,
Because it doth endure
Vicissitude, and season, as the grasse;
Me thinkes I lyed all winter, when I swore, 5
My love was infinite, if spring make'it more.
But if this medicine, love, which cures all sorrow
With more, not onely bee no quintessence,
But mixt of all stuffes, paining soule, or sense,
And of the Sunne his working vigour borrow, 10
Love's not so pure, and abstract, as they use
To say, which have no Mistresse but their Muse,
But as all else, being elemented too,
Love sometimes would contemplate, sometimes do.
And yet no greater, but more eminent, 15
Love by the spring is growne;
As, in the firmament,
Starres by the Sunne are not inlarg'd, but showne.
Gentle love deeds, as blossomes on a bough,
From loves awakened root do bud out now. 20
If, as in water stir'd more circles bee
Produc'd by one, love such additions take,
Those like so many spheares, but one heaven make,
For, they are all concentrique unto thee.
And though each spring doe adde to love new heate, 25
As princes doe in times of action get
New taxes, and remit them not in peace,
No winter shall abate the springs encrease.
[Loves growth. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ The
Spring. _or_ Spring. _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S_, _S96:_ _no title_, _JC_]
[9 paining _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_,
_S96_, _TC:_ vexing _1635-69_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_]
[10 working _1633 and MSS. as above:_ active _1635-69 and MSS.
as above_]
[11 pure, and] pure an _1669_, _O'F_]
[14 do.] do _1633_]
[18-19 Starres ... showne. Gentle love _Ed:_ Starres ...
showne, Gentle love _1633-69:_
Stars are not by the sunne enlarg'd; but showne
Greater; Loves deeds
_P_. _See note_]
[24 thee. _Ed:_ thee, _1633-69_]
[28 the _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_,
_S96_, _TC:_ this _1635-69_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_]
_Loves exchange._
_Love_, any devill else but you,
Would for a given Soule give something too.
At Court your fellowes every day,
Give th'art of Riming, Huntsmanship, or Play,
For them which were their owne before; 5
Onely I have nothing which gave more,
But am, alas, by being lowly, lower.
I aske no dispensation now
To falsifie a teare, or sigh, or vow,
I do not sue from thee to draw 10
A _non obstante_ on natures law,
These are prerogatives, they inhere
In thee and thine; none should forsweare
Except that hee _Loves_ minion were.
Give mee thy weaknesse, make mee blinde, 15
Both wayes, as thou and thine, in eies and minde;
Love, let me never know that this
Is love, or, that love childish is;
Let me not know that others know
That she knowes my paines, least that so 20
A tender shame make me mine owne new woe.
If thou give nothing, yet thou'art just,
Because I would not thy first motions trust;
Small townes which stand stiffe, till great shot
Enforce them, by warres law _condition_ not. 25
Such in loves warfare is my case,
I may not article for grace,
Having put Love at last to shew this face.
This face, by which he could command
And change the Idolatrie of any land, 30
This face, which wheresoe'r it comes,
Can call vow'd men from cloisters, dead from tombes,
And melt both Poles at once, and store
Deserts with cities, and make more
Mynes in the earth, then Quarries were before. 35
For this, Love is enrag'd with mee,
Yet kills not. If I must example bee
To future Rebells; If th'unborne
Must learne, by my being cut up, and torne:
Kill, and dissect me, Love; for this 40
Torture against thine owne end is,
Rack't carcasses make ill Anatomies.
[Loves exchange. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no
title_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_]
[4 or] and _most MSS._
Play _D:_ play _1633-69_]
[9 or sigh, or vow, _1633-54:_ a sigh, a vow, _1669_]
[18 is; _Ed:_ is. _1633-69_]
[20 paines] paine _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_O'F_, _P_, _TC_]
[21 _1669 omits_ new]
[28 Love _D:_ love _1633-69_
this] his _1669_]
[36 For this, _Ed:_ For, this _1633-69_
Love _D:_ love _1633-69_]
[37 not. If _Ed:_ not; if _1633-39:_ not: if _1650-69_]
_Confined Love._
Some man unworthy to be possessor
Of old or new love, himselfe being false or weake,
Thought his paine and shame would be lesser,
If on womankind he might his anger wreake,
And thence a law did grow, 5
One might but one man know;
But are other creatures so?
Are Sunne, Moone, or Starres by law forbidden,
To smile where they list, or lend away their light?
Are birds divorc'd, or are they chidden 10
If they leave their mate, or lie abroad a night?
Beasts doe no joyntures lose
Though they new lovers choose,
But we are made worse then those.
Who e'r rigg'd faire ship to lie in harbors, 15
And not to seeke new lands, or not to deale withall?
Or built faire houses, set trees, and arbors,
Only to lock up, or else to let them fall?
Good is not good, unlesse
A thousand it possesse, 20
But doth wast with greedinesse.
[Confined Love _1635-69:_ _no title_, _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_,
_H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ To the
worthiest of all my lovers. _Cy:_ To the of all my loves my
virtuous mistriss. _P_]
[3 his] this _1669_
lesser] the lesser _A18_, _Cy_, _JC_, _P_]
[6 might _1633-69:_ should _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _O'F_, _S_, _TC_]
[9 lend] bend _1669_]
[11 mate, _1633-39:_ meate, _1650:_ meat, _1669_
a night (_i.e._ a-night) _1633-54:_ all night _1669_]
[12 Beasts] Beast _1635_]
[15 ship] ships _1669_, _Chambers_]
[16 seeke new lands _1633-35 and MSS.:_ seeke lands _1639-69_,
_Chambers, whose note is incorrect_
withall _1633:_ with all _1635-69_]
[17 built _1633-35:_ build _1639-69_]
_The Dreame._
Deare love, for nothing lesse then thee
Would I have broke this happy dreame,
It was a theame
For reason, much too strong for phantasie,
Therefore thou wakd'st me wisely; yet 5
My Dreame thou brok'st not, but continued'st it,
Thou art so truth, that thoughts of thee suffice,
To make dreames truths; and fables histories;
Enter these armes, for since thou thoughtst it best,
Not to dreame all my dreame, let's act the rest. 10
As lightning, or a Tapers light,
Thine eyes, and not thy noise wak'd mee;
Yet I thought thee
(For thou lovest truth) an Angell, at first sight,
But when I saw thou sawest my heart, 15
And knew'st my thoughts, beyond an Angels art,
When thou knew'st what I dreamt, when thou knew'st when
Excesse of joy would wake me, and cam'st then,
I must confesse, it could not chuse but bee
Prophane, to thinke thee any thing but thee. 20
Comming and staying show'd thee, thee,
But rising makes me doubt, that now,
Thou art not thou.
That love is weake, where feare's as strong as hee;
'Tis not all spirit, pure, and brave, 25
If mixture it of _Feare_, _Shame_, _Honor_, have.
Perchance as torches which must ready bee,
Men light and put out, so thou deal'st with mee,
Thou cam'st to kindle, goest to come; Then I
Will dreame that hope againe, but else would die. 30
[The Dreame. _1633-69:_ _do. or similarly_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_,
_C_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _RP31_,
_S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[6 brok'st ... continued'st] breakest ... continuest _1669_,
_A25_, _C_, _P_, _S_]
[7 so truth, _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_TC:_ so true, _1635-69_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S_. _See note_]
[10 act] doe _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_]
[14 an Angell,] but an Angell, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _N_, _TC_]
[16 thoughts,] _om. comma Grolier and Chambers_. _See Note_]
[17 then thou knew'st when _1669_]
[19 must] doe _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _P_, _TC_]
[20 Prophane,] Profaness _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_S96_, _TC_]
[24 feare's as strong _1635-54_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _TCC:_ feares are strong _1669_, _B_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S_, _S96:_ feare is strong, _N_, _TCD_]
[26 have. _1669:_ have; _1633-54_]
[29 cam'st] com'st _1669_
Then I] Thus I _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _TC_
(_RP31 agrees with this group throughout_)]
_A Valediction: of weeping._
Let me powre forth
My teares before thy face, whil'st I stay here,
For thy face coines them, and thy stampe they beare,
And by this Mintage they are something worth,
For thus they bee 5
Pregnant of thee;
Fruits of much griefe they are, emblemes of more,
When a teare falls, that thou falst which it bore,
So thou and I are nothing then, when on a divers shore.
On a round ball 10
A workeman that hath copies by, can lay
An Europe, Afrique, and an Asia,
And quickly make that, which was nothing, _All_,
So doth each teare,
Which thee doth weare, 15
A globe, yea world by that impression grow,
Till thy teares mixt with mine doe overflow
This world, by waters sent from thee, my heaven dissolved so.
O more then Moone,
Draw not up seas to drowne me in thy spheare, 20
Weepe me not dead, in thine armes, but forbeare
To teach the sea, what it may doe too soone;
Let not the winde
Example finde,
To doe me more harme, then it purposeth; 25
Since thou and I sigh one anothers breath,
Who e'r sighes most, is cruellest, and hasts the others death.
[A Valediction: of _&c._ _Ed:_ A Valediction of weeping.
_1633-69:_ Valediction of Weeping. _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_
A Valediction. _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec:_ A
Valediction of Teares. _Cy_, _S_, _S96:_ Valediction 2. Of
Tears. _O'F:_ _no title_, _JC_]
[3 beare, _1633:_ beare; _1635-69_]
[6 thee; _Ed:_ thee, _1633-69_]
[8 falst _1633-69:_ falls _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _N_, _S_, _TC_]
[9 shore.] shore, _1633_]
[13 _All_, _1633:_ _All_ _1635:_ _All._ _1639:_ _All:_
_1650-69_]
[16 world] would _1669_]
[20 up seas] thy seas _1669_]
[22 soone; _Ed:_ soone, _1633-69_]
[25 purposeth; _Ed:_ purposeth, _1633-69_]
_Loves Alchymie._
Some that have deeper digg'd loves Myne then I,
Say, where his centrique happinesse doth lie:
I have lov'd, and got, and told,
But should I love, get, tell, till I were old,
I should not finde that hidden mysterie; 5
Oh, 'tis imposture all:
And as no chymique yet th'Elixar got,
But glorifies his pregnant pot,
If by the way to him befall
Some odoriferous thing, or medicinall, 10
So, lovers dreame a rich and long delight,
But get a winter-seeming summers night.
Our ease, our thrift, our honor, and our day,
Shall we, for this vaine Bubles shadow pay?
Ends love in this, that my man, 15
Can be as happy'as I can; If he can
Endure the short scorne of a Bridegroomes play?
That loving wretch that sweares,
'Tis not the bodies marry, but the mindes,
Which he in her Angelique findes, 20
Would sweare as justly, that he heares,
In that dayes rude hoarse minstralsey, the spheares.
Hope not for minde in women; at their best
Sweetnesse and wit, they'are but _Mummy_, possest.
[Loves Alchymie. _1633-69:_ Mummye. _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_ (or Alchymy. _added in a later
hand_), _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD:_
Elegie. _P:_ _no title_, _A25_]
[14 Bubles] Bubless _1669_]
[15 my _1633-69 and MSS.:_ any _S96_, _1855_, _and Grolier_
(_perhaps from some copy of 1633_)]
[23-4 _punctuation from MSS:_
at their best,
Sweetnesse, and wit they'are, but, _Mummy_, possest.
_1633-54:_ _1669 omits all punctuation in these lines_]
_The Flea._
Marke but this flea, and marke in this,
How little that which thou deny'st me is;
It suck'd me first, and now sucks thee,
And in this flea, our two bloods mingled bee;
Thou know'st that this cannot be said 5
A sinne, nor shame, nor losse of maidenhead,
Yet this enjoyes before it wooe,
And pamper'd swells with one blood made of two,
And this, alas, is more then wee would doe.
Oh stay, three lives in one flea spare, 10
Where wee almost, yea more then maryed are.
This flea is you and I, and this
Our mariage bed, and mariage temple is;
Though parents grudge, and you, w'are met,
And cloysterd in these living walls of Jet. 15
Though use make you apt to kill mee,
Let not to that, selfe murder added bee,
And sacrilege, three sinnes in killing three.
Cruell and sodaine, hast thou since
Purpled thy naile, in blood of innocence? 20
Wherein could this flea guilty bee,
Except in that drop which it suckt from thee?
Yet thou triumph'st, and saist that thou
Find'st not thy selfe, nor mee the weaker now;
'Tis true, then learne how false, feares bee; 25
Just so much honor, when thou yeeld'st to mee,
Will wast, as this flea's death tooke life from thee.
[The Flea _is placed here in the 1633 edition:_ _1635-69 place
it at beginning of_ Songs and Sonets: The Flea. _or no title_,
_A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[3 It suckt mee first, _1633-54_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S96:_
Mee it suck'd first, _1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_,
_L74_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TC_
and now sucks] and now it sucks _1669_]
[5 Thou know'st that _1633-54_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ Confess it.
This cannot be said _1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _H40_,
_L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]
[6 nor shame, nor losse _1633-54_ (shame _1633_), _D_, _H49_,
_Lec:_ or shame, or loss _1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_,
_H40_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TC_]
[9 would] could _1669_]
[11: yea, _1633-54_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ nay, _1669_, _A18_,
_A25_, _B_, _C_, _H40_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TC_]
[16 you] thee _A18_, _Cy_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]
[21 Wherein] In what _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _L74_, _N_,
_O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]
[22 drop] blood _1669_]
_The Curse._
Who ever guesses, thinks, or dreames he knowes
Who is my mistris, wither by this curse;
His only, and only his purse
May some dull heart to love dispose,
And shee yeeld then to all that are his foes; 5
May he be scorn'd by one, whom all else scorne,
Forsweare to others, what to her he'hath sworne,
With feare of missing, shame of getting, torne:
Madnesse his sorrow, gout his cramp, may hee
Make, by but thinking, who hath made him such: 10
And may he feele no touch
Of conscience, but of fame, and bee
Anguish'd, not that'twas sinne, but that'twas shee:
In early and long scarcenesse may he rot,
For land which had been his, if he had not 15
Himselfe incestuously an heire begot:
May he dreame Treason, and beleeve, that hee
Meant to performe it, and confesse, and die,
And no record tell why:
His sonnes, which none of his may bee, 20
Inherite nothing but his infamie:
Or may he so long Parasites have fed,
That he would faine be theirs, whom he hath bred,
And at the last be circumcis'd for bread:
The venom of all stepdames, gamsters gall, 25
What Tyrans, and their subjects interwish,
What Plants, Mynes, Beasts, Foule, Fish,
Can contribute, all ill which all
Prophets, or Poets spake; And all which shall
Be annex'd in schedules unto this by mee, 30
Fall on that man; For if it be a shee
Nature before hand hath out-cursed mee.
[The Curse. _1633-69:_ A Curse. _or_ The Curse. _A18_, _A25_,
_B_, _C_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_,
_S_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ Dirae. _P_, _Q_]
[2 curse] course _1669_]
[3 His only, and only his purse _1633-54_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_,
_C_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_,
_TC:_ Him, only for his purse _1669_, _Chambers:_ His one and
his onely purse _P_]
[4 heart _1633-54 and MSS.:_ whore _1669 and Chambers_]
[5 And she yeeld then to _1633-54 and MSS.:_ And then yield
unto _1669_, _Chambers_]
[8 getting, _Ed:_ getting _1633-69_
torne: _Ed:_ torne; _1633-54:_ torne. _1669_. _Compare_ 16
_and_ 24]
[9 cramp,] cramps, _1669_, _Chambers_, _and most MSS._]
[10 him _1633-54 and MSS.:_ them _1669_, _Chambers_]
[12 fame,] shame; _A18_, _A25_, _N_, _P_, _TC_]
[14-16 In early and long scarceness ... an heire begot:
_1633_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_ (_which gives
alternate version in margin_), _S:_
Or may he for her vertue reverence
One that hates him onely for impotence,
And equall Traitors be she and his sense.
_1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _C_, _JC_, _N_, _P_, _Q_, _S_, _TC_]
[18 Meant] Went _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[26 Tyrans, _1633-35:_ Tyrants, _1639:_ tyrants, _1650-69_]
[27 Mynes, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _H40_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_,
_P_, _Q_, _S_, _TC:_ Myne, _1633-69_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_]
[28 ill _1669:_ ill, _1633-54_]
_The Message._
Send home my long strayd eyes to mee,
Which (Oh) too long have dwelt on thee;
Yet since there they have learn'd such ill,
Such forc'd fashions,
And false passions, 5
That they be
Made by thee
Fit for no good sight, keep them still.
Send home my harmlesse heart againe,
Which no unworthy thought could staine; 10
But if it be taught by thine
To make jestings
Of protestings,
And crosse both
Word and oath, 15
Keepe it, for then 'tis none of mine.
Yet send me back my heart and eyes,
That I may know, and see thy lyes,
And may laugh and joy, when thou
Art in anguish 20
And dost languish
For some one
That will none,
Or prove as false as thou art now.
[The Message. _1635-69:_ _no title_, _1633:_ Song. _or no
title_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S_,
_S96:_ Sonnet. _P:_ Songes w^{ch} were made to _&c._ (_vid.
sup._ _p._ 18) _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[2 thee; _Ed:_ thee, _1633-69_]
[3 But if they there _1669_, _S_]
[10 staine;] staine, _1633-69_]
[11 But _1635-69:_ Which _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _D_, _H49_,
_Lec_, _N_, _TC_]
[14 crosse, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ breake _1633-69_]
[16 Keep it still 'tis _1669_]
[19 And may laugh, when that Thou _D_, _H49_, _Lec_]
[24 art now.] dost now. _1669_]
_A nocturnall upon S._ Lucies _day,_
_Being the shortest day._
Tis the yeares midnight, and it is the dayes,
_Lucies_, who scarce seaven houres herself unmaskes,
The Sunne is spent, and now his flasks
Send forth light squibs, no constant rayes;
The worlds whole sap is sunke: 5
The generall balme th'hydroptique earth hath drunk,
Whither, as to the beds-feet, life is shrunke,
Dead and enterr'd; yet all these seeme to laugh,
Compar'd with mee, who am their Epitaph.
Study me then, you who shall lovers bee 10
At the next world, that is, at the next Spring:
For I am every dead thing,
In whom love wrought new Alchimie.
For his art did expresse
A quintessence even from nothingnesse, 15
From dull privations, and leane emptinesse:
He ruin'd mee, and I am re-begot
Of absence, darknesse, death; things which are not.
All others, from all things, draw all that's good,
Life, soule, forme, spirit, whence they beeing have; 20
I, by loves limbecke, am the grave
Of all, that's nothing. Oft a flood
Have wee two wept, and so
Drownd the whole world, us two; oft did we grow
To be two Chaosses, when we did show 25
Care to ought else; and often absences
Withdrew our soules, and made us carcasses.
But I am by her death, (which word wrongs her)
Of the first nothing, the Elixer grown;
Were I a man, that I were one, 30
I needs must know; I should preferre,
If I were any beast,
Some ends, some means; Yea plants, yea stones detest,
And love; All, all some properties invest;
If I an ordinary nothing were, 35
As shadow, a light, and body must be here.
But I am None; nor will my Sunne renew.
You lovers, for whose sake, the lesser Sunne
At this time to the Goat is runne
To fetch new lust, and give it you, 40
Enjoy your summer all;
Since shee enjoyes her long nights festivall,
Let mee prepare towards her, and let mee call
This houre her Vigill, and her Eve, since this
Both the yeares, and the dayes deep midnight is. 45
[A nocturnal _&c._ _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[7 beds-feet,] beds-feet _1633-69_]
[12 every _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_ (_altered to_ a very),
_TC:_ a very _1635-69_]
[16 emptinesse: _1719:_ emptinesse; _Chambers and Grolier:_
emptinesse _1633-54:_ emptinesse, _1669_. _See note_]
[20 have; _Ed:_ have, _1633-69_.]
[31 know;] know, _1633_]
[32 beast,] beast; _Grolier_]
[34 love; All, all _Ed:_ love, all, all _1633-69_
invest; _Ed:_ invest, _1633:_ invest _1635-69_]
[37 renew. _1633:_ renew, _1635-69_]
[41 all; _Ed:_ all, _1633-69 and Chambers, who places a full
stop after_ festivall]
[44 Eve, _1650-69:_ eve, _1633-39_]
_Witchcraft by a picture._
I fixe mine eye on thine, and there
Pitty my picture burning in thine eye,
My picture drown'd in a transparent teare,
When I looke lower I espie;
Hadst thou the wicked skill 5
By pictures made and mard, to kill,
How many wayes mightst thou performe thy will?
But now I have drunke thy sweet salt teares,
And though thou poure more I'll depart;
My picture vanish'd, vanish feares, 10
That I can be endamag'd by that art;
Though thou retaine of mee
One picture more, yet that will bee,
Being in thine owne heart, from all malice free.
[Witchcraft _&c._ _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ The
Picture. _or_ Picture. _Cy_, _JC_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96:_ A Songe.
_B_]
[4 espie; _Ed:_ espie, _1633-69_]
[6 to kill, _Ed:_ to kill? _1633-39:_ to kill; _1650-69_]
[9 And though] Although _1669_ And though thou therefore poure
more will depart; _B_, _H40_]
[10 vanish'd, vanish feares, _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _H40_,
_JC_, _N_, _P_, _S96_, _TC:_ vanished, vanish all feares
_1635-54_, _O'F:_ vanish, vanish fears, _1669_]
[11 that] thy _JC_, _O'F_, _S96_]
[14 all] thy _B_, _H40_, _S96_]
_The Baite._
Come live with mee, and bee my love,
And wee will some new pleasures prove
Of golden sands, and christall brookes,
With silken lines, and silver hookes.
There will the river whispering runne 5
Warm'd by thy eyes, more then the Sunne.
And there the'inamor'd fish will stay,
Begging themselves they may betray.
When thou wilt swimme in that live bath,
Each fish, which every channell hath, 10
Will amorously to thee swimme,
Gladder to catch thee, then thou him.
If thou, to be so seene, beest loath,
By Sunne, or Moone, thou darknest both,
And if my selfe have leave to see, 15
I need not their light, having thee.
Let others freeze with angling reeds,
And cut their legges, with shells and weeds,
Or treacherously poore fish beset,
With strangling snare, or windowie net: 20
Let coarse bold hands, from slimy nest
The bedded fish in banks out-wrest,
Or curious traitors, sleavesilke flies
Bewitch poore fishes wandring eyes.
For thee, thou needst no such deceit, 25
For thou thy selfe art thine owne bait;
That fish, that is not catch'd thereby,
Alas, is wiser farre then I.
[The Baite. _1635-69:_ _no title_, _1633:_ Song. _or no
title_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _Walton's_
Compleate Angler: _Fourth Day:_ _Chap. XII.:_ Songs that were
made _&c._ (_vid. sup. p._ 18) _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[2 some new] all the _P_]
[3 brookes, _Ed:_ brookes: _1633-69_]
[5 whispering _1633:_ whispring _1635-69_]
[6 thy] thine _1669_, _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[7 inamor'd] enamelled _Walton_
stay] play _1669_]
[11 to] unto _JC_, _O'F_, _P:_ to see _N:_ Most amoroussly to
thee will swim _Walton_]
[15 my selfe] mine eyes _Walton:_ my heart _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[18 with] which _1633_]
[20 snare,] snares, _Walton_
windowie] winding _1669_. _See note_]
[23 Or _1633-69:_ Let _Walton_
sleavesilke _1635:_ sleave silke _1639-69 and Walton:_
sleavesicke _1633_]
[24 To witch poor wandring fishes eyes. _Walton_]
[25 thou needst] there needs _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S96_]
[26 bait; _Ed:_ bait, _1633-69_]
[27 catch'd _1633-69:_ catch't _Walton:_ caught _P_]
[28 Is wiser far, alas _Walton_]
_The Apparition._
When by thy scorne, O murdresse, I am dead,
And that thou thinkst thee free
From all solicitation from mee,
Then shall my ghost come to thy bed,
And thee, fain'd vestall, in worse armes shall see; 5
Then thy sicke taper will begin to winke,
And he, whose thou art then, being tyr'd before,
Will, if thou stirre, or pinch to wake him, thinke
Thou call'st for more,
And in false sleepe will from thee shrinke, 10
And then poore Aspen wretch, neglected thou
Bath'd in a cold quicksilver sweat wilt lye
A veryer ghost then I;
What I will say, I will not tell thee now,
Lest that preserve thee'; and since my love is spent, 15
I'had rather thou shouldst painfully repent,
Then by my threatnings rest still innocent.
[The Apparition. _1633-69:_ _do. or_ An Apparition. _A18_,
_A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[2 that thou thinkst] thou shalt think _1669_]
[3 solicitation] solicitations _JC_, _O'F_]
[5 thee, ... vestall, _Ed:_ thee ... vestall _1633-39:_ thee
... Vestall _1650-69_]
[7 then] _1669 omits_]
[10 in false sleepe will from _1633_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_,
_S:_ in false sleepe from _1635-54:_ in a false sleepe even
from _1669:_ in a false sleepe from _A25_, _P:_ in a false
sleepe will from _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[13 I;] I, _1633, some copies_]
[17 rest still] keep thee _A25_, _Cy_, _JC_, _O'F_, _P_]
_The broken heart._
He is starke mad, who ever sayes,
That he hath beene in love an houre,
Yet not that love so soone decayes,
But that it can tenne in lesse space devour;
Who will beleeve mee, if I sweare 5
That I have had the plague a yeare?
Who would not laugh at mee, if I should say,
I saw a flaske of _powder burne a day_?
Ah, what a trifle is a heart,
If once into loves hands it come! 10
All other griefes allow a part
To other griefes, and aske themselves but some;
They come to us, but us Love draws,
Hee swallows us, and never chawes:
By him, as by chain'd shot, whole rankes doe dye, 15
He is the tyran Pike, our hearts the Frye.
If 'twere not so, what did become
Of my heart, when I first saw thee?
I brought a heart into the roome,
But from the roome, I carried none with mee: 20
If it had gone to thee, I know
Mine would have taught thine heart to show
More pitty unto mee: but Love, alas,
At one first blow did shiver it as glasse.
Yet nothing can to nothing fall, 25
Nor any place be empty quite,
Therefore I thinke my breast hath all
Those peeces still, though they be not unite;
And now as broken glasses show
A hundred lesser faces, so 30
My ragges of heart can like, wish, and adore,
But after one such love, can love no more.
[The broken heart. _1633-69:_ Broken Heart. _L74:_ Song. _or
no title_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ Elegie. _P_, _S96_]
[8 flaske _1633_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _Lec_,
_O'F_ (_corrected from_ flash), _P_, _S:_ flash _1635-69_,
_A18_, _H49_, _N_, _TC_]
[10 come! _Ed:_ come? _1633-69_]
[12 some; _Ed:_ some, _1633-69_]
[15 chain'd shot] chain-shott _A18_, _A25_, _N_, _TC_]
[16 tyran] Tyrant _1669_
our hearts] and we _1669_]
[17 did] could _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _L74_, _O'F_, _N_,
_TC:_ would _B_, _Cy_, _M_, _S_]
[20 mee: _1650-69:_ mee; _1633-39_]
[23 alas,] alas _1633_]
[24 first] fierce _A18_, _B_, _N_, _TC_]
[30 hundred] thousand _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _L74_, _M_,
_N_, _P_, _S_, _TC_]
_A Valediction: forbidding mourning._
As virtuous men passe mildly away,
And whisper to their soules, to goe,
Whilst some of their sad friends doe say,
The breath goes now, and some say, no:
So let us melt, and make no noise, 5
No teare-floods, nor sigh-tempests move,
T'were prophanation of our joyes
To tell the layetie our love.
Moving of th'earth brings harmes and feares,
Men reckon what it did and meant, 10
But trepidation of the spheares,
Though greater farre, is innocent.
Dull sublunary lovers love
(Whose soule is sense) cannot admit
Absence, because it doth remove 15
Those things which elemented it.
But we by a love, so much refin'd,
That our selves know not what it is,
Inter-assured of the mind,
Care lesse, eyes, lips, and hands to misse. 20
Our two soules therefore, which are one,
Though I must goe, endure not yet
A breach, but an expansion,
Like gold to ayery thinnesse beate.
If they be two, they are two so 25
As stiffe twin compasses are two,
Thy soule the fixt foot, makes no show
To move, but doth, if the'other doe.
And though it in the center sit,
Yet when the other far doth rome, 30
It leanes, and hearkens after it,
And growes erect, as that comes home.
Such wilt thou be to mee, who must
Like th'other foot, obliquely runne;
Thy firmnes makes my circle just,
And makes me end, where I begunne. 35
[A Valediction: forbidding _&c._ _Ed:_ A Valediction
forbidding _&c._ _1633-69:_ Valediction forbidding _&c._
_A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ Valediction agaynst _&c._ _A25_,
_C:_ A Valediction. _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec:_ Vpon
the partinge from his Mistris. _O'F_, _S96:_ To his love upon
his departure from her. _JC:_ Elegie. _L74_, _P:_ _also in
Walton's_ Life of Donne (1675)]
[4 The breath goes now, _1633-54, and all the MSS.:_ Now his
breath goes, _1669_, _Chambers_
no: _Ed:_ no. _1633-54:_ No; _1669_]
[30 the other] my other _Walton_]
[31 It] Thine _Walton_]
[32 that] mine _Walton_]
[34 runne; _Ed:_ runne. _1633-69_]
[35 circle] circles _1639-54_]
[36 makes me] me to _Walton_]
_The Extasie._
Where, like a pillow on a bed,
A Pregnant banke swel'd up, to rest
The violets reclining head,
Sat we two, one anothers best.
Our hands were firmely cimented 5
With a fast balme, which thence did spring,
Our eye-beames twisted, and did thred
Our eyes, upon one double string;
So to'entergraft our hands, as yet
Was all the meanes to make us one, 10
And pictures in our eyes to get
Was all our propagation.
As 'twixt two equall Armies, Fate
Suspends uncertaine victorie,
Our soules, (which to advance their state, 15
Were gone out,) hung 'twixt her, and mee.
And whil'st our soules negotiate there,
Wee like sepulchrall statues lay;
All day, the same our postures were,
And wee said nothing, all the day. 20
If any, so by love refin'd,
That he soules language understood,
And by good love were growen all minde,
Within convenient distance stood,
He (though he knew not which soule spake, 25
Because both meant, both spake the same)
Might thence a new concoction take,
And part farre purer then he came.
This Extasie doth unperplex
(We said) and tell us what we love, 30
Wee see by this, it was not sexe,
Wee see, we saw not what did move:
But as all severall soules containe
Mixture of things, they know not what,
Love, these mixt soules, doth mixe againe, 35
And makes both one, each this and that.
A single violet transplant,
The strength, the colour, and the size,
(All which before was poore, and scant,)
Redoubles still, and multiplies. 40
When love, with one another so
Interinanimates two soules,
That abler soule, which thence doth flow,
Defects of lonelinesse controules.
Wee then, who are this new soule, know, 45
Of what we are compos'd, and made,
For, th'Atomies of which we grow,
Are soules, whom no change can invade.
But O alas, so long, so farre
Our bodies why doe wee forbeare? 50
They are ours, though they are not wee, Wee are
The intelligences, they the spheare.
We owe them thankes, because they thus,
Did us, to us, at first convay,
Yeelded their forces, sense, to us, 55
Nor are drosse to us, but allay.
On man heavens influence workes not so,
But that it first imprints the ayre,
Soe soule into the soule may flow,
Though it to body first repaire. 60
As our blood labours to beget
Spirits, as like soules as it can,
Because such fingers need to knit
That subtile knot, which makes us man:
So must pure lovers soules descend 65
T'affections, and to faculties,
Which sense may reach and apprehend,
Else a great Prince in prison lies.
To'our bodies turne wee then, that so
Weake men on love reveal'd may looke; 70
Loves mysteries in soules doe grow,
But yet the body is his booke.
And if some lover, such as wee,
Have heard this dialogue of one,
Let him still marke us, he shall see 75
Small change, when we'are to bodies gone.
[The Extasie. _1633-69:_ _do. or_ Extasie. _A18_, _A25_, _B_,
_D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_,
_TCC_, _TCD_]
[3 reclining _1633-54:_ declining _1669_]
[4 best. _Ed:_ best; _1633-54_
Sate we on one anothers breasts. _1669_]
[6 With _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_P_, _S_, _TC:_ By _1635-69_, _Chambers_]
[8 string; _Ed:_ string, _1633-69_]
[9 to'entergraft _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_,
_N_, _P_, _S_, _TC:_ to engraft _1635-69_, _A25_, _JC_, _O'F_,
_Chambers_]
[11 in _1633-69_, _P:_ on _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TC_]
[15 their _1633 and most MSS.:_ our _1635-69_, _O'F_, _P_]
[18 lay; _Ed:_ lay, _1633-69_]
[25 knew _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_,
_N_, _P_, _TC:_ knowes _1633_, _D_, _Lec_]
[29 doth] do _1669_]
[31 sexe, _1669:_ sexe _1633-54_]
[42 Interinanimates _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TC:_ Interanimates _1633-69_, _D_, _Lec_]
[44 loneliness] loveliness _1669_]
[46 made, _1633-39:_ made: _1650-69_]
[47 Atomies _1633-54:_ Atomes _1669_]
[48 are soules, _1633_, _1669:_ are soule, _1635-54_]
[51 though they are not _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ though not
_1633-69_]
[52 spheare. _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ spheares. _1633-69_]
[55 forces, sense, _A18_, _A25_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ senses force _1633-69_]
[59 Soe _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _H40_, _JC_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _S96_,
_TC:_ For _1633-69_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_]
[64 makes] make _1635-39_]
[72 his] the _1669_]
[76 gone. _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_O'F_, _S_, _TC:_ growne. _1635-69_, _P_, _S96_]
_Loves Deitie._
I long to talke with some old lovers ghost,
Who dyed before the god of Love was borne:
I cannot thinke that hee, who then lov'd most,
Sunke so low, as to love one which did scorne.
But since this god produc'd a destinie, 5
And that vice-nature, custome, lets it be;
I must love her, that loves not mee.
Sure, they which made him god, meant not so much,
Nor he, in his young godhead practis'd it;
But when an even flame two hearts did touch, 10
His office was indulgently to fit
Actives to passives. Correspondencie
Only his subject was; It cannot bee
Love, till I love her, that loves mee.
But every moderne god will now extend 15
His vast prerogative, as far as Jove.
To rage, to lust, to write to, to commend,
All is the purlewe of the God of Love.
Oh were wee wak'ned by this Tyrannie
To ungod this child againe, it could not bee 20
I should love her, who loves not mee.
Rebell and Atheist too, why murmure I,
As though I felt the worst that love could doe?
Love might make me leave loving, or might trie
A deeper plague, to make her love mee too, 25
Which, since she loves before, I'am loth to see;
Falshood is worse then hate; and that must bee,
If shee whom I love, should love mee.
[Loves Deitie. _1633-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_,
_TCD:_ Elegye. _P_]
[8 much, _1639-69:_ much: _1633:_ much? _1635_]
[9 it; _Ed:_ it. _1633-69_]
[13 subject] _Subject 1669_]
[14 Love, ... mee. _1633_, _1669_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H40_ (who), _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _S_ (lov'd), _TCD:_
Love, if I love, who loves not me. _1635-54_, _O'F_]
[19 Oh ... wak'ned] Were we not weak'ned _1669_]
[21 That I should love, who loves not me. _A18_, _A25_, _C_,
_Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _S96_,
_TC:_ _O'F reads as these but alters to as in printed edd._]
[24 might make _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_JC_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ may make _1633-69_,
_Lec_]
[26 Which,] Which _1633_]
_Loves diet._
To what a combersome unwieldinesse
And burdenous corpulence my love had growne,
But that I did, to make it lesse,
And keepe it in proportion,
Give it a diet, made it feed upon 5
That which love worst endures, _discretion_.
Above one sigh a day I'allow'd him not,
Of which my fortune, and my faults had part;
And if sometimes by stealth he got
A she sigh from my mistresse heart, 10
And thought to feast on that, I let him see
'Twas neither very sound, nor meant to mee.
If he wroung from mee'a teare, I brin'd it so
With scorne or shame, that him it nourish'd not;
If he suck'd hers, I let him know 15
'Twas not a teare, which hee had got,
His drinke was counterfeit, as was his meat;
For, eyes which rowle towards all, weepe not, but sweat.
What ever he would dictate, I writ that,
But burnt my letters; When she writ to me, 20
And that that favour made him fat,
I said, if any title bee
Convey'd by this, Ah, what doth it availe,
To be the fortieth name in an entaile?
Thus I reclaim'd my buzard love, to flye 25
At what, and when, and how, and where I chuse;
Now negligent of sport I lye,
And now as other Fawkners use,
I spring a mistresse, sweare, write, sigh and weepe:
And the game kill'd, or lost, goe talke, and sleepe. 30
[Loves diet. _1633-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _TCC_ (_torn
out of TCD_): Amoris Dieta. _S96_]
[12 mee. _Ed:_ mee; _1633-35:_ mee: _1639-69_]
[18 For,] Her _1669_]
[19 Whatever ... that, _1633-39_, _1669:_ Whate'er might him
distast I still writ that, _1650-54:_ Whatsoever hee would
distast I writt that, _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[20 But burnt my letters; When she writ to me, _1633:_ But
burnt her letters when she writ to me, _1635:_ But burnt her
letters when she writ to me; _1639-54_, _Chambers:_ But burnt
my letters which she writ to me; _1669_]
[21 that that _1633:_ if that _1635-69_. _See note_]
[24 name] man _1669_]
[25 reclaim'd _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCC:_ redeem'd _1633_, _Lec_]
[26 chuse] chose _1669_]
[27 sport _1635-69_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC:_ sports, _1633_]
[30 and _1633 and most MSS.:_ or _1635-69_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _S_]
_The Will._
Before I sigh my last gaspe, let me breath,
Great love, some Legacies; Here I bequeath
Mine eyes to _Argus_, if mine eyes can see,
If they be blinde, then Love, I give them thee;
My tongue to Fame; to'Embassadours mine eares; 5
To women or the sea, my teares.
Thou, Love, hast taught mee heretofore
By making mee serve her who'had twenty more,
That I should give to none, but such, as had too much before.
My constancie I to the planets give; 10
My truth to them, who at the Court doe live;
Mine ingenuity and opennesse,
To Jesuites; to Buffones my pensivenesse;
My silence to'any, who abroad hath beene;
My mony to a Capuchin. 15
Thou Love taught'st me, by appointing mee
To love there, where no love receiv'd can be,
Onely to give to such as have an incapacitie.
My faith I give to Roman Catholiques;
All my good works unto the Schismaticks 20
Of Amsterdam; my best civility
And Courtship, to an Universitie;
My modesty I give to souldiers bare;
My patience let gamesters share.
Thou Love taughtst mee, by making mee 25
Love her that holds my love disparity,
Onely to give to those that count my gifts indignity.
I give my reputation to those
Which were my friends; Mine industrie to foes;
To Schoolemen I bequeath my doubtfulnesse; 30
My sicknesse to Physitians, or excesse;
To Nature, all that I in Ryme have writ;
And to my company my wit.
Thou Love, by making mee adore
Her, who begot this love in mee before, 35
Taughtst me to make, as though I gave, when I did but restore.
To him for whom the passing bell next tolls,
I give my physick bookes; my writen rowles
Of Morall counsels, I to Bedlam give;
My brazen medals, unto them which live 40
In want of bread; To them which passe among
All forrainers, mine English tongue.
Thou, Love, by making mee love one
Who thinkes her friendship a fit portion
For yonger lovers, dost my gifts thus disproportion. 45
Therefore I'll give no more; But I'll undoe
The world by dying; because love dies too.
Then all your beauties will bee no more worth
Then gold in Mines, where none doth draw it forth;
And all your graces no more use shall have 50
Then a Sun dyall in a grave.
Thou Love taughtst mee, by making mee
Love her, who doth neglect both mee and thee,
To'invent, and practise this one way, to'annihilate all three.
[The Will. _1633-69:_ _do. or_ A Will. _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_,
_D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _M_, _O'F_, _P:_ Loves Will. _L74:_
Loves Legacies. _A18_, _N_, _TCC_ (_torn out of TCD_), _S:_
Testamentum. _S96:_ His Last Will and Testament. _JC_]
[2 Here I _1633-54:_ I here _1669_, _Chambers_]
[6 teares. _Ed:_ teares; _1633-69_]
[8 serve her] love her _1669_]
[10 give; _Ed:_ give, _1633-69_]
[10-27 _These stanzas printed without a break, 1669_]
[14 hath] have _1669_]
[18 an incapacitie.] no good Capacity. _1669_]
[19-27 _omitted_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_JC_, _L74_ (_added later_), _Lec_, _M_ (_added later_), _N_,
_P_, _TCC:_ _given in O'F_, _S_, _and all editions_]
[33 wit. _Ed:_ wit; _1633-69_]
[34 Love, _1650-69:_ love, _1633-39_]
[36 did _1633 and MSS.:_ do _1635-69_, _O'F_]
[45 gifts _1633-35_, _1669:_ gift _1639-54_]
[46 more; But _1633:_ more, but _1635-69_]
[49-51 forth; ... grave. _1669:_ forth ... grave, _1633-39 by
interchange:_ forth ... grave. _1650-54_]
[54 all three. _1633-39_, three _being below the line in 1633
and above in 1635-39:_ al. three _1650-54_, _the full stop
having fallen from_ three _to_ all _below it:_ annihilate
thee. _1669_]
_The Funerall._
Who ever comes to shroud me, do not harme
Nor question much
That subtile wreath of haire, which crowns my arme;
The mystery, the signe you must not touch,
For 'tis my outward Soule, 5
Viceroy to that, which then to heaven being gone,
Will leave this to controule,
And keepe these limbes, her Provinces, from dissolution.
For if the sinewie thread my braine lets fall
Through every part, 10
Can tye those parts, and make mee one of all;
These haires which upward grew, and strength and art
Have from a better braine,
Can better do'it; Except she meant that I
By this should know my pain, 15
As prisoners then are manacled, when they'are condemn'd to die.
What ere shee meant by'it, bury it with me,
For since I am
Loves martyr, it might breed idolatrie,
If into others hands these Reliques came; 20
As'twas humility
To afford to it all that a Soule can doe,
So,'tis some bravery,
That since you would save none of mee, I bury some of you.
[The Funerall. _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[3 which ... arme;] about mine arm; _1669_]
[6 then to _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ unto _1633-69_]
[12 These _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _N_, _S_ (The),
_S96_, _TC:_ Those _1633-69_, _Lec_, _O'F_ grew, _1633-39:_
grow, _1650-69_]
[16 condemn'd] condem'nd _1633_]
[17 with me, _1635-69 and MSS.:_ by me, _1633_]
[24 save _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _TC:_
have _1633-69_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S96:_ _om. S_]
_The Blossome._
Little think'st thou, poore flower,
Whom I have watch'd sixe or seaven dayes,
And seene thy birth, and seene what every houre
Gave to thy growth, thee to this height to raise,
And now dost laugh and triumph on this bough, 5
Little think'st thou
That it will freeze anon, and that I shall
To morrow finde thee falne, or not at all.
Little think'st thou poore heart
That labour'st yet to nestle thee, 10
And think'st by hovering here to get a part
In a forbidden or forbidding tree,
And hop'st her stiffenesse by long siege to bow:
Little think'st thou,
That thou to morrow, ere that Sunne doth wake, 15
Must with this Sunne, and mee a journey take.
But thou which lov'st to bee
Subtile to plague thy selfe, wilt say,
Alas, if you must goe, what's that to mee?
Here lyes my businesse, and here I will stay: 20
You goe to friends, whose love and meanes present
Various content
To your eyes, eares, and tongue, and every part.
If then your body goe, what need you a heart?
Well then, stay here; but know, 25
When thou hast stayd and done thy most;
A naked thinking heart, that makes no show,
Is to a woman, but a kinde of Ghost;
How shall shee know my heart; or having none,
Know thee for one? 30
Practise may make her know some other part,
But take my word, shee doth not know a Heart.
Meet mee at London, then,
Twenty dayes hence, and thou shalt see
Mee fresher, and more fat, by being with men, 35
Then if I had staid still with her and thee.
For Gods sake, if you can, be you so too:
I would give you
There, to another friend, whom wee shall finde
As glad to have my body, as my minde. 40
[The Blossome. _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no title_, _A25_]
[9-13 poore heart ... bow:] _in brackets 1650-69_]
[10 labour'st _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ labourest _1635-69:_ labours
_1633_]
[15 that Sunne _1633:_ the Sunne _1635-69_]
[18 wilt] will _1669_]
[23 tongue _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _S96_, _TC:_ _om. S:_ tast _1633-69_]
[24 need you a heart? _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ need you have a heart? _JC:_ need
your heart? _1633-69_]
[38 I would _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_,
_S_, _S96_, _TC:_ I will _1633-69_, _Lec_]
_The Primrose, being at Montgomery Castle, upon the hill, on which it
is situate._
Vpon this Primrose hill,
Where, if Heav'n would distill
A shoure of raine, each severall drop might goe
To his owne primrose, and grow Manna so;
And where their forme, and their infinitie 5
Make a terrestriall Galaxie,
As the small starres doe in the skie:
I walke to finde a true Love; and I see
That'tis not a mere woman, that is shee,
But must, or more, or lesse then woman bee. 10
Yet know I not, which flower
I wish; a sixe, or foure;
For should my true-Love lesse then woman bee,
She were scarce any thing; and then, should she
Be more then woman, shee would get above 15
All thought of sexe, and thinke to move
My heart to study her, and not to love;
Both these were monsters; Since there must reside
Falshood in woman, I could more abide,
She were by art, then Nature falsify'd. 20
Live Primrose then, and thrive
With thy true number five;
And women, whom this flower doth represent,
With this mysterious number be content;
Ten is the farthest number; if halfe ten 25
Belonge unto each woman, then
Each woman may take halfe us men;
Or if this will not serve their turne, Since all
Numbers are odde, or even, and they fall
First into this, five, women may take us all. 30
[The Primrose. _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ The Primrose, being at _&c._
_1635-69_]
[16 sexe, _1633:_ sexe; _1635-69_]
[17 and not] and _om. 1635-39, A18, N, S, TC_]
[23 women] woman _Chambers_]
[25 number; _Ed:_ number, _1633-69_]
[26 Belonge _all the MSS.:_ Belongs _1633-69_. _See note_]
[27 men; _Ed:_ men, _1633-39:_ men: _1650-69_]
[28 their _1633-39:_ the _1650-69_]
[29 and _1633:_ since _1635-69_]
[30 this, _Ed:_ this _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_,
_N_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ _om. 1635-69, O'F, Chambers_]
_The Relique._
When my grave is broke up againe
Some second ghest to entertaine,
(For graves have learn'd that woman-head
To be to more then one a Bed)
And he that digs it, spies 5
A bracelet of bright haire about the bone,
Will he not let'us alone,
And thinke that there a loving couple lies,
Who thought that this device might be some way
To make their soules, at the last busie day, 10
Meet at this grave, and make a little stay?
If this fall in a time, or land,
Where mis-devotion doth command,
Then, he that digges us up, will bring
Us, to the Bishop, and the King, 15
To make us Reliques; then
Thou shalt be a Mary Magdalen, and I
A something else thereby;
All women shall adore us, and some men;
And since at such time, miracles are sought, 20
I would have that age by this paper taught
What miracles wee harmelesse lovers wrought.
First, we lov'd well and faithfully,
Yet knew not what wee lov'd, nor why,
Difference of sex no more wee knew, 25
Then our Guardian Angells doe;
Comming and going, wee
Perchance might kisse, but not between those meales;
Our hands ne'r toucht the seales,
Which nature, injur'd by late law, sets free: 30
These miracles wee did; but now alas,
All measure, and all language, I would passe,
Should I tell what a miracle shee was.
[The Relique. _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no title, A25_]
[13 mis-devotion _1633-54_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ mass-devotion
_1669_, _Chambers_]
[15 and _1633-54 and MSS.:_ or _1669_, _Chambers_]
[17 Thou shalt be] You shal be _A25_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_S_. _See note_]
[20 time] times _JC_, _O'F_]
[21 have that age] that age were _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[25-26 Difference ... doe, _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_
Difference of Sex we never knew,
No more then Guardian Angells do, _1635-69:_
Difference of Sex we never knew,
More then our Guardian Angells do. _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _S_, _S96_ (No more then our _&c._ _B_,
_S96_)]
[26 doe; _Ed:_ doe, _1633-69_]
[27 wee _Ed:_ wee, _1633-69_]
[28 not] yet _1669_
meales; _Ed:_ meales. _1633:_ meales _1635-69, following some
copies of 1633_]
[30 sets] set _1669_ free: _1650-69:_ free, _1633-39_]
_The Dampe._
When I am dead, and Doctors know not why,
And my friends curiositie
Will have me cut up to survay each part,
When they shall finde your Picture in my heart,
You thinke a sodaine dampe of love 5
Will through all their senses move,
And worke on them as mee, and so preferre
Your murder, to the name of Massacre.
Poore victories! But if you dare be brave,
And pleasure in your conquest have, 10
First kill th'enormous Gyant, your _Disdaine_,
And let th'enchantresse _Honor_, next be slaine,
And like a Goth and Vandall rize,
Deface Records, and Histories
Of your owne arts and triumphs over men, 15
And without such advantage kill me then.
For I could muster up as well as you
My Gyants, and my Witches too,
Which are vast _Constancy_, and _Secretnesse_,
But these I neyther looke for, nor professe; 20
Kill mee as Woman, let mee die
As a meere man; doe you but try
Your passive valor, and you shall finde than,
In that you'have odds enough of any man.
[The Dampe. _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[4 When] And _1669_
my _1633-39:_ mine _1650-69_]
[9 victories! _1650-69:_ victories; _1633-39_]
[10 your] the _1669_
conquest] conquests _JC_]
[13 and Vandall _1633-54_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ or Vandall _1669_,
_Chambers_]
[15 arts] acts _1669_, _JC_]
[20 professe; _Ed:_ professe, _1633-69_]
[24 In that _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ Naked _1635-69_, _B_,
_D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _JC_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_]
_The Dissolution._
Shee'is dead; And all which die
To their first Elements resolve;
And wee were mutuall Elements to us,
And made of one another.
My body then doth hers involve, 5
And those things whereof I consist, hereby
In me abundant grow, and burdenous,
And nourish not, but smother.
My fire of Passion, sighes of ayre,
Water of teares, and earthly sad despaire, 10
Which my materialls bee,
But neere worne out by loves securitie,
Shee, to my losse, doth by her death repaire,
And I might live long wretched so
But that my fire doth with my fuell grow. 15
Now as those Active Kings
Whose foraine conquest treasure brings,
Receive more, and spend more, and soonest breake:
This (which I am amaz'd that I can speake)
This death, hath with my store 20
My use encreas'd.
And so my soule more earnestly releas'd,
Will outstrip hers; As bullets flowen before
A latter bullet may o'rtake, the pouder being more.
[The Dissolution. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[10 earthly _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ earthy _1635-69_]
[12 neere _1635-69_ (But ... securitie _bracketed 1669_): ne'r
_1633_]
[24 latter] later _1669_]
_A Ieat Ring Sent._
Thou art not so black, as my heart,
Nor halfe so brittle, as her heart, thou art;
What would'st thou say? shall both our properties by thee bee spoke,
Nothing more endlesse, nothing sooner broke?
Marriage rings are not of this stuffe; 5
Oh, why should ought lesse precious, or lesse tough
Figure our loves? Except in thy name thou have bid it say,
I'am cheap, and nought but fashion, fling me'away.
Yet stay with mee since thou art come,
Circle this fingers top, which did'st her thombe. 10
Be justly proud, and gladly safe, that thou dost dwell with me,
She that, Oh, broke her faith, would soon breake thee.
[A Ieat Ring sent. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_, _TCD:_
To a Jeat Ring sent to me. _W_ (_among the_ Epigrams)]
[7 loves] love _O'F_ say, _Ed:_ say _1633-69_]
_Negative love._
I never stoop'd so low, as they
Which on an eye, cheeke, lip, can prey,
Seldome to them, which soare no higher
Then vertue or the minde to'admire,
For sense, and understanding may 5
Know, what gives fuell to their fire:
My love, though silly, is more brave,
For may I misse, when ere I crave,
If I know yet, what I would have.
If that be simply perfectest 10
Which can by no way be exprest
But _Negatives_, my love is so.
To All, which all love, I say no.
If any who deciphers best,
What we know not, our selves, can know, 15
Let him teach mee that nothing; This
As yet my ease, and comfort is,
Though I speed not, I cannot misse.
[Negative love. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ Negative
Love: or the Nothing. _O'F:_ The Nothing. _A25_, _C_]
[4 to'admire, _1633-39:_ to'admire; _1650-69_]
[5 For] Both _A25_, _C_]
[11 way] means _1669_, _O'F_]
[16 nothing; _1633:_ nothing. _1635-69_]
_The Prohibition._
Take heed of loving mee,
At least remember, I forbade it thee;
Not that I shall repaire my'unthrifty wast
Of Breath and Blood, upon thy sighes, and teares,
By being to thee then what to me thou wast; 5
But, so great Joy, our life at once outweares,
Then, least thy love, by my death, frustrate bee,
If thou love mee, take heed of loving mee.
Take heed of hating mee,
Or too much triumph in the Victorie. 10
Not that I shall be mine owne officer,
And hate with hate againe retaliate;
But thou wilt lose the stile of conquerour,
If I, thy conquest, perish by thy hate.
Then, least my being nothing lessen thee, 15
If thou hate mee, take heed of hating mee.
Yet, love and hate mee too,
So, these extreames shall neithers office doe;
Love mee, that I may die the gentler way;
Hate mee, because thy love is too great for mee; 20
Or let these two, themselves, not me decay;
So shall I, live, thy Stage, not triumph bee;
Lest thou thy love and hate and mee undoe,
_To let mee live, O love and hate mee too._
[The Prohibition. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no
title_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _O'F_, _S96:_
_in B first two verses headed_ J. D., _last verse_ T. R.: _in
A18_, _N_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD the last stanza is omitted_]
[3 repaire my'unthrifty wast] repay in unthrifty a wast,
_1669_]
[5 By ... wast; _Ed:_ By ... wast, _1635-69_, _B_, _Cy_,
_H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _RP31_, _S96_ (mee _for_ thee _B_, _P_): By
being to mee then that which thou wast; _1633:_ _om._ _A18_,
_D_, _H40_, _H49_, _N_, _TC_]
[18 neithers _Ed:_ neythers _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC:_ neyther
_O'F_, _RP31:_ neyther their _Cy:_ ne'r their _1633-69_, _B_]
[20 thy _1635-69:_ my _1633_ (thy _in some copies_)]
[22 I, live, _Ed:_ I live _1633-69_
Stage, _1635-69_, _B_, _Cy_, _H40_, _O'F:_ stay, _1633_, _JC:_
staye, _D_, _H49_
not] and _H40_]
[23-4
Lest thou thy love and hate and mee undoe
_To let mee live, Oh_ (of _in some copies_)
_love and hate mee too._
_1633_, _B_
Then lest thou thy love hate, and mee thou undoe
_O let me live, yet love and hate me too._
_1635-54_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _O'F_ (_MSS.
omitting first_ thou _and some with_ Oh _for_ yet)
Lest thou thy love, and hate, and me thou undo,
_O let me live, yet love and hate me too._
_1669_.]
_The Expiration._
So, so, breake off this last lamenting kisse,
Which sucks two soules, and vapors Both away,
Turne thou ghost that way, and let mee turne this,
And let our selves benight our happiest day,
We ask'd none leave to love; nor will we owe 5
Any, so cheape a death, as saying, Goe;
Goe; and if that word have not quite kil'd thee,
Ease mee with death, by bidding mee goe too.
Oh, if it have, let my word worke on mee,
And a just office on a murderer doe. 10
Except it be too late, to kill me so,
Being double dead, going, and bidding, goe.
[The Expiration. _1633-69:_ An Expiration. _A18_, _N_, _TCC_,
_TCD:_ Valediction. _B:_ Valedictio. _O'F:_ Valedictio Amoris.
_S:_ Valedico. _P:_ _no title_, _A25_, _C_, _JC_]
[1 So, so,] So, go _1669_]
[5 ask'd _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_ _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _S96_, _TC:_
aske _1633-69_, _P_, _S_]
[9 Oh, _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _JC_, _N_, _TC:_ Or, _1635-69_,
_B_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_]
_The Computation._
For the first twenty yeares, since yesterday,
I scarce beleev'd, thou could'st be gone away,
For forty more, I fed on favours past,
And forty'on hopes, that thou would'st, they might last.
Teares drown'd one hundred, and sighes blew out two, 5
A thousand, I did neither thinke, nor doe,
Or not divide, all being one thought of you;
Or in a thousand more, forgot that too.
Yet call not this long life; But thinke that I
Am, by being dead, Immortall; Can ghosts die? 10
[The Computation. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no
title_, _B_, _O'F_, _S_]
[1 For _1633-54:_ From _1669_
the _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ my _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _S_,
_Chambers_]
[3 For] And _1669_]
[6 One thousand I did think nothing nor doe, _S_, _O'F_
(nothing think) doe, _1635-69:_ doe. _1633_]
[7 divide, _1633_, _1669:_ deem'd, _1635-54_, _O'F_]
[8 a] one _O'F_, _S:_ _line dropped_ _A18_, _N_, _TC_
forgot] forget _1669_, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TC_]
_The Paradox._
No Lover saith, I love, nor any other
Can judge a perfect Lover;
Hee thinkes that else none can, nor will agree
That any loves but hee:
I cannot say I lov'd, for who can say 5
Hee was kill'd yesterday?
Love with excesse of heat, more yong then old,
Death kills with too much cold;
Wee dye but once, and who lov'd last did die,
Hee that saith twice, doth lye: 10
For though hee seeme to move, and stirre a while,
It doth the sense beguile.
Such life is like the light which bideth yet
When the lights life is set,
Or like the heat, which fire in solid matter 15
Leaves behinde, two houres after.
Once I lov'd and dy'd; and am now become
Mine Epitaph and Tombe.
Here dead men speake their last, and so do I;
Love-slaine, loe, here I lye. 20
[The Paradox. _1635-69_: _no title_, _1633_, _A18_, _H40_,
_L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_ _TCC_, _TCD_]
[3 can, nor will agree _A18_, _H40_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TC_:
can or will agree, _1633-69_]
[6 yesterday?] yesterday. _1633-39_]
[14 lights life _H40_, _L74_, _RP31_, _S:_ lifes light
_1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _S96_, _TC_]
[15 which _Ed:_ which, _1633-69_]
[17 lov'd _A18_, _H40_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TC:_ love
_1633-69_
dy'd] dyed _1633-69_]
[20 lye. _H40_, _RP31_, _S_, _S96:_ dye. _1633-69_, _A18_,
_L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_]
_Farewell to Love._
Whilst yet to prove,
I thought there was some Deitie in love
So did I reverence, and gave
Worship; as Atheists at their dying houre
Call, what they cannot name, an unknowne power, 5
As ignorantly did I crave:
Thus when
Things not yet knowne are coveted by men,
Our desires give them fashion, and so
As they waxe lesser, fall, as they sise, grow. 10
But, from late faire
His hignesse sitting in a golden Chaire,
Is not lesse cared for after three dayes
By children, then the thing which lovers so
Blindly admire, and with such worship wooe; 15
Being had, enjoying it decayes:
And thence,
What before pleas'd them all, takes but one sense,
And that so lamely, as it leaves behinde
A kinde of sorrowing dulnesse to the minde. 20
Ah cannot wee,
As well as Cocks and Lyons jocund be,
After such pleasures? Unlesse wise
Nature decreed (since each such Act, they say,
Diminisheth the length of life a day) 25
This, as shee would man should despise
The sport;
Because that other curse of being short,
And onely for a minute made to be,
(Eagers desire) to raise posterity. 30
Since so, my minde
Shall not desire what no man else can finde,
I'll no more dote and runne
To pursue things which had indammag'd me.
And when I come where moving beauties be, 35
As men doe when the summers Sunne
Growes great,
Though I admire their greatnesse, shun their heat;
Each place can afford shadowes. If all faile,
'Tis but applying worme-seed to the Taile. 40
[Farewell to love. _1635-69_ (_following_ Soules joy: _p._
429), _O'F_, _S96_]
[4 Worship; _Ed:_ Worship, _1635-69_]
[10 sise, _1635-69_, _O'F:_ rise _S96_]
[23 pleasures? _Ed:_ pleasures, _1635-69_]
[26 This, _Ed:_ This; _1635-69_]
[27 sport; _Ed:_ sport, _1635-69_]
[29 to be, _Ed:_ to be _1635-69_]
[30 (Eagers desire) _Ed:_ Eager, desires _1635-69_. _See
note_]
[36 summers _1635-69:_ summer _1650-1669_]
_A Lecture upon the Shadow._
Stand still, and I will read to thee
A Lecture, Love, in loves philosophy.
These three houres that we have spent,
Walking here, Two shadowes went
Along with us, which we our selves produc'd; 5
But, now the Sunne is just above our head,
We doe those shadowes tread;
And to brave clearnesse all things are reduc'd.
So whilst our infant loves did grow,
Disguises did, and shadowes, flow, 10
From us, and our cares; but, now 'tis not so.
That love hath not attain'd the high'st degree,
Which is still diligent lest others see.
Except our loves at this noone stay,
We shall new shadowes make the other way. 15
As the first were made to blinde
Others; these which come behinde
Will worke upon our selves, and blind our eyes.
If our loves faint, and westwardly decline;
To me thou, falsly, thine, 20
And I to thee mine actions shall disguise.
The morning shadowes weare away,
But these grow longer all the day,
But oh, loves day is short, if love decay.
Love is a growing, or full constant light; 25
And his first minute, after noone, is night.
[A Lecture _&c._ _1650-69:_ Lecture _&c_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_,
_TCD:_ Song. _1635-39_ (_following_ Dear Love continue: _p._
412): The Shadowe. _O'F_, _P:_ Shadowe. _S96:_ Loves Lecture.
_S:_ Loves Lecture upon the Shaddow. _L74:_ Loves Philosophy.
_JC:_ _no title_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_]
[4 Walking _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _N_, _TC:_ In walking _B_,
_D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _S96_
here, _1719:_ here; _1635-39:_ here: _1650-69_]
[9 loves _1635-54_, _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _TC:_ love _1669_, _B_,
_D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S_]
[12 high'st] least _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_,
_S_, _S96_]
[14 loves _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _L74_, _N_, _TC:_ love _B_,
_D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_]
[19 If our loves faint _1635-69_, _A25_, _O'F_ (love), _P_,
_S96_ (love), _TC:_ If once love faint _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_JC_, _S_]
[26 first _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TC:_ short _1635-69_]
_Sonnet. The Token._
Send me some token, that my hope may live,
Or that my easelesse thoughts may sleep and rest;
Send me some honey to make sweet my hive,
That in my passion I may hope the best.
I beg noe ribbond wrought with thine owne hands, 5
To knit our loves in the fantastick straine
Of new-toucht youth; nor Ring to shew the stands
Of our affection, that as that's round and plaine,
So should our loves meet in simplicity;
No, nor the Coralls which thy wrist infold, 10
Lac'd up together in congruity,
To shew our thoughts should rest in the same hold;
No, nor thy picture, though most gracious,
And most desir'd, because best like the best;
Nor witty Lines, which are most copious, 15
Within the Writings which thou hast addrest.
Send me nor this, nor that, t'increase my store,
But swear thou thinkst I love thee, and no more.
[Sonnet. The Token. _1649-69_ (_following_ Vpon Mr. Thomas
Coryats Crudities. _at close of_ Epicedes): Ad Lesbiam. _S96_:
_no title_, _B_, _Cy_: Sonnet. _O'F_: Elegie. _P_]
[1 token _B_, _O'F_, _S96_: Tokens _1650-69_, _P_]
[4 passion _S96_: passions _1650-69_, _B_, _P_]
[5 noe _B_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96:_ nor _1650-69_]
[9 simplicity; _Ed:_ simplicity. _1650-69_]
[11 in _1650-69:_ with _B_, _O'F_, _S96_]
[12 hold; _Ed:_ hold. _1650-69_]
[14 desir'd because ... best; _B_, _O'F_, _S96:_ desired
'cause 'tis like thee best; _1650-54:_ desired 'cause 'tis
like the best; _1669_, _Chambers_]
[17 store, _B_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96:_ score, _1650-69_]
<_Selfe Love._>
He that cannot chuse but love,
And strives against it still,
Never shall my fancy move;
For he loves 'gaynst his will;
Nor he which is all his own, 5
And can att pleasure chuse,
When I am caught he can be gone,
And when he list refuse.
Nor he that loves none but faire,
For such by all are sought; 10
Nor he that can for foul ones care,
For his Judgement then is nought:
Nor he that hath wit, for he
Will make me his jest or slave;
Nor a fool, for when others..., 15
He can neither....
Nor he that still his Mistresse payes,
For she is thrall'd therefore:
Nor he that payes not, for he sayes
Within, shee's worth no more. 20
Is there then no kinde of men
Whom I may freely prove?
I will vent that humour then
In mine own selfe love.
[<Selfe Love.> _title given by Chambers:_ _no title, 1650-69_
(_in appendix_), _JC_, _O'F_]
[4 'gaynst _JC_, _O'F:_ against _1650-69_]
[6 And can ... chuse, _JC:_ And cannot pleasure chuse,
_1650-69:_ And can all pleasures chuse, _O'F_]
[11 foul ones] fouleness _O'F_]
[14 slave; _1719:_ slave _1650-69_]
[15 fool, _1719:_ fool _1650-69_]
[17 payes, _JC_, _O'F:_ prays, _1650-69_]
[19 payes not,] payes, not, _1650-69_]
[20 Within, _Ed:_ Within _1650-69_]
_The end of the Songs and Sonets._
* * * * *
EPIGRAMS.
_Hero_ and _Leander_.
Both rob'd of aire, we both lye in one ground,
Both whom one fire had burnt, one water drownd.
[Hero and Leander. _1633-69_, _A18_, _HN_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_,
_TCD_, _W_]
_Pyramus_ and _Thisbe_.
Two, by themselves, each other, love and feare
Slaine, cruell friends, by parting have joyn'd here.
[Pyramus and Thisbe. _1633-69_, _A18_, _Cy_, _HN_, _N_, _O'F_,
_TCC_, _TCD_, _W_]
[1: feare] feare, _Chambers, and Grolier_ (_which drops all
the other commas_)]
_Niobe._
By childrens births, and death, I am become
So dry, that I am now mine owne sad tombe.
[Niobe. _1633-69_, _A18_, _HN_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _W_]
[2: mine owne sad tombe. _1633-69:_ mine owne tombe. _A18_,
_N_, _TC:_ made mine owne tombe. _HN_, _W_]
_A burnt ship._
Out of a fired ship, which, by no way
But drowning, could be rescued from the flame,
Some men leap'd forth, and ever as they came
Neere the foes ships, did by their shot decay;
So all were lost, which in the ship were found,
They in the sea being burnt, they in the burnt ship drown'd.
[A burnt ship. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ Nave arsa.
_W:_ De Nave arsa. _O'F_. _See note_]
_Fall of a wall._
Vnder an undermin'd, and shot-bruis'd wall
A too-bold Captaine perish'd by the fall,
Whose brave misfortune, happiest men envi'd,
That had a towne for tombe, his bones to hide.
[Fall of a wall. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ Caso
d'un muro. _O'F_, _W_]
[4 towne _1633 and MSS.:_ towre _1635-69_
bones _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ corpse _B_, _HN_, _O'F_,
_W_]
_A lame begger._
I am unable, yonder begger cries,
To stand, or move; if he say true, hee _lies_.
[A lame begger. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ A beggar. _HN:_
_no title_, _P:_ Zoppo. _O'F_, _W_]
_Cales_ and _Guyana_.
If you from spoyle of th'old worlds farthest end
To the new world your kindled valors bend,
What brave examples then do prove it trew
That one things end doth still beginne a new.
[Cales and Guyana. _O'F:_ Calez _&c._ _W:_ _first printed in
Gosse's_ Life and Letters of John Donne (1899)]
_Sir Iohn Wingefield._
Beyond th'old Pillers many have travailed
Towards the Suns cradle, and his throne, and bed:
A fitter Piller our Earle did bestow
In that late Island; for he well did know
Farther then Wingefield no man dares to goe.
[Sir Iohn Wingefield. _Ed:_ Il Cavalliere Gio: Wingef: _W:_
On Cavallero Wingfield. _O'F:_ _first printed in Gosse's_ Life
and Letters of John Donne (1899)]
[2 throne _W:_ grave _O'F_]
[4 late _W:_ Lady _O'F_]
_A selfe accuser._
Your mistris, that you follow whores, still taxeth you:
'Tis strange that she should thus confesse it, though'it be true.
[A selfe accuser. _1633-69:_ A Mistrisse. _HN:_ _no title_,
_B_, _O'F_, _W_]
[2 that] _om._ _HN_, _O'F_, _W_
thus] _om._ _HN_, _O'F_, _W_
it] _om._ _HN_, _O'F_]
_A licentious person._
Thy sinnes and haires may no man equall call,
For, as thy sinnes increase, thy haires doe fall.
[A licentious person. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_
Whore. _HN:_ _no title_, _O'F_, _RP31_, _W_]
[1 Thy] His _and so throughout_, _RP31_]
_Antiquary._
If in his Studie he hath so much care
To'hang all old strange things, let his wife beware.
[Antiquary. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _P_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _W:_
Hammon. _HN:_ _no title_, _Bur_, _Cy_, _O'F:_ Epigram. _S96_]
[1 he hath so much _1633-69:_ he have such _A18_, _N_, _TC:_
Hamon hath such _B_, _Cy_, _HN_ (have), _O'F_, _S96_, _W_]
[2 strange _om._ _B_, _HN_, _O'F_ all _om. Bur_]
_Disinherited._
Thy father all from thee, by his last Will,
Gave to the poore; Thou hast good title still.
[Disinherited. _1633-69:_ One disinherited. _HN:_ _no title_,
_Cy_, _O'F_, _P_, _W_]
[1 Will, _Ed:_ Will _1633-69_]
_Phryne._
Thy flattering picture, _Phryne_, is like thee,
Onely in this, that you both painted be.
[Phryne. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no title_,
_O'F_]
[1 like thee,] like to thee, _1650-69_]
_An obscure writer._
_Philo_, with twelve yeares study, hath beene griev'd
To be understood; when will hee be beleev'd?
[An obscure writer. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no
title_, _O'F_]
[1 griev'd _Ed:_ griev'd, _1633-69_]
[2 To be _Ed:_ To'be _1633-69_
understood; _Ed:_ understood, _1633-69_
beleev'd?] beleev'd. _1633_]
_Klockius._
_Klockius_ so deeply hath sworne, ne'r more to come
In bawdie house, that hee dares not goe home.
[Klockius. _HN:_ _no title_, _1633-69_, _Bur_, _O'F_]
[1 _Klockius_] Rawlings _Bur_]
[2 In bawdie] In a bawdie _HN_]
_Raderus._
Why this man gelded _Martiall_ I muse,
Except himselfe alone his tricks would use,
As _Katherine_, for the Courts sake, put downe Stewes.
[Raderus. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCD:_ Randerus. _TCC:_
Martial: castrat_us_. _W_]
[1 _Martiall_ I muse, _1633-54:_ _Martiall_, I amuse, _1669_]
_Mercurius Gallo-Belgicus._
Like _Esops_ fellow-slaves, O _Mercury_,
Which could do all things, thy faith is; and I
Like _Esops_ selfe, which nothing; I confesse
I should have had more faith, if thou hadst lesse;
Thy credit lost thy credit: 'Tis sinne to doe,
In this case, as thou wouldst be done unto,
To beleeve all: Change thy name: thou art like
_Mercury_ in stealing, but lyest like a _Greeke_.
[Mercurius Gallo-Belgicus. _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _N_, _O'F_,
_S_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _W_]
[8 but lyest _1633-69:_ and lyest _B_, _W_]
_Ralphius._
Compassion in the world againe is bred:
_Ralphius_ is sick, the broker keeps his bed.
[Ralphius. _HN:_ _no title_, _1633-69_, _O'F_]
_The Lier._
Thou in the fields walkst out thy supping howers,
And yet thou swear'st thou hast supp'd like a king:
Like Nebuchadnezar perchance with grass and flowers,
A sallet worse then Spanish dieting.
[The Lier. _HN:_ _no title_, _B_, _Bur_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_,
_W_]
[2 swear'st _HN_, _W:_ say'st _B_, _Cy_, _O'F_]
[3 grass] hearbes _Bur_
supp'd like] supp'd and like _HN_]
ELEGIES.
ELEGIE I.
_Iealosie._
Fond woman, which would'st have thy husband die,
And yet complain'st of his great jealousie;
If swolne with poyson, hee lay in' his last bed,
His body with a sere-barke covered,
Drawing his breath, as thick and short, as can 5
The nimblest crocheting Musitian,
Ready with loathsome vomiting to spue
His Soule out of one hell, into a new,
Made deafe with his poore kindreds howling cries,
Begging with few feign'd teares, great legacies, 10
Thou would'st not weepe, but jolly,'and frolicke bee,
As a slave, which to morrow should be free;
Yet weep'st thou, when thou seest him hungerly
Swallow his owne death, hearts-bane jealousie.
O give him many thanks, he'is courteous, 15
That in suspecting kindly warneth us.
Wee must not, as wee us'd, flout openly,
In scoffing ridles, his deformitie;
Nor at his boord together being fatt,
With words, nor touch, scarce lookes adulterate. 20
Nor when he swolne, and pamper'd with great fare,
Sits downe, and snorts, cag'd in his basket chaire,
Must wee usurpe his owne bed any more,
Nor kisse and play in his house, as before.
Now I see many dangers; for that is 25
His realme, his castle, and his diocesse.
But if, as envious men, which would revile
Their Prince, or coyne his gold, themselves exile
Into another countrie,'and doe it there,
Wee play'in another house, what should we feare? 30
There we will scorne his houshold policies,
His seely plots, and pensionary spies,
As the inhabitants of Thames right side
Do Londons Major; or Germans, the Popes pride.
[Elegie I. Iealosie. _1635-54:_ Elegie I. _1633 and 1669:_
_no title or_ Elegie (_numbered variously, according to scheme
adopted_) _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _W_]
[1 woman,] woman _1633_]
[4 sere-barke _1633-54_, _B_, _Cy_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S_,
_W:_ sere-cloth _1669_, _D_, _P:_ sore barke _A18_, _A25_,
_JC_, _N_, _TC_]
[10 few] some few _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[12 free; _Ed:_ free, _1633-69:_ free. _D_]
[16 us. _1633-35:_ us, _1639-69_]
[21 great _1633-54_, _A18_, _A25_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _S_, _TC_, _W:_ high _1669_, _B_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96:_ his
_Cy_
fare, _Ed:_ fare _1633-69_]
[25 Now ... dangers;] Now do I see my danger; _1669_
that _all MSS.:_ it _1633-69_]
[26 diocesse] Diocys _D:_ Diocis _W_]
[27-29 (as envious ... do it there,) _1669_]
[30 another] anothers _1669_ We into some third place retired
were _B_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_]
[34 Major; _1650-54:_ Major, _1633-39:_ Mayor; _1669_]
ELEGIE II.
_The Anagram._
Marry, and love thy _Flavia_, for, shee
Hath all things, whereby others beautious bee,
For, though her eyes be small, her mouth is great,
Though they be Ivory, yet her teeth be jeat,
Though they be dimme, yet she is light enough, 5
And though her harsh haire fall, her skinne is rough;
What though her cheeks be yellow, her haire's red,
Give her thine, and she hath a maydenhead.
These things are beauties elements, where these
Meet in one, that one must, as perfect, please. 10
If red and white and each good quality
Be in thy wench, ne'r aske where it doth lye.
In buying things perfum'd, we aske; if there
Be muske and amber in it, but not where.
Though all her parts be not in th'usuall place, 15
She'hath yet an Anagram of a good face.
If we might put the letters but one way,
In the leane dearth of words, what could wee say?
When by the Gamut some Musitions make
A perfect song, others will undertake, 20
By the same Gamut chang'd, to equall it.
Things simply good, can never be unfit.
She's faire as any, if all be like her,
And if none bee, then she is singular.
All love is wonder; if wee justly doe 25
Account her wonderfull, why not lovely too?
Love built on beauty, soone as beauty, dies,
Chuse this face, chang'd by no deformities.
Women are all like Angels; the faire be
Like those which fell to worse; but such as shee, 30
Like to good Angels, nothing can impaire:
'Tis lesse griefe to be foule, then to have beene faire.
For one nights revels, silke and gold we chuse,
But, in long journeyes, cloth, and leather use.
Beauty is barren oft; best husbands say, 35
There is best land, where there is foulest way.
Oh what a soveraigne Plaister will shee bee,
If thy past sinnes have taught thee jealousie!
Here needs no spies, nor eunuches; her commit
Safe to thy foes; yea, to a Marmosit. 40
When Belgiaes citties, the round countries drowne,
That durty foulenesse guards, and armes the towne:
So doth her face guard her; and so, for thee,
Which, forc'd by businesse, absent oft must bee,
Shee, whose face, like clouds, turnes the day to night, 45
Who, mightier then the sea, makes Moores seem white,
Who, though seaven yeares, she in the Stews had laid,
A Nunnery durst receive, and thinke a maid,
And though in childbeds labour she did lie,
Midwifes would sweare, 'twere but a tympanie, 50
Whom, if shee accuse her selfe, I credit lesse
Then witches, which impossibles confesse,
Whom Dildoes, Bedstaves, and her Velvet Glasse
Would be as loath to touch as Joseph was:
One like none, and lik'd of none, fittest were, 55
For, things in fashion every man will weare.
[Eleg. II. The Anagram. _1635-54:_ Elegie II. _1633_, _1669:_
Elegie. (_numbered variously_) _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _M_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_,
_TCC_, _TCD_, _W_]
[4 they] theirs _1669_, _S96_
teeth be _1633-69_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec:_ teeth are _A18_,
_A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _L74_, _M_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TC_, _W_]
[6 hair fall] hair's foul _1669_
is rough _1633_, _1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_,
_JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _M_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TC_, _W:_ is tough
_1635-54_, _O'F_, _Chambers_]
[16 an Anagram] the Anagrams _1669_]
[18 the _1633:_ that _1635-69_
words _1633-69_, _A25_, _B_, _L74_, _M_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_,
_TC:_ letters _D_, _Cy_, _H49_, _W_]
[22 unfit. _D:_ unfit; _1633-69_]
[28 deformities.] deformities; _1633_]
[29 faire] fairer _S_, _S96_]
[35 say,] say, _1633_]
[37 bee,] bee _1633_]
[41-2 When Belgiaes ... towne: _1633-54:_ Like Belgia's cities
when the Country is drown'd, That ... towns; _1669:_ Like
Belgia's cities the round country drowns, That ... towns,
_Chambers:_ _MSS._ _agree with 1633-54_, _but before_
countries _read variously_ round (_A18_, _A25_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _M_, _N_, _P_, _TC_, _W_), lowe
(_B_), foul (_O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _which read_ country drowns
... towns)]
[49 childbeds _1633-54_, _Lec_, _W:_ childbirths _1669_,
_A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S_, _S96_, _TC_]
[52 confesse, _Ed:_ confesse. _1633-69_]
[53-4 Whom ... Joseph was: _1669 and all MSS_ [or a Velvet
_1669_]: _om._ _1633-54_]
ELEGIE III.
_Change._
Although thy hand and faith, and good workes too,
Have seal'd thy love which nothing should undoe,
Yea though thou fall backe, that apostasie
Confirme thy love; yet much, much I feare thee.
Women are like the Arts, forc'd unto none, 5
Open to'all searchers, unpriz'd, if unknowne.
If I have caught a bird, and let him flie,
Another fouler using these meanes, as I,
May catch the same bird; and, as these things bee,
Women are made for men, not him, nor mee. 10
Foxes and goats; all beasts change when they please,
Shall women, more hot, wily, wild then these,
Be bound to one man, and did Nature then
Idly make them apter to'endure then men?
They'are our clogges, not their owne; if a man bee 15
Chain'd to a galley, yet the galley'is free;
Who hath a plow-land, casts all his seed corne there,
And yet allowes his ground more corne should beare;
Though Danuby into the sea must flow,
The sea receives the Rhene, Volga, and Po. 20
By nature, which gave it, this liberty
Thou lov'st, but Oh! canst thou love it and mee?
Likenesse glues love: and if that thou so doe,
To make us like and love, must I change too?
More then thy hate, I hate'it, rather let mee 25
Allow her change, then change as oft as shee,
And soe not teach, but force my'opinion
To love not any one, nor every one.
To live in one land, is captivitie,
To runne all countries, a wild roguery; 30
Waters stincke soone, if in one place they bide,
And in the vast sea are more putrifi'd:
But when they kisse one banke, and leaving this
Never looke backe, but the next banke doe kisse,
Then are they purest; Change'is the nursery 35
Of musicke, joy, life, and eternity.
[Eleg. III. Change. _1635-54:_ Elegie III. _1633_, _1669:_
_no title or_ Elegye (_numbered variously_) _A18_, _A25_, _B_,
_Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_,
_S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _W_]
[1 workes] word _1669_]
[4 Confirme] Confirms _1669_, _A25_, _L74_, _P_]
[5 Women] Women, _1633_
forc'd unto none] forbid to none _B_]
[8 these _1633-54_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ those _1669_, _A18_,
_A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _TC_, _W_]
[11 Foxes and goats; all beasts _1633-54:_ Foxes, goats and
all beasts _1669_]
[13 did] bid _1669_]
[17 a plow-land] plow-lands _P_]
[18 corne] seed _P_]
[20 Rhene,] Rhine, _1669_
Po. _1633:_ Po, _1635-69_]
[21 liberty _1633:_ libertie. _1635-69_]
[23 and ... doe,] then if so thou do, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_,
_D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TC_,
_W_]
[24 like _i.e._ alike _as in A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[31 bide] abide _1669_]
[32 more putrifi'd _1633-39:_ more purifi'd _1650-54:_ worse
purifi'd _1669:_ worse putrifi'd _A18_, _A25_, _Cy_, _D_,
_L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_, _W:_ worst
putrifi'd _B_, _H49_, _JC_]
ELEGIE IV.
_The Perfume._
Once, and but once found in thy company,
All thy suppos'd escapes are laid on mee;
And as a thiefe at barre, is question'd there
By all the men, that have beene rob'd that yeare,
So am I, (by this traiterous meanes surpriz'd) 5
By thy Hydroptique father catechiz'd.
Though he had wont to search with glazed eyes,
As though he came to kill a Cockatrice,
Though hee hath oft sworne, that hee would remove
Thy beauties beautie, and food of our love, 10
Hope of his goods, if I with thee were seene,
Yet close and secret, as our soules, we'have beene.
Though thy immortall mother which doth lye
Still buried in her bed, yet will not dye,
Takes this advantage to sleepe out day-light, 15
And watch thy entries, and returnes all night,
And, when she takes thy hand, and would seeme kind,
Doth search what rings, and armelet
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