It is
included
among Donne's_ Elegies _in
A18, A25, B, Cy, D, H49, JC, L74, Lec, N, O'F, P, S, S96, TCC,
TCD, W.
A18, A25, B, Cy, D, H49, JC, L74, Lec, N, O'F, P, S, S96, TCC,
TCD, W.
Donne - 1
to thee] From other lands my soule towards
thee _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _M_(to), _N_,
_P_, _S_, _TC_, _W_
soare. _Ed:_ soare, _1635-69_]
[21 harshness] rashness _P_. _Compare_ Elegy V, 8]
[23 Faire Orithea] The fair Orithea _1669_]
[26 Lovers] friends _P_]
[28 mindes; _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _JC_, _N_, _TC_, _W:_ minde,
_1635-69_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_]
[29 onely; _A18_, _D_, _N_, _TC:_ onely. _1635-69_]
[35 Loves fuellers,] Lyves fuellers, _1669_, _B_, _D_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _S96_, _P_]
[37 Will quickly know thee, and no lesse, alas! _1635-54_,
_O'F:_ Will too too quickly know thee; and alas, _1669:_ Will
quickly know thee, and know thee, and alas _A18_, _N_, _S_
(_omitting second_ and), _TCD_, _W:_ Will quickly know thee,
and thee, and alas _A25:_ Will quickly know thee, and alas
_D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _P_, _S96_, _TCC_]
[39 Page, _Ed:_ Page _1635-39_]
[40 hunt _1635-69_, _O'F:_ haunt _most MSS. _]
[42 hydroptique] Aydroptique _1669_]
[46 greatest _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _P:_ greate _A18_, _A25_,
_D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _S_, _TC_
call] doe call _A18_, _N_, _TC_
to] in to _A25_, _JC_, _S_]
[49 me, nor blesse] me; Blesse _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _TC_, _W_]
ELEGIE XVII.
_Variety. _
The heavens rejoyce in motion, why should I
Abjure my so much lov'd variety,
And not with many youth and love divide?
Pleasure is none, if not diversifi'd:
The sun that sitting in the chaire of light 5
Sheds flame into what else so ever doth seem bright,
Is not contented at one Signe to Inne,
But ends his year and with a new beginnes.
All things doe willingly in change delight,
The fruitfull mother of our appetite: 10
Rivers the clearer and more pleasing are,
Where their fair spreading streames run wide and farr;
And a dead lake that no strange bark doth greet,
Corrupts it self and what doth live in it.
Let no man tell me such a one is faire, 15
And worthy all alone my love to share.
Nature in her hath done the liberall part
Of a kinde Mistresse, and imploy'd her art
To make her loveable, and I aver
Him not humane that would turn back from her: 20
I love her well, and would, if need were, dye
To doe her service. But followes it that I
Must serve her onely, when I may have choice
Of other beauties, and in change rejoice?
The law is hard, and shall not have my voice. 25
The last I saw in all extreames is faire,
And holds me in the Sun-beames of her haire;
Her nymph-like features such agreements have
That I could venture with her to the grave:
Another's brown, I like her not the worse, 30
Her tongue is soft and takes me with discourse.
Others, for that they well descended are,
Do in my love obtain as large a share;
And though they be not fair, 'tis much with mee
To win their love onely for their degree. 35
And though I faile of my required ends,
The attempt is glorious and it self commends.
How happy were our Syres in ancient times,
Who held plurality of loves no crime!
With them it was accounted charity 40
To stirre up race of all indifferently;
Kindreds were not exempted from the bands:
Which with the Persian still in usage stands.
Women were then no sooner asked then won,
And what they did was honest and well done. 45
But since this title honour hath been us'd,
Our weake credulity hath been abus'd;
The golden laws of nature are repeald,
Which our first Fathers in such reverence held;
Our liberty's revers'd, our Charter's gone, 50
And we're made servants to opinion,
A monster in no certain shape attir'd,
And whose originall is much desir'd,
Formlesse at first, but goeing on it fashions,
And doth prescribe manners and laws to nations. 55
Here love receiv'd immedicable harmes,
And was dispoiled of his daring armes.
A greater want then is his daring eyes,
He lost those awfull wings with which he flies;
His sinewy bow, and those immortall darts 60
Wherewith he'is wont to bruise resisting hearts.
Onely some few strong in themselves and free
Retain the seeds of antient liberty,
Following that part of Love although deprest,
And make a throne for him within their brest, 65
In spight of modern censures him avowing
Their Soveraigne, all service him allowing.
Amongst which troop although I am the least,
Yet equall in perfection with the best,
I glory in subjection of his hand, 70
Nor ever did decline his least command:
For in whatever forme the message came
My heart did open and receive the same.
But time will in his course a point discry
When I this loved service must deny, 75
For our allegiance temporary is,
With firmer age returnes our liberties.
What time in years and judgement we repos'd,
Shall not so easily be to change dispos'd,
Nor to the art of severall eyes obeying; 80
But beauty with true worth securely weighing,
Which being found assembled in some one,
Wee'l love her ever, and love her alone.
[Elegie XVII. Variety. _Ed: printed for first time without
title in appendix to 1650 and so in 1669 and 1719:_ An Elegie.
_A10:_ Elegie 17^{the}. _JC_]
[1 motion, why _Ed:_ motion why, _1650-69_]
[3 love divide? _MSS. :_ lov'd divide? _1650-69_]
[4 diversifi'd: _Ed:_ diversifi'd _1650-69_]
[6 what else so ever doth seem _1650-69:_ what else is not so
_A10_]
[12 fair-spreading _1650-69_, _JC:_ broad silver _A10_
and farr; _A10_, _JC:_ and cleare; _1650-69_]
[14 it self and _1650-69:_ it self, kills _A10_]
[16 And only worthy to be past compare; _A10_]
[19 aver] ever _1650-69_]
[20 would turn back from _1650-69:_ could not fancy _A10_]
[24 Of other beauties, and in change rejoice? _A10:_ _om.
1650-69_]
[25-36 _omitted in A10_]
[30 brown, _Ed:_ brown _1650-69_]
[32 are _JC:_ were _1650-69_]
[39 crime! _Ed:_ crime? _1650-69_]
[43 Persian _1650-54_, _JC:_ Persians _1669_, _A10_]
[46 title _A10_, _JC:_ little _1650-69_]
[50 liberty's _Ed:_ liberty _1650-69_, _JC_
revers'd, our _A10:_ revers'd and _1650-69_, _JC_]
[51 we're _A10:_ we _1650-69_, _JC_]
[53 whose originall _1650-69_, _JC:_ one whose origin _A10_]
[54 goeing on it fashions _A10:_ growing on it fashions _JC:_
growing on its fashions, _1650-69_]
[55 manners and laws to _1650-69_, _JC:_ Lawes, Manners unto
_A10_]
[57 armes. _A10:_ armes, _1650-69_]
[58 is _1650-69:_ of _A10_]
[61 bruise _1650-69_ wound _A10_
hearts. _Ed:_ hearts; _1650-69_]
[63 seeds of antient _1650-69_, _JC:_ seed of pristine _A10_]
[64 Love] love _1650-69_]
[70 of his _1650-69:_ under's _A10_]
[71 Nor . . . decline _1650-69:_ Never declining from _A10_]
[72-7 _omitted in A10_]
[73 same. _Ed:_ same: _1650-69:_ flame _JC_]
[75 deny, _Ed:_ deny. _1650-69_]
[79 dispos'd, _Ed:_ dispos'd _1650-69_]
[80 obeying; _Ed:_ obeying, _1650-69_]
[81 securely _1650-69:_ unpartially _A10_]
[82 being _1650-69:_ having _A10_
one, _Ed:_ one _1650-69_]
[83 Wee'l love her ever, _Ed:_ Wee'l leave her ever,
_1650-69_, _JC:_ Would love for ever, _A10_]
ELEGIE XVIII.
_Loves Progress. _
Who ever loves, if he do not propose
The right true end of love, he's one that goes
To sea for nothing but to make him sick:
Love is a bear-whelp born, if we o're lick
Our love, and force it new strange shapes to take, 5
We erre, and of a lump a monster make.
Were not a Calf a monster that were grown
Face'd like a man, though better then his own?
Perfection is in unitie: preferr
One woman first, and then one thing in her. 10
I, when I value gold, may think upon
The ductilness, the application,
The wholsomness, the ingenuitie,
From rust, from soil, from fire ever free:
But if I love it, 'tis because 'tis made 15
By our new nature (Use) the soul of trade.
All these in women we might think upon
(If women had them) and yet love but one.
Can men more injure women then to say
They love them for that, by which they're not they? 20
Makes virtue woman? must I cool my bloud
Till I both be, and find one wise and good?
May barren Angels love so. But if we
Make love to woman; virtue is not she:
As beauty'is not nor wealth: He that strayes thus 25
From her to hers, is more adulterous,
Then if he took her maid. Search every spheare
And firmament, our _Cupid_ is not there:
He's an infernal god and under ground,
With _Pluto_ dwells, where gold and fire abound: 30
Men to such Gods, their sacrificing Coles
Did not in Altars lay, but pits and holes.
Although we see Celestial bodies move
Above the earth, the earth we Till and love:
So we her ayres contemplate, words and heart, 35
And virtues; but we love the Centrique part.
Nor is the soul more worthy, or more fit
For love, then this, as infinite as it.
But in attaining this desired place
How much they erre; that set out at the face? 40
The hair a Forest is of Ambushes,
Of springes, snares, fetters and manacles:
The brow becalms us when 'tis smooth and plain,
And when 'tis wrinckled, shipwracks us again.
Smooth, 'tis a Paradice, where we would have 45
Immortal stay, and wrinkled 'tis our grave.
The Nose (like to the first Meridian) runs
Not 'twixt an East and West, but 'twixt two suns;
It leaves a Cheek, a rosie Hemisphere
On either side, and then directs us where 50
Upon the Islands fortunate we fall,
(Not faynte _Canaries_, but _Ambrosiall_)
Her swelling lips; To which when wee are come,
We anchor there, and think our selves at home,
For they seem all: there Syrens songs, and there 55
Wise Delphick Oracles do fill the ear;
There in a Creek where chosen pearls do swell,
The Remora, her cleaving tongue doth dwell.
These, and the glorious Promontory, her Chin
Ore past; and the streight _Hellespont_ betweene 60
The _Sestos_ and _Abydos_ of her breasts,
(Not of two Lovers, but two Loves the neasts)
Succeeds a boundless sea, but yet thine eye
Some Island moles may scattered there descry;
And Sailing towards her _India_, in that way 65
Shall at her fair Atlantick Navell stay;
Though thence the Current be thy Pilot made,
Yet ere thou be where thou wouldst be embay'd,
Thou shalt upon another Forest set,
Where many Shipwrack, and no further get. 70
When thou art there, consider what this chace
Mispent by thy beginning at the face.
Rather set out below; practice my Art,
Some Symetry the foot hath with that part
Which thou dost seek, and is thy Map for that 75
Lovely enough to stop, but not stay at:
Least subject to disguise and change it is;
Men say the Devil never can change his.
It is the Emblem that hath figured
Firmness; 'tis the first part that comes to bed. 80
Civilitie we see refin'd: the kiss
Which at the face began, transplanted is,
Since to the hand, since to the Imperial knee,
Now at the Papal foot delights to be:
If Kings think that the nearer way, and do 85
Rise from the foot, Lovers may do so too;
For as free Spheres move faster far then can
Birds, whom the air resists, so may that man
Which goes this empty and Ætherial way,
Then if at beauties elements he stay. 90
Rich Nature hath in women wisely made
Two purses, and their mouths aversely laid:
They then, which to the lower tribute owe,
That way which that Exchequer looks, must go:
He which doth not, his error is as great, 95
As who by Clyster gave the Stomack meat.
[Elegie XVIII. _&c. _ _Ed:_ Elegie XVIII. _1669, where it is
first included among the Elegies. It had already been printed
in_ Wit and Drollery. By Sir J. M. , J. S. , Sir W. D. , J. D. ,
and the most refined Wits of the Age. _1661. It appears in
A18, A25, B, Cy, D, H49, Lec, N, O'F, S, S96, TC, with title_
Loves Progress. , _or_ Elegie. on Loves Progresse. , _or with no
title_]
[4 Love is a _1669:_ And Love's a _MSS. _]
[5 strange _1661 and MSS. :_ strong _1669_]
[11 I,] I _1669_]
[14 ever _1669:_ for ever _O'F_, _S_, _S96_]
[16 (our new nature) use, _1661_]
[17 these _1669 and MSS. :_ this _1661_, _Cy_, _P_, _Chambers_]
[20 them] _om. 1661_]
[25 beauty'is not _1661 and MSS. :_ beauties no _1669_
thus] thus: _1669_]
[27 Then if he took] Then he that took _1661_, _B_ (takes),
_Cy_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_
spheare] sphear _1669_]
[30 abound: _Ed:_ abound, _1669_]
[32 in _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _TC:_ on _1669_,
_A25_
holes. ] holes: _1669_]
[38 infinite] infinit _1669_]
[40 erre _1661-69_, _S_, _S96:_ stray _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_,
_D_, _H49_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TC_]
[42 springes, _H49 and some MSS. :_ springs, _1669_]
[46 and _1661_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_,
_N_, _P_, _S96_, _TC:_ but _1669_
our _1661_, _MSS. :_ a _1669_]
[47 first Meridian _1661 and MSS. :_ sweet Meridian _1669_. ]
[52-3 (Not . . . Ambrosiall) . . . lips _&c. _ _1661 and MSS. _
(_not always with brackets and sometimes with_ No _for_ Not
_and_ Canary): Not . . . Ambrosiall. Unto her swelling lips when
we are come, _1669_]
[55 For they seem all: there _1669_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _S_, _TC:_ For they sing all their _1661_,
_Cy_, _P_]
[57 There _1661 and MSS. :_ Then _1669_
swell, _Ed:_ swell _1669_]
[58 Rhemora _1669_]
[59 the glorious Promontory,] _brackets and no comma, 1669_]
[60 Ore past; . . . betweene _1661 and MSS. :_ Being past the
Straits of _Hellespont_ between _1669_]
[62 Loves] loves _1669_]
[63 yet] that _D, H49, Lec, and other MSS. _]
[65 Sailing] Sailng _1669_]
[66 Navell] Naval _1669_]
[67 thence _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_,
_S_, _S96_, _TC:_ there _1661-9_, _N_(? ): hence _P_
thy _all MSS. :_ the _1661-9_]
[68 wouldst _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ shouldst _1669_]
[70 many _1669:_ some doe _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_]
[73 my _1669_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S_, _S96_, _TCD:_ thy _Chambers:_ thine _A18_, _TCC_]
[80 the] _bis 1669_]
[81-2 Civilitie, we see, refin'd the kisse Which at the face
begonne, transplanted is _D_, _H49_, _Lec_]
[83 Imperial] imperial _1669_]
[86 too;] too. _1669_]
[90 elements _1661 and MSS. :_ enemies _1669_]
[91 hath] _Chambers omits_]
[93 owe,] owe _1669_]
[96 Clyster gave _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _TC:_ glister
gives _1669_]
ELEGIE XIX.
_Going to Bed. _
Come, Madam, come, all rest my powers defie,
Until I labour, I in labour lie.
The foe oft-times having the foe in sight,
Is tir'd with standing though he never fight.
Off with that girdle, like heavens Zone glittering, 5
But a far fairer world incompassing.
Unpin that spangled breastplate which you wear,
That th'eyes of busie fooles may be stopt there.
Unlace your self, for that harmonious chyme,
Tells me from you, that now it is bed time. 10
Off with that happy busk, which I envie,
That still can be, and still can stand so nigh.
Your gown going off, such beautious state reveals,
As when from flowry meads th'hills shadow steales.
Off with that wyerie Coronet and shew 15
The haiery Diademe which on you doth grow:
Now off with those shooes, and then safely tread
In this loves hallow'd temple, this soft bed.
In such white robes, heaven's Angels us'd to be
Receavd by men; Thou Angel bringst with thee 20
A heaven like Mahomets Paradise; and though
Ill spirits walk in white, we easly know,
By this these Angels from an evil sprite,
Those set our hairs, but these our flesh uprigh
Licence my roaving hands, and let them go, 25
Before, behind, between, above, below.
O my America! my new-found-land,
My kingdome, safliest when with one man man'd,
My Myne of precious stones, My Emperie,
How blest am I in this discovering thee! 30
To enter in these bonds, is to be free;
Then where my hand is set, my seal shall be.
Full nakedness! All joyes are due to thee,
As souls unbodied, bodies uncloth'd must be,
To taste whole joyes. Gems which you women use 35
Are like Atlanta's balls, cast in mens views,
That when a fools eye lighteth on a Gem,
His earthly soul may covet theirs, not them.
Like pictures, or like books gay coverings made
For lay-men, are all women thus array'd; 40
Themselves are mystick books, which only wee
(Whom their imputed grace will dignifie)
Must see reveal'd. Then since that I may know;
As liberally, as to a Midwife, shew
Thy self: cast all, yea, this white lynnen hence, 45
There is no pennance due to innocence.
To teach thee, I am naked first; why than
What needst thou have more covering then a man.
[Elegie XIX. _&c. Ed: in 1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _W_
Appeared in 1669 edition after the Elegies, unnumbered but
with the heading_ To his Mistris going to Bed. _The MSS.
include it among the Elegies either with no heading, or
simply_ Elegye, _or numbered according to the scheme adopted:
B gives title which I have adopted as consistent with other
titles_]
[4 he _1669:_ they _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_TC_]
[5 glittering] glistering _MSS. _]
[8 That I may see my shrine that shines so fair. _Cy_, _P_]
[10 it is _1669:_ 'tis your _MSS. _]
[11 which] whom _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _S_, _TC_,
_W_]
[14 from _MSS. :_ through _1669_
shadow] shadows _1669_]
[16 Diademe . . . grow: _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_,
_L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TC:_ Diadem which on your
head doth grow: _1669:_ Diadems which on you do grow. _S_,
_Chambers_]
[17 Now . . . shooes, _1669_, _JC_, _W:_ Off . . . shoes _A18_,
_D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _TC:_ Off with those hose and shoes
_S_
safely _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_,
_W:_ softly _1669_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _P_]
[20 Receavd by men; Thou _all MSS. :_ Reveal'd to men; thou
_1669_]
[21 Paradise; _Ed:_ Paradice, _1669_]
[22 Ill _1669_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _S_,
_S96_, _TC_, _W:_ All _B, O'F, P, and Chambers' conjecture_
spirits _1669_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _S:_ angels
_O'F_, _S96_
white, _Ed:_ white; _1669_]
[26 below. _Ed:_ below, _1669_]
[28 kingdome, _MSS. :_ Kingdom's _1669_
safeliest _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _TC:_ safest, _1669_
man'd, _Ed:_ man'd. _1669_]
[29 stones, _Ed:_ stones: _1669_]
[30 How blest am I _all MSS. :_ How am I blest _1669_
this _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_,
_P_, _TC_, _W:_ thus _1669_, _A25_, _L74_, _S_
discovering] discovery _B_, _O'F_
thee! _Ed:_ thee? _1669_
be. ] be, _1669_]
[35 Gems] Jems _1669: and so_ 37]
[36 like _1669:_ as _MSS. _
balls, _MSS. :_ ball: _1669_]
[38 covet _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_,
_N_, _TC_, _W:_ court _1669_, _Cy_, _P_, _S_, _S96_
theirs, _A18_, _A25_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_,
_N_, _P_, _S96_, _TC_, _W:_ those _S:_ that, _1669_, _B_,
_O'F_
them. ] them: _1669_]
[39 pictures, _Ed:_ pictures _1669_
made _Ed:_ made, _1669_]
[40 lay-men, _Ed:_ lay-men _1669_
array'd; _Ed:_ arrayed _1669_]
[41 Themselves . . . only wee _A18_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_,
_L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_, _W:_
Themselves are only mystick books, which we, _1669_, _B_]
[43 see] be _A18_, _A25_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _TC_
reveal'd] revealed _1669_]
[44 a _all MSS. :_ thy _1669_
Midwife, _Ed:_ Midwife _1669_]
[45 hence, _Ed:_ hence _1669_]
[46 pennance due to innocence. _1669_, _B_, _Cy_, _JC_, _O'F_,
_P_, _S:_ pennance, much less innocence; _A18_, _A25_, _D_,
_H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _S96_, _W_]
[47 thee, _Ed:_ thee _1669_
first; _Ed:_ first, _1669_]
ELEGIE XX.
_Loves Warre. _
Till I have peace with thee, warr other men,
And when I have peace, can I leave thee then?
All other Warrs are scrupulous; Only thou
O fayr free Citty, maist thyselfe allowe
To any one: In Flanders, who can tell 5
Whether the Master presse; or men rebell?
Only we know, that which all Ideots say,
They beare most blows which come to part the fray.
France in her lunatique giddines did hate
Ever our men, yea and our God of late; 10
Yet she relyes upon our Angels well,
Which nere returne; no more then they which fell.
Sick Ireland is with a strange warr possest
Like to an Ague; now raging, now at rest;
Which time will cure: yet it must doe her good 15
If she were purg'd, and her head vayne let blood.
And Midas joyes our Spanish journeys give,
We touch all gold, but find no food to live.
And I should be in the hott parching clyme,
To dust and ashes turn'd before my time. 20
To mew me in a Ship, is to inthrall
Mee in a prison, that weare like to fall;
Or in a Cloyster; save that there men dwell
In a calme heaven, here in a swaggering hell.
Long voyages are long consumptions, 25
And ships are carts for executions.
Yea they are Deaths; Is't not all one to flye
Into an other World, as t'is to dye?
Here let mee warr; in these armes lett mee lye;
Here lett mee parlee, batter, bleede, and dye. 30
Thyne armes imprison me, and myne armes thee;
Thy hart thy ransome is; take myne for mee.
Other men war that they their rest may gayne;
But wee will rest that wee may fight agayne.
Those warrs the ignorant, these th'experienc'd love, 35
There wee are alwayes under, here above.
There Engins farr off breed a just true feare,
Neere thrusts, pikes, stabs, yea bullets hurt not here.
There lyes are wrongs; here safe uprightly lye;
There men kill men, we'will make one by and by. 40
Thou nothing; I not halfe so much shall do
In these Warrs, as they may which from us two
Shall spring. Thousands wee see which travaile not
To warrs; But stay swords, armes, and shott
To make at home; And shall not I do then 45
More glorious service, staying to make men?
[Elegy XX _&c. _ _Ed: First published in F. G. Waldron's_ A
Collection of Miscellaneous Poetry, 1802, _from a MS. dated
1625; then by Sir J. Simeon in his_ Philobiblon Society
_volume of 1856.
It is included among Donne's_ Elegies _in
A18, A25, B, Cy, D, H49, JC, L74, Lec, N, O'F, P, S, S96, TCC,
TCD, W. In B it has the title_ Making of Men. _The present
text is based on W_]
[7 all _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S_,
_S96_, _TC_, _W:_ most _JC_, _Chambers_]
[8 They beare most blows which (_or_ that) _A18_, _B_, _D_,
_H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_, _W:_ They must
bear blows, which _Chambers_]
[9 giddiness] guidings _Sim:_ giddinge _Wald_]
[11 well,] well _W_]
[13 a strange] straying _Sim_]
[16 head] dead _Sim_]
[19 the _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_,
_W:_ that _Chambers_, _A25_, _JC_, _L74_, _O'F_]
[24 swaggering] swaying _Chambers_]
[25 consumptions,] consumptions _W:_ _line omitted_, _Wald_]
[29 lye] _spelt_ ly
_W:_ _and so_ 30 dy]
[33 gayne;] gayne _W_]
[37 There] These _Sim_
and, that, with, which] _contracted throughout_, _W_]
HEROICALL EPISTLE.
_Sapho_ to _Philænis_.
Where is that holy fire, which _Verse_ is said
To have? is that inchanting force decai'd?
_Verse_ that drawes _Natures_ workes, from _Natures_ law,
Thee, her best worke, to her worke cannot draw.
Have my teares quench'd my old _Poetique_ fire; 5
Why quench'd they not as well, that of _desire_?
Thoughts, my mindes creatures, often are with thee,
But I, their maker, want their libertie.
Onely thine image, in my heart, doth sit,
But that is waxe, and fires environ it. 10
My fires have driven, thine have drawne it hence;
And I am rob'd of _Picture_, _Heart_, and _Sense_.
Dwells with me still mine irksome _Memory_,
Which, both to keepe, and lose, grieves equally.
That tells me'how faire thou art: Thou art so faire, 15
As, _gods_, when _gods_ to thee I doe compare,
Are grac'd thereby; And to make blinde men see,
What things _gods_ are, I say they'are like to thee.
For, if we justly call each silly _man_
A _litle world_, What shall we call thee than? 20
Thou art not soft, and cleare, and strait, and faire,
As _Down_, as _Stars_, _Cedars_, and _Lillies_ are,
But thy right hand, and cheek, and eye, only
Are like thy other hand, and cheek, and eye.
Such was my _Phao_ awhile, but shall be never, 25
As thou, wast, art, and, oh, maist be ever.
Here lovers sweare in their _Idolatrie_,
That I am such; but _Griefe_ discolors me.
And yet I grieve the lesse, least _Griefe_ remove
My beauty, and make me'unworthy of thy love. 30
Plaies some soft boy with thee, oh there wants yet
A mutuall feeling which should sweeten it.
His chinne, a thorny hairy unevennesse
Doth threaten, and some daily change possesse.
Thy body is a naturall _Paradise_, 35
In whose selfe, unmanur'd, all pleasure lies,
Nor needs _perfection_; why shouldst thou than
Admit the tillage of a harsh rough man?
Men leave behinde them that which their sin showes,
And are as theeves trac'd, which rob when it snows. 40
But of our dallyance no more signes there are,
Then _fishes_ leave in streames, or _Birds_ in aire.
And betweene us all sweetnesse may be had;
All, all that _Nature_ yields, or _Art_ can adde.
My two lips, eyes, thighs, differ from thy two, 45
But so, as thine from one another doe;
And, oh, no more; the likenesse being such,
Why should they not alike in all parts touch?
Hand to strange hand, lippe to lippe none denies;
Why should they brest to brest, or thighs to thighs? 50
Likenesse begets such strange selfe flatterie,
That touching my selfe, all seemes done to thee.
My selfe I embrace, and mine owne hands I kisse,
And amorously thanke my selfe for this.
Me, in my glasse, I call thee; But alas, 55
When I would kisse, teares dimme mine _eyes_, and _glasse_.
O cure this loving madnesse, and restore
Me to mee; thee, my _halfe_, my _all_, my _more_.
So may thy cheekes red outweare scarlet dye,
And their white, whitenesse of the _Galaxy_, 60
So may thy mighty, amazing beauty move
_Envy_'in all _women_, and in all _men_, _love_,
And so be _change_, and _sicknesse_, farre from thee,
As thou by comming neere, keep'st them from me.
[Heroicall Epistle. ] _In 1633_ Sapho to Philaenis _follows
Basse's_ Epitaph upon Shakespeare, _and precedes_ The
Annuntiation and Passion. _In 1635 it was placed with some
other miscellaneous and dubious poems among the_ Letters to
severall Personages, _where it has appeared in all subsequent
editions. I have transferred it to the neighbourhood of
the_ Elegies _and given it the title which seems to describe
exactly the genre to which it belongs. In JC it is entitled_
Elegie 18_th. _ _The other MSS. are A18, A25, O'F, N, P, TCC,
TCD. In A25, JC, and P, ll. 31-54 are omitted_]
[2 have? _1650-69:_ have, _1633-39_]
[3 workes, _1633-39:_ worke, _1650-69_, _O'F_]
[8 maker, _1635-69:_ maker; _1633_]
[17 thereby; And _1635-69:_ thereby. And _1633_, _some
copies_]
[22 As _Down_, _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ As dowves _P:_ As
downs _O'F_. _See note_
_Cedars_,] as Cedars, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_]
[26 maist be ever. _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _N_, _TC:_ maist thou
be ever. _1635-69_, _O'F:_ shalt be for ever. _P:_ mayst thou
be for ever. _JC_]
[33 thorny hairy _1633-69:_ thorney-hairy _TCD:_ thorny, hairy
_modern edd. _]
[40 are _Ed:_ are, _1633-69_]
[58 me to mee; thee, _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _JC_, _N_, _P_,
_TC_ (_generally_ mee, _in MSS. :_) me to mee; shee, _1633:_ me
to thee, thee _Chambers_
_halfe_,] harte _A25_, _JC_, _P_]
[59-60
So may thy cheekes outweare all scarlet dye
May blisse and thee be one eternallye _P:_ _om. JC_
]
[61 mighty, amazing _Ed:_ mighty amazing _1633-69:_ almighty
amazing _P_]
EPITHALAMIONS,
_OR_
MARRIAGE SONGS.
_An Epithalamion, Or mariage Song on the Lady_ Elizabeth, _and_ Count
Palatine _being married on St. _ Valentines _day. _
I.
Haile Bishop Valentine, whose day this is,
All the Aire is thy Diocis,
And all the chirping Choristers
And other birds are thy Parishioners,
Thou marryest every yeare 5
The Lirique Larke, and the grave whispering Dove,
The Sparrow that neglects his life for love,
The household Bird, with the red stomacher,
Thou mak'st the black bird speed as soone,
As doth the Goldfinch, or the Halcyon; 10
The husband cocke lookes out, and straight is sped,
And meets his wife, which brings her feather-bed.
This day more cheerfully then ever shine,
This day, which might enflame thy self, Old Valentine.
II.
Till now, Thou warmd'st with multiplying loves 15
Two larkes, two sparrowes, or two Doves,
All that is nothing unto this,
For thou this day couplest two Phœnixes;
Thou mak'st a Taper see
What the sunne never saw, and what the Arke 20
(Which was of soules, and beasts, the cage, and park,)
Did not containe, one bed containes, through Thee,
Two Phœnixes, whose joyned breasts
Are unto one another mutuall nests,
Where motion kindles such fires, as shall give 25
Yong Phœnixes, and yet the old shall live.
Whose love and courage never shall decline,
But make the whole year through, thy day, O Valentine.
III.
Up then faire Phœnix Bride, frustrate the Sunne,
Thy selfe from thine affection 30
Takest warmth enough, and from thine eye
All lesser birds will take their Jollitie.
Up, up, faire Bride, and call,
Thy starres, from out their severall boxes, take
Thy Rubies, Pearles, and Diamonds forth, and make 35
Thy selfe a constellation, of them All,
And by their blazing, signifie,
That a Great Princess falls, but doth not die;
Bee thou a new starre, that to us portends
Ends of much wonder; And be Thou those ends. 40
Since thou dost this day in new glory shine,
May all men date Records, from this thy Valentine.
IIII.
Come forth, come forth, and as one glorious flame
Meeting Another, growes the same,
So meet thy Fredericke, and so 45
To an unseparable union growe.
Since separation
Falls not on such things as are infinite,
Nor things which are but one, can disunite,
You'are twice inseparable, great, and one; 50
Goe then to where the Bishop staies,
To make you one, his way, which divers waies
Must be effected; and when all is past,
And that you'are one, by hearts and hands made fast,
You two have one way left, your selves to'entwine, 55
Besides this Bishops knot, or Bishop Valentine.
V.
But oh, what ailes the Sunne, that here he staies,
Longer to day, then other daies?
Staies he new light from these to get?
And finding here such store, is loth to set? 60
And why doe you two walke,
So slowly pac'd in this procession?
Is all your care but to be look'd upon,
And be to others spectacle, and talke?
The feast, with gluttonous delaies, 65
Is eaten, and too long their meat they praise,
The masquers come too late, and'I thinke, will stay,
Like Fairies, till the Cock crow them away.
Alas, did not Antiquity assigne
A night, as well as day, to thee, O Valentine? 70
VI.
They did, and night is come; and yet wee see
Formalities retarding thee.
What meane these Ladies, which (as though
They were to take a clock in peeces,) goe
So nicely about the Bride; 75
A Bride, before a good night could be said,
Should vanish from her cloathes, into her bed,
As Soules from bodies steale, and are not spy'd.
But now she is laid; What though shee bee?
Yet there are more delayes, For, where is he? 80
He comes, and passes through Spheare after Spheare,
First her sheetes, then her Armes, then any where.
Let not this day, then, but this night be thine,
Thy day was but the eve to this, O Valentine.
VII.
Here lyes a shee Sunne, and a hee Moone here, 85
She gives the best light to his Spheare,
Or each is both, and all, and so
They unto one another nothing owe,
And yet they doe, but are
So just and rich in that coyne which they pay, 90
That neither would, nor needs forbeare, nor stay;
Neither desires to be spar'd, nor to spare,
They quickly pay their debt, and then
Take no acquittances, but pay again;
They pay, they give, they lend, and so let fall 95
No such occasion to be liberall.
More truth, more courage in these two do shine,
Then all thy turtles have, and sparrows, Valentine.
VIII.
And by this act of these two Phenixes
Nature againe restored is, 100
For since these two are two no more,
Ther's but one Phenix still, as was before.
Rest now at last, and wee
As Satyres watch the Sunnes uprise, will stay
Waiting, when your eyes opened, let out day, 105
Onely desir'd, because your face wee see;
Others neare you shall whispering speake,
And wagers lay, at which side day will breake,
And win by'observing, then, whose hand it is
That opens first a curtaine, hers or his; 110
This will be tryed to morrow after nine,
Till which houre, wee thy day enlarge, O Valentine.
[Epithalamions, _&c. _ _1635-69:_ _no general title_, _1633_.
An Epithalamion, _&c. _ _1633-69_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _D_, _H49_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD_ (_most of the MSS. have
the full title but with slight verbal variations_)]
[13 shine, _Ed:_ shine. _1633-69_]
[14 enflame] enflãe _1633_]
[18 Phœnixes; _Ed:_ Phœnixes, _1633:_ Phœnixes.
_1635-69_]
[21 foules, _1633:_ fowle, _1635-69_]
[22 Thee, _1633_, _1650-69:_ Thee: _1635-39_]
[37 their blazing _1633-69_, _D_, _Lec:_ this blazing _A25_,
_B_, _H49_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_ (_altered to_ their), _P_, _TCD_]
[40 ends. _1635-69:_ ends, _1633_]
[42 this thy _1633-54_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_,
_P_, _S96_, _TCD:_ this day _1669_, _A25_, _JC_, _Chambers_]
[46 growe. _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S96_, _TCD:_ goe, _1633-69_, _Lec_]
[49 disunite, _Grolier:_ disunite. _1633-69 and Chambers_]
[56 Bishops knot, or Bishop Valentine. _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_ (our), _S96_, _TC_ Bishops
knot, O Bishop Valentine. _1633-54:_ Bishops knot of Bishop
Valentine. _1669:_ Bishops knot, of Bishop Valentine.
_Chambers_]
[60 store, _1633_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_,
_P_, _S96_, _TCD:_
starres, _1635-69_, _O'F_, _Chambers_]
[67 come too late, _1633:_ come late, _1635-69_]
[70 O Valentine? _1633-54_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_ old Valentine? _1669_]
[81 passes _1633-39:_ passeth _1650-69_
Spheare, _Ed:_ Spheare. _1633:_ Spheare: _1635-69_]
[82 where. _1650-69:_ where, _1633-39_]
[85 here, _1633-39_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_,
_TCD:_
there, _1650-69_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_]
[91 stay;] stay, _1633_]
[92 spare, _1633-54:_ spare. _1669_]
[94 acquittances, _1635-69:_ acquittance, _1633_]
[96 such] _om. _ _1669_]
[104 As . . . uprise,] _brackets 1650-69_]
[105 day,] day. _1633_]
ECCLOGUE.
1613. _December_ 26.
Allophanes _finding_ Idios _in the country in Christmas
time, reprehends his absence from court, at the mariage
Of the Earle of Sommerset_, Idios _gives an account of
his purpose therein, and of his absence thence_.
_Allophanes. _
Vnseasonable man, statue of ice,
What could to countries solitude entice
Thee, in this yeares cold and decrepit time?
Natures instinct drawes to the warmer clime
Even small birds, who by that courage dare, 5
In numerous fleets, saile through their Sea, the aire.
What delicacie can in fields appeare,
Whil'st Flora'herselfe doth a freeze jerkin weare?
Whil'st windes do all the trees and hedges strip
Of leafes, to furnish roddes enough to whip 10
Thy madnesse from thee; and all springs by frost
Have taken cold, and their sweet murmure lost;
If thou thy faults or fortunes would'st lament
With just solemnity, do it in Lent;
At Court the spring already advanced is, 15
The Sunne stayes longer up; and yet not his
The glory is, farre other, other fires.
First, zeale to Prince and State; then loves desires
Burne in one brest, and like heavens two great lights,
The first doth governe dayes, the other nights. 20
And then that early light, which did appeare
Before the Sunne and Moone created were,
The Princes favour is defus'd o'r all,
From which all Fortunes, Names, and Natures fall;
Then from those wombes of starres, the Brides bright eyes, 25
At every glance, a constellation flyes,
And sowes the Court with starres, and doth prevent
In light and power, the all-ey'd firmament;
First her eyes kindle other Ladies eyes,
Then from their beames their jewels lusters rise, 30
And from their jewels torches do take fire,
And all is warmth, and light, and good desire;
Most other Courts, alas, are like to hell,
Where in darke plotts, fire without light doth dwell:
Or but like Stoves, for lust and envy get 35
Continuall, but artificiall heat;
Here zeale and love growne one, all clouds disgest,
And make our Court an everlasting East.
And can'st thou be from thence?
_Idios. _ No, I am there.
As heaven, to men dispos'd, is every where, 40
So are those Courts, whose Princes animate,
Not onely all their house, but all their State.
Let no man thinke, because he is full, he hath all,
Kings (as their patterne, God) are liberall
Not onely in fulnesse, but capacitie, 45
Enlarging narrow men, to feele and see,
And comprehend the blessings they bestow.
So, reclus'd hermits often times do know
More of heavens glory, then a worldling can.
As man is of the world, the heart of man, 50
Is an epitome of Gods great booke
Of creatures, and man need no farther looke;
So is the Country of Courts, where sweet peace doth,
As their one common soule, give life to both,
I am not then from Court.
_Allophanes. _
Dreamer, thou art. 55
Think'st thou fantastique that thou hast a part
In the East-Indian fleet, because thou hast
A little spice, or Amber in thy taste?
Because thou art not frozen, art thou warme?
Seest thou all good because thou seest no harme? 60
The earth doth in her inward bowels hold
Stuffe well dispos'd, and which would faine be gold,
But never shall, except it chance to lye,
So upward, that heaven gild it with his eye;
As, for divine things, faith comes from above, 65
So, for best civill use, all tinctures move
From higher powers; From God religion springs,
Wisdome, and honour from the use of Kings.
Then unbeguile thy selfe, and know with mee,
That Angels, though on earth employd they bee, 70
Are still in heav'n, so is hee still at home
That doth, abroad, to honest actions come.
Chide thy selfe then, O foole, which yesterday
Might'st have read more then all thy books bewray;
Hast thou a history, which doth present 75
A Court, where all affections do assent
Unto the Kings, and that, that Kings are just?
And where it is no levity to trust?
Where there is no ambition, but to'obey,
Where men need whisper nothing, and yet may; 80
Where the Kings favours are so plac'd, that all
Finde that the King therein is liberall
To them, in him, because his favours bend
To vertue, to the which they all pretend?
Thou hast no such; yet here was this, and more, 85
An earnest lover, wise then, and before.
Our little Cupid hath sued Livery,
And is no more in his minority,
Hee is admitted now into that brest
Where the Kings Counsells and his secrets rest. 90
What hast thou lost, O ignorant man?
_Idios. _
I knew
All this, and onely therefore I withdrew.
To know and feele all this, and not to have
Words to expresse it, makes a man a grave
Of his owne thoughts; I would not therefore stay 95
At a great feast, having no Grace to say.
And yet I scap'd not here; for being come
Full of the common joy, I utter'd some;
Reade then this nuptiall song, which was not made
Either the Court or mens hearts to invade, 100
But since I'am dead, and buried, I could frame
No Epitaph, which might advance my fame
So much as this poore song, which testifies
I did unto that day some sacrifice.
EPITHALAMION.
I.
_The time of the Mariage_.
Thou art repriv'd old yeare, thou shalt not die, 105
Though thou upon thy death bed lye,
And should'st within five dayes expire,
Yet thou art rescu'd by a mightier fire,
Then thy old Soule, the Sunne,
When he doth in his largest circle runne. 110
The passage of the West or East would thaw,
And open wide their easie liquid jawe
To all our ships, could a Promethean art
Either unto the Northerne Pole impart
The fire of these inflaming eyes, or of this loving heart. 115
II.
_Equality of persons_.
But undiscerning Muse, which heart, which eyes,
In this new couple, dost thou prize,
When his eye as inflaming is
As hers, and her heart loves as well as his?
Be tryed by beauty, and than 120
The bridegroome is a maid, and not a man.
If by that manly courage they be tryed,
Which scornes unjust opinion; then the bride
Becomes a man. Should chance or envies Art
Divide these two, whom nature scarce did part? 125
Since both have both th'enflaming eyes, and both the loving heart.
III.
_Raysing of the Bridegroome_.
Though it be some divorce to thinke of you
Singly, so much one are you two,
Yet let me here contemplate thee,
First, cheerfull Bridegroome, and first let mee see, 130
How thou prevent'st the Sunne,
And his red foming horses dost outrunne,
How, having laid downe in thy Soveraignes brest
All businesses, from thence to reinvest
Them, when these triumphs cease, thou forward art 135
To shew to her, who doth the like impart,
The fire of thy inflaming eyes, and of thy loving heart.
IIII.
_Raising of the Bride. _
But now, to Thee, faire Bride, it is some wrong,
To thinke thou wert in Bed so long,
Since Soone thou lyest downe first, tis fit 140
Thou in first rising should'st allow for it.
Pouder thy Radiant haire,
Which if without such ashes thou would'st weare,
Thou, which to all which come to looke upon,
Art meant for Phœbus, would'st be Phaëton. 145
For our ease, give thine eyes th'unusual part
Of joy, a Teare; so quencht, thou maist impart,
To us that come, thy inflaming eyes, to him, thy loving heart.
V.
_Her Apparrelling. _
Thus thou descend'st to our infirmitie,
Who can the Sun in water see. 150
Soe dost thou, when in silke and gold,
Thou cloudst thy selfe; since wee which doe behold,
Are dust, and wormes, 'tis just
Our objects be the fruits of wormes and dust;
Let every Jewell be a glorious starre, 155
Yet starres are not so pure, as their spheares are.
And though thou stoope, to'appeare to us in part,
Still in that Picture thou intirely art,
Which thy inflaming eyes have made within his loving heart.
VI.
_Going to the Chappell. _
Now from your Easts you issue forth, and wee, 160
As men which through a Cipres see
The rising sun, doe thinke it two,
Soe, as you goe to Church, doe thinke of you,
But that vaile being gone,
By the Church rites you are from thenceforth one. 165
The Church Triumphant made this match before,
And now the Militant doth strive no more;
Then, reverend Priest, who Gods Recorder art,
Doe, from his Dictates, to these two impart
All blessings, which are seene, or thought, by Angels eye
or heart. 170
VII.
_The Benediction. _
Blest payre of Swans, Oh may you interbring
Daily new joyes, and never sing,
Live, till all grounds of wishes faile,
Till honor, yea till wisedome grow so stale,
That, new great heights to trie, 175
It must serve your ambition, to die;
Raise heires, and may here, to the worlds end, live
Heires from this King, to take thankes, you, to give,
Nature and grace doe all, and nothing Art.
May never age, or error overthwart 180
With any West, these radiant eyes, with any North, this heart.
VIII.
_Feasts and Revells. _
But you are over-blest. Plenty this day
Injures; it causeth time to stay;
The tables groane, as though this feast
Would, as the flood, destroy all fowle and beast. 185
And were the doctrine new
That the earth mov'd, this day would make it true;
For every part to dance and revell goes.
They tread the ayre, and fal not where they rose.
Though six houres since, the Sunne to bed did part, 190
The masks and banquets will not yet impart
A sunset to these weary eyes, A Center to this heart.
IX.
_The Brides going to bed. _
What mean'st thou Bride, this companie to keep?
To sit up, till thou faine wouldst sleep?
Thou maist not, when thou art laid, doe so. 195
Thy selfe must to him a new banquet grow,
And you must entertaine
And doe all this daies dances o'r againe.
Know that if Sun and Moone together doe
Rise in one point, they doe not set so too; 200
Therefore thou maist, faire Bride, to bed depart,
Thou art not gone, being gone; where e'r thou art,
Thou leav'st in him thy watchfull eyes, in him thy loving heart.
X.
_The Bridegroomes comming. _
As he that sees a starre fall, runs apace,
And findes a gellie in the place, 205
So doth the Bridegroome hast as much,
Being told this starre is falne, and findes her such.
And as friends may looke strange,
By a new fashion, or apparrells change,
Their soules, though long acquainted they had beene, 210
These clothes, their bodies, never yet had seene;
Therefore at first shee modestly might start,
But must forthwith surrender every part,
As freely, as each to each before, gave either eye or heart.
XI.
_The good-night. _
Now, as in Tullias tombe, one lampe burnt cleare, 215
Unchang'd for fifteene hundred yeare,
May these love-lamps we here enshrine,
In warmth, light, lasting, equall the divine.
Fire ever doth aspire,
And makes all like it selfe, turnes all to fire, 220
But ends in ashes, which these cannot doe,
For none of these is fuell, but fire too.
This is joyes bonfire, then, where loves strong Arts
Make of so noble individuall parts
One fire of foure inflaming eyes, and of two loving hearts. 225
_Idios.
thee _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _M_(to), _N_,
_P_, _S_, _TC_, _W_
soare. _Ed:_ soare, _1635-69_]
[21 harshness] rashness _P_. _Compare_ Elegy V, 8]
[23 Faire Orithea] The fair Orithea _1669_]
[26 Lovers] friends _P_]
[28 mindes; _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _JC_, _N_, _TC_, _W:_ minde,
_1635-69_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_]
[29 onely; _A18_, _D_, _N_, _TC:_ onely. _1635-69_]
[35 Loves fuellers,] Lyves fuellers, _1669_, _B_, _D_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _S96_, _P_]
[37 Will quickly know thee, and no lesse, alas! _1635-54_,
_O'F:_ Will too too quickly know thee; and alas, _1669:_ Will
quickly know thee, and know thee, and alas _A18_, _N_, _S_
(_omitting second_ and), _TCD_, _W:_ Will quickly know thee,
and thee, and alas _A25:_ Will quickly know thee, and alas
_D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _P_, _S96_, _TCC_]
[39 Page, _Ed:_ Page _1635-39_]
[40 hunt _1635-69_, _O'F:_ haunt _most MSS. _]
[42 hydroptique] Aydroptique _1669_]
[46 greatest _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _P:_ greate _A18_, _A25_,
_D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _S_, _TC_
call] doe call _A18_, _N_, _TC_
to] in to _A25_, _JC_, _S_]
[49 me, nor blesse] me; Blesse _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _TC_, _W_]
ELEGIE XVII.
_Variety. _
The heavens rejoyce in motion, why should I
Abjure my so much lov'd variety,
And not with many youth and love divide?
Pleasure is none, if not diversifi'd:
The sun that sitting in the chaire of light 5
Sheds flame into what else so ever doth seem bright,
Is not contented at one Signe to Inne,
But ends his year and with a new beginnes.
All things doe willingly in change delight,
The fruitfull mother of our appetite: 10
Rivers the clearer and more pleasing are,
Where their fair spreading streames run wide and farr;
And a dead lake that no strange bark doth greet,
Corrupts it self and what doth live in it.
Let no man tell me such a one is faire, 15
And worthy all alone my love to share.
Nature in her hath done the liberall part
Of a kinde Mistresse, and imploy'd her art
To make her loveable, and I aver
Him not humane that would turn back from her: 20
I love her well, and would, if need were, dye
To doe her service. But followes it that I
Must serve her onely, when I may have choice
Of other beauties, and in change rejoice?
The law is hard, and shall not have my voice. 25
The last I saw in all extreames is faire,
And holds me in the Sun-beames of her haire;
Her nymph-like features such agreements have
That I could venture with her to the grave:
Another's brown, I like her not the worse, 30
Her tongue is soft and takes me with discourse.
Others, for that they well descended are,
Do in my love obtain as large a share;
And though they be not fair, 'tis much with mee
To win their love onely for their degree. 35
And though I faile of my required ends,
The attempt is glorious and it self commends.
How happy were our Syres in ancient times,
Who held plurality of loves no crime!
With them it was accounted charity 40
To stirre up race of all indifferently;
Kindreds were not exempted from the bands:
Which with the Persian still in usage stands.
Women were then no sooner asked then won,
And what they did was honest and well done. 45
But since this title honour hath been us'd,
Our weake credulity hath been abus'd;
The golden laws of nature are repeald,
Which our first Fathers in such reverence held;
Our liberty's revers'd, our Charter's gone, 50
And we're made servants to opinion,
A monster in no certain shape attir'd,
And whose originall is much desir'd,
Formlesse at first, but goeing on it fashions,
And doth prescribe manners and laws to nations. 55
Here love receiv'd immedicable harmes,
And was dispoiled of his daring armes.
A greater want then is his daring eyes,
He lost those awfull wings with which he flies;
His sinewy bow, and those immortall darts 60
Wherewith he'is wont to bruise resisting hearts.
Onely some few strong in themselves and free
Retain the seeds of antient liberty,
Following that part of Love although deprest,
And make a throne for him within their brest, 65
In spight of modern censures him avowing
Their Soveraigne, all service him allowing.
Amongst which troop although I am the least,
Yet equall in perfection with the best,
I glory in subjection of his hand, 70
Nor ever did decline his least command:
For in whatever forme the message came
My heart did open and receive the same.
But time will in his course a point discry
When I this loved service must deny, 75
For our allegiance temporary is,
With firmer age returnes our liberties.
What time in years and judgement we repos'd,
Shall not so easily be to change dispos'd,
Nor to the art of severall eyes obeying; 80
But beauty with true worth securely weighing,
Which being found assembled in some one,
Wee'l love her ever, and love her alone.
[Elegie XVII. Variety. _Ed: printed for first time without
title in appendix to 1650 and so in 1669 and 1719:_ An Elegie.
_A10:_ Elegie 17^{the}. _JC_]
[1 motion, why _Ed:_ motion why, _1650-69_]
[3 love divide? _MSS. :_ lov'd divide? _1650-69_]
[4 diversifi'd: _Ed:_ diversifi'd _1650-69_]
[6 what else so ever doth seem _1650-69:_ what else is not so
_A10_]
[12 fair-spreading _1650-69_, _JC:_ broad silver _A10_
and farr; _A10_, _JC:_ and cleare; _1650-69_]
[14 it self and _1650-69:_ it self, kills _A10_]
[16 And only worthy to be past compare; _A10_]
[19 aver] ever _1650-69_]
[20 would turn back from _1650-69:_ could not fancy _A10_]
[24 Of other beauties, and in change rejoice? _A10:_ _om.
1650-69_]
[25-36 _omitted in A10_]
[30 brown, _Ed:_ brown _1650-69_]
[32 are _JC:_ were _1650-69_]
[39 crime! _Ed:_ crime? _1650-69_]
[43 Persian _1650-54_, _JC:_ Persians _1669_, _A10_]
[46 title _A10_, _JC:_ little _1650-69_]
[50 liberty's _Ed:_ liberty _1650-69_, _JC_
revers'd, our _A10:_ revers'd and _1650-69_, _JC_]
[51 we're _A10:_ we _1650-69_, _JC_]
[53 whose originall _1650-69_, _JC:_ one whose origin _A10_]
[54 goeing on it fashions _A10:_ growing on it fashions _JC:_
growing on its fashions, _1650-69_]
[55 manners and laws to _1650-69_, _JC:_ Lawes, Manners unto
_A10_]
[57 armes. _A10:_ armes, _1650-69_]
[58 is _1650-69:_ of _A10_]
[61 bruise _1650-69_ wound _A10_
hearts. _Ed:_ hearts; _1650-69_]
[63 seeds of antient _1650-69_, _JC:_ seed of pristine _A10_]
[64 Love] love _1650-69_]
[70 of his _1650-69:_ under's _A10_]
[71 Nor . . . decline _1650-69:_ Never declining from _A10_]
[72-7 _omitted in A10_]
[73 same. _Ed:_ same: _1650-69:_ flame _JC_]
[75 deny, _Ed:_ deny. _1650-69_]
[79 dispos'd, _Ed:_ dispos'd _1650-69_]
[80 obeying; _Ed:_ obeying, _1650-69_]
[81 securely _1650-69:_ unpartially _A10_]
[82 being _1650-69:_ having _A10_
one, _Ed:_ one _1650-69_]
[83 Wee'l love her ever, _Ed:_ Wee'l leave her ever,
_1650-69_, _JC:_ Would love for ever, _A10_]
ELEGIE XVIII.
_Loves Progress. _
Who ever loves, if he do not propose
The right true end of love, he's one that goes
To sea for nothing but to make him sick:
Love is a bear-whelp born, if we o're lick
Our love, and force it new strange shapes to take, 5
We erre, and of a lump a monster make.
Were not a Calf a monster that were grown
Face'd like a man, though better then his own?
Perfection is in unitie: preferr
One woman first, and then one thing in her. 10
I, when I value gold, may think upon
The ductilness, the application,
The wholsomness, the ingenuitie,
From rust, from soil, from fire ever free:
But if I love it, 'tis because 'tis made 15
By our new nature (Use) the soul of trade.
All these in women we might think upon
(If women had them) and yet love but one.
Can men more injure women then to say
They love them for that, by which they're not they? 20
Makes virtue woman? must I cool my bloud
Till I both be, and find one wise and good?
May barren Angels love so. But if we
Make love to woman; virtue is not she:
As beauty'is not nor wealth: He that strayes thus 25
From her to hers, is more adulterous,
Then if he took her maid. Search every spheare
And firmament, our _Cupid_ is not there:
He's an infernal god and under ground,
With _Pluto_ dwells, where gold and fire abound: 30
Men to such Gods, their sacrificing Coles
Did not in Altars lay, but pits and holes.
Although we see Celestial bodies move
Above the earth, the earth we Till and love:
So we her ayres contemplate, words and heart, 35
And virtues; but we love the Centrique part.
Nor is the soul more worthy, or more fit
For love, then this, as infinite as it.
But in attaining this desired place
How much they erre; that set out at the face? 40
The hair a Forest is of Ambushes,
Of springes, snares, fetters and manacles:
The brow becalms us when 'tis smooth and plain,
And when 'tis wrinckled, shipwracks us again.
Smooth, 'tis a Paradice, where we would have 45
Immortal stay, and wrinkled 'tis our grave.
The Nose (like to the first Meridian) runs
Not 'twixt an East and West, but 'twixt two suns;
It leaves a Cheek, a rosie Hemisphere
On either side, and then directs us where 50
Upon the Islands fortunate we fall,
(Not faynte _Canaries_, but _Ambrosiall_)
Her swelling lips; To which when wee are come,
We anchor there, and think our selves at home,
For they seem all: there Syrens songs, and there 55
Wise Delphick Oracles do fill the ear;
There in a Creek where chosen pearls do swell,
The Remora, her cleaving tongue doth dwell.
These, and the glorious Promontory, her Chin
Ore past; and the streight _Hellespont_ betweene 60
The _Sestos_ and _Abydos_ of her breasts,
(Not of two Lovers, but two Loves the neasts)
Succeeds a boundless sea, but yet thine eye
Some Island moles may scattered there descry;
And Sailing towards her _India_, in that way 65
Shall at her fair Atlantick Navell stay;
Though thence the Current be thy Pilot made,
Yet ere thou be where thou wouldst be embay'd,
Thou shalt upon another Forest set,
Where many Shipwrack, and no further get. 70
When thou art there, consider what this chace
Mispent by thy beginning at the face.
Rather set out below; practice my Art,
Some Symetry the foot hath with that part
Which thou dost seek, and is thy Map for that 75
Lovely enough to stop, but not stay at:
Least subject to disguise and change it is;
Men say the Devil never can change his.
It is the Emblem that hath figured
Firmness; 'tis the first part that comes to bed. 80
Civilitie we see refin'd: the kiss
Which at the face began, transplanted is,
Since to the hand, since to the Imperial knee,
Now at the Papal foot delights to be:
If Kings think that the nearer way, and do 85
Rise from the foot, Lovers may do so too;
For as free Spheres move faster far then can
Birds, whom the air resists, so may that man
Which goes this empty and Ætherial way,
Then if at beauties elements he stay. 90
Rich Nature hath in women wisely made
Two purses, and their mouths aversely laid:
They then, which to the lower tribute owe,
That way which that Exchequer looks, must go:
He which doth not, his error is as great, 95
As who by Clyster gave the Stomack meat.
[Elegie XVIII. _&c. _ _Ed:_ Elegie XVIII. _1669, where it is
first included among the Elegies. It had already been printed
in_ Wit and Drollery. By Sir J. M. , J. S. , Sir W. D. , J. D. ,
and the most refined Wits of the Age. _1661. It appears in
A18, A25, B, Cy, D, H49, Lec, N, O'F, S, S96, TC, with title_
Loves Progress. , _or_ Elegie. on Loves Progresse. , _or with no
title_]
[4 Love is a _1669:_ And Love's a _MSS. _]
[5 strange _1661 and MSS. :_ strong _1669_]
[11 I,] I _1669_]
[14 ever _1669:_ for ever _O'F_, _S_, _S96_]
[16 (our new nature) use, _1661_]
[17 these _1669 and MSS. :_ this _1661_, _Cy_, _P_, _Chambers_]
[20 them] _om. 1661_]
[25 beauty'is not _1661 and MSS. :_ beauties no _1669_
thus] thus: _1669_]
[27 Then if he took] Then he that took _1661_, _B_ (takes),
_Cy_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_
spheare] sphear _1669_]
[30 abound: _Ed:_ abound, _1669_]
[32 in _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _TC:_ on _1669_,
_A25_
holes. ] holes: _1669_]
[38 infinite] infinit _1669_]
[40 erre _1661-69_, _S_, _S96:_ stray _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_,
_D_, _H49_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TC_]
[42 springes, _H49 and some MSS. :_ springs, _1669_]
[46 and _1661_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_,
_N_, _P_, _S96_, _TC:_ but _1669_
our _1661_, _MSS. :_ a _1669_]
[47 first Meridian _1661 and MSS. :_ sweet Meridian _1669_. ]
[52-3 (Not . . . Ambrosiall) . . . lips _&c. _ _1661 and MSS. _
(_not always with brackets and sometimes with_ No _for_ Not
_and_ Canary): Not . . . Ambrosiall. Unto her swelling lips when
we are come, _1669_]
[55 For they seem all: there _1669_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _S_, _TC:_ For they sing all their _1661_,
_Cy_, _P_]
[57 There _1661 and MSS. :_ Then _1669_
swell, _Ed:_ swell _1669_]
[58 Rhemora _1669_]
[59 the glorious Promontory,] _brackets and no comma, 1669_]
[60 Ore past; . . . betweene _1661 and MSS. :_ Being past the
Straits of _Hellespont_ between _1669_]
[62 Loves] loves _1669_]
[63 yet] that _D, H49, Lec, and other MSS. _]
[65 Sailing] Sailng _1669_]
[66 Navell] Naval _1669_]
[67 thence _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_,
_S_, _S96_, _TC:_ there _1661-9_, _N_(? ): hence _P_
thy _all MSS. :_ the _1661-9_]
[68 wouldst _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ shouldst _1669_]
[70 many _1669:_ some doe _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_]
[73 my _1669_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S_, _S96_, _TCD:_ thy _Chambers:_ thine _A18_, _TCC_]
[80 the] _bis 1669_]
[81-2 Civilitie, we see, refin'd the kisse Which at the face
begonne, transplanted is _D_, _H49_, _Lec_]
[83 Imperial] imperial _1669_]
[86 too;] too. _1669_]
[90 elements _1661 and MSS. :_ enemies _1669_]
[91 hath] _Chambers omits_]
[93 owe,] owe _1669_]
[96 Clyster gave _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _TC:_ glister
gives _1669_]
ELEGIE XIX.
_Going to Bed. _
Come, Madam, come, all rest my powers defie,
Until I labour, I in labour lie.
The foe oft-times having the foe in sight,
Is tir'd with standing though he never fight.
Off with that girdle, like heavens Zone glittering, 5
But a far fairer world incompassing.
Unpin that spangled breastplate which you wear,
That th'eyes of busie fooles may be stopt there.
Unlace your self, for that harmonious chyme,
Tells me from you, that now it is bed time. 10
Off with that happy busk, which I envie,
That still can be, and still can stand so nigh.
Your gown going off, such beautious state reveals,
As when from flowry meads th'hills shadow steales.
Off with that wyerie Coronet and shew 15
The haiery Diademe which on you doth grow:
Now off with those shooes, and then safely tread
In this loves hallow'd temple, this soft bed.
In such white robes, heaven's Angels us'd to be
Receavd by men; Thou Angel bringst with thee 20
A heaven like Mahomets Paradise; and though
Ill spirits walk in white, we easly know,
By this these Angels from an evil sprite,
Those set our hairs, but these our flesh uprigh
Licence my roaving hands, and let them go, 25
Before, behind, between, above, below.
O my America! my new-found-land,
My kingdome, safliest when with one man man'd,
My Myne of precious stones, My Emperie,
How blest am I in this discovering thee! 30
To enter in these bonds, is to be free;
Then where my hand is set, my seal shall be.
Full nakedness! All joyes are due to thee,
As souls unbodied, bodies uncloth'd must be,
To taste whole joyes. Gems which you women use 35
Are like Atlanta's balls, cast in mens views,
That when a fools eye lighteth on a Gem,
His earthly soul may covet theirs, not them.
Like pictures, or like books gay coverings made
For lay-men, are all women thus array'd; 40
Themselves are mystick books, which only wee
(Whom their imputed grace will dignifie)
Must see reveal'd. Then since that I may know;
As liberally, as to a Midwife, shew
Thy self: cast all, yea, this white lynnen hence, 45
There is no pennance due to innocence.
To teach thee, I am naked first; why than
What needst thou have more covering then a man.
[Elegie XIX. _&c. Ed: in 1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _W_
Appeared in 1669 edition after the Elegies, unnumbered but
with the heading_ To his Mistris going to Bed. _The MSS.
include it among the Elegies either with no heading, or
simply_ Elegye, _or numbered according to the scheme adopted:
B gives title which I have adopted as consistent with other
titles_]
[4 he _1669:_ they _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_TC_]
[5 glittering] glistering _MSS. _]
[8 That I may see my shrine that shines so fair. _Cy_, _P_]
[10 it is _1669:_ 'tis your _MSS. _]
[11 which] whom _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _S_, _TC_,
_W_]
[14 from _MSS. :_ through _1669_
shadow] shadows _1669_]
[16 Diademe . . . grow: _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_,
_L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TC:_ Diadem which on your
head doth grow: _1669:_ Diadems which on you do grow. _S_,
_Chambers_]
[17 Now . . . shooes, _1669_, _JC_, _W:_ Off . . . shoes _A18_,
_D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _TC:_ Off with those hose and shoes
_S_
safely _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_,
_W:_ softly _1669_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _P_]
[20 Receavd by men; Thou _all MSS. :_ Reveal'd to men; thou
_1669_]
[21 Paradise; _Ed:_ Paradice, _1669_]
[22 Ill _1669_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _S_,
_S96_, _TC_, _W:_ All _B, O'F, P, and Chambers' conjecture_
spirits _1669_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _S:_ angels
_O'F_, _S96_
white, _Ed:_ white; _1669_]
[26 below. _Ed:_ below, _1669_]
[28 kingdome, _MSS. :_ Kingdom's _1669_
safeliest _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _TC:_ safest, _1669_
man'd, _Ed:_ man'd. _1669_]
[29 stones, _Ed:_ stones: _1669_]
[30 How blest am I _all MSS. :_ How am I blest _1669_
this _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_,
_P_, _TC_, _W:_ thus _1669_, _A25_, _L74_, _S_
discovering] discovery _B_, _O'F_
thee! _Ed:_ thee? _1669_
be. ] be, _1669_]
[35 Gems] Jems _1669: and so_ 37]
[36 like _1669:_ as _MSS. _
balls, _MSS. :_ ball: _1669_]
[38 covet _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_,
_N_, _TC_, _W:_ court _1669_, _Cy_, _P_, _S_, _S96_
theirs, _A18_, _A25_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_,
_N_, _P_, _S96_, _TC_, _W:_ those _S:_ that, _1669_, _B_,
_O'F_
them. ] them: _1669_]
[39 pictures, _Ed:_ pictures _1669_
made _Ed:_ made, _1669_]
[40 lay-men, _Ed:_ lay-men _1669_
array'd; _Ed:_ arrayed _1669_]
[41 Themselves . . . only wee _A18_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_,
_L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_, _W:_
Themselves are only mystick books, which we, _1669_, _B_]
[43 see] be _A18_, _A25_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _TC_
reveal'd] revealed _1669_]
[44 a _all MSS. :_ thy _1669_
Midwife, _Ed:_ Midwife _1669_]
[45 hence, _Ed:_ hence _1669_]
[46 pennance due to innocence. _1669_, _B_, _Cy_, _JC_, _O'F_,
_P_, _S:_ pennance, much less innocence; _A18_, _A25_, _D_,
_H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _S96_, _W_]
[47 thee, _Ed:_ thee _1669_
first; _Ed:_ first, _1669_]
ELEGIE XX.
_Loves Warre. _
Till I have peace with thee, warr other men,
And when I have peace, can I leave thee then?
All other Warrs are scrupulous; Only thou
O fayr free Citty, maist thyselfe allowe
To any one: In Flanders, who can tell 5
Whether the Master presse; or men rebell?
Only we know, that which all Ideots say,
They beare most blows which come to part the fray.
France in her lunatique giddines did hate
Ever our men, yea and our God of late; 10
Yet she relyes upon our Angels well,
Which nere returne; no more then they which fell.
Sick Ireland is with a strange warr possest
Like to an Ague; now raging, now at rest;
Which time will cure: yet it must doe her good 15
If she were purg'd, and her head vayne let blood.
And Midas joyes our Spanish journeys give,
We touch all gold, but find no food to live.
And I should be in the hott parching clyme,
To dust and ashes turn'd before my time. 20
To mew me in a Ship, is to inthrall
Mee in a prison, that weare like to fall;
Or in a Cloyster; save that there men dwell
In a calme heaven, here in a swaggering hell.
Long voyages are long consumptions, 25
And ships are carts for executions.
Yea they are Deaths; Is't not all one to flye
Into an other World, as t'is to dye?
Here let mee warr; in these armes lett mee lye;
Here lett mee parlee, batter, bleede, and dye. 30
Thyne armes imprison me, and myne armes thee;
Thy hart thy ransome is; take myne for mee.
Other men war that they their rest may gayne;
But wee will rest that wee may fight agayne.
Those warrs the ignorant, these th'experienc'd love, 35
There wee are alwayes under, here above.
There Engins farr off breed a just true feare,
Neere thrusts, pikes, stabs, yea bullets hurt not here.
There lyes are wrongs; here safe uprightly lye;
There men kill men, we'will make one by and by. 40
Thou nothing; I not halfe so much shall do
In these Warrs, as they may which from us two
Shall spring. Thousands wee see which travaile not
To warrs; But stay swords, armes, and shott
To make at home; And shall not I do then 45
More glorious service, staying to make men?
[Elegy XX _&c. _ _Ed: First published in F. G. Waldron's_ A
Collection of Miscellaneous Poetry, 1802, _from a MS. dated
1625; then by Sir J. Simeon in his_ Philobiblon Society
_volume of 1856.
It is included among Donne's_ Elegies _in
A18, A25, B, Cy, D, H49, JC, L74, Lec, N, O'F, P, S, S96, TCC,
TCD, W. In B it has the title_ Making of Men. _The present
text is based on W_]
[7 all _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S_,
_S96_, _TC_, _W:_ most _JC_, _Chambers_]
[8 They beare most blows which (_or_ that) _A18_, _B_, _D_,
_H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_, _W:_ They must
bear blows, which _Chambers_]
[9 giddiness] guidings _Sim:_ giddinge _Wald_]
[11 well,] well _W_]
[13 a strange] straying _Sim_]
[16 head] dead _Sim_]
[19 the _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_,
_W:_ that _Chambers_, _A25_, _JC_, _L74_, _O'F_]
[24 swaggering] swaying _Chambers_]
[25 consumptions,] consumptions _W:_ _line omitted_, _Wald_]
[29 lye] _spelt_ ly
_W:_ _and so_ 30 dy]
[33 gayne;] gayne _W_]
[37 There] These _Sim_
and, that, with, which] _contracted throughout_, _W_]
HEROICALL EPISTLE.
_Sapho_ to _Philænis_.
Where is that holy fire, which _Verse_ is said
To have? is that inchanting force decai'd?
_Verse_ that drawes _Natures_ workes, from _Natures_ law,
Thee, her best worke, to her worke cannot draw.
Have my teares quench'd my old _Poetique_ fire; 5
Why quench'd they not as well, that of _desire_?
Thoughts, my mindes creatures, often are with thee,
But I, their maker, want their libertie.
Onely thine image, in my heart, doth sit,
But that is waxe, and fires environ it. 10
My fires have driven, thine have drawne it hence;
And I am rob'd of _Picture_, _Heart_, and _Sense_.
Dwells with me still mine irksome _Memory_,
Which, both to keepe, and lose, grieves equally.
That tells me'how faire thou art: Thou art so faire, 15
As, _gods_, when _gods_ to thee I doe compare,
Are grac'd thereby; And to make blinde men see,
What things _gods_ are, I say they'are like to thee.
For, if we justly call each silly _man_
A _litle world_, What shall we call thee than? 20
Thou art not soft, and cleare, and strait, and faire,
As _Down_, as _Stars_, _Cedars_, and _Lillies_ are,
But thy right hand, and cheek, and eye, only
Are like thy other hand, and cheek, and eye.
Such was my _Phao_ awhile, but shall be never, 25
As thou, wast, art, and, oh, maist be ever.
Here lovers sweare in their _Idolatrie_,
That I am such; but _Griefe_ discolors me.
And yet I grieve the lesse, least _Griefe_ remove
My beauty, and make me'unworthy of thy love. 30
Plaies some soft boy with thee, oh there wants yet
A mutuall feeling which should sweeten it.
His chinne, a thorny hairy unevennesse
Doth threaten, and some daily change possesse.
Thy body is a naturall _Paradise_, 35
In whose selfe, unmanur'd, all pleasure lies,
Nor needs _perfection_; why shouldst thou than
Admit the tillage of a harsh rough man?
Men leave behinde them that which their sin showes,
And are as theeves trac'd, which rob when it snows. 40
But of our dallyance no more signes there are,
Then _fishes_ leave in streames, or _Birds_ in aire.
And betweene us all sweetnesse may be had;
All, all that _Nature_ yields, or _Art_ can adde.
My two lips, eyes, thighs, differ from thy two, 45
But so, as thine from one another doe;
And, oh, no more; the likenesse being such,
Why should they not alike in all parts touch?
Hand to strange hand, lippe to lippe none denies;
Why should they brest to brest, or thighs to thighs? 50
Likenesse begets such strange selfe flatterie,
That touching my selfe, all seemes done to thee.
My selfe I embrace, and mine owne hands I kisse,
And amorously thanke my selfe for this.
Me, in my glasse, I call thee; But alas, 55
When I would kisse, teares dimme mine _eyes_, and _glasse_.
O cure this loving madnesse, and restore
Me to mee; thee, my _halfe_, my _all_, my _more_.
So may thy cheekes red outweare scarlet dye,
And their white, whitenesse of the _Galaxy_, 60
So may thy mighty, amazing beauty move
_Envy_'in all _women_, and in all _men_, _love_,
And so be _change_, and _sicknesse_, farre from thee,
As thou by comming neere, keep'st them from me.
[Heroicall Epistle. ] _In 1633_ Sapho to Philaenis _follows
Basse's_ Epitaph upon Shakespeare, _and precedes_ The
Annuntiation and Passion. _In 1635 it was placed with some
other miscellaneous and dubious poems among the_ Letters to
severall Personages, _where it has appeared in all subsequent
editions. I have transferred it to the neighbourhood of
the_ Elegies _and given it the title which seems to describe
exactly the genre to which it belongs. In JC it is entitled_
Elegie 18_th. _ _The other MSS. are A18, A25, O'F, N, P, TCC,
TCD. In A25, JC, and P, ll. 31-54 are omitted_]
[2 have? _1650-69:_ have, _1633-39_]
[3 workes, _1633-39:_ worke, _1650-69_, _O'F_]
[8 maker, _1635-69:_ maker; _1633_]
[17 thereby; And _1635-69:_ thereby. And _1633_, _some
copies_]
[22 As _Down_, _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ As dowves _P:_ As
downs _O'F_. _See note_
_Cedars_,] as Cedars, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_]
[26 maist be ever. _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _N_, _TC:_ maist thou
be ever. _1635-69_, _O'F:_ shalt be for ever. _P:_ mayst thou
be for ever. _JC_]
[33 thorny hairy _1633-69:_ thorney-hairy _TCD:_ thorny, hairy
_modern edd. _]
[40 are _Ed:_ are, _1633-69_]
[58 me to mee; thee, _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _JC_, _N_, _P_,
_TC_ (_generally_ mee, _in MSS. :_) me to mee; shee, _1633:_ me
to thee, thee _Chambers_
_halfe_,] harte _A25_, _JC_, _P_]
[59-60
So may thy cheekes outweare all scarlet dye
May blisse and thee be one eternallye _P:_ _om. JC_
]
[61 mighty, amazing _Ed:_ mighty amazing _1633-69:_ almighty
amazing _P_]
EPITHALAMIONS,
_OR_
MARRIAGE SONGS.
_An Epithalamion, Or mariage Song on the Lady_ Elizabeth, _and_ Count
Palatine _being married on St. _ Valentines _day. _
I.
Haile Bishop Valentine, whose day this is,
All the Aire is thy Diocis,
And all the chirping Choristers
And other birds are thy Parishioners,
Thou marryest every yeare 5
The Lirique Larke, and the grave whispering Dove,
The Sparrow that neglects his life for love,
The household Bird, with the red stomacher,
Thou mak'st the black bird speed as soone,
As doth the Goldfinch, or the Halcyon; 10
The husband cocke lookes out, and straight is sped,
And meets his wife, which brings her feather-bed.
This day more cheerfully then ever shine,
This day, which might enflame thy self, Old Valentine.
II.
Till now, Thou warmd'st with multiplying loves 15
Two larkes, two sparrowes, or two Doves,
All that is nothing unto this,
For thou this day couplest two Phœnixes;
Thou mak'st a Taper see
What the sunne never saw, and what the Arke 20
(Which was of soules, and beasts, the cage, and park,)
Did not containe, one bed containes, through Thee,
Two Phœnixes, whose joyned breasts
Are unto one another mutuall nests,
Where motion kindles such fires, as shall give 25
Yong Phœnixes, and yet the old shall live.
Whose love and courage never shall decline,
But make the whole year through, thy day, O Valentine.
III.
Up then faire Phœnix Bride, frustrate the Sunne,
Thy selfe from thine affection 30
Takest warmth enough, and from thine eye
All lesser birds will take their Jollitie.
Up, up, faire Bride, and call,
Thy starres, from out their severall boxes, take
Thy Rubies, Pearles, and Diamonds forth, and make 35
Thy selfe a constellation, of them All,
And by their blazing, signifie,
That a Great Princess falls, but doth not die;
Bee thou a new starre, that to us portends
Ends of much wonder; And be Thou those ends. 40
Since thou dost this day in new glory shine,
May all men date Records, from this thy Valentine.
IIII.
Come forth, come forth, and as one glorious flame
Meeting Another, growes the same,
So meet thy Fredericke, and so 45
To an unseparable union growe.
Since separation
Falls not on such things as are infinite,
Nor things which are but one, can disunite,
You'are twice inseparable, great, and one; 50
Goe then to where the Bishop staies,
To make you one, his way, which divers waies
Must be effected; and when all is past,
And that you'are one, by hearts and hands made fast,
You two have one way left, your selves to'entwine, 55
Besides this Bishops knot, or Bishop Valentine.
V.
But oh, what ailes the Sunne, that here he staies,
Longer to day, then other daies?
Staies he new light from these to get?
And finding here such store, is loth to set? 60
And why doe you two walke,
So slowly pac'd in this procession?
Is all your care but to be look'd upon,
And be to others spectacle, and talke?
The feast, with gluttonous delaies, 65
Is eaten, and too long their meat they praise,
The masquers come too late, and'I thinke, will stay,
Like Fairies, till the Cock crow them away.
Alas, did not Antiquity assigne
A night, as well as day, to thee, O Valentine? 70
VI.
They did, and night is come; and yet wee see
Formalities retarding thee.
What meane these Ladies, which (as though
They were to take a clock in peeces,) goe
So nicely about the Bride; 75
A Bride, before a good night could be said,
Should vanish from her cloathes, into her bed,
As Soules from bodies steale, and are not spy'd.
But now she is laid; What though shee bee?
Yet there are more delayes, For, where is he? 80
He comes, and passes through Spheare after Spheare,
First her sheetes, then her Armes, then any where.
Let not this day, then, but this night be thine,
Thy day was but the eve to this, O Valentine.
VII.
Here lyes a shee Sunne, and a hee Moone here, 85
She gives the best light to his Spheare,
Or each is both, and all, and so
They unto one another nothing owe,
And yet they doe, but are
So just and rich in that coyne which they pay, 90
That neither would, nor needs forbeare, nor stay;
Neither desires to be spar'd, nor to spare,
They quickly pay their debt, and then
Take no acquittances, but pay again;
They pay, they give, they lend, and so let fall 95
No such occasion to be liberall.
More truth, more courage in these two do shine,
Then all thy turtles have, and sparrows, Valentine.
VIII.
And by this act of these two Phenixes
Nature againe restored is, 100
For since these two are two no more,
Ther's but one Phenix still, as was before.
Rest now at last, and wee
As Satyres watch the Sunnes uprise, will stay
Waiting, when your eyes opened, let out day, 105
Onely desir'd, because your face wee see;
Others neare you shall whispering speake,
And wagers lay, at which side day will breake,
And win by'observing, then, whose hand it is
That opens first a curtaine, hers or his; 110
This will be tryed to morrow after nine,
Till which houre, wee thy day enlarge, O Valentine.
[Epithalamions, _&c. _ _1635-69:_ _no general title_, _1633_.
An Epithalamion, _&c. _ _1633-69_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _D_, _H49_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD_ (_most of the MSS. have
the full title but with slight verbal variations_)]
[13 shine, _Ed:_ shine. _1633-69_]
[14 enflame] enflãe _1633_]
[18 Phœnixes; _Ed:_ Phœnixes, _1633:_ Phœnixes.
_1635-69_]
[21 foules, _1633:_ fowle, _1635-69_]
[22 Thee, _1633_, _1650-69:_ Thee: _1635-39_]
[37 their blazing _1633-69_, _D_, _Lec:_ this blazing _A25_,
_B_, _H49_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_ (_altered to_ their), _P_, _TCD_]
[40 ends. _1635-69:_ ends, _1633_]
[42 this thy _1633-54_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_,
_P_, _S96_, _TCD:_ this day _1669_, _A25_, _JC_, _Chambers_]
[46 growe. _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S96_, _TCD:_ goe, _1633-69_, _Lec_]
[49 disunite, _Grolier:_ disunite. _1633-69 and Chambers_]
[56 Bishops knot, or Bishop Valentine. _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_ (our), _S96_, _TC_ Bishops
knot, O Bishop Valentine. _1633-54:_ Bishops knot of Bishop
Valentine. _1669:_ Bishops knot, of Bishop Valentine.
_Chambers_]
[60 store, _1633_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_,
_P_, _S96_, _TCD:_
starres, _1635-69_, _O'F_, _Chambers_]
[67 come too late, _1633:_ come late, _1635-69_]
[70 O Valentine? _1633-54_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_ old Valentine? _1669_]
[81 passes _1633-39:_ passeth _1650-69_
Spheare, _Ed:_ Spheare. _1633:_ Spheare: _1635-69_]
[82 where. _1650-69:_ where, _1633-39_]
[85 here, _1633-39_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_,
_TCD:_
there, _1650-69_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_]
[91 stay;] stay, _1633_]
[92 spare, _1633-54:_ spare. _1669_]
[94 acquittances, _1635-69:_ acquittance, _1633_]
[96 such] _om. _ _1669_]
[104 As . . . uprise,] _brackets 1650-69_]
[105 day,] day. _1633_]
ECCLOGUE.
1613. _December_ 26.
Allophanes _finding_ Idios _in the country in Christmas
time, reprehends his absence from court, at the mariage
Of the Earle of Sommerset_, Idios _gives an account of
his purpose therein, and of his absence thence_.
_Allophanes. _
Vnseasonable man, statue of ice,
What could to countries solitude entice
Thee, in this yeares cold and decrepit time?
Natures instinct drawes to the warmer clime
Even small birds, who by that courage dare, 5
In numerous fleets, saile through their Sea, the aire.
What delicacie can in fields appeare,
Whil'st Flora'herselfe doth a freeze jerkin weare?
Whil'st windes do all the trees and hedges strip
Of leafes, to furnish roddes enough to whip 10
Thy madnesse from thee; and all springs by frost
Have taken cold, and their sweet murmure lost;
If thou thy faults or fortunes would'st lament
With just solemnity, do it in Lent;
At Court the spring already advanced is, 15
The Sunne stayes longer up; and yet not his
The glory is, farre other, other fires.
First, zeale to Prince and State; then loves desires
Burne in one brest, and like heavens two great lights,
The first doth governe dayes, the other nights. 20
And then that early light, which did appeare
Before the Sunne and Moone created were,
The Princes favour is defus'd o'r all,
From which all Fortunes, Names, and Natures fall;
Then from those wombes of starres, the Brides bright eyes, 25
At every glance, a constellation flyes,
And sowes the Court with starres, and doth prevent
In light and power, the all-ey'd firmament;
First her eyes kindle other Ladies eyes,
Then from their beames their jewels lusters rise, 30
And from their jewels torches do take fire,
And all is warmth, and light, and good desire;
Most other Courts, alas, are like to hell,
Where in darke plotts, fire without light doth dwell:
Or but like Stoves, for lust and envy get 35
Continuall, but artificiall heat;
Here zeale and love growne one, all clouds disgest,
And make our Court an everlasting East.
And can'st thou be from thence?
_Idios. _ No, I am there.
As heaven, to men dispos'd, is every where, 40
So are those Courts, whose Princes animate,
Not onely all their house, but all their State.
Let no man thinke, because he is full, he hath all,
Kings (as their patterne, God) are liberall
Not onely in fulnesse, but capacitie, 45
Enlarging narrow men, to feele and see,
And comprehend the blessings they bestow.
So, reclus'd hermits often times do know
More of heavens glory, then a worldling can.
As man is of the world, the heart of man, 50
Is an epitome of Gods great booke
Of creatures, and man need no farther looke;
So is the Country of Courts, where sweet peace doth,
As their one common soule, give life to both,
I am not then from Court.
_Allophanes. _
Dreamer, thou art. 55
Think'st thou fantastique that thou hast a part
In the East-Indian fleet, because thou hast
A little spice, or Amber in thy taste?
Because thou art not frozen, art thou warme?
Seest thou all good because thou seest no harme? 60
The earth doth in her inward bowels hold
Stuffe well dispos'd, and which would faine be gold,
But never shall, except it chance to lye,
So upward, that heaven gild it with his eye;
As, for divine things, faith comes from above, 65
So, for best civill use, all tinctures move
From higher powers; From God religion springs,
Wisdome, and honour from the use of Kings.
Then unbeguile thy selfe, and know with mee,
That Angels, though on earth employd they bee, 70
Are still in heav'n, so is hee still at home
That doth, abroad, to honest actions come.
Chide thy selfe then, O foole, which yesterday
Might'st have read more then all thy books bewray;
Hast thou a history, which doth present 75
A Court, where all affections do assent
Unto the Kings, and that, that Kings are just?
And where it is no levity to trust?
Where there is no ambition, but to'obey,
Where men need whisper nothing, and yet may; 80
Where the Kings favours are so plac'd, that all
Finde that the King therein is liberall
To them, in him, because his favours bend
To vertue, to the which they all pretend?
Thou hast no such; yet here was this, and more, 85
An earnest lover, wise then, and before.
Our little Cupid hath sued Livery,
And is no more in his minority,
Hee is admitted now into that brest
Where the Kings Counsells and his secrets rest. 90
What hast thou lost, O ignorant man?
_Idios. _
I knew
All this, and onely therefore I withdrew.
To know and feele all this, and not to have
Words to expresse it, makes a man a grave
Of his owne thoughts; I would not therefore stay 95
At a great feast, having no Grace to say.
And yet I scap'd not here; for being come
Full of the common joy, I utter'd some;
Reade then this nuptiall song, which was not made
Either the Court or mens hearts to invade, 100
But since I'am dead, and buried, I could frame
No Epitaph, which might advance my fame
So much as this poore song, which testifies
I did unto that day some sacrifice.
EPITHALAMION.
I.
_The time of the Mariage_.
Thou art repriv'd old yeare, thou shalt not die, 105
Though thou upon thy death bed lye,
And should'st within five dayes expire,
Yet thou art rescu'd by a mightier fire,
Then thy old Soule, the Sunne,
When he doth in his largest circle runne. 110
The passage of the West or East would thaw,
And open wide their easie liquid jawe
To all our ships, could a Promethean art
Either unto the Northerne Pole impart
The fire of these inflaming eyes, or of this loving heart. 115
II.
_Equality of persons_.
But undiscerning Muse, which heart, which eyes,
In this new couple, dost thou prize,
When his eye as inflaming is
As hers, and her heart loves as well as his?
Be tryed by beauty, and than 120
The bridegroome is a maid, and not a man.
If by that manly courage they be tryed,
Which scornes unjust opinion; then the bride
Becomes a man. Should chance or envies Art
Divide these two, whom nature scarce did part? 125
Since both have both th'enflaming eyes, and both the loving heart.
III.
_Raysing of the Bridegroome_.
Though it be some divorce to thinke of you
Singly, so much one are you two,
Yet let me here contemplate thee,
First, cheerfull Bridegroome, and first let mee see, 130
How thou prevent'st the Sunne,
And his red foming horses dost outrunne,
How, having laid downe in thy Soveraignes brest
All businesses, from thence to reinvest
Them, when these triumphs cease, thou forward art 135
To shew to her, who doth the like impart,
The fire of thy inflaming eyes, and of thy loving heart.
IIII.
_Raising of the Bride. _
But now, to Thee, faire Bride, it is some wrong,
To thinke thou wert in Bed so long,
Since Soone thou lyest downe first, tis fit 140
Thou in first rising should'st allow for it.
Pouder thy Radiant haire,
Which if without such ashes thou would'st weare,
Thou, which to all which come to looke upon,
Art meant for Phœbus, would'st be Phaëton. 145
For our ease, give thine eyes th'unusual part
Of joy, a Teare; so quencht, thou maist impart,
To us that come, thy inflaming eyes, to him, thy loving heart.
V.
_Her Apparrelling. _
Thus thou descend'st to our infirmitie,
Who can the Sun in water see. 150
Soe dost thou, when in silke and gold,
Thou cloudst thy selfe; since wee which doe behold,
Are dust, and wormes, 'tis just
Our objects be the fruits of wormes and dust;
Let every Jewell be a glorious starre, 155
Yet starres are not so pure, as their spheares are.
And though thou stoope, to'appeare to us in part,
Still in that Picture thou intirely art,
Which thy inflaming eyes have made within his loving heart.
VI.
_Going to the Chappell. _
Now from your Easts you issue forth, and wee, 160
As men which through a Cipres see
The rising sun, doe thinke it two,
Soe, as you goe to Church, doe thinke of you,
But that vaile being gone,
By the Church rites you are from thenceforth one. 165
The Church Triumphant made this match before,
And now the Militant doth strive no more;
Then, reverend Priest, who Gods Recorder art,
Doe, from his Dictates, to these two impart
All blessings, which are seene, or thought, by Angels eye
or heart. 170
VII.
_The Benediction. _
Blest payre of Swans, Oh may you interbring
Daily new joyes, and never sing,
Live, till all grounds of wishes faile,
Till honor, yea till wisedome grow so stale,
That, new great heights to trie, 175
It must serve your ambition, to die;
Raise heires, and may here, to the worlds end, live
Heires from this King, to take thankes, you, to give,
Nature and grace doe all, and nothing Art.
May never age, or error overthwart 180
With any West, these radiant eyes, with any North, this heart.
VIII.
_Feasts and Revells. _
But you are over-blest. Plenty this day
Injures; it causeth time to stay;
The tables groane, as though this feast
Would, as the flood, destroy all fowle and beast. 185
And were the doctrine new
That the earth mov'd, this day would make it true;
For every part to dance and revell goes.
They tread the ayre, and fal not where they rose.
Though six houres since, the Sunne to bed did part, 190
The masks and banquets will not yet impart
A sunset to these weary eyes, A Center to this heart.
IX.
_The Brides going to bed. _
What mean'st thou Bride, this companie to keep?
To sit up, till thou faine wouldst sleep?
Thou maist not, when thou art laid, doe so. 195
Thy selfe must to him a new banquet grow,
And you must entertaine
And doe all this daies dances o'r againe.
Know that if Sun and Moone together doe
Rise in one point, they doe not set so too; 200
Therefore thou maist, faire Bride, to bed depart,
Thou art not gone, being gone; where e'r thou art,
Thou leav'st in him thy watchfull eyes, in him thy loving heart.
X.
_The Bridegroomes comming. _
As he that sees a starre fall, runs apace,
And findes a gellie in the place, 205
So doth the Bridegroome hast as much,
Being told this starre is falne, and findes her such.
And as friends may looke strange,
By a new fashion, or apparrells change,
Their soules, though long acquainted they had beene, 210
These clothes, their bodies, never yet had seene;
Therefore at first shee modestly might start,
But must forthwith surrender every part,
As freely, as each to each before, gave either eye or heart.
XI.
_The good-night. _
Now, as in Tullias tombe, one lampe burnt cleare, 215
Unchang'd for fifteene hundred yeare,
May these love-lamps we here enshrine,
In warmth, light, lasting, equall the divine.
Fire ever doth aspire,
And makes all like it selfe, turnes all to fire, 220
But ends in ashes, which these cannot doe,
For none of these is fuell, but fire too.
This is joyes bonfire, then, where loves strong Arts
Make of so noble individuall parts
One fire of foure inflaming eyes, and of two loving hearts. 225
_Idios.
