_ _1633-69:_ To the
Countesse
of B.
John Donne
_A18_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _S_,
_S96_, _TC_]
To S^r _Henry Wootton_.
Here's no more newes, then vertue,'I may as well
Tell you _Cales_, or S^t _Michaels_ tale for newes, as tell
That vice doth here habitually dwell.
Yet, as to'get stomachs, we walke up and downe,
And toyle to sweeten rest, so, may God frowne, 5
If, but to loth both, I haunt Court, or Towne.
For here no one is from the'extremitie
Of vice, by any other reason free,
But that the next to'him, still, is worse then hee.
In this worlds warfare, they whom rugged Fate, 10
(Gods Commissary,) doth so throughly hate,
As in'the Courts Squadron to marshall their state:
If they stand arm'd with seely honesty,
With wishing prayers, and neat integritie,
Like Indians'gainst Spanish hosts they bee. 15
Suspitious boldnesse to this place belongs,
And to'have as many eares as all have tongues;
Tender to know, tough to acknowledge wrongs.
Beleeve mee Sir, in my youths giddiest dayes,
When to be like the Court, was a playes praise, 20
Playes were not so like Courts, as Courts'are like playes.
Then let us at these mimicke antiques jeast,
Whose deepest projects, and egregious gests
Are but dull Moralls of a game at Chests.
But now'tis incongruity to smile, 25
Therefore I end; and bid farewell a while,
_At Court_; though _From Court_, were the better stile.
[To S^r Henry Wootton. _1633-69:_ _do. or_ A Letter to _&c. _
_B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _S_, _S96_ (_of these Cy
and S add_ From Court _and_ From y^e Court): From Court. _P:_
To M^r H. W. 20 Jul. 1598 at Court. _HN:_ To M^r H. W. 20 July
15098 (_sic_) At Court. _W:_ Jo: D: to M^r H: W: _A18_, _N_,
_TC:_ Another Letter. _JC_]
[1 newes] new _1669_]
[2 Tell you _Cales_, (_Calis_, _1633_) or _S^t Michaels_ tale
for newes, as tell _1633_, _A18_, _B_ (tales), _Cy_ (and S^t
Michaels tales), _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_
(tales), _P_, _S_, _S96_ (tales), _TC_, _W_ (_MSS. waver in
spelling--but_ Cales _Cy_, _HN_, _P:_) Tell you _Calis_,
or _Saint Michaels_ tales, as tell _1635-54_, _Chambers_
(Calais): Tell _Calis_, or Saint _Michaels_ Mount, as tell
_1669:_ Tell you Calais, or Saint Michaels Mount as tell
_1719:_ _All modern editions read_ Calais]
[6 or] and _1669_]
[9 to'him, still, _1633:_ to him, still, _1635-69:_ to him is
still _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_]
[12 state: _1635-69:_ state _1633_]
[14 wishing prayers, _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _N_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_, _W:_ wishing, prayers, _1669_,
_HN:_ wishes, prayers, _1635-54_, _B_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_,
_Chambers_]
[20 playes] players _1639-69_]
[21 are like _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_S_, _S96_ (are now like), _TC_, _W:_ are _om. (metri causa)
1635-69_, _B_, _Cy_, _JC_, _O'F_]
[23-4
are egregeous guests,
And but dull Morals at a game of Chests.
_1669_]
[25 now'tis] 'tis an _1669_]
[27 _At Court;_ though, _From Court, &c. _ _W:_ _At Court_,
though from Court, _&c. _ _1633-69_]
_H: W: in Hiber: belligeranti. _
Went you to conquer? and have so much lost
Yourself, that what in you was best and most,
Respective friendship, should so quickly dye?
In publique gaine my share'is not such that I
Would lose your love for Ireland: better cheap 5
I pardon death (who though he do not reap
Yet gleanes hee many of our frends away)
Then that your waking mind should bee a prey
To lethargies. Lett shott, and boggs, and skeines
With bodies deale, as fate bids and restreynes; 10
Ere sicknesses attack, yong death is best,
Who payes before his death doth scape arrest.
Lett not your soule (at first with graces fill'd,
And since, and thorough crooked lymbecks, still'd
In many schools and courts, which quicken it,) 15
It self unto the Irish negligence submit.
I aske not labored letters which should weare
Long papers out: nor letters which should feare
Dishonest carriage: or a seers art:
Nor such as from the brayne come, but the hart. 20
[H: W: _&c. _ _Burley MS. _ (JD _in margin_) _i. e. _ Henrico
Wottoni in Hibernia belligeranti]
[2 that] y^t _Bur, and similarly_ y^e (the), y^r (your),
w^{ch} (which), w^{th} (with) _throughout_]
[2-3 most, Respective friendship,] _no commas_, _Bur_]
[4 share'is] share is _Bur_]
[9 lethargies. ] letargies. _Bur_]
[10 restreynes;] restreynes _Bur_]
[11 attack,] attack _Bur_
best,] best _Bur_]
[13 (at first] _Bur closes bracket after_ first _and again
after_ 15 quicken it,]
[14 since,] since _Bur_]
[19 art:] art _Bur_]
_To the Countesse of Bedford. _
MADAME,
Reason is our Soules left hand, Faith her right,
By these wee reach divinity, that's you;
Their loves, who have the blessings of your light,
Grew from their reason, mine from faire faith grew.
But as, although a squint lefthandednesse 5
Be'ungracious, yet we cannot want that hand,
So would I, not to encrease, but to expresse
My faith, as I beleeve, so understand.
Therefore I study you first in your Saints,
Those friends, whom your election glorifies, 10
Then in your deeds, accesses, and restraints,
And what you reade, and what your selfe devize.
But soone, the reasons why you'are lov'd by all,
Grow infinite, and so passe reasons reach,
Then backe againe to'implicite faith I fall, 15
And rest on what the Catholique voice doth teach;
That you are good: and not one Heretique
Denies it: if he did, yet you are so.
For, rockes, which high top'd and deep rooted sticke,
Waves wash, not undermine, nor overthrow. 20
In every thing there naturally growes
A _Balsamum_ to keepe it fresh, and new,
If'twere not injur'd by extrinsique blowes;
Your birth and beauty are this Balme in you.
But you of learning and religion, 25
And vertue,'and such ingredients, have made
A methridate, whose operation
Keepes off, or cures what can be done or said.
Yet, this is not your physicke, but your food,
A dyet fit for you; for you are here 30
The first good Angell, since the worlds frame stood,
That ever did in womans shape appeare.
Since you are then Gods masterpeece, and so
His Factor for our loves; do as you doe,
Make your returne home gracious; and bestow 35
This life on that; so make one life of two.
For so God helpe mee,'I would not misse you there
For all the good which you can do me here.
[To the Countesse of Bedford. _1633-69:_ _do. or_ To the
Countesse of B. _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _M_, _N_,
_O'F_, _RP31_, _S_, _S96_, _TCD_]
[3 blessings _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ blessing _1635-69_,
_B_, _Cy_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCD_
light, _1633-69:_ sight, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _RP31_, _S_, _TCD_]
[4 faire _1633-69_, _L74_, _N_, _TCD:_ farr _B_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H49_, _Lec_, _M_, _O'F_, _RP31_, _S_, _S96_]
[16 what] that _Chambers_
voice _1635-69_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _M_,
_N_, _O'F_, _S96_, _TCD:_ faith _1633_, _RP31_, _S_]
[19 high top'd and deep rooted _1633_, _N_, _TCD:_ high to
sense deepe-rooted _1635-54_, _O'F_, _Chambers_ (_who has
overlooked 1633 reading:_) high to sense and deepe-rooted
_S96:_ high to sun and deepe-rooted _L74_, _RP31_, _S:_ high
do seem, deep-rooted _1669_, _Cy_ (_but MS. with_ and): high
to some, and deepe-rooted _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ high to seeme,
and deepe-rooted _B_. _See note_]
[25 But _Ed:_ But, _1633-69_]
[36 This, _1635-69_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _RP31_, _S_, _TCD_, _Grosart and Chambers:_ Thy _1633_,
_Grolier_. _See note_]
_To the Countesse of Bedford. _
MADAME,
You have refin'd mee, and to worthyest things
(Vertue, Art, Beauty, Fortune,) now I see
Rarenesse, or use, not nature value brings;
And such, as they are circumstanc'd, they bee.
Two ills can ne're perplexe us, sinne to'excuse; 5
But of two good things, we may leave and chuse.
Therefore at Court, which is not vertues clime,
(Where a transcendent height, (as, lownesse mee)
Makes her not be, or not show) all my rime
Your vertues challenge, which there rarest bee; 10
For, as darke texts need notes: there some must bee
To usher vertue, and say, _This is shee. _
So in the country'is beauty; to this place
You are the season (Madame) you the day,
'Tis but a grave of spices, till your face 15
Exhale them, and a thick close bud display.
Widow'd and reclus'd else, her sweets she'enshrines;
As China, when the Sunne at Brasill dines.
Out from your chariot, morning breaks at night,
And falsifies both computations so; 20
Since a new world doth rise here from your light,
We your new creatures, by new recknings goe.
This showes that you from nature lothly stray,
That suffer not an artificiall day.
In this you'have made the Court the Antipodes, 25
And will'd your Delegate, the vulgar Sunne,
To doe profane autumnall offices,
Whilst here to you, wee sacrificers runne;
And whether Priests, or Organs, you wee'obey,
We sound your influence, and your Dictates say. 30
Yet to that Deity which dwels in you,
Your vertuous Soule, I now not sacrifice;
These are _Petitions_ and not _Hymnes_; they sue
But that I may survay the edifice.
In all Religions as much care hath bin 35
Of Temples frames, and beauty,'as Rites within.
As all which goe to Rome, doe not thereby
Esteeme religions, and hold fast the best,
But serve discourse, and curiosity,
With that which doth religion but invest, 40
And shunne th'entangling laborinths of Schooles,
And make it wit, to thinke the wiser fooles:
So in this pilgrimage I would behold
You as you'are vertues temple, not as shee,
What walls of tender christall her enfold, 45
What eyes, hands, bosome, her pure Altars bee;
And after this survay, oppose to all
Bablers of Chappels, you th'Escuriall.
Yet not as consecrate, but merely'as faire,
On these I cast a lay and country eye. 50
Of past and future stories, which are rare,
I finde you all record, and prophecie.
Purge but the booke of Fate, that it admit
No sad nor guilty legends, you are it.
If good and lovely were not one, of both 55
You were the transcript, and originall,
The Elements, the Parent, and the Growth,
And every peece of you, is both their All:
So'intire are all your deeds, and you, that you
Must do the same thinge still; you cannot two. 60
But these (as nice thinne Schoole divinity
Serves heresie to furder or represse)
Tast of Poetique rage, or flattery,
And need not, where all hearts one truth professe;
Oft from new proofes, and new phrase, new doubts grow, 65
As strange attire aliens the men wee know.
Leaving then busie praise, and all appeale
To higher Courts, senses decree is true,
The Mine, the Magazine, the Commonweale,
The story of beauty,'in Twicknam is, and you. 70
Who hath seene one, would both; As, who had bin
In Paradise, would seeke the Cherubin.
[the Countesse of Bedford. _1633-69:_ _similarly or with
no title_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_,
_TCD_]
[2 (Vertue, . . . Fortune,)] _brackets Ed:_ Fortune, _1633:_
Fortune; _1635-69_, _Grolier:_ Fortune. _Chambers_. _See
note_]
[5 ne're] nere _1633_]
[6 and] or _1669_]
[8-9 _1633 begins to bracket_ (Where . . . not show) _but does
not finish, putting a colon after_ show: _the others drop the
larger brackets, retaining the smaller_ (as . . . mee)]
[9 be] see _1669_
show] show: _1633-54:_ show. _1669_]
[11 notes: there some _1633-54:_ notes some: there _1669_]
[17 enshrines; _1719:_ enshrines _1633-69_]
[20 computations so; _1633-69:_ computations; so, _Chambers_]
[42 fooles:] fooles. _1633_]
[48 Bablers _1633:_ Babblers _1635-54:_ Builders _1669_]
[49 faire, _Ed:_ faire; _1633-69_]
[50 eye. ] eye, _1633_]
[52 and prophecie] all prophecye _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _TCD_ prophecie. ] prophecie, _1633 some copies_]
[57 Parent] Parents _1669_ Growth, _1669:_ Growth _1633-54_]
[58 both _1633 and MSS. :_ worth _1635-69_, _O'F_ All: _Ed:_
All, _1633-69_]
[60 thinge _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _N_, _O'F:_ things
_1633-69_, _Lec_]
[61 nice thinne _1633-54:_ nicest _1669_]
[66 aliens _1633_, _1669 and MSS. :_ alters _1635-54_, _O'F_]
[67 and] end _1669_, _not_ lend _as in Chambers' note_
appeale _Ed:_ appeale, _1633-69_]
[68 true, _1633:_ true. _1635-69_]
[71 had bin _1633-35:_ hath bin _1639-69_. _See note_]
To S^r _Edward Herbert_. at _Iulyers_.
Man is a lumpe, where all beasts kneaded bee,
Wisdome makes him an Arke where all agree;
The foole, in whom these beasts do live at jarre,
Is sport to others, and a Theater;
Nor scapes hee so, but is himselfe their prey, 5
All which was man in him, is eate away,
And now his beasts on one another feed,
Yet couple'in anger, and new monsters breed.
How happy'is hee, which hath due place assign'd
To'his beasts, and disaforested his minde! 10
Empail'd himselfe to keepe them out, not in;
Can sow, and dares trust corne, where they have bin;
Can use his horse, goate, wolfe, and every beast,
And is not Asse himselfe to all the rest.
Else, man not onely is the heard of swine, 15
But he's those devills too, which did incline
Them to a headlong rage, and made them worse:
For man can adde weight to heavens heaviest curse.
As Soules (they say) by our first touch, take in
The poysonous tincture of Originall sinne, 20
So, to the punishments which God doth fling,
Our apprehension contributes the sting.
To us, as to his chickins, he doth cast
Hemlocke, and wee as men, his hemlocke taste;
We do infuse to what he meant for meat, 25
Corrosivenesse, or intense cold or heat.
For, God no such specifique poyson hath
As kills we know not how; his fiercest wrath
Hath no antipathy, but may be good
At lest for physicke, if not for our food. 30
Thus man, that might be'his pleasure, is his rod,
And is his devill, that might be his God.
Since then our businesse is, to rectifie
Nature, to what she was, wee'are led awry
By them, who man to us in little show; 35
Greater then due, no forme we can bestow
On him; for Man into himselfe can draw
All; All his faith can swallow,'or reason chaw.
All that is fill'd, and all that which doth fill,
All the round world, to man is but a pill, 40
In all it workes not, but it is in all
Poysonous, or purgative, or cordiall,
For, knowledge kindles Calentures in some,
And is to others icy _Opium_.
As brave as true, is that profession than 45
Which you doe use to make; that you know man.
This makes it credible; you have dwelt upon
All worthy bookes, and now are such an one.
Actions are authors, and of those in you
Your friends finde every day a mart of new. 50
[To S^r Edward _&c. _ _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F:_ A
Letter to S^r Edward Herbert (_or_ Harbert). _B_, _Cy_ (_which
adds_ Incerti Authoris), _S96:_ To Sir E. H. _A18_, _N_, _TC:_
_no title_, _P:_ Elegia Vicesima Tertia. _S:_ To S^r Edward
Herbert, now (since _1669_) Lord Herbert of Cherbury, being at
the siege of Iulyers. _1635-69_]
[4 Theater; _Ed:_ Theater, _1633-69:_ Theater. _D_]
[5 prey, _Ed:_ prey; _1633-69_]
[8 breed. ] breed; _1633_]
[10 minde! _Ed:_ minde? _1633-69_]
[17 a headlong] a _om. 1669:_ an headlong _1635-54_]
[24 taste; _Ed:_ taste. _1633-69_]
[28 we know _1633 and MSS. :_ men know _1635-69_, _O'F_]
[35 show; _1669:_ show, _1633-54_, _Chambers_]
[36 due, _1633-69:_ due; _Chambers_. _See note_]
[38 All; All _1669:_ All: All _1635-54:_ All, All _1633_
chaw. _1633:_ chaw, _1635-69_, _Grolier_]
[39 fill, _1633-54:_ fill _1669:_ fill; _Grolier_]
[44 icy] jcy _1633_]
[47-8 credible; . . . bookes, _Ed:_ credible, . . . bookes;
_1633-69:_ credible . . . bookes _Grolier_]
_To the Countesse of Bedford. _
T'have written then, when you writ, seem'd to mee
Worst of spirituall vices, Simony,
And not t'have written then, seemes little lesse
Then worst of civill vices, thanklessenesse.
In this, my debt I seem'd loath to confesse, 5
In that, I seem'd to shunne beholdingnesse.
But 'tis not soe; _nothings_, as I am, may
Pay all they have, and yet have all to pay.
Such borrow in their payments, and owe more
By having leave to write so, then before. 10
Yet since rich mines in barren grounds are showne,
May not I yeeld (not gold) but coale or stone?
Temples were not demolish'd, though prophane:
Here _Peter Ioves_, there _Paul_ hath _Dian's_ Fane.
So whether my hymnes you admit or chuse, 15
In me you'have hallowed a Pagan Muse,
And denizend a stranger, who mistaught
By blamers of the times they mard, hath sought
Vertues in corners, which now bravely doe
Shine in the worlds best part, or all It; You. 20
I have beene told, that vertue in Courtiers hearts
Suffers an Ostracisme, and departs.
Profit, ease, fitnesse, plenty, bid it goe,
But whither, only knowing you, I know;
Your (or you) vertue two vast uses serves, 25
It ransomes one sex, and one Court preserves.
There's nothing but your worth, which being true,
Is knowne to any other, not to you:
And you can never know it; To admit
No knowledge of your worth, is some of it. 30
But since to you, your praises discords bee,
Stoop, others ills to meditate with mee.
Oh! to confesse wee know not what we should,
Is halfe excuse; wee know not what we would:
Lightnesse depresseth us, emptinesse fills, 35
We sweat and faint, yet still goe downe the hills.
As new Philosophy arrests the Sunne,
And bids the passive earth about it runne,
So wee have dull'd our minde, it hath no ends;
Onely the bodie's busie, and pretends; 40
As dead low earth ecclipses and controules
The quick high Moone: so doth the body, Soules.
In none but us, are such mixt engines found,
As hands of double office: For, the ground
We till with them; and them to heav'n wee raise; 45
Who prayer-lesse labours, or, without this, prayes,
Doth but one halfe, that's none; He which said, _Plough
And looke not back_, to looke up doth allow.
Good seed degenerates, and oft obeyes
The soyles disease, and into cockle strayes; 50
Let the minds thoughts be but transplanted so,
Into the body,'and bastardly they grow.
What hate could hurt our bodies like our love?
Wee (but no forraine tyrants could) remove
These not ingrav'd, but inborne dignities, 55
Caskets of soules; Temples, and Palaces:
For, bodies shall from death redeemed bee,
Soules but preserv'd, not naturally free.
As men to'our prisons, new soules to us are sent,
Which learne vice there, and come in innocent. 60
First seeds of every creature are in us,
What ere the world hath bad, or pretious,
Mans body can produce, hence hath it beene
That stones, wormes, frogges, and snakes in man are seene:
But who ere saw, though nature can worke soe, 65
That pearle, or gold, or corne in man did grow?
We'have added to the world Virginia,'and sent
Two new starres lately to the firmament;
Why grudge wee us (not heaven) the dignity
T'increase with ours, those faire soules company. 70
But I must end this letter, though it doe
Stand on two truths, neither is true to you,
Vertue hath some perversenesse; For she will
Neither beleeve her good, nor others ill.
Even in you, vertues best paradise, 75
Vertue hath some, but wise degrees of vice.
Too many vertues, or too much of one
Begets in you unjust suspition;
And ignorance of vice, makes vertue lesse,
Quenching compassion of our wrechednesse. 80
But these are riddles; Some aspersion
Of vice becomes well some complexion.
Statesmen purge vice with vice, and may corrode
The bad with bad, a spider with a toad:
For so, ill thralls not them, but they tame ill 85
And make her do much good against her will,
But in your Commonwealth, or world in you,
Vice hath no office, or good worke to doe.
Take then no vitious purge, but be content
With cordiall vertue, your knowne nourishment. 90
[the _&c. _ _1633-69:_ To the Countesse of B. _N_, _O'F_,
_TCD_]
[5 debt _1669_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCD:_ doubt _1633-54_]
[7 soe; _Ed:_ soe, _1633-54:_ soe. _1669_
_nothings_, _1635-54:_ _nothing_, _1633_, _N_, _TCD:_
_Nothing_ _1669_
may] may, _1633_]
[14 hath] have _1633:_ _om. _ _N_, _TCD_ (have _inserted_)
_Dian's_ _1635-54:_ Dian's _1633:_ _Dina's_ _1669_]
[20 or all It; You. _1635-54:_ or all it, you. _1669_, _N_,
_O'F_, _TCD:_ or all, in you. _1633_ (you, _some copies_)]
[25 Your (or you) vertue _O'F:_ Your, or you vertue,
_1633-54:_ You, or you vertue, _1669_]
[26 preserves. _Ed:_ preserves; _1633-69_]
[28 you:] you. _1633-39_]
[30 is some] it some _1633_]
[32 Stoop, others ills] Stoop (Stop _1633_) others ills,
_1633-54:_ Stoop others ills _1669_]
[34 excuse; _Ed:_ excuse, _1633-69_, _Grosart_ (_who
transposes_ should _and_ would), _Chambers:_ excuse _Grolier_.
_See note_
would: _Ed:_ would] _1633-69_]
[36 the hills. _Ed:_ the hills; _1633-69_]
[37 Philosophy. Phylosophy _1633 some copies_, _1669_]
[45 raise;] raise _1633_]
[46 this,] these _1669_]
[50 strayes; _Ed:_ strayes. _1633-69_]
[51 Let] Let but _1669_]
[54 Wee (but no forraine tyrants could) remove _Ed:_ Wee but
no forraine tyrants could, remove _O'F:_ Wee but no forraigne
tyrants could remove, _1633-54_ (tyrans _1633_): We, but no
forrain tyrants, could remove _1669_, _Chambers and Grolier_.
_See note_]
[55 dignities, _Ed:_ dignities _1633-69_]
[56 Palaces: _1633-35:_ Palaces. _1639-69_]
[58 not naturally free. _Ed:_ not naturally free; _1633_, _N_,
_TCD:_ borne naturally free; _1635-69_, _O'F_]
[59 prisons, new soules _1633:_ prisons now, soules _1635-69_,
_O'F:_ prisons, now soules _N_, _TCD_]
[60 vice _1635-69_, _O'F:_ it _1633_, _N_, _TCD_]
[66 That] That, _1633_
grow? _1639-69:_ grow. _1633-35_]
[74 ill. ] ill, _1633-35_]
[75 you, _1669:_ you _1635-54:_ your _1633_]
[78 suspition; _Ed:_ suspition. _1633-69_]
[79 makes] make _1635-39_]
[87 Commonwealth, . . . you,] _no commas 1633_]
_To the Countesse of_ Bedford.
_On New-yeares day. _
This twilight of two yeares, not past nor next,
Some embleme is of mee, or I of this,
Who Meteor-like, of stuffe and forme perplext,
Whose _what_, and _where_, in disputation is,
If I should call mee _any thing_, should misse. 5
I summe the yeares, and mee, and finde mee not
Debtor to th'old, nor Creditor to th'new,
That cannot say, My thankes I have forgot,
Nor trust I this with hopes, and yet scarce true
This bravery is, since these times shew'd mee you. 10
In recompence I would show future times
What you were, and teach them to'urge towards such.
Verse embalmes vertue;'and Tombs, or Thrones of rimes,
Preserve fraile transitory fame, as much
As spice doth bodies from corrupt aires touch. 15
Mine are short-liv'd; the tincture of your name
Creates in them, but dissipates as fast,
New spirits: for, strong agents with the same
Force that doth warme and cherish, us doe wast;
Kept hot with strong extracts, no bodies last: 20
So, my verse built of your just praise, might want
Reason and likelihood, the firmest Base,
And made of miracle, now faith is scant,
Will vanish soone, and so possesse no place,
And you, and it, too much grace might disgrace. 25
When all (as truth commands assent) confesse
All truth of you, yet they will doubt how I,
One corne of one low anthills dust, and lesse,
Should name, know, or expresse a thing so high,
And not an inch, measure infinity. 30
I cannot tell them, nor my selfe, nor you,
But leave, lest truth b'endanger'd by my praise,
And turne to God, who knowes I thinke this true,
And useth oft, when such a heart mis-sayes,
To make it good, for, such a praiser prayes. 35
Hee will best teach you, how you should lay out
His stock of _beauty_, _learning_, _favour_, _blood_;
He will perplex security with doubt,
And cleare those doubts; hide from you,'and shew you good,
And so increase your appetite and food; 40
Hee will teach you, that good and bad have not
One latitude in cloysters, and in Court;
Indifferent there the greatest space hath got;
Some pitty'is not good there, some vaine disport,
On this side sinne, with that place may comport. 45
Yet he, as hee bounds seas, will fixe your houres,
Which pleasure, and delight may not ingresse,
And though what none else lost, be truliest yours,
Hee will make you, what you did not, possesse,
By using others, not vice, but weakenesse. 50
He will make you speake truths, and credibly,
And make you doubt, that others doe not so:
Hee will provide you keyes, and locks, to spie,
And scape spies, to good ends, and hee will show
What you may not acknowledge, what not know. 55
For your owne conscience, he gives innocence,
But for your fame, a discreet warinesse,
And though to scape, then to revenge offence
Be better, he showes both, and to represse
_Ioy_, when your state swells, _sadnesse_ when'tis lesse. 60
From need of teares he will defend your soule,
Or make a rebaptizing of one teare;
Hee cannot, (that's, he will not) dis-inroule
Your name; and when with active joy we heare
This private Ghospell, then'tis our New Yeare. 65
[To the _&c.
_ _1633-69:_ To the Countesse of B. at New-yeares
tide. _N_, _O'F_, _TCD_]
[3-4 (Meteor-like, . . . disputation is,) _1635-69_]
[9 true _Ed:_ true, _1633_ true. _1635-69_]
[10 is, _Ed:_ is _1633-69_ (_in 1633 the interval shows that a
comma was intended_)
times] time _1633_]
[12 such. _Ed:_ such, _1633-69_]
[16 short-liv'd] short liv'd _1633_]
[17 fast,] fast _1633_]
[18 spirits: _Ed:_ spirit: _1633:_ spirits; _1635-69_]
[19 cherish, us doe _1633:_ cherish us, doe _1635-69_]
[27 I, _Ed:_ I _1633-69_]
[28 (One corne . . . and lesse,) _1635-69_]
[29 name, know,] _no commas 1633-69_]
[30 And not an inch, _1633:_ And (not an inch) _1635-69_
infinity. ] infinite. _1669_]
[35 praiser prayes. _1635-69_, _O'F:_ prayer prayes. _1633:_
prayer praise. _N_, _TCD_]
[37 _blood_;] _blood_, _1633_]
[39 doubts;] doubts, _1633_]
[42 Court; _Ed:_ Court, _1633-69_]
[43 got; _Ed:_ got, _1633-69_]
[44 pitty' _1633-69:_ piety _James Russell Lowell, in Grolier
note_. _See note_]
[45 On this side sinne, _Ed_ (_from Chambers_): On this side,
sinne; _1633:_ On this side, sin, _1635-69_. _See note_]
[46 he, _Ed:_ he _1633-69_]
[47 Which] With _1633_]
[55 may] will _1669_]
[58-9 (though to scape . . . Be better,) _1635-69_]
[65 New Yeare. ] new yeare, _1633_]
_To the Countesse of Huntingdon. _
MADAME,
Man to Gods image; _Eve_, to mans was made,
Nor finde wee that God breath'd a soule in her,
Canons will not Church functions you invade,
Nor lawes to civill office you preferre.
Who vagrant transitory Comets sees, 5
Wonders, because they'are rare; But a new starre
Whose motion with the firmament agrees,
Is miracle; for, there no new things are;
In woman so perchance milde innocence
A seldome comet is, but active good 10
A miracle, which reason scapes, and sense;
For, Art and Nature this in them withstood.
As such a starre, the _Magi_ led to view
The manger-cradled infant, God below:
By vertues beames by fame deriv'd from you, 15
May apt soules, and the worst may, vertue know.
If the worlds age, and death be argued well
By the Sunnes fall, which now towards earth doth bend,
Then we might feare that vertue, since she fell
So low as woman, should be neare her end. 20
But she's not stoop'd, but rais'd; exil'd by men
She fled to heaven, that's heavenly things, that's you;
She was in all men, thinly scatter'd then,
But now amass'd, contracted in a few.
She guilded us: But you are gold, and Shee; 25
Us she inform'd, but transubstantiates you;
Soft dispositions which ductile bee,
Elixarlike, she makes not cleane, but new.
Though you a wifes and mothers name retaine,
'Tis not as woman, for all are not soe, 30
But vertue having made you vertue,'is faine
T'adhere in these names, her and you to show,
Else, being alike pure, wee should neither see;
As, water being into ayre rarify'd,
Neither appeare, till in one cloud they bee, 35
So, for our sakes you do low names abide;
Taught by great constellations, which being fram'd,
Of the most starres, take low names, _Crab_ and _Bull_,
When single planets by the _Gods_ are nam'd,
You covet not great names, of great things full. 40
So you, as woman, one doth comprehend,
And in the vaile of kindred others see;
To some ye are reveal'd, as in a friend,
And as a vertuous Prince farre off, to mee.
To whom, because from you all vertues flow, 45
And 'tis not none, to dare contemplate you,
I, which doe so, as your true subject owe
Some tribute for that, so these lines are due.
If you can thinke these flatteries, they are,
For then your judgement is below my praise, 50
If they were so, oft, flatteries worke as farre,
As Counsels, and as farre th'endeavour raise.
So my ill reaching you might there grow good,
But I remaine a poyson'd fountaine still;
But not your beauty, vertue, knowledge, blood 55
Are more above all flattery, then my will.
And if I flatter any,'tis not you
But my owne judgement, who did long agoe
Pronounce, that all these praises should be true,
And vertue should your beauty,'and birth outgrow. 60
Now that my prophesies are all fulfill'd,
Rather then God should not be honour'd too,
And all these gifts confess'd, which hee instill'd,
Your selfe were bound to say that which I doe.
So I, but your Recorder am in this, 65
Or mouth, or Speaker of the universe,
A ministeriall Notary, for'tis
Not I, but you and fame, that make this verse;
I was your Prophet in your yonger dayes,
And now your Chaplaine, God in you to praise. 70
[To the _&c. _ _1633-69_, _O'F:_ To the C. of H. _N_, _TCD_]
[1 image;] image, _1633_
mans] man _1650-69_]
[9 woman] women _1669_]
[13 the] which _1633_
_Magi_] Magis _N_, _O'F_, _TCD:_ _compare p. _ 243, _l. _ 390]
[14 below: _Ed:_ below. _1633-69_]
[15 beames by . . . you, _1633:_ beames (by . . . you) _1633-69_]
[16 may, _Ed:_ may _1633-69_]
[22 you; _Ed:_ you, _1633-69_]
[24 amass'd, _1633_, _O'F:_ a masse _1635-69_, _N_, _TCD_]
[25-6 But you are gold, and Shee; . . . transubstantiates you;
_Ed:_ But you are gold, and Shee, . . . transubstantiates you,
_1633:_
but you are gold; and she,
Informed us, but transubstantiates you,
_1635-69_, _Chambers_ (_but no comma after_ and she _and colon
or full stop after_ you _1650-69_, _Chambers_)]
[33 see; _Ed:_ see, _1633-69_]
[37-9 (which being . . . are nam'd) _1635-69_]
[42 vaile] vale _1669_]
[43 ye _1633:_ you _1635-69_]
[47 doe so, _1635-69_, _O'F:_ doe _N_, _TCD:_ to you _1633_]
[48 due. ] due, _1633_]
[55 But _1633_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCD:_ And _1635-69_, _Chambers_]
[64 that] thar _1633_]
[66 or Speaker _1633:_ and Speaker _1635-69_]
[67 Notary,] notary, _1633_]
To M^r _T. W. _
All haile sweet Poet, more full of more strong fire,
Then hath or shall enkindle any spirit,
I lov'd what nature gave thee, but this merit
Of wit and Art I love not but admire;
Who have before or shall write after thee, 5
Their workes, though toughly laboured, will bee
Like infancie or age to mans firme stay,
Or earely and late twilights to mid-day.
Men say, and truly, that they better be
Which be envyed then pittied: therefore I, 10
Because I wish thee best, doe thee envie:
O wouldst thou, by like reason, pitty mee!
But care not for mee: I, that ever was
In Natures, and in Fortunes gifts, alas,
(Before thy grace got in the Muses Schoole 15
A monster and a begger,) am now a foole.
Oh how I grieve, that late borne modesty
Hath got such root in easie waxen hearts,
That men may not themselves, their owne good parts
Extoll, without suspect of surquedrie, 20
For, but thy selfe, no subject can be found
Worthy thy quill, nor any quill resound
Thy worth but thine: how good it were to see
A Poem in thy praise, and writ by thee.
Now if this song be too'harsh for rime, yet, as 25
The Painters bad god made a good devill,
'Twill be good prose, although the verse be evill,
If thou forget the rime as thou dost passe.
Then write, that I may follow, and so bee
Thy debter, thy'eccho, thy foyle, thy zanee. 30
I shall be thought, if mine like thine I shape,
All the worlds Lyon, though I be thy Ape.
[To M^r T. W. : _P_, _S_, _W:_ To M. I. W. _1633-69_, _A18_,
_N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ A Letter. To M^r T. W. _O'F:_ Ad amicum.
_S96:_ _no title_, _B_, _Cy_]
[1 more full] and full _1669_]
[2 any spirit, _1633_, _A18_, _Cy_, _N_, _P_, _TC_, _W:_ my
dull spirit, _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _S_]
[3 this merit _1633_, _A18_, _Cy_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TC_, _W:_
thy merit _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _Chambers_]
[11 thee . . . thee] the . . . the _1669_]
[12 mee! _Ed:_ mee. _W:_ mee, _1633-69_]
[13 mee: _Ed:_ mee, _1633-69_
ever was] never was _B_, _P_, _S96_]
[14-16
In Natures, and in Fortunes gifts, alas,
(Before . . . and a begger,)
_Ed:_
In Natures, and in fortunes gifts, (alas,
Before thy grace got in the Muses Schoole)
A monster and a begger,
_1633_ (_some copies:_ _others read_ 15 Before by thy grace
_&c. _, _which is also the Grolier conjecture_), _A18_, _Cy_,
_N_, _P_, _S_, _TC_, _W_ (_but W and some of the other MSS.
have no brackets_):
In Natures, and in fortunes gifts, alas,
(But for thy grace got in the Muses Schoole)
A Monster and a beggar,
_1635-69_, _O'F_, _Chambers_
In fortunes, nor (or _S96_) in natures gifts alas,
But by thy grace, _&c. _
_B_, _S96_. _See note_]
[16 am now a foole. _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _W:_ am a
foole. _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _N_, _TC_]
[23 worth _1669_, _B_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _W:_ worke
_1633-54_, _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[27 evill, _W:_ evill. _1633-69_, _Chambers_]
[28 passe. _W:_ passe, _1633-69_, _Chambers_]
[29 that I _1669_, _B_, _Cy_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _W:_ then
I _1633-54_, _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[30 Thy debter, thy'eccho _1633-54:_ Thy eccho, thy debtor
_1669_
thy zanee. ] and thy Zanee. _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[31 if . . . shape] _brackets_ _1635-69_]
To M _T. W. _
Hast thee harsh verse, as fast as thy lame measure
Will give thee leave, to him, my pain and pleasure.
I have given thee, and yet thou art too weake,
Feete, and a reasoning soule and tongue to speake.
Plead for me, and so by thine and my labour 5
I am thy Creator, thou my Saviour.
Tell him, all questions, which men have defended
Both of the place and paines of hell, are ended;
And 'tis decreed our hell is but privation
Of him, at least in this earths habitation: 10
And 'tis where I am, where in every street
Infections follow, overtake, and meete:
Live I or die, by you my love is sent,
And you'are my pawnes, or else my Testament.
[To M^r T. W. : _O'F_, _W:_ To M. T. W. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_,
_TCC_, _TCD_]
[1 verse, _1669:_ verse _1633-54_]
[2 to him, my pain and pleasure. _W_, _and Chambers_ (_without
comma_): to him; My pain, and pleasure _1633-69:_ to him. My
pain and pleasure, _Grolier_]
[4 Feete, . . . soule _W:_ _no comma_ _1633:_ Feete . . . soule,
_1635-69_]
[5-6 _These lines only in W_]
[9 our] that _W_]
[14 And you'are _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC_, _W:_ You are
_1635-69_, _O'F_
pawnes] _om. with space_, _W_]
To M^r _T. W. _
Pregnant again with th'old twins Hope, and Feare,
Oft have I askt for thee, both how and where
Thou wert, and what my hopes of letters were;
As in our streets sly beggers narrowly
Watch motions of the givers hand and eye, 5
And evermore conceive some hope thereby.
And now thy Almes is given, thy letter'is read,
The body risen againe, the which was dead,
And thy poore starveling bountifully fed.
After this banquet my Soule doth say grace, 10
And praise thee for'it, and zealously imbrace
Thy love; though I thinke thy love in this case
To be as gluttons, which say 'midst their meat,
They love that best of which they most do eat.
[To M^r T. W. _O'F_, _W:_ To M. T. W. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_,
_TCC_, _TCD_]
[5 Watch] Marke _W_
and eye, _A18_, _A23_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_, _W:_ or eye,
_1633-69_]
[12 love; _Ed:_ love, _1633-69_]
To M^r _T. W. _
At once, from hence, my lines and I depart,
I to my soft still walks, they to my Heart;
I to the Nurse, they to the child of Art;
Yet as a firme house, though the Carpenter
Perish, doth stand: As an Embassadour 5
Lyes safe, how e'r his king be in danger:
So, though I languish, prest with Melancholy,
My verse, the strict Map of my misery,
Shall live to see that, for whose want I dye.
Therefore I envie them, and doe repent, 10
That from unhappy mee, things happy'are sent;
Yet as a Picture, or bare Sacrament,
Accept these lines, and if in them there be
Merit of love, bestow that love on mee.
[To M^r T. W. _W:_ An Old Letter. _D_, _H49:_ A Letter. _S96:_
Letter. _O'F:_ _no heading_, _and following the preceding
without any interval_, _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ Incerto.
_1635-69_]
[5 As _W:_ as _1633-69_]
[7 Melancholy] Malancholy _1633_]
[14 of love,] of love _1633_]
To M^r _R. W. _
Zealously my Muse doth salute all thee,
Enquiring of that mistique trinitee
Whereof thou,'and all to whom heavens do infuse
Like fyer, are made; thy body, mind, and Muse.
Dost thou recover sicknes, or prevent? 5
Or is thy Mind travail'd with discontent?
Or art thou parted from the world and mee,
In a good skorn of the worlds vanitee?
Or is thy devout Muse retyr'd to sing
Vpon her tender Elegiaque string? 10
Our Minds part not, joyne then thy Muse with myne,
For myne is barren thus devorc'd from thyne.
[To M^r R. W. _A23_, _W:_ _first printed in Gosse's_ Life and
Letters of John Donne, _&c. _, 1899]
[1 thee,] thee _W_]
To M^r _R. W. _
Mvse not that by thy mind thy body is led:
For by thy mind, my mind's distempered.
So thy Care lives long, for I bearing part
It eates not only thyne, but my swolne hart.
And when it gives us intermission 5
We take new harts for it to feede upon.
But as a Lay Mans Genius doth controule
Body and mind; the Muse beeing the Soules Soule
Of Poets, that methinks should ease our anguish,
Although our bodyes wither and minds languish. 10
Wright then, that my griefes which thine got may bee
Cured by thy charming soveraigne melodee.
[M^r R. W. _A23_, _W:_ _printed here for the first time_]
To M^r _C. B. _
Thy friend, whom thy deserts to thee enchaine,
Urg'd by this unexcusable occasion,
Thee and the Saint of his affection
Leaving behinde, doth of both wants complaine;
And let the love I beare to both sustaine 5
No blott nor maime by this division,
Strong is this love which ties our hearts in one,
And strong that love pursu'd with amorous paine;
But though besides thy selfe I leave behind
Heavens liberall, and earths thrice-fairer Sunne, 10
Going to where sterne winter aye doth wonne,
Yet, loves hot fires, which martyr my sad minde,
Doe send forth scalding sighes, which have the Art
To melt all Ice, but that which walls her heart.
[To M^r C. B. : _A23_, _W:_ To M. C. B. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_,
_O'F_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[9 thy self] my self _1669_]
[10 liberall,] liberall _1633_
earths _1633_, _1669_, _A18_, _A23_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_, _W:_
the _1635-54_, _Chambers_
thrice fairer _A23_, _W:_ thrice-faire _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_,
_TC_]
[11 sterne _1633_, _A18_, _A23_, _N_, _TC_, _W:_ sterv'd
_1633-69_, _O'F_]
[13 forth] out _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
To M^r _E. G. _
Even as lame things thirst their perfection, so
The slimy rimes bred in our vale below,
Bearing with them much of my love and hart,
Fly unto that Parnassus, where thou art.
There thou oreseest London: Here I have beene, 5
By staying in London, too much overseene.
Now pleasures dearth our City doth posses,
Our Theaters are fill'd with emptines;
As lancke and thin is every street and way
As a woman deliver'd yesterday. 10
Nothing whereat to laugh my spleen espyes
But bearbaitings or Law exercise.
Therefore I'le leave it, and in the Country strive
Pleasure, now fled from London, to retrive.
Do thou so too: and fill not like a Bee 15
Thy thighs with hony, but as plenteously
As Russian Marchants, thy selfes whole vessell load,
And then at Winter retaile it here abroad.
Blesse us with Suffolks sweets; and as it is
Thy garden, make thy hive and warehouse this. 20
[To M^r E. G. _W:_ _first printed in Gosse's_ Life and Letters
of John Donne, _&c. _ 1899]
[5-6 beene, . . . London,] _no commas_, _W_]
[6 staying] staing _W_]
[7 dearth] dirth _W_]
[7-8 posses, . . . emptines;] posses . . . emptines. _W_]
To M^r _R. W. _
If, as mine is, thy life a slumber be,
Seeme, when thou read'st these lines, to dreame of me,
Never did Morpheus nor his brother weare
Shapes soe like those Shapes, whom they would appeare,
As this my letter is like me, for it 5
Hath my name, words, hand, feet, heart, minde and wit;
It is my deed of gift of mee to thee,
It is my Will, my selfe the Legacie.
So thy retyrings I love, yea envie,
Bred in thee by a wise melancholy, 10
That I rejoyce, that unto where thou art,
Though I stay here, I can thus send my heart,
As kindly'as any enamored Patient
His Picture to his absent Love hath sent.
All newes I thinke sooner reach thee then mee; 15
Havens are Heavens, and Ships wing'd Angels be,
The which both Gospell, and sterne threatnings bring;
Guyanaes harvest is nip'd in the spring,
I feare; And with us (me thinkes) Fate deales so
As with the Jewes guide God did; he did show 20
Him the rich land, but bar'd his entry in:
Oh, slownes is our punishment and sinne.
Perchance, these Spanish businesse being done,
Which as the Earth betweene the Moone and Sun
Eclipse the light which Guyana would give, 25
Our discontinued hopes we shall retrive:
But if (as all th'All must) hopes smoake away,
Is not Almightie Vertue'an India?
If men be worlds, there is in every one
Some thing to answere in some proportion 30
All the worlds riches: And in good men, this,
Vertue, our formes forme and our soules soule, is.
[To M^r R. W. _A18_, _A23_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _W:_ To
M. R.
_S96_, _TC_]
To S^r _Henry Wootton_.
Here's no more newes, then vertue,'I may as well
Tell you _Cales_, or S^t _Michaels_ tale for newes, as tell
That vice doth here habitually dwell.
Yet, as to'get stomachs, we walke up and downe,
And toyle to sweeten rest, so, may God frowne, 5
If, but to loth both, I haunt Court, or Towne.
For here no one is from the'extremitie
Of vice, by any other reason free,
But that the next to'him, still, is worse then hee.
In this worlds warfare, they whom rugged Fate, 10
(Gods Commissary,) doth so throughly hate,
As in'the Courts Squadron to marshall their state:
If they stand arm'd with seely honesty,
With wishing prayers, and neat integritie,
Like Indians'gainst Spanish hosts they bee. 15
Suspitious boldnesse to this place belongs,
And to'have as many eares as all have tongues;
Tender to know, tough to acknowledge wrongs.
Beleeve mee Sir, in my youths giddiest dayes,
When to be like the Court, was a playes praise, 20
Playes were not so like Courts, as Courts'are like playes.
Then let us at these mimicke antiques jeast,
Whose deepest projects, and egregious gests
Are but dull Moralls of a game at Chests.
But now'tis incongruity to smile, 25
Therefore I end; and bid farewell a while,
_At Court_; though _From Court_, were the better stile.
[To S^r Henry Wootton. _1633-69:_ _do. or_ A Letter to _&c. _
_B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _S_, _S96_ (_of these Cy
and S add_ From Court _and_ From y^e Court): From Court. _P:_
To M^r H. W. 20 Jul. 1598 at Court. _HN:_ To M^r H. W. 20 July
15098 (_sic_) At Court. _W:_ Jo: D: to M^r H: W: _A18_, _N_,
_TC:_ Another Letter. _JC_]
[1 newes] new _1669_]
[2 Tell you _Cales_, (_Calis_, _1633_) or _S^t Michaels_ tale
for newes, as tell _1633_, _A18_, _B_ (tales), _Cy_ (and S^t
Michaels tales), _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_
(tales), _P_, _S_, _S96_ (tales), _TC_, _W_ (_MSS. waver in
spelling--but_ Cales _Cy_, _HN_, _P:_) Tell you _Calis_,
or _Saint Michaels_ tales, as tell _1635-54_, _Chambers_
(Calais): Tell _Calis_, or Saint _Michaels_ Mount, as tell
_1669:_ Tell you Calais, or Saint Michaels Mount as tell
_1719:_ _All modern editions read_ Calais]
[6 or] and _1669_]
[9 to'him, still, _1633:_ to him, still, _1635-69:_ to him is
still _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_]
[12 state: _1635-69:_ state _1633_]
[14 wishing prayers, _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _N_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_, _W:_ wishing, prayers, _1669_,
_HN:_ wishes, prayers, _1635-54_, _B_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_,
_Chambers_]
[20 playes] players _1639-69_]
[21 are like _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_S_, _S96_ (are now like), _TC_, _W:_ are _om. (metri causa)
1635-69_, _B_, _Cy_, _JC_, _O'F_]
[23-4
are egregeous guests,
And but dull Morals at a game of Chests.
_1669_]
[25 now'tis] 'tis an _1669_]
[27 _At Court;_ though, _From Court, &c. _ _W:_ _At Court_,
though from Court, _&c. _ _1633-69_]
_H: W: in Hiber: belligeranti. _
Went you to conquer? and have so much lost
Yourself, that what in you was best and most,
Respective friendship, should so quickly dye?
In publique gaine my share'is not such that I
Would lose your love for Ireland: better cheap 5
I pardon death (who though he do not reap
Yet gleanes hee many of our frends away)
Then that your waking mind should bee a prey
To lethargies. Lett shott, and boggs, and skeines
With bodies deale, as fate bids and restreynes; 10
Ere sicknesses attack, yong death is best,
Who payes before his death doth scape arrest.
Lett not your soule (at first with graces fill'd,
And since, and thorough crooked lymbecks, still'd
In many schools and courts, which quicken it,) 15
It self unto the Irish negligence submit.
I aske not labored letters which should weare
Long papers out: nor letters which should feare
Dishonest carriage: or a seers art:
Nor such as from the brayne come, but the hart. 20
[H: W: _&c. _ _Burley MS. _ (JD _in margin_) _i. e. _ Henrico
Wottoni in Hibernia belligeranti]
[2 that] y^t _Bur, and similarly_ y^e (the), y^r (your),
w^{ch} (which), w^{th} (with) _throughout_]
[2-3 most, Respective friendship,] _no commas_, _Bur_]
[4 share'is] share is _Bur_]
[9 lethargies. ] letargies. _Bur_]
[10 restreynes;] restreynes _Bur_]
[11 attack,] attack _Bur_
best,] best _Bur_]
[13 (at first] _Bur closes bracket after_ first _and again
after_ 15 quicken it,]
[14 since,] since _Bur_]
[19 art:] art _Bur_]
_To the Countesse of Bedford. _
MADAME,
Reason is our Soules left hand, Faith her right,
By these wee reach divinity, that's you;
Their loves, who have the blessings of your light,
Grew from their reason, mine from faire faith grew.
But as, although a squint lefthandednesse 5
Be'ungracious, yet we cannot want that hand,
So would I, not to encrease, but to expresse
My faith, as I beleeve, so understand.
Therefore I study you first in your Saints,
Those friends, whom your election glorifies, 10
Then in your deeds, accesses, and restraints,
And what you reade, and what your selfe devize.
But soone, the reasons why you'are lov'd by all,
Grow infinite, and so passe reasons reach,
Then backe againe to'implicite faith I fall, 15
And rest on what the Catholique voice doth teach;
That you are good: and not one Heretique
Denies it: if he did, yet you are so.
For, rockes, which high top'd and deep rooted sticke,
Waves wash, not undermine, nor overthrow. 20
In every thing there naturally growes
A _Balsamum_ to keepe it fresh, and new,
If'twere not injur'd by extrinsique blowes;
Your birth and beauty are this Balme in you.
But you of learning and religion, 25
And vertue,'and such ingredients, have made
A methridate, whose operation
Keepes off, or cures what can be done or said.
Yet, this is not your physicke, but your food,
A dyet fit for you; for you are here 30
The first good Angell, since the worlds frame stood,
That ever did in womans shape appeare.
Since you are then Gods masterpeece, and so
His Factor for our loves; do as you doe,
Make your returne home gracious; and bestow 35
This life on that; so make one life of two.
For so God helpe mee,'I would not misse you there
For all the good which you can do me here.
[To the Countesse of Bedford. _1633-69:_ _do. or_ To the
Countesse of B. _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _M_, _N_,
_O'F_, _RP31_, _S_, _S96_, _TCD_]
[3 blessings _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ blessing _1635-69_,
_B_, _Cy_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCD_
light, _1633-69:_ sight, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _RP31_, _S_, _TCD_]
[4 faire _1633-69_, _L74_, _N_, _TCD:_ farr _B_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H49_, _Lec_, _M_, _O'F_, _RP31_, _S_, _S96_]
[16 what] that _Chambers_
voice _1635-69_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _M_,
_N_, _O'F_, _S96_, _TCD:_ faith _1633_, _RP31_, _S_]
[19 high top'd and deep rooted _1633_, _N_, _TCD:_ high to
sense deepe-rooted _1635-54_, _O'F_, _Chambers_ (_who has
overlooked 1633 reading:_) high to sense and deepe-rooted
_S96:_ high to sun and deepe-rooted _L74_, _RP31_, _S:_ high
do seem, deep-rooted _1669_, _Cy_ (_but MS. with_ and): high
to some, and deepe-rooted _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ high to seeme,
and deepe-rooted _B_. _See note_]
[25 But _Ed:_ But, _1633-69_]
[36 This, _1635-69_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _RP31_, _S_, _TCD_, _Grosart and Chambers:_ Thy _1633_,
_Grolier_. _See note_]
_To the Countesse of Bedford. _
MADAME,
You have refin'd mee, and to worthyest things
(Vertue, Art, Beauty, Fortune,) now I see
Rarenesse, or use, not nature value brings;
And such, as they are circumstanc'd, they bee.
Two ills can ne're perplexe us, sinne to'excuse; 5
But of two good things, we may leave and chuse.
Therefore at Court, which is not vertues clime,
(Where a transcendent height, (as, lownesse mee)
Makes her not be, or not show) all my rime
Your vertues challenge, which there rarest bee; 10
For, as darke texts need notes: there some must bee
To usher vertue, and say, _This is shee. _
So in the country'is beauty; to this place
You are the season (Madame) you the day,
'Tis but a grave of spices, till your face 15
Exhale them, and a thick close bud display.
Widow'd and reclus'd else, her sweets she'enshrines;
As China, when the Sunne at Brasill dines.
Out from your chariot, morning breaks at night,
And falsifies both computations so; 20
Since a new world doth rise here from your light,
We your new creatures, by new recknings goe.
This showes that you from nature lothly stray,
That suffer not an artificiall day.
In this you'have made the Court the Antipodes, 25
And will'd your Delegate, the vulgar Sunne,
To doe profane autumnall offices,
Whilst here to you, wee sacrificers runne;
And whether Priests, or Organs, you wee'obey,
We sound your influence, and your Dictates say. 30
Yet to that Deity which dwels in you,
Your vertuous Soule, I now not sacrifice;
These are _Petitions_ and not _Hymnes_; they sue
But that I may survay the edifice.
In all Religions as much care hath bin 35
Of Temples frames, and beauty,'as Rites within.
As all which goe to Rome, doe not thereby
Esteeme religions, and hold fast the best,
But serve discourse, and curiosity,
With that which doth religion but invest, 40
And shunne th'entangling laborinths of Schooles,
And make it wit, to thinke the wiser fooles:
So in this pilgrimage I would behold
You as you'are vertues temple, not as shee,
What walls of tender christall her enfold, 45
What eyes, hands, bosome, her pure Altars bee;
And after this survay, oppose to all
Bablers of Chappels, you th'Escuriall.
Yet not as consecrate, but merely'as faire,
On these I cast a lay and country eye. 50
Of past and future stories, which are rare,
I finde you all record, and prophecie.
Purge but the booke of Fate, that it admit
No sad nor guilty legends, you are it.
If good and lovely were not one, of both 55
You were the transcript, and originall,
The Elements, the Parent, and the Growth,
And every peece of you, is both their All:
So'intire are all your deeds, and you, that you
Must do the same thinge still; you cannot two. 60
But these (as nice thinne Schoole divinity
Serves heresie to furder or represse)
Tast of Poetique rage, or flattery,
And need not, where all hearts one truth professe;
Oft from new proofes, and new phrase, new doubts grow, 65
As strange attire aliens the men wee know.
Leaving then busie praise, and all appeale
To higher Courts, senses decree is true,
The Mine, the Magazine, the Commonweale,
The story of beauty,'in Twicknam is, and you. 70
Who hath seene one, would both; As, who had bin
In Paradise, would seeke the Cherubin.
[the Countesse of Bedford. _1633-69:_ _similarly or with
no title_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_,
_TCD_]
[2 (Vertue, . . . Fortune,)] _brackets Ed:_ Fortune, _1633:_
Fortune; _1635-69_, _Grolier:_ Fortune. _Chambers_. _See
note_]
[5 ne're] nere _1633_]
[6 and] or _1669_]
[8-9 _1633 begins to bracket_ (Where . . . not show) _but does
not finish, putting a colon after_ show: _the others drop the
larger brackets, retaining the smaller_ (as . . . mee)]
[9 be] see _1669_
show] show: _1633-54:_ show. _1669_]
[11 notes: there some _1633-54:_ notes some: there _1669_]
[17 enshrines; _1719:_ enshrines _1633-69_]
[20 computations so; _1633-69:_ computations; so, _Chambers_]
[42 fooles:] fooles. _1633_]
[48 Bablers _1633:_ Babblers _1635-54:_ Builders _1669_]
[49 faire, _Ed:_ faire; _1633-69_]
[50 eye. ] eye, _1633_]
[52 and prophecie] all prophecye _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _TCD_ prophecie. ] prophecie, _1633 some copies_]
[57 Parent] Parents _1669_ Growth, _1669:_ Growth _1633-54_]
[58 both _1633 and MSS. :_ worth _1635-69_, _O'F_ All: _Ed:_
All, _1633-69_]
[60 thinge _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _N_, _O'F:_ things
_1633-69_, _Lec_]
[61 nice thinne _1633-54:_ nicest _1669_]
[66 aliens _1633_, _1669 and MSS. :_ alters _1635-54_, _O'F_]
[67 and] end _1669_, _not_ lend _as in Chambers' note_
appeale _Ed:_ appeale, _1633-69_]
[68 true, _1633:_ true. _1635-69_]
[71 had bin _1633-35:_ hath bin _1639-69_. _See note_]
To S^r _Edward Herbert_. at _Iulyers_.
Man is a lumpe, where all beasts kneaded bee,
Wisdome makes him an Arke where all agree;
The foole, in whom these beasts do live at jarre,
Is sport to others, and a Theater;
Nor scapes hee so, but is himselfe their prey, 5
All which was man in him, is eate away,
And now his beasts on one another feed,
Yet couple'in anger, and new monsters breed.
How happy'is hee, which hath due place assign'd
To'his beasts, and disaforested his minde! 10
Empail'd himselfe to keepe them out, not in;
Can sow, and dares trust corne, where they have bin;
Can use his horse, goate, wolfe, and every beast,
And is not Asse himselfe to all the rest.
Else, man not onely is the heard of swine, 15
But he's those devills too, which did incline
Them to a headlong rage, and made them worse:
For man can adde weight to heavens heaviest curse.
As Soules (they say) by our first touch, take in
The poysonous tincture of Originall sinne, 20
So, to the punishments which God doth fling,
Our apprehension contributes the sting.
To us, as to his chickins, he doth cast
Hemlocke, and wee as men, his hemlocke taste;
We do infuse to what he meant for meat, 25
Corrosivenesse, or intense cold or heat.
For, God no such specifique poyson hath
As kills we know not how; his fiercest wrath
Hath no antipathy, but may be good
At lest for physicke, if not for our food. 30
Thus man, that might be'his pleasure, is his rod,
And is his devill, that might be his God.
Since then our businesse is, to rectifie
Nature, to what she was, wee'are led awry
By them, who man to us in little show; 35
Greater then due, no forme we can bestow
On him; for Man into himselfe can draw
All; All his faith can swallow,'or reason chaw.
All that is fill'd, and all that which doth fill,
All the round world, to man is but a pill, 40
In all it workes not, but it is in all
Poysonous, or purgative, or cordiall,
For, knowledge kindles Calentures in some,
And is to others icy _Opium_.
As brave as true, is that profession than 45
Which you doe use to make; that you know man.
This makes it credible; you have dwelt upon
All worthy bookes, and now are such an one.
Actions are authors, and of those in you
Your friends finde every day a mart of new. 50
[To S^r Edward _&c. _ _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F:_ A
Letter to S^r Edward Herbert (_or_ Harbert). _B_, _Cy_ (_which
adds_ Incerti Authoris), _S96:_ To Sir E. H. _A18_, _N_, _TC:_
_no title_, _P:_ Elegia Vicesima Tertia. _S:_ To S^r Edward
Herbert, now (since _1669_) Lord Herbert of Cherbury, being at
the siege of Iulyers. _1635-69_]
[4 Theater; _Ed:_ Theater, _1633-69:_ Theater. _D_]
[5 prey, _Ed:_ prey; _1633-69_]
[8 breed. ] breed; _1633_]
[10 minde! _Ed:_ minde? _1633-69_]
[17 a headlong] a _om. 1669:_ an headlong _1635-54_]
[24 taste; _Ed:_ taste. _1633-69_]
[28 we know _1633 and MSS. :_ men know _1635-69_, _O'F_]
[35 show; _1669:_ show, _1633-54_, _Chambers_]
[36 due, _1633-69:_ due; _Chambers_. _See note_]
[38 All; All _1669:_ All: All _1635-54:_ All, All _1633_
chaw. _1633:_ chaw, _1635-69_, _Grolier_]
[39 fill, _1633-54:_ fill _1669:_ fill; _Grolier_]
[44 icy] jcy _1633_]
[47-8 credible; . . . bookes, _Ed:_ credible, . . . bookes;
_1633-69:_ credible . . . bookes _Grolier_]
_To the Countesse of Bedford. _
T'have written then, when you writ, seem'd to mee
Worst of spirituall vices, Simony,
And not t'have written then, seemes little lesse
Then worst of civill vices, thanklessenesse.
In this, my debt I seem'd loath to confesse, 5
In that, I seem'd to shunne beholdingnesse.
But 'tis not soe; _nothings_, as I am, may
Pay all they have, and yet have all to pay.
Such borrow in their payments, and owe more
By having leave to write so, then before. 10
Yet since rich mines in barren grounds are showne,
May not I yeeld (not gold) but coale or stone?
Temples were not demolish'd, though prophane:
Here _Peter Ioves_, there _Paul_ hath _Dian's_ Fane.
So whether my hymnes you admit or chuse, 15
In me you'have hallowed a Pagan Muse,
And denizend a stranger, who mistaught
By blamers of the times they mard, hath sought
Vertues in corners, which now bravely doe
Shine in the worlds best part, or all It; You. 20
I have beene told, that vertue in Courtiers hearts
Suffers an Ostracisme, and departs.
Profit, ease, fitnesse, plenty, bid it goe,
But whither, only knowing you, I know;
Your (or you) vertue two vast uses serves, 25
It ransomes one sex, and one Court preserves.
There's nothing but your worth, which being true,
Is knowne to any other, not to you:
And you can never know it; To admit
No knowledge of your worth, is some of it. 30
But since to you, your praises discords bee,
Stoop, others ills to meditate with mee.
Oh! to confesse wee know not what we should,
Is halfe excuse; wee know not what we would:
Lightnesse depresseth us, emptinesse fills, 35
We sweat and faint, yet still goe downe the hills.
As new Philosophy arrests the Sunne,
And bids the passive earth about it runne,
So wee have dull'd our minde, it hath no ends;
Onely the bodie's busie, and pretends; 40
As dead low earth ecclipses and controules
The quick high Moone: so doth the body, Soules.
In none but us, are such mixt engines found,
As hands of double office: For, the ground
We till with them; and them to heav'n wee raise; 45
Who prayer-lesse labours, or, without this, prayes,
Doth but one halfe, that's none; He which said, _Plough
And looke not back_, to looke up doth allow.
Good seed degenerates, and oft obeyes
The soyles disease, and into cockle strayes; 50
Let the minds thoughts be but transplanted so,
Into the body,'and bastardly they grow.
What hate could hurt our bodies like our love?
Wee (but no forraine tyrants could) remove
These not ingrav'd, but inborne dignities, 55
Caskets of soules; Temples, and Palaces:
For, bodies shall from death redeemed bee,
Soules but preserv'd, not naturally free.
As men to'our prisons, new soules to us are sent,
Which learne vice there, and come in innocent. 60
First seeds of every creature are in us,
What ere the world hath bad, or pretious,
Mans body can produce, hence hath it beene
That stones, wormes, frogges, and snakes in man are seene:
But who ere saw, though nature can worke soe, 65
That pearle, or gold, or corne in man did grow?
We'have added to the world Virginia,'and sent
Two new starres lately to the firmament;
Why grudge wee us (not heaven) the dignity
T'increase with ours, those faire soules company. 70
But I must end this letter, though it doe
Stand on two truths, neither is true to you,
Vertue hath some perversenesse; For she will
Neither beleeve her good, nor others ill.
Even in you, vertues best paradise, 75
Vertue hath some, but wise degrees of vice.
Too many vertues, or too much of one
Begets in you unjust suspition;
And ignorance of vice, makes vertue lesse,
Quenching compassion of our wrechednesse. 80
But these are riddles; Some aspersion
Of vice becomes well some complexion.
Statesmen purge vice with vice, and may corrode
The bad with bad, a spider with a toad:
For so, ill thralls not them, but they tame ill 85
And make her do much good against her will,
But in your Commonwealth, or world in you,
Vice hath no office, or good worke to doe.
Take then no vitious purge, but be content
With cordiall vertue, your knowne nourishment. 90
[the _&c. _ _1633-69:_ To the Countesse of B. _N_, _O'F_,
_TCD_]
[5 debt _1669_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCD:_ doubt _1633-54_]
[7 soe; _Ed:_ soe, _1633-54:_ soe. _1669_
_nothings_, _1635-54:_ _nothing_, _1633_, _N_, _TCD:_
_Nothing_ _1669_
may] may, _1633_]
[14 hath] have _1633:_ _om. _ _N_, _TCD_ (have _inserted_)
_Dian's_ _1635-54:_ Dian's _1633:_ _Dina's_ _1669_]
[20 or all It; You. _1635-54:_ or all it, you. _1669_, _N_,
_O'F_, _TCD:_ or all, in you. _1633_ (you, _some copies_)]
[25 Your (or you) vertue _O'F:_ Your, or you vertue,
_1633-54:_ You, or you vertue, _1669_]
[26 preserves. _Ed:_ preserves; _1633-69_]
[28 you:] you. _1633-39_]
[30 is some] it some _1633_]
[32 Stoop, others ills] Stoop (Stop _1633_) others ills,
_1633-54:_ Stoop others ills _1669_]
[34 excuse; _Ed:_ excuse, _1633-69_, _Grosart_ (_who
transposes_ should _and_ would), _Chambers:_ excuse _Grolier_.
_See note_
would: _Ed:_ would] _1633-69_]
[36 the hills. _Ed:_ the hills; _1633-69_]
[37 Philosophy. Phylosophy _1633 some copies_, _1669_]
[45 raise;] raise _1633_]
[46 this,] these _1669_]
[50 strayes; _Ed:_ strayes. _1633-69_]
[51 Let] Let but _1669_]
[54 Wee (but no forraine tyrants could) remove _Ed:_ Wee but
no forraine tyrants could, remove _O'F:_ Wee but no forraigne
tyrants could remove, _1633-54_ (tyrans _1633_): We, but no
forrain tyrants, could remove _1669_, _Chambers and Grolier_.
_See note_]
[55 dignities, _Ed:_ dignities _1633-69_]
[56 Palaces: _1633-35:_ Palaces. _1639-69_]
[58 not naturally free. _Ed:_ not naturally free; _1633_, _N_,
_TCD:_ borne naturally free; _1635-69_, _O'F_]
[59 prisons, new soules _1633:_ prisons now, soules _1635-69_,
_O'F:_ prisons, now soules _N_, _TCD_]
[60 vice _1635-69_, _O'F:_ it _1633_, _N_, _TCD_]
[66 That] That, _1633_
grow? _1639-69:_ grow. _1633-35_]
[74 ill. ] ill, _1633-35_]
[75 you, _1669:_ you _1635-54:_ your _1633_]
[78 suspition; _Ed:_ suspition. _1633-69_]
[79 makes] make _1635-39_]
[87 Commonwealth, . . . you,] _no commas 1633_]
_To the Countesse of_ Bedford.
_On New-yeares day. _
This twilight of two yeares, not past nor next,
Some embleme is of mee, or I of this,
Who Meteor-like, of stuffe and forme perplext,
Whose _what_, and _where_, in disputation is,
If I should call mee _any thing_, should misse. 5
I summe the yeares, and mee, and finde mee not
Debtor to th'old, nor Creditor to th'new,
That cannot say, My thankes I have forgot,
Nor trust I this with hopes, and yet scarce true
This bravery is, since these times shew'd mee you. 10
In recompence I would show future times
What you were, and teach them to'urge towards such.
Verse embalmes vertue;'and Tombs, or Thrones of rimes,
Preserve fraile transitory fame, as much
As spice doth bodies from corrupt aires touch. 15
Mine are short-liv'd; the tincture of your name
Creates in them, but dissipates as fast,
New spirits: for, strong agents with the same
Force that doth warme and cherish, us doe wast;
Kept hot with strong extracts, no bodies last: 20
So, my verse built of your just praise, might want
Reason and likelihood, the firmest Base,
And made of miracle, now faith is scant,
Will vanish soone, and so possesse no place,
And you, and it, too much grace might disgrace. 25
When all (as truth commands assent) confesse
All truth of you, yet they will doubt how I,
One corne of one low anthills dust, and lesse,
Should name, know, or expresse a thing so high,
And not an inch, measure infinity. 30
I cannot tell them, nor my selfe, nor you,
But leave, lest truth b'endanger'd by my praise,
And turne to God, who knowes I thinke this true,
And useth oft, when such a heart mis-sayes,
To make it good, for, such a praiser prayes. 35
Hee will best teach you, how you should lay out
His stock of _beauty_, _learning_, _favour_, _blood_;
He will perplex security with doubt,
And cleare those doubts; hide from you,'and shew you good,
And so increase your appetite and food; 40
Hee will teach you, that good and bad have not
One latitude in cloysters, and in Court;
Indifferent there the greatest space hath got;
Some pitty'is not good there, some vaine disport,
On this side sinne, with that place may comport. 45
Yet he, as hee bounds seas, will fixe your houres,
Which pleasure, and delight may not ingresse,
And though what none else lost, be truliest yours,
Hee will make you, what you did not, possesse,
By using others, not vice, but weakenesse. 50
He will make you speake truths, and credibly,
And make you doubt, that others doe not so:
Hee will provide you keyes, and locks, to spie,
And scape spies, to good ends, and hee will show
What you may not acknowledge, what not know. 55
For your owne conscience, he gives innocence,
But for your fame, a discreet warinesse,
And though to scape, then to revenge offence
Be better, he showes both, and to represse
_Ioy_, when your state swells, _sadnesse_ when'tis lesse. 60
From need of teares he will defend your soule,
Or make a rebaptizing of one teare;
Hee cannot, (that's, he will not) dis-inroule
Your name; and when with active joy we heare
This private Ghospell, then'tis our New Yeare. 65
[To the _&c.
_ _1633-69:_ To the Countesse of B. at New-yeares
tide. _N_, _O'F_, _TCD_]
[3-4 (Meteor-like, . . . disputation is,) _1635-69_]
[9 true _Ed:_ true, _1633_ true. _1635-69_]
[10 is, _Ed:_ is _1633-69_ (_in 1633 the interval shows that a
comma was intended_)
times] time _1633_]
[12 such. _Ed:_ such, _1633-69_]
[16 short-liv'd] short liv'd _1633_]
[17 fast,] fast _1633_]
[18 spirits: _Ed:_ spirit: _1633:_ spirits; _1635-69_]
[19 cherish, us doe _1633:_ cherish us, doe _1635-69_]
[27 I, _Ed:_ I _1633-69_]
[28 (One corne . . . and lesse,) _1635-69_]
[29 name, know,] _no commas 1633-69_]
[30 And not an inch, _1633:_ And (not an inch) _1635-69_
infinity. ] infinite. _1669_]
[35 praiser prayes. _1635-69_, _O'F:_ prayer prayes. _1633:_
prayer praise. _N_, _TCD_]
[37 _blood_;] _blood_, _1633_]
[39 doubts;] doubts, _1633_]
[42 Court; _Ed:_ Court, _1633-69_]
[43 got; _Ed:_ got, _1633-69_]
[44 pitty' _1633-69:_ piety _James Russell Lowell, in Grolier
note_. _See note_]
[45 On this side sinne, _Ed_ (_from Chambers_): On this side,
sinne; _1633:_ On this side, sin, _1635-69_. _See note_]
[46 he, _Ed:_ he _1633-69_]
[47 Which] With _1633_]
[55 may] will _1669_]
[58-9 (though to scape . . . Be better,) _1635-69_]
[65 New Yeare. ] new yeare, _1633_]
_To the Countesse of Huntingdon. _
MADAME,
Man to Gods image; _Eve_, to mans was made,
Nor finde wee that God breath'd a soule in her,
Canons will not Church functions you invade,
Nor lawes to civill office you preferre.
Who vagrant transitory Comets sees, 5
Wonders, because they'are rare; But a new starre
Whose motion with the firmament agrees,
Is miracle; for, there no new things are;
In woman so perchance milde innocence
A seldome comet is, but active good 10
A miracle, which reason scapes, and sense;
For, Art and Nature this in them withstood.
As such a starre, the _Magi_ led to view
The manger-cradled infant, God below:
By vertues beames by fame deriv'd from you, 15
May apt soules, and the worst may, vertue know.
If the worlds age, and death be argued well
By the Sunnes fall, which now towards earth doth bend,
Then we might feare that vertue, since she fell
So low as woman, should be neare her end. 20
But she's not stoop'd, but rais'd; exil'd by men
She fled to heaven, that's heavenly things, that's you;
She was in all men, thinly scatter'd then,
But now amass'd, contracted in a few.
She guilded us: But you are gold, and Shee; 25
Us she inform'd, but transubstantiates you;
Soft dispositions which ductile bee,
Elixarlike, she makes not cleane, but new.
Though you a wifes and mothers name retaine,
'Tis not as woman, for all are not soe, 30
But vertue having made you vertue,'is faine
T'adhere in these names, her and you to show,
Else, being alike pure, wee should neither see;
As, water being into ayre rarify'd,
Neither appeare, till in one cloud they bee, 35
So, for our sakes you do low names abide;
Taught by great constellations, which being fram'd,
Of the most starres, take low names, _Crab_ and _Bull_,
When single planets by the _Gods_ are nam'd,
You covet not great names, of great things full. 40
So you, as woman, one doth comprehend,
And in the vaile of kindred others see;
To some ye are reveal'd, as in a friend,
And as a vertuous Prince farre off, to mee.
To whom, because from you all vertues flow, 45
And 'tis not none, to dare contemplate you,
I, which doe so, as your true subject owe
Some tribute for that, so these lines are due.
If you can thinke these flatteries, they are,
For then your judgement is below my praise, 50
If they were so, oft, flatteries worke as farre,
As Counsels, and as farre th'endeavour raise.
So my ill reaching you might there grow good,
But I remaine a poyson'd fountaine still;
But not your beauty, vertue, knowledge, blood 55
Are more above all flattery, then my will.
And if I flatter any,'tis not you
But my owne judgement, who did long agoe
Pronounce, that all these praises should be true,
And vertue should your beauty,'and birth outgrow. 60
Now that my prophesies are all fulfill'd,
Rather then God should not be honour'd too,
And all these gifts confess'd, which hee instill'd,
Your selfe were bound to say that which I doe.
So I, but your Recorder am in this, 65
Or mouth, or Speaker of the universe,
A ministeriall Notary, for'tis
Not I, but you and fame, that make this verse;
I was your Prophet in your yonger dayes,
And now your Chaplaine, God in you to praise. 70
[To the _&c. _ _1633-69_, _O'F:_ To the C. of H. _N_, _TCD_]
[1 image;] image, _1633_
mans] man _1650-69_]
[9 woman] women _1669_]
[13 the] which _1633_
_Magi_] Magis _N_, _O'F_, _TCD:_ _compare p. _ 243, _l. _ 390]
[14 below: _Ed:_ below. _1633-69_]
[15 beames by . . . you, _1633:_ beames (by . . . you) _1633-69_]
[16 may, _Ed:_ may _1633-69_]
[22 you; _Ed:_ you, _1633-69_]
[24 amass'd, _1633_, _O'F:_ a masse _1635-69_, _N_, _TCD_]
[25-6 But you are gold, and Shee; . . . transubstantiates you;
_Ed:_ But you are gold, and Shee, . . . transubstantiates you,
_1633:_
but you are gold; and she,
Informed us, but transubstantiates you,
_1635-69_, _Chambers_ (_but no comma after_ and she _and colon
or full stop after_ you _1650-69_, _Chambers_)]
[33 see; _Ed:_ see, _1633-69_]
[37-9 (which being . . . are nam'd) _1635-69_]
[42 vaile] vale _1669_]
[43 ye _1633:_ you _1635-69_]
[47 doe so, _1635-69_, _O'F:_ doe _N_, _TCD:_ to you _1633_]
[48 due. ] due, _1633_]
[55 But _1633_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCD:_ And _1635-69_, _Chambers_]
[64 that] thar _1633_]
[66 or Speaker _1633:_ and Speaker _1635-69_]
[67 Notary,] notary, _1633_]
To M^r _T. W. _
All haile sweet Poet, more full of more strong fire,
Then hath or shall enkindle any spirit,
I lov'd what nature gave thee, but this merit
Of wit and Art I love not but admire;
Who have before or shall write after thee, 5
Their workes, though toughly laboured, will bee
Like infancie or age to mans firme stay,
Or earely and late twilights to mid-day.
Men say, and truly, that they better be
Which be envyed then pittied: therefore I, 10
Because I wish thee best, doe thee envie:
O wouldst thou, by like reason, pitty mee!
But care not for mee: I, that ever was
In Natures, and in Fortunes gifts, alas,
(Before thy grace got in the Muses Schoole 15
A monster and a begger,) am now a foole.
Oh how I grieve, that late borne modesty
Hath got such root in easie waxen hearts,
That men may not themselves, their owne good parts
Extoll, without suspect of surquedrie, 20
For, but thy selfe, no subject can be found
Worthy thy quill, nor any quill resound
Thy worth but thine: how good it were to see
A Poem in thy praise, and writ by thee.
Now if this song be too'harsh for rime, yet, as 25
The Painters bad god made a good devill,
'Twill be good prose, although the verse be evill,
If thou forget the rime as thou dost passe.
Then write, that I may follow, and so bee
Thy debter, thy'eccho, thy foyle, thy zanee. 30
I shall be thought, if mine like thine I shape,
All the worlds Lyon, though I be thy Ape.
[To M^r T. W. : _P_, _S_, _W:_ To M. I. W. _1633-69_, _A18_,
_N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ A Letter. To M^r T. W. _O'F:_ Ad amicum.
_S96:_ _no title_, _B_, _Cy_]
[1 more full] and full _1669_]
[2 any spirit, _1633_, _A18_, _Cy_, _N_, _P_, _TC_, _W:_ my
dull spirit, _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _S_]
[3 this merit _1633_, _A18_, _Cy_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TC_, _W:_
thy merit _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _Chambers_]
[11 thee . . . thee] the . . . the _1669_]
[12 mee! _Ed:_ mee. _W:_ mee, _1633-69_]
[13 mee: _Ed:_ mee, _1633-69_
ever was] never was _B_, _P_, _S96_]
[14-16
In Natures, and in Fortunes gifts, alas,
(Before . . . and a begger,)
_Ed:_
In Natures, and in fortunes gifts, (alas,
Before thy grace got in the Muses Schoole)
A monster and a begger,
_1633_ (_some copies:_ _others read_ 15 Before by thy grace
_&c. _, _which is also the Grolier conjecture_), _A18_, _Cy_,
_N_, _P_, _S_, _TC_, _W_ (_but W and some of the other MSS.
have no brackets_):
In Natures, and in fortunes gifts, alas,
(But for thy grace got in the Muses Schoole)
A Monster and a beggar,
_1635-69_, _O'F_, _Chambers_
In fortunes, nor (or _S96_) in natures gifts alas,
But by thy grace, _&c. _
_B_, _S96_. _See note_]
[16 am now a foole. _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _W:_ am a
foole. _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _N_, _TC_]
[23 worth _1669_, _B_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _W:_ worke
_1633-54_, _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[27 evill, _W:_ evill. _1633-69_, _Chambers_]
[28 passe. _W:_ passe, _1633-69_, _Chambers_]
[29 that I _1669_, _B_, _Cy_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _W:_ then
I _1633-54_, _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[30 Thy debter, thy'eccho _1633-54:_ Thy eccho, thy debtor
_1669_
thy zanee. ] and thy Zanee. _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[31 if . . . shape] _brackets_ _1635-69_]
To M _T. W. _
Hast thee harsh verse, as fast as thy lame measure
Will give thee leave, to him, my pain and pleasure.
I have given thee, and yet thou art too weake,
Feete, and a reasoning soule and tongue to speake.
Plead for me, and so by thine and my labour 5
I am thy Creator, thou my Saviour.
Tell him, all questions, which men have defended
Both of the place and paines of hell, are ended;
And 'tis decreed our hell is but privation
Of him, at least in this earths habitation: 10
And 'tis where I am, where in every street
Infections follow, overtake, and meete:
Live I or die, by you my love is sent,
And you'are my pawnes, or else my Testament.
[To M^r T. W. : _O'F_, _W:_ To M. T. W. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_,
_TCC_, _TCD_]
[1 verse, _1669:_ verse _1633-54_]
[2 to him, my pain and pleasure. _W_, _and Chambers_ (_without
comma_): to him; My pain, and pleasure _1633-69:_ to him. My
pain and pleasure, _Grolier_]
[4 Feete, . . . soule _W:_ _no comma_ _1633:_ Feete . . . soule,
_1635-69_]
[5-6 _These lines only in W_]
[9 our] that _W_]
[14 And you'are _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC_, _W:_ You are
_1635-69_, _O'F_
pawnes] _om. with space_, _W_]
To M^r _T. W. _
Pregnant again with th'old twins Hope, and Feare,
Oft have I askt for thee, both how and where
Thou wert, and what my hopes of letters were;
As in our streets sly beggers narrowly
Watch motions of the givers hand and eye, 5
And evermore conceive some hope thereby.
And now thy Almes is given, thy letter'is read,
The body risen againe, the which was dead,
And thy poore starveling bountifully fed.
After this banquet my Soule doth say grace, 10
And praise thee for'it, and zealously imbrace
Thy love; though I thinke thy love in this case
To be as gluttons, which say 'midst their meat,
They love that best of which they most do eat.
[To M^r T. W. _O'F_, _W:_ To M. T. W. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_,
_TCC_, _TCD_]
[5 Watch] Marke _W_
and eye, _A18_, _A23_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_, _W:_ or eye,
_1633-69_]
[12 love; _Ed:_ love, _1633-69_]
To M^r _T. W. _
At once, from hence, my lines and I depart,
I to my soft still walks, they to my Heart;
I to the Nurse, they to the child of Art;
Yet as a firme house, though the Carpenter
Perish, doth stand: As an Embassadour 5
Lyes safe, how e'r his king be in danger:
So, though I languish, prest with Melancholy,
My verse, the strict Map of my misery,
Shall live to see that, for whose want I dye.
Therefore I envie them, and doe repent, 10
That from unhappy mee, things happy'are sent;
Yet as a Picture, or bare Sacrament,
Accept these lines, and if in them there be
Merit of love, bestow that love on mee.
[To M^r T. W. _W:_ An Old Letter. _D_, _H49:_ A Letter. _S96:_
Letter. _O'F:_ _no heading_, _and following the preceding
without any interval_, _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ Incerto.
_1635-69_]
[5 As _W:_ as _1633-69_]
[7 Melancholy] Malancholy _1633_]
[14 of love,] of love _1633_]
To M^r _R. W. _
Zealously my Muse doth salute all thee,
Enquiring of that mistique trinitee
Whereof thou,'and all to whom heavens do infuse
Like fyer, are made; thy body, mind, and Muse.
Dost thou recover sicknes, or prevent? 5
Or is thy Mind travail'd with discontent?
Or art thou parted from the world and mee,
In a good skorn of the worlds vanitee?
Or is thy devout Muse retyr'd to sing
Vpon her tender Elegiaque string? 10
Our Minds part not, joyne then thy Muse with myne,
For myne is barren thus devorc'd from thyne.
[To M^r R. W. _A23_, _W:_ _first printed in Gosse's_ Life and
Letters of John Donne, _&c. _, 1899]
[1 thee,] thee _W_]
To M^r _R. W. _
Mvse not that by thy mind thy body is led:
For by thy mind, my mind's distempered.
So thy Care lives long, for I bearing part
It eates not only thyne, but my swolne hart.
And when it gives us intermission 5
We take new harts for it to feede upon.
But as a Lay Mans Genius doth controule
Body and mind; the Muse beeing the Soules Soule
Of Poets, that methinks should ease our anguish,
Although our bodyes wither and minds languish. 10
Wright then, that my griefes which thine got may bee
Cured by thy charming soveraigne melodee.
[M^r R. W. _A23_, _W:_ _printed here for the first time_]
To M^r _C. B. _
Thy friend, whom thy deserts to thee enchaine,
Urg'd by this unexcusable occasion,
Thee and the Saint of his affection
Leaving behinde, doth of both wants complaine;
And let the love I beare to both sustaine 5
No blott nor maime by this division,
Strong is this love which ties our hearts in one,
And strong that love pursu'd with amorous paine;
But though besides thy selfe I leave behind
Heavens liberall, and earths thrice-fairer Sunne, 10
Going to where sterne winter aye doth wonne,
Yet, loves hot fires, which martyr my sad minde,
Doe send forth scalding sighes, which have the Art
To melt all Ice, but that which walls her heart.
[To M^r C. B. : _A23_, _W:_ To M. C. B. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_,
_O'F_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[9 thy self] my self _1669_]
[10 liberall,] liberall _1633_
earths _1633_, _1669_, _A18_, _A23_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_, _W:_
the _1635-54_, _Chambers_
thrice fairer _A23_, _W:_ thrice-faire _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_,
_TC_]
[11 sterne _1633_, _A18_, _A23_, _N_, _TC_, _W:_ sterv'd
_1633-69_, _O'F_]
[13 forth] out _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
To M^r _E. G. _
Even as lame things thirst their perfection, so
The slimy rimes bred in our vale below,
Bearing with them much of my love and hart,
Fly unto that Parnassus, where thou art.
There thou oreseest London: Here I have beene, 5
By staying in London, too much overseene.
Now pleasures dearth our City doth posses,
Our Theaters are fill'd with emptines;
As lancke and thin is every street and way
As a woman deliver'd yesterday. 10
Nothing whereat to laugh my spleen espyes
But bearbaitings or Law exercise.
Therefore I'le leave it, and in the Country strive
Pleasure, now fled from London, to retrive.
Do thou so too: and fill not like a Bee 15
Thy thighs with hony, but as plenteously
As Russian Marchants, thy selfes whole vessell load,
And then at Winter retaile it here abroad.
Blesse us with Suffolks sweets; and as it is
Thy garden, make thy hive and warehouse this. 20
[To M^r E. G. _W:_ _first printed in Gosse's_ Life and Letters
of John Donne, _&c. _ 1899]
[5-6 beene, . . . London,] _no commas_, _W_]
[6 staying] staing _W_]
[7 dearth] dirth _W_]
[7-8 posses, . . . emptines;] posses . . . emptines. _W_]
To M^r _R. W. _
If, as mine is, thy life a slumber be,
Seeme, when thou read'st these lines, to dreame of me,
Never did Morpheus nor his brother weare
Shapes soe like those Shapes, whom they would appeare,
As this my letter is like me, for it 5
Hath my name, words, hand, feet, heart, minde and wit;
It is my deed of gift of mee to thee,
It is my Will, my selfe the Legacie.
So thy retyrings I love, yea envie,
Bred in thee by a wise melancholy, 10
That I rejoyce, that unto where thou art,
Though I stay here, I can thus send my heart,
As kindly'as any enamored Patient
His Picture to his absent Love hath sent.
All newes I thinke sooner reach thee then mee; 15
Havens are Heavens, and Ships wing'd Angels be,
The which both Gospell, and sterne threatnings bring;
Guyanaes harvest is nip'd in the spring,
I feare; And with us (me thinkes) Fate deales so
As with the Jewes guide God did; he did show 20
Him the rich land, but bar'd his entry in:
Oh, slownes is our punishment and sinne.
Perchance, these Spanish businesse being done,
Which as the Earth betweene the Moone and Sun
Eclipse the light which Guyana would give, 25
Our discontinued hopes we shall retrive:
But if (as all th'All must) hopes smoake away,
Is not Almightie Vertue'an India?
If men be worlds, there is in every one
Some thing to answere in some proportion 30
All the worlds riches: And in good men, this,
Vertue, our formes forme and our soules soule, is.
[To M^r R. W. _A18_, _A23_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _W:_ To
M. R.
