Shall they be damn'd, and in the furnace throwne,
And punisht for offences not their owne?
And punisht for offences not their owne?
Donne - 1
_
Here take my Picture; though I bid farewell,
Thine, in my heart, where my soule dwels, shall dwell.
'Tis like me now, but I dead, 'twill be more
When wee are shadowes both, then'twas before.
When weather-beaten I come backe; my hand, 5
Perhaps with rude oares torne, or Sun beams tann'd,
My face and brest of hairecloth, and my head
With cares rash sodaine stormes, being o'rspread,
My body'a sack of bones, broken within,
And powders blew staines scatter'd on my skinne; 10
If rivall fooles taxe thee to'have lov'd a man,
So foule, and course, as, Oh, I may seeme than,
This shall say what I was: and thou shalt say,
Doe his hurts reach mee? doth my worth decay?
Or doe they reach his judging minde, that hee 15
Should now love lesse, what hee did love to see?
That which in him was faire and delicate,
Was but the milke, which in loves childish state
Did nurse it: who now is growne strong enough
To feed on that, which to disused tasts seemes tough. 20
[Eleg. V. His Picture. _1635-54:_ Elegie V. _1633_, _1669:_
Elegye. (_numbered variously_) _A18_, _A25_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _W:_
The Picture. _P:_ Travelling he leaves his Picture with his
mystris. _B_]
[1 Picture; . . . farewell, _Ed:_ Picture, . . . farewell; _1633:_
_rest semicolon or colon after each_]
[8 With cares rash sodaine stormes, being o'rspread, _1633_,
_A18_, _N_, _TC:_ With cares rash, cruel, sudden storms
o'erspread _P:_ With cares rash-sudden cruel-storms o'erprest
_B:_ With cares rash sudden storms o'erpressed _S_, _S96:_
With cares rash sudden storms o'erspread _Cy_, _D_, _H49_,
_Lec:_ With cares rash sodaine horiness o'erspread _A25_,
_JC_, _W:_ With cares harsh sodaine horinesse o'rspread,
_1635-69_, _O'F_]
[16 now love lesse, _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ like and love
less _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S_, _S96_, _W_]
[19 nurse] nourish _A18_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TC_
strong] tough _P_]
[20 disused _Ed:_ disus'd _1633-39_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_,
_D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_,
_W:_ weake _1650-69_
tough. ] rough. _P_]
ELEGIE VI.
Oh, let mee not serve so, as those men serve
Whom honours smoakes at once fatten and sterve;
Poorely enrich't with great mens words or lookes;
Nor so write my name in thy loving bookes
As those Idolatrous flatterers, which still 5
Their Princes stiles, with many Realmes fulfill
Whence they no tribute have, and where no sway.
Such services I offer as shall pay
Themselves, I hate dead names: Oh then let mee
Favorite in Ordinary, or no favorite bee. 10
When my Soule was in her owne body sheath'd,
Nor yet by oathes betroth'd, nor kisses breath'd
Into my Purgatory, faithlesse thee,
Thy heart seem'd waxe, and steele thy constancie:
So, carelesse flowers strow'd on the waters face, 15
The curled whirlepooles suck, smack, and embrace,
Yet drowne them; so, the tapers beamie eye
Amorously twinkling, beckens the giddie flie,
Yet burnes his wings; and such the devill is,
Scarce visiting them, who are intirely his. 20
When I behold a streame, which, from the spring,
Doth with doubtfull melodious murmuring,
Or in a speechlesse slumber, calmely ride
Her wedded channels bosome, and then chide
And bend her browes, and swell if any bough 25
Do but stoop downe, or kisse her upmost brow;
Yet, if her often gnawing kisses winne
The traiterous banke to gape, and let her in,
She rusheth violently, and doth divorce
Her from her native, and her long-kept course, 30
And rores, and braves it, and in gallant scorne,
In flattering eddies promising retorne,
She flouts the channell, who thenceforth is drie;
Then say I; that is shee, and this am I.
Yet let not thy deepe bitternesse beget 35
Carelesse despaire in mee, for that will whet
My minde to scorne; and Oh, love dull'd with paine
Was ne'r so wise, nor well arm'd as disdaine.
Then with new eyes I shall survay thee,'and spie
Death in thy cheekes, and darknesse in thine eye. 40
Though hope bred faith and love; thus taught, I shall
As nations do from Rome, from thy love fall.
My hate shall outgrow thine, and utterly
I will renounce thy dalliance: and when I
Am the Recusant, in that resolute state, 45
What hurts it mee to be'excommunicate?
[Eleg. VI. _1635-69:_ Elegie VII. _1633_ (Elegie VI. _being_
Sorrow who to this house _&c. _ _See_ Epicedes _&c. _, _p. _
287): Elegie. (_numbered variously_) _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_,
_D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_,
_TCC_, _TCD_, _W_]
[2 fatten] flatter _1669_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _L74_, _N_, _TC_]
[3 or] and _A18_, _Cy_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _TC_]
[6 stiles, _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_,
_L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_, _S96_, _TC_, _W:_ style _A25_, _O'F_,
_S_, _Chambers and Grosart_
with _all MSS. , Chambers and Grosart:_ which (_probably by
confusion of_ w^{ch} _and_ w^{th}) _1633-69_
Realmes] names _1669_]
[7 where] bear _1669_]
[14 constancie: _1635-69:_ constancie. _1633_]
[24 then _1633_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S_, _S96_, _W:_
there _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _Cy_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_,
_TC_, _Chambers_]
[26 upmost _1633 and most MSS:_ utmost _1635-69_, _O'F_,
_Chambers_ brow; _Ed:_ brow: _1633-39:_ brow. _1650-69_]
[28 banke _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _N_, _S_, _TC_, _W:_ banks
_1633-69_, _Lec_, _O'F_]
[33 the _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ her _1635-69_, _A18_, _N_,
_TC_
who _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _JC_, _H49_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ which _1635-69_, _O'F_]
[37 Oh,] Ah, _1669_]
[39 thee,'] _om. 1669_]
[40 eye. _Ed:_ eye; _1633-54:_ eye: _1669:_ eye, _Chambers_]
[41 Though . . . love; _1633:_ Though . . . breed . . . love:
_1635-39:_ Though . . . breed . . . love _1650-69_ (Through . . .
_1669_)]
[42 fall. _1633-35:_ fall _1639-69_]
[43 outgrow] o'ergrow _Cy_, _P_]
ELEGIE VII.
Natures lay Ideot, I taught thee to love,
And in that sophistrie, Oh, thou dost prove
Too subtile: Foole, thou didst not understand
The mystique language of the eye nor hand:
Nor couldst thou judge the difference of the aire 5
Of sighes, and say, this lies, this sounds despaire:
Nor by the'eyes water call a maladie
Desperately hot, or changing feaverously.
I had not taught thee then, the Alphabet
Of flowers, how they devisefully being set 10
And bound up, might with speechlesse secrecie
Deliver arrands mutely, and mutually.
Remember since all thy words us'd to bee
To every suitor; _I_, _if my friends agree_;
Since, household charmes, thy husbands name to teach, 15
Were all the love trickes, that thy wit could reach;
And since, an houres discourse could scarce have made
One answer in thee, and that ill arraid
In broken proverbs, and torne sentences.
Thou art not by so many duties his, 20
That from the worlds Common having sever'd thee,
Inlaid thee, neither to be seene, nor see,
As mine: who have with amorous delicacies
Refin'd thee'into a blis-full Paradise.
Thy graces and good words my creatures bee; 25
I planted knowledge and lifes tree in thee,
Which Oh, shall strangers taste? Must I alas
Frame and enamell Plate, and drinke in Glasse?
Chafe waxe for others seales? breake a colts force
And leave him then, beeing made a ready horse? 30
[Elegie VII. _1635-69:_ Elegie VIII. _1633:_ Elegye.
(_numbered variously_) _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _M_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _W_]
[2 Oh, . . . prove] Oh, how . . . prove _1669_]
[6 despaire: _1635-69:_ despaire. _1633_]
[7 call _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _M_, _N_, _O'F_ (_corrected from_ know), _P_, _TC_,
_W:_ know _1635-69:_ cast _S_, _Chambers and Grosart_]
[10 they devisefully being set] their devise in being set
_Cy_, _P_]
[12 arrands _1633:_ errands _1635-69:_ meet errands _B_]
[14 _agree_; _Ed:_ _agree_. _1633-69_]
[21-2 That . . . nor see,] _in brackets 1669_]
[24 Paradise] paradise _1633_]
[25 words _1633-54_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_,
_W:_ works _1669_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _TC_
bee; _Ed:_ bee, _1633-69_]
[26 thee, _1633:_ thee: _1635-69_]
[28 Glasse? _Ed:_ glasse. _1633-69_]
ELEGIE VIII.
_The Comparison. _
As the sweet sweat of Roses in a Still,
As that which from chaf'd muskats pores doth trill,
As the Almighty Balme of th'early East,
Such are the sweat drops of my Mistris breast,
And on her <brow> her skin such lustre sets, 5
They seeme no sweat drops, but pearle coronets.
Ranke sweaty froth thy Mistresse's brow defiles,
Like spermatique issue of ripe menstruous boiles,
Or like the skumme, which, by needs lawlesse law
Enforc'd, Sanserra's starved men did draw 10
From parboild shooes, and bootes, and all the rest
Which were with any soveraigne fatnes blest,
And like vile lying stones in saffrond tinne,
Or warts, or wheales, they hang upon her skinne.
Round as the world's her head, on every side, 15
Like to the fatall Ball which fell on Ide,
Or that whereof God had such jealousie,
As, for the ravishing thereof we die.
Thy _head_ is like a rough-hewne statue of jeat,
Where marks for eyes, nose, mouth, are yet scarce set; 20
Like the first Chaos, or flat seeming face
Of Cynthia, when th'earths shadowes her embrace.
Like Proserpines white beauty-keeping chest,
Or Joues best fortunes urne, is her faire brest.
Thine's like worme eaten trunkes, cloth'd in seals skin, 25
Or grave, that's dust without, and stinke within.
And like that slender stalke, at whose end stands
The wood-bine quivering, are her armes and hands.
Like rough bark'd elmboughes, or the russet skin
Of men late scurg'd for madnes, or for sinne, 30
Like Sun-parch'd quarters on the citie gate,
Such is thy tann'd skins lamentable state.
And like a bunch of ragged carrets stand
The short swolne fingers of thy gouty hand.
Then like the Chymicks masculine equall fire, 35
Which in the Lymbecks warme wombe doth inspire
Into th'earths worthlesse durt a soule of gold,
Such cherishing heat her best lov'd part doth hold.
Thine's like the dread mouth of a fired gunne,
Or like hot liquid metalls newly runne 40
Into clay moulds, or like to that Ætna
Where round about the grasse is burnt away.
Are not your kisses then as filthy, and more,
As a worme sucking an invenom'd sore?
Doth not thy fearefull hand in feeling quake, 45
As one which gath'ring flowers, still feares a snake?
Is not your last act harsh, and violent,
As when a Plough a stony ground doth rent?
So kisse good Turtles, so devoutly nice
Are Priests in handling reverent sacrifice, 50
And such in searching wounds the Surgeon is
As wee, when wee embrace, or touch, or kisse.
Leave her, and I will leave comparing thus,
She, and comparisons are odious.
[Eleg. VIII. The Comparison. _1635-54:_ Elegie VIII. _1669:_
Elegie. _1633:_ Elegie. (_numbered variously_) _A18_, _A25_,
_B_, _C_, _Cy_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_,
_TCC_, _TCD_, _W_]
[2 muskats] muskets _1669_]
[4 breast, _1635-69:_ breast. _1633_]
[5 <brow> _Ed: necke 1633-69 and MSS. See note_]
[6 coronets. _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _L74_, _M_, _N_,
_O'F_, _S96_, _TC:_ carcanets. _A25_, _C_, _JC_, _S_, _W:_
carolettes. _P_]
[8 boiles, _Ed:_ boiles. _1633-69:_ _in MSS. generally spelt
as pronounced_, biles _or_ byles]
[13 vile lying stones _1635-54 and MSS. :_ vile stones lying
_1633_, _1669_]
[14 they hang _A18_, _B_, _JC_, _L74_, _M_, _N_, _O'F_
(_altered to_ it), _S_, _TC_, _W:_ it hangs _1633-69_]
[19 a] _om. _ _1635-39_]
[26 grave] grav'd _1669_
dust _1633-69_, _W:_ durt _A18_, _A25_, _JC_, _M_, _N_, _O'F_,
_P_, _S_, _TC_]
[28 hands. _W:_ hands, _1633-69_]
[34 thy gouty hand. _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _L74_, _N_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TC_, _W_ (hand; _1635-69_): her gouty
hand; _1633_, _JC_, _S:_ thy mistress hand; _1669_]
[37 durt _1635-69:_ part _1633_, _from next line_]
[46 feares] fear'd _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_, _W_]
[48 when _1635-69 and MSS. :_ where _1633_]
[50 Are Priests . . . sacrifice,] A Priest is in his handling
Sacrifice, _1669_]
[51 such _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_,
_S96_, _TC_, _W:_ nice _1633-69_]
ELEGIE IX.
_The Autumnall_
No _Spring_, nor _Summer_ Beauty hath such grace,
As I have seen in one _Autumnall_ face.
Yong _Beauties_ force our love, and that's a _Rape_,
This doth but _counsaile_, yet you cannot scape.
If t'were a _shame_ to love, here t'were no _shame_, 5
_Affection_ here takes _Reverences_ name.
Were her first yeares the _Golden Age_; That's true,
But now shee's _gold_ oft tried, and ever new.
That was her torrid and inflaming time,
This is her tolerable _Tropique clyme_. 10
Faire eyes, who askes more heate then comes from hence,
He in a fever wishes pestilence.
Call not these wrinkles, _graves_; If _graves_ they were,
They were _Loves graves_; for else he is no where.
Yet lies not Love _dead_ here, but here doth sit 15
Vow'd to this trench, like an _Anachorit_.
And here, till hers, which must be his _death_, come,
He doth not digge a _Grave_, but build a _Tombe_.
Here dwells he, though he sojourne ev'ry where,
In _Progresse_, yet his standing house is here. 20
Here, where still _Evening_ is; not _noone_, nor _night_;
Where no _voluptuousnesse_, yet all _delight_.
In all her words, unto all hearers fit,
You may at _Revels_, you at _Counsaile_, sit.
This is loves timber, youth his under-wood; 25
There he, as wine in _Iune_, enrages blood,
Which then comes seasonabliest, when our tast
And appetite to other things, is past.
_Xerxes_ strange _Lydian_ love, the _Platane_ tree,
Was lov'd for age, none being so large as shee, 30
Or else because, being yong, nature did blesse
Her youth with ages glory, _Barrennesse_.
If we love things long sought, _Age_ is a thing
Which we are fifty yeares in compassing.
If transitory things, which soone decay, 35
_Age_ must be lovelyest at the latest day.
But name not _Winter-faces_, whose skin's slacke;
Lanke, as an unthrifts purse; but a soules sacke;
Whose _Eyes_ seeke light within, for all here's shade;
Whose _mouthes_ are holes, rather worne out, then made; 40
Whose every tooth to a severall place is gone,
To vexe their soules at _Resurrection_;
Name not these living _Deaths-heads_ unto mee,
For these, not _Ancient_, but _Antique_ be.
I hate extreames; yet I had rather stay 45
With _Tombs_, then _Cradles_, to weare out a day.
Since such loves naturall lation is, may still
My love descend, and journey downe the hill,
Not panting after growing beauties, so,
I shall ebbe out with them, who home-ward goe. 50
[Eleg. IX. The Autumnall. _1635-54:_ Elegie. The Autumnall.
_1633:_ Elegie IX. _1669:_ Elegie. _A18, N, TCC, TCD:_ Elegie
Autumnall. _D, H40, H49, JC, Lec:_ An autumnall face: On the
Ladie S^r Edward Herbart mothers Ladie Danvers. _B:_ On the
Lady Herbert afterwards Danvers. _O'F:_ Widdow. _M_, _P:_ A
Paradox of an ould Woman. _S:_ Elegie Autumnall on the Lady
Shandoys. _S96: no title, L74_]
[1 _Summer 1633: Summers 1635-69_]
[2 face. _Ed:_ face, _1633-69_]
[3 our love, _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S:_ our Loves, _1669:_
your love, _1635-54_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _H40_, _L74_, _M_, _N_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TC_]
[6 _Affection_ . . . takes _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_L74_, _Lec_, _M_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ _Affections_
. . . take _1633-69_, _JC_, _O'F_]
[8 shee's _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _M_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_
they'are _1633_]
[10 tolerable _1633_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S:_ habitable
_1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _L74_, _M_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TC_]
[14 for _1633:_ or _1635-69_]
[15 Love] love _1633_]
[22 Where] Where's _O'F_, _S_]
[23 unto all] to all her _P_]
[24 _Counsaile_, _Ed:_ _counsaile_, _1633-54:_ _counsails_
_1669_]
[26 enrages] bringes _D_, _H49:_ breeds _Lec_]
[27 seasonabliest, _1633:_ seasonablest, _1635-69_]
[28 past. ] past; _1633_]
[30 large _1633:_ old _1635-69_]
[37 not] noe _several MSS. _]
[38 soules sacke; _1633_, _1669_, _and MSS. :_ fooles sack;
_1635-54_]
[40 made; _Ed:_ made _1633-54:_ made, _1669_]
[42 their soules] the soul _1669_]
[43 _Deaths-heads_ _1633:_ _Death-heads_ _1635-69_,
_Chambers:_ death-shades _H40_]
[44 _Ancient, . . . Antique_ _1633_, _1669_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_
Ancients, . . . Antiques _1635-54_, _B_, _O'F_, _S:_ ancient . . .
antiques _A18_, _A25_, _H40_, _L74_, _M_, _N_, _TC_
be. _Ed:_ be; _1633_]
[46 a] the _1669_, _M_, _P_]
[47 naturall lation _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _L74_, _M_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TC_ (_sometimes thus_,
natural-lation): motion naturall _1633:_ naturall station
_1635-69_, _Lec_, _O'F_]
[50 ebbe out _1633:_ ebbe on _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_,
_D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _M_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S_, _TC_]
ELEGIE X.
_The Dreame. _
Image of her whom I love, more then she,
Whose faire impression in my faithfull heart,
Makes mee her _Medall_, and makes her love mee,
As Kings do coynes, to which their stamps impart
The value: goe, and take my heart from hence, 5
Which now is growne too great and good for me:
_Honours_ oppresse weake spirits, and our sense
Strong objects dull; the more, the lesse wee see.
When you are gone, and _Reason_ gone with you,
Then _Fantasie_ is Queene and Soule, and all; 10
She can present joyes meaner then you do;
Convenient, and more proportionall.
So, if I dreame I have you, I have you,
For, all our joyes are but fantasticall.
And so I scape the paine, for paine is true; 15
And sleepe which locks up sense, doth lock out all.
After a such fruition I shall wake,
And, but the waking, nothing shall repent;
And shall to love more thankfull Sonnets make,
Then if more _honour_, _teares_, and _paines_ were spent. 20
But dearest heart, and dearer image stay;
Alas, true joyes at best are _dreame_ enough;
Though you stay here you passe too fast away:
For even at first lifes _Taper_ is a snuffe.
Fill'd with her love, may I be rather grown 25
Mad with much _heart_, then _ideott_ with none.
[Eleg. X. The Dreame. _1635-54:_ Elegie X. _1669:_ Elegie.
_1633:_ Picture. _S96:_ Elegie. _or no title_, _A18_, _B_,
_D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_,
_TCC_, _TCD_]
[7 sense] sense, _1633_]
[8 dull; _1635-69:_ dull, _1633_]
[16 out] up _B_, _P_, _S_]
[17 a such _1633-54:_ such a _1669_]
[22 _dreame_] _dreams_ _1669_]
ELEGIE XI.
_The Bracelet. _
_Vpon the losse of his Mistresses Chaine, for which he made
satisfaction. _
Not that in colour it was like thy haire,
For Armelets of that thou maist let me weare:
Nor that thy hand it oft embrac'd and kist,
For so it had that good, which oft I mist:
Nor for that silly old moralitie, 5
That as these linkes were knit, our love should bee:
Mourne I that I thy seavenfold chaine have lost;
Nor for the luck sake; but the bitter cost.
O, shall twelve righteous Angels, which as yet
No leaven of vile soder did admit; 10
Nor yet by any way have straid or gone
From the first state of their Creation;
Angels, which heaven commanded to provide
All things to me, and be my faithfull guide;
To gaine new friends, t'appease great enemies; 15
To comfort my soule, when I lie or rise;
Shall these twelve innocents, by thy severe
Sentence (dread judge) my sins great burden beare?
Shall they be damn'd, and in the furnace throwne,
And punisht for offences not their owne? 20
They save not me, they doe not ease my paines,
When in that hell they'are burnt and tyed in chains.
Were they but Crownes of France, I cared not,
For, most of these, their naturall Countreys rot
I think possesseth, they come here to us, 25
So pale, so lame, so leane, so ruinous;
And howsoe'r French Kings most Christian be,
Their Crownes are circumcis'd most Iewishly.
Or were they Spanish Stamps, still travelling,
That are become as Catholique as their King, 30
Those unlickt beare-whelps, unfil'd pistolets
That (more than Canon shot) availes or lets;
Which negligently left unrounded, looke
Like many angled figures, in the booke
Of some great Conjurer that would enforce 35
Nature, as these doe justice, from her course;
Which, as the soule quickens head, feet and heart,
As streames, like veines, run through th'earth's every part,
Visit all Countries, and have slily made
Gorgeous _France_, ruin'd, ragged and decay'd; 40
_Scotland_, which knew no State, proud in one day:
And mangled seventeen-headed _Belgia_.
Or were it such gold as that wherewithall
Almighty _Chymiques_ from each minerall,
Having by subtle fire a soule out-pull'd; 45
Are dirtely and desperately gull'd:
I would not spit to quench the fire they'are in,
For, they are guilty of much hainous Sin.
But, shall my harmlesse angels perish? Shall
I lose my guard, my ease, my food, my all? 50
Much hope which they should nourish will be dead,
Much of my able youth, and lustyhead
Will vanish; if thou love let them alone,
For thou wilt love me lesse when they are gone;
And be content that some lowd squeaking Cryer 55
Well-pleas'd with one leane thred-bare groat, for hire,
May like a devill roare through every street;
And gall the finders conscience, if they meet.
Or let mee creepe to some dread Conjurer,
That with phantastique scheames fils full much paper; 60
Which hath divided heaven in tenements,
And with whores, theeves, and murderers stuft his rents,
So full, that though hee passe them all in sinne,
He leaves himselfe no roome to enter in.
But if, when all his art and time is spent, 65
Hee say 'twill ne'r be found; yet be content;
Receive from him that doome ungrudgingly,
Because he is the mouth of destiny.
Thou say'st (alas) the gold doth still remaine,
Though it be chang'd, and put into a chaine; 70
So in the first falne angels, resteth still
Wisdome and knowledge; but,'tis turn'd to ill:
As these should doe good works; and should provide
Necessities; but now must nurse thy pride.
And they are still bad angels; Mine are none; 75
For, forme gives being, and their forme is gone:
Pitty these Angels; yet their dignities
Passe Vertues, Powers, and Principalities.
But, thou art resolute; Thy will be done!
Yet with such anguish, as her onely sonne 80
The Mother in the hungry grave doth lay,
Vnto the fire these Martyrs I betray.
Good soules, (for you give life to every thing)
Good Angels, (for good messages you bring)
Destin'd you might have beene to such an one, 85
As would have lov'd and worship'd you alone:
One that would suffer hunger, nakednesse,
Yea death, ere he would make your number lesse.
But, I am guilty of your sad decay;
May your few fellowes longer with me stay. 90
But ô thou wretched finder whom I hate
So, that I almost pitty thy estate:
Gold being the heaviest metal amongst all,
May my most heavy curse upon thee fall:
Here fetter'd, manacled, and hang'd in chains, 95
First mayst thou bee; then chaind to hellish paines;
Or be with forraine gold brib'd to betray
Thy Countrey, and faile both of that and thy pay.
May the next thing thou stoop'st to reach, containe
Poyson, whose nimble fume rot thy moist braine; 100
Or libels, or some interdicted thing,
Which negligently kept, thy ruine bring.
Lust-bred diseases rot thee; and dwell with thee
Itching desire, and no abilitie.
May all the evils that gold ever wrought; 105
All mischiefes that all devils ever thought;
Want after plenty; poore and gouty age;
The plagues of travellers; love; marriage
Afflict thee, and at thy lives last moment,
May thy swolne sinnes themselves to thee present. 110
But, I forgive; repent thee honest man:
Gold is Restorative, restore it then:
But if from it thou beest loath to depart,
Because 'tis cordiall, would twere at thy heart.
[Elegie XI. _&c. _ _Ed. :_ Eleg. XII. The Bracelet. _&c. _ _1635_
(Eleg. XI. _being_ Death, _for which see p. _ 284): Eleg. XII.
Vpon _&c. _ _1639-54_ (Eleg. IV. _1650-54, a misprint_): Elegie
XII. _1669:_ Elegie (_numbered variously_). The Bracelett.
_or_ The Chaine. _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_,
_L74_, _Lec_, _M_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCD_, _W_]
[2 For . . . weare:] Armelets of that thou maist still let me
weare: _1669_]
[6 were knit, _1635-69:_ are knit _Cy:_ are tyde _A25_, _D_,
_H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _R212_, _S_, _S96_, _TCD_, _W:_
were tyde _L74_
love] loves _1669_]
[11 way _1635-69:_ taynt _S96_, _O'F_, _W:_ taynts _B:_ fault
_A25_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _M_, _N_, _P_, _S_,
_TCD_]
[15 great] old _1669_]
[16 rise; _Ed:_ rise. _1635-69_]
[22 chains. _Ed. :_ chains: _1635-69_]
[24 these _1635-54:_ them _1669_
their naturall Countreys _Cy_, _O'F:_ their Countreys naturall
_1635-54_, _P:_ their naturall Countrey _1669, and rest of
MSS. _]
[26 ruinous; _Ed:_ ruinous. _1635-69_]
[28 Iewishly. _Ed:_ Iewishly; _1635-69_]
[35 great] dread _1669_]
[36 course; _Ed:_ course. _1635-69_]
[38 streames, _Ed:_ streames _1635-69_]
[40 ruin'd, ragged and decay'd; _1669, and MSS. , but end stop
varies:_ ruin'd: ragged and decay'd _1635:_ ruin'd: ragged and
decay'd, _1639-54_]
[42 _Belgia. _ _Ed:_ _Belgia:_ _1635-69_]
[45 soule] Mercury _B_]
[47 they'are in, _1635-69:_ therein, _Cy_, _P:_ they were in,
_rest of MSS. _]
[51 dead, _Ed:_ dead. _1635-69_]
[52 lustyhead _Ed:_ lusty head _1635-69_]
[53 vanish; _Ed:_ vanish, _1635-69_
if thou love let them alone, _1635-39:_ if thou Love let them
alone, _1650-69:_ if thou, Love, let them alone; _Grolier_
(_conjecturing_ atone)]
[54-5 gone; And _Ed:_ gone, And _1635-69_, _Cy_, _P:_ gone.
Oh, _rest of MSS. _]
[58 conscience, if they meet. _1669 and MSS. :_ conscience, if
hee meet. _1635-54_, _JC_, _L74_, _P_]
[60 scheames _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S96_, _W:_
scenes _1635-69_, _Cy_, _L74_, _P_, _TCD_]
[63 passe] place _1669_]
[65 _new par. 1635-69_ But _1635-69_, _Cy_, _P:_ And _rest of
MSS. _]
[66 yet _1635-69_, _Cy_, _P:_ Oh _rest of MSS. _]
[67 that _1635-54_, _Cy_, _P:_ the _1669 and rest of MSS. _]
[70 chaine; _Ed:_ chaine, _1635-69_]
[74 pride. _Ed:_ pride, _1635-69_]
[76 being, _Ed:_ being: _1635-69_]
[77 Angels; yet _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TCD:_ Angels
yet; _1635-69_, _W_]
[79 done! _Ed:_ done; _1635-39:_ done: _1650-54:_ done?
_1669_]
[90 few fellowes] few-fellowes _1635-69_]
[92 So, that _1635-69_, _Cy_, _P:_ So much that _A25_, _D_,
_H49_, _JC_ (as), _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _S_, _S96_ (as), _TCD_,
_W_ (as): So much _B_
estate] state _D_, _H49_, _&c. _]
[93 metal amongst all,] amongst metals all, _1669_, _Cy_]
[95 Here] Her _1639_]
[98 that _MSS. :_ it _1635-69_
thy] _om. 1669_]
[104 Itching] Itchy _MSS. _]
[105 evils that gold ever _1635-69_, _P:_ hurt that ever gold
hath _rest of MSS. _]
[106 mischiefes _all MSS. :_ mischiefe _1635-69_]
[108 love; marriage _1635-54_, _Cy_, _P:_ love and marriage
_1669_, _and rest of MSS. _]
[109 at] that _1669_]
[110 thee] thou _1669_]
[113 But if from it . . . depart, _1635-54_, _Cy_, _P:_ But if
that from it . . . part, _1669:_ Or if with it . . . depart _rest
of MSS. _]
ELEGIE XII.
_His parting from her. _
Since she must go, and I must mourn, come Night,
Environ me with darkness, whilst I write:
Shadow that hell unto me, which alone
I am to suffer when my Love is gone.
Alas the darkest Magick cannot do it, 5
Thou and greate Hell to boot are shadows to it.
Should _Cinthia_ quit thee, _Venus_, and each starre,
It would not forme one thought dark as mine are.
I could lend thee obscureness now, and say,
Out of my self, There should be no more Day, 10
Such is already my felt want of sight,
Did not the fires within me force a light.
Oh Love, that fire and darkness should be mixt,
Or to thy Triumphs soe strange torments fixt?
Is't because thou thy self art blind, that wee 15
Thy Martyrs must no more each other see?
Or tak'st thou pride to break us on the wheel,
And view old Chaos in the Pains we feel?
Or have we left undone some mutual Right,
Through holy fear, that merits thy despight? 20
No, no. The falt was mine, impute it to me,
Or rather to conspiring destinie,
Which (since I lov'd for forme before) decreed,
That I should suffer when I lov'd indeed:
And therefore now, sooner then I can say, 25
I saw the golden fruit, 'tis rapt away.
Or as I had watcht one drop in a vast stream,
And I left wealthy only in a dream.
Yet Love, thou'rt blinder then thy self in this,
To vex my Dove-like friend for my amiss: 30
And, where my own sad truth may expiate
Thy wrath, to make her fortune run my fate:
So blinded Justice doth, when Favorites fall,
Strike them, their house, their friends, their followers all.
Was't not enough that thou didst dart thy fires 35
Into our blouds, inflaming our desires,
And made'st us sigh and glow, and pant, and burn,
And then thy self into our flame did'st turn?
Was't not enough, that thou didst hazard us
To paths in love so dark, so dangerous: 40
And those so ambush'd round with houshold spies,
And over all, thy husbands towring eyes
That flam'd with oylie sweat of jealousie:
Yet went we not still on with Constancie?
Have we not kept our guards, like spie on spie? 45
Had correspondence whilst the foe stood by?
Stoln (more to sweeten them) our many blisses
Of meetings, conference, embracements, kisses?
Shadow'd with negligence our most respects?
Varied our language through all dialects, 50
Of becks, winks, looks, and often under-boards
Spoak dialogues with our feet far from our words?
Have we prov'd all these secrets of our Art,
Yea, thy pale inwards, and thy panting heart?
And, after all this passed Purgatory, 55
Must sad divorce make us the vulgar story?
First let our eyes be rivited quite through
Our turning brains, and both our lips grow to:
Let our armes clasp like Ivy, and our fear
Freese us together, that we may stick here, 60
Till Fortune, that would rive us, with the deed
Strain her eyes open, and it make them bleed:
For Love it cannot be, whom hitherto
I have accus'd, should such a mischief doe.
Oh Fortune, thou'rt not worth my least exclame, 65
And plague enough thou hast in thy own shame.
Do thy great worst, my friend and I have armes,
Though not against thy strokes, against thy harmes.
Rend us in sunder, thou canst not divide
Our bodies so, but that our souls are ty'd, 70
And we can love by letters still and gifts,
And thoughts and dreams; Love never wanteth shifts.
I will not look upon the quickning Sun,
But straight her beauty to my sense shall run;
The ayre shall note her soft, the fire most pure; 75
Water suggest her clear, and the earth sure.
Time shall not lose our passages; the Spring
How fresh our love was in the beginning;
The Summer how it ripened in the eare;
And Autumn, what our golden harvests were. 80
The Winter I'll not think on to spite thee,
But count it a lost season, so shall shee.
And dearest Friend, since we must part, drown night
With hope of Day, burthens well born are light.
Though cold and darkness longer hang somewhere, 85
Yet _Phoebus_ equally lights all the Sphere.
And what he cannot in like Portions pay,
The world enjoyes in Mass, and so we may.
Be then ever your self, and let no woe
Win on your health, your youth, your beauty: so 90
Declare your self base fortunes Enemy,
No less by your contempt then constancy:
That I may grow enamoured on your mind,
When my own thoughts I there reflected find.
For this to th'comfort of my Dear I vow, 95
My Deeds shall still be what my words are now;
The Poles shall move to teach me ere I start;
And when I change my Love, I'll change my heart;
Nay, if I wax but cold in my desire,
Think, heaven hath motion lost, and the world, fire: 100
Much more I could, but many words have made
That, oft, suspected which men would perswade;
Take therefore all in this: I love so true,
As I will never look for less in you.
[Elegie. XII. _&c. _ _Ed:_ Eleg. XIIII _&c. _ _1635-54_ (Eleg.
XIII. _being_ Come, Fates, _&c. _, _p. _ 407): Elegie XIIII.
_1669:_ At her Departure. _A25:_ At his Mistris departure.
_B:_ Elegie. _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD_ (_II_)]
[1 Night, _Ed:_ night _1635-69_]
[4 Love] soule _1635-54_]
[5-44 _omit_, _1635-54_, _A25_, _B_]
[6 Thou and greate Hell _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96:_ And that
great Hell _1669_
to boot are _1669_, _H40_, _O'F:_ are nought but _P_, _S96_]
[7 thee, _Ed:_ thee _1669_]
[9 thee _H40:_ them _1669_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD_]
[10 Day, _Ed:_ Day. _1669_]
[11 felt want _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_ self-want,
_1669_
sight, _Ed:_ sight _1669_]
[12 fires _H40_, _S96_, _TCD:_ fire _1669_, _P_]
[14 Or] Are _S96:_ And _TCD_
soe _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_ such _1669_]
[17 the _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_ thy _1669_]
[20 Through holy fear, that merits (causes _S96_) thy despight
(meriteth thy spight _P_) _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_
That thus with parting thou seek'st us to spight? _1669_]
[21 was _H40_, _S96:_ is _1669_, _P_, _TCD_]
[23 Which . . . decreed, _H40_, _O'F_, _S96:_ Which (since I
lov'd) for me before decreed, _1669_, _P_, _TCD:_ Which,
since I lov'd in jest before, decreed _H-K_, _which Chambers
follows_]
[25 now, sooner _all the MSS. :_ sooner now _1669_
rapt] wrapt _1669_]
[27 a vast _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_ the vast _1669_]
[29 thy self] myself _Chambers_]
[31 my own _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96:_ one _1669_
sad _1669:_ glad _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD_]
[32 fate: _Ed:_ fate. _1669_]
[33 blinded] blindest _H40_]
[34 followers _H40_, _P_, _TCD:_ favourites _1669_, _S96_]
[37 glow _H40_, _S96_, _P_, _TCD:_ blow _1669_]
[38 flame _H40_, _S96_, _P_, _TCD:_ flames _1669_]
[40 so dangerous _H40_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_ and dangerous
_1669_]
[42 all, _Ed:_ all _1669_
towring _1669_, _TCD:_ towred _O'F_, _P_, _S96:_ lowering
_Grolier_
the towred husbands eyes _H40:_ the Loured, husbandes eyes
_RP31_]
[43 That flam'd with oylie _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_
Inflam'd with th'ouglie _1669_
jealousie: _Ed:_ jealousie, _1669_]
[44 with _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_ in _1669_]
[45 Have we not kept our guards, _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_,
_TCD:_ Have we for this kept guards, _1669_
on _1669:_ o'r _1635-54_]
[49 most _1635-69_, _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_ best
_1669_]
[50 our] thy _RP31_]
[52 from our words? _1669:_ from words? _1635-54_]
[53 these secrets _MSS. :_ the secrets _1635-69_
our] thy _RP31_]
[54 Yea . . . panting heart? _1635-69_, _A25:_ Yea thy pale
colours inward as thy heart? _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD_]
[56 sad] rude _P_, _TCD_]
[57-66 _om. _ _1635-54_, _A25_, _B_]
[58 brains] beams _P:_ brain _Chambers_]
[61 Fortune, _Ed:_ fortune, _1669_
would rive us, with _H40_, _O'F_, _S96_, _TCD:_ would ruine us
with _1669_]
[62 her _H40:_ his _1669_
it] yet _1669_
bleed: _Ed:_ bleed. _1669_]
[65 Oh Fortune,] Oh fortune, _1669_, _S96:_ And Fortune _H40_,
_P_]
[66 shame. _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96:_ name. _1669_]
[67 Do thy great worst _&c. _ _1669:_ Fortune, doe thy worst
_&c. _ _1635-54_ (_after_ 56 the vulgar story? )
armes, _1635-69_, _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _TCD:_ charmes _H-K_
(_Grosart and Chambers_)]
[69 Rend us in sunder, _1669 and MSS. :_ Bend us, in sunder
_1635-54_]
[72 shifts. _1635:_ shifts, _1639-69_]
[76 Water _H40_, _P_, _TCD:_ Waters _1635-69_, _A25_, _S96_
sure. _Ed:_ sure; _1635-69_]
[77 Time] Times _H40_, _TCD_
Spring _Ed:_ spring _1635-69_]
[79 ripened in the eare; _B_, _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_
ripened in the yeare; _1635:_ inripened the yeare; _1639-69_]
[83-94 _omit_ _1635-54_, _A25_, _B_]
[85 Though _H40_, _P_, _TCD:_ The _1669_, _S96_]
[87 he . . . Portions _Ed:_ he . . . portions _H40:_ he . . .
portion _O'F_, _P_, _TCD:_ we . . . Portion _1669:_ he can't in
like proportion _H-K_ (_Grosart_)]
[88 enjoyes] yet joys _H40_]
[89 ever your] your fayrest _H40_, _TCD_]
[92 by your contempt then constancy: _H40_, _S96:_ be your
contempt then constancy: _O'F_, _H-K_ (_Grosart_), _P_, _TCD:_
be your contempt then her inconstancy: _1669_]
[94 there reflected _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _TCD:_ here
neglected _1669:_ there neglected _H-K_ (_Grosart, probably
wrongly_)]
[95-104 _om. TCD_]
[95 For _H40, S96:_ And _1635-69_]
[96 my words are now; _H40, P:_ my deeds are now; _1635-69,
O'F, S96:_ my thoughts are now; _A25_]
[102 oft, _1633-54:_ oft _1669_
would _1635-54, A25, B, H40, O'F, S96: _ most _1669_]
ELEGIE XIII.
_Iulia. _
Harke newes, ô envy, thou shalt heare descry'd
My _Iulia_; who as yet was ne'r envy'd.
To vomit gall in slander, swell her vaines
With calumny, that hell it selfe disdaines,
Is her continuall practice; does her best, 5
To teare opinion even out of the brest
Of dearest friends, and (which is worse than vilde)
Sticks jealousie in wedlock; her owne childe
Scapes not the showres of envie, To repeate
The monstrous fashions, how, were, alive, to eate 10
Deare reputation. Would to God she were
But halfe so loath to act vice, as to heare
My milde reproofe. Liv'd _Mantuan_ now againe,
That fœmall Mastix, to limme with his penne
This she _Chymera_, that hath eyes of fire, 15
Burning with anger, anger feeds desire,
Tongued like the night-crow, whose ill boding cries
Give out for nothing but new injuries,
Her breath like to the juice in _Tenarus_
That blasts the springs, though ne'r so prosperous, 20
Her hands, I know not how, us'd more to spill
The food of others, then her selfe to fill.
But oh her minde, that _Orcus_, which includes
Legions of mischiefs, countlesse multitudes
Of formlesse curses, projects unmade up, 25
Abuses yet unfashion'd, thoughts corrupt,
Mishapen Cavils, palpable untroths,
Inevitable errours, self-accusing oaths:
These, like those Atoms swarming in the Sunne,
Throng in her bosome for creation. 30
I blush to give her halfe her due; yet say,
No poyson's halfe so bad as _Iulia_.
[Elegie XIII. _&c. Ed:_ Eleg. XV. _&c. 1635-54:_ Elegie XV.
_1669:_ Iulia. _B:_ Elegy. Iulia. _O'F_]
[5 practice; _Ed:_ practice, _1635-69_]
[7 vilde) _Ed:_ vile) _1635-69:_ vilde _is the regular spelling
of this word in the Donne MSS. _]
[8 in wedlock;] in the sheets of wedlock; _B_]
[10 how, _1635:_ how; _1639-69_]
[That fœmall Mastix, _1635:_ _1639-69 and Chambers drop
comma. But see note_]
[18 injuries, _1635-39:_ injuries. _1650-69_]
[20 prosperous, _Ed:_ prosperous. _1635-69_]
[24 mischiefs _O'F:_ mischiefe, _1635-69_]
[28 oaths: _B_, _H-K_ (_Grosart_): loathes: _1635-69_, _O'F_]
[31 give but half _B:_ give half her _O'F_
yet say,] only this say, _B:_ but this say _O'F_]
ELEGIE XIV.
_A Tale of a Citizen and his Wife. _
I sing no harme good sooth to any wight,
To Lord or foole, Cuckold, begger or knight,
To peace-teaching Lawyer, Proctor, or brave
Reformed or reduced Captaine, Knave,
Officer, Iugler, or Iustice of peace, 5
Iuror or Iudge; I touch no fat sowes grease,
I am no Libeller, nor will be any,
But (like a true man) say there are too many.
I feare not _ore tenus_; for my tale,
Nor Count nor Counsellour will redd or pale. 10
A Citizen and his wife the other day
Both riding on one horse, upon the way
I overtooke, the wench a pretty peate,
And (by her eye) well fitting for the feate.
I saw the lecherous Citizen turne backe 15
His head, and on his wifes lip steale a smacke,
Whence apprehending that the man was kinde,
Riding before, to kisse his wife behinde,
To get acquaintance with him I began
To sort discourse fit for so fine a man: 20
I ask'd the number of the Plaguy Bill,
Ask'd if the Custome Farmers held out still,
Of the Virginian plot, and whether Ward
The traffique of the I<n>land seas had marr'd,
Whether the Brittaine _Burse_ did fill apace, 25
And likely were to give th'Exchange disgrace;
Of new-built _Algate_, and the _More-field_ crosses,
Of store of Bankerouts, and poore Merchants losses
I urged him to speake; But he (as mute
As an old Courtier worne to his last suite) 30
Replies with onely yeas and nayes; At last
(To fit his element) my theame I cast
On Tradesmens gaines; that set his tongue agoing:
Alas, good sir (quoth he) _There is no doing
In Court nor City now_; she smil'd and I, 35
And (in my conscience) both gave him the lie
In one met thought: but he went on apace,
And at the present time with such a face
He rail'd, as fray'd me; for he gave no praise,
To any but my Lord of _Essex_ dayes; 40
Call'd those the age of action; true (quoth Hee)
There's now as great an itch of bravery,
And heat of taking up, but cold lay downe,
For, put to push of pay, away they runne;
Our onely City trades of hope now are 45
Bawd, Tavern-keeper, Whore and Scrivener;
The much of Privileg'd kingsmen, and the store
Of fresh protections make the rest all poore;
In the first state of their Creation,
Though many stoutly stand, yet proves not one 50
A righteous pay-master. Thus ranne he on
In a continued rage: so void of reason
Seem'd his harsh talke, I sweat for feare of treason.
And (troth) how could I lesse? when in the prayer
For the protection of the wise Lord Major, 55
And his wise brethrens worships, when one prayeth,
He swore that none could say Amen with faith.
To get him off from what I glowed to heare,
(In happy time) an Angel did appeare,
The bright Signe of a lov'd and wel-try'd Inne, 60
Where many Citizens with their wives have bin
Well us'd and often; here I pray'd him stay,
To take some due refreshment by the way.
Looke how hee look'd that hid the gold (his hope)
And at's returne found nothing but a Rope, 65
So he on me, refus'd and made away,
Though willing she pleaded a weary day:
I found my misse, struck hands, and praid him tell
(To hold acquaintance still) where he did dwell;
He barely nam'd the street, promis'd the Wine, 70
But his kinde wife gave me the very Signe.
Here take my Picture; though I bid farewell,
Thine, in my heart, where my soule dwels, shall dwell.
'Tis like me now, but I dead, 'twill be more
When wee are shadowes both, then'twas before.
When weather-beaten I come backe; my hand, 5
Perhaps with rude oares torne, or Sun beams tann'd,
My face and brest of hairecloth, and my head
With cares rash sodaine stormes, being o'rspread,
My body'a sack of bones, broken within,
And powders blew staines scatter'd on my skinne; 10
If rivall fooles taxe thee to'have lov'd a man,
So foule, and course, as, Oh, I may seeme than,
This shall say what I was: and thou shalt say,
Doe his hurts reach mee? doth my worth decay?
Or doe they reach his judging minde, that hee 15
Should now love lesse, what hee did love to see?
That which in him was faire and delicate,
Was but the milke, which in loves childish state
Did nurse it: who now is growne strong enough
To feed on that, which to disused tasts seemes tough. 20
[Eleg. V. His Picture. _1635-54:_ Elegie V. _1633_, _1669:_
Elegye. (_numbered variously_) _A18_, _A25_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _W:_
The Picture. _P:_ Travelling he leaves his Picture with his
mystris. _B_]
[1 Picture; . . . farewell, _Ed:_ Picture, . . . farewell; _1633:_
_rest semicolon or colon after each_]
[8 With cares rash sodaine stormes, being o'rspread, _1633_,
_A18_, _N_, _TC:_ With cares rash, cruel, sudden storms
o'erspread _P:_ With cares rash-sudden cruel-storms o'erprest
_B:_ With cares rash sudden storms o'erpressed _S_, _S96:_
With cares rash sudden storms o'erspread _Cy_, _D_, _H49_,
_Lec:_ With cares rash sodaine horiness o'erspread _A25_,
_JC_, _W:_ With cares harsh sodaine horinesse o'rspread,
_1635-69_, _O'F_]
[16 now love lesse, _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ like and love
less _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S_, _S96_, _W_]
[19 nurse] nourish _A18_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TC_
strong] tough _P_]
[20 disused _Ed:_ disus'd _1633-39_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_,
_D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_,
_W:_ weake _1650-69_
tough. ] rough. _P_]
ELEGIE VI.
Oh, let mee not serve so, as those men serve
Whom honours smoakes at once fatten and sterve;
Poorely enrich't with great mens words or lookes;
Nor so write my name in thy loving bookes
As those Idolatrous flatterers, which still 5
Their Princes stiles, with many Realmes fulfill
Whence they no tribute have, and where no sway.
Such services I offer as shall pay
Themselves, I hate dead names: Oh then let mee
Favorite in Ordinary, or no favorite bee. 10
When my Soule was in her owne body sheath'd,
Nor yet by oathes betroth'd, nor kisses breath'd
Into my Purgatory, faithlesse thee,
Thy heart seem'd waxe, and steele thy constancie:
So, carelesse flowers strow'd on the waters face, 15
The curled whirlepooles suck, smack, and embrace,
Yet drowne them; so, the tapers beamie eye
Amorously twinkling, beckens the giddie flie,
Yet burnes his wings; and such the devill is,
Scarce visiting them, who are intirely his. 20
When I behold a streame, which, from the spring,
Doth with doubtfull melodious murmuring,
Or in a speechlesse slumber, calmely ride
Her wedded channels bosome, and then chide
And bend her browes, and swell if any bough 25
Do but stoop downe, or kisse her upmost brow;
Yet, if her often gnawing kisses winne
The traiterous banke to gape, and let her in,
She rusheth violently, and doth divorce
Her from her native, and her long-kept course, 30
And rores, and braves it, and in gallant scorne,
In flattering eddies promising retorne,
She flouts the channell, who thenceforth is drie;
Then say I; that is shee, and this am I.
Yet let not thy deepe bitternesse beget 35
Carelesse despaire in mee, for that will whet
My minde to scorne; and Oh, love dull'd with paine
Was ne'r so wise, nor well arm'd as disdaine.
Then with new eyes I shall survay thee,'and spie
Death in thy cheekes, and darknesse in thine eye. 40
Though hope bred faith and love; thus taught, I shall
As nations do from Rome, from thy love fall.
My hate shall outgrow thine, and utterly
I will renounce thy dalliance: and when I
Am the Recusant, in that resolute state, 45
What hurts it mee to be'excommunicate?
[Eleg. VI. _1635-69:_ Elegie VII. _1633_ (Elegie VI. _being_
Sorrow who to this house _&c. _ _See_ Epicedes _&c. _, _p. _
287): Elegie. (_numbered variously_) _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_,
_D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_,
_TCC_, _TCD_, _W_]
[2 fatten] flatter _1669_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _L74_, _N_, _TC_]
[3 or] and _A18_, _Cy_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _TC_]
[6 stiles, _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_,
_L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_, _S96_, _TC_, _W:_ style _A25_, _O'F_,
_S_, _Chambers and Grosart_
with _all MSS. , Chambers and Grosart:_ which (_probably by
confusion of_ w^{ch} _and_ w^{th}) _1633-69_
Realmes] names _1669_]
[7 where] bear _1669_]
[14 constancie: _1635-69:_ constancie. _1633_]
[24 then _1633_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S_, _S96_, _W:_
there _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _Cy_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_,
_TC_, _Chambers_]
[26 upmost _1633 and most MSS:_ utmost _1635-69_, _O'F_,
_Chambers_ brow; _Ed:_ brow: _1633-39:_ brow. _1650-69_]
[28 banke _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _N_, _S_, _TC_, _W:_ banks
_1633-69_, _Lec_, _O'F_]
[33 the _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ her _1635-69_, _A18_, _N_,
_TC_
who _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _JC_, _H49_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ which _1635-69_, _O'F_]
[37 Oh,] Ah, _1669_]
[39 thee,'] _om. 1669_]
[40 eye. _Ed:_ eye; _1633-54:_ eye: _1669:_ eye, _Chambers_]
[41 Though . . . love; _1633:_ Though . . . breed . . . love:
_1635-39:_ Though . . . breed . . . love _1650-69_ (Through . . .
_1669_)]
[42 fall. _1633-35:_ fall _1639-69_]
[43 outgrow] o'ergrow _Cy_, _P_]
ELEGIE VII.
Natures lay Ideot, I taught thee to love,
And in that sophistrie, Oh, thou dost prove
Too subtile: Foole, thou didst not understand
The mystique language of the eye nor hand:
Nor couldst thou judge the difference of the aire 5
Of sighes, and say, this lies, this sounds despaire:
Nor by the'eyes water call a maladie
Desperately hot, or changing feaverously.
I had not taught thee then, the Alphabet
Of flowers, how they devisefully being set 10
And bound up, might with speechlesse secrecie
Deliver arrands mutely, and mutually.
Remember since all thy words us'd to bee
To every suitor; _I_, _if my friends agree_;
Since, household charmes, thy husbands name to teach, 15
Were all the love trickes, that thy wit could reach;
And since, an houres discourse could scarce have made
One answer in thee, and that ill arraid
In broken proverbs, and torne sentences.
Thou art not by so many duties his, 20
That from the worlds Common having sever'd thee,
Inlaid thee, neither to be seene, nor see,
As mine: who have with amorous delicacies
Refin'd thee'into a blis-full Paradise.
Thy graces and good words my creatures bee; 25
I planted knowledge and lifes tree in thee,
Which Oh, shall strangers taste? Must I alas
Frame and enamell Plate, and drinke in Glasse?
Chafe waxe for others seales? breake a colts force
And leave him then, beeing made a ready horse? 30
[Elegie VII. _1635-69:_ Elegie VIII. _1633:_ Elegye.
(_numbered variously_) _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _M_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _W_]
[2 Oh, . . . prove] Oh, how . . . prove _1669_]
[6 despaire: _1635-69:_ despaire. _1633_]
[7 call _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _M_, _N_, _O'F_ (_corrected from_ know), _P_, _TC_,
_W:_ know _1635-69:_ cast _S_, _Chambers and Grosart_]
[10 they devisefully being set] their devise in being set
_Cy_, _P_]
[12 arrands _1633:_ errands _1635-69:_ meet errands _B_]
[14 _agree_; _Ed:_ _agree_. _1633-69_]
[21-2 That . . . nor see,] _in brackets 1669_]
[24 Paradise] paradise _1633_]
[25 words _1633-54_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_,
_W:_ works _1669_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _TC_
bee; _Ed:_ bee, _1633-69_]
[26 thee, _1633:_ thee: _1635-69_]
[28 Glasse? _Ed:_ glasse. _1633-69_]
ELEGIE VIII.
_The Comparison. _
As the sweet sweat of Roses in a Still,
As that which from chaf'd muskats pores doth trill,
As the Almighty Balme of th'early East,
Such are the sweat drops of my Mistris breast,
And on her <brow> her skin such lustre sets, 5
They seeme no sweat drops, but pearle coronets.
Ranke sweaty froth thy Mistresse's brow defiles,
Like spermatique issue of ripe menstruous boiles,
Or like the skumme, which, by needs lawlesse law
Enforc'd, Sanserra's starved men did draw 10
From parboild shooes, and bootes, and all the rest
Which were with any soveraigne fatnes blest,
And like vile lying stones in saffrond tinne,
Or warts, or wheales, they hang upon her skinne.
Round as the world's her head, on every side, 15
Like to the fatall Ball which fell on Ide,
Or that whereof God had such jealousie,
As, for the ravishing thereof we die.
Thy _head_ is like a rough-hewne statue of jeat,
Where marks for eyes, nose, mouth, are yet scarce set; 20
Like the first Chaos, or flat seeming face
Of Cynthia, when th'earths shadowes her embrace.
Like Proserpines white beauty-keeping chest,
Or Joues best fortunes urne, is her faire brest.
Thine's like worme eaten trunkes, cloth'd in seals skin, 25
Or grave, that's dust without, and stinke within.
And like that slender stalke, at whose end stands
The wood-bine quivering, are her armes and hands.
Like rough bark'd elmboughes, or the russet skin
Of men late scurg'd for madnes, or for sinne, 30
Like Sun-parch'd quarters on the citie gate,
Such is thy tann'd skins lamentable state.
And like a bunch of ragged carrets stand
The short swolne fingers of thy gouty hand.
Then like the Chymicks masculine equall fire, 35
Which in the Lymbecks warme wombe doth inspire
Into th'earths worthlesse durt a soule of gold,
Such cherishing heat her best lov'd part doth hold.
Thine's like the dread mouth of a fired gunne,
Or like hot liquid metalls newly runne 40
Into clay moulds, or like to that Ætna
Where round about the grasse is burnt away.
Are not your kisses then as filthy, and more,
As a worme sucking an invenom'd sore?
Doth not thy fearefull hand in feeling quake, 45
As one which gath'ring flowers, still feares a snake?
Is not your last act harsh, and violent,
As when a Plough a stony ground doth rent?
So kisse good Turtles, so devoutly nice
Are Priests in handling reverent sacrifice, 50
And such in searching wounds the Surgeon is
As wee, when wee embrace, or touch, or kisse.
Leave her, and I will leave comparing thus,
She, and comparisons are odious.
[Eleg. VIII. The Comparison. _1635-54:_ Elegie VIII. _1669:_
Elegie. _1633:_ Elegie. (_numbered variously_) _A18_, _A25_,
_B_, _C_, _Cy_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_,
_TCC_, _TCD_, _W_]
[2 muskats] muskets _1669_]
[4 breast, _1635-69:_ breast. _1633_]
[5 <brow> _Ed: necke 1633-69 and MSS. See note_]
[6 coronets. _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _L74_, _M_, _N_,
_O'F_, _S96_, _TC:_ carcanets. _A25_, _C_, _JC_, _S_, _W:_
carolettes. _P_]
[8 boiles, _Ed:_ boiles. _1633-69:_ _in MSS. generally spelt
as pronounced_, biles _or_ byles]
[13 vile lying stones _1635-54 and MSS. :_ vile stones lying
_1633_, _1669_]
[14 they hang _A18_, _B_, _JC_, _L74_, _M_, _N_, _O'F_
(_altered to_ it), _S_, _TC_, _W:_ it hangs _1633-69_]
[19 a] _om. _ _1635-39_]
[26 grave] grav'd _1669_
dust _1633-69_, _W:_ durt _A18_, _A25_, _JC_, _M_, _N_, _O'F_,
_P_, _S_, _TC_]
[28 hands. _W:_ hands, _1633-69_]
[34 thy gouty hand. _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _L74_, _N_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TC_, _W_ (hand; _1635-69_): her gouty
hand; _1633_, _JC_, _S:_ thy mistress hand; _1669_]
[37 durt _1635-69:_ part _1633_, _from next line_]
[46 feares] fear'd _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_, _W_]
[48 when _1635-69 and MSS. :_ where _1633_]
[50 Are Priests . . . sacrifice,] A Priest is in his handling
Sacrifice, _1669_]
[51 such _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_,
_S96_, _TC_, _W:_ nice _1633-69_]
ELEGIE IX.
_The Autumnall_
No _Spring_, nor _Summer_ Beauty hath such grace,
As I have seen in one _Autumnall_ face.
Yong _Beauties_ force our love, and that's a _Rape_,
This doth but _counsaile_, yet you cannot scape.
If t'were a _shame_ to love, here t'were no _shame_, 5
_Affection_ here takes _Reverences_ name.
Were her first yeares the _Golden Age_; That's true,
But now shee's _gold_ oft tried, and ever new.
That was her torrid and inflaming time,
This is her tolerable _Tropique clyme_. 10
Faire eyes, who askes more heate then comes from hence,
He in a fever wishes pestilence.
Call not these wrinkles, _graves_; If _graves_ they were,
They were _Loves graves_; for else he is no where.
Yet lies not Love _dead_ here, but here doth sit 15
Vow'd to this trench, like an _Anachorit_.
And here, till hers, which must be his _death_, come,
He doth not digge a _Grave_, but build a _Tombe_.
Here dwells he, though he sojourne ev'ry where,
In _Progresse_, yet his standing house is here. 20
Here, where still _Evening_ is; not _noone_, nor _night_;
Where no _voluptuousnesse_, yet all _delight_.
In all her words, unto all hearers fit,
You may at _Revels_, you at _Counsaile_, sit.
This is loves timber, youth his under-wood; 25
There he, as wine in _Iune_, enrages blood,
Which then comes seasonabliest, when our tast
And appetite to other things, is past.
_Xerxes_ strange _Lydian_ love, the _Platane_ tree,
Was lov'd for age, none being so large as shee, 30
Or else because, being yong, nature did blesse
Her youth with ages glory, _Barrennesse_.
If we love things long sought, _Age_ is a thing
Which we are fifty yeares in compassing.
If transitory things, which soone decay, 35
_Age_ must be lovelyest at the latest day.
But name not _Winter-faces_, whose skin's slacke;
Lanke, as an unthrifts purse; but a soules sacke;
Whose _Eyes_ seeke light within, for all here's shade;
Whose _mouthes_ are holes, rather worne out, then made; 40
Whose every tooth to a severall place is gone,
To vexe their soules at _Resurrection_;
Name not these living _Deaths-heads_ unto mee,
For these, not _Ancient_, but _Antique_ be.
I hate extreames; yet I had rather stay 45
With _Tombs_, then _Cradles_, to weare out a day.
Since such loves naturall lation is, may still
My love descend, and journey downe the hill,
Not panting after growing beauties, so,
I shall ebbe out with them, who home-ward goe. 50
[Eleg. IX. The Autumnall. _1635-54:_ Elegie. The Autumnall.
_1633:_ Elegie IX. _1669:_ Elegie. _A18, N, TCC, TCD:_ Elegie
Autumnall. _D, H40, H49, JC, Lec:_ An autumnall face: On the
Ladie S^r Edward Herbart mothers Ladie Danvers. _B:_ On the
Lady Herbert afterwards Danvers. _O'F:_ Widdow. _M_, _P:_ A
Paradox of an ould Woman. _S:_ Elegie Autumnall on the Lady
Shandoys. _S96: no title, L74_]
[1 _Summer 1633: Summers 1635-69_]
[2 face. _Ed:_ face, _1633-69_]
[3 our love, _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S:_ our Loves, _1669:_
your love, _1635-54_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _H40_, _L74_, _M_, _N_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TC_]
[6 _Affection_ . . . takes _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_L74_, _Lec_, _M_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ _Affections_
. . . take _1633-69_, _JC_, _O'F_]
[8 shee's _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _M_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_
they'are _1633_]
[10 tolerable _1633_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S:_ habitable
_1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _L74_, _M_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TC_]
[14 for _1633:_ or _1635-69_]
[15 Love] love _1633_]
[22 Where] Where's _O'F_, _S_]
[23 unto all] to all her _P_]
[24 _Counsaile_, _Ed:_ _counsaile_, _1633-54:_ _counsails_
_1669_]
[26 enrages] bringes _D_, _H49:_ breeds _Lec_]
[27 seasonabliest, _1633:_ seasonablest, _1635-69_]
[28 past. ] past; _1633_]
[30 large _1633:_ old _1635-69_]
[37 not] noe _several MSS. _]
[38 soules sacke; _1633_, _1669_, _and MSS. :_ fooles sack;
_1635-54_]
[40 made; _Ed:_ made _1633-54:_ made, _1669_]
[42 their soules] the soul _1669_]
[43 _Deaths-heads_ _1633:_ _Death-heads_ _1635-69_,
_Chambers:_ death-shades _H40_]
[44 _Ancient, . . . Antique_ _1633_, _1669_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_
Ancients, . . . Antiques _1635-54_, _B_, _O'F_, _S:_ ancient . . .
antiques _A18_, _A25_, _H40_, _L74_, _M_, _N_, _TC_
be. _Ed:_ be; _1633_]
[46 a] the _1669_, _M_, _P_]
[47 naturall lation _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _L74_, _M_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TC_ (_sometimes thus_,
natural-lation): motion naturall _1633:_ naturall station
_1635-69_, _Lec_, _O'F_]
[50 ebbe out _1633:_ ebbe on _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_,
_D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _M_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S_, _TC_]
ELEGIE X.
_The Dreame. _
Image of her whom I love, more then she,
Whose faire impression in my faithfull heart,
Makes mee her _Medall_, and makes her love mee,
As Kings do coynes, to which their stamps impart
The value: goe, and take my heart from hence, 5
Which now is growne too great and good for me:
_Honours_ oppresse weake spirits, and our sense
Strong objects dull; the more, the lesse wee see.
When you are gone, and _Reason_ gone with you,
Then _Fantasie_ is Queene and Soule, and all; 10
She can present joyes meaner then you do;
Convenient, and more proportionall.
So, if I dreame I have you, I have you,
For, all our joyes are but fantasticall.
And so I scape the paine, for paine is true; 15
And sleepe which locks up sense, doth lock out all.
After a such fruition I shall wake,
And, but the waking, nothing shall repent;
And shall to love more thankfull Sonnets make,
Then if more _honour_, _teares_, and _paines_ were spent. 20
But dearest heart, and dearer image stay;
Alas, true joyes at best are _dreame_ enough;
Though you stay here you passe too fast away:
For even at first lifes _Taper_ is a snuffe.
Fill'd with her love, may I be rather grown 25
Mad with much _heart_, then _ideott_ with none.
[Eleg. X. The Dreame. _1635-54:_ Elegie X. _1669:_ Elegie.
_1633:_ Picture. _S96:_ Elegie. _or no title_, _A18_, _B_,
_D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_,
_TCC_, _TCD_]
[7 sense] sense, _1633_]
[8 dull; _1635-69:_ dull, _1633_]
[16 out] up _B_, _P_, _S_]
[17 a such _1633-54:_ such a _1669_]
[22 _dreame_] _dreams_ _1669_]
ELEGIE XI.
_The Bracelet. _
_Vpon the losse of his Mistresses Chaine, for which he made
satisfaction. _
Not that in colour it was like thy haire,
For Armelets of that thou maist let me weare:
Nor that thy hand it oft embrac'd and kist,
For so it had that good, which oft I mist:
Nor for that silly old moralitie, 5
That as these linkes were knit, our love should bee:
Mourne I that I thy seavenfold chaine have lost;
Nor for the luck sake; but the bitter cost.
O, shall twelve righteous Angels, which as yet
No leaven of vile soder did admit; 10
Nor yet by any way have straid or gone
From the first state of their Creation;
Angels, which heaven commanded to provide
All things to me, and be my faithfull guide;
To gaine new friends, t'appease great enemies; 15
To comfort my soule, when I lie or rise;
Shall these twelve innocents, by thy severe
Sentence (dread judge) my sins great burden beare?
Shall they be damn'd, and in the furnace throwne,
And punisht for offences not their owne? 20
They save not me, they doe not ease my paines,
When in that hell they'are burnt and tyed in chains.
Were they but Crownes of France, I cared not,
For, most of these, their naturall Countreys rot
I think possesseth, they come here to us, 25
So pale, so lame, so leane, so ruinous;
And howsoe'r French Kings most Christian be,
Their Crownes are circumcis'd most Iewishly.
Or were they Spanish Stamps, still travelling,
That are become as Catholique as their King, 30
Those unlickt beare-whelps, unfil'd pistolets
That (more than Canon shot) availes or lets;
Which negligently left unrounded, looke
Like many angled figures, in the booke
Of some great Conjurer that would enforce 35
Nature, as these doe justice, from her course;
Which, as the soule quickens head, feet and heart,
As streames, like veines, run through th'earth's every part,
Visit all Countries, and have slily made
Gorgeous _France_, ruin'd, ragged and decay'd; 40
_Scotland_, which knew no State, proud in one day:
And mangled seventeen-headed _Belgia_.
Or were it such gold as that wherewithall
Almighty _Chymiques_ from each minerall,
Having by subtle fire a soule out-pull'd; 45
Are dirtely and desperately gull'd:
I would not spit to quench the fire they'are in,
For, they are guilty of much hainous Sin.
But, shall my harmlesse angels perish? Shall
I lose my guard, my ease, my food, my all? 50
Much hope which they should nourish will be dead,
Much of my able youth, and lustyhead
Will vanish; if thou love let them alone,
For thou wilt love me lesse when they are gone;
And be content that some lowd squeaking Cryer 55
Well-pleas'd with one leane thred-bare groat, for hire,
May like a devill roare through every street;
And gall the finders conscience, if they meet.
Or let mee creepe to some dread Conjurer,
That with phantastique scheames fils full much paper; 60
Which hath divided heaven in tenements,
And with whores, theeves, and murderers stuft his rents,
So full, that though hee passe them all in sinne,
He leaves himselfe no roome to enter in.
But if, when all his art and time is spent, 65
Hee say 'twill ne'r be found; yet be content;
Receive from him that doome ungrudgingly,
Because he is the mouth of destiny.
Thou say'st (alas) the gold doth still remaine,
Though it be chang'd, and put into a chaine; 70
So in the first falne angels, resteth still
Wisdome and knowledge; but,'tis turn'd to ill:
As these should doe good works; and should provide
Necessities; but now must nurse thy pride.
And they are still bad angels; Mine are none; 75
For, forme gives being, and their forme is gone:
Pitty these Angels; yet their dignities
Passe Vertues, Powers, and Principalities.
But, thou art resolute; Thy will be done!
Yet with such anguish, as her onely sonne 80
The Mother in the hungry grave doth lay,
Vnto the fire these Martyrs I betray.
Good soules, (for you give life to every thing)
Good Angels, (for good messages you bring)
Destin'd you might have beene to such an one, 85
As would have lov'd and worship'd you alone:
One that would suffer hunger, nakednesse,
Yea death, ere he would make your number lesse.
But, I am guilty of your sad decay;
May your few fellowes longer with me stay. 90
But ô thou wretched finder whom I hate
So, that I almost pitty thy estate:
Gold being the heaviest metal amongst all,
May my most heavy curse upon thee fall:
Here fetter'd, manacled, and hang'd in chains, 95
First mayst thou bee; then chaind to hellish paines;
Or be with forraine gold brib'd to betray
Thy Countrey, and faile both of that and thy pay.
May the next thing thou stoop'st to reach, containe
Poyson, whose nimble fume rot thy moist braine; 100
Or libels, or some interdicted thing,
Which negligently kept, thy ruine bring.
Lust-bred diseases rot thee; and dwell with thee
Itching desire, and no abilitie.
May all the evils that gold ever wrought; 105
All mischiefes that all devils ever thought;
Want after plenty; poore and gouty age;
The plagues of travellers; love; marriage
Afflict thee, and at thy lives last moment,
May thy swolne sinnes themselves to thee present. 110
But, I forgive; repent thee honest man:
Gold is Restorative, restore it then:
But if from it thou beest loath to depart,
Because 'tis cordiall, would twere at thy heart.
[Elegie XI. _&c. _ _Ed. :_ Eleg. XII. The Bracelet. _&c. _ _1635_
(Eleg. XI. _being_ Death, _for which see p. _ 284): Eleg. XII.
Vpon _&c. _ _1639-54_ (Eleg. IV. _1650-54, a misprint_): Elegie
XII. _1669:_ Elegie (_numbered variously_). The Bracelett.
_or_ The Chaine. _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_,
_L74_, _Lec_, _M_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCD_, _W_]
[2 For . . . weare:] Armelets of that thou maist still let me
weare: _1669_]
[6 were knit, _1635-69:_ are knit _Cy:_ are tyde _A25_, _D_,
_H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _R212_, _S_, _S96_, _TCD_, _W:_
were tyde _L74_
love] loves _1669_]
[11 way _1635-69:_ taynt _S96_, _O'F_, _W:_ taynts _B:_ fault
_A25_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _M_, _N_, _P_, _S_,
_TCD_]
[15 great] old _1669_]
[16 rise; _Ed:_ rise. _1635-69_]
[22 chains. _Ed. :_ chains: _1635-69_]
[24 these _1635-54:_ them _1669_
their naturall Countreys _Cy_, _O'F:_ their Countreys naturall
_1635-54_, _P:_ their naturall Countrey _1669, and rest of
MSS. _]
[26 ruinous; _Ed:_ ruinous. _1635-69_]
[28 Iewishly. _Ed:_ Iewishly; _1635-69_]
[35 great] dread _1669_]
[36 course; _Ed:_ course. _1635-69_]
[38 streames, _Ed:_ streames _1635-69_]
[40 ruin'd, ragged and decay'd; _1669, and MSS. , but end stop
varies:_ ruin'd: ragged and decay'd _1635:_ ruin'd: ragged and
decay'd, _1639-54_]
[42 _Belgia. _ _Ed:_ _Belgia:_ _1635-69_]
[45 soule] Mercury _B_]
[47 they'are in, _1635-69:_ therein, _Cy_, _P:_ they were in,
_rest of MSS. _]
[51 dead, _Ed:_ dead. _1635-69_]
[52 lustyhead _Ed:_ lusty head _1635-69_]
[53 vanish; _Ed:_ vanish, _1635-69_
if thou love let them alone, _1635-39:_ if thou Love let them
alone, _1650-69:_ if thou, Love, let them alone; _Grolier_
(_conjecturing_ atone)]
[54-5 gone; And _Ed:_ gone, And _1635-69_, _Cy_, _P:_ gone.
Oh, _rest of MSS. _]
[58 conscience, if they meet. _1669 and MSS. :_ conscience, if
hee meet. _1635-54_, _JC_, _L74_, _P_]
[60 scheames _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S96_, _W:_
scenes _1635-69_, _Cy_, _L74_, _P_, _TCD_]
[63 passe] place _1669_]
[65 _new par. 1635-69_ But _1635-69_, _Cy_, _P:_ And _rest of
MSS. _]
[66 yet _1635-69_, _Cy_, _P:_ Oh _rest of MSS. _]
[67 that _1635-54_, _Cy_, _P:_ the _1669 and rest of MSS. _]
[70 chaine; _Ed:_ chaine, _1635-69_]
[74 pride. _Ed:_ pride, _1635-69_]
[76 being, _Ed:_ being: _1635-69_]
[77 Angels; yet _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TCD:_ Angels
yet; _1635-69_, _W_]
[79 done! _Ed:_ done; _1635-39:_ done: _1650-54:_ done?
_1669_]
[90 few fellowes] few-fellowes _1635-69_]
[92 So, that _1635-69_, _Cy_, _P:_ So much that _A25_, _D_,
_H49_, _JC_ (as), _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _S_, _S96_ (as), _TCD_,
_W_ (as): So much _B_
estate] state _D_, _H49_, _&c. _]
[93 metal amongst all,] amongst metals all, _1669_, _Cy_]
[95 Here] Her _1639_]
[98 that _MSS. :_ it _1635-69_
thy] _om. 1669_]
[104 Itching] Itchy _MSS. _]
[105 evils that gold ever _1635-69_, _P:_ hurt that ever gold
hath _rest of MSS. _]
[106 mischiefes _all MSS. :_ mischiefe _1635-69_]
[108 love; marriage _1635-54_, _Cy_, _P:_ love and marriage
_1669_, _and rest of MSS. _]
[109 at] that _1669_]
[110 thee] thou _1669_]
[113 But if from it . . . depart, _1635-54_, _Cy_, _P:_ But if
that from it . . . part, _1669:_ Or if with it . . . depart _rest
of MSS. _]
ELEGIE XII.
_His parting from her. _
Since she must go, and I must mourn, come Night,
Environ me with darkness, whilst I write:
Shadow that hell unto me, which alone
I am to suffer when my Love is gone.
Alas the darkest Magick cannot do it, 5
Thou and greate Hell to boot are shadows to it.
Should _Cinthia_ quit thee, _Venus_, and each starre,
It would not forme one thought dark as mine are.
I could lend thee obscureness now, and say,
Out of my self, There should be no more Day, 10
Such is already my felt want of sight,
Did not the fires within me force a light.
Oh Love, that fire and darkness should be mixt,
Or to thy Triumphs soe strange torments fixt?
Is't because thou thy self art blind, that wee 15
Thy Martyrs must no more each other see?
Or tak'st thou pride to break us on the wheel,
And view old Chaos in the Pains we feel?
Or have we left undone some mutual Right,
Through holy fear, that merits thy despight? 20
No, no. The falt was mine, impute it to me,
Or rather to conspiring destinie,
Which (since I lov'd for forme before) decreed,
That I should suffer when I lov'd indeed:
And therefore now, sooner then I can say, 25
I saw the golden fruit, 'tis rapt away.
Or as I had watcht one drop in a vast stream,
And I left wealthy only in a dream.
Yet Love, thou'rt blinder then thy self in this,
To vex my Dove-like friend for my amiss: 30
And, where my own sad truth may expiate
Thy wrath, to make her fortune run my fate:
So blinded Justice doth, when Favorites fall,
Strike them, their house, their friends, their followers all.
Was't not enough that thou didst dart thy fires 35
Into our blouds, inflaming our desires,
And made'st us sigh and glow, and pant, and burn,
And then thy self into our flame did'st turn?
Was't not enough, that thou didst hazard us
To paths in love so dark, so dangerous: 40
And those so ambush'd round with houshold spies,
And over all, thy husbands towring eyes
That flam'd with oylie sweat of jealousie:
Yet went we not still on with Constancie?
Have we not kept our guards, like spie on spie? 45
Had correspondence whilst the foe stood by?
Stoln (more to sweeten them) our many blisses
Of meetings, conference, embracements, kisses?
Shadow'd with negligence our most respects?
Varied our language through all dialects, 50
Of becks, winks, looks, and often under-boards
Spoak dialogues with our feet far from our words?
Have we prov'd all these secrets of our Art,
Yea, thy pale inwards, and thy panting heart?
And, after all this passed Purgatory, 55
Must sad divorce make us the vulgar story?
First let our eyes be rivited quite through
Our turning brains, and both our lips grow to:
Let our armes clasp like Ivy, and our fear
Freese us together, that we may stick here, 60
Till Fortune, that would rive us, with the deed
Strain her eyes open, and it make them bleed:
For Love it cannot be, whom hitherto
I have accus'd, should such a mischief doe.
Oh Fortune, thou'rt not worth my least exclame, 65
And plague enough thou hast in thy own shame.
Do thy great worst, my friend and I have armes,
Though not against thy strokes, against thy harmes.
Rend us in sunder, thou canst not divide
Our bodies so, but that our souls are ty'd, 70
And we can love by letters still and gifts,
And thoughts and dreams; Love never wanteth shifts.
I will not look upon the quickning Sun,
But straight her beauty to my sense shall run;
The ayre shall note her soft, the fire most pure; 75
Water suggest her clear, and the earth sure.
Time shall not lose our passages; the Spring
How fresh our love was in the beginning;
The Summer how it ripened in the eare;
And Autumn, what our golden harvests were. 80
The Winter I'll not think on to spite thee,
But count it a lost season, so shall shee.
And dearest Friend, since we must part, drown night
With hope of Day, burthens well born are light.
Though cold and darkness longer hang somewhere, 85
Yet _Phoebus_ equally lights all the Sphere.
And what he cannot in like Portions pay,
The world enjoyes in Mass, and so we may.
Be then ever your self, and let no woe
Win on your health, your youth, your beauty: so 90
Declare your self base fortunes Enemy,
No less by your contempt then constancy:
That I may grow enamoured on your mind,
When my own thoughts I there reflected find.
For this to th'comfort of my Dear I vow, 95
My Deeds shall still be what my words are now;
The Poles shall move to teach me ere I start;
And when I change my Love, I'll change my heart;
Nay, if I wax but cold in my desire,
Think, heaven hath motion lost, and the world, fire: 100
Much more I could, but many words have made
That, oft, suspected which men would perswade;
Take therefore all in this: I love so true,
As I will never look for less in you.
[Elegie. XII. _&c. _ _Ed:_ Eleg. XIIII _&c. _ _1635-54_ (Eleg.
XIII. _being_ Come, Fates, _&c. _, _p. _ 407): Elegie XIIII.
_1669:_ At her Departure. _A25:_ At his Mistris departure.
_B:_ Elegie. _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD_ (_II_)]
[1 Night, _Ed:_ night _1635-69_]
[4 Love] soule _1635-54_]
[5-44 _omit_, _1635-54_, _A25_, _B_]
[6 Thou and greate Hell _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96:_ And that
great Hell _1669_
to boot are _1669_, _H40_, _O'F:_ are nought but _P_, _S96_]
[7 thee, _Ed:_ thee _1669_]
[9 thee _H40:_ them _1669_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD_]
[10 Day, _Ed:_ Day. _1669_]
[11 felt want _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_ self-want,
_1669_
sight, _Ed:_ sight _1669_]
[12 fires _H40_, _S96_, _TCD:_ fire _1669_, _P_]
[14 Or] Are _S96:_ And _TCD_
soe _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_ such _1669_]
[17 the _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_ thy _1669_]
[20 Through holy fear, that merits (causes _S96_) thy despight
(meriteth thy spight _P_) _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_
That thus with parting thou seek'st us to spight? _1669_]
[21 was _H40_, _S96:_ is _1669_, _P_, _TCD_]
[23 Which . . . decreed, _H40_, _O'F_, _S96:_ Which (since I
lov'd) for me before decreed, _1669_, _P_, _TCD:_ Which,
since I lov'd in jest before, decreed _H-K_, _which Chambers
follows_]
[25 now, sooner _all the MSS. :_ sooner now _1669_
rapt] wrapt _1669_]
[27 a vast _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_ the vast _1669_]
[29 thy self] myself _Chambers_]
[31 my own _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96:_ one _1669_
sad _1669:_ glad _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD_]
[32 fate: _Ed:_ fate. _1669_]
[33 blinded] blindest _H40_]
[34 followers _H40_, _P_, _TCD:_ favourites _1669_, _S96_]
[37 glow _H40_, _S96_, _P_, _TCD:_ blow _1669_]
[38 flame _H40_, _S96_, _P_, _TCD:_ flames _1669_]
[40 so dangerous _H40_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_ and dangerous
_1669_]
[42 all, _Ed:_ all _1669_
towring _1669_, _TCD:_ towred _O'F_, _P_, _S96:_ lowering
_Grolier_
the towred husbands eyes _H40:_ the Loured, husbandes eyes
_RP31_]
[43 That flam'd with oylie _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_
Inflam'd with th'ouglie _1669_
jealousie: _Ed:_ jealousie, _1669_]
[44 with _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_ in _1669_]
[45 Have we not kept our guards, _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_,
_TCD:_ Have we for this kept guards, _1669_
on _1669:_ o'r _1635-54_]
[49 most _1635-69_, _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_ best
_1669_]
[50 our] thy _RP31_]
[52 from our words? _1669:_ from words? _1635-54_]
[53 these secrets _MSS. :_ the secrets _1635-69_
our] thy _RP31_]
[54 Yea . . . panting heart? _1635-69_, _A25:_ Yea thy pale
colours inward as thy heart? _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD_]
[56 sad] rude _P_, _TCD_]
[57-66 _om. _ _1635-54_, _A25_, _B_]
[58 brains] beams _P:_ brain _Chambers_]
[61 Fortune, _Ed:_ fortune, _1669_
would rive us, with _H40_, _O'F_, _S96_, _TCD:_ would ruine us
with _1669_]
[62 her _H40:_ his _1669_
it] yet _1669_
bleed: _Ed:_ bleed. _1669_]
[65 Oh Fortune,] Oh fortune, _1669_, _S96:_ And Fortune _H40_,
_P_]
[66 shame. _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96:_ name. _1669_]
[67 Do thy great worst _&c. _ _1669:_ Fortune, doe thy worst
_&c. _ _1635-54_ (_after_ 56 the vulgar story? )
armes, _1635-69_, _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _TCD:_ charmes _H-K_
(_Grosart and Chambers_)]
[69 Rend us in sunder, _1669 and MSS. :_ Bend us, in sunder
_1635-54_]
[72 shifts. _1635:_ shifts, _1639-69_]
[76 Water _H40_, _P_, _TCD:_ Waters _1635-69_, _A25_, _S96_
sure. _Ed:_ sure; _1635-69_]
[77 Time] Times _H40_, _TCD_
Spring _Ed:_ spring _1635-69_]
[79 ripened in the eare; _B_, _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TCD:_
ripened in the yeare; _1635:_ inripened the yeare; _1639-69_]
[83-94 _omit_ _1635-54_, _A25_, _B_]
[85 Though _H40_, _P_, _TCD:_ The _1669_, _S96_]
[87 he . . . Portions _Ed:_ he . . . portions _H40:_ he . . .
portion _O'F_, _P_, _TCD:_ we . . . Portion _1669:_ he can't in
like proportion _H-K_ (_Grosart_)]
[88 enjoyes] yet joys _H40_]
[89 ever your] your fayrest _H40_, _TCD_]
[92 by your contempt then constancy: _H40_, _S96:_ be your
contempt then constancy: _O'F_, _H-K_ (_Grosart_), _P_, _TCD:_
be your contempt then her inconstancy: _1669_]
[94 there reflected _H40_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _TCD:_ here
neglected _1669:_ there neglected _H-K_ (_Grosart, probably
wrongly_)]
[95-104 _om. TCD_]
[95 For _H40, S96:_ And _1635-69_]
[96 my words are now; _H40, P:_ my deeds are now; _1635-69,
O'F, S96:_ my thoughts are now; _A25_]
[102 oft, _1633-54:_ oft _1669_
would _1635-54, A25, B, H40, O'F, S96: _ most _1669_]
ELEGIE XIII.
_Iulia. _
Harke newes, ô envy, thou shalt heare descry'd
My _Iulia_; who as yet was ne'r envy'd.
To vomit gall in slander, swell her vaines
With calumny, that hell it selfe disdaines,
Is her continuall practice; does her best, 5
To teare opinion even out of the brest
Of dearest friends, and (which is worse than vilde)
Sticks jealousie in wedlock; her owne childe
Scapes not the showres of envie, To repeate
The monstrous fashions, how, were, alive, to eate 10
Deare reputation. Would to God she were
But halfe so loath to act vice, as to heare
My milde reproofe. Liv'd _Mantuan_ now againe,
That fœmall Mastix, to limme with his penne
This she _Chymera_, that hath eyes of fire, 15
Burning with anger, anger feeds desire,
Tongued like the night-crow, whose ill boding cries
Give out for nothing but new injuries,
Her breath like to the juice in _Tenarus_
That blasts the springs, though ne'r so prosperous, 20
Her hands, I know not how, us'd more to spill
The food of others, then her selfe to fill.
But oh her minde, that _Orcus_, which includes
Legions of mischiefs, countlesse multitudes
Of formlesse curses, projects unmade up, 25
Abuses yet unfashion'd, thoughts corrupt,
Mishapen Cavils, palpable untroths,
Inevitable errours, self-accusing oaths:
These, like those Atoms swarming in the Sunne,
Throng in her bosome for creation. 30
I blush to give her halfe her due; yet say,
No poyson's halfe so bad as _Iulia_.
[Elegie XIII. _&c. Ed:_ Eleg. XV. _&c. 1635-54:_ Elegie XV.
_1669:_ Iulia. _B:_ Elegy. Iulia. _O'F_]
[5 practice; _Ed:_ practice, _1635-69_]
[7 vilde) _Ed:_ vile) _1635-69:_ vilde _is the regular spelling
of this word in the Donne MSS. _]
[8 in wedlock;] in the sheets of wedlock; _B_]
[10 how, _1635:_ how; _1639-69_]
[That fœmall Mastix, _1635:_ _1639-69 and Chambers drop
comma. But see note_]
[18 injuries, _1635-39:_ injuries. _1650-69_]
[20 prosperous, _Ed:_ prosperous. _1635-69_]
[24 mischiefs _O'F:_ mischiefe, _1635-69_]
[28 oaths: _B_, _H-K_ (_Grosart_): loathes: _1635-69_, _O'F_]
[31 give but half _B:_ give half her _O'F_
yet say,] only this say, _B:_ but this say _O'F_]
ELEGIE XIV.
_A Tale of a Citizen and his Wife. _
I sing no harme good sooth to any wight,
To Lord or foole, Cuckold, begger or knight,
To peace-teaching Lawyer, Proctor, or brave
Reformed or reduced Captaine, Knave,
Officer, Iugler, or Iustice of peace, 5
Iuror or Iudge; I touch no fat sowes grease,
I am no Libeller, nor will be any,
But (like a true man) say there are too many.
I feare not _ore tenus_; for my tale,
Nor Count nor Counsellour will redd or pale. 10
A Citizen and his wife the other day
Both riding on one horse, upon the way
I overtooke, the wench a pretty peate,
And (by her eye) well fitting for the feate.
I saw the lecherous Citizen turne backe 15
His head, and on his wifes lip steale a smacke,
Whence apprehending that the man was kinde,
Riding before, to kisse his wife behinde,
To get acquaintance with him I began
To sort discourse fit for so fine a man: 20
I ask'd the number of the Plaguy Bill,
Ask'd if the Custome Farmers held out still,
Of the Virginian plot, and whether Ward
The traffique of the I<n>land seas had marr'd,
Whether the Brittaine _Burse_ did fill apace, 25
And likely were to give th'Exchange disgrace;
Of new-built _Algate_, and the _More-field_ crosses,
Of store of Bankerouts, and poore Merchants losses
I urged him to speake; But he (as mute
As an old Courtier worne to his last suite) 30
Replies with onely yeas and nayes; At last
(To fit his element) my theame I cast
On Tradesmens gaines; that set his tongue agoing:
Alas, good sir (quoth he) _There is no doing
In Court nor City now_; she smil'd and I, 35
And (in my conscience) both gave him the lie
In one met thought: but he went on apace,
And at the present time with such a face
He rail'd, as fray'd me; for he gave no praise,
To any but my Lord of _Essex_ dayes; 40
Call'd those the age of action; true (quoth Hee)
There's now as great an itch of bravery,
And heat of taking up, but cold lay downe,
For, put to push of pay, away they runne;
Our onely City trades of hope now are 45
Bawd, Tavern-keeper, Whore and Scrivener;
The much of Privileg'd kingsmen, and the store
Of fresh protections make the rest all poore;
In the first state of their Creation,
Though many stoutly stand, yet proves not one 50
A righteous pay-master. Thus ranne he on
In a continued rage: so void of reason
Seem'd his harsh talke, I sweat for feare of treason.
And (troth) how could I lesse? when in the prayer
For the protection of the wise Lord Major, 55
And his wise brethrens worships, when one prayeth,
He swore that none could say Amen with faith.
To get him off from what I glowed to heare,
(In happy time) an Angel did appeare,
The bright Signe of a lov'd and wel-try'd Inne, 60
Where many Citizens with their wives have bin
Well us'd and often; here I pray'd him stay,
To take some due refreshment by the way.
Looke how hee look'd that hid the gold (his hope)
And at's returne found nothing but a Rope, 65
So he on me, refus'd and made away,
Though willing she pleaded a weary day:
I found my misse, struck hands, and praid him tell
(To hold acquaintance still) where he did dwell;
He barely nam'd the street, promis'd the Wine, 70
But his kinde wife gave me the very Signe.
