No More Learning

For, what is more doth what you are restraine, 85
And though beyond, is downe the hill againe.
We'have no next way to you, we crosse to it:
You are the straight line, thing prais'd, attribute;
Each good in you's a light; so many a shade
You make, and in them are your motions made. 90
These are your pictures to the life. From farre
We see you move, and here your _Zani's_ are:
So that no fountaine good there is, doth grow
In you, but our dimme actions faintly shew.
Then finde I, if mans noblest part be love, 95
Your purest luster must that shadow move.
The soule with body, is a heaven combin'd
With earth, and for mans ease, but nearer joyn'd.
Where thoughts the starres of soule we understand,
We guesse not their large natures, but command. 100
And love in you, that bountie is of light,
That gives to all, and yet hath infinite.
Whose heat doth force us thither to intend,
But soule we finde too earthly to ascend,
'Till slow accesse hath made it wholy pure, 105
Able immortall clearnesse to endure.
Who dare aspire this journey with a staine,
Hath waight will force him headlong backe againe.
No more can impure man retaine and move
In that pure region of a worthy love: 110
Then earthly substance can unforc'd aspire,
And leave his nature to converse with fire:
Such may have eye, and hand; may sigh, may speak;
But like swoln bubles, when they are high'st they break.
Though far removed Northerne fleets scarce finde 115
The Sunnes comfort; others thinke him too kinde.
There is an equall distance from her eye,
Men perish too farre off, and burne too nigh.
But as ayre takes the Sunne-beames equall bright
From the first Rayes, to his last opposite: 120
So able men, blest with a vertuous Love,
Remote or neare, or howsoe'r they move;
Their vertue breakes all clouds that might annoy,
There is no Emptinesse, but all is Ioy.
He much profanes whom violent heats do move 125
To stile his wandring rage of passion, _Love_:
Love that imparts in every thing delight,
Is fain'd, which only tempts mans appetite.
Why love among the vertues is not knowne
Is, that love is them all contract in one. 130


[To the Countesse of Huntington. _1635-69_: S^{r} Wal: Ashton
to y^{e} Countesse of Huntingtowne _P_, _TCD_ (_II_)]

[2 man] men _P_]

[3 ate; _1635-39_: eat; _1650-69_]

[11 downward] inward _TCD_]

[14 without] _om. TCD_]

[17 who] that _P_, _TCD_]

[20 you. ] you, _1635-69_]

[26 faithfully, _1635-69_: finally _P_, _TCD_

you smil'd _1635-54_ your smile _1669_, _P_, _TCD_]

[28 down. _1635-54_: down, _1669_]

[30 whispers] whispered _P_: vapours _TCD_]

[31 fever] _feverish_ _1669_]

[32 doth yet] yet doth _1669_

ague] feaver _P_]

[35 paine,] paine. _1635-39_]

[36 women] woman _TCD_]

[37 were one] were but one _1669_]

[47 those dayes] that day _1669_]

[50 both knew _1635-54_: but knew _P_, _TCD_: yet, knew
_1669_]

[52 consider'd _Ed_: considered _1635-69_]

[57 sueth, or] sues and _P_]

[65 womans] womens _P_

women] woman _TCD_

know, _1650-69_: know. _1635-39_]

[67 It must be] It is meer _1669_

sicknesse,] sicknesse _1635-69_]

[69 sigh _P_, _TCD_: sinne, _1635-69_]

[74 and _P_: I _1635-69_, _TCD_]

[76 woo. _TCD_: wooe. _P_: woe. _1635-69_, _Chambers and
Grolier_]

[77 I now] now I _TCD_]

[78 hights] height _TCD_]

[79 clouds you rise from, our noone-ray _Grolier_: clouds, you
rise from our noone-ray, _1635-69_, _TCD_, _and Chambers_]

[81 right] bright _P_]

[83 a perfectnesse] all perfections _P_]

[84 youngest] quaintest _TCD_

flatteries] flatterers _P_, _TCD_]

[86 though] what's _P_]

[87 We'have _Ed_: We have _1635-69_]

[88 straight line,] streight-lace _P_

attribute; _Ed_: attribute. _1635_: attribute, _1639-69_]

[91 These] Those _TCD_]

[98 With earth] _om. TCD_

but] _om. 1650-69_]

[99 thoughts] through _P_]

[105 wholy] holy _TCD_]

[106 endure. ] endure _1635_]

[108 waight] weights _P_, _TCD_]

[109 impure] vapore _P_]

[114 when they're highest break. _P_, _TCD_

break. ] break _1635-39_: brak _1650-54_: brake. _1669_]

[115 _In edd. new par. begins wrongly at_ 113, _and so
Chambers and Grolier_

fleets] Isles _1669_]

[116 comfort; _1635-54_: sweet comfort, _1669_

others] yet some _1669_]

[119 But as the aire takes all sunbeams equall bright _P_]

[120 the first Rayes, _1635-54_: the Raies first, _1669_,
_TCD_: the rise first _P_]

[121 able men _P_: able man, _1635-54_: happy man, _1669_:
happy['s] man _Grosart and Chambers_]

[123 Their _1669_, _P_, _TCD_: There _1635-54_, _Chambers and
Grolier_]

[125 violent _P_, _TCD_: valiant _1635-69_]

[126 _Love_: _Ed_: _Love_. _1635-54_: _Love_, _1669_]

[127 imparts] imports _1669_, _TCD_]

[128 Is fain'd, which . . . appetite. _P_: Is thought the
mansion of sweet appetite. _TCD_: Is fancied _1635-39_ (_rest
of line left blank_): Is fancied in the Soul, not in the
sight. _1650-54_: Is fancied by the Soul, not appetite.
_1669_]

[130 Is, that] Is, 'cause _TCD_

contract in _1650-69_, _P_: contracted _1635-39_, _TCD_]




III.


_Elegie. _

Death be not proud, thy hand gave not this blow,
Sinne was her captive, whence thy power doth flow;
The executioner of wrath thou art,
But to destroy the just is not thy part.
Thy comming, terrour, anguish, griefe denounce; 5
Her happy state, courage, ease, joy pronounce.
From out the Christall palace of her breast,
The clearer soule was call'd to endlesse rest,
(Not by the thundering voyce, wherewith God threats,
But, as with crowned Saints in heaven he treats,) 10
And, waited on by Angels, home was brought,
To joy that it through many dangers sought;
The key of mercy gently did unlocke
The doores 'twixt heaven and it, when life did knock.
Nor boast, the fairest frame was made thy prey, 15
Because to mortall eyes it did decay;
A better witnesse than thou art, assures,
That though dissolv'd, it yet a space endures;
No dramme thereof shall want or losse sustaine,
When her best soule inhabits it again. 20
Goe then to people curst before they were,
Their spoyles in Triumph of thy conquest weare.
Glory not thou thy selfe in these hot teares
Which our face, not for hers, but our harme weares,
The mourning livery given by Grace, not thee, 25
Which wils our soules in these streams washt should be,
And on our hearts, her memories best tombe,
In this her Epitaph doth write thy doome.
Blinde were those eyes, saw not how bright did shine
Through fleshes misty vaile the beames divine. 30
Deafe were the eares, not charm'd with that sweet sound
Which did i'th spirit-instructed voice abound.
Of flint the conscience, did not yeeld and melt,
At what in her last Act: it saw, heard, felt.
Weep not, nor grudge then, to have lost her sight, 35
Taught thus, our after stay's but a short night:
But by all soules not by corruption choaked
Let in high rais'd notes that power be invoked.
Calme the rough seas, by which she sayles to rest,
From sorrowes here, to a kingdome ever blest; 40
And teach this hymne of her with joy, and sing,
_The grave no conquest gets, Death hath no sting. _


[Elegie. _Ed_: Elegye on the Lady Markham. By L. C. of
B. _RP31_: _do. _ By C. L. of B. _H40_: Elegie on Mistris
Boulstred. _1635-69_: _given as continuation of Death I
recant &c. _ _O'F_, _P_: _no title_, _B_ (_at foot of page F.
B. _). _See Text and Canon &c. _]

[2 flow; _Ed_: flow, _1635-69_: growe, _B_, _Cy_, _H40_,
_O'F_, _P_]

[5-6 comming, _1650-69_: comming _1635-39_

state, _1650-69_: state _1635-39_

denounce; . . . pronounce. _B_, _Cy_, _H40_, _P_: denounces; . . .
pronounces. _1635-69_]

[12 To joy that _1635-69_: To joy what _H40_: To joye, that
_B_

sought; _Ed_: sought, _1635-69_]

[22 spoyles . . of . . weare. _B_, _Cy_, _H40_ (beare), _P_:
soules . . to . . beare, _1635-69_. _See note_]

[24 hers, _H40_, _P_: her, _1635-69_

weares, _Ed_: weares. _1635-54_: weares: _1669_]

[30 the _B_, _Cy_, _H40_, _P_: those _1635-69_]

[31 not _1635-69_: that _B_, _Cy_, _P_]

[32 Which did _1635-69_: Did _H40_: Did not _B_, _Cy_, _P_

spirit-instructed _MSS. _: spirits instructed _1635-69_]

[saw, heard, felt. _B_, _Cy_, _H40_, _P_: saw and felt.
_1635-69_]

[38 rais'd _1635-69_: raisèd _Chambers_]

[39 she sayles _1635-69_: shee's sayl'd _B_, _H40_: shee's
fled _Cy_, _P_

rest, _1650-69_: rest _1635-39_]

[40 here, _1650-69_: here _1635-39_

blest; _Ed_: blest _1635_: blest, _1639-54_: blest. _1669_]

[41 And preach this Hymn which hers (she _Cy_, _P_) with joy
did sing, _B_, _Cy_, _H40_, _P_

sing, _1650-69_: sing _1635-69_]




IV.


_Psalme 137. _

Probably by Francis Davison.

I.

By Euphrates flowry side
We did bide,
From deare Juda farre absented,
Tearing the aire with our cryes,
And our eyes, 5
With their streames his streame augmented.

II.

When, poore Syons dolefull state,
Desolate;
Sacked, burned, and inthrall'd,
And the Temple spoil'd, which wee 10
Ne'r should see,
To our mirthlesse mindes wee call'd:

III.

Our mute harpes, untun'd, unstrung,
Up wee hung
On greene willowes neere beside us, 15
Where, we sitting all forlorne;
Thus, in scorne,
Our proud spoylers 'gan deride us.

IV.

Come, sad Captives, leave your moanes,
And your groanes 20
Under Syons ruines bury;
Tune your harps, and sing us layes
In the praise
Of your God, and let's be merry.

V.

Can, ah, can we leave our moanes? 25
And our groanes
Under Syons ruines bury?
Can we in this Land sing Layes
In the praise
Of our God, and here be merry? 30

VI.

No; deare Syon, if I yet
Do forget
Thine affliction miserable,
Let my nimble joynts become
Stiffe and numme, 35
To touch warbling harpe unable.

VII.

Let my tongue lose singing skill,
Let it still
To my parched roofe be glewed,
If in either harpe or voice 40
I rejoyce,
Till thy joyes shall be renewed.

VIII.

Lord, curse Edom's traiterous kinde,
Beare in minde
In our ruines how they revell'd. 45
_Sack_, _kill_, _burne_, they cry'd out still,
_Sack_, _burne_, _kill_,
Downe with all, let all be levell'd.

IX.

And, thou Babel, when the tide
Of thy pride 50
Now a flowing, growes to turning;
Victor now, shall then be thrall,
And shall fall
To as low an ebbe of mourning.

X.

Happy he who shall thee waste, 55
As thou hast
Us, without all mercy, wasted,
And shall make thee taste and see
What poore wee
By thy meanes have seene and tasted. 60

XI.

Happy, who, thy tender barnes
From the armes
Of their wailing mothers tearing,
'Gainst the walls shall dash their bones,
Ruthlesse stones 65
With their braines and blood besmearing.


[Psalme 137. _1633-69_, _A25_, _C_, _RP61_ in Certaine
selected Psalmes of David (in Verse) differint from Those
usually sung in the Church Composed by Francis Davison esq^r.
deceased and other Gentlemen. Manuscribd by R. Crane. Addl. _
_MS. 27407_, _Harl. MSS. 3357 and 6930_]

[4 with our cryes] with mournful cries _Crane_]

[6 his] the _Crane_]

[16 all forlorne] soe forlorne _Crane_]

[22-3

To your Harpes sing us some layes
To the praise _Crane_
]

[24 merry. ] merry, _1633-39_]

[25-6 moanes . . . groanes] _interchanged_ _Crane_]

[31-2

if I faile
To bewayle _Crane_
]

[42 renewed. ] renewed _1633_]

[43 curse] plague _Crane_]

[45 ruines] Ruine _Crane_

revell'd. _Ed_: revell'd, _1633-39_]

[52-3 shall . . . shall] shalt . . . shalt _Crane_]

[59-60

What by thee
Wee (poore wee) have _&c. _ _Crane_
]




V.


_On the blessed Virgin Mary. _

Probably by Henry Constable.

In that, ô Queene of Queenes, thy birth was free
From that which others doth of grace bereave,
When in their mothers wombe they life receive,
God, as his sole-borne daughter loved thee.

To match thee like thy births nobilitie, 5
He thee his Spirit for thy spouse did leave,
By whom thou didst his onely sonne conceive,
And so wast link'd to all the Trinitie.

Cease then, ô Queenes, that earthly Crownes doe weare,
To glory in the Pompe of earthly things; 10
If men such high respects unto you beare,
Which daughters, wives, and mothers are to Kings,
What honour can unto that Queene be done
Who had your God for Father, Spouse and Sonne?


[On the _&c. _ _1635-69_, _A10_, _B_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_: _also
among Spiritual Sonnets by H. C. in Harl. MS. 7553_]

[6 thy spouse _A10_, _B_: his spouse _1635-69_]

[12 to _B_: of _1635-69_

Kings,] kings, _1635_]




VI.


_On the Sacrament. _

He was the Word that spake it,
Hee tooke the bread and brake it;
And what that Word did make it,
I doe beleeve and take it.


[On the _&c. _ _1635-69_]


VII.


_Absence. _

That time and absence proves
Rather helps than hurts to loves.

Probably by John Hoskins.

Absence heare my protestation
Against thy strengthe
Distance and lengthe,
Doe what thou canst for alteration:
For harts of truest mettall 5
Absence doth joyne, and time doth settle.

Who loves a Mistris of right quality,
His mind hath founde
Affections grounde
Beyond time, place, and all mortality: 10
To harts that cannot vary
Absence is present, time doth tary:

My Sences want their outward motion
Which now within
Reason doth win, 15
Redoubled by her secret notion:
Like rich men that take pleasure
In hidinge more then handling treasure.

By absence this good means I gaine
That I can catch her 20
Where none can watch her
In some close corner of my braine:
There I embrace and there kiss her,
And so enjoye her, and so misse her.


[Absence. _The Grove_ (_1721_): _do. or no title_, _B_, _Cy_,
_HN_ (_signed_ J. H. ), _L74_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_ (_the
text here printed_): _also in_ Davison's Poetical Rhapsody
(_PR_) _1602_ _and_ (_a maimed and altered version_) _in Wit
Restored_ (_WR_) _1658_]

[1 heare _B_, _S96_, _Grove_: heare thou _Cy_, _HN_, _L74_,
_PR_, _S_, _WR_]

[3 Distance] Disdayne _HN_]

[4 you can _PR_: yee dare _HN_]

[5 For hearts where love's refined _WR_]

[6 Are absent joyned, by tyme combined. _WR_]

[7 right _S96_: such _Grove_, _HN_, _L74_, _PR_]

[8 He soon hath found _PR_]

[10 all] _om. _ _WR_]

[11 To] That _WR_]

[12 present] presence _B_

tary] carry _WR_]

[13 motion] motions _PR_]

[16 by . . . notion:] in . . . notions: _PR_: in . . . notion _HN_]

[18 hidinge] finding _Grove_]

[19 means] mean _WR_]

[23 There I embrace and there kiss her, _S96_: There I embrace
her, and _&c. _ _L74_: There I embrace and there I kiss her,
_B_, _O'F_, _WR_: There I embrace and kiss her, _Grove_, _HN_,
_PR_]

[24 and so misse her _B_, _Cy_, _HN_, _L74_, _O'F_, _S96_,
_WR_: while none misse her. _Grove_: I both enjoy and miss
her. _PR_]




VIII.


_Song. _

Probably by the Earl of Pembroke.

Soules joy, now I am gone,
And you alone,
(Which cannot be,
Since I must leave my selfe with thee,
And carry thee with me) 5
Yet when unto our eyes
Absence denyes
Each others sight,
And makes to us a constant night,
When others change to light; 10
_O give no way to griefe,
But let beliefe
Of mutuall love,
This wonder to the vulgar prove
Our Bodyes, not wee move. _ 15

Let not thy wit beweepe
Wounds but sense-deepe,
For when we misse
By distance our lipp-joying blisse,
Even then our soules shall kisse, 20
Fooles have no meanes to meet,
But by their feet.
Why should our clay,
Over our spirits so much sway,
To tie us to that way? 25
_O give no way to griefe, &c. _


[Song. _1635-69_, _O'F_: also in the Poems &c. (1660) of
the Earle of Pembroke and S^{r} Benjamin Ruddier, and the
Lansdowne MS. 777, here it is signed E. of Pembroke. _]

[1 now] when _1660_, _L77_]

[17 Wounds _L77_: Words _1635-69_, _O'F_

sense-deepe,] _no hyphen_, _1635-69_]

[18 when] while _L77_]

[19 lipp-joyning _L77_ (_not_ lives joining _as Chambers
reports_): hopes joyning _1635-69_, _O'F_]




_A Dialogue. _


EARLE OF PEMBROKE.

If her disdaine least change in you can move,
you doe not love,
For whilst your hopes give fuell to the fire,
you sell desire.
Love is not love, but given free, 5
And so is mine, so should yours bee.

Her heart that melts at others moane,
to mine is stone.
Her eyes that weepe a strangers hurt to see,
joy to wound mee: 10
Yet I so much affect each part,
As (caus'd by them) I love my smart.
Say her disdaynings justly must be grac't
with name of chaste.
And that shee frownes least longing should exceed, 15
and raging breed;
Soe can her rigor ne'er offend
Unlesse selfe-love seeke private end.


BEN: RUDDIER

'Tis love breeds love in mee, and cold disdaine
kils that againe, 20
As water causeth fire to fret and fume,
till all consume.
Who can of love more free gift make,
Then to loves self, for loves own sake.

I'll never dig in Quarry of an heart 25
to have no part,
Nor roast in fiery eyes, which alwayes are
Canicular.
Who this way would a Lover prove,
May shew his patience, not his love. 30

A frowne may be sometimes for physick good,
But not for food;
And for that raging humour there is sure
A gentler Cure.
Why barre you love of private end, 35
Which never should to publique tend?


[A Dialogue. _Ed_: A Dialogue betweene S^{r} Henry Wotton and
M^{r} Donne. _1635-69 among_ Letters to Severall Personages:
_no heading but divided between_ Earle of Pembroke _and_ Ben:
Ruddier _H39_, _H40_, _P_: _and so between_ P _and_ R _in
the_ Poems _&c. _ (1660) _of Pembroke and Ruddier_. _See note_:
_only 18 lines and no dialogue_, _Cy_: _in TCD_ (_II_) _the
first part is given to_ Earl of Pembroke _and_ S^{r} Henry
Wotton, _the second to_ S^{r} Ben. Ruddier _and_ D^{r} John
Donne]

[3 whilst your hopes give _H39_, (the), _H40_, _P_: when the
hope gives _1635-54_: when that hope gives _1669_]

[7 melts at _H39_, _H40_, _P_, _TCD_: melts to hear of
_1635-69_]

[9 a strangers] anothers _P_

hurt _H39_, _H40_, _P_, _TCD_: eyes _1635-69 and mod. edd. _]

[11 much _Cy_, _H39_, _H40_, _P_, _TCD_: well _1635-69_]

[13 Say _1635-69_: I think _H39_: Think _H40_: But thinke _P_

her disdaynings _1635-69_: her unkindness _H40_: that her
disdaine _P_

must be] may well be _P_]

[17-18 _text_ _H40_, _P_, _P and R_:

So her disdaines can ne'er offend;
Vnlesse selfe-love take private end. _1635-69_
]

[21 causeth] maketh _H40_, _P_]

[23-4

Who can of love more free gift make
Then to loves self, for loves owne sake

_H39_, _H40_, _P_ (_but H39 has to love in 23_)

Who can of love more gift make,
Then to love selfe for loves sake. _1635-39_
Who can of love more rich gift make,
Then to love selfe-love for loves sake? _1650-54_
Who can of love more rich gift make,
Then to Loves self for loves own sake. _1669_
]

[25 Quarry] quarryes _P_]

[27 roast _1669_, _H40_: rest _1635-54_: waste _H39_, _P_]

[30 May] doth _H39_, _H40_, _P_]




IX.


_Break of Daye. _

Stanza prefixed to Donne's Poem (p. 23) in Stowe MS. 961 and
in Edition of 1669.

Probably by John Dowlands.

Stay, O sweet, and do not rise,
The light that shines comes from thine eyes;
The day breaks not, it is my heart,
Because that you and I must part.
Stay, or else my joys will die, 5
And perish in their infancie.


[Stanza _&c. _] _given as a separate poem in A25_ (_where it
is written in at the side_), _C_, _O'F_, _P_: _printed in John
Dowland's_ A Pilgrim's Solace (1612)]

[1 Stay, O sweet] Lie still my dear _A25_, _C_]

[3 The day breakes not] There breakes not day _S96_]

[4 Because that] To think that _S96_]

[5 Stay] Oh stay _S96_]




APPENDIX C.

A
SELECTION OF POEMS WHICH FREQUENTLY
ACCOMPANY POEMS BY JOHN DONNE
IN MANUSCRIPT COLLECTIONS OR
HAVE BEEN ASCRIBED TO
DONNE BY MODERN
EDITORS.


I.


POEMS FROM ADDITIONAL MS. 25707.

_A Letter written by S^{r} H: G: and J: D: alternis vicibus. _

Since ev'ry Tree beginns to blossome now
Perfuminge and enamelinge each bow,
Hartes should as well as they, some fruits allow.

For since one old poore sunn serves all the rest,
You sev'rall sunns that warme, and light each brest 5
Doe by that influence all your thoughts digest.

And that you two may soe your vertues move,
On better matter then beames from above,
Thus our twin'd souls send forth these buds of love.

As in devotions men Joyne both there hands, 10
Wee make ours doe one Act to seale the bands,
By which we enthrall ourselves to your commands,

And each for others faith and zeale stand bound:
As safe as spirits are from any wound,
Soe free from impure thoughts they shal be found. 15

Admit our magique then by which wee doe
Make you appeere to us, and us to you,
Supplying all the Muses in you twoe.

Wee doe consider noe flower that is sweet,
But wee your breath in that exhaling meet, 20
And as true types of you, them humbly greet.

Heere in our Nightingales we heere you singe
Who soe doe make the whole yeare through a springe,
And save us from the feare of Autumns stinge.

In Anchors calme face wee your smoothnes see, 25
Your mindes unmingled, and as cleare as shee
That keepes untoucht her first virginitie.

Did all St. Edith nunns descend againe
To honor Polesworth with their cloystred traine,
Compar'd with you each would confesse some stayne. 30

Or should wee more bleed out our thoughts in inke,
Noe paper (though it woulde be glad to drinke
Those drops) could comprehend what wee doe thinke.

For t'were in us ambition to write
Soe, that because wee two, you two unite, 35
Our letter should as you, bee infinite.


[Letter written _&c. _ _A25_: _published by Chambers, who
completes the names_]

[2 bow, _Ed_: bow _A25_]

[9 twin'd _A25_: twined _Chambers_]

[10 hands, _Ed_: hands _A25_]

[12-13 commands, . . . bound: _Ed_: command. . . . bound, _A25_]

[25 Anchors _Chambers_: Anchos _A25_]

[29 traine, _Ed_: traine _A25_]

[31 inke, _Ed_: inke _A25_]




_O Frutefull Garden. _

O Frutefull garden, and yet never tilde,
Box full of Treasure yet by noe man filde.
O thou which haste, made him that first made thee;
O neare of kinne to all the Trinetie;
O Pallace where the kinge of all, and more; 5
Went in, and out, yet never opened doore;
Whose flesh is purer, than an others sperrit
Reache him our Prayers, and reach us down his merrit;
O bread of lyfe which sweld'ste up without Leaven;
O bridge which joynst togeather earth and heaven; 10
Whose eyes see me through these walles, and throughe glasse,
And through this fleshe as thorowe Cipres passe.
Behould a little harte made greate by thee
Swellinge, yet shrinkinge at thy majestie.
O dwell in it, for where soe ere thou go'ste 15
There is the Temple of the Holy Ghoste.


[O Frutefull Garden. _A25_: [TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. ]
_Chambers_]

[6 out, _Ed_: out _A25_]

[8 merrit; _Ed_: merrit, _A25_]

[9 Leaven, _Ed_: Leaven _A25_]




_To my Lord of Pembroke. _

Fye, Fye you sonnes of Pallas what madd rage
Makes you contend that Love's, or God, or page?
Hee that admires, his weaknes doth confess;
For as Love greater growes; soe hee growes less.
Hee that disdaines, what honor wynns thereby, 5
That he feeles not, or triumphes on a fly?
If love with queasie paine thy stomack move,
Soe will a slutt whome none dare touch; or love.
If it with sacred straines doe thee inspire
Of Poetrie; soe wee maye want admire. 10
If it thee valiant make, his ryvall hate
Can out doe that and make men desperate.
Yealdinge to us, all woemen conquer us,
By gentlenes we are betrayed thus.
We will not strive with Love that's a shee beaste; 15
But playinge wee are bounde, and yeald in Jest;
As in a Cobwebb toyle, a flye hath beene
Undone; so have I some fainte lover seene.
Love cannot take away our strength, but tame,
And wee less feele the thinge then feare the name; 20
Love is a temperate bath; hee that feeles more
Heate or could there, was hott, or could before.
But as Suñ beames which would but norishe, burne,
Drawne into hollow Christall, soe we turne
To fire her bewties Lustre willingly, 25
By gatheringe it in our false treacherous eye.
Love is nor you, nor you; but I a balme,
Sword to the stiff, unto the wounded balme.
Prayes noe thinge adds, if it be infinite,
If it be nothing, who can lessen it? 30


[To my Lord of Pembroke. _A25_, _Chambers_]

[3 confess; _Ed_: confess _A25_]

[5 disdaines, _Ed_: disdaines _A25_]

[6 fly? _Ed_: fly; _A25_]

[19 tame, _Ed_: tame _A25_]

[27 I a balme, _A25_: Aye a calm, _Chambers conjectures_]




_Of a Lady in the Black Masque. _

Why chose shee black; was it that in whitenes
Shee did Leda equal? whose brightnes
Must suffer loss to put a bewtie on
Which hath no grace but from proportion.
It is but Coullor, which to loose is gayne, 5
For shee in black doth th'Æthiopian staine,
Beinge the forme that beautifies the creature
Her rareness not in Coullor is; but feature.
Black on her receaves soe strong a grace
It seemes the fittest beautie for the face. 10
Coullor is not, but in æstimation
Faire, or foule, as it is stild by fashion.
Kinges wearinge sackcloath it doth royall make;
Soe black<ne>s from her face doth beautie take.
It not in Coullor but in her, inheres, 15
For what she is, is faire, not what she weares;
The Moore shalle envye her, as much, or more,
As did the Ladies of our Court before.
The Sunn shall mourne that hee had westwarde beene,
To seeke his Love; whilst shee i'th North was seene. 20
Her blacknes lends like lustre to her eyes,
As in the night pale Phoebe glorifyes.
Hell, synne, and vice their attributes shall loose
Of black, for it wan, and pale whitenes choose,
As like themselves, Common, and most in use: 25
Sad of that Coulor is the late abuse.


[Of a Lady _&c. _ _A25_, _Chambers_]

[10 face. _Ed_: face _A25_]

[13 make; _Ed_: make _A25_]

[14 black<ne>s _Chambers_: blacks _A25_]

[16 weares; _Ed_: weares, _A25_]




II.


POEMS FROM THE BURLEY MS.


<_Life. _>

This lyfe it is not life, it is a sight
That wee have of y^e earth, y^e earth of vs;
It is a feild, where sence & reason fight,
The soules & bodies quarrells to discus;
It is a iorney where wee do not goe, 5
but fly w^{th} speedy wings t'our blisse or woe.
It is a chaine y^t hath but two smale links
Where<with> o^r graue is to o^r bodie ioyned;
It is a poysned feast wherein who thinks
To tast ioyes cup, y^e cup of death doth find. 10
It is a play, presented in heauens eye
Wherein o^r parts are to do naught but dye.


[Life. > _Ed_: _no title_, _Bur_]

[2 vs; _Ed_: vs _Bur_]

[3 feild, _Ed_: feild _Bur_]

[4 discus; _Ed_: discus _Bur_]

[6 Woe. _Ed_: woe _Bur_]

[8 Where<with> _Ed_: where _Bur_

ioyned; _Ed_: ioyned _Bur_]




<_My Love. _>

My love doth fly w^{th} wings of feare
And doth a flame of fire resemble,
w^{ch} mounting high & burning cleere
yet ever more doth wane & tremble.
My loue doth see & still admire, 5
Admiring breedeth humblenes;
blind loue is bold, but my desire
the more it loues p^{re}sumes y^e lesse.
My loue seekes no reward or glory
but w^{th} it self it self contenteth, 10
is never sullaine, never sory,
never repyneth or repenteth.
O'who the sunne beames can behold
but hath some passion, feeles some heat,
for though the sunn himself be cold 15
his beames reflecting fire begett.
O y^t myne eyes, ô that myne hart
Were both enlarged to contayne
the beames & ioyes shee doth impart,
whilst shee this bowre doth not disdayne; 20
this bowre vnfit for such a gueste,
but since she makes it now her Inn,
Would god twere like her sacred breast
most fayre w^{th}out, most rich w^{th}in.


[<My Love. > _Ed_: _no title and no punctuation_, _Bur_]

[4 wane _Ed_: weane _Bur_]

[12 never _Ed_: ne're _Bur_]




<_O Eyes! _>

O Eyes, what do you see?
O eares what do you heare?
that makes y^o wish to bee
All eyes or else all eare?
I see a face as fayre 5
As mans eye ever saw,
I here as sweet an ayre
as y^t w^{ch} rocks did draw,
I wish, when in such wise
I see or heare y^e same, 10
I had all Argus eyes
or else y^e eare<s> of fame.


[<O Eyes! > _Ed_: _no title and no punctuation_, _Bur_]

[12 eare<s> _Ed_: eare _Bur_:

Cui, quot sunt corpore plumae,
Tot vigiles oculi subter, mirabile dictu,
Tot linguae, totidem ora sonant, _tot subrigit auris_.

Virgil: _Aen. _ iv. 181-3.
]




<_Silence Best Praise. _>

Cõmend her? no. I dare not terme her fayre,
nor sugred sweet, nor tall, nor louely browne;
suffice it y^t she is w^{th}out compare;
but how, I dare not tell lest she should frowne.
but those parts <least> w^{ch} others make theyre pryde, 5
and feed there fancies w^{th} devised lyes;
giue me but leaue to pull my saint asyde,
and tell her in her eare that she is wise.
to write of beauties rare ther is noe art,
for why tis common to there sex & kind, 10
but making choice of natures better part
my Muse doth most desire to prayse her mind.
But as her vertue<s> clayme a crowne of bayes,
So manners makes me sylent in her prayse.


[<Silence Best Praise. > _Ed_: _no title_, _Bur_]

[1 fayre, _Ed_: fayre _Bur_]

[2 sweet, . . . tall, . . . browne; _Ed_: _no stops_, _Bur_]

[3 compare; _Ed_: compare _Bur_]

[4 frowne. _Ed_: frowne _Bur_]

[5 <least> _Ed_: lest _Bur_

pryde, _Ed_: pryde _Bur_]

[6 lyes; _Ed_: lyes _Bur_]

[7 asyde, _Ed_: asyde _Bur_]

[8 wise. _Ed_: wise _Bur_]

[9-10 art, . . . kind. _Ed_: _no commas_, _Bur_]

[10 common] cõmõ _Bur_]

[12 mind. _Ed_: mind _Bur_]

[13 vertue<s> _Ed_: vertue _Bur_

bayes, _Ed_: bayes _Bur_]




<_Beauty in Little Room. _>

Those drossy heads & irrepurged braynes
w^{ch} sacred fyre of loue hath not refined
may grossly think my loue smale worth contaynes
because shee is of body smale combined.
Not diving to y^e depth of natures reach, 5
W^{ch} on smale things doth greatest guifts bestow:
small gems & pearls do witt more truly teach
W^ch little are yet great in vertue grow,
of flowers most part y^e least wee sweetest see,
of creatures having life & sence y^e annt 10
is smalst, yet great her guifts & vertues bee,
frugall & provident for feare of want.
Wherfore who sees not natures full intent?
she made her smale to make her excellent.


[<Beauty in Little Room. > _Ed_: _no title_, _Bur_]

[5 depth _Ed_: depht _Bur_

reach, _Ed_: reach _Bur_]

[6 bestow: _Ed_: bestow _Bur_]

[8 grow, _Ed_: grow _Bur_]

[11 bee, _Ed_: bee _Bur_]

[13 intent? _Ed_: intent _Bur_]




<_Loves Zodiake. _>

I that y^e higher half of loues
Round Zodiake haue rune,
And in the signe of crabbed chaunce
My Tropick haue begun,
Am taught to teach y^e man is blest 5
Whose loues lott lights so badd,
as his solstitium soonest makes
And so growes Retrograde.


[<Loves Zodiake> _Ed_: _no title_, _Bur_]




<_Fortune, Love, and Time. _>

When fortune, loue, and Tyme bad me be happie,
Happy I was by fortune, loue, and tyme.
These powres at highest then began to vary,
and cast him downe whome they had caus'd to clyme;
They prun'd theire wings, and tooke theire flight in rage; 5
fortune to fooles, loue to gold, and tyme to age.

Fooles, gold, and age, (o foolish golden age! )
Witt, fayth, and loue must begg, must brybe, must dy;
These are the actors and the world's the stage,
Desert and hope are as but standers by: 10
True lovers sit and tune this restlesse song;
Fortune, loue, and tyme haue done me wrong.


[<Fortune, Love, and Time. > _Ed_: _no title and no
punctuation_, _Bur_]




<_Life a Play. _>

What is o^r life? a play of passion.
o^r mirth? the musick of diuision.
O^r mothers wombs the tyring houses bee
Where we are drest for liues short comedy.
The earth the stage, heauen y^e spectator is, 5
Who still doth note who ere do act amisse.
O^r graues that hyde vs, frõ the all-seeing suñ,
Are but drawne curtaynes whẽ the play is done.


[<Life a Play. > _Ed_: _no title, and no punctuation except the
two marks of interrogation_, _Bur_]




_A Kisse. _

O what a blisse
is this?
heaven is effected
and loues eternity contracted
In one short kisse. 5
For not tymes measure
makes pleasure
more full,
tedious and dull
all ioyes are thought 10
y^t are not in an instant wrought.
Cupi<d>s blest and highest spheare
is heare.
heere on his throne
in his bright imperial crowne 15
hee sitts.
Those witts
That thinke to proue
that mortals know
in any place below 20
a blisse so great
so sweet
Are heretiques in loue.
These pleasures high
now dye, 25
but still beginning
new & greater glory wiñing
gett fresh supply.
No short breath'd panting
nor faynting 30
is heere,
fuller and freer
more pleasinge is
this pleasure still, & none but this.
Heer'es no blush nor labor great, 35
no sweat;
Heres no payne
nor repentance when againe
Loue cooles.
O fooles 40
That fondly glory
in base condition
of sensual fruition,
you do mistake
& make 45
y^r heaven purgatory.


[A Kisse. _Bur_]

[8 full. _Ed_: full _Bur_]

[12 Cupi<d>s _Ed_: Cupis _Bur_]

[27 new _Ed_: now _Bur_]

[28 supply. _Ed_: supply _Bur_]

[31 heere, _Ed_: heere _Bur_]

[35 great, _Ed_: great _Bur_]

[39 cooles. _Ed_: cooles _Bur_]

[43 fruition, _Ed_: fruition _Bur_]




_Epi: B: Jo:_

Tell me who can when a player dies
In w^{ch} of his shapes againe hee shall rise?
What need hee stand at the iudgment throne
Who hath a heaven and a hell of his owne.
Then feare not Burbage heavens angry rodd, 5
When thy fellows are angells & old Hemmĩgs is God.


[Epi: B: Jo: (i. e. Epitaph: Ben Ionson) _Bur_: _no
punctuation_]




_Epi: Hen: Princ: Hug^o Holland. _

Loe now hee shineth yonder
A fixed starr in heaven,
Whose motion is vnder
None of the planetts seaven;
And if the soñ should tender 5
The moone his loue and marry,
They never could engender
So fayre a starr as Harry.


[Epi: Hen: Princ: Hug^o Holland. _Bur_: _no punctuation_]




III.


POEMS FROM VARIOUS MSS.


<_The Annuntiation. _

_Additional Lines. _>

Nature amaz'd sawe man without mans ayde
Borne of a mother nursed by her a mayd,
The child the Parent was, the worke the word,
No word till then did such a worke affoord.
Twas lesse from nothing the world's all to growe 5
Then all-Creato^{rs} height to stoope so lowe.
A virgin mother to a child bredd wonder,
T'was more a child should bee the God of thunder.
Th'omnipotent was strangely potent heere
To make the powerfull God pearelesse appeare. 10
Hee in our body cladd, for our soules love
Came downe to us, yet stay'd vnchanged above.
Yet God through man shind still in this cleere brooke,
Through meane shewes into maiesty wee looke.
Sinnes price seemd payd with brasse, fewe sawe the gold, 15
Yet true stones set in lead theyr lustre hold.
His birth though poore, Prophets foretold his story,
Hee breathd with beasts, but Angels sung his glory.
Hee, so farr of, so weake, yet Herod quakes,
The citty dreads, babes, murderd, feare mistakes. 20
His Circumcision bore sinne, payne, and shame,
Young bloud new budd, hence bloomd a sauiours name.
His paynes and passion bredd compassion, wonder;
Earth trembling, heavens darke, rocks rent asunder.
His birth, life, death, his words, his workes, his face 25
Shewd a rich Jewell shining through the case,
Cast thus, since man at gods high presence trembles.
Heere man mans troth loves whome his sheepe resembles.
The bright Sunne beame a sickly eye may di[~m]e,
A little babe in shallow heart may swi[~m]. 30
Hee heavens wealth to a poore stable brings,
Th'oxestall the Court unto the king of kings.