No More Learning

There's nothing but your worth, which being true,
Is knowne to any other, not to you:
And you can never know it; To admit
No knowledge of your worth, is some of it. 30
But since to you, your praises discords bee,
Stoop, others ills to meditate with mee.
Oh! to confesse wee know not what we should,
Is halfe excuse; wee know not what we would:
Lightnesse depresseth us, emptinesse fills, 35
We sweat and faint, yet still goe downe the hills.
As new Philosophy arrests the Sunne,
And bids the passive earth about it runne,
So wee have dull'd our minde, it hath no ends;
Onely the bodie's busie, and pretends; 40
As dead low earth ecclipses and controules
The quick high Moone: so doth the body, Soules.
In none but us, are such mixt engines found,
As hands of double office: For, the ground
We till with them; and them to heav'n wee raise; 45
Who prayer-lesse labours, or, without this, prayes,
Doth but one halfe, that's none; He which said, _Plough
And looke not back_, to looke up doth allow.
Good seed degenerates, and oft obeyes
The soyles disease, and into cockle strayes; 50
Let the minds thoughts be but transplanted so,
Into the body,'and bastardly they grow.
What hate could hurt our bodies like our love?
Wee (but no forraine tyrants could) remove
These not ingrav'd, but inborne dignities, 55
Caskets of soules; Temples, and Palaces:
For, bodies shall from death redeemed bee,
Soules but preserv'd, not naturally free.
As men to'our prisons, new soules to us are sent,
Which learne vice there, and come in innocent. 60
First seeds of every creature are in us,
What ere the world hath bad, or pretious,
Mans body can produce, hence hath it beene
That stones, wormes, frogges, and snakes in man are seene:
But who ere saw, though nature can worke soe, 65
That pearle, or gold, or corne in man did grow?
We'have added to the world Virginia,'and sent
Two new starres lately to the firmament;
Why grudge wee us (not heaven) the dignity
T'increase with ours, those faire soules company. 70
But I must end this letter, though it doe
Stand on two truths, neither is true to you,
Vertue hath some perversenesse; For she will
Neither beleeve her good, nor others ill.
Even in you, vertues best paradise, 75
Vertue hath some, but wise degrees of vice.
Too many vertues, or too much of one
Begets in you unjust suspition;
And ignorance of vice, makes vertue lesse,
Quenching compassion of our wrechednesse. 80
But these are riddles; Some aspersion
Of vice becomes well some complexion.
Statesmen purge vice with vice, and may corrode
The bad with bad, a spider with a toad:
For so, ill thralls not them, but they tame ill 85
And make her do much good against her will,
But in your Commonwealth, or world in you,
Vice hath no office, or good worke to doe.
Take then no vitious purge, but be content
With cordiall vertue, your knowne nourishment. 90


[the _&c. _ _1633-69:_ To the Countesse of B. _N_, _O'F_,
_TCD_]

[5 debt _1669_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCD:_ doubt _1633-54_]

[7 soe; _Ed:_ soe, _1633-54:_ soe. _1669_

_nothings_, _1635-54:_ _nothing_, _1633_, _N_, _TCD:_
_Nothing_ _1669_

may] may, _1633_]

[14 hath] have _1633:_ _om. _ _N_, _TCD_ (have _inserted_)

_Dian's_ _1635-54:_ Dian's _1633:_ _Dina's_ _1669_]

[20 or all It; You. _1635-54:_ or all it, you. _1669_, _N_,
_O'F_, _TCD:_ or all, in you. _1633_ (you, _some copies_)]

[25 Your (or you) vertue _O'F:_ Your, or you vertue,
_1633-54:_ You, or you vertue, _1669_]

[26 preserves. _Ed:_ preserves; _1633-69_]

[28 you:] you. _1633-39_]

[30 is some] it some _1633_]

[32 Stoop, others ills] Stoop (Stop _1633_) others ills,
_1633-54:_ Stoop others ills _1669_]

[34 excuse; _Ed:_ excuse, _1633-69_, _Grosart_ (_who
transposes_ should _and_ would), _Chambers:_ excuse _Grolier_.
_See note_

would: _Ed:_ would] _1633-69_]

[36 the hills. _Ed:_ the hills; _1633-69_]

[37 Philosophy. Phylosophy _1633 some copies_, _1669_]

[45 raise;] raise _1633_]

[46 this,] these _1669_]

[50 strayes; _Ed:_ strayes. _1633-69_]

[51 Let] Let but _1669_]

[54 Wee (but no forraine tyrants could) remove _Ed:_ Wee but
no forraine tyrants could, remove _O'F:_ Wee but no forraigne
tyrants could remove, _1633-54_ (tyrans _1633_): We, but no
forrain tyrants, could remove _1669_, _Chambers and Grolier_.
_See note_]

[55 dignities, _Ed:_ dignities _1633-69_]

[56 Palaces: _1633-35:_ Palaces. _1639-69_]

[58 not naturally free. _Ed:_ not naturally free; _1633_, _N_,
_TCD:_ borne naturally free; _1635-69_, _O'F_]

[59 prisons, new soules _1633:_ prisons now, soules _1635-69_,
_O'F:_ prisons, now soules _N_, _TCD_]

[60 vice _1635-69_, _O'F:_ it _1633_, _N_, _TCD_]

[66 That] That, _1633_

grow? _1639-69:_ grow. _1633-35_]

[74 ill. ] ill, _1633-35_]

[75 you, _1669:_ you _1635-54:_ your _1633_]

[78 suspition; _Ed:_ suspition. _1633-69_]

[79 makes] make _1635-39_]

[87 Commonwealth, . . . you,] _no commas 1633_]




_To the Countesse of_ Bedford.

_On New-yeares day. _


This twilight of two yeares, not past nor next,
Some embleme is of mee, or I of this,
Who Meteor-like, of stuffe and forme perplext,
Whose _what_, and _where_, in disputation is,
If I should call mee _any thing_, should misse. 5

I summe the yeares, and mee, and finde mee not
Debtor to th'old, nor Creditor to th'new,
That cannot say, My thankes I have forgot,
Nor trust I this with hopes, and yet scarce true
This bravery is, since these times shew'd mee you. 10

In recompence I would show future times
What you were, and teach them to'urge towards such.
Verse embalmes vertue;'and Tombs, or Thrones of rimes,
Preserve fraile transitory fame, as much
As spice doth bodies from corrupt aires touch. 15

Mine are short-liv'd; the tincture of your name
Creates in them, but dissipates as fast,
New spirits: for, strong agents with the same
Force that doth warme and cherish, us doe wast;
Kept hot with strong extracts, no bodies last: 20

So, my verse built of your just praise, might want
Reason and likelihood, the firmest Base,
And made of miracle, now faith is scant,
Will vanish soone, and so possesse no place,
And you, and it, too much grace might disgrace. 25

When all (as truth commands assent) confesse
All truth of you, yet they will doubt how I,
One corne of one low anthills dust, and lesse,
Should name, know, or expresse a thing so high,
And not an inch, measure infinity. 30

I cannot tell them, nor my selfe, nor you,
But leave, lest truth b'endanger'd by my praise,
And turne to God, who knowes I thinke this true,
And useth oft, when such a heart mis-sayes,
To make it good, for, such a praiser prayes. 35

Hee will best teach you, how you should lay out
His stock of _beauty_, _learning_, _favour_, _blood_;
He will perplex security with doubt,
And cleare those doubts; hide from you,'and shew you good,
And so increase your appetite and food; 40

Hee will teach you, that good and bad have not
One latitude in cloysters, and in Court;
Indifferent there the greatest space hath got;
Some pitty'is not good there, some vaine disport,
On this side sinne, with that place may comport. 45

Yet he, as hee bounds seas, will fixe your houres,
Which pleasure, and delight may not ingresse,
And though what none else lost, be truliest yours,
Hee will make you, what you did not, possesse,
By using others, not vice, but weakenesse. 50

He will make you speake truths, and credibly,
And make you doubt, that others doe not so:
Hee will provide you keyes, and locks, to spie,
And scape spies, to good ends, and hee will show
What you may not acknowledge, what not know. 55

For your owne conscience, he gives innocence,
But for your fame, a discreet warinesse,
And though to scape, then to revenge offence
Be better, he showes both, and to represse
_Ioy_, when your state swells, _sadnesse_ when'tis lesse. 60

From need of teares he will defend your soule,
Or make a rebaptizing of one teare;
Hee cannot, (that's, he will not) dis-inroule
Your name; and when with active joy we heare
This private Ghospell, then'tis our New Yeare. 65


[To the _&c. _ _1633-69:_ To the Countesse of B. at New-yeares
tide. _N_, _O'F_, _TCD_]

[3-4 (Meteor-like, . . . disputation is,) _1635-69_]

[9 true _Ed:_ true, _1633_ true. _1635-69_]

[10 is, _Ed:_ is _1633-69_ (_in 1633 the interval shows that a
comma was intended_)

times] time _1633_]

[12 such. _Ed:_ such, _1633-69_]

[16 short-liv'd] short liv'd _1633_]

[17 fast,] fast _1633_]

[18 spirits: _Ed:_ spirit: _1633:_ spirits; _1635-69_]

[19 cherish, us doe _1633:_ cherish us, doe _1635-69_]

[27 I, _Ed:_ I _1633-69_]

[28 (One corne . . . and lesse,) _1635-69_]

[29 name, know,] _no commas 1633-69_]

[30 And not an inch, _1633:_ And (not an inch) _1635-69_

infinity. ] infinite. _1669_]

[35 praiser prayes. _1635-69_, _O'F:_ prayer prayes. _1633:_
prayer praise. _N_, _TCD_]

[37 _blood_;] _blood_, _1633_]

[39 doubts;] doubts, _1633_]

[42 Court; _Ed:_ Court, _1633-69_]

[43 got; _Ed:_ got, _1633-69_]

[44 pitty' _1633-69:_ piety _James Russell Lowell, in Grolier
note_. _See note_]

[45 On this side sinne, _Ed_ (_from Chambers_): On this side,
sinne; _1633:_ On this side, sin, _1635-69_. _See note_]

[46 he, _Ed:_ he _1633-69_]

[47 Which] With _1633_]

[55 may] will _1669_]

[58-9 (though to scape . . . Be better,) _1635-69_]

[65 New Yeare. ] new yeare, _1633_]




_To the Countesse of Huntingdon. _


MADAME,

Man to Gods image; _Eve_, to mans was made,
Nor finde wee that God breath'd a soule in her,
Canons will not Church functions you invade,
Nor lawes to civill office you preferre.

Who vagrant transitory Comets sees, 5
Wonders, because they'are rare; But a new starre
Whose motion with the firmament agrees,
Is miracle; for, there no new things are;

In woman so perchance milde innocence
A seldome comet is, but active good 10
A miracle, which reason scapes, and sense;
For, Art and Nature this in them withstood.

As such a starre, the _Magi_ led to view
The manger-cradled infant, God below:
By vertues beames by fame deriv'd from you, 15
May apt soules, and the worst may, vertue know.

If the worlds age, and death be argued well
By the Sunnes fall, which now towards earth doth bend,
Then we might feare that vertue, since she fell
So low as woman, should be neare her end. 20

But she's not stoop'd, but rais'd; exil'd by men
She fled to heaven, that's heavenly things, that's you;
She was in all men, thinly scatter'd then,
But now amass'd, contracted in a few.

She guilded us: But you are gold, and Shee; 25
Us she inform'd, but transubstantiates you;
Soft dispositions which ductile bee,
Elixarlike, she makes not cleane, but new.

Though you a wifes and mothers name retaine,
'Tis not as woman, for all are not soe, 30
But vertue having made you vertue,'is faine
T'adhere in these names, her and you to show,

Else, being alike pure, wee should neither see;
As, water being into ayre rarify'd,
Neither appeare, till in one cloud they bee, 35
So, for our sakes you do low names abide;

Taught by great constellations, which being fram'd,
Of the most starres, take low names, _Crab_ and _Bull_,
When single planets by the _Gods_ are nam'd,
You covet not great names, of great things full. 40

So you, as woman, one doth comprehend,
And in the vaile of kindred others see;
To some ye are reveal'd, as in a friend,
And as a vertuous Prince farre off, to mee.

To whom, because from you all vertues flow, 45
And 'tis not none, to dare contemplate you,
I, which doe so, as your true subject owe
Some tribute for that, so these lines are due.

If you can thinke these flatteries, they are,
For then your judgement is below my praise, 50
If they were so, oft, flatteries worke as farre,
As Counsels, and as farre th'endeavour raise.

So my ill reaching you might there grow good,
But I remaine a poyson'd fountaine still;
But not your beauty, vertue, knowledge, blood 55
Are more above all flattery, then my will.

And if I flatter any,'tis not you
But my owne judgement, who did long agoe
Pronounce, that all these praises should be true,
And vertue should your beauty,'and birth outgrow. 60

Now that my prophesies are all fulfill'd,
Rather then God should not be honour'd too,
And all these gifts confess'd, which hee instill'd,
Your selfe were bound to say that which I doe.

So I, but your Recorder am in this, 65
Or mouth, or Speaker of the universe,
A ministeriall Notary, for'tis
Not I, but you and fame, that make this verse;

I was your Prophet in your yonger dayes,
And now your Chaplaine, God in you to praise. 70


[To the _&c. _ _1633-69_, _O'F:_ To the C. of H. _N_, _TCD_]

[1 image;] image, _1633_

mans] man _1650-69_]

[9 woman] women _1669_]

[13 the] which _1633_

_Magi_] Magis _N_, _O'F_, _TCD:_ _compare p. _ 243, _l. _ 390]

[14 below: _Ed:_ below. _1633-69_]

[15 beames by . . . you, _1633:_ beames (by . . . you) _1633-69_]

[16 may, _Ed:_ may _1633-69_]

[22 you; _Ed:_ you, _1633-69_]

[24 amass'd, _1633_, _O'F:_ a masse _1635-69_, _N_, _TCD_]

[25-6 But you are gold, and Shee; . . . transubstantiates you;
_Ed:_ But you are gold, and Shee, . . . transubstantiates you,
_1633:_

but you are gold; and she,
Informed us, but transubstantiates you,

_1635-69_, _Chambers_ (_but no comma after_ and she _and colon
or full stop after_ you _1650-69_, _Chambers_)]

[33 see; _Ed:_ see, _1633-69_]

[37-9 (which being . . . are nam'd) _1635-69_]

[42 vaile] vale _1669_]

[43 ye _1633:_ you _1635-69_]

[47 doe so, _1635-69_, _O'F:_ doe _N_, _TCD:_ to you _1633_]

[48 due. ] due, _1633_]

[55 But _1633_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCD:_ And _1635-69_, _Chambers_]

[64 that] thar _1633_]

[66 or Speaker _1633:_ and Speaker _1635-69_]

[67 Notary,] notary, _1633_]




To M^r _T. W. _


All haile sweet Poët, more full of more strong fire,
Then hath or shall enkindle any spirit,
I lov'd what nature gave thee, but this merit
Of wit and Art I love not but admire;
Who have before or shall write after thee, 5
Their workes, though toughly laboured, will bee
Like infancie or age to mans firme stay,
Or earely and late twilights to mid-day.

Men say, and truly, that they better be
Which be envyed then pittied: therefore I, 10
Because I wish thee best, doe thee envie:
O wouldst thou, by like reason, pitty mee!
But care not for mee: I, that ever was
In Natures, and in Fortunes gifts, alas,
(Before thy grace got in the Muses Schoole 15
A monster and a begger,) am now a foole.

Oh how I grieve, that late borne modesty
Hath got such root in easie waxen hearts,
That men may not themselves, their owne good parts
Extoll, without suspect of surquedrie, 20
For, but thy selfe, no subject can be found
Worthy thy quill, nor any quill resound
Thy worth but thine: how good it were to see
A Poëm in thy praise, and writ by thee.

Now if this song be too'harsh for rime, yet, as 25
The Painters bad god made a good devill,
'Twill be good prose, although the verse be evill,
If thou forget the rime as thou dost passe.
Then write, that I may follow, and so bee
Thy debter, thy'eccho, thy foyle, thy zanee. 30
I shall be thought, if mine like thine I shape,
All the worlds Lyon, though I be thy Ape.


[To M^r T. W. : _P_, _S_, _W:_ To M. I. W. _1633-69_, _A18_,
_N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ A Letter. To M^r T. W. _O'F:_ Ad amicum.
_S96:_ _no title_, _B_, _Cy_]

[1 more full] and full _1669_]

[2 any spirit, _1633_, _A18_, _Cy_, _N_, _P_, _TC_, _W:_ my
dull spirit, _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _S_]

[3 this merit _1633_, _A18_, _Cy_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TC_, _W:_
thy merit _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _Chambers_]

[11 thee . . . thee] the . . . the _1669_]

[12 mee! _Ed:_ mee. _W:_ mee, _1633-69_]

[13 mee: _Ed:_ mee, _1633-69_

ever was] never was _B_, _P_, _S96_]

[14-16

In Natures, and in Fortunes gifts, alas,
(Before . . . and a begger,)

_Ed:_

In Natures, and in fortunes gifts, (alas,
Before thy grace got in the Muses Schoole)
A monster and a begger,

_1633_ (_some copies:_ _others read_ 15 Before by thy grace
_&c. _, _which is also the Grolier conjecture_), _A18_, _Cy_,
_N_, _P_, _S_, _TC_, _W_ (_but W and some of the other MSS.
have no brackets_):

In Natures, and in fortunes gifts, alas,
(But for thy grace got in the Muses Schoole)
A Monster and a beggar,

_1635-69_, _O'F_, _Chambers_

In fortunes, nor (or _S96_) in natures gifts alas,
But by thy grace, _&c. _

_B_, _S96_. _See note_]

[16 am now a foole. _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _W:_ am a
foole. _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _N_, _TC_]

[23 worth _1669_, _B_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _W:_ worke
_1633-54_, _A18_, _N_, _TC_]

[27 evill, _W:_ evill. _1633-69_, _Chambers_]

[28 passe. _W:_ passe, _1633-69_, _Chambers_]

[29 that I _1669_, _B_, _Cy_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _W:_ then
I _1633-54_, _A18_, _N_, _TC_]

[30 Thy debter, thy'eccho _1633-54:_ Thy eccho, thy debtor
_1669_

thy zanee. ] and thy Zanee. _A18_, _N_, _TC_]

[31 if . . . shape] _brackets_ _1635-69_]




To M _T. W. _


Hast thee harsh verse, as fast as thy lame measure
Will give thee leave, to him, my pain and pleasure.
I have given thee, and yet thou art too weake,
Feete, and a reasoning soule and tongue to speake.
Plead for me, and so by thine and my labour 5
I am thy Creator, thou my Saviour.
Tell him, all questions, which men have defended
Both of the place and paines of hell, are ended;
And 'tis decreed our hell is but privation
Of him, at least in this earths habitation: 10
And 'tis where I am, where in every street
Infections follow, overtake, and meete:
Live I or die, by you my love is sent,
And you'are my pawnes, or else my Testament.


[To M^r T. W. : _O'F_, _W:_ To M. T. W. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_,
_TCC_, _TCD_]

[1 verse, _1669:_ verse _1633-54_]

[2 to him, my pain and pleasure. _W_, _and Chambers_ (_without
comma_): to him; My pain, and pleasure _1633-69:_ to him. My
pain and pleasure, _Grolier_]

[4 Feete, . . . soule _W:_ _no comma_ _1633:_ Feete . . . soule,
_1635-69_]

[5-6 _These lines only in W_]

[9 our] that _W_]

[14 And you'are _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC_, _W:_ You are
_1635-69_, _O'F_

pawnes] _om. with space_, _W_]




To M^r _T. W. _


Pregnant again with th'old twins Hope, and Feare,
Oft have I askt for thee, both how and where
Thou wert, and what my hopes of letters were;

As in our streets sly beggers narrowly
Watch motions of the givers hand and eye, 5
And evermore conceive some hope thereby.

And now thy Almes is given, thy letter'is read,
The body risen againe, the which was dead,
And thy poore starveling bountifully fed.

After this banquet my Soule doth say grace, 10
And praise thee for'it, and zealously imbrace
Thy love; though I thinke thy love in this case
To be as gluttons, which say 'midst their meat,
They love that best of which they most do eat.


[To M^r T. W. _O'F_, _W:_ To M. T. W. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_,
_TCC_, _TCD_]

[5 Watch] Marke _W_

and eye, _A18_, _A23_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_, _W:_ or eye,
_1633-69_]

[12 love; _Ed:_ love, _1633-69_]




To M^r _T. W. _


At once, from hence, my lines and I depart,
I to my soft still walks, they to my Heart;
I to the Nurse, they to the child of Art;

Yet as a firme house, though the Carpenter
Perish, doth stand: As an Embassadour 5
Lyes safe, how e'r his king be in danger:

So, though I languish, prest with Melancholy,
My verse, the strict Map of my misery,
Shall live to see that, for whose want I dye.

Therefore I envie them, and doe repent, 10
That from unhappy mee, things happy'are sent;
Yet as a Picture, or bare Sacrament,
Accept these lines, and if in them there be
Merit of love, bestow that love on mee.


[To M^r T. W. _W:_ An Old Letter. _D_, _H49:_ A Letter. _S96:_
Letter. _O'F:_ _no heading_, _and following the preceding
without any interval_, _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ Incerto.
_1635-69_]

[5 As _W:_ as _1633-69_]

[7 Melancholy] Malancholy _1633_]

[14 of love,] of love _1633_]




To M^r _R. W. _


Zealously my Muse doth salute all thee,
Enquiring of that mistique trinitee
Whereof thou,'and all to whom heavens do infuse
Like fyer, are made; thy body, mind, and Muse.
Dost thou recover sicknes, or prevent?
5
Or is thy Mind travail'd with discontent?
Or art thou parted from the world and mee,
In a good skorn of the worlds vanitee?
Or is thy devout Muse retyr'd to sing
Vpon her tender Elegiaque string? 10
Our Minds part not, joyne then thy Muse with myne,
For myne is barren thus devorc'd from thyne.


[To M^r R. W. _A23_, _W:_ _first printed in Gosse's_ Life and
Letters of John Donne, _&c. _, 1899]

[1 thee,] thee _W_]




To M^r _R. W. _


Mvse not that by thy mind thy body is led:
For by thy mind, my mind's distempered.
So thy Care lives long, for I bearing part
It eates not only thyne, but my swolne hart.
And when it gives us intermission 5
We take new harts for it to feede upon.
But as a Lay Mans Genius doth controule
Body and mind; the Muse beeing the Soules Soule
Of Poets, that methinks should ease our anguish,
Although our bodyes wither and minds languish. 10
Wright then, that my griefes which thine got may bee
Cured by thy charming soveraigne melodee.


[M^r R. W. _A23_, _W:_ _printed here for the first time_]




To M^r _C. B. _


Thy friend, whom thy deserts to thee enchaine,
Urg'd by this unexcusable occasion,
Thee and the Saint of his affection
Leaving behinde, doth of both wants complaine;
And let the love I beare to both sustaine 5
No blott nor maime by this division,
Strong is this love which ties our hearts in one,
And strong that love pursu'd with amorous paine;
But though besides thy selfe I leave behind
Heavens liberall, and earths thrice-fairer Sunne, 10
Going to where sterne winter aye doth wonne,
Yet, loves hot fires, which martyr my sad minde,
Doe send forth scalding sighes, which have the Art
To melt all Ice, but that which walls her heart.


[To M^r C. B. : _A23_, _W:_ To M. C. B. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_,
_O'F_, _TCC_, _TCD_]

[9 thy self] my self _1669_]

[10 liberall,] liberall _1633_

earths _1633_, _1669_, _A18_, _A23_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_, _W:_
the _1635-54_, _Chambers_

thrice fairer _A23_, _W:_ thrice-faire _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_,
_TC_]

[11 sterne _1633_, _A18_, _A23_, _N_, _TC_, _W:_ sterv'd
_1633-69_, _O'F_]

[13 forth] out _A18_, _N_, _TC_]




To M^r _E. G. _


Even as lame things thirst their perfection, so
The slimy rimes bred in our vale below,
Bearing with them much of my love and hart,
Fly unto that Parnassus, where thou art.
There thou oreseest London: Here I have beene, 5
By staying in London, too much overseene.
Now pleasures dearth our City doth posses,
Our Theaters are fill'd with emptines;
As lancke and thin is every street and way
As a woman deliver'd yesterday. 10
Nothing whereat to laugh my spleen espyes
But bearbaitings or Law exercise.
Therefore I'le leave it, and in the Country strive
Pleasure, now fled from London, to retrive.
Do thou so too: and fill not like a Bee 15
Thy thighs with hony, but as plenteously
As Russian Marchants, thy selfes whole vessell load,
And then at Winter retaile it here abroad.
Blesse us with Suffolks sweets; and as it is
Thy garden, make thy hive and warehouse this. 20


[To M^r E. G. _W:_ _first printed in Gosse's_ Life and Letters
of John Donne, _&c. _ 1899]

[5-6 beene, . . . London,] _no commas_, _W_]

[6 staying] staing _W_]

[7 dearth] dirth _W_]

[7-8 posses, . . . emptines;] posses . . . emptines. _W_]




To M^r _R. W. _


If, as mine is, thy life a slumber be,
Seeme, when thou read'st these lines, to dreame of me,
Never did Morpheus nor his brother weare
Shapes soe like those Shapes, whom they would appeare,
As this my letter is like me, for it 5
Hath my name, words, hand, feet, heart, minde and wit;
It is my deed of gift of mee to thee,
It is my Will, my selfe the Legacie.
So thy retyrings I love, yea envie,
Bred in thee by a wise melancholy, 10
That I rejoyce, that unto where thou art,
Though I stay here, I can thus send my heart,
As kindly'as any enamored Patient
His Picture to his absent Love hath sent.

All newes I thinke sooner reach thee then mee; 15
Havens are Heavens, and Ships wing'd Angels be,
The which both Gospell, and sterne threatnings bring;
Guyanaes harvest is nip'd in the spring,
I feare; And with us (me thinkes) Fate deales so
As with the Jewes guide God did; he did show 20
Him the rich land, but bar'd his entry in:
Oh, slownes is our punishment and sinne.
Perchance, these Spanish businesse being done,
Which as the Earth betweene the Moone and Sun
Eclipse the light which Guyana would give, 25
Our discontinued hopes we shall retrive:
But if (as all th'All must) hopes smoake away,
Is not Almightie Vertue'an India?

If men be worlds, there is in every one
Some thing to answere in some proportion 30
All the worlds riches: And in good men, this,
Vertue, our formes forme and our soules soule, is.


[To M^r R. W. _A18_, _A23_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _W:_ To
M. R. W. _1633-69:_ _no breaks_, _W:__ two stanzas of fourteen
lines and a quatrain_, _1633:_ _twenty-eight lines continuous
and a quatrain_, _1633-69_]

[3 brother _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC:_ brethren _W_]

[6 hand,] hands _O'F_, _TC_]

[21 in: _1650-69_, _W:_ in, _1633-39_]

[22 Oh, _A23_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC:_ Ah, _W:_ Our _1633-69_

sinne. _W:_ sinne; _1633-69_]

[23 businesse _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ busnesses _W:_
businesses _1635-69_

done] donne _W_]

[27 all th'All _W:_ All th'All _1633-69_]

[31 men, this, _Ed:_ men, this _1633-69_]

[32 soules soule, is. _Chambers:_ soules soule is. _1633-69_]




To M^r _R. W. _


Kindly I envy thy songs perfection
Built of all th'elements as our bodyes are:
That Litle of earth that is in it, is a faire
Delicious garden where all sweetes are sowne.
In it is cherishing fyer which dryes in mee 5
Griefe which did drowne me: and halfe quench'd by it
Are satirique fyres which urg'd me to have writt
In skorne of all: for now I admyre thee.
And as Ayre doth fullfill the hollownes
Of rotten walls; so it myne emptines, 10
Where tost and mov'd it did beget this sound
Which as a lame Eccho of thyne doth rebound.
Oh, I was dead; but since thy song new Life did give,
I recreated, even by thy creature, live.


[To M^r R. W. _W:_ _published here for the first time_]

[6 which] w^{ch} _W_, _and so always_]

[10 emptines,] emptines. _W_]

[13-14 Oh, . . . give, . . . recreated, . . . creature,] _no
commas_, _W_]




To M^r _S. B. _


O Thou which to search out the secret parts
Of the India, or rather Paradise
Of knowledge, hast with courage and advise
Lately launch'd into the vast Sea of Arts,
Disdaine not in thy constant travailing 5
To doe as other Voyagers, and make
Some turnes into lesse Creekes, and wisely take
Fresh water at the Heliconian spring;
I sing not, Siren like, to tempt; for I
Am harsh; nor as those Scismatiques with you, 10
Which draw all wits of good hope to their crew;
But seeing in you bright sparkes of Poetry,
I, though I brought no fuell, had desire
With these Articulate blasts to blow the fire.


[To M^r S. B. _O'F:_ To M. S. B. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_,
_TCD_, _W_]

[10 harsh; _1650-69:_ harsh, _1633-39_]

[12 seeing] seing _1633:_ seene _TCD_, _W:_ seeme _TCC_]

[13 I, though] I thought _1650-54_

had] but _1650-54_]




To M^r _I. L. _


Of that short Roll of friends writ in my heart
Which with thy name begins, since their depart,
Whether in the English Provinces they be,
Or drinke of Po, Sequan, or Danubie,
There's none that sometimes greets us not, and yet 5
Your Trent is Lethe; that past, us you forget.
You doe not duties of Societies,
If from the'embrace of a lov'd wife you rise,
View your fat Beasts, stretch'd Barnes, and labour'd fields,
Eate, play, ryde, take all joyes which all day yeelds, 10
And then againe to your embracements goe:
Some houres on us your frends, and some bestow
Upon your Muse, else both wee shall repent,
I that my love, she that her guifts on you are spent.


[To M^r I. L. _W:_ To M. I. L. _1633-69:_ To M. I. L. _A18_,
_N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ To M^r T. L. _O'F_]

[5 sometimes] sometime _1635-39_, _Chambers_]

[6 Lethe; _W:_ Lethe', _1633-69_

forget. _1639-69_, _W:_ forget, _1633-35_]

[13 your] thy _W_]

[14 you] thee _W_

spent. ] spent _1633_]




To M^r _B. B. _


Is not thy sacred hunger of science
Yet satisfy'd? Is not thy braines rich hive
Fulfil'd with hony which thou dost derive
From the Arts spirits and their Quintessence?
Then weane thy selfe at last, and thee withdraw 5
From Cambridge thy old nurse, and, as the rest,
Here toughly chew, and sturdily digest
Th'immense vast volumes of our common law;
And begin soone, lest my griefe grieve thee too,
Which is, that that which I should have begun 10
In my youthes morning, now late must be done;
And I as Giddy Travellers must doe,
Which stray or sleepe all day, and having lost
Light and strength, darke and tir'd must then ride post.

If thou unto thy Muse be marryed, 15
Embrace her ever, ever multiply,
Be far from me that strange Adulterie
To tempt thee and procure her widowhed.
My Muse, (for I had one,) because I'am cold,
Divorc'd her selfe: the cause being in me, 20
That I can take no new in Bigamye,
Not my will only but power doth withhold.
Hence comes it, that these Rymes which never had
Mother, want matter, and they only have
A little forme, the which their Father gave; 25
They are prophane, imperfect, oh, too bad
To be counted Children of Poetry
Except confirm'd and Bishoped by thee.


[To M^r B. B. _O'F_, _W:_ To M. B. B. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_,
_TCC_, _TCD_]

[12 I . . . Travellers _1650-69:_ I, . . . Travellers, _1633-39_]

[13 stray] stay _W:_ _compare_ Sat. III. 78]

[16 ever, ever multiply, _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC:_
still: encrease and multiply; _W_]

[18 widowhed. _W:_ widdowhood, _1633-39:_ widdowhood;
_1650-69_]

[19 Muse, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_, _W:_ nurse, _1633-69_]

[20 selfe: _W:_ selfe, _1633-69_

in me, _1633-69:_ in me; _Grolier:_ in me. _Chambers_. _See
note_]




To M^r _I. L. _


Blest are your North parts, for all this long time
My Sun is with you, cold and darke'is our Clime:
Heavens Sun, which staid so long from us this yeare,
Staid in your North (I thinke) for she was there,
And hether by kinde nature drawne from thence, 5
Here rages, chafes, and threatens pestilence;
Yet I, as long as shee from hence doth staie,
Thinke this no South, no Sommer, nor no day.
With thee my kinde and unkinde heart is run,
There sacrifice it to that beauteous Sun: 10
And since thou art in Paradise and need'st crave
No joyes addition, helpe thy friend to save.
So may thy pastures with their flowery feasts,
As suddenly as Lard, fat thy leane beasts;
So may thy woods oft poll'd, yet ever weare 15
A greene, and when thee list, a golden haire;
So may all thy sheepe bring forth Twins; and so
In chace and race may thy horse all out goe;
So may thy love and courage ne'r be cold;
Thy Sonne ne'r Ward; Thy lov'd wife ne'r seem old;
But maist thou wish great things, and them attaine, 21
As thou telst her, and none but her, my paine.


[To M^r I. L. _Ed:_ To M. I. L. _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _W:_
To M^r T. L. _O'F:_ To M. I. P. _1633-69_]

[6 rages, chafes, _Ed:_ rages chafes _1633-39:_ rages, chafes
_1650-69:_ rages, burnes, _W_]

[11-12 _these lines from W: they have not previously been
printed_]

[16 when thee list, _Ed:_ when thee list _1633_, _A18_, _N_,
_TC:_ (when she list) _1635-69_, _O'F:_ when thou wilt _W_]

[20 lov'd wife] fair wife _W_]

[22 her, . . . her, _Ed:_ her . . . her _1633:_ her, . . . her
_1635-69_]




To Sir _H. W. _ at his going Ambassador to _Venice_.


After those reverend papers, whose soule is
Our good and great Kings lov'd hand and fear'd name,
By which to you he derives much of his,
And (how he may) makes you almost the same,

A Taper of his Torch, a copie writ 5
From his Originall, and a faire beame
Of the same warme, and dazeling Sun, though it
Must in another Sphere his vertue streame:

After those learned papers which your hand
Hath stor'd with notes of use and pleasure too, 10
From which rich treasury you may command
Fit matter whether you will write or doe:

After those loving papers, where friends tend
With glad griefe, to your Sea-ward steps, farewel,
Which thicken on you now, as prayers ascend 15
To heaven in troupes at'a good mans passing bell:

Admit this honest paper, and allow
It such an audience as your selfe would aske;
What you must say at Venice this meanes now,
And hath for nature, what you have for taske: 20

To sweare much love, not to be chang'd before
Honour alone will to your fortune fit;
Nor shall I then honour your forture, more
Then I have done your honour wanting it.

But'tis an easier load (though both oppresse) 25
To want, then governe greatnesse, for wee are
In that, our owne and onely business,
In this, wee must for others vices care;

'Tis therefore well your spirits now are plac'd
In their last Furnace, in activity; 30
Which fits them (Schooles and Courts and Warres o'rpast)
To touch and test in any best degree.

For mee, (if there be such a thing as I)
Fortune (if there be such a thing as thee)
Spies that I beare so well her tyranny, 35
That she thinks nothing else so fit for mee;

But though she part us, to heare my oft prayers
For your increase, God is as neere mee here;
And to send you what I shall begge, his staires
In length and ease are alike every where. 40


[To Sir H. W. at his _&c. _ _1633-54:_ To Sir Henry Wotton, at
his _&c. _ _1669_, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _printed in
Walton's_ Life of Sir Henry Wotton, 1670, _as a_ 'letter,
sent by him to Sir _Henry Wotton_, the morning before he left
_England_', _i. e. July 13 (O. S. ), 1604_]

[10 pleasure _1635-69_, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_, _Walton:_
pleasures _1633_]

[13 where _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ which _1635-69_, _O'F_,
_Walton_]

[16 in troupes] on troops _Walton_]

[19 must . . . meanes] would . . . sayes _Walton_]

[20 hath] has _Walton_

taske: _Ed:_ taske. _1633-69_]

[21 not] nor _Walton_]

[24 honour wanting it _1633:_ noble-wanting-wit. _1635-69_,
_O'F:_ honour-wanting-wit. _Walton:_ noble wanting it. _A18_,
_N_, _TCC_, _TCD_]

[31 Warres _Ed:_ warres _1633-69:_ tents _Burley MS. _]

[32 test] tast _1669 and Walton_]

[35 Spies] Finds _Walton_]




To M^rs _M. H. _


Mad paper stay, and grudge not here to burne
With all those sonnes whom my braine did create,
At lest lye hid with mee, till thou returne
To rags againe, which is thy native state.

What though thou have enough unworthinesse 5
To come unto great place as others doe,
That's much; emboldens, pulls, thrusts I confesse,
But'tis not all; Thou should'st be wicked too.

And, that thou canst not learne, or not of mee;
Yet thou wilt goe? Goe, since thou goest to her 10
Who lacks but faults to be a Prince, for shee,
Truth, whom they dare not pardon, dares preferre.

But when thou com'st to that perplexing eye
Which equally claimes _love_ and _reverence_,
Thou wilt not long dispute it, thou wilt die; 15
And, having little now, have then no sense.

Yet when her warme redeeming hand, which is
A miracle; and made such to worke more,
Doth touch thee (saples leafe) thou grow'st by this
Her creature; glorify'd more then before. 20

Then as a mother which delights to heare
Her early child mis-speake halfe uttered words,
Or, because majesty doth never feare
Ill or bold speech, she Audience affords.

And then, cold speechlesse wretch, thou diest againe, 25
And wisely; what discourse is left for thee?
For, speech of ill, and her, thou must abstaine,
And is there any good which is not shee?

Yet maist thou praise her servants, though not her,
And wit, and vertue,'and honour her attend, 30
And since they'are but her cloathes, thou shalt not erre,
If thou her shape and beauty'and grace commend.

Who knowes thy destiny? when thou hast done,
Perchance her Cabinet may harbour thee,
Whither all noble ambitious wits doe runne, 35
A nest almost as full of Good as shee.

When thou art there, if any, whom wee know,
Were sav'd before, and did that heaven partake,
When she revolves his papers, marke what show
Of favour, she alone, to them doth make. 40

Marke, if to get them, she o'r skip the rest,
Marke, if shee read them twice, or kisse the name;
Marke, if she doe the same that they protest,
Marke, if she marke whether her woman came.

Marke, if slight things be'objected, and o'r blowne, 45
Marke, if her oathes against him be not still
Reserv'd, and that shee grieves she's not her owne,
And chides the doctrine that denies Freewill.

I bid thee not doe this to be my spie;
Nor to make my selfe her familiar; 50
But so much I doe love her choyce, that I
Would faine love him that shall be lov'd of her.


[To M^rs M. H. _O'F:_ To M. M. H. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_,
_TCC_, _TCD:_ _no title_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _P:_ Elegie. _S96_]

[2 sonnes] Sunnes _B_, _S96_

my _1633:_ thy _1635-69:_ _Chambers attributes_ thy _to 1633_]

[3 returne] returne.