Who shall doubt, _Donne_, where I a _Poet_ bee,
When I dare send my _Epigrammes_ to thee?
When I dare send my _Epigrammes_ to thee?
John Donne
True love findes witt 412
1635 65-6 Song. Deare Love, continue 412
208-9 To Ben. Iohnson, 6 Ian. 1603 414
207-8 To Ben. Iohnson, 9. Novembris, 1603 415
209-10 To S^r Tho. Roe. 1603 416
II
1635 191-5 To the Countesse of Huntington.
That unripe side of earth 417
III
1635 272 Elegie.
Death be not proud 422
IV
1635 157-61 Psalme 137. Probably by Francis Davison.
By Euphrates Flowry side 424
V
1635 342 On the blessed Virgin Mary. Probably by
Henry Constable 427
VI
1635 372 On the Sacrament 427
VII
Stowe MS. 961 Absence. Absence, heare my protestation 428
Probably by John Hoskins.
VIII
1635 62 Song. Soules joy. Probably by the Earl of
Pembroke 429
195-6 A Dialogue 430
IX
1669 17 Break of Daye.
Stay, O sweet 432
Probably by John Dowlands.
APPENDIX C
Addl. MS. 25707 A Letter written by S^r H: G: and J: D:
alternis vicibus 433
Addl. MS. 25707 O Frutefull Garden 434
To my Lord of Pembroke 435
Of a Lady in the Black Masque 436
Burley MS. <Life. > 437
<My Love. > 437
<O Eyes! > 438
<Silence Best Praise. > 439
<Beauty in Little Room. > 440
<Loves Zodiake. > 440
<Fortune, Love, and Time. > 440
<Life a Play. > 441
A Kisse 441
Epi: B: Jo: 443
Epi: Hen: Princ: Hug^o Holland 443
O'Flaherty MS. <The Annuntiation. Additional Lines. > 443
Elegy. To Chast Love 445
Upon his scornefull Mistresse. Elegy 446
Lansdowne MS. 740 <Absence. > 447
<Tongue-tied Love. > 447
O'Flaherty MS. <Love, if a God thou art. > 448
<Great Lord of Love. > 448
<Loves Exchange. > 449
Song. Now y'have killd 450
Stowe MS. 961 Love, bred of glances 450
Bridgewater MS. To a Watch restored to its Mystres<se> 451
Egerton MS. <Ad Solem. > 451
Stephens MS. <If She Deride. > 452
<Fortune Never Fails. > 453
To His Mistress 455
Stowe MS. 961 A Paradoxe of a Painted Face 456
Sonnett. Madam that flea 459
Addl. MS. 11811 On Black Hayre and Eyes 460
Phillipps MS. Fragment of an Elegy 462
Walton's _Compleat Angler_ <Farewel, ye guilded follies. > 465
INDEX OF FIRST LINES 469
PLATES
John Donne, from the engraving prefixed to the _Poems_, 1635
_face page_ 7
John Donne, 1613, from an engraving prefixed to the prose
_Letters &c. _, 1651 _face page_ 175
John Donne, from the frontispiece to _Death's Duel_, 1632
_face page_ 369
LIST OF EDITIONS REGULARLY CITED IN NOTES.
_1633_, _1635_, _1639_, _1650_, _1654_, _1669_.
Contractions:
_1633-54_ i. e. All editions between and including these dates.
_1633-69_ i. e. All the editions.
Etc.
EDITIONS OCCASIONALLY CITED.
_1649_, in lists of editions and MSS. appended to poems first
published in that edition. Textually it is identical with
_1650-54_.
_1719_, Tonson's edition.
_1855_, The Boston edition of that year--cited once.
_Grosart_, A. B. Grosart's edition of 1872-3.
_Grolier_, The Grolier Club edition of Professor Norton and
Mrs. Burnett, 1895.
_Chambers_, Mr. E. K. Chambers' edition of 1896.
LIST OF MS. SIGLA
_A10_ Additional MS. 10,309, British Museum.
_A11_ " " 11,811, "
_A18_ " " 18,646, "
_A23_ " " 23,229, "
_A25_ " " 25,707, "
_A34_ " " 34,744, "
_Ash 38_ Ashmole MS. 38, Bodleian Library.
_B_ Bridgewater MS. , Bridgewater House.
_Bur_ Burley MS. , formerly at Burley-on-the-Hill House, Rutland.
_C_ Cambridge University Library MS.
_Cy_ Carnaby MS. , Harvard College.
_D_ Dowden MS. , belonging to Professor Edward Dowden.
_E20_ Egerton MS. 2013, British Museum.
_E22_ " " 2230, "
_G_ Gosse MS. of _Metempsychosis_, belonging to Mr. Edmund Gosse.
_H39_ Harleian MS. 3910, British Museum.
_H40_ " " 4064, "
_H49_ " " 4944, "
_H51_ " " 5110, "
_HN_ Hawthornden MS. , Library of Society of Antiquaries, Edinburgh.
_JC_ John Cave MS. , belonging to Mr. Elkin Mathews.
_L74_ Lansdowne MS. 740, British Museum.
_L77_ " " 777, "
_Lec_ Leconfield MS. , at Petworth House.
_M_ Monckton-Milnes MS. , belonging to the Marquis of Crewe.
_N_ Norton MS. , Harvard College.
_O'F_ O'Flaherty MS. , Harvard College.
_P_ Phillipps MS. , belonging to Captain C. Shirley Harris.
_Q_ Queen's College MS. , Queen's College, Oxford.
_RP31_ Rawlinson Poetical MS. 31, Bodleian Library, Oxford.
_RP61_ " " " 61 " " "
_S_ Stephens MS. , Harvard College.
_S96_ Stowe MS. 961, British Museum.
_TCC_ Trinity College, Cambridge, MS.
_TCD_ Trinity College, Dublin, MS. G. 2. 21.
_TCD_ (II) A second collection of poems in the same MS.
_W_ Westmoreland MS. , belonging to Mr. Edmund Gosse.
The following groups are important:--
_D_, _H49_, _Lec_,
and
_A18_, _N_, _TC_, where _TC_ represents _TCC_ and _TCD_
THE PRINTER
TO THE
UNDERSTANDERS.
For this time I must speake only to you: at another, _Readers_ may
perchance serve my turne; and I thinke this a way very free from
exception, in hope that very few will have a minde to confesse
themselves ignorant.
If you looke for an Epistle, as you have before ordinary publications,
I am sory that I must deceive you; but you will not lay it to my
charge, when you shall consider that this is not ordinary, for if I
should say it were the best in this kinde, that ever this Kingdome
hath yet seene; he that would doubt of it must goe out of the Kingdome
to enforme himselfe, for the best judgments, within it, take it for
granted.
You may imagine (if it please you) that I could endeare it unto
you, by saying, that importunity drew it on; that had it not beene
presented here, it would have come to us from beyond the Seas; (which
perhaps is true enough,) That my charge and paines in procuring of
it hath beene such, and such. I could adde hereto, a promise of more
correctnesse, or enlargement in the next Edition, if you shall in the
meane time content you with this. But these things are so common, as
that I should profane this Peece by applying them to it; A Peece
which who so takes not as he findes it, in what manner soever, he
is unworthy of it, sith a scattered limbe of this Author, hath more
amiablenesse in it, in the eye of a discerner, then a whole body of
some other; Or, (to expresse him best by himselfe)
[Sidenote: _In the Storme. _]
--_A hand, or eye,
By_ Hilyard _drawne, is worth a history
By a worse Painter made_;--
If any man (thinking I speake this to enflame him for the vent of
the Impression) be of another opinion, I shall as willingly spare his
money as his judgement. I cannot lose so much by him as hee will by
himselfe. For I shall satisfie my selfe with the conscience of well
doing, in making so much good common.
Howsoever it may appeare to you, it shall suffice mee to enforme you,
that it hath the best warrant that can bee, publique authority, and
private friends.
There is one thing more wherein I will make you of my counsell, and
that is, That whereas it hath pleased some, who had studyed and did
admire him, to offer to the memory of the Author, not long after his
decease, I have thought I should do you service in presenting them
unto you now; onely whereas, had I placed them in the beginning, they
might have serv'd for so many Encomiums of the Author (as is usuall
in other workes, where perhaps there is need of it, to prepare men to
digest such stuffe as follows after,) you shall here finde them in the
end, for whosoever reades the rest so farre, shall perceive that there
is no occasion to use them to that purpose; yet there they are, as an
attestation for their sakes that knew not so much before, to let them
see how much honour was attributed to this worthy man, by those that
are capable to give it. _Farewell. _
[The Printer _&c. _ _1633-49:_ _om. 1650-69, which substitute
Dedication_ To the _&c. _ (_p. _ 4)]
[2 you: _1635-49:_ you, _1633_]
[The Printer to the Vnderstanders. _1635-69:_ The Printer to
the Reader. _1633. See note_]
[28 here _1635-69: om. 1633_ (. . . you shall here finde them in
the end,. . . )]
_Hexastichon Bibliopolae. _
I see in his last preach'd, and printed Booke,
His Picture in a sheet; in _Pauls_ I looke,
And see his Statue in a sheete of stone,
And sure his body in the grave hath one:
Those sheetes present him dead, these if you buy,
You have him living to Eternity.
JO. MAR.
[Hexastichon Bibliopolae. _1633-69_]
Hexastichon ad Bibliopolam.
Incerti.
_In thy Impression of_ Donnes _Poems rare,
For his Eternitie thou hast ta'ne care:
'Twas well, and pious; And for ever may
He live: Yet shew I thee a better way;
Print but his Sermons, and if those we buy,
He, We, and Thou shall live t' Eternity. _
[Hexastichon ad Bibliopolam. _1635-69_]
_Dedication to the Edition of 1650. _
To the Right Honourable
_William_ Lord _Craven_ Baron of
_Hamsted-Marsham_.
_My Lord_,
Many of these Poems have, for severall impressions, wandred up and
down trusting (as well they might) upon the Authors reputation;
neither do they now complain of any injury but what may proceed either
from the kindnesse of the Printer, or the curtesie of the Reader; the
one by adding something too much, lest any spark of this sacred fire
might perish undiscerned, the other by putting such an estimation upon
the wit & fancy they find here, that they are content to use it
as their own: as if a man should dig out the stones of a royall
Amphitheatre to build a stage for a countrey show. Amongst all the
monsters this unlucky age has teemed with, I finde none so prodigious,
as the Poets of these later times, wherein men as if they would level
understandings too as well as estates, acknowledging no inequality of
parts and Judgements, pretend as indifferently to the chaire of wit as
to the Pulpit, & conceive themselves no lesse inspired with the spirit
of Poetry then with that of Religion: so it is not onely the noise of
Drums and Trumpets which have drowned the Muses harmony, or the feare
that the Churches ruine wil destroy their Priests likewise, that now
frights them from this Countrey, where they have been so ingenuously
received, but these rude pretenders to excellencies they unjustly
own who profanely rushing into _Minervaes_ Temple, with noysome Ayres
blast the lawrell w^{ch} thunder cannot hurt. In this sad condition
these learned sisters are fled over to beg your L^{ps}. protection,
who have been so certain a patron both to arts and armes, and who in
this generall confusion have so intirely preserved your Honour, that
in your Lordship we may still read a most perfect character of what
_England_ was in all her pompe and greatnesse, so that although these
poems were formerly written upon severall occasions, and to severall
persons, they now unite themselves, and are become one pyramid to set
your Lordships statue upon, where you may stand like Armed _Apollo_
the defendor of the Muses, encouraging the Poets now alive to
celebrate your great Acts by affording your countenance to his poems
that wanted onely so noble a subject.
My Lord,
_Your most humble servant_
JOHN DONNE.
[To the _&c. _ _1650-69_]
TO JOHN DONNE.
Donne, _the delight of Phoebus, and each Muse,
Who, to thy one, all other braines refuse;
Whose every work, of thy most early wit,
Came forth example, and remaines so, yet:
Longer a knowing, than most wits doe live;
And which no'n affection praise enough can give!
To it, thy language, letters, arts, best life,
Which might with halfe mankind maintain a strife;
All which I mean to praise, and, yet, I would;
But leave, because I cannot as I should_!
B. JONS.
[To John Donne. _1650-69, following the_ Hexastichon ad
Bibliopolam. ]
To LUCY, COUNTESSE OF BEDFORD, with M. DONNES Satyres.
_Lucy_, you brightnesse of our Spheare, who are
Life of the _Muses_ day, their morning Starre!
If works (not th'Authors) their own grace should look
Whose poems would not wish to be your book?
But these, desir'd by you, the makers ends
Crown with their own. Rare Poems ask rare friends.
Yet, _Satyres_, since the most of mankind bee
Their unavoided subject, fewest see:
For none ere took that pleasure in sins sense,
But, when they heard it tax'd, took more offence.
They, then, that living where the matter is bred,
Dare for these Poems, yet, both ask, and read,
And like them too; must needfully, though few,
Be of the best: and 'mongst those best are you;
_Lucy_, you brightnefle of our Spheare, who are
The _Muses_ evening, as their morning-Starre.
B. JON.
TO JOHN DONNE.
Who shall doubt, _Donne_, where I a _Poet_ bee,
When I dare send my _Epigrammes_ to thee?
That so alone canst judge, so'alone do'st make:
And, in thy censures, evenly, dost take
As free simplicity, to dis-avow,
As thou hast best authority, t'allow.
Read all I send: and, if I finde but one
Mark'd by thy hand, and with the better stone,
My title's seal'd. Those that for claps doe write,
Let punees, porters, players praise delight,
And, till they burst, their backs, like asses load:
A man should seek great glory, and not broad.
B. JON.
[To Lucy _&c. _ To John Donne _&c. _ _1650-69, in sheets added
1650_. _See_ Text and Canon _&c. _]
[Illustration: JOHN DONNE
From the engraving prefixed to the Poems in the Editions of 1635,
1639, 1649, 1650, 1654]
SONGS _AND_ SONETS.
_The good-morrow. _
I wonder by my troth, what thou, and I
Did, till we lov'd? were we not wean'd till then?
But suck'd on countrey pleasures, childishly?
Or snorted we in the seaven sleepers den?
T'was so; But this, all pleasures fancies bee. 5
If ever any beauty I did see,
Which I desir'd, and got, t'was but a dreame of thee.
And now good morrow to our waking soules,
Which watch not one another out of feare;
For love, all love of other sights controules, 10
And makes one little roome, an every where.
Let sea-discoverers to new worlds have gone,
Let Maps to other, worlds on worlds have showne,
Let us possesse one world, each hath one, and is one.
My face in thine eye, thine in mine appeares, 15
And true plaine hearts doe in the faces rest,
Where can we finde two better hemispheares
Without sharpe North, without declining West?
What ever dyes, was not mixt equally;
If our two loves be one, or, thou and I 20
Love so alike, that none doe slacken, none can die.
[SONGS AND SONETS. _1635-69: no division into sections, 1633_]
[The good-morrow. _1633-69_, _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_
_no title_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S:_ Elegie. _S96_]
[2 lov'd? _1639-69:_ lov'd, _1633-35_]
[3 countrey pleasures, childishly? _1633-54_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _Lec:_ childish pleasures seelily? _1669_, _A18_,
_A25_, _B_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]
[4 snorted _1633-54_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S96:_
slumbred _1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _TC_
seaven sleepers _1633:_ seven-sleepers _1635-69_]
[5 this,] as _1669_]
[10 For _1633-69_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec:_ But _rest of
MSS_. ]
[13 to other, worlds on _1633-54:_ to other worlds our _1669:_
to others, worlds on _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _and other MSS_. ]
[14 one world _1633-69_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ our world _rest of
MSS_. ]
[17 better _1633_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec:_ fitter _1635-69_,
_and rest of MSS_. ]
[19 was not] is not _1669_]
[20-1 or, thou and I . . . can die. _1633_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _Lec:_ or, thou and I . . . can slacken, . . . can die.
_Chambers:_
both thou and I
Love just alike in all, none of these loves can die.
_1635-69_, _JC_, _O'F_, _P:_
or thou and I
Love just alike in all, none of these loves can die.
_A18_, _A25_, _B_, _L74_, _S96_, _TC_
As thou and I _&c. _
_H40:_
And thou and I _&c. _
_S_]
_Song. _
Goe, and catche a falling starre,
Get with child a mandrake roote,
Tell me, where all past yeares are,
Or who cleft the Divels foot,
Teach me to heare Mermaides singing, 5
Or to keep off envies stinging,
And finde
What winde
Serves to advance an honest minde.
If thou beest borne to strange sights, 10
Things invisible to see,
Ride ten thousand daies and nights,
Till age snow white haires on thee,
Thou, when thou retorn'st, wilt tell mee
All strange wonders that befell thee, 15
And sweare
No where
Lives a woman true, and faire.
If thou findst one, let mee know,
Such a Pilgrimage were sweet; 20
Yet doe not, I would not goe,
Though at next doore wee might meet,
Though shee were true, when you met her,
And last, till you write your letter,
Yet shee 25
Will bee
False, ere I come, to two, or three.
[Song. _1633-69:_ Song, A Songe, _or no title_, _A18_, _A25_,
_B_, _C_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[3 past yeares] times past _1669:_ past times _P_]
[11 to see] go see _1669_, _S_, _S96:_ see _most other MSS_. ]
[20 sweet; _1669:_ sweet, _1633-54_]
[24 last, till] last so till _O'F_, _S_, _S96_]
[27 False, . . . three] False, ere she come to two or three.
_1669_]
_Womans constancy. _
Now thou hast lov'd me one whole day,
To morrow when thou leav'st, what wilt thou say?
Wilt thou then Antedate some new made vow?
Or say that now
We are not just those persons, which we were? 5
Or, that oathes made in reverentiall feare
Of Love, and his wrath, any may forsweare?
Or, as true deaths, true maryages untie,
So lovers contracts, images of those,
Binde but till sleep, deaths image, them unloose? 10
Or, your owne end to Justifie,
For having purpos'd change, and falsehood; you
Can have no way but falsehood to be true?
Vaine lunatique, against these scapes I could
Dispute, and conquer, if I would, 15
Which I abstaine to doe,
For by to morrow, I may thinke so too.
[Womans constancy. _1633-69_, _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_,
_TCD:_ _no title_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _P_, _S_]
[8 Or, _1633_, _1669:_ For, _1635-54_ (_ll. _ 8-10 _in
brackets_)]
_The undertaking. _
I have done one braver thing
Then all the _Worthies_ did,
And yet a braver thence doth spring,
Which is, to keepe that hid.
It were but madnes now t'impart 5
The skill of specular stone,
When he which can have learn'd the art
To cut it, can finde none.
So, if I now should utter this,
Others (because no more 10
Such stuffe to worke upon, there is,)
Would love but as before.
But he who lovelinesse within
Hath found, all outward loathes,
For he who colour loves, and skinne, 15
Loves but their oldest clothes.
If, as I have, you also doe
Vertue'attir'd in woman see,
And dare love that, and say so too,
And forget the Hee and Shee; 20
And if this love, though placed so,
From prophane men you hide,
Which will no faith on this bestow,
Or, if they doe, deride:
Then you have done a braver thing 25
Then all the _Worthies_ did;
And a braver thence will spring,
Which is, to keepe that hid.
[The undertaking. _1635-69:_ _no title_, _1633_, _B_, _D_,
_H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S:_ Platonique Love.
_A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[2 _Worthies_] _worthies_ _1633_]
[3 And yet] Yet _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_]
[7-8 art . . . it, _1669:_ art, . . . it _1633-54_]
[16 their] her _B_]
[18 Vertue'attir'd in _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _S_, _TC:_ Vertue in _1635-69_, _O'F_,
_Chambers_]
[26 did; _Ed:_ did. _1633-39:_ did, _1650-69_]
[27 spring,] spring _1633-39_]
_The Sunne Rising. _
Busie old foole, unruly Sunne,
Why dost thou thus,
Through windowes, and through curtaines call on us?
Must to thy motions lovers seasons run?
Sawcy pedantique wretch, goe chide 5
Late schoole boyes, and sowre prentices,
Goe tell Court-huntsmen, that the King will ride,
Call countrey ants to harvest offices;
Love, all alike, no season knowes, nor clyme,
Nor houres, dayes, moneths, which are the rags of time. 10
Thy beames, so reverend, and strong
Why shouldst thou thinke?
I could eclipse and cloud them with a winke,
But that I would not lose her sight so long:
If her eyes have not blinded thine, 15
Looke, and to morrow late, tell mee,
Whether both the'India's of spice and Myne
Be where thou leftst them, or lie here with mee.
Aske for those Kings whom thou saw'st yesterday,
And thou shalt heare, All here in one bed lay. 20
She'is all States, and all Princes, I,
Nothing else is.
Princes doe but play us; compar'd to this,
All honor's mimique; All wealth alchimie.
Thou sunne art halfe as happy'as wee, 25
In that the world's contracted thus;
Thine age askes ease, and since thy duties bee
To warme the world, that's done in warming us.
Shine here to us, and thou art every where;
This bed thy center is, these walls, thy spheare. 30
[The Sunne Rising. _1633-69:_ Sunne Rising. _A18_, _L74_, _N_,
_TCC_, _TCD:_ Ad Solem. _A25_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _O'F_, _S_,
_S96:_ To the Sunne. _Cy_, _Lec_, _O'F (as a second title):_
_no title_, _B_]
[3 call] look _1669_]
[6 and] or _1669_
sowre] slowe _B_, _Cy_, _P_]
[8 offices;] offices, _1633_]
[11-14 Thy beames, . . . so long: _1633 and all MSS. :_
Thy beames so reverend, and strong
Dost thou not thinke
I could eclipse and cloude them with a winke,
But that I would not lose her sight so long? _1635-69_
]
[17 spice] space _1650-54_]
[18 leftst _1633:_ left _1635-69_]
[23 us;] us, _1633_]
[24 wealth] wealth's _A25_, _C_, _P_
alchimie. _Ed:_ alchimie; _1633-69_]
[26 thus; _Ed:_ thus. _1633-69_]
_The Indifferent. _
I can love both faire and browne,
Her whom abundance melts, and her whom want betraies,
Her who loves lonenesse best, and her who maskes and plaies,
Her whom the country form'd, and whom the town,
Her who beleeves, and her who tries, 5
Her who still weepes with spungie eyes,
And her who is dry corke, and never cries;
I can love her, and her, and you and you,
I can love any, so she be not true.
Will no other vice content you? 10
Wil it not serve your turn to do, as did your mothers?
Or have you all old vices spent, and now would finde out others?
Or doth a feare, that men are true, torment you?
Oh we are not, be not you so,
Let mee, and doe you, twenty know. 15
Rob mee, but binde me not, and let me goe.
Must I, who came to travaile thorow you,
Grow your fixt subject, because you are true?
_Venus_ heard me sigh this song,
And by Loves sweetest Part, Variety, she swore, 20
She heard not this till now; and that it should be so no more.
She went, examin'd, and return'd ere long,
And said, alas, Some two or three
Poore Heretiques in love there bee,
Which thinke to stablish dangerous constancie. 25
But I have told them, since you will be true,
You shall be true to them, who'are false to you.
[The Indifferent. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ A
Songe, Songe, _or no title_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96:_ Sonnet. _P_]
[3 lonenesse] lovers _1669_
maskes] sports _1669_, _S_
and _1669:_ & _1633-39:_ _om. _ _1650-54_]
[12 spent] worn _1669_]
[15 mee, _1633:_ me; _1635-69_]
[17 travaile] _spelt_ travell, travel _1635-69_]
[19 sigh] sing _1669_]
[20 sweetest Part,] sweetest sweet, _1669_, _P_, _S_]
[21 and that it _1633_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S:_ it
_1635-69_, _H40_, _P:_ and it _A18_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _S96_,
_TC_]
_Loves Vsury. _
For every houre that thou wilt spare mee now,
I will allow,
Usurious God of Love, twenty to thee,
When with my browne, my gray haires equall bee;
Till then, Love, let my body raigne, and let 5
Mee travell, sojourne, snatch, plot, have, forget,
Resume my last yeares relict: thinke that yet
We'had never met.
Let mee thinke any rivalls letter mine,
And at next nine 10
Keepe midnights promise; mistake by the way
The maid, and tell the Lady of that delay;
Onely let mee love none, no, not the sport;
From country grasse, to comfitures of Court,
Or cities quelque choses, let report 15
My minde transport.
This bargaine's good; if when I'am old, I bee
Inflam'd by thee,
If thine owne honour, or my shame, or paine,
Thou covet most, at that age thou shalt gaine. 20
Doe thy will then, then subject and degree,
And fruit of love, Love I submit to thee,
Spare mee till then, I'll beare it, though she bee
One that loves mee.
[Loves Vsury. _1633-69_, _L74:_ _no title_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S:_ Elegie. _S96_]
[5 raigne, _1633_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_,
_P_, _S:_ range, _1635-69_, _O'F_, _S96_. _See note_]
[6 snatch, _1633_, _1669:_ match, _1635-54_]
[7 relict] relique _1669_]
[12 that] her _1669_]
[13 sport; _1669:_ sport _1633-54:_ sport, _most MSS. _]
[15 let report _1633_, _1669_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_L74_, _Lec_, _P_, _S:_ let not report _1635-54_, _O'F_,
_S96_, _Chambers_. _See note_]
[19 or paine _1633, 1669, and most MSS. :_ and paine _1635-54_,
_O'F_]
[22 fruit] fruites _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S96_]
[24 loves _1633, 1669 and all the MSS. :_ love _1635-54_]
_The Canonization. _
For Godsake hold your tongue, and let me love,
Or chide my palsie, or my gout,
My five gray haires, or ruin'd fortune flout,
With wealth your state, your minde with Arts improve,
Take you a course, get you a place, 5
Observe his honour, or his grace,
Or the Kings reall, or his stamped face
Contemplate, what you will, approve,
So you will let me love.
Alas, alas, who's injur'd by my love? 10
What merchants ships have my sighs drown'd?
Who saies my teares have overflow'd his ground?
When did my colds a forward spring remove?
When did the heats which my veines fill
Adde one more to the plaguie Bill? 15
Soldiers finde warres, and Lawyers finde out still
Litigious men, which quarrels move,
Though she and I do love.
Call us what you will, wee are made such by love;
Call her one, mee another flye, 20
We'are Tapers too, and at our owne cost die,
And wee in us finde the'Eagle and the Dove.
The Phoenix ridle hath more wit
By us, we two being one, are it.
So to one neutrall thing both sexes fit, 25
Wee dye and rise the same, and prove
Mysterious by this love.
Wee can dye by it, if not live by love,
And if unfit for tombes and hearse
Our legend bee, it will be fit for verse; 30
And if no peece of Chronicle wee prove,
We'll build in sonnets pretty roomes;
As well a well wrought urne becomes
The greatest ashes, as halfe-acre tombes,
And by these hymnes, all shall approve 35
Us _Canoniz'd_ for Love:
And thus invoke us; You whom reverend love
Made one anothers hermitage;
You, to whom love was peace, that now is rage;
Who did the whole worlds soule contract, and drove 40
Into the glasses of your eyes
(So made such mirrors, and such spies,
That they did all to you epitomize,)
Countries, Townes, Courts: Beg from above
A patterne of your love! 45
[The Canonization. _1633-39_, _A18_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ Canonization. _1650-69_, _S:_
Canonizatio. _S96:_ _no title_, _B_, _H40_, _JC_]
[3 five _1633_, _1669:_ true _1635-54_
fortune] fortunes _1669_]
[4 improve, _1650-69:_ improve _1633-39_]
[7 reall] Roiall _Lec_]
[14 veines] reynes _1669_]
[15 more, _1633-54_, _Lec:_ man _1669_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]
[17 which] whom _1669_]
[18 Though] While _1669_]
[22 Dove. _Ed:_ dove, _1633-69_]
[24 are it. _1633-69:_ are it; _Chambers and Grolier_]
[25 So _1650-69:_ So, _1633-39_. _See note_
fit, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ fit. _1633-69_. _See note_]
[29 tombes and _1633-54:_ tomb or _1669_]
[30 legend] legends _1633_]
[35 these _1633:_ those _1635-69_]
[36 Love:] Love. _1633_]
[39 rage; _Ed:_ rage, _1633-69_]
[40 contract] extract _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_]
[41 eyes _1633-69:_ eyes; _Chambers_]
[42-3 _brackets_, _Ed_]
[44 Courts: Beg] Courts Beg _1669:_ courts beg _Chambers_.
_See note_
from] frow _1633_]
[45 your _1669_, _A18_, _B_, _H40_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S96_, _TC:_ our _1633-54_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_
love! _Ed:_ love. _1633-69_]
_The triple Foole. _
I am two fooles, I know,
For loving, and for saying so
In whining Poetry;
But where's that wiseman, that would not be I,
If she would not deny? 5
Then as th'earths inward narrow crooked lanes
Do purge sea waters fretfull salt away,
I thought, if I could draw my paines,
Through Rimes vexation, I should them allay,
Griefe brought to numbers cannot be so fierce, 10
For, he tames it, that fetters it in verse.
But when I have done so,
Some man, his art and voice to show,
Doth Set and sing my paine,
And, by delighting many, frees againe 15
Griefe, which verse did restraine.
To Love, and Griefe tribute of Verse belongs,
But not of such as pleases when'tis read,
Both are increased by such songs:
For both their triumphs so are published, 20
And I, which was two fooles, do so grow three;
Who are a little wise, the best fooles bee.
[The triple Foole. _1633-69_, _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_
Song _or no title_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _HN_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_]
[4 the wiser man, _1669_]
[5 If he should not deny? _P_]
[6 narrow _om. _ _P:_ crooked _om. _ _B_
lanes] vaines _Cy_, _P_]
[9 allay, _1633-39:_ allay. _1650-69_, _Chambers_]
[10 numbers] number _1669_]
[11 For, he tames it] He tames it much _B_]
[13 and] or _1669_]
_Lovers infinitenesse. _
If yet I have not all thy love,
Deare, I shall never have it all,
I cannot breath one other sigh, to move,
Nor can intreat one other teare to fall,
And all my treasure, which should purchase thee, 5
Sighs, teares, and oathes, and letters I have spent.
Yet no more can be due to mee,
Then at the bargaine made was ment,
If then thy gift of love were partiall,
That some to mee, some should to others fall, 10
Deare, I shall never have Thee All.
Or if then thou gavest mee all,
All was but All, which thou hadst then;
But if in thy heart, since, there be or shall,
New love created bee, by other men, 15
Which have their stocks intire, and can in teares,
In sighs, in oathes, and letters outbid mee,
This new love may beget new feares,
For, this love was not vowed by thee.
And yet it was, thy gift being generall, 20
The ground, thy heart is mine, what ever shall
Grow there, deare, I should have it all.
Yet I would not have all yet,
Hee that hath all can have no more,
And since my love doth every day admit 25
New growth, thou shouldst have new rewards in store;
Thou canst not every day give me thy heart,
If thou canst give it, then thou never gavest it:
Loves riddles are, that though thy heart depart,
It stayes at home, and thou with losing savest it: 30
But wee will have a way more liberall,
Then changing hearts, to joyne them, so wee shall
Be one, and one anothers All.
[Lovers infinitenesse. _1633-69:_ Mon Tout. _A25_, _C:_ _no
title_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S:_
Elegie. _S96_
_Query_ Loves infinitenesse. ]
[3 move, _Ed:_ move; _1633-69_]
[4 fall, _Ed:_ fall. _1633:_ fall; _1635-69_]
[6 teares,] teares _1633_
spent. _Ed:_ spent, _1633-69 and Grolier:_ spent; _Chambers_]
[8 Then _1633-35_, _1669:_ That _1639-54_]
[9 were] was _1669_
partiall] generall _A25_, _C_]
[11 Thee _1633:_ It _1635-69_ (it _1669_)]
[12 gavest] givest _1669_]
[13 then; _1635-54:_ then, _1633_]
[17 and letters _1633:_ in letters _1635-69_]
[19 thee. _1639-69:_ thee, _1633-35_]
[20 it] is _1633_]
[21 is _1633_, _1669:_ was _1635-54_]
[25-6 And since my heart doth every day beget New love, _&c. _
_A25_. ]
[29-30
Except mine come when thine doth part
And in such giving it, thou savest it: _A25_, _C_
Perchance mine comes, when thine doth parte,
And by such losing it, _&c. _ _JC_
]
[31 have] love _1669:_ find _A25_, _C_]
[32 them] us _1669_]
_Song. _
Sweetest love, I do not goe,
For wearinesse of thee,
Nor in hope the world can show
A fitter Love for mee;
But since that I 5
Must dye at last, 'tis best,
To use my selfe in jest
Thus by fain'd deaths to dye;
Yesternight the Sunne went hence,
And yet is here to day, 10
He hath no desire nor sense,
Nor halfe so short a way:
Then feare not mee,
But beleeve that I shall make
Speedier journeyes, since I take 15
More wings and spurres then hee.
O how feeble is mans power,
That if good fortune fall,
Cannot adde another houre,
Nor a lost houre recall! 20
But come bad chance,
And wee joyne to'it our strength,
And wee teach it art and length,
It selfe o'r us to'advance.
When thou sigh'st, thou sigh'st not winde, 25
But sigh'st my soule away,
When thou weep'st, unkindly kinde,
My lifes blood doth decay.
It cannot bee
That thou lov'st mee, as thou say'st, 30
If in thine my life thou waste,
Thou art the best of mee.
Let not thy divining heart
Forethinke me any ill,
Destiny may take thy part, 35
And may thy feares fulfill;
But thinke that wee
Are but turn'd aside to sleepe;
They who one another keepe
Alive, ne'r parted bee. 40
[Song. _1633-69:_ Song. _or no title_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_,
_D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_,
_TCC_, _TCD:_ _in A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _this with_ Send
home my long stray'd eyes _and_ The Bait _are given as_ Songs
which were made to certain ayres which were made before. ]
[1-4 _In most MSS. these lines are written as two long lines,
and so with ll. _ 9-12, 17-20, 25-28, 33-36]
[4 mee; _1650-69:_ mee, _1633-39_]
[5-8 But since . . . dye; _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_
At the last must part 'tis best,
Thus to use my selfe in jest
By fained deaths to dye; _1635-54_, _O'F:_
Must dye at last, 'tis best,
Thus to use my self in jest
By fained death to dye; _1669_
]
[15 Speedier] Hastier _1669_]
[20 recall! _Ed:_ recall? _1633-69_]
[25 not wind _1633:_ no wind _1635-69_]
[32 Thou _1633 and MSS. generally:_ That _1635-54:_ Which
_1669_
best _1633-54:_ life _1669_]
[36 may _1633-35_, _1669:_ make _1639-54_
fulfill; _Ed:_ fulfill, _1633-69_]
[38 turn'd] lai'd _1669_]
_The Legacie. _
When I dyed last, and, Deare, I dye
As often as from thee I goe,
Though it be but an houre agoe,
And Lovers houres be full eternity,
I can remember yet, that I 5
Something did say, and something did bestow;
Though I be dead, which sent mee, I should be
Mine owne executor and Legacie.
1635 65-6 Song. Deare Love, continue 412
208-9 To Ben. Iohnson, 6 Ian. 1603 414
207-8 To Ben. Iohnson, 9. Novembris, 1603 415
209-10 To S^r Tho. Roe. 1603 416
II
1635 191-5 To the Countesse of Huntington.
That unripe side of earth 417
III
1635 272 Elegie.
Death be not proud 422
IV
1635 157-61 Psalme 137. Probably by Francis Davison.
By Euphrates Flowry side 424
V
1635 342 On the blessed Virgin Mary. Probably by
Henry Constable 427
VI
1635 372 On the Sacrament 427
VII
Stowe MS. 961 Absence. Absence, heare my protestation 428
Probably by John Hoskins.
VIII
1635 62 Song. Soules joy. Probably by the Earl of
Pembroke 429
195-6 A Dialogue 430
IX
1669 17 Break of Daye.
Stay, O sweet 432
Probably by John Dowlands.
APPENDIX C
Addl. MS. 25707 A Letter written by S^r H: G: and J: D:
alternis vicibus 433
Addl. MS. 25707 O Frutefull Garden 434
To my Lord of Pembroke 435
Of a Lady in the Black Masque 436
Burley MS. <Life. > 437
<My Love. > 437
<O Eyes! > 438
<Silence Best Praise. > 439
<Beauty in Little Room. > 440
<Loves Zodiake. > 440
<Fortune, Love, and Time. > 440
<Life a Play. > 441
A Kisse 441
Epi: B: Jo: 443
Epi: Hen: Princ: Hug^o Holland 443
O'Flaherty MS. <The Annuntiation. Additional Lines. > 443
Elegy. To Chast Love 445
Upon his scornefull Mistresse. Elegy 446
Lansdowne MS. 740 <Absence. > 447
<Tongue-tied Love. > 447
O'Flaherty MS. <Love, if a God thou art. > 448
<Great Lord of Love. > 448
<Loves Exchange. > 449
Song. Now y'have killd 450
Stowe MS. 961 Love, bred of glances 450
Bridgewater MS. To a Watch restored to its Mystres<se> 451
Egerton MS. <Ad Solem. > 451
Stephens MS. <If She Deride. > 452
<Fortune Never Fails. > 453
To His Mistress 455
Stowe MS. 961 A Paradoxe of a Painted Face 456
Sonnett. Madam that flea 459
Addl. MS. 11811 On Black Hayre and Eyes 460
Phillipps MS. Fragment of an Elegy 462
Walton's _Compleat Angler_ <Farewel, ye guilded follies. > 465
INDEX OF FIRST LINES 469
PLATES
John Donne, from the engraving prefixed to the _Poems_, 1635
_face page_ 7
John Donne, 1613, from an engraving prefixed to the prose
_Letters &c. _, 1651 _face page_ 175
John Donne, from the frontispiece to _Death's Duel_, 1632
_face page_ 369
LIST OF EDITIONS REGULARLY CITED IN NOTES.
_1633_, _1635_, _1639_, _1650_, _1654_, _1669_.
Contractions:
_1633-54_ i. e. All editions between and including these dates.
_1633-69_ i. e. All the editions.
Etc.
EDITIONS OCCASIONALLY CITED.
_1649_, in lists of editions and MSS. appended to poems first
published in that edition. Textually it is identical with
_1650-54_.
_1719_, Tonson's edition.
_1855_, The Boston edition of that year--cited once.
_Grosart_, A. B. Grosart's edition of 1872-3.
_Grolier_, The Grolier Club edition of Professor Norton and
Mrs. Burnett, 1895.
_Chambers_, Mr. E. K. Chambers' edition of 1896.
LIST OF MS. SIGLA
_A10_ Additional MS. 10,309, British Museum.
_A11_ " " 11,811, "
_A18_ " " 18,646, "
_A23_ " " 23,229, "
_A25_ " " 25,707, "
_A34_ " " 34,744, "
_Ash 38_ Ashmole MS. 38, Bodleian Library.
_B_ Bridgewater MS. , Bridgewater House.
_Bur_ Burley MS. , formerly at Burley-on-the-Hill House, Rutland.
_C_ Cambridge University Library MS.
_Cy_ Carnaby MS. , Harvard College.
_D_ Dowden MS. , belonging to Professor Edward Dowden.
_E20_ Egerton MS. 2013, British Museum.
_E22_ " " 2230, "
_G_ Gosse MS. of _Metempsychosis_, belonging to Mr. Edmund Gosse.
_H39_ Harleian MS. 3910, British Museum.
_H40_ " " 4064, "
_H49_ " " 4944, "
_H51_ " " 5110, "
_HN_ Hawthornden MS. , Library of Society of Antiquaries, Edinburgh.
_JC_ John Cave MS. , belonging to Mr. Elkin Mathews.
_L74_ Lansdowne MS. 740, British Museum.
_L77_ " " 777, "
_Lec_ Leconfield MS. , at Petworth House.
_M_ Monckton-Milnes MS. , belonging to the Marquis of Crewe.
_N_ Norton MS. , Harvard College.
_O'F_ O'Flaherty MS. , Harvard College.
_P_ Phillipps MS. , belonging to Captain C. Shirley Harris.
_Q_ Queen's College MS. , Queen's College, Oxford.
_RP31_ Rawlinson Poetical MS. 31, Bodleian Library, Oxford.
_RP61_ " " " 61 " " "
_S_ Stephens MS. , Harvard College.
_S96_ Stowe MS. 961, British Museum.
_TCC_ Trinity College, Cambridge, MS.
_TCD_ Trinity College, Dublin, MS. G. 2. 21.
_TCD_ (II) A second collection of poems in the same MS.
_W_ Westmoreland MS. , belonging to Mr. Edmund Gosse.
The following groups are important:--
_D_, _H49_, _Lec_,
and
_A18_, _N_, _TC_, where _TC_ represents _TCC_ and _TCD_
THE PRINTER
TO THE
UNDERSTANDERS.
For this time I must speake only to you: at another, _Readers_ may
perchance serve my turne; and I thinke this a way very free from
exception, in hope that very few will have a minde to confesse
themselves ignorant.
If you looke for an Epistle, as you have before ordinary publications,
I am sory that I must deceive you; but you will not lay it to my
charge, when you shall consider that this is not ordinary, for if I
should say it were the best in this kinde, that ever this Kingdome
hath yet seene; he that would doubt of it must goe out of the Kingdome
to enforme himselfe, for the best judgments, within it, take it for
granted.
You may imagine (if it please you) that I could endeare it unto
you, by saying, that importunity drew it on; that had it not beene
presented here, it would have come to us from beyond the Seas; (which
perhaps is true enough,) That my charge and paines in procuring of
it hath beene such, and such. I could adde hereto, a promise of more
correctnesse, or enlargement in the next Edition, if you shall in the
meane time content you with this. But these things are so common, as
that I should profane this Peece by applying them to it; A Peece
which who so takes not as he findes it, in what manner soever, he
is unworthy of it, sith a scattered limbe of this Author, hath more
amiablenesse in it, in the eye of a discerner, then a whole body of
some other; Or, (to expresse him best by himselfe)
[Sidenote: _In the Storme. _]
--_A hand, or eye,
By_ Hilyard _drawne, is worth a history
By a worse Painter made_;--
If any man (thinking I speake this to enflame him for the vent of
the Impression) be of another opinion, I shall as willingly spare his
money as his judgement. I cannot lose so much by him as hee will by
himselfe. For I shall satisfie my selfe with the conscience of well
doing, in making so much good common.
Howsoever it may appeare to you, it shall suffice mee to enforme you,
that it hath the best warrant that can bee, publique authority, and
private friends.
There is one thing more wherein I will make you of my counsell, and
that is, That whereas it hath pleased some, who had studyed and did
admire him, to offer to the memory of the Author, not long after his
decease, I have thought I should do you service in presenting them
unto you now; onely whereas, had I placed them in the beginning, they
might have serv'd for so many Encomiums of the Author (as is usuall
in other workes, where perhaps there is need of it, to prepare men to
digest such stuffe as follows after,) you shall here finde them in the
end, for whosoever reades the rest so farre, shall perceive that there
is no occasion to use them to that purpose; yet there they are, as an
attestation for their sakes that knew not so much before, to let them
see how much honour was attributed to this worthy man, by those that
are capable to give it. _Farewell. _
[The Printer _&c. _ _1633-49:_ _om. 1650-69, which substitute
Dedication_ To the _&c. _ (_p. _ 4)]
[2 you: _1635-49:_ you, _1633_]
[The Printer to the Vnderstanders. _1635-69:_ The Printer to
the Reader. _1633. See note_]
[28 here _1635-69: om. 1633_ (. . . you shall here finde them in
the end,. . . )]
_Hexastichon Bibliopolae. _
I see in his last preach'd, and printed Booke,
His Picture in a sheet; in _Pauls_ I looke,
And see his Statue in a sheete of stone,
And sure his body in the grave hath one:
Those sheetes present him dead, these if you buy,
You have him living to Eternity.
JO. MAR.
[Hexastichon Bibliopolae. _1633-69_]
Hexastichon ad Bibliopolam.
Incerti.
_In thy Impression of_ Donnes _Poems rare,
For his Eternitie thou hast ta'ne care:
'Twas well, and pious; And for ever may
He live: Yet shew I thee a better way;
Print but his Sermons, and if those we buy,
He, We, and Thou shall live t' Eternity. _
[Hexastichon ad Bibliopolam. _1635-69_]
_Dedication to the Edition of 1650. _
To the Right Honourable
_William_ Lord _Craven_ Baron of
_Hamsted-Marsham_.
_My Lord_,
Many of these Poems have, for severall impressions, wandred up and
down trusting (as well they might) upon the Authors reputation;
neither do they now complain of any injury but what may proceed either
from the kindnesse of the Printer, or the curtesie of the Reader; the
one by adding something too much, lest any spark of this sacred fire
might perish undiscerned, the other by putting such an estimation upon
the wit & fancy they find here, that they are content to use it
as their own: as if a man should dig out the stones of a royall
Amphitheatre to build a stage for a countrey show. Amongst all the
monsters this unlucky age has teemed with, I finde none so prodigious,
as the Poets of these later times, wherein men as if they would level
understandings too as well as estates, acknowledging no inequality of
parts and Judgements, pretend as indifferently to the chaire of wit as
to the Pulpit, & conceive themselves no lesse inspired with the spirit
of Poetry then with that of Religion: so it is not onely the noise of
Drums and Trumpets which have drowned the Muses harmony, or the feare
that the Churches ruine wil destroy their Priests likewise, that now
frights them from this Countrey, where they have been so ingenuously
received, but these rude pretenders to excellencies they unjustly
own who profanely rushing into _Minervaes_ Temple, with noysome Ayres
blast the lawrell w^{ch} thunder cannot hurt. In this sad condition
these learned sisters are fled over to beg your L^{ps}. protection,
who have been so certain a patron both to arts and armes, and who in
this generall confusion have so intirely preserved your Honour, that
in your Lordship we may still read a most perfect character of what
_England_ was in all her pompe and greatnesse, so that although these
poems were formerly written upon severall occasions, and to severall
persons, they now unite themselves, and are become one pyramid to set
your Lordships statue upon, where you may stand like Armed _Apollo_
the defendor of the Muses, encouraging the Poets now alive to
celebrate your great Acts by affording your countenance to his poems
that wanted onely so noble a subject.
My Lord,
_Your most humble servant_
JOHN DONNE.
[To the _&c. _ _1650-69_]
TO JOHN DONNE.
Donne, _the delight of Phoebus, and each Muse,
Who, to thy one, all other braines refuse;
Whose every work, of thy most early wit,
Came forth example, and remaines so, yet:
Longer a knowing, than most wits doe live;
And which no'n affection praise enough can give!
To it, thy language, letters, arts, best life,
Which might with halfe mankind maintain a strife;
All which I mean to praise, and, yet, I would;
But leave, because I cannot as I should_!
B. JONS.
[To John Donne. _1650-69, following the_ Hexastichon ad
Bibliopolam. ]
To LUCY, COUNTESSE OF BEDFORD, with M. DONNES Satyres.
_Lucy_, you brightnesse of our Spheare, who are
Life of the _Muses_ day, their morning Starre!
If works (not th'Authors) their own grace should look
Whose poems would not wish to be your book?
But these, desir'd by you, the makers ends
Crown with their own. Rare Poems ask rare friends.
Yet, _Satyres_, since the most of mankind bee
Their unavoided subject, fewest see:
For none ere took that pleasure in sins sense,
But, when they heard it tax'd, took more offence.
They, then, that living where the matter is bred,
Dare for these Poems, yet, both ask, and read,
And like them too; must needfully, though few,
Be of the best: and 'mongst those best are you;
_Lucy_, you brightnefle of our Spheare, who are
The _Muses_ evening, as their morning-Starre.
B. JON.
TO JOHN DONNE.
Who shall doubt, _Donne_, where I a _Poet_ bee,
When I dare send my _Epigrammes_ to thee?
That so alone canst judge, so'alone do'st make:
And, in thy censures, evenly, dost take
As free simplicity, to dis-avow,
As thou hast best authority, t'allow.
Read all I send: and, if I finde but one
Mark'd by thy hand, and with the better stone,
My title's seal'd. Those that for claps doe write,
Let punees, porters, players praise delight,
And, till they burst, their backs, like asses load:
A man should seek great glory, and not broad.
B. JON.
[To Lucy _&c. _ To John Donne _&c. _ _1650-69, in sheets added
1650_. _See_ Text and Canon _&c. _]
[Illustration: JOHN DONNE
From the engraving prefixed to the Poems in the Editions of 1635,
1639, 1649, 1650, 1654]
SONGS _AND_ SONETS.
_The good-morrow. _
I wonder by my troth, what thou, and I
Did, till we lov'd? were we not wean'd till then?
But suck'd on countrey pleasures, childishly?
Or snorted we in the seaven sleepers den?
T'was so; But this, all pleasures fancies bee. 5
If ever any beauty I did see,
Which I desir'd, and got, t'was but a dreame of thee.
And now good morrow to our waking soules,
Which watch not one another out of feare;
For love, all love of other sights controules, 10
And makes one little roome, an every where.
Let sea-discoverers to new worlds have gone,
Let Maps to other, worlds on worlds have showne,
Let us possesse one world, each hath one, and is one.
My face in thine eye, thine in mine appeares, 15
And true plaine hearts doe in the faces rest,
Where can we finde two better hemispheares
Without sharpe North, without declining West?
What ever dyes, was not mixt equally;
If our two loves be one, or, thou and I 20
Love so alike, that none doe slacken, none can die.
[SONGS AND SONETS. _1635-69: no division into sections, 1633_]
[The good-morrow. _1633-69_, _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_
_no title_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S:_ Elegie. _S96_]
[2 lov'd? _1639-69:_ lov'd, _1633-35_]
[3 countrey pleasures, childishly? _1633-54_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _Lec:_ childish pleasures seelily? _1669_, _A18_,
_A25_, _B_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]
[4 snorted _1633-54_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S96:_
slumbred _1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _TC_
seaven sleepers _1633:_ seven-sleepers _1635-69_]
[5 this,] as _1669_]
[10 For _1633-69_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec:_ But _rest of
MSS_. ]
[13 to other, worlds on _1633-54:_ to other worlds our _1669:_
to others, worlds on _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _and other MSS_. ]
[14 one world _1633-69_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ our world _rest of
MSS_. ]
[17 better _1633_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec:_ fitter _1635-69_,
_and rest of MSS_. ]
[19 was not] is not _1669_]
[20-1 or, thou and I . . . can die. _1633_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _Lec:_ or, thou and I . . . can slacken, . . . can die.
_Chambers:_
both thou and I
Love just alike in all, none of these loves can die.
_1635-69_, _JC_, _O'F_, _P:_
or thou and I
Love just alike in all, none of these loves can die.
_A18_, _A25_, _B_, _L74_, _S96_, _TC_
As thou and I _&c. _
_H40:_
And thou and I _&c. _
_S_]
_Song. _
Goe, and catche a falling starre,
Get with child a mandrake roote,
Tell me, where all past yeares are,
Or who cleft the Divels foot,
Teach me to heare Mermaides singing, 5
Or to keep off envies stinging,
And finde
What winde
Serves to advance an honest minde.
If thou beest borne to strange sights, 10
Things invisible to see,
Ride ten thousand daies and nights,
Till age snow white haires on thee,
Thou, when thou retorn'st, wilt tell mee
All strange wonders that befell thee, 15
And sweare
No where
Lives a woman true, and faire.
If thou findst one, let mee know,
Such a Pilgrimage were sweet; 20
Yet doe not, I would not goe,
Though at next doore wee might meet,
Though shee were true, when you met her,
And last, till you write your letter,
Yet shee 25
Will bee
False, ere I come, to two, or three.
[Song. _1633-69:_ Song, A Songe, _or no title_, _A18_, _A25_,
_B_, _C_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[3 past yeares] times past _1669:_ past times _P_]
[11 to see] go see _1669_, _S_, _S96:_ see _most other MSS_. ]
[20 sweet; _1669:_ sweet, _1633-54_]
[24 last, till] last so till _O'F_, _S_, _S96_]
[27 False, . . . three] False, ere she come to two or three.
_1669_]
_Womans constancy. _
Now thou hast lov'd me one whole day,
To morrow when thou leav'st, what wilt thou say?
Wilt thou then Antedate some new made vow?
Or say that now
We are not just those persons, which we were? 5
Or, that oathes made in reverentiall feare
Of Love, and his wrath, any may forsweare?
Or, as true deaths, true maryages untie,
So lovers contracts, images of those,
Binde but till sleep, deaths image, them unloose? 10
Or, your owne end to Justifie,
For having purpos'd change, and falsehood; you
Can have no way but falsehood to be true?
Vaine lunatique, against these scapes I could
Dispute, and conquer, if I would, 15
Which I abstaine to doe,
For by to morrow, I may thinke so too.
[Womans constancy. _1633-69_, _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_,
_TCD:_ _no title_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _P_, _S_]
[8 Or, _1633_, _1669:_ For, _1635-54_ (_ll. _ 8-10 _in
brackets_)]
_The undertaking. _
I have done one braver thing
Then all the _Worthies_ did,
And yet a braver thence doth spring,
Which is, to keepe that hid.
It were but madnes now t'impart 5
The skill of specular stone,
When he which can have learn'd the art
To cut it, can finde none.
So, if I now should utter this,
Others (because no more 10
Such stuffe to worke upon, there is,)
Would love but as before.
But he who lovelinesse within
Hath found, all outward loathes,
For he who colour loves, and skinne, 15
Loves but their oldest clothes.
If, as I have, you also doe
Vertue'attir'd in woman see,
And dare love that, and say so too,
And forget the Hee and Shee; 20
And if this love, though placed so,
From prophane men you hide,
Which will no faith on this bestow,
Or, if they doe, deride:
Then you have done a braver thing 25
Then all the _Worthies_ did;
And a braver thence will spring,
Which is, to keepe that hid.
[The undertaking. _1635-69:_ _no title_, _1633_, _B_, _D_,
_H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S:_ Platonique Love.
_A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[2 _Worthies_] _worthies_ _1633_]
[3 And yet] Yet _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_]
[7-8 art . . . it, _1669:_ art, . . . it _1633-54_]
[16 their] her _B_]
[18 Vertue'attir'd in _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _S_, _TC:_ Vertue in _1635-69_, _O'F_,
_Chambers_]
[26 did; _Ed:_ did. _1633-39:_ did, _1650-69_]
[27 spring,] spring _1633-39_]
_The Sunne Rising. _
Busie old foole, unruly Sunne,
Why dost thou thus,
Through windowes, and through curtaines call on us?
Must to thy motions lovers seasons run?
Sawcy pedantique wretch, goe chide 5
Late schoole boyes, and sowre prentices,
Goe tell Court-huntsmen, that the King will ride,
Call countrey ants to harvest offices;
Love, all alike, no season knowes, nor clyme,
Nor houres, dayes, moneths, which are the rags of time. 10
Thy beames, so reverend, and strong
Why shouldst thou thinke?
I could eclipse and cloud them with a winke,
But that I would not lose her sight so long:
If her eyes have not blinded thine, 15
Looke, and to morrow late, tell mee,
Whether both the'India's of spice and Myne
Be where thou leftst them, or lie here with mee.
Aske for those Kings whom thou saw'st yesterday,
And thou shalt heare, All here in one bed lay. 20
She'is all States, and all Princes, I,
Nothing else is.
Princes doe but play us; compar'd to this,
All honor's mimique; All wealth alchimie.
Thou sunne art halfe as happy'as wee, 25
In that the world's contracted thus;
Thine age askes ease, and since thy duties bee
To warme the world, that's done in warming us.
Shine here to us, and thou art every where;
This bed thy center is, these walls, thy spheare. 30
[The Sunne Rising. _1633-69:_ Sunne Rising. _A18_, _L74_, _N_,
_TCC_, _TCD:_ Ad Solem. _A25_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _O'F_, _S_,
_S96:_ To the Sunne. _Cy_, _Lec_, _O'F (as a second title):_
_no title_, _B_]
[3 call] look _1669_]
[6 and] or _1669_
sowre] slowe _B_, _Cy_, _P_]
[8 offices;] offices, _1633_]
[11-14 Thy beames, . . . so long: _1633 and all MSS. :_
Thy beames so reverend, and strong
Dost thou not thinke
I could eclipse and cloude them with a winke,
But that I would not lose her sight so long? _1635-69_
]
[17 spice] space _1650-54_]
[18 leftst _1633:_ left _1635-69_]
[23 us;] us, _1633_]
[24 wealth] wealth's _A25_, _C_, _P_
alchimie. _Ed:_ alchimie; _1633-69_]
[26 thus; _Ed:_ thus. _1633-69_]
_The Indifferent. _
I can love both faire and browne,
Her whom abundance melts, and her whom want betraies,
Her who loves lonenesse best, and her who maskes and plaies,
Her whom the country form'd, and whom the town,
Her who beleeves, and her who tries, 5
Her who still weepes with spungie eyes,
And her who is dry corke, and never cries;
I can love her, and her, and you and you,
I can love any, so she be not true.
Will no other vice content you? 10
Wil it not serve your turn to do, as did your mothers?
Or have you all old vices spent, and now would finde out others?
Or doth a feare, that men are true, torment you?
Oh we are not, be not you so,
Let mee, and doe you, twenty know. 15
Rob mee, but binde me not, and let me goe.
Must I, who came to travaile thorow you,
Grow your fixt subject, because you are true?
_Venus_ heard me sigh this song,
And by Loves sweetest Part, Variety, she swore, 20
She heard not this till now; and that it should be so no more.
She went, examin'd, and return'd ere long,
And said, alas, Some two or three
Poore Heretiques in love there bee,
Which thinke to stablish dangerous constancie. 25
But I have told them, since you will be true,
You shall be true to them, who'are false to you.
[The Indifferent. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ A
Songe, Songe, _or no title_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96:_ Sonnet. _P_]
[3 lonenesse] lovers _1669_
maskes] sports _1669_, _S_
and _1669:_ & _1633-39:_ _om. _ _1650-54_]
[12 spent] worn _1669_]
[15 mee, _1633:_ me; _1635-69_]
[17 travaile] _spelt_ travell, travel _1635-69_]
[19 sigh] sing _1669_]
[20 sweetest Part,] sweetest sweet, _1669_, _P_, _S_]
[21 and that it _1633_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S:_ it
_1635-69_, _H40_, _P:_ and it _A18_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _S96_,
_TC_]
_Loves Vsury. _
For every houre that thou wilt spare mee now,
I will allow,
Usurious God of Love, twenty to thee,
When with my browne, my gray haires equall bee;
Till then, Love, let my body raigne, and let 5
Mee travell, sojourne, snatch, plot, have, forget,
Resume my last yeares relict: thinke that yet
We'had never met.
Let mee thinke any rivalls letter mine,
And at next nine 10
Keepe midnights promise; mistake by the way
The maid, and tell the Lady of that delay;
Onely let mee love none, no, not the sport;
From country grasse, to comfitures of Court,
Or cities quelque choses, let report 15
My minde transport.
This bargaine's good; if when I'am old, I bee
Inflam'd by thee,
If thine owne honour, or my shame, or paine,
Thou covet most, at that age thou shalt gaine. 20
Doe thy will then, then subject and degree,
And fruit of love, Love I submit to thee,
Spare mee till then, I'll beare it, though she bee
One that loves mee.
[Loves Vsury. _1633-69_, _L74:_ _no title_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S:_ Elegie. _S96_]
[5 raigne, _1633_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_,
_P_, _S:_ range, _1635-69_, _O'F_, _S96_. _See note_]
[6 snatch, _1633_, _1669:_ match, _1635-54_]
[7 relict] relique _1669_]
[12 that] her _1669_]
[13 sport; _1669:_ sport _1633-54:_ sport, _most MSS. _]
[15 let report _1633_, _1669_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_L74_, _Lec_, _P_, _S:_ let not report _1635-54_, _O'F_,
_S96_, _Chambers_. _See note_]
[19 or paine _1633, 1669, and most MSS. :_ and paine _1635-54_,
_O'F_]
[22 fruit] fruites _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S96_]
[24 loves _1633, 1669 and all the MSS. :_ love _1635-54_]
_The Canonization. _
For Godsake hold your tongue, and let me love,
Or chide my palsie, or my gout,
My five gray haires, or ruin'd fortune flout,
With wealth your state, your minde with Arts improve,
Take you a course, get you a place, 5
Observe his honour, or his grace,
Or the Kings reall, or his stamped face
Contemplate, what you will, approve,
So you will let me love.
Alas, alas, who's injur'd by my love? 10
What merchants ships have my sighs drown'd?
Who saies my teares have overflow'd his ground?
When did my colds a forward spring remove?
When did the heats which my veines fill
Adde one more to the plaguie Bill? 15
Soldiers finde warres, and Lawyers finde out still
Litigious men, which quarrels move,
Though she and I do love.
Call us what you will, wee are made such by love;
Call her one, mee another flye, 20
We'are Tapers too, and at our owne cost die,
And wee in us finde the'Eagle and the Dove.
The Phoenix ridle hath more wit
By us, we two being one, are it.
So to one neutrall thing both sexes fit, 25
Wee dye and rise the same, and prove
Mysterious by this love.
Wee can dye by it, if not live by love,
And if unfit for tombes and hearse
Our legend bee, it will be fit for verse; 30
And if no peece of Chronicle wee prove,
We'll build in sonnets pretty roomes;
As well a well wrought urne becomes
The greatest ashes, as halfe-acre tombes,
And by these hymnes, all shall approve 35
Us _Canoniz'd_ for Love:
And thus invoke us; You whom reverend love
Made one anothers hermitage;
You, to whom love was peace, that now is rage;
Who did the whole worlds soule contract, and drove 40
Into the glasses of your eyes
(So made such mirrors, and such spies,
That they did all to you epitomize,)
Countries, Townes, Courts: Beg from above
A patterne of your love! 45
[The Canonization. _1633-39_, _A18_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ Canonization. _1650-69_, _S:_
Canonizatio. _S96:_ _no title_, _B_, _H40_, _JC_]
[3 five _1633_, _1669:_ true _1635-54_
fortune] fortunes _1669_]
[4 improve, _1650-69:_ improve _1633-39_]
[7 reall] Roiall _Lec_]
[14 veines] reynes _1669_]
[15 more, _1633-54_, _Lec:_ man _1669_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]
[17 which] whom _1669_]
[18 Though] While _1669_]
[22 Dove. _Ed:_ dove, _1633-69_]
[24 are it. _1633-69:_ are it; _Chambers and Grolier_]
[25 So _1650-69:_ So, _1633-39_. _See note_
fit, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ fit. _1633-69_. _See note_]
[29 tombes and _1633-54:_ tomb or _1669_]
[30 legend] legends _1633_]
[35 these _1633:_ those _1635-69_]
[36 Love:] Love. _1633_]
[39 rage; _Ed:_ rage, _1633-69_]
[40 contract] extract _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_]
[41 eyes _1633-69:_ eyes; _Chambers_]
[42-3 _brackets_, _Ed_]
[44 Courts: Beg] Courts Beg _1669:_ courts beg _Chambers_.
_See note_
from] frow _1633_]
[45 your _1669_, _A18_, _B_, _H40_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S96_, _TC:_ our _1633-54_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_
love! _Ed:_ love. _1633-69_]
_The triple Foole. _
I am two fooles, I know,
For loving, and for saying so
In whining Poetry;
But where's that wiseman, that would not be I,
If she would not deny? 5
Then as th'earths inward narrow crooked lanes
Do purge sea waters fretfull salt away,
I thought, if I could draw my paines,
Through Rimes vexation, I should them allay,
Griefe brought to numbers cannot be so fierce, 10
For, he tames it, that fetters it in verse.
But when I have done so,
Some man, his art and voice to show,
Doth Set and sing my paine,
And, by delighting many, frees againe 15
Griefe, which verse did restraine.
To Love, and Griefe tribute of Verse belongs,
But not of such as pleases when'tis read,
Both are increased by such songs:
For both their triumphs so are published, 20
And I, which was two fooles, do so grow three;
Who are a little wise, the best fooles bee.
[The triple Foole. _1633-69_, _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_
Song _or no title_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _HN_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_]
[4 the wiser man, _1669_]
[5 If he should not deny? _P_]
[6 narrow _om. _ _P:_ crooked _om. _ _B_
lanes] vaines _Cy_, _P_]
[9 allay, _1633-39:_ allay. _1650-69_, _Chambers_]
[10 numbers] number _1669_]
[11 For, he tames it] He tames it much _B_]
[13 and] or _1669_]
_Lovers infinitenesse. _
If yet I have not all thy love,
Deare, I shall never have it all,
I cannot breath one other sigh, to move,
Nor can intreat one other teare to fall,
And all my treasure, which should purchase thee, 5
Sighs, teares, and oathes, and letters I have spent.
Yet no more can be due to mee,
Then at the bargaine made was ment,
If then thy gift of love were partiall,
That some to mee, some should to others fall, 10
Deare, I shall never have Thee All.
Or if then thou gavest mee all,
All was but All, which thou hadst then;
But if in thy heart, since, there be or shall,
New love created bee, by other men, 15
Which have their stocks intire, and can in teares,
In sighs, in oathes, and letters outbid mee,
This new love may beget new feares,
For, this love was not vowed by thee.
And yet it was, thy gift being generall, 20
The ground, thy heart is mine, what ever shall
Grow there, deare, I should have it all.
Yet I would not have all yet,
Hee that hath all can have no more,
And since my love doth every day admit 25
New growth, thou shouldst have new rewards in store;
Thou canst not every day give me thy heart,
If thou canst give it, then thou never gavest it:
Loves riddles are, that though thy heart depart,
It stayes at home, and thou with losing savest it: 30
But wee will have a way more liberall,
Then changing hearts, to joyne them, so wee shall
Be one, and one anothers All.
[Lovers infinitenesse. _1633-69:_ Mon Tout. _A25_, _C:_ _no
title_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S:_
Elegie. _S96_
_Query_ Loves infinitenesse. ]
[3 move, _Ed:_ move; _1633-69_]
[4 fall, _Ed:_ fall. _1633:_ fall; _1635-69_]
[6 teares,] teares _1633_
spent. _Ed:_ spent, _1633-69 and Grolier:_ spent; _Chambers_]
[8 Then _1633-35_, _1669:_ That _1639-54_]
[9 were] was _1669_
partiall] generall _A25_, _C_]
[11 Thee _1633:_ It _1635-69_ (it _1669_)]
[12 gavest] givest _1669_]
[13 then; _1635-54:_ then, _1633_]
[17 and letters _1633:_ in letters _1635-69_]
[19 thee. _1639-69:_ thee, _1633-35_]
[20 it] is _1633_]
[21 is _1633_, _1669:_ was _1635-54_]
[25-6 And since my heart doth every day beget New love, _&c. _
_A25_. ]
[29-30
Except mine come when thine doth part
And in such giving it, thou savest it: _A25_, _C_
Perchance mine comes, when thine doth parte,
And by such losing it, _&c. _ _JC_
]
[31 have] love _1669:_ find _A25_, _C_]
[32 them] us _1669_]
_Song. _
Sweetest love, I do not goe,
For wearinesse of thee,
Nor in hope the world can show
A fitter Love for mee;
But since that I 5
Must dye at last, 'tis best,
To use my selfe in jest
Thus by fain'd deaths to dye;
Yesternight the Sunne went hence,
And yet is here to day, 10
He hath no desire nor sense,
Nor halfe so short a way:
Then feare not mee,
But beleeve that I shall make
Speedier journeyes, since I take 15
More wings and spurres then hee.
O how feeble is mans power,
That if good fortune fall,
Cannot adde another houre,
Nor a lost houre recall! 20
But come bad chance,
And wee joyne to'it our strength,
And wee teach it art and length,
It selfe o'r us to'advance.
When thou sigh'st, thou sigh'st not winde, 25
But sigh'st my soule away,
When thou weep'st, unkindly kinde,
My lifes blood doth decay.
It cannot bee
That thou lov'st mee, as thou say'st, 30
If in thine my life thou waste,
Thou art the best of mee.
Let not thy divining heart
Forethinke me any ill,
Destiny may take thy part, 35
And may thy feares fulfill;
But thinke that wee
Are but turn'd aside to sleepe;
They who one another keepe
Alive, ne'r parted bee. 40
[Song. _1633-69:_ Song. _or no title_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_,
_D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_,
_TCC_, _TCD:_ _in A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _this with_ Send
home my long stray'd eyes _and_ The Bait _are given as_ Songs
which were made to certain ayres which were made before. ]
[1-4 _In most MSS. these lines are written as two long lines,
and so with ll. _ 9-12, 17-20, 25-28, 33-36]
[4 mee; _1650-69:_ mee, _1633-39_]
[5-8 But since . . . dye; _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_
At the last must part 'tis best,
Thus to use my selfe in jest
By fained deaths to dye; _1635-54_, _O'F:_
Must dye at last, 'tis best,
Thus to use my self in jest
By fained death to dye; _1669_
]
[15 Speedier] Hastier _1669_]
[20 recall! _Ed:_ recall? _1633-69_]
[25 not wind _1633:_ no wind _1635-69_]
[32 Thou _1633 and MSS. generally:_ That _1635-54:_ Which
_1669_
best _1633-54:_ life _1669_]
[36 may _1633-35_, _1669:_ make _1639-54_
fulfill; _Ed:_ fulfill, _1633-69_]
[38 turn'd] lai'd _1669_]
_The Legacie. _
When I dyed last, and, Deare, I dye
As often as from thee I goe,
Though it be but an houre agoe,
And Lovers houres be full eternity,
I can remember yet, that I 5
Something did say, and something did bestow;
Though I be dead, which sent mee, I should be
Mine owne executor and Legacie.
