_ 20
_Transiit in Sequanam Moenus; Victoris in aedes;
Et Francofurtum, te revehente, meat.
_Transiit in Sequanam Moenus; Victoris in aedes;
Et Francofurtum, te revehente, meat.
John Donne
_ DONNES _death_:
_By M^{r}. _ Mayne _of Christ-Church in Oxford. _
Who shall presume to mourn thee, _Donne_, unlesse
He could his teares in thy expressions dresse,
And teach his griefe that reverence of thy Hearse,
To weepe lines, learned, as thy Anniverse,
A Poeme of that worth, whose every teare 5
Deserves the title of a severall yeare.
Indeed so farre above its Reader, good,
That wee are thought wits, when 'tis understood,
There that blest maid to die, who now should grieve?
After thy sorrow, 'twere her losse to live; 10
And her faire vertues in anothers line,
Would faintly dawn, which are made Saints in thine.
Hadst thou beene shallower, and not writ so high,
Or left some new way for our pennes, or eye,
To shed a funerall teare, perchance thy Tombe 15
Had not beene speechlesse, or our Muses dumbe;
But now wee dare not write, but must conceale
Thy Epitaph, lest we be thought to steale,
For, who hath read thee, and discernes thy worth,
That will not say, thy carelesse houres brought forth 20
Fancies beyond our studies, and thy play
Was happier, then our serious time of day?
So learned was thy chance; thy haste had wit,
And matter from thy pen flow'd rashly fit,
What was thy recreation turnes our braine, 25
Our rack and palenesse, is thy weakest straine.
And when we most come neere thee, 'tis our blisse
To imitate thee, where thou dost amisse.
Here light your muse, you that do onely thinke,
And write, and are just Poets, as you drinke, 30
In whose weake fancies wit doth ebbe and flow,
Just as your recknings rise, that wee may know
In your whole carriage of your worke, that here
This flash you wrote in Wine, and this in Beere,
This is to tap your Muse, which running long 35
Writes flat, and takes our eare not halfe so strong;
Poore Suburbe wits, who, if you want your cup,
Or if a Lord recover, are blowne up.
Could you but reach this height, you should not need
To make, each meale, a project ere you feed, 40
Nor walke in reliques, clothes so old and bare,
As if left off to you from _Ennius_ were,
Nor should your love, in verse, call Mistresse, those,
Who are mine hostesse, or your whores in prose;
From this Muse learne to Court, whose power could move 45
A Cloystred coldnesse, or a Vestall love,
And would convey such errands to their eare,
That Ladies knew no oddes to grant and heare;
But I do wrong thee, _Donne_, and this low praise
Is written onely for thy yonger dayes. 50
I am not growne up, for thy riper parts,
Then should I praise thee, through the Tongues, and Arts,
And have that deepe Divinity, to know,
What mysteries did from thy preaching flow,
Who with thy words could charme thy audience, 55
That at thy sermons, eare was all our sense;
Yet have I seene thee in the pulpit stand,
Where wee might take notes, from thy looke, and hand;
And from thy speaking action beare away
More Sermon, then some teachers use to say. 60
Such was thy carriage, and thy gesture such,
As could divide the heart, and conscience touch.
Thy motion did confute, and wee might see
An errour vanquish'd by delivery.
Not like our Sonnes of Zeale, who to reforme 65
Their hearers, fiercely at the Pulpit storme,
And beate the cushion into worse estate,
Then if they did conclude it reprobate,
Who can out pray the glasse, then lay about
Till all Predestination be runne out. 70
And from the point such tedious uses draw,
Their repetitions would make Gospell, Law.
No, In such temper would thy Sermons flow,
So well did Doctrine, and thy language show,
And had that holy feare, as, hearing thee, 75
The Court would mend, and a good Christian bee.
And Ladies though unhansome, out of grace,
Would heare thee, in their unbought lookes, and face.
More I could write, but let this crowne thine Urne,
Wee cannot hope the like, till thou returne. 80
_Upon M^r J. Donne, and his Poems. _
Who dares say thou art dead, when he doth see
(Unburied yet) this living part of thee?
This part that to thy beeing gives fresh flame,
And though th'art _Donne_, yet will preserve thy name.
Thy flesh (whose channels left their crimsen hew, 5
And whey-like ranne at last in a pale blew)
May shew thee mortall, a dead palsie may
Seise on't, and quickly turne it into clay;
Which like the Indian earth, shall rise refin'd:
But this great Spirit thou hast left behinde, 10
This Soule of Verse (in it's first pure estate)
Shall live, for all the World to imitate,
But not come neer, for in thy Fancies flight
Thou dost not stoope unto the vulgar fight,
But, hovering highly in the aire of Wit, 15
Hold'st such a pitch, that few can follow it;
Admire they may. Each object that the Spring
(Or a more piercing influence) doth bring
T'adorne Earths face, thou sweetly did'st contrive
To beauties elements, and thence derive 20
Unspotted Lillies white; which thou did'st set
Hand in hand, with the veine-like Violet,
Making them soft, and warme, and by thy power,
Could'st give both life, and sense, unto a flower.
The Cheries thou hast made to speake, will bee 25
Sweeter unto the taste, then from the tree.
And (spight of winter stormes) amidst the snow
Thou oft hast made the blushing Rose to grow.
The Sea-nimphs, that the watry cavernes keepe,
Have sent their Pearles and Rubies from the deepe 30
To deck thy love, and plac'd by thee, they drew
More lustre to them, then where first they grew.
All minerals (that Earths full wombe doth hold
Promiscuously) thou couldst convert to gold,
And with thy flaming raptures so refine, 35
That it was much more pure then in the Mine.
The lights that guild the night, if thou did'st say,
They looke like eyes, those did out-shine the day;
For there would be more vertue in such spells,
Then in Meridians, or crosse Parallels: 40
What ever was of worth in this great Frame,
That Art could comprehend, or Wit could name,
It was thy theme for Beauty; thou didst see,
Woman, was this faire Worlds Epitomie.
Thy nimble _Satyres_ too, and every straine 45
(With nervy strength) that issued from thy brain,
Will lose the glory of their owne cleare bayes,
If they admit of any others praise.
But thy diviner Poems (whose cleare fire
Purges all drosse away) shall by a Quire 50
Of Cherubims, with heavenly Notes be set
(Where flesh and blood could ne'r attaine to yet)
There purest Spirits sing such sacred Layes,
In Panegyrique Alleluiaes.
_Arth. Wilson. _
_In memory of Doctor Donne: By M^{r} R. B. _
_Donne_ dead? 'Tis here reported true, though I
Ne'r yet so much desir'd to heare a lye,
'Tis too too true, for so wee finde it still,
Good newes are often false, but seldome, ill:
But must poore fame tell us his fatall day, 5
And shall we know his death, the common way,
Mee thinkes some Comet bright should have foretold
The death of such a man, for though of old
'Tis held, that Comets Princes death foretell,
Why should not his, have needed one as well? 10
Who was the Prince of wits, 'mongst whom he reign'd,
High as a Prince, and as great State maintain'd?
Yet wants he not his signe, for wee have seene
A dearth, the like to which hath never beene,
Treading on harvests heeles, which doth presage 15
The death of wit and learning, which this age
Shall finde, now he is gone; for though there bee
Much graine in shew, none brought it forth as he,
Or men are misers; or if true want raises
The dearth, then more that dearth _Donnes_ plenty praises. 20
Of learning, languages, of eloquence,
And Poesie, (past rauishing of sense,)
He had a magazine, wherein such store
Was laid up, as might hundreds serve of poore.
But he is gone, O how will his desire 25
Torture all those that warm'd them by his fire?
Mee thinkes I see him in the pulpit standing,
Not eares, or eyes, but all mens hearts commanding,
Where wee that heard him, to our selves did faine
Golden Chrysostome was alive againe; 30
And never were we weari'd, till we saw
His houre (and but an houre) to end did draw.
How did he shame the doctrine-men, and use,
With helps to boot, for men to beare th'abuse
Of their tir'd patience, and endure th'expence 35
Of time, O spent in hearkning to non-sense,
With markes also, enough whereby to know,
The speaker is a zealous dunce, or so.
'Tis true, they quitted him, to their poore power,
They humm'd against him; And with face most sowre 40
Call'd him a strong lin'd man, a Macaroon,
And no way fit to speake to clouted shoone,
As fine words [truly] as you would desire,
But [verily,] but a bad edifier.
Thus did these beetles slight in him that good, 45
They could not see, and much lesse understood.
But we may say, when we compare the stuffe
Both brought; He was a candle, they the snuffe.
Well, Wisedome's of her children justifi'd,
Let therefore these poore fellowes stand aside; 50
Nor, though of learning he deserv'd so highly,
Would I his booke should save him; Rather slily
I should advise his Clergie not to pray,
Though of the learn'dst sort; Me thinkes that they
Of the same trade, are Judges not so fit, 55
There's no such emulation as of wit.
Of such, the Envy might as much perchance
Wrong him, and more, then th'others ignorance.
It was his Fate (I know't) to be envy'd
As much by Clerkes, as lay men magnifi'd; 60
And why? but 'cause he came late in the day,
And yet his Penny earn'd, and had as they.
No more of this, least some should say, that I
Am strai'd to Satyre, meaning Elegie.
No, no, had DONNE need to be judg'd or try'd, 65
A Jury I would summon on his side,
That had no sides, nor factions, past the touch
Of all exceptions, freed from Passion, such
As nor to feare nor flatter, e'r were bred,
These would I bring, though called from the dead: 70
Southampton, Hambleton, Pembrooke, Dorsets Earles,
Huntingdon, Bedfords Countesses (the Pearles
Once of each sexe. ) If these suffice not, I
Ten _decem tales_ have of Standers by:
All which, for DONNE, would such a verdict give, 75
As can belong to none, that now doth live.
But what doe I? A diminution 'tis
To speake of him in verse, so short of his,
Whereof he was the master; All indeed
Compar'd with him, pip'd on an Oaten reed. 80
O that you had but one 'mongst all your brothers
Could write for him, as he hath done for others:
(Poets I speake to) When I see't, I'll say,
My eye-sight betters, as my yeares decay,
Meane time a quarrell I shall ever have 85
Against these doughty keepers from the grave,
Who use, it seemes their old Authoritie,
When (Verses men immortall make) they cry:
Which had it been a Recipe true tri'd,
_Probatum esset_, DONNE had never dy'd. 90
For mee, if e'r I had least sparke at all
Of that which they Poetique fire doe call,
Here I confesse it fetched from his hearth,
Which is gone out, now he is gone to earth.
This only a poore flash, a lightning is 95
Before my Muses death, as after his.
Farewell (faire soule) and deigne receive from mee
This Type of that devotion I owe thee,
From whom (while living) as by voice and penne
I learned more, then from a thousand men: 100
So by thy death, am of one doubt releas'd,
And now beleeve that miracles are ceas'd.
_Epitaph. _
_Heere lies Deane Donne_; Enough; Those words alone
Shew him as fully, as if all the stone
His Church of Pauls contains, were through inscrib'd
Or all the walkers there, to speake him, brib'd.
None can mistake him, for one such as Hee 5
DONNE, Deane, or Man, more none shall ever see.
Not man? No, though unto a Sunne each eye
Were turn'd, the whole earth so to overspie.
A bold brave word; Yet such brave Spirits as knew
His Spirit, will say, it is lesse bold then true. 10
_Epitaph upon D^r. Donne_,
By _Endy: Porter_.
This decent Urne a sad inscription weares,
Of _Donnes_ departure from us, to the spheares;
And the dumbe stone with silence seemes to tell
The changes of this life, wherein is well
Exprest, A cause to make all joy to cease, 5
And never let our sorrowes more take ease;
For now it is impossible to finde
One fraught with vertues, to inrich a minde;
But why should death, with a promiscuous hand
At one rude stroke impoverish a land? 10
Thou strict Attorney, unto stricter Fate,
Didst thou confiscate his life out of hate
To his rare Parts? Or didst thou throw thy dart,
With envious hand, at some Plebeyan heart;
And he with pious vertue stept betweene 15
To save that stroke, and so was kill'd unseene
By thee? O 'twas his goodnesse so to doe,
Which humane kindnesse never reacht unto.
Thus the hard lawes of death were satisfi'd,
And he left us like Orphan friends, and di'de. 20
Now from the Pulpit to the peoples eares,
Whose speech shall send repentant sighes, and teares?
Or tell mee, if a purer Virgin die,
Who shall hereafter write her Elegie?
Poets be silent, let your numbers sleepe, 25
For he is gone that did all phansie keepe;
Time hath no Soule, but his exalted verse;
Which with amazements, we may now reherse.
In obitum venerabilis viri _Iohannis Donne_, sacrae
Theologiae Doctoris, Ecclesiae Cathedralis Divi _Pauli_,
nuper Decani; Illi honoris, tibi (multum mihi colende
Vir) observantiae ergo Haec ego.
_Conquerar? ignavoque sequar tua funera planctu?
Sed lachrimae clausistis iter: nec muta querelas
Lingua potest proferre pias: ignoscite manes
Defuncti, & tacito finite indulgere dolori.
Sed scelus est tacuisse: cadant in moesta liturae 5
Verba. Tuis (docta umbra) tuis haec accipe jussis
Caepta, nec officii contemnens pignora nostri
Aversare tua non dignum laude Poetam.
O si Pythagorae non vanum dogma fuisset:
Inque meum a vestro migraret pectore pectus 10
Musa, repentinos tua nosceret urna furores.
Sed frustra, heu frustra haec votis puerilibus opto:
Tecum abiit, summoque sedens jam monte Thalia
Ridet anhelantes, Parnassi & culmina vates
Desperare jubet. Verum hac nolente coactos 15
Scribimus audaces numeros, & flebile carmen
Scribimus (o soli qui te dilexit) habendum.
Siccine perpetuus liventia lumina somnus
Clausit? & immerito merguntur funere virtus?
Et pietas? & quae poterant fecisse beatum, 20
Caetera, sed nec te poterant servare beatum.
Quo mihi doctrinam? quorsum impallescere chartis
Nocturnis juvat? & totidem olfecisse lucernas?
Decolor & longos studiis deperdere Soles
Vt prius aggredior, longamque arcessere famam. 25
Omnia sed frustra: mihi dum cunctisque minatur
Exitium crudele & inexorabile fatum.
Nam post te sperare nihil decet: hoc mihi restat
Vt moriar, tenues fugiatque obscurus in auras
Spiritus: o doctis saltem si cognitus umbris. 30
Illic te (venerande) iterum, (venerande) videbo.
Et dulces audire sonos, & verba diserti
Oris, & aeternas dabitur mihi carpere voces.
Queis ferus infernae tacuisset Ianitor aulae
Auditis: Nilusque minus strepuisset: Arion 35
Cederet, & sylvas qui post se traxerat Orpheus.
Eloquio sic ille viros, sic ille movere
Voce feros potuit: quis enim tam barbarus? aut tam
Facundis nimis infestus non motus ut illo
Hortante, & blando victus sermone sileret? 40
Sic oculos, sic ille manus, sic ora ferebat,
Singula sic decuere senem, sic omnia. Vidi,
Audivi & stupui quoties orator in AEde
Paulina stetit, & mira gravitate levantes
Corda, oculosque viros tenuit: dum Nestoris ille 45
Fudit verba (omni quanta mage dulcia melle? )
Nunc habet attonitos, pandit mysteria plebi
Non concessa prius nondum intellecta: revolvunt
Mirantes, tacitique arrectis auribus astant.
Mutatis mox ille modo, formaque loquendi 50
Tristia pertractat: fatumque & flebile mortis
Tempus, & in cineres redeunt quod corpora primos.
Tunc gemitum cunctos dare, tunc lugere videres,
Forsitan a lachrymis aliquis non temperat, atque
Ex oculis largum stillat rorem; aetheris illo 55
Sic pater audito voluit succumbere turbam,
Affectusque ciere suos, & ponere notae
Vocis ad arbitrium, divinae oracula mentis
Dum narrat, rostrisque potens dominatur in altis.
Quo feror? audaci & forsan pietate nocenti 60
In nimia ignoscas vati, qui vatibus olim
Egregium decus, et tanto excellentior unus
Omnibus; inferior quanto est, et pessimus, impar
Laudibus hisce, tibi qui nunc facit ista Poeta.
Et quo nos canimus? cur haec tibi sacra? Poetae 65
Desinite: en fati certus, sibi voce canora
Inferias praemisit olor, cum Carolus Alba
(Vltima volventem et Cycnaea voce loquentem)
Nuper eum, turba & magnatum audiret in Aula.
Tunc Rex, tunc Proceres, Clerus, tunc astitit illi 70
Aula frequens. Sola nunc in tellure recumbit,
Vermibus esca, pio malint nisi parcere: quidni
Incipiant & amare famem? Metuere Leones
Sic olim, sacrosque artus violare Prophetae
Bellua non ausa est quamquam jejuna, sitimque 75
Optaret nimis humano satiare cruore.
At non haec de te sperabimus; omnia carpit
Praedator vermis: nec talis contigit illi
Praeda diu; forsan metrico pede serpet ab inde:
Vescere, & exhausto satia te sanguine. Iam nos 80
Adsumus; et post te cupiet quis vivere? Post te
Quis volet, aut poterit? nam post te vivere mors est.
Et tamen ingratas ignavi ducimus auras:
Sustinet & tibi lingua vale, vale dicere: parce
Non festinanti aeternum requiescere turbae. 85
Ipsa satis properat quae nescit Parca morari,
Nunc urgere colum, trahere atque occare videmus.
Quin rursus (Venerande) Vale, vale: ordine nos te
Quo Deus, & quo dura volet natura sequemur.
Depositum interea lapides servate fideles. 90
Foelices illa queis AEdis parte locari
Qua jacet iste datur. Forsan lapis inde loquetur,
Parturietque viro plenus testantia luctus
Verba: & carminibus quae Donni suggeret illi
Spiritus, insolitos testari voce calores 95
Incipiet: (non sic Pyrrha jactante calebat. )
Mole sub hac tegitur quicquid mortale relictum est
De tanto mortale viro. Qui praefuit AEdi huic,
Formosi pecoris pastor, formosior ipse.
Ite igitur, dignisque illum celebrate loquelis, 100
Et quae demuntur vitae date tempora famae. _
Indignus tantorum meritorum Praeco, virtutum
tuarum cultor religiosissimus,
DANIEL DARNELLY.
[In obitum _&c. _ _1635-69_, _taking the place of the lines by
Tho: Browne_. ]
[10 pectore] pectore, _1635_]
[21 beatum. ] beatum _1635_]
[23 olfecisse] olfecisse _1635_]
[25 prius aggredior, _1635-69_: prius, aggredior, _1719_
arcessere _Ed_: accessere _1635-69_]
[26-7 mihi dum . . . Exitium _1719_: mihi, dum . . . Exitium,
_1635-39_: mihi dum, . . . Exitium, _1650-69_]
[38 Voce feros] Voceferos _1635_, _1669_]
[79 inde:] inde _1635-39_]
[86 Parca] parca _1635-69_
morari,] morari _1635_]
[88 rursus _1719_: rusus _1635_: nusus _1639-69_]
[96 Incipiet: . . . calebat. _1719_: _no stops_, _1635-69_]
_Elegie on D. D. _
Now, by one yeare, time and our frailtie have
Lessened our first confusion, since the Grave
Clos'd thy deare Ashes, and the teares which flow
In these, have no springs, but of solid woe:
Or they are drops, which cold amazement froze 5
At thy decease, and will not thaw in Prose:
All streames of Verse which shall lament that day,
Doe truly to the Ocean tribute pay;
But they have lost their saltnesse, which the eye
In recompence of wit, strives to supply: 10
Passions excesse for thee wee need not feare,
Since first by thee our passions hallowed were;
Thou mad'st our sorrowes, which before had bin
Onely for the Successe, sorrowes for sinne,
We owe thee all those teares, now thou art dead, 15
Which we shed not, which for our selves we shed.
Nor didst thou onely consecrate our teares,
Give a religious tincture to our feares;
But even our joyes had learn'd an innocence,
Thou didst from gladnesse separate offence: 20
All mindes at once suckt grace from thee, as where
(The curse revok'd) the Nations had one eare.
Pious dissector: thy one houre did treate
The thousand mazes of the hearts deceipt;
Thou didst pursue our lov'd and subtill sinne, 25
Through all the foldings wee had wrapt it in,
And in thine owne large minde finding the way
By which our selves we from our selves convey,
Didst in us, narrow models, know the same
Angles, though darker, in our meaner frame. 30
How short of praise is this? My Muse, alas,
Climbes weakly to that truth which none can passe,
Hee that writes best, may onely hope to leave
A Character of all he could conceive
But none of thee, and with mee must confesse, 35
That fansie findes some checke, from an excesse
Of merit most, of nothing, it hath spun,
And truth, as reasons task and theame, doth shunne.
She makes a fairer flight in emptinesse,
Than when a bodied truth doth her oppresse. 40
Reason againe denies her scales, because
Hers are but scales, shee judges by the lawes
Of weake comparison, thy vertue sleights
Her feeble Beame, and her unequall Weights.
What prodigie of wit and pietie 45
Hath she else knowne, by which to measure thee?
Great soule: we can no more the worthinesse
Of what you were, then what you are, expresse.
_Sidney Godolphin. _
[Footnote: Elegie on D. D. _1635-69_: _it follows Walton's
elegy. _]
_On D^{r}_ John Donne, _late Deane of S. _ Paules, _London_.
Long since this taske of teares from you was due,
Long since, o Poets, he did die to you,
Or left you dead, when wit and he tooke flight
On divine wings, and soard out of your sight.
Preachers, 'tis you must weep; The wit he taught 5
You doe enjoy; the Rebels which he brought
From ancient discord, Giants faculties,
And now no more religions enemies;
Honest to knowing, unto vertuous sweet,
Witty to good, and learned to discreet, 10
He reconcil'd, and bid the Vsurper goe;
Dulnesse to vice, religion ought to flow;
He kept his loves, but not his objects; wit
Hee did not banish, but transplanted it,
Taught it his place and use, and brought it home 15
To Pietie, which it doth best become;
He shew'd us how for sinnes we ought to sigh,
And how to sing Christs Epithalamy:
The Altars had his fires, and there hee spoke
Incense of loves, and fansies holy smoake: 20
Religion thus enrich'd, the people train'd,
And God from dull vice had the fashion gain'd.
The first effects sprung in the giddy minde
Of flashy youth, and thirst of woman-kinde,
By colours lead, and drawne to a pursuit, 25
Now once againe by beautie of the fruit,
As if their longings too must set us free,
And tempt us now to the commanded tree.
Tell me, had ever pleasure such a dresse,
Have you knowne crimes so shap'd? or lovelinesse 30
Such as his lips did cloth religion in?
Had not reproofe a beauty passing sinne?
Corrupted nature sorrow'd when she stood
So neare the danger of becomming good,
And wish'd our so inconstant eares exempt 35
From piety that had such power to tempt:
Did not his sacred flattery beguile
Man to amendment? The law, taught to smile,
Pension'd our vanitie, and man grew well
Through the same frailtie by which he fell. 40
O the sick state of man, health does not please
Our tasts, but in the shape of the disease.
Thriftlesse is charitie, coward patience,
Iustice is cruell, mercy want of sense.
What meanes our Nature to barre vertue place, 45
If shee doe come in her owne cloathes and face?
Is good a pill, we dare not chaw to know?
Sense the soules servant, doth it keep us so
As we might starve for good, unlesse it first
Doe leave a pawne of relish in the gust? 50
Or have we to salvation no tie
At all, but that of our infirmitie?
Who treats with us must our affections move
To th' good we flie by those sweets which we love,
Must seeke our palats, and with their delight 55
To gaine our deeds, must bribe our appetite.
These traines he knew, and laying nets to save,
Temptingly sugred all the health hee gave.
But, where is now that chime? that harmony
Hath left the world, now the loud organ may 60
Appeare, the better voyce is fled to have
A thousand times the sweetnesse which it gave.
I cannot say how many thousand spirits
The single happinesse this soule inherits,
Damnes in the other world, soules whom no crosse 65
O'th sense afflicts, but onely of the losse,
Whom ignorance would halfe save, all whose paine
Is not in what they feele, but others gaine,
Selfe executing wretched spirits, who
Carrying their guilt, transport their envy too: 70
But those high joyes which his wits youngest flame
Would hurt to chuse, shall not we hurt to name?
Verse statues are all robbers, all we make
Of monument, thus doth not give but take
As Sailes which Seamen to a forewinde fit, 75
By a resistance, goe along with it,
So pens grow while they lessen fame so left;
A weake assistance is a kinde of theft.
Who hath not love to ground his teares upon,
Must weep here if he have ambition.
_I. Chudleigh. _
[On D^{r} John Donne _&c. _ _1635-69_, _where it follows
Godolphin's_ Elegie]
FINIS.
APPENDIX A.
LATIN POEMS AND TRANSLATIONS
DE LIBRO CVM MVTV-
aretur Impresso; Domi a pueris
frustatim lacerato; et post reddito
Manuscripto.
Doctissimo Amicissimoque v.
D. D. Andrews.
_Parturiunt madido quae nixu praela, recepta,
Sed quae scripta manu, sunt veneranda magis.
Qui liber in pluteos, blattis cinerique relictos,
Si modo sit praeli sanguine tinctus, abit;
Accedat calamo scriptus, reverenter habetur, 5
Involat et veterum scrinia summa Patrum.
Dicat Apollo modum; Pueros infundere libro
Nempe vetustatem canitiemque novo.
Nil mirum, medico pueros de semine natos,
Haec nova fata libra posse dedisse novo. 10
Si veterem faciunt pueri, qui nuperus, Annon
Ipse Pater Iuvenem me dabit arte senem?
Hei miseris senibus! nos vertit dura senectus
Omnes in pueros, neminem at in Iuvenem.
Hoc tibi servasti praestandum, Antique Dierum, 15
Quo viso, et vivit, et juvenescit Adam.
Interea, infirmae fallamus taedia vitae,
Libris, et Coelorum aemula amicitia.
Hos inter, qui a te mihi redditus iste libellus,
Non mihi tam charus, tam meus, ante fuit.
_ 20
_Transiit in Sequanam Moenus; Victoris in aedes;
Et Francofurtum, te revehente, meat.
[DE LIBRO &c. _1635-69_ _among certain prose letters in Latin
and English_
_Title_:--mutuaretur Impresso;] mutuaretur, Impresso,
_1635-69_
frustatim] frustratim _1635-69_
lacerato;] lacerato, _1635-69_]
[2 _manu, sunt_] _manu sunt, 1635-69_]
[4 _abit;_] _abit, 1635-69_]
[<Epigramma> _Ed_: _in old edd. these lines are 3 and 4 of
above poem_. _See note_]
[1 _aedes_;] _aedes, 1635-69_]
Amicissimo, & meritissimo BEN. JONSON.
In Vulponem.
_Qvod arte ausus es hic tua, Poeta,
Si auderent hominum Deique juris
Consulti, veteres sequi aemularierque,
O omnes saperemus ad salutem.
His sed sunt veteres araneosi; 5
Tam nemo veterum est sequutor, ut tu
Illos quod sequeris novator audis.
Fac tamen quod agis; tuique prima
Libri canitie induantur hora:
Nam chartis pueritia est neganda, 10
Nascanturque senes, oportet, illi
Libri, queis dare vis perennitatem.
Priscis, ingenium facit, laborque
Te parem; hos superes, ut et futuros,
Ex nostra vitiositate sumas, 15
Qua priscos superamus, et futuros. _
[Amicissimo _&c. _ _in sheets added 1650: prefixed originally
to Quarto edition of Jonson's Volpone. 1607, later to Folio
edition of The Workes of Beniamin Jonson. 1616. , when In
Vulponem was added: in both signed I. D. _]
[11 Nascanturque _1607_: Nascunturque _1616_, _1650-69_]
To M^r _George Herbert_, with one of my
Seal(s), of the Anchor and Christ.
_Qvi prius assuetus Serpentum fasce Tabellas
Signare, (haec nostrae symbola parva Domus)
Adscitus domui Domini, patrioque relicto
Stemmate, nanciscor stemmata jure nova.
Hinc mihi Crux primo quae fronti impressa lavacro, 5
Finibus extensis, anchora facta patet.
Anchorae in effigiem Crux tandem desinit ipsam,
Anchora fit tandem Crux tolerata diu.
Hoc tamen ut fiat, Christo vegetatur ab ipso
Crux, et ab Affixo, est Anchora facta, Iesu. 10
Nec Natalitiis penitus serpentibus orbor,
Non ita dat Deus, ut auferat ante data.
Qua sapiens, Dos est; Qua terram lambit et ambit,
Pestis; At in nostra fit Medicina Cruce,
Serpens; fixa Cruci si sit Natura; Crucique 15
A fixo, nobis, Gratia tota fluat.
Omnia cum Crux sint, Crux Anchora facta, sigillum
Non tam dicendum hoc quam Catechismus erit.
Mitto nec exigua, exigua sub imagine, dona,
Pignora amicitiae, et munera; Vota, preces. 20
Plura tibi accumulet, sanctus cognominis, Ille
Regia qui flavo Dona sigillat Equo. _
[To M^r George Herbert _&c. _ _1650-69_, _in sheets added 1650:
two and a half lines in Walton's Life of Donne (1658): for
Herbert's reply see note Title:_--sent him with one _Walton_
(1670) Seal, _1650-69:_ Seales _Walton_]
[1 fasce] falce _Walton_]
[5 _fronti_] _fronte 1650-69_]
[17 _facta,_] _fixa,_ _1650-69_]
[19 Mitto] Mitto, _1650-69_]
A Sheafe of Snakes used heretofore to be
My Seal, The Crest of our poore Family.
Adopted in Gods Family, and so
Our old Coat lost, unto new armes I go.
The Crosse (my seal at Baptism) spred below, 5
Does, by that form, into an Anchor grow.
Crosses grow Anchors; Bear, as thou shouldst do
Thy Crosse, and that Crosse grows an Anchor too.
But he that makes our Crosses Anchors thus,
Is Christ, who there is crucifi'd for us. 10
Yet may I, with this, my first Serpents hold,
God gives new blessings, and yet leaves the old;
The Serpent, may, as wise, my pattern be;
My poison, as he feeds on dust, that's me.
And as he rounds the Earth to murder sure, 15
My death he is, but on the Crosse, my cure.
Crucifie nature then, and then implore
All Grace from him, crucified there before;
When all is Crosse, and that Crosse Anchor grown,
This Seal's a Catechism, not a Seal alone. 20
Under that little Seal great gifts I send,
<Wishes,> and prayers, pawns, and fruits of a friend.
And may that Saint which rides in our great Seal,
To you, who bear his name, great bounties deal.
[A sheafe _&c. _] _1650-69 and in Walton's_ Life of Donne
(1658), _in all of which and in all subsequent editions except
Grolier the first two lines are printed as a title, Walton
bracketing them_:--
A sheafe of Snakes used heretofore to be
_my Seal, The Crest of our poore Family_.
]
[4 Our . . . unto] My . . . into _Walton_]
[5 at] in _Walton_]
[11 with this I may _Walton_]
[15 to murder sure,] to murder, sure _Walton_]
[16 He is my death; _Walton_]
[22 Wishes, _Ed_: Works, _1650-69_: Both works _Walton_: Lat.
_vota_]
[23-4
Oh may that Saint that rides on our great Seal,
To you that bear his name large bounty deal.
_Walton_.
]
Translated out of _Gazaeus_, _Vota Amico facta_. _fol. _ 160.
God grant thee thine own wish, and grant thee mine,
Thou, who dost, best friend, in best things outshine;
May thy soul, ever chearfull, nere know cares,
Nor thy life, ever lively, know gray haires.
Nor thy hand, ever open, know base holds, 5
Nor thy purse, ever plump, know pleits, or folds.
Nor thy tongue, ever true, know a false thing,
Nor thy word, ever mild, know quarrelling.
Nor thy works, ever equall, know disguise,
Nor thy fame, ever pure, know contumelies. 10
Nor thy prayers, know low objects, still Divine;
God grant thee thine own wish, and grant thee mine.
Translated _&c. _] _1650-69_, _in sheets added 1650_: _for
original see note_]
APPENDIX B.
POEMS WHICH HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED
TO JOHN DONNE IN THE OLD EDITIONS
AND THE PRINCIPAL MS. COLLEC-
TIONS, ARRANGED ACCORDING
TO THEIR PROBABLE
AUTHORS.
I.
POEMS
PROBABLY BY SIR JOHN ROE, KNT.
_To S^{r} Nicholas Smyth. _
Sleep, next Society and true friendship,
Mans best contentment, doth securely slip
His passions and the worlds troubles. Rock me
O sleep, wean'd from my dear friends company,
In a cradle free from dreams or thoughts, there 5
Where poor men ly, for Kings asleep do fear.
Here sleeps House by famous Ariosto,
By silver-tongu'd Ovid, and many moe,
Perhaps by golden-mouth'd Spencer too pardie,
(Which builded was some dozen Stories high) 10
I had repair'd, but that it was so rotten,
As sleep awak'd by Ratts from thence was gotten:
And I will build no new, for by my Will,
Thy fathers house shall be the fairest still
In Excester. Yet, methinks, for all their Wit, 15
Those wits that say nothing, best describe it.
Without it there is no Sense, only in this
Sleep is unlike a long Parenthesis.
Not to save charges, but would I had slept
The time I spent in London, when I kept 20
Fighting and untrust gallants Company,
In which Natta, the new Knight, seized on me,
And offered me the experience he had bought
With great Expence. I found him throughly taught
In curing Burnes. His thing hath had more scars 25
Then Things himselfe; like Epps it often wars,
And still is hurt. For his Body and State
The Physick and Counsel which came too late,
'Gainst Whores and Dice, hee nowe on mee bestowes
Most superficially: hee speaks of those 30
(I found by him) least soundly who most knows:
He swears well, speakes ill, but best of Clothes,
What fits Summer, what Winter, what the Spring.
He had Living, but now these waies come in
His whole Revenues. Where each Whore now dwells, 35
And hath dwelt, since his fathers death, he tells.
Yea he tells most cunningly each hid cause
Why Whores forsake their Bawds. To these some Laws
He knows of the Duello, and touch his Skill
The least lot in that or those he quarrell will, 40
Though sober; but so never fought. I know
What made his Valour, undubb'd, Windmill go,
Within a Pint at most: yet for all this
(Which is most strange) Natta thinks no man is
More honest than himself. Thus men may want 45
Conscience, whilst being brought up ignorant,
They use themselves to vice. And besides those
Illiberal Arts forenam'd, no Vicar knows,
Nor other Captain less then he; His Schools
Are Ordinaries, where civil men seem fools, 50
Or are for being there; His best bookes, Plaies,
Where, meeting godly Scenes, perhaps he praies.
His first set prayer was for his father, ill
And sick, that he might dye: That had, until
The Lands were gone, he troubled God no more: 55
And then ask'd him but his Right, That the whore
Whom he had kept, might now keep him: She spent,
They left each other on even terms; she went
To Bridewel, he unto the Wars, where want
Hath made him valiant, and a Lieutenant 60
He is become: Where, as they pass apace,
He steps aside, and for his Captains place
He praies again: Tells God, he will confess
His sins, swear, drink, dice and whore thenceforth less,
On this Condition, that his Captain dye 65
And he succeed; But his Prayer did not; They
Both cashir'd came home, and he is braver now
Than'his captain: all men wonder, few know how.
Can he rob? No. Cheat? No. Or doth he spend
His own? No. Fidus, he is thy dear friend, 70
That keeps him up. I would thou wert thine own,
Or thou'hadst as good a friend as thou art one.
No present Want nor future hope made me,
Desire (as once I did) thy friend to be:
But he had cruelly possest thee then, 75
And as our Neighbours the Low-Country men,
Being (whilst they were Loyal, with Tyranny
Opprest) broke loose, have since refus'd to be
Subject to good Kings, I found even so,
Wer't thou well rid of him, thou't have no moe. 80
Could'st thou but chuse as well as love, to none
Thou should'st be second: Turtle and Damon
Should give thee place in songs, and Lovers sick
Should make thee only Loves Hieroglyphick:
Thy Impress should be the loving Elm and Vine, 85
Where now an ancient Oak, with Ivy twine
Destroy'd, thy Symbol is. O dire Mischance!
And, O vile verse! And yet your Abraham France
Writes thus, and jests not. Good Fidus for this
Must pardon me, Satyres bite when they kiss. 90
But as for Natta, we have since faln out:
Here on his knees he pray'd, else we had fought.
And because God would not he should be winner,
Nor yet would have the Death of such a sinner,
At his seeking, our Quarrel is deferr'd, 95
I'll leave him at his Prayers, and (as I heard)
His last; Fidus, and you, and I do know,
I was his friend, and durst have been his foe,
And would be either yet; But he dares be
Neither; Sleep blots him out and takes in thee. 100
"The mind, you know is like a Table-book,
Which, th'old unwipt, new writing never took.
Hear how the Huishers Checques, Cupbord and Fire
I pass'd; by which Degrees young men aspire
In Court; And how that idle and she-state, 105
Whenas my judgment cleer'd, my soul did hate;
How I found there (if that my trifling Pen
Durst take so hard a Task) Kings were but men,
And by their Place more noted, if they erre;
How they and their Lords unworthy men prefer; 110
And, as unthrifts had rather give away
Great Summs to flatterers, than small debts pay,
So they their weakness hide, and greatness show,
By giving them that which to worth they owe:
What Treason is, and what did Essex kill, 115
Not true Treason, but Treason handled ill;
And which of them stood for their Countries good,
Or what might be the Cause of so much Blood.
He said she stunck, and men might not have said
That she was old before that she was dead. 120
His Case was hard, to do or suffer; loth
To do, he made it harder, and did both.
Too much preparing lost them all their Lives,
Like some in Plagues kill'd with preservatives.
Friends, like land-souldiers in a storm at Sea, 125
Not knowing what to do, for him did pray.
They told it all the world; where was their wit?
Cuffs putting on a sword, might have told it.
And Princes must fear Favorites more then Foes,
For still beyond Revenge Ambition goes. 130
How since Her death, with Sumpter-horse that Scot
Hath rid, who, at his coming up, had not
A Sumpter-dog. But till that I can write
Things worth thy Tenth reading (dear Nick) goodnight.
[To S^{r} Nicholas Smyth. _Ed_: Satyra Sexta. To S^{r} _&c. _
_S_: Satires to S^{r} Nic: Smith. 1602 _B_: A Satire: to S^{r}
Nicholas Smith. 1602, _L74_: A Satyricall Letter to S^{r}
Nich: Smith. Quere, if Donnes or S^{r} Th: Rowes. _O'F_: _no
title_ _N_, _TCD_ (_JR in margin_): Satyre VI. _1669_ (_on
which the present text is based_)]
[1 Sleep, next] Sleep next, _1669_]
[2 slip _1669_, _S_: skipp _B_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCD_. _In
1669 full stops after slip and rock me and no stop after
troubles_]
[3 Rock] rock _1669_]
[4 my _MSS. _: thy _1669_]
[6 asleep] all sleap _B_]
[9 golden-mouth'd] gold-mouth'd _B_, _S_]
[14 still] still. _1669_]
[25 hath had _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCD_: had had _1669_:
had _B_]
[26 Things _B_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCD_: T _1669_]
[28-31 _text from B_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCD_, _which
bracket which . . . late_: _see note_:
The Physick and Councel (which came too late
'Gainst Whores and Dice) he now on me bestows:
Most superficially he speaks of those.
I found, by him, least sound him who most knows.
_1669_
]
[33 what Winter] what What Winter _1669_]
[35 each _B_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCD_: his _1669_]
[37 cunningly _1669_, _L74_, _N_, _TCD_: perfectly _B_, _O'F_,
_S_]
[39 Duello, _B_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCD_: Duel, _1669_
touch _B_, _L74_, _O'F_, _S_: on _1669_: only _N_, _TCD_]
[40 those _B_, _L74_, _O'F_: these _1669_]
[41 but so never fought. _B_, _L74_, _O'F_, _S_ (soe as),
_TCD_ (nere): but nere fought. _1669_]
[42 Valour, undubb'd, Windmill go, _Ed_: Valour undubd
Windmill go. _1669_: valours undubb'd Wine-mill go. _L74_,
_N_, _TCD_: his undouted valour windmill goe. _B_: his
undaunted valour windmill goe. _O'F_, _S_]
[45 want] vaunt _S_]
[47 besides] except _B_, _O'F_, _S_]
[49 he; _Ed_: he, _1669_]
[53 father, ill] fathers ill, _1669_]
[65 his] if his _1669_]
[66 succeed; _Ed_: succeed, _1669_
They _Ed_: they _1669_]
[68 Than'his _Ed_: Than his _1669_: Then's _N_, _TCD_
how. _Ed_: how, _1669_]
[69 Or _Ed_: or _1669_]
[72 thou'hadst _L74_, _N_, _TCD_: thou hadst _1669_]
[81 love, _Ed_: love _1669_]
[82 Damon] damon _1669_]
[83 thee] the _1669_]
[86-7 Oak, with Ivy twine Destroy'd, thy Symbol is. _L74_,
_N_, _TCD_: Oak with Ivy twine, Destroy'd thy Symbole
is. _1669_: Oak with ivy twine. Destroy'd thy symbol is!
_Chambers_]
[87 Mischance! ] Mischance? _1669_]
[88 your _B_, _L74_, _N_, _S_, _TCD_: our _1669_]
[92 knees] knees, _1669_]
[97 Fidus, and you, and I _N_, _TCD_: and Fidus, you and I
_1669_: Fidus, and you, and he _B_, _L74_, _O'F_, _S_]
[100 Neither; _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCD_: Neither yet.
_1669_
Sleep] sleep _1669_]
[102 Which, th'old unwipt, _B_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCD_: "The old
unwipt _1669_]
[104-6 _1669 has colon after pass'd, brackets by which
. . . Court and Whenas . . . cleer'd, and places comma after
hate_]
[107 there (if that _1669_: then that (if _B_, _O'F_, _S_]
[111 And, as unthrifts _Ed_: And, as unthrifts, _1669_,
_Chambers_]
[112 pay, _Ed_: pay; _1669_: pay. _Chambers_]
[113 weakness _B_, _L74_, _O'F_, _S_: greatness _1669_, _N_,
_TCD_]
[116 ill; _Ed_: ill: _1669_]
[118 Blood. _Ed_: Blood; _1669_]
[121 hard, _Ed_: hard _1669_]
[122 both. _Ed_: both _1669_]
[127 world; _Ed_: world, _1669_]
[132 Hath rid,] Doth ryde, _B_]
[133 till that _1669_: till _N_, _TCD_: untill _B_, _O'F_,
_S_]
_Satyre. _
Men write that love and reason disagree,
But I ne'r saw't exprest as 'tis in thee.
Well, I may lead thee, God must make thee see,
But, thine eyes blinde too, there's no hope for thee.
Thou say'st shee's wise and witty, faire and free, 5
All these are reasons why she should scorne thee.
Thou dost protest thy love, and wouldst it shew
By matching her as she would match her foe:
And wouldst perswade her to a worse offence,
Then that whereof thou didst accuse her wench. 10
Reason there's none for thee, but thou may'st vexe
Her with example. Say, for feare her sexe
Shunne her, she needs must change; I doe not see
How reason e'r can bring that _must_ to thee.
Thou art a match a Iustice to rejoyce, 15
Fit to be his, and not his daughters choyce.
Urg'd with his threats shee'd scarcely stay with thee,
And wouldst th'have this to chuse thee, being free?
Goe then and punish some soone-gotten stuffe,
For her dead husband this hath mourn'd enough, 20
In hating thee. Thou maist one like this meet;
For spight take her, prove kinde, make thy breath sweet,
Let her see she hath cause, and to bring to thee
Honest children, let her dishonest bee.
If shee be a widow, I'll warrant her 25
Shee'll thee before her first husband preferre,
And will wish thou hadst had her maidenhead;
Shee'll love thee so, for then thou hadst bin dead.
But thou such strong love, and weake reasons hast,
Thou must thrive there, or ever live disgrac'd. 30
Yet pause a while; and thou maist live to see
A time to come, wherein she may beg thee;
If thou'lt not pause nor change, she'll beg thee now.
Doe what she can, love for nothing shee'll allow.
Besides, her<s> were too much gaine and merchandise, 35
And when thou art rewarded, desert dies.
Now thou hast odds of him she loves, he may doubt
Her constancy, but none can put thee out.
Againe, be thy love true, shee'll prove divine,
And in the end the good on't will be thine: 40
For thou must never think on other love,
And so wilt advance her as high above
Vertue as cause above effect can bee:
'Tis vertue to be chast, which shee'll make thee.
[Satyre. _B_, _O'F_: A Satire: upon one who was his Rivall
in a widdowes Love. _A10_: Satyre VI. _1635-54_: Satyre. VII.
_1669_ (_where Satyre VI. is Sleep, next Society &c. _)]
[4 thine eyes _1635-69_: thy eye's _A10_]
[11 thee,] the, _1669_]
[13 she needs must change; I _1635-69_: she must change, yet I
_A10_]
[16 and _1635-69_: but _B_]
[17 Urg'd _A10_, _B_, _O'F_: Dry'd _1635-69_]
[19 some] _1635 duplicates_]
[22 sweet, _1639-69_: sweet. _1635_]
[27 maidenhead; _Ed_: maidenhead, _1635-69_]
[28 (Shee'll love thee so) for, _1635-69_]
[29 strong] firm _A10_]
[32 thee; _Grosart_: thee. _1635-69_]
[33 now. _Grosart_: now, _1635-69_]
[34 love for nothing shee'll _1635-69_: she'le love for nought
_A10_]
[35 Besides, hers _Ed_: Besides, here _1635-69_: But hers
_A10_: Besides her _O'F_]
[38-9 out. Againe, _1635-69_: out Againe; _A10_]
[40 And in _1635-69_: And yet in _A10_
thine: _Ed_: thine. _1635-69_]
[41 For thou must never think on _H-K_ (_Grosart_): And thou
must never think on, _A10_: For though thou must ne'r thinke
of _1635-69_]
[42 And so wilt advance her _1635-69_: For that will her
advance _A10_]
[43 bee: _Ed_: bee, _1635-69_]
AN ELEGIE.
_Reflecting on his passion for his mistrisse. _
Come, Fates; I feare you not. All whom I owe
Are paid, but you. Then rest me ere I goe.
But, Chance from you all soveraignty hath got,
Love woundeth none but those whom death dares not;
Else, if you were, and just, in equitie 5
I should have vanquish'd her, as you did me.
Else Lovers should not brave death's pains, and live,
But 'tis a rule, _Death comes not to relieve_.
Or, pale and wan deaths terrours, are they lay'd
So deepe in Lovers, they make death afraid? 10
Or (the least comfort) have I company?
Orecame she Fates, Love, Death, as well as mee?
Yes, Fates doe silke unto her distaffe pay,
For their ransome, which taxe on us they laye.
Love gives her youth, which is the reason why 15
Youths, for her sake, some wither and some die.
Poore Death can nothing give; yet, for her sake,
Still in her turne, he doth a Lover take:
And if Death should prove false, she feares him not;
Our Muses, to redeeme her she hath got. 20
That fatall night wee last kiss'd, I thus pray'd,
Or rather, thus despair'd; I should have said:
Kisses, and yet despaire? The forbid tree
Did promise (and deceive) no more then shee.
Like Lambs that see their teats, and must eat Hay, 25
A food, whose tast hath made me pine away.
_Dives_, when thou saw'st blisse, and crav'dst to touch
A drop of water, thy great paines were such.
Here griefe wants a fresh wit, for mine being spent,
And my sighes weary, groanes are all my rent; 30
Vnable longer to indure the paine,
They breake like thunder, and doe bring down rain.
Thus, till dry teares soulder mine eyes, I weepe;
And then, I dreame, how you securely sleepe,
And in your dreames doe laugh at me. I hate, 35
And pray Love, All may: He pitties my state,
But sayes, I therein no revenge should finde;
The Sunne would shine, though all the world were blind.
Yet, to trie my hate, Love shew'd me your teare;
And I had dy'd, had not your smile beene there. 40
Your frowne undoes me; your smile is my wealth;
And as you please to looke, I have my health.
Me thought, Love pittying me, when he saw this,
Gave me your hands, the backs and palmes to kisse.
That cur'd me not, but to beare paine gave strength, 45
And what it lost in force, it tooke in length.
_By M^{r}. _ Mayne _of Christ-Church in Oxford. _
Who shall presume to mourn thee, _Donne_, unlesse
He could his teares in thy expressions dresse,
And teach his griefe that reverence of thy Hearse,
To weepe lines, learned, as thy Anniverse,
A Poeme of that worth, whose every teare 5
Deserves the title of a severall yeare.
Indeed so farre above its Reader, good,
That wee are thought wits, when 'tis understood,
There that blest maid to die, who now should grieve?
After thy sorrow, 'twere her losse to live; 10
And her faire vertues in anothers line,
Would faintly dawn, which are made Saints in thine.
Hadst thou beene shallower, and not writ so high,
Or left some new way for our pennes, or eye,
To shed a funerall teare, perchance thy Tombe 15
Had not beene speechlesse, or our Muses dumbe;
But now wee dare not write, but must conceale
Thy Epitaph, lest we be thought to steale,
For, who hath read thee, and discernes thy worth,
That will not say, thy carelesse houres brought forth 20
Fancies beyond our studies, and thy play
Was happier, then our serious time of day?
So learned was thy chance; thy haste had wit,
And matter from thy pen flow'd rashly fit,
What was thy recreation turnes our braine, 25
Our rack and palenesse, is thy weakest straine.
And when we most come neere thee, 'tis our blisse
To imitate thee, where thou dost amisse.
Here light your muse, you that do onely thinke,
And write, and are just Poets, as you drinke, 30
In whose weake fancies wit doth ebbe and flow,
Just as your recknings rise, that wee may know
In your whole carriage of your worke, that here
This flash you wrote in Wine, and this in Beere,
This is to tap your Muse, which running long 35
Writes flat, and takes our eare not halfe so strong;
Poore Suburbe wits, who, if you want your cup,
Or if a Lord recover, are blowne up.
Could you but reach this height, you should not need
To make, each meale, a project ere you feed, 40
Nor walke in reliques, clothes so old and bare,
As if left off to you from _Ennius_ were,
Nor should your love, in verse, call Mistresse, those,
Who are mine hostesse, or your whores in prose;
From this Muse learne to Court, whose power could move 45
A Cloystred coldnesse, or a Vestall love,
And would convey such errands to their eare,
That Ladies knew no oddes to grant and heare;
But I do wrong thee, _Donne_, and this low praise
Is written onely for thy yonger dayes. 50
I am not growne up, for thy riper parts,
Then should I praise thee, through the Tongues, and Arts,
And have that deepe Divinity, to know,
What mysteries did from thy preaching flow,
Who with thy words could charme thy audience, 55
That at thy sermons, eare was all our sense;
Yet have I seene thee in the pulpit stand,
Where wee might take notes, from thy looke, and hand;
And from thy speaking action beare away
More Sermon, then some teachers use to say. 60
Such was thy carriage, and thy gesture such,
As could divide the heart, and conscience touch.
Thy motion did confute, and wee might see
An errour vanquish'd by delivery.
Not like our Sonnes of Zeale, who to reforme 65
Their hearers, fiercely at the Pulpit storme,
And beate the cushion into worse estate,
Then if they did conclude it reprobate,
Who can out pray the glasse, then lay about
Till all Predestination be runne out. 70
And from the point such tedious uses draw,
Their repetitions would make Gospell, Law.
No, In such temper would thy Sermons flow,
So well did Doctrine, and thy language show,
And had that holy feare, as, hearing thee, 75
The Court would mend, and a good Christian bee.
And Ladies though unhansome, out of grace,
Would heare thee, in their unbought lookes, and face.
More I could write, but let this crowne thine Urne,
Wee cannot hope the like, till thou returne. 80
_Upon M^r J. Donne, and his Poems. _
Who dares say thou art dead, when he doth see
(Unburied yet) this living part of thee?
This part that to thy beeing gives fresh flame,
And though th'art _Donne_, yet will preserve thy name.
Thy flesh (whose channels left their crimsen hew, 5
And whey-like ranne at last in a pale blew)
May shew thee mortall, a dead palsie may
Seise on't, and quickly turne it into clay;
Which like the Indian earth, shall rise refin'd:
But this great Spirit thou hast left behinde, 10
This Soule of Verse (in it's first pure estate)
Shall live, for all the World to imitate,
But not come neer, for in thy Fancies flight
Thou dost not stoope unto the vulgar fight,
But, hovering highly in the aire of Wit, 15
Hold'st such a pitch, that few can follow it;
Admire they may. Each object that the Spring
(Or a more piercing influence) doth bring
T'adorne Earths face, thou sweetly did'st contrive
To beauties elements, and thence derive 20
Unspotted Lillies white; which thou did'st set
Hand in hand, with the veine-like Violet,
Making them soft, and warme, and by thy power,
Could'st give both life, and sense, unto a flower.
The Cheries thou hast made to speake, will bee 25
Sweeter unto the taste, then from the tree.
And (spight of winter stormes) amidst the snow
Thou oft hast made the blushing Rose to grow.
The Sea-nimphs, that the watry cavernes keepe,
Have sent their Pearles and Rubies from the deepe 30
To deck thy love, and plac'd by thee, they drew
More lustre to them, then where first they grew.
All minerals (that Earths full wombe doth hold
Promiscuously) thou couldst convert to gold,
And with thy flaming raptures so refine, 35
That it was much more pure then in the Mine.
The lights that guild the night, if thou did'st say,
They looke like eyes, those did out-shine the day;
For there would be more vertue in such spells,
Then in Meridians, or crosse Parallels: 40
What ever was of worth in this great Frame,
That Art could comprehend, or Wit could name,
It was thy theme for Beauty; thou didst see,
Woman, was this faire Worlds Epitomie.
Thy nimble _Satyres_ too, and every straine 45
(With nervy strength) that issued from thy brain,
Will lose the glory of their owne cleare bayes,
If they admit of any others praise.
But thy diviner Poems (whose cleare fire
Purges all drosse away) shall by a Quire 50
Of Cherubims, with heavenly Notes be set
(Where flesh and blood could ne'r attaine to yet)
There purest Spirits sing such sacred Layes,
In Panegyrique Alleluiaes.
_Arth. Wilson. _
_In memory of Doctor Donne: By M^{r} R. B. _
_Donne_ dead? 'Tis here reported true, though I
Ne'r yet so much desir'd to heare a lye,
'Tis too too true, for so wee finde it still,
Good newes are often false, but seldome, ill:
But must poore fame tell us his fatall day, 5
And shall we know his death, the common way,
Mee thinkes some Comet bright should have foretold
The death of such a man, for though of old
'Tis held, that Comets Princes death foretell,
Why should not his, have needed one as well? 10
Who was the Prince of wits, 'mongst whom he reign'd,
High as a Prince, and as great State maintain'd?
Yet wants he not his signe, for wee have seene
A dearth, the like to which hath never beene,
Treading on harvests heeles, which doth presage 15
The death of wit and learning, which this age
Shall finde, now he is gone; for though there bee
Much graine in shew, none brought it forth as he,
Or men are misers; or if true want raises
The dearth, then more that dearth _Donnes_ plenty praises. 20
Of learning, languages, of eloquence,
And Poesie, (past rauishing of sense,)
He had a magazine, wherein such store
Was laid up, as might hundreds serve of poore.
But he is gone, O how will his desire 25
Torture all those that warm'd them by his fire?
Mee thinkes I see him in the pulpit standing,
Not eares, or eyes, but all mens hearts commanding,
Where wee that heard him, to our selves did faine
Golden Chrysostome was alive againe; 30
And never were we weari'd, till we saw
His houre (and but an houre) to end did draw.
How did he shame the doctrine-men, and use,
With helps to boot, for men to beare th'abuse
Of their tir'd patience, and endure th'expence 35
Of time, O spent in hearkning to non-sense,
With markes also, enough whereby to know,
The speaker is a zealous dunce, or so.
'Tis true, they quitted him, to their poore power,
They humm'd against him; And with face most sowre 40
Call'd him a strong lin'd man, a Macaroon,
And no way fit to speake to clouted shoone,
As fine words [truly] as you would desire,
But [verily,] but a bad edifier.
Thus did these beetles slight in him that good, 45
They could not see, and much lesse understood.
But we may say, when we compare the stuffe
Both brought; He was a candle, they the snuffe.
Well, Wisedome's of her children justifi'd,
Let therefore these poore fellowes stand aside; 50
Nor, though of learning he deserv'd so highly,
Would I his booke should save him; Rather slily
I should advise his Clergie not to pray,
Though of the learn'dst sort; Me thinkes that they
Of the same trade, are Judges not so fit, 55
There's no such emulation as of wit.
Of such, the Envy might as much perchance
Wrong him, and more, then th'others ignorance.
It was his Fate (I know't) to be envy'd
As much by Clerkes, as lay men magnifi'd; 60
And why? but 'cause he came late in the day,
And yet his Penny earn'd, and had as they.
No more of this, least some should say, that I
Am strai'd to Satyre, meaning Elegie.
No, no, had DONNE need to be judg'd or try'd, 65
A Jury I would summon on his side,
That had no sides, nor factions, past the touch
Of all exceptions, freed from Passion, such
As nor to feare nor flatter, e'r were bred,
These would I bring, though called from the dead: 70
Southampton, Hambleton, Pembrooke, Dorsets Earles,
Huntingdon, Bedfords Countesses (the Pearles
Once of each sexe. ) If these suffice not, I
Ten _decem tales_ have of Standers by:
All which, for DONNE, would such a verdict give, 75
As can belong to none, that now doth live.
But what doe I? A diminution 'tis
To speake of him in verse, so short of his,
Whereof he was the master; All indeed
Compar'd with him, pip'd on an Oaten reed. 80
O that you had but one 'mongst all your brothers
Could write for him, as he hath done for others:
(Poets I speake to) When I see't, I'll say,
My eye-sight betters, as my yeares decay,
Meane time a quarrell I shall ever have 85
Against these doughty keepers from the grave,
Who use, it seemes their old Authoritie,
When (Verses men immortall make) they cry:
Which had it been a Recipe true tri'd,
_Probatum esset_, DONNE had never dy'd. 90
For mee, if e'r I had least sparke at all
Of that which they Poetique fire doe call,
Here I confesse it fetched from his hearth,
Which is gone out, now he is gone to earth.
This only a poore flash, a lightning is 95
Before my Muses death, as after his.
Farewell (faire soule) and deigne receive from mee
This Type of that devotion I owe thee,
From whom (while living) as by voice and penne
I learned more, then from a thousand men: 100
So by thy death, am of one doubt releas'd,
And now beleeve that miracles are ceas'd.
_Epitaph. _
_Heere lies Deane Donne_; Enough; Those words alone
Shew him as fully, as if all the stone
His Church of Pauls contains, were through inscrib'd
Or all the walkers there, to speake him, brib'd.
None can mistake him, for one such as Hee 5
DONNE, Deane, or Man, more none shall ever see.
Not man? No, though unto a Sunne each eye
Were turn'd, the whole earth so to overspie.
A bold brave word; Yet such brave Spirits as knew
His Spirit, will say, it is lesse bold then true. 10
_Epitaph upon D^r. Donne_,
By _Endy: Porter_.
This decent Urne a sad inscription weares,
Of _Donnes_ departure from us, to the spheares;
And the dumbe stone with silence seemes to tell
The changes of this life, wherein is well
Exprest, A cause to make all joy to cease, 5
And never let our sorrowes more take ease;
For now it is impossible to finde
One fraught with vertues, to inrich a minde;
But why should death, with a promiscuous hand
At one rude stroke impoverish a land? 10
Thou strict Attorney, unto stricter Fate,
Didst thou confiscate his life out of hate
To his rare Parts? Or didst thou throw thy dart,
With envious hand, at some Plebeyan heart;
And he with pious vertue stept betweene 15
To save that stroke, and so was kill'd unseene
By thee? O 'twas his goodnesse so to doe,
Which humane kindnesse never reacht unto.
Thus the hard lawes of death were satisfi'd,
And he left us like Orphan friends, and di'de. 20
Now from the Pulpit to the peoples eares,
Whose speech shall send repentant sighes, and teares?
Or tell mee, if a purer Virgin die,
Who shall hereafter write her Elegie?
Poets be silent, let your numbers sleepe, 25
For he is gone that did all phansie keepe;
Time hath no Soule, but his exalted verse;
Which with amazements, we may now reherse.
In obitum venerabilis viri _Iohannis Donne_, sacrae
Theologiae Doctoris, Ecclesiae Cathedralis Divi _Pauli_,
nuper Decani; Illi honoris, tibi (multum mihi colende
Vir) observantiae ergo Haec ego.
_Conquerar? ignavoque sequar tua funera planctu?
Sed lachrimae clausistis iter: nec muta querelas
Lingua potest proferre pias: ignoscite manes
Defuncti, & tacito finite indulgere dolori.
Sed scelus est tacuisse: cadant in moesta liturae 5
Verba. Tuis (docta umbra) tuis haec accipe jussis
Caepta, nec officii contemnens pignora nostri
Aversare tua non dignum laude Poetam.
O si Pythagorae non vanum dogma fuisset:
Inque meum a vestro migraret pectore pectus 10
Musa, repentinos tua nosceret urna furores.
Sed frustra, heu frustra haec votis puerilibus opto:
Tecum abiit, summoque sedens jam monte Thalia
Ridet anhelantes, Parnassi & culmina vates
Desperare jubet. Verum hac nolente coactos 15
Scribimus audaces numeros, & flebile carmen
Scribimus (o soli qui te dilexit) habendum.
Siccine perpetuus liventia lumina somnus
Clausit? & immerito merguntur funere virtus?
Et pietas? & quae poterant fecisse beatum, 20
Caetera, sed nec te poterant servare beatum.
Quo mihi doctrinam? quorsum impallescere chartis
Nocturnis juvat? & totidem olfecisse lucernas?
Decolor & longos studiis deperdere Soles
Vt prius aggredior, longamque arcessere famam. 25
Omnia sed frustra: mihi dum cunctisque minatur
Exitium crudele & inexorabile fatum.
Nam post te sperare nihil decet: hoc mihi restat
Vt moriar, tenues fugiatque obscurus in auras
Spiritus: o doctis saltem si cognitus umbris. 30
Illic te (venerande) iterum, (venerande) videbo.
Et dulces audire sonos, & verba diserti
Oris, & aeternas dabitur mihi carpere voces.
Queis ferus infernae tacuisset Ianitor aulae
Auditis: Nilusque minus strepuisset: Arion 35
Cederet, & sylvas qui post se traxerat Orpheus.
Eloquio sic ille viros, sic ille movere
Voce feros potuit: quis enim tam barbarus? aut tam
Facundis nimis infestus non motus ut illo
Hortante, & blando victus sermone sileret? 40
Sic oculos, sic ille manus, sic ora ferebat,
Singula sic decuere senem, sic omnia. Vidi,
Audivi & stupui quoties orator in AEde
Paulina stetit, & mira gravitate levantes
Corda, oculosque viros tenuit: dum Nestoris ille 45
Fudit verba (omni quanta mage dulcia melle? )
Nunc habet attonitos, pandit mysteria plebi
Non concessa prius nondum intellecta: revolvunt
Mirantes, tacitique arrectis auribus astant.
Mutatis mox ille modo, formaque loquendi 50
Tristia pertractat: fatumque & flebile mortis
Tempus, & in cineres redeunt quod corpora primos.
Tunc gemitum cunctos dare, tunc lugere videres,
Forsitan a lachrymis aliquis non temperat, atque
Ex oculis largum stillat rorem; aetheris illo 55
Sic pater audito voluit succumbere turbam,
Affectusque ciere suos, & ponere notae
Vocis ad arbitrium, divinae oracula mentis
Dum narrat, rostrisque potens dominatur in altis.
Quo feror? audaci & forsan pietate nocenti 60
In nimia ignoscas vati, qui vatibus olim
Egregium decus, et tanto excellentior unus
Omnibus; inferior quanto est, et pessimus, impar
Laudibus hisce, tibi qui nunc facit ista Poeta.
Et quo nos canimus? cur haec tibi sacra? Poetae 65
Desinite: en fati certus, sibi voce canora
Inferias praemisit olor, cum Carolus Alba
(Vltima volventem et Cycnaea voce loquentem)
Nuper eum, turba & magnatum audiret in Aula.
Tunc Rex, tunc Proceres, Clerus, tunc astitit illi 70
Aula frequens. Sola nunc in tellure recumbit,
Vermibus esca, pio malint nisi parcere: quidni
Incipiant & amare famem? Metuere Leones
Sic olim, sacrosque artus violare Prophetae
Bellua non ausa est quamquam jejuna, sitimque 75
Optaret nimis humano satiare cruore.
At non haec de te sperabimus; omnia carpit
Praedator vermis: nec talis contigit illi
Praeda diu; forsan metrico pede serpet ab inde:
Vescere, & exhausto satia te sanguine. Iam nos 80
Adsumus; et post te cupiet quis vivere? Post te
Quis volet, aut poterit? nam post te vivere mors est.
Et tamen ingratas ignavi ducimus auras:
Sustinet & tibi lingua vale, vale dicere: parce
Non festinanti aeternum requiescere turbae. 85
Ipsa satis properat quae nescit Parca morari,
Nunc urgere colum, trahere atque occare videmus.
Quin rursus (Venerande) Vale, vale: ordine nos te
Quo Deus, & quo dura volet natura sequemur.
Depositum interea lapides servate fideles. 90
Foelices illa queis AEdis parte locari
Qua jacet iste datur. Forsan lapis inde loquetur,
Parturietque viro plenus testantia luctus
Verba: & carminibus quae Donni suggeret illi
Spiritus, insolitos testari voce calores 95
Incipiet: (non sic Pyrrha jactante calebat. )
Mole sub hac tegitur quicquid mortale relictum est
De tanto mortale viro. Qui praefuit AEdi huic,
Formosi pecoris pastor, formosior ipse.
Ite igitur, dignisque illum celebrate loquelis, 100
Et quae demuntur vitae date tempora famae. _
Indignus tantorum meritorum Praeco, virtutum
tuarum cultor religiosissimus,
DANIEL DARNELLY.
[In obitum _&c. _ _1635-69_, _taking the place of the lines by
Tho: Browne_. ]
[10 pectore] pectore, _1635_]
[21 beatum. ] beatum _1635_]
[23 olfecisse] olfecisse _1635_]
[25 prius aggredior, _1635-69_: prius, aggredior, _1719_
arcessere _Ed_: accessere _1635-69_]
[26-7 mihi dum . . . Exitium _1719_: mihi, dum . . . Exitium,
_1635-39_: mihi dum, . . . Exitium, _1650-69_]
[38 Voce feros] Voceferos _1635_, _1669_]
[79 inde:] inde _1635-39_]
[86 Parca] parca _1635-69_
morari,] morari _1635_]
[88 rursus _1719_: rusus _1635_: nusus _1639-69_]
[96 Incipiet: . . . calebat. _1719_: _no stops_, _1635-69_]
_Elegie on D. D. _
Now, by one yeare, time and our frailtie have
Lessened our first confusion, since the Grave
Clos'd thy deare Ashes, and the teares which flow
In these, have no springs, but of solid woe:
Or they are drops, which cold amazement froze 5
At thy decease, and will not thaw in Prose:
All streames of Verse which shall lament that day,
Doe truly to the Ocean tribute pay;
But they have lost their saltnesse, which the eye
In recompence of wit, strives to supply: 10
Passions excesse for thee wee need not feare,
Since first by thee our passions hallowed were;
Thou mad'st our sorrowes, which before had bin
Onely for the Successe, sorrowes for sinne,
We owe thee all those teares, now thou art dead, 15
Which we shed not, which for our selves we shed.
Nor didst thou onely consecrate our teares,
Give a religious tincture to our feares;
But even our joyes had learn'd an innocence,
Thou didst from gladnesse separate offence: 20
All mindes at once suckt grace from thee, as where
(The curse revok'd) the Nations had one eare.
Pious dissector: thy one houre did treate
The thousand mazes of the hearts deceipt;
Thou didst pursue our lov'd and subtill sinne, 25
Through all the foldings wee had wrapt it in,
And in thine owne large minde finding the way
By which our selves we from our selves convey,
Didst in us, narrow models, know the same
Angles, though darker, in our meaner frame. 30
How short of praise is this? My Muse, alas,
Climbes weakly to that truth which none can passe,
Hee that writes best, may onely hope to leave
A Character of all he could conceive
But none of thee, and with mee must confesse, 35
That fansie findes some checke, from an excesse
Of merit most, of nothing, it hath spun,
And truth, as reasons task and theame, doth shunne.
She makes a fairer flight in emptinesse,
Than when a bodied truth doth her oppresse. 40
Reason againe denies her scales, because
Hers are but scales, shee judges by the lawes
Of weake comparison, thy vertue sleights
Her feeble Beame, and her unequall Weights.
What prodigie of wit and pietie 45
Hath she else knowne, by which to measure thee?
Great soule: we can no more the worthinesse
Of what you were, then what you are, expresse.
_Sidney Godolphin. _
[Footnote: Elegie on D. D. _1635-69_: _it follows Walton's
elegy. _]
_On D^{r}_ John Donne, _late Deane of S. _ Paules, _London_.
Long since this taske of teares from you was due,
Long since, o Poets, he did die to you,
Or left you dead, when wit and he tooke flight
On divine wings, and soard out of your sight.
Preachers, 'tis you must weep; The wit he taught 5
You doe enjoy; the Rebels which he brought
From ancient discord, Giants faculties,
And now no more religions enemies;
Honest to knowing, unto vertuous sweet,
Witty to good, and learned to discreet, 10
He reconcil'd, and bid the Vsurper goe;
Dulnesse to vice, religion ought to flow;
He kept his loves, but not his objects; wit
Hee did not banish, but transplanted it,
Taught it his place and use, and brought it home 15
To Pietie, which it doth best become;
He shew'd us how for sinnes we ought to sigh,
And how to sing Christs Epithalamy:
The Altars had his fires, and there hee spoke
Incense of loves, and fansies holy smoake: 20
Religion thus enrich'd, the people train'd,
And God from dull vice had the fashion gain'd.
The first effects sprung in the giddy minde
Of flashy youth, and thirst of woman-kinde,
By colours lead, and drawne to a pursuit, 25
Now once againe by beautie of the fruit,
As if their longings too must set us free,
And tempt us now to the commanded tree.
Tell me, had ever pleasure such a dresse,
Have you knowne crimes so shap'd? or lovelinesse 30
Such as his lips did cloth religion in?
Had not reproofe a beauty passing sinne?
Corrupted nature sorrow'd when she stood
So neare the danger of becomming good,
And wish'd our so inconstant eares exempt 35
From piety that had such power to tempt:
Did not his sacred flattery beguile
Man to amendment? The law, taught to smile,
Pension'd our vanitie, and man grew well
Through the same frailtie by which he fell. 40
O the sick state of man, health does not please
Our tasts, but in the shape of the disease.
Thriftlesse is charitie, coward patience,
Iustice is cruell, mercy want of sense.
What meanes our Nature to barre vertue place, 45
If shee doe come in her owne cloathes and face?
Is good a pill, we dare not chaw to know?
Sense the soules servant, doth it keep us so
As we might starve for good, unlesse it first
Doe leave a pawne of relish in the gust? 50
Or have we to salvation no tie
At all, but that of our infirmitie?
Who treats with us must our affections move
To th' good we flie by those sweets which we love,
Must seeke our palats, and with their delight 55
To gaine our deeds, must bribe our appetite.
These traines he knew, and laying nets to save,
Temptingly sugred all the health hee gave.
But, where is now that chime? that harmony
Hath left the world, now the loud organ may 60
Appeare, the better voyce is fled to have
A thousand times the sweetnesse which it gave.
I cannot say how many thousand spirits
The single happinesse this soule inherits,
Damnes in the other world, soules whom no crosse 65
O'th sense afflicts, but onely of the losse,
Whom ignorance would halfe save, all whose paine
Is not in what they feele, but others gaine,
Selfe executing wretched spirits, who
Carrying their guilt, transport their envy too: 70
But those high joyes which his wits youngest flame
Would hurt to chuse, shall not we hurt to name?
Verse statues are all robbers, all we make
Of monument, thus doth not give but take
As Sailes which Seamen to a forewinde fit, 75
By a resistance, goe along with it,
So pens grow while they lessen fame so left;
A weake assistance is a kinde of theft.
Who hath not love to ground his teares upon,
Must weep here if he have ambition.
_I. Chudleigh. _
[On D^{r} John Donne _&c. _ _1635-69_, _where it follows
Godolphin's_ Elegie]
FINIS.
APPENDIX A.
LATIN POEMS AND TRANSLATIONS
DE LIBRO CVM MVTV-
aretur Impresso; Domi a pueris
frustatim lacerato; et post reddito
Manuscripto.
Doctissimo Amicissimoque v.
D. D. Andrews.
_Parturiunt madido quae nixu praela, recepta,
Sed quae scripta manu, sunt veneranda magis.
Qui liber in pluteos, blattis cinerique relictos,
Si modo sit praeli sanguine tinctus, abit;
Accedat calamo scriptus, reverenter habetur, 5
Involat et veterum scrinia summa Patrum.
Dicat Apollo modum; Pueros infundere libro
Nempe vetustatem canitiemque novo.
Nil mirum, medico pueros de semine natos,
Haec nova fata libra posse dedisse novo. 10
Si veterem faciunt pueri, qui nuperus, Annon
Ipse Pater Iuvenem me dabit arte senem?
Hei miseris senibus! nos vertit dura senectus
Omnes in pueros, neminem at in Iuvenem.
Hoc tibi servasti praestandum, Antique Dierum, 15
Quo viso, et vivit, et juvenescit Adam.
Interea, infirmae fallamus taedia vitae,
Libris, et Coelorum aemula amicitia.
Hos inter, qui a te mihi redditus iste libellus,
Non mihi tam charus, tam meus, ante fuit.
_ 20
_Transiit in Sequanam Moenus; Victoris in aedes;
Et Francofurtum, te revehente, meat.
[DE LIBRO &c. _1635-69_ _among certain prose letters in Latin
and English_
_Title_:--mutuaretur Impresso;] mutuaretur, Impresso,
_1635-69_
frustatim] frustratim _1635-69_
lacerato;] lacerato, _1635-69_]
[2 _manu, sunt_] _manu sunt, 1635-69_]
[4 _abit;_] _abit, 1635-69_]
[<Epigramma> _Ed_: _in old edd. these lines are 3 and 4 of
above poem_. _See note_]
[1 _aedes_;] _aedes, 1635-69_]
Amicissimo, & meritissimo BEN. JONSON.
In Vulponem.
_Qvod arte ausus es hic tua, Poeta,
Si auderent hominum Deique juris
Consulti, veteres sequi aemularierque,
O omnes saperemus ad salutem.
His sed sunt veteres araneosi; 5
Tam nemo veterum est sequutor, ut tu
Illos quod sequeris novator audis.
Fac tamen quod agis; tuique prima
Libri canitie induantur hora:
Nam chartis pueritia est neganda, 10
Nascanturque senes, oportet, illi
Libri, queis dare vis perennitatem.
Priscis, ingenium facit, laborque
Te parem; hos superes, ut et futuros,
Ex nostra vitiositate sumas, 15
Qua priscos superamus, et futuros. _
[Amicissimo _&c. _ _in sheets added 1650: prefixed originally
to Quarto edition of Jonson's Volpone. 1607, later to Folio
edition of The Workes of Beniamin Jonson. 1616. , when In
Vulponem was added: in both signed I. D. _]
[11 Nascanturque _1607_: Nascunturque _1616_, _1650-69_]
To M^r _George Herbert_, with one of my
Seal(s), of the Anchor and Christ.
_Qvi prius assuetus Serpentum fasce Tabellas
Signare, (haec nostrae symbola parva Domus)
Adscitus domui Domini, patrioque relicto
Stemmate, nanciscor stemmata jure nova.
Hinc mihi Crux primo quae fronti impressa lavacro, 5
Finibus extensis, anchora facta patet.
Anchorae in effigiem Crux tandem desinit ipsam,
Anchora fit tandem Crux tolerata diu.
Hoc tamen ut fiat, Christo vegetatur ab ipso
Crux, et ab Affixo, est Anchora facta, Iesu. 10
Nec Natalitiis penitus serpentibus orbor,
Non ita dat Deus, ut auferat ante data.
Qua sapiens, Dos est; Qua terram lambit et ambit,
Pestis; At in nostra fit Medicina Cruce,
Serpens; fixa Cruci si sit Natura; Crucique 15
A fixo, nobis, Gratia tota fluat.
Omnia cum Crux sint, Crux Anchora facta, sigillum
Non tam dicendum hoc quam Catechismus erit.
Mitto nec exigua, exigua sub imagine, dona,
Pignora amicitiae, et munera; Vota, preces. 20
Plura tibi accumulet, sanctus cognominis, Ille
Regia qui flavo Dona sigillat Equo. _
[To M^r George Herbert _&c. _ _1650-69_, _in sheets added 1650:
two and a half lines in Walton's Life of Donne (1658): for
Herbert's reply see note Title:_--sent him with one _Walton_
(1670) Seal, _1650-69:_ Seales _Walton_]
[1 fasce] falce _Walton_]
[5 _fronti_] _fronte 1650-69_]
[17 _facta,_] _fixa,_ _1650-69_]
[19 Mitto] Mitto, _1650-69_]
A Sheafe of Snakes used heretofore to be
My Seal, The Crest of our poore Family.
Adopted in Gods Family, and so
Our old Coat lost, unto new armes I go.
The Crosse (my seal at Baptism) spred below, 5
Does, by that form, into an Anchor grow.
Crosses grow Anchors; Bear, as thou shouldst do
Thy Crosse, and that Crosse grows an Anchor too.
But he that makes our Crosses Anchors thus,
Is Christ, who there is crucifi'd for us. 10
Yet may I, with this, my first Serpents hold,
God gives new blessings, and yet leaves the old;
The Serpent, may, as wise, my pattern be;
My poison, as he feeds on dust, that's me.
And as he rounds the Earth to murder sure, 15
My death he is, but on the Crosse, my cure.
Crucifie nature then, and then implore
All Grace from him, crucified there before;
When all is Crosse, and that Crosse Anchor grown,
This Seal's a Catechism, not a Seal alone. 20
Under that little Seal great gifts I send,
<Wishes,> and prayers, pawns, and fruits of a friend.
And may that Saint which rides in our great Seal,
To you, who bear his name, great bounties deal.
[A sheafe _&c. _] _1650-69 and in Walton's_ Life of Donne
(1658), _in all of which and in all subsequent editions except
Grolier the first two lines are printed as a title, Walton
bracketing them_:--
A sheafe of Snakes used heretofore to be
_my Seal, The Crest of our poore Family_.
]
[4 Our . . . unto] My . . . into _Walton_]
[5 at] in _Walton_]
[11 with this I may _Walton_]
[15 to murder sure,] to murder, sure _Walton_]
[16 He is my death; _Walton_]
[22 Wishes, _Ed_: Works, _1650-69_: Both works _Walton_: Lat.
_vota_]
[23-4
Oh may that Saint that rides on our great Seal,
To you that bear his name large bounty deal.
_Walton_.
]
Translated out of _Gazaeus_, _Vota Amico facta_. _fol. _ 160.
God grant thee thine own wish, and grant thee mine,
Thou, who dost, best friend, in best things outshine;
May thy soul, ever chearfull, nere know cares,
Nor thy life, ever lively, know gray haires.
Nor thy hand, ever open, know base holds, 5
Nor thy purse, ever plump, know pleits, or folds.
Nor thy tongue, ever true, know a false thing,
Nor thy word, ever mild, know quarrelling.
Nor thy works, ever equall, know disguise,
Nor thy fame, ever pure, know contumelies. 10
Nor thy prayers, know low objects, still Divine;
God grant thee thine own wish, and grant thee mine.
Translated _&c. _] _1650-69_, _in sheets added 1650_: _for
original see note_]
APPENDIX B.
POEMS WHICH HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED
TO JOHN DONNE IN THE OLD EDITIONS
AND THE PRINCIPAL MS. COLLEC-
TIONS, ARRANGED ACCORDING
TO THEIR PROBABLE
AUTHORS.
I.
POEMS
PROBABLY BY SIR JOHN ROE, KNT.
_To S^{r} Nicholas Smyth. _
Sleep, next Society and true friendship,
Mans best contentment, doth securely slip
His passions and the worlds troubles. Rock me
O sleep, wean'd from my dear friends company,
In a cradle free from dreams or thoughts, there 5
Where poor men ly, for Kings asleep do fear.
Here sleeps House by famous Ariosto,
By silver-tongu'd Ovid, and many moe,
Perhaps by golden-mouth'd Spencer too pardie,
(Which builded was some dozen Stories high) 10
I had repair'd, but that it was so rotten,
As sleep awak'd by Ratts from thence was gotten:
And I will build no new, for by my Will,
Thy fathers house shall be the fairest still
In Excester. Yet, methinks, for all their Wit, 15
Those wits that say nothing, best describe it.
Without it there is no Sense, only in this
Sleep is unlike a long Parenthesis.
Not to save charges, but would I had slept
The time I spent in London, when I kept 20
Fighting and untrust gallants Company,
In which Natta, the new Knight, seized on me,
And offered me the experience he had bought
With great Expence. I found him throughly taught
In curing Burnes. His thing hath had more scars 25
Then Things himselfe; like Epps it often wars,
And still is hurt. For his Body and State
The Physick and Counsel which came too late,
'Gainst Whores and Dice, hee nowe on mee bestowes
Most superficially: hee speaks of those 30
(I found by him) least soundly who most knows:
He swears well, speakes ill, but best of Clothes,
What fits Summer, what Winter, what the Spring.
He had Living, but now these waies come in
His whole Revenues. Where each Whore now dwells, 35
And hath dwelt, since his fathers death, he tells.
Yea he tells most cunningly each hid cause
Why Whores forsake their Bawds. To these some Laws
He knows of the Duello, and touch his Skill
The least lot in that or those he quarrell will, 40
Though sober; but so never fought. I know
What made his Valour, undubb'd, Windmill go,
Within a Pint at most: yet for all this
(Which is most strange) Natta thinks no man is
More honest than himself. Thus men may want 45
Conscience, whilst being brought up ignorant,
They use themselves to vice. And besides those
Illiberal Arts forenam'd, no Vicar knows,
Nor other Captain less then he; His Schools
Are Ordinaries, where civil men seem fools, 50
Or are for being there; His best bookes, Plaies,
Where, meeting godly Scenes, perhaps he praies.
His first set prayer was for his father, ill
And sick, that he might dye: That had, until
The Lands were gone, he troubled God no more: 55
And then ask'd him but his Right, That the whore
Whom he had kept, might now keep him: She spent,
They left each other on even terms; she went
To Bridewel, he unto the Wars, where want
Hath made him valiant, and a Lieutenant 60
He is become: Where, as they pass apace,
He steps aside, and for his Captains place
He praies again: Tells God, he will confess
His sins, swear, drink, dice and whore thenceforth less,
On this Condition, that his Captain dye 65
And he succeed; But his Prayer did not; They
Both cashir'd came home, and he is braver now
Than'his captain: all men wonder, few know how.
Can he rob? No. Cheat? No. Or doth he spend
His own? No. Fidus, he is thy dear friend, 70
That keeps him up. I would thou wert thine own,
Or thou'hadst as good a friend as thou art one.
No present Want nor future hope made me,
Desire (as once I did) thy friend to be:
But he had cruelly possest thee then, 75
And as our Neighbours the Low-Country men,
Being (whilst they were Loyal, with Tyranny
Opprest) broke loose, have since refus'd to be
Subject to good Kings, I found even so,
Wer't thou well rid of him, thou't have no moe. 80
Could'st thou but chuse as well as love, to none
Thou should'st be second: Turtle and Damon
Should give thee place in songs, and Lovers sick
Should make thee only Loves Hieroglyphick:
Thy Impress should be the loving Elm and Vine, 85
Where now an ancient Oak, with Ivy twine
Destroy'd, thy Symbol is. O dire Mischance!
And, O vile verse! And yet your Abraham France
Writes thus, and jests not. Good Fidus for this
Must pardon me, Satyres bite when they kiss. 90
But as for Natta, we have since faln out:
Here on his knees he pray'd, else we had fought.
And because God would not he should be winner,
Nor yet would have the Death of such a sinner,
At his seeking, our Quarrel is deferr'd, 95
I'll leave him at his Prayers, and (as I heard)
His last; Fidus, and you, and I do know,
I was his friend, and durst have been his foe,
And would be either yet; But he dares be
Neither; Sleep blots him out and takes in thee. 100
"The mind, you know is like a Table-book,
Which, th'old unwipt, new writing never took.
Hear how the Huishers Checques, Cupbord and Fire
I pass'd; by which Degrees young men aspire
In Court; And how that idle and she-state, 105
Whenas my judgment cleer'd, my soul did hate;
How I found there (if that my trifling Pen
Durst take so hard a Task) Kings were but men,
And by their Place more noted, if they erre;
How they and their Lords unworthy men prefer; 110
And, as unthrifts had rather give away
Great Summs to flatterers, than small debts pay,
So they their weakness hide, and greatness show,
By giving them that which to worth they owe:
What Treason is, and what did Essex kill, 115
Not true Treason, but Treason handled ill;
And which of them stood for their Countries good,
Or what might be the Cause of so much Blood.
He said she stunck, and men might not have said
That she was old before that she was dead. 120
His Case was hard, to do or suffer; loth
To do, he made it harder, and did both.
Too much preparing lost them all their Lives,
Like some in Plagues kill'd with preservatives.
Friends, like land-souldiers in a storm at Sea, 125
Not knowing what to do, for him did pray.
They told it all the world; where was their wit?
Cuffs putting on a sword, might have told it.
And Princes must fear Favorites more then Foes,
For still beyond Revenge Ambition goes. 130
How since Her death, with Sumpter-horse that Scot
Hath rid, who, at his coming up, had not
A Sumpter-dog. But till that I can write
Things worth thy Tenth reading (dear Nick) goodnight.
[To S^{r} Nicholas Smyth. _Ed_: Satyra Sexta. To S^{r} _&c. _
_S_: Satires to S^{r} Nic: Smith. 1602 _B_: A Satire: to S^{r}
Nicholas Smith. 1602, _L74_: A Satyricall Letter to S^{r}
Nich: Smith. Quere, if Donnes or S^{r} Th: Rowes. _O'F_: _no
title_ _N_, _TCD_ (_JR in margin_): Satyre VI. _1669_ (_on
which the present text is based_)]
[1 Sleep, next] Sleep next, _1669_]
[2 slip _1669_, _S_: skipp _B_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCD_. _In
1669 full stops after slip and rock me and no stop after
troubles_]
[3 Rock] rock _1669_]
[4 my _MSS. _: thy _1669_]
[6 asleep] all sleap _B_]
[9 golden-mouth'd] gold-mouth'd _B_, _S_]
[14 still] still. _1669_]
[25 hath had _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCD_: had had _1669_:
had _B_]
[26 Things _B_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCD_: T _1669_]
[28-31 _text from B_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCD_, _which
bracket which . . . late_: _see note_:
The Physick and Councel (which came too late
'Gainst Whores and Dice) he now on me bestows:
Most superficially he speaks of those.
I found, by him, least sound him who most knows.
_1669_
]
[33 what Winter] what What Winter _1669_]
[35 each _B_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCD_: his _1669_]
[37 cunningly _1669_, _L74_, _N_, _TCD_: perfectly _B_, _O'F_,
_S_]
[39 Duello, _B_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCD_: Duel, _1669_
touch _B_, _L74_, _O'F_, _S_: on _1669_: only _N_, _TCD_]
[40 those _B_, _L74_, _O'F_: these _1669_]
[41 but so never fought. _B_, _L74_, _O'F_, _S_ (soe as),
_TCD_ (nere): but nere fought. _1669_]
[42 Valour, undubb'd, Windmill go, _Ed_: Valour undubd
Windmill go. _1669_: valours undubb'd Wine-mill go. _L74_,
_N_, _TCD_: his undouted valour windmill goe. _B_: his
undaunted valour windmill goe. _O'F_, _S_]
[45 want] vaunt _S_]
[47 besides] except _B_, _O'F_, _S_]
[49 he; _Ed_: he, _1669_]
[53 father, ill] fathers ill, _1669_]
[65 his] if his _1669_]
[66 succeed; _Ed_: succeed, _1669_
They _Ed_: they _1669_]
[68 Than'his _Ed_: Than his _1669_: Then's _N_, _TCD_
how. _Ed_: how, _1669_]
[69 Or _Ed_: or _1669_]
[72 thou'hadst _L74_, _N_, _TCD_: thou hadst _1669_]
[81 love, _Ed_: love _1669_]
[82 Damon] damon _1669_]
[83 thee] the _1669_]
[86-7 Oak, with Ivy twine Destroy'd, thy Symbol is. _L74_,
_N_, _TCD_: Oak with Ivy twine, Destroy'd thy Symbole
is. _1669_: Oak with ivy twine. Destroy'd thy symbol is!
_Chambers_]
[87 Mischance! ] Mischance? _1669_]
[88 your _B_, _L74_, _N_, _S_, _TCD_: our _1669_]
[92 knees] knees, _1669_]
[97 Fidus, and you, and I _N_, _TCD_: and Fidus, you and I
_1669_: Fidus, and you, and he _B_, _L74_, _O'F_, _S_]
[100 Neither; _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCD_: Neither yet.
_1669_
Sleep] sleep _1669_]
[102 Which, th'old unwipt, _B_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCD_: "The old
unwipt _1669_]
[104-6 _1669 has colon after pass'd, brackets by which
. . . Court and Whenas . . . cleer'd, and places comma after
hate_]
[107 there (if that _1669_: then that (if _B_, _O'F_, _S_]
[111 And, as unthrifts _Ed_: And, as unthrifts, _1669_,
_Chambers_]
[112 pay, _Ed_: pay; _1669_: pay. _Chambers_]
[113 weakness _B_, _L74_, _O'F_, _S_: greatness _1669_, _N_,
_TCD_]
[116 ill; _Ed_: ill: _1669_]
[118 Blood. _Ed_: Blood; _1669_]
[121 hard, _Ed_: hard _1669_]
[122 both. _Ed_: both _1669_]
[127 world; _Ed_: world, _1669_]
[132 Hath rid,] Doth ryde, _B_]
[133 till that _1669_: till _N_, _TCD_: untill _B_, _O'F_,
_S_]
_Satyre. _
Men write that love and reason disagree,
But I ne'r saw't exprest as 'tis in thee.
Well, I may lead thee, God must make thee see,
But, thine eyes blinde too, there's no hope for thee.
Thou say'st shee's wise and witty, faire and free, 5
All these are reasons why she should scorne thee.
Thou dost protest thy love, and wouldst it shew
By matching her as she would match her foe:
And wouldst perswade her to a worse offence,
Then that whereof thou didst accuse her wench. 10
Reason there's none for thee, but thou may'st vexe
Her with example. Say, for feare her sexe
Shunne her, she needs must change; I doe not see
How reason e'r can bring that _must_ to thee.
Thou art a match a Iustice to rejoyce, 15
Fit to be his, and not his daughters choyce.
Urg'd with his threats shee'd scarcely stay with thee,
And wouldst th'have this to chuse thee, being free?
Goe then and punish some soone-gotten stuffe,
For her dead husband this hath mourn'd enough, 20
In hating thee. Thou maist one like this meet;
For spight take her, prove kinde, make thy breath sweet,
Let her see she hath cause, and to bring to thee
Honest children, let her dishonest bee.
If shee be a widow, I'll warrant her 25
Shee'll thee before her first husband preferre,
And will wish thou hadst had her maidenhead;
Shee'll love thee so, for then thou hadst bin dead.
But thou such strong love, and weake reasons hast,
Thou must thrive there, or ever live disgrac'd. 30
Yet pause a while; and thou maist live to see
A time to come, wherein she may beg thee;
If thou'lt not pause nor change, she'll beg thee now.
Doe what she can, love for nothing shee'll allow.
Besides, her<s> were too much gaine and merchandise, 35
And when thou art rewarded, desert dies.
Now thou hast odds of him she loves, he may doubt
Her constancy, but none can put thee out.
Againe, be thy love true, shee'll prove divine,
And in the end the good on't will be thine: 40
For thou must never think on other love,
And so wilt advance her as high above
Vertue as cause above effect can bee:
'Tis vertue to be chast, which shee'll make thee.
[Satyre. _B_, _O'F_: A Satire: upon one who was his Rivall
in a widdowes Love. _A10_: Satyre VI. _1635-54_: Satyre. VII.
_1669_ (_where Satyre VI. is Sleep, next Society &c. _)]
[4 thine eyes _1635-69_: thy eye's _A10_]
[11 thee,] the, _1669_]
[13 she needs must change; I _1635-69_: she must change, yet I
_A10_]
[16 and _1635-69_: but _B_]
[17 Urg'd _A10_, _B_, _O'F_: Dry'd _1635-69_]
[19 some] _1635 duplicates_]
[22 sweet, _1639-69_: sweet. _1635_]
[27 maidenhead; _Ed_: maidenhead, _1635-69_]
[28 (Shee'll love thee so) for, _1635-69_]
[29 strong] firm _A10_]
[32 thee; _Grosart_: thee. _1635-69_]
[33 now. _Grosart_: now, _1635-69_]
[34 love for nothing shee'll _1635-69_: she'le love for nought
_A10_]
[35 Besides, hers _Ed_: Besides, here _1635-69_: But hers
_A10_: Besides her _O'F_]
[38-9 out. Againe, _1635-69_: out Againe; _A10_]
[40 And in _1635-69_: And yet in _A10_
thine: _Ed_: thine. _1635-69_]
[41 For thou must never think on _H-K_ (_Grosart_): And thou
must never think on, _A10_: For though thou must ne'r thinke
of _1635-69_]
[42 And so wilt advance her _1635-69_: For that will her
advance _A10_]
[43 bee: _Ed_: bee, _1635-69_]
AN ELEGIE.
_Reflecting on his passion for his mistrisse. _
Come, Fates; I feare you not. All whom I owe
Are paid, but you. Then rest me ere I goe.
But, Chance from you all soveraignty hath got,
Love woundeth none but those whom death dares not;
Else, if you were, and just, in equitie 5
I should have vanquish'd her, as you did me.
Else Lovers should not brave death's pains, and live,
But 'tis a rule, _Death comes not to relieve_.
Or, pale and wan deaths terrours, are they lay'd
So deepe in Lovers, they make death afraid? 10
Or (the least comfort) have I company?
Orecame she Fates, Love, Death, as well as mee?
Yes, Fates doe silke unto her distaffe pay,
For their ransome, which taxe on us they laye.
Love gives her youth, which is the reason why 15
Youths, for her sake, some wither and some die.
Poore Death can nothing give; yet, for her sake,
Still in her turne, he doth a Lover take:
And if Death should prove false, she feares him not;
Our Muses, to redeeme her she hath got. 20
That fatall night wee last kiss'd, I thus pray'd,
Or rather, thus despair'd; I should have said:
Kisses, and yet despaire? The forbid tree
Did promise (and deceive) no more then shee.
Like Lambs that see their teats, and must eat Hay, 25
A food, whose tast hath made me pine away.
_Dives_, when thou saw'st blisse, and crav'dst to touch
A drop of water, thy great paines were such.
Here griefe wants a fresh wit, for mine being spent,
And my sighes weary, groanes are all my rent; 30
Vnable longer to indure the paine,
They breake like thunder, and doe bring down rain.
Thus, till dry teares soulder mine eyes, I weepe;
And then, I dreame, how you securely sleepe,
And in your dreames doe laugh at me. I hate, 35
And pray Love, All may: He pitties my state,
But sayes, I therein no revenge should finde;
The Sunne would shine, though all the world were blind.
Yet, to trie my hate, Love shew'd me your teare;
And I had dy'd, had not your smile beene there. 40
Your frowne undoes me; your smile is my wealth;
And as you please to looke, I have my health.
Me thought, Love pittying me, when he saw this,
Gave me your hands, the backs and palmes to kisse.
That cur'd me not, but to beare paine gave strength, 45
And what it lost in force, it tooke in length.
