_ _1633-69:_
Valediction
forbidding _&c.
Donne - 1
_B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S_, _S96:_ _no title_, _JC_]
[9 paining _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_,
_S96_, _TC:_ vexing _1635-69_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_]
[10 working _1633 and MSS. as above:_ active _1635-69 and MSS.
as above_]
[11 pure, and] pure an _1669_, _O'F_]
[14 do. ] do _1633_]
[18-19 Starres . . . showne. Gentle love _Ed:_ Starres . . .
showne, Gentle love _1633-69:_
Stars are not by the sunne enlarg'd; but showne
Greater; Loves deeds
_P_. _See note_]
[24 thee. _Ed:_ thee, _1633-69_]
[28 the _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_,
_S96_, _TC:_ this _1635-69_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_]
_Loves exchange. _
_Love_, any devill else but you,
Would for a given Soule give something too.
At Court your fellowes every day,
Give th'art of Riming, Huntsmanship, or Play,
For them which were their owne before; 5
Onely I have nothing which gave more,
But am, alas, by being lowly, lower.
I aske no dispensation now
To falsifie a teare, or sigh, or vow,
I do not sue from thee to draw 10
A _non obstante_ on natures law,
These are prerogatives, they inhere
In thee and thine; none should forsweare
Except that hee _Loves_ minion were.
Give mee thy weaknesse, make mee blinde, 15
Both wayes, as thou and thine, in eies and minde;
Love, let me never know that this
Is love, or, that love childish is;
Let me not know that others know
That she knowes my paines, least that so 20
A tender shame make me mine owne new woe.
If thou give nothing, yet thou'art just,
Because I would not thy first motions trust;
Small townes which stand stiffe, till great shot
Enforce them, by warres law _condition_ not. 25
Such in loves warfare is my case,
I may not article for grace,
Having put Love at last to shew this face.
This face, by which he could command
And change the Idolatrie of any land, 30
This face, which wheresoe'r it comes,
Can call vow'd men from cloisters, dead from tombes,
And melt both Poles at once, and store
Deserts with cities, and make more
Mynes in the earth, then Quarries were before. 35
For this, Love is enrag'd with mee,
Yet kills not. If I must example bee
To future Rebells; If th'unborne
Must learne, by my being cut up, and torne:
Kill, and dissect me, Love; for this 40
Torture against thine owne end is,
Rack't carcasses make ill Anatomies.
[Loves exchange. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no
title_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_]
[4 or] and _most MSS. _
Play _D:_ play _1633-69_]
[9 or sigh, or vow, _1633-54:_ a sigh, a vow, _1669_]
[18 is; _Ed:_ is. _1633-69_]
[20 paines] paine _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_O'F_, _P_, _TC_]
[21 _1669 omits_ new]
[28 Love _D:_ love _1633-69_
this] his _1669_]
[36 For this, _Ed:_ For, this _1633-69_
Love _D:_ love _1633-69_]
[37 not. If _Ed:_ not; if _1633-39:_ not: if _1650-69_]
_Confined Love. _
Some man unworthy to be possessor
Of old or new love, himselfe being false or weake,
Thought his paine and shame would be lesser,
If on womankind he might his anger wreake,
And thence a law did grow, 5
One might but one man know;
But are other creatures so?
Are Sunne, Moone, or Starres by law forbidden,
To smile where they list, or lend away their light?
Are birds divorc'd, or are they chidden 10
If they leave their mate, or lie abroad a night?
Beasts doe no joyntures lose
Though they new lovers choose,
But we are made worse then those.
Who e'r rigg'd faire ship to lie in harbors, 15
And not to seeke new lands, or not to deale withall?
Or built faire houses, set trees, and arbors,
Only to lock up, or else to let them fall?
Good is not good, unlesse
A thousand it possesse, 20
But doth wast with greedinesse.
[Confined Love _1635-69:_ _no title_, _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_,
_H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ To the
worthiest of all my lovers. _Cy:_ To the of all my loves my
virtuous mistriss. _P_]
[3 his] this _1669_
lesser] the lesser _A18_, _Cy_, _JC_, _P_]
[6 might _1633-69:_ should _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _O'F_, _S_, _TC_]
[9 lend] bend _1669_]
[11 mate, _1633-39:_ meate, _1650:_ meat, _1669_
a night (_i. e. _ a-night) _1633-54:_ all night _1669_]
[12 Beasts] Beast _1635_]
[15 ship] ships _1669_, _Chambers_]
[16 seeke new lands _1633-35 and MSS. :_ seeke lands _1639-69_,
_Chambers, whose note is incorrect_
withall _1633:_ with all _1635-69_]
[17 built _1633-35:_ build _1639-69_]
_The Dreame. _
Deare love, for nothing lesse then thee
Would I have broke this happy dreame,
It was a theame
For reason, much too strong for phantasie,
Therefore thou wakd'st me wisely; yet 5
My Dreame thou brok'st not, but continued'st it,
Thou art so truth, that thoughts of thee suffice,
To make dreames truths; and fables histories;
Enter these armes, for since thou thoughtst it best,
Not to dreame all my dreame, let's act the rest. 10
As lightning, or a Tapers light,
Thine eyes, and not thy noise wak'd mee;
Yet I thought thee
(For thou lovest truth) an Angell, at first sight,
But when I saw thou sawest my heart, 15
And knew'st my thoughts, beyond an Angels art,
When thou knew'st what I dreamt, when thou knew'st when
Excesse of joy would wake me, and cam'st then,
I must confesse, it could not chuse but bee
Prophane, to thinke thee any thing but thee. 20
Comming and staying show'd thee, thee,
But rising makes me doubt, that now,
Thou art not thou.
That love is weake, where feare's as strong as hee;
'Tis not all spirit, pure, and brave, 25
If mixture it of _Feare_, _Shame_, _Honor_, have.
Perchance as torches which must ready bee,
Men light and put out, so thou deal'st with mee,
Thou cam'st to kindle, goest to come; Then I
Will dreame that hope againe, but else would die. 30
[The Dreame. _1633-69:_ _do. or similarly_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_,
_C_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _RP31_,
_S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[6 brok'st . . . continued'st] breakest . . . continuest _1669_,
_A25_, _C_, _P_, _S_]
[7 so truth, _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_TC:_ so true, _1635-69_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S_. _See note_]
[10 act] doe _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_]
[14 an Angell,] but an Angell, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _N_, _TC_]
[16 thoughts,] _om. comma Grolier and Chambers_. _See Note_]
[17 then thou knew'st when _1669_]
[19 must] doe _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _P_, _TC_]
[20 Prophane,] Profaness _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_S96_, _TC_]
[24 feare's as strong _1635-54_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _TCC:_ feares are strong _1669_, _B_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S_, _S96:_ feare is strong, _N_, _TCD_]
[26 have. _1669:_ have; _1633-54_]
[29 cam'st] com'st _1669_
Then I] Thus I _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _TC_
(_RP31 agrees with this group throughout_)]
_A Valediction: of weeping. _
Let me powre forth
My teares before thy face, whil'st I stay here,
For thy face coines them, and thy stampe they beare,
And by this Mintage they are something worth,
For thus they bee 5
Pregnant of thee;
Fruits of much griefe they are, emblemes of more,
When a teare falls, that thou falst which it bore,
So thou and I are nothing then, when on a divers shore.
On a round ball 10
A workeman that hath copies by, can lay
An Europe, Afrique, and an Asia,
And quickly make that, which was nothing, _All_,
So doth each teare,
Which thee doth weare, 15
A globe, yea world by that impression grow,
Till thy teares mixt with mine doe overflow
This world, by waters sent from thee, my heaven dissolved so.
O more then Moone,
Draw not up seas to drowne me in thy spheare, 20
Weepe me not dead, in thine armes, but forbeare
To teach the sea, what it may doe too soone;
Let not the winde
Example finde,
To doe me more harme, then it purposeth; 25
Since thou and I sigh one anothers breath,
Who e'r sighes most, is cruellest, and hasts the others death.
[A Valediction: of _&c. _ _Ed:_ A Valediction of weeping.
_1633-69:_ Valediction of Weeping. _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_
A Valediction. _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec:_ A
Valediction of Teares. _Cy_, _S_, _S96:_ Valediction 2. Of
Tears. _O'F:_ _no title_, _JC_]
[3 beare, _1633:_ beare; _1635-69_]
[6 thee; _Ed:_ thee, _1633-69_]
[8 falst _1633-69:_ falls _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _N_, _S_, _TC_]
[9 shore. ] shore, _1633_]
[13 _All_, _1633:_ _All_ _1635:_ _All. _ _1639:_ _All:_
_1650-69_]
[16 world] would _1669_]
[20 up seas] thy seas _1669_]
[22 soone; _Ed:_ soone, _1633-69_]
[25 purposeth; _Ed:_ purposeth, _1633-69_]
_Loves Alchymie. _
Some that have deeper digg'd loves Myne then I,
Say, where his centrique happinesse doth lie:
I have lov'd, and got, and told,
But should I love, get, tell, till I were old,
I should not finde that hidden mysterie; 5
Oh, 'tis imposture all:
And as no chymique yet th'Elixar got,
But glorifies his pregnant pot,
If by the way to him befall
Some odoriferous thing, or medicinall, 10
So, lovers dreame a rich and long delight,
But get a winter-seeming summers night.
Our ease, our thrift, our honor, and our day,
Shall we, for this vaine Bubles shadow pay?
Ends love in this, that my man, 15
Can be as happy'as I can; If he can
Endure the short scorne of a Bridegroomes play?
That loving wretch that sweares,
'Tis not the bodies marry, but the mindes,
Which he in her Angelique findes, 20
Would sweare as justly, that he heares,
In that dayes rude hoarse minstralsey, the spheares.
Hope not for minde in women; at their best
Sweetnesse and wit, they'are but _Mummy_, possest.
[Loves Alchymie. _1633-69:_ Mummye. _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_ (or Alchymy. _added in a later
hand_), _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD:_
Elegie. _P:_ _no title_, _A25_]
[14 Bubles] Bubless _1669_]
[15 my _1633-69 and MSS. :_ any _S96_, _1855_, _and Grolier_
(_perhaps from some copy of 1633_)]
[23-4 _punctuation from MSS:_
at their best,
Sweetnesse, and wit they'are, but, _Mummy_, possest.
_1633-54:_ _1669 omits all punctuation in these lines_]
_The Flea. _
Marke but this flea, and marke in this,
How little that which thou deny'st me is;
It suck'd me first, and now sucks thee,
And in this flea, our two bloods mingled bee;
Thou know'st that this cannot be said 5
A sinne, nor shame, nor losse of maidenhead,
Yet this enjoyes before it wooe,
And pamper'd swells with one blood made of two,
And this, alas, is more then wee would doe.
Oh stay, three lives in one flea spare, 10
Where wee almost, yea more then maryed are.
This flea is you and I, and this
Our mariage bed, and mariage temple is;
Though parents grudge, and you, w'are met,
And cloysterd in these living walls of Jet. 15
Though use make you apt to kill mee,
Let not to that, selfe murder added bee,
And sacrilege, three sinnes in killing three.
Cruell and sodaine, hast thou since
Purpled thy naile, in blood of innocence? 20
Wherein could this flea guilty bee,
Except in that drop which it suckt from thee?
Yet thou triumph'st, and saist that thou
Find'st not thy selfe, nor mee the weaker now;
'Tis true, then learne how false, feares bee; 25
Just so much honor, when thou yeeld'st to mee,
Will wast, as this flea's death tooke life from thee.
[The Flea _is placed here in the 1633 edition:_ _1635-69 place
it at beginning of_ Songs and Sonets: The Flea. _or no title_,
_A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[3 It suckt mee first, _1633-54_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S96:_
Mee it suck'd first, _1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_,
_L74_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TC_
and now sucks] and now it sucks _1669_]
[5 Thou know'st that _1633-54_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ Confess it.
This cannot be said _1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _H40_,
_L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]
[6 nor shame, nor losse _1633-54_ (shame _1633_), _D_, _H49_,
_Lec:_ or shame, or loss _1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_,
_H40_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TC_]
[9 would] could _1669_]
[11: yea, _1633-54_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ nay, _1669_, _A18_,
_A25_, _B_, _C_, _H40_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TC_]
[16 you] thee _A18_, _Cy_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]
[21 Wherein] In what _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _L74_, _N_,
_O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]
[22 drop] blood _1669_]
_The Curse. _
Who ever guesses, thinks, or dreames he knowes
Who is my mistris, wither by this curse;
His only, and only his purse
May some dull heart to love dispose,
And shee yeeld then to all that are his foes; 5
May he be scorn'd by one, whom all else scorne,
Forsweare to others, what to her he'hath sworne,
With feare of missing, shame of getting, torne:
Madnesse his sorrow, gout his cramp, may hee
Make, by but thinking, who hath made him such: 10
And may he feele no touch
Of conscience, but of fame, and bee
Anguish'd, not that'twas sinne, but that'twas shee:
In early and long scarcenesse may he rot,
For land which had been his, if he had not 15
Himselfe incestuously an heire begot:
May he dreame Treason, and beleeve, that hee
Meant to performe it, and confesse, and die,
And no record tell why:
His sonnes, which none of his may bee, 20
Inherite nothing but his infamie:
Or may he so long Parasites have fed,
That he would faine be theirs, whom he hath bred,
And at the last be circumcis'd for bread:
The venom of all stepdames, gamsters gall, 25
What Tyrans, and their subjects interwish,
What Plants, Mynes, Beasts, Foule, Fish,
Can contribute, all ill which all
Prophets, or Poets spake; And all which shall
Be annex'd in schedules unto this by mee, 30
Fall on that man; For if it be a shee
Nature before hand hath out-cursed mee.
[The Curse. _1633-69:_ A Curse. _or_ The Curse. _A18_, _A25_,
_B_, _C_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_,
_S_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ Dirae. _P_, _Q_]
[2 curse] course _1669_]
[3 His only, and only his purse _1633-54_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_,
_C_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_,
_TC:_ Him, only for his purse _1669_, _Chambers:_ His one and
his onely purse _P_]
[4 heart _1633-54 and MSS. :_ whore _1669 and Chambers_]
[5 And she yeeld then to _1633-54 and MSS. :_ And then yield
unto _1669_, _Chambers_]
[8 getting, _Ed:_ getting _1633-69_
torne: _Ed:_ torne; _1633-54:_ torne. _1669_. _Compare_ 16
_and_ 24]
[9 cramp,] cramps, _1669_, _Chambers_, _and most MSS. _]
[10 him _1633-54 and MSS. :_ them _1669_, _Chambers_]
[12 fame,] shame; _A18_, _A25_, _N_, _P_, _TC_]
[14-16 In early and long scarceness . . . an heire begot:
_1633_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_ (_which gives
alternate version in margin_), _S:_
Or may he for her vertue reverence
One that hates him onely for impotence,
And equall Traitors be she and his sense.
_1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _C_, _JC_, _N_, _P_, _Q_, _S_, _TC_]
[18 Meant] Went _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[26 Tyrans, _1633-35:_ Tyrants, _1639:_ tyrants, _1650-69_]
[27 Mynes, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _H40_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_,
_P_, _Q_, _S_, _TC:_ Myne, _1633-69_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_]
[28 ill _1669:_ ill, _1633-54_]
_The Message. _
Send home my long strayd eyes to mee,
Which (Oh) too long have dwelt on thee;
Yet since there they have learn'd such ill,
Such forc'd fashions,
And false passions, 5
That they be
Made by thee
Fit for no good sight, keep them still.
Send home my harmlesse heart againe,
Which no unworthy thought could staine; 10
But if it be taught by thine
To make jestings
Of protestings,
And crosse both
Word and oath, 15
Keepe it, for then 'tis none of mine.
Yet send me back my heart and eyes,
That I may know, and see thy lyes,
And may laugh and joy, when thou
Art in anguish 20
And dost languish
For some one
That will none,
Or prove as false as thou art now.
[The Message. _1635-69:_ _no title_, _1633:_ Song. _or no
title_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S_,
_S96:_ Sonnet. _P:_ Songes w^{ch} were made to _&c. _ (_vid.
sup. _ _p. _ 18) _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[2 thee; _Ed:_ thee, _1633-69_]
[3 But if they there _1669_, _S_]
[10 staine;] staine, _1633-69_]
[11 But _1635-69:_ Which _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _D_, _H49_,
_Lec_, _N_, _TC_]
[14 crosse, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ breake _1633-69_]
[16 Keep it still 'tis _1669_]
[19 And may laugh, when that Thou _D_, _H49_, _Lec_]
[24 art now. ] dost now. _1669_]
_A nocturnall upon S. _ Lucies _day,_
_Being the shortest day. _
Tis the yeares midnight, and it is the dayes,
_Lucies_, who scarce seaven houres herself unmaskes,
The Sunne is spent, and now his flasks
Send forth light squibs, no constant rayes;
The worlds whole sap is sunke: 5
The generall balme th'hydroptique earth hath drunk,
Whither, as to the beds-feet, life is shrunke,
Dead and enterr'd; yet all these seeme to laugh,
Compar'd with mee, who am their Epitaph.
Study me then, you who shall lovers bee 10
At the next world, that is, at the next Spring:
For I am every dead thing,
In whom love wrought new Alchimie.
For his art did expresse
A quintessence even from nothingnesse, 15
From dull privations, and leane emptinesse:
He ruin'd mee, and I am re-begot
Of absence, darknesse, death; things which are not.
All others, from all things, draw all that's good,
Life, soule, forme, spirit, whence they beeing have; 20
I, by loves limbecke, am the grave
Of all, that's nothing. Oft a flood
Have wee two wept, and so
Drownd the whole world, us two; oft did we grow
To be two Chaosses, when we did show 25
Care to ought else; and often absences
Withdrew our soules, and made us carcasses.
But I am by her death, (which word wrongs her)
Of the first nothing, the Elixer grown;
Were I a man, that I were one, 30
I needs must know; I should preferre,
If I were any beast,
Some ends, some means; Yea plants, yea stones detest,
And love; All, all some properties invest;
If I an ordinary nothing were, 35
As shadow, a light, and body must be here.
But I am None; nor will my Sunne renew.
You lovers, for whose sake, the lesser Sunne
At this time to the Goat is runne
To fetch new lust, and give it you, 40
Enjoy your summer all;
Since shee enjoyes her long nights festivall,
Let mee prepare towards her, and let mee call
This houre her Vigill, and her Eve, since this
Both the yeares, and the dayes deep midnight is. 45
[A nocturnal _&c. _ _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[7 beds-feet,] beds-feet _1633-69_]
[12 every _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_ (_altered to_ a very),
_TC:_ a very _1635-69_]
[16 emptinesse: _1719:_ emptinesse; _Chambers and Grolier:_
emptinesse _1633-54:_ emptinesse, _1669_. _See note_]
[20 have; _Ed:_ have, _1633-69_. ]
[31 know;] know, _1633_]
[32 beast,] beast; _Grolier_]
[34 love; All, all _Ed:_ love, all, all _1633-69_
invest; _Ed:_ invest, _1633:_ invest _1635-69_]
[37 renew. _1633:_ renew, _1635-69_]
[41 all; _Ed:_ all, _1633-69 and Chambers, who places a full
stop after_ festivall]
[44 Eve, _1650-69:_ eve, _1633-39_]
_Witchcraft by a picture. _
I fixe mine eye on thine, and there
Pitty my picture burning in thine eye,
My picture drown'd in a transparent teare,
When I looke lower I espie;
Hadst thou the wicked skill 5
By pictures made and mard, to kill,
How many wayes mightst thou performe thy will?
But now I have drunke thy sweet salt teares,
And though thou poure more I'll depart;
My picture vanish'd, vanish feares, 10
That I can be endamag'd by that art;
Though thou retaine of mee
One picture more, yet that will bee,
Being in thine owne heart, from all malice free.
[Witchcraft _&c. _ _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ The
Picture. _or_ Picture. _Cy_, _JC_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96:_ A Songe.
_B_]
[4 espie; _Ed:_ espie, _1633-69_]
[6 to kill, _Ed:_ to kill? _1633-39:_ to kill; _1650-69_]
[9 And though] Although _1669_ And though thou therefore poure
more will depart; _B_, _H40_]
[10 vanish'd, vanish feares, _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _H40_,
_JC_, _N_, _P_, _S96_, _TC:_ vanished, vanish all feares
_1635-54_, _O'F:_ vanish, vanish fears, _1669_]
[11 that] thy _JC_, _O'F_, _S96_]
[14 all] thy _B_, _H40_, _S96_]
_The Baite. _
Come live with mee, and bee my love,
And wee will some new pleasures prove
Of golden sands, and christall brookes,
With silken lines, and silver hookes.
There will the river whispering runne 5
Warm'd by thy eyes, more then the Sunne.
And there the'inamor'd fish will stay,
Begging themselves they may betray.
When thou wilt swimme in that live bath,
Each fish, which every channell hath, 10
Will amorously to thee swimme,
Gladder to catch thee, then thou him.
If thou, to be so seene, beest loath,
By Sunne, or Moone, thou darknest both,
And if my selfe have leave to see, 15
I need not their light, having thee.
Let others freeze with angling reeds,
And cut their legges, with shells and weeds,
Or treacherously poore fish beset,
With strangling snare, or windowie net: 20
Let coarse bold hands, from slimy nest
The bedded fish in banks out-wrest,
Or curious traitors, sleavesilke flies
Bewitch poore fishes wandring eyes.
For thee, thou needst no such deceit, 25
For thou thy selfe art thine owne bait;
That fish, that is not catch'd thereby,
Alas, is wiser farre then I.
[The Baite. _1635-69:_ _no title_, _1633:_ Song. _or no
title_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _Walton's_
Compleate Angler: _Fourth Day:_ _Chap. XII. :_ Songs that were
made _&c. _ (_vid. sup. p. _ 18) _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[2 some new] all the _P_]
[3 brookes, _Ed:_ brookes: _1633-69_]
[5 whispering _1633:_ whispring _1635-69_]
[6 thy] thine _1669_, _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[7 inamor'd] enamelled _Walton_
stay] play _1669_]
[11 to] unto _JC_, _O'F_, _P:_ to see _N:_ Most amoroussly to
thee will swim _Walton_]
[15 my selfe] mine eyes _Walton:_ my heart _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[18 with] which _1633_]
[20 snare,] snares, _Walton_
windowie] winding _1669_. _See note_]
[23 Or _1633-69:_ Let _Walton_
sleavesilke _1635:_ sleave silke _1639-69 and Walton:_
sleavesicke _1633_]
[24 To witch poor wandring fishes eyes. _Walton_]
[25 thou needst] there needs _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S96_]
[26 bait; _Ed:_ bait, _1633-69_]
[27 catch'd _1633-69:_ catch't _Walton:_ caught _P_]
[28 Is wiser far, alas _Walton_]
_The Apparition. _
When by thy scorne, O murdresse, I am dead,
And that thou thinkst thee free
From all solicitation from mee,
Then shall my ghost come to thy bed,
And thee, fain'd vestall, in worse armes shall see; 5
Then thy sicke taper will begin to winke,
And he, whose thou art then, being tyr'd before,
Will, if thou stirre, or pinch to wake him, thinke
Thou call'st for more,
And in false sleepe will from thee shrinke, 10
And then poore Aspen wretch, neglected thou
Bath'd in a cold quicksilver sweat wilt lye
A veryer ghost then I;
What I will say, I will not tell thee now,
Lest that preserve thee'; and since my love is spent, 15
I'had rather thou shouldst painfully repent,
Then by my threatnings rest still innocent.
[The Apparition. _1633-69:_ _do. or_ An Apparition. _A18_,
_A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[2 that thou thinkst] thou shalt think _1669_]
[3 solicitation] solicitations _JC_, _O'F_]
[5 thee, . . . vestall, _Ed:_ thee . . . vestall _1633-39:_ thee
. . . Vestall _1650-69_]
[7 then] _1669 omits_]
[10 in false sleepe will from _1633_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_,
_S:_ in false sleepe from _1635-54:_ in a false sleepe even
from _1669:_ in a false sleepe from _A25_, _P:_ in a false
sleepe will from _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[13 I;] I, _1633, some copies_]
[17 rest still] keep thee _A25_, _Cy_, _JC_, _O'F_, _P_]
_The broken heart. _
He is starke mad, who ever sayes,
That he hath beene in love an houre,
Yet not that love so soone decayes,
But that it can tenne in lesse space devour;
Who will beleeve mee, if I sweare 5
That I have had the plague a yeare?
Who would not laugh at mee, if I should say,
I saw a flaske of _powder burne a day_?
Ah, what a trifle is a heart,
If once into loves hands it come! 10
All other griefes allow a part
To other griefes, and aske themselves but some;
They come to us, but us Love draws,
Hee swallows us, and never chawes:
By him, as by chain'd shot, whole rankes doe dye, 15
He is the tyran Pike, our hearts the Frye.
If 'twere not so, what did become
Of my heart, when I first saw thee?
I brought a heart into the roome,
But from the roome, I carried none with mee: 20
If it had gone to thee, I know
Mine would have taught thine heart to show
More pitty unto mee: but Love, alas,
At one first blow did shiver it as glasse.
Yet nothing can to nothing fall, 25
Nor any place be empty quite,
Therefore I thinke my breast hath all
Those peeces still, though they be not unite;
And now as broken glasses show
A hundred lesser faces, so 30
My ragges of heart can like, wish, and adore,
But after one such love, can love no more.
[The broken heart. _1633-69:_ Broken Heart. _L74:_ Song. _or
no title_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ Elegie. _P_, _S96_]
[8 flaske _1633_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _Lec_,
_O'F_ (_corrected from_ flash), _P_, _S:_ flash _1635-69_,
_A18_, _H49_, _N_, _TC_]
[10 come! _Ed:_ come? _1633-69_]
[12 some; _Ed:_ some, _1633-69_]
[15 chain'd shot] chain-shott _A18_, _A25_, _N_, _TC_]
[16 tyran] Tyrant _1669_
our hearts] and we _1669_]
[17 did] could _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _L74_, _O'F_, _N_,
_TC:_ would _B_, _Cy_, _M_, _S_]
[20 mee: _1650-69:_ mee; _1633-39_]
[23 alas,] alas _1633_]
[24 first] fierce _A18_, _B_, _N_, _TC_]
[30 hundred] thousand _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _L74_, _M_,
_N_, _P_, _S_, _TC_]
_A Valediction: forbidding mourning. _
As virtuous men passe mildly away,
And whisper to their soules, to goe,
Whilst some of their sad friends doe say,
The breath goes now, and some say, no:
So let us melt, and make no noise, 5
No teare-floods, nor sigh-tempests move,
T'were prophanation of our joyes
To tell the layetie our love.
Moving of th'earth brings harmes and feares,
Men reckon what it did and meant, 10
But trepidation of the spheares,
Though greater farre, is innocent.
Dull sublunary lovers love
(Whose soule is sense) cannot admit
Absence, because it doth remove 15
Those things which elemented it.
But we by a love, so much refin'd,
That our selves know not what it is,
Inter-assured of the mind,
Care lesse, eyes, lips, and hands to misse. 20
Our two soules therefore, which are one,
Though I must goe, endure not yet
A breach, but an expansion,
Like gold to ayery thinnesse beate.
If they be two, they are two so 25
As stiffe twin compasses are two,
Thy soule the fixt foot, makes no show
To move, but doth, if the'other doe.
And though it in the center sit,
Yet when the other far doth rome, 30
It leanes, and hearkens after it,
And growes erect, as that comes home.
Such wilt thou be to mee, who must
Like th'other foot, obliquely runne;
Thy firmnes makes my circle just,
And makes me end, where I begunne. 35
[A Valediction: forbidding _&c. _ _Ed:_ A Valediction
forbidding _&c.
_ _1633-69:_ Valediction forbidding _&c. _
_A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ Valediction agaynst _&c. _ _A25_,
_C:_ A Valediction. _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec:_ Vpon
the partinge from his Mistris. _O'F_, _S96:_ To his love upon
his departure from her. _JC:_ Elegie. _L74_, _P:_ _also in
Walton's_ Life of Donne (1675)]
[4 The breath goes now, _1633-54, and all the MSS. :_ Now his
breath goes, _1669_, _Chambers_
no: _Ed:_ no. _1633-54:_ No; _1669_]
[30 the other] my other _Walton_]
[31 It] Thine _Walton_]
[32 that] mine _Walton_]
[34 runne; _Ed:_ runne. _1633-69_]
[35 circle] circles _1639-54_]
[36 makes me] me to _Walton_]
_The Extasie. _
Where, like a pillow on a bed,
A Pregnant banke swel'd up, to rest
The violets reclining head,
Sat we two, one anothers best.
Our hands were firmely cimented 5
With a fast balme, which thence did spring,
Our eye-beames twisted, and did thred
Our eyes, upon one double string;
So to'entergraft our hands, as yet
Was all the meanes to make us one, 10
And pictures in our eyes to get
Was all our propagation.
As 'twixt two equall Armies, Fate
Suspends uncertaine victorie,
Our soules, (which to advance their state, 15
Were gone out,) hung 'twixt her, and mee.
And whil'st our soules negotiate there,
Wee like sepulchrall statues lay;
All day, the same our postures were,
And wee said nothing, all the day. 20
If any, so by love refin'd,
That he soules language understood,
And by good love were growen all minde,
Within convenient distance stood,
He (though he knew not which soule spake, 25
Because both meant, both spake the same)
Might thence a new concoction take,
And part farre purer then he came.
This Extasie doth unperplex
(We said) and tell us what we love, 30
Wee see by this, it was not sexe,
Wee see, we saw not what did move:
But as all severall soules containe
Mixture of things, they know not what,
Love, these mixt soules, doth mixe againe, 35
And makes both one, each this and that.
A single violet transplant,
The strength, the colour, and the size,
(All which before was poore, and scant,)
Redoubles still, and multiplies. 40
When love, with one another so
Interinanimates two soules,
That abler soule, which thence doth flow,
Defects of lonelinesse controules.
Wee then, who are this new soule, know, 45
Of what we are compos'd, and made,
For, th'Atomies of which we grow,
Are soules, whom no change can invade.
But O alas, so long, so farre
Our bodies why doe wee forbeare? 50
They are ours, though they are not wee, Wee are
The intelligences, they the spheare.
We owe them thankes, because they thus,
Did us, to us, at first convay,
Yeelded their forces, sense, to us, 55
Nor are drosse to us, but allay.
On man heavens influence workes not so,
But that it first imprints the ayre,
Soe soule into the soule may flow,
Though it to body first repaire. 60
As our blood labours to beget
Spirits, as like soules as it can,
Because such fingers need to knit
That subtile knot, which makes us man:
So must pure lovers soules descend 65
T'affections, and to faculties,
Which sense may reach and apprehend,
Else a great Prince in prison lies.
To'our bodies turne wee then, that so
Weake men on love reveal'd may looke; 70
Loves mysteries in soules doe grow,
But yet the body is his booke.
And if some lover, such as wee,
Have heard this dialogue of one,
Let him still marke us, he shall see 75
Small change, when we'are to bodies gone.
[The Extasie. _1633-69:_ _do. or_ Extasie. _A18_, _A25_, _B_,
_D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_,
_TCC_, _TCD_]
[3 reclining _1633-54:_ declining _1669_]
[4 best. _Ed:_ best; _1633-54_
Sate we on one anothers breasts. _1669_]
[6 With _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_P_, _S_, _TC:_ By _1635-69_, _Chambers_]
[8 string; _Ed:_ string, _1633-69_]
[9 to'entergraft _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_,
_N_, _P_, _S_, _TC:_ to engraft _1635-69_, _A25_, _JC_, _O'F_,
_Chambers_]
[11 in _1633-69_, _P:_ on _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TC_]
[15 their _1633 and most MSS. :_ our _1635-69_, _O'F_, _P_]
[18 lay; _Ed:_ lay, _1633-69_]
[25 knew _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_,
_N_, _P_, _TC:_ knowes _1633_, _D_, _Lec_]
[29 doth] do _1669_]
[31 sexe, _1669:_ sexe _1633-54_]
[42 Interinanimates _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TC:_ Interanimates _1633-69_, _D_, _Lec_]
[44 loneliness] loveliness _1669_]
[46 made, _1633-39:_ made: _1650-69_]
[47 Atomies _1633-54:_ Atomes _1669_]
[48 are soules, _1633_, _1669:_ are soule, _1635-54_]
[51 though they are not _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ though not
_1633-69_]
[52 spheare. _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ spheares. _1633-69_]
[55 forces, sense, _A18_, _A25_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ senses force _1633-69_]
[59 Soe _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _H40_, _JC_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _S96_,
_TC:_ For _1633-69_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_]
[64 makes] make _1635-39_]
[72 his] the _1669_]
[76 gone. _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_O'F_, _S_, _TC:_ growne. _1635-69_, _P_, _S96_]
_Loves Deitie. _
I long to talke with some old lovers ghost,
Who dyed before the god of Love was borne:
I cannot thinke that hee, who then lov'd most,
Sunke so low, as to love one which did scorne.
But since this god produc'd a destinie, 5
And that vice-nature, custome, lets it be;
I must love her, that loves not mee.
Sure, they which made him god, meant not so much,
Nor he, in his young godhead practis'd it;
But when an even flame two hearts did touch, 10
His office was indulgently to fit
Actives to passives. Correspondencie
Only his subject was; It cannot bee
Love, till I love her, that loves mee.
But every moderne god will now extend 15
His vast prerogative, as far as Jove.
To rage, to lust, to write to, to commend,
All is the purlewe of the God of Love.
Oh were wee wak'ned by this Tyrannie
To ungod this child againe, it could not bee 20
I should love her, who loves not mee.
Rebell and Atheist too, why murmure I,
As though I felt the worst that love could doe?
Love might make me leave loving, or might trie
A deeper plague, to make her love mee too, 25
Which, since she loves before, I'am loth to see;
Falshood is worse then hate; and that must bee,
If shee whom I love, should love mee.
[Loves Deitie. _1633-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_,
_TCD:_ Elegye. _P_]
[8 much, _1639-69:_ much: _1633:_ much? _1635_]
[9 it; _Ed:_ it. _1633-69_]
[13 subject] _Subject 1669_]
[14 Love, . . . mee. _1633_, _1669_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H40_ (who), _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _S_ (lov'd), _TCD:_
Love, if I love, who loves not me. _1635-54_, _O'F_]
[19 Oh . . . wak'ned] Were we not weak'ned _1669_]
[21 That I should love, who loves not me. _A18_, _A25_, _C_,
_Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _S96_,
_TC:_ _O'F reads as these but alters to as in printed edd. _]
[24 might make _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_JC_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ may make _1633-69_,
_Lec_]
[26 Which,] Which _1633_]
_Loves diet. _
To what a combersome unwieldinesse
And burdenous corpulence my love had growne,
But that I did, to make it lesse,
And keepe it in proportion,
Give it a diet, made it feed upon 5
That which love worst endures, _discretion_.
Above one sigh a day I'allow'd him not,
Of which my fortune, and my faults had part;
And if sometimes by stealth he got
A she sigh from my mistresse heart, 10
And thought to feast on that, I let him see
'Twas neither very sound, nor meant to mee.
If he wroung from mee'a teare, I brin'd it so
With scorne or shame, that him it nourish'd not;
If he suck'd hers, I let him know 15
'Twas not a teare, which hee had got,
His drinke was counterfeit, as was his meat;
For, eyes which rowle towards all, weepe not, but sweat.
What ever he would dictate, I writ that,
But burnt my letters; When she writ to me, 20
And that that favour made him fat,
I said, if any title bee
Convey'd by this, Ah, what doth it availe,
To be the fortieth name in an entaile?
Thus I reclaim'd my buzard love, to flye 25
At what, and when, and how, and where I chuse;
Now negligent of sport I lye,
And now as other Fawkners use,
I spring a mistresse, sweare, write, sigh and weepe:
And the game kill'd, or lost, goe talke, and sleepe. 30
[Loves diet. _1633-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _TCC_ (_torn
out of TCD_): Amoris Dieta. _S96_]
[12 mee. _Ed:_ mee; _1633-35:_ mee: _1639-69_]
[18 For,] Her _1669_]
[19 Whatever . . . that, _1633-39_, _1669:_ Whate'er might him
distast I still writ that, _1650-54:_ Whatsoever hee would
distast I writt that, _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[20 But burnt my letters; When she writ to me, _1633:_ But
burnt her letters when she writ to me, _1635:_ But burnt her
letters when she writ to me; _1639-54_, _Chambers:_ But burnt
my letters which she writ to me; _1669_]
[21 that that _1633:_ if that _1635-69_. _See note_]
[24 name] man _1669_]
[25 reclaim'd _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCC:_ redeem'd _1633_, _Lec_]
[26 chuse] chose _1669_]
[27 sport _1635-69_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC:_ sports, _1633_]
[30 and _1633 and most MSS. :_ or _1635-69_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _S_]
_The Will. _
Before I sigh my last gaspe, let me breath,
Great love, some Legacies; Here I bequeath
Mine eyes to _Argus_, if mine eyes can see,
If they be blinde, then Love, I give them thee;
My tongue to Fame; to'Embassadours mine eares; 5
To women or the sea, my teares.
Thou, Love, hast taught mee heretofore
By making mee serve her who'had twenty more,
That I should give to none, but such, as had too much before.
My constancie I to the planets give; 10
My truth to them, who at the Court doe live;
Mine ingenuity and opennesse,
To Jesuites; to Buffones my pensivenesse;
My silence to'any, who abroad hath beene;
My mony to a Capuchin. 15
Thou Love taught'st me, by appointing mee
To love there, where no love receiv'd can be,
Onely to give to such as have an incapacitie.
My faith I give to Roman Catholiques;
All my good works unto the Schismaticks 20
Of Amsterdam; my best civility
And Courtship, to an Universitie;
My modesty I give to souldiers bare;
My patience let gamesters share.
Thou Love taughtst mee, by making mee 25
Love her that holds my love disparity,
Onely to give to those that count my gifts indignity.
I give my reputation to those
Which were my friends; Mine industrie to foes;
To Schoolemen I bequeath my doubtfulnesse; 30
My sicknesse to Physitians, or excesse;
To Nature, all that I in Ryme have writ;
And to my company my wit.
Thou Love, by making mee adore
Her, who begot this love in mee before, 35
Taughtst me to make, as though I gave, when I did but restore.
To him for whom the passing bell next tolls,
I give my physick bookes; my writen rowles
Of Morall counsels, I to Bedlam give;
My brazen medals, unto them which live 40
In want of bread; To them which passe among
All forrainers, mine English tongue.
Thou, Love, by making mee love one
Who thinkes her friendship a fit portion
For yonger lovers, dost my gifts thus disproportion. 45
Therefore I'll give no more; But I'll undoe
The world by dying; because love dies too.
Then all your beauties will bee no more worth
Then gold in Mines, where none doth draw it forth;
And all your graces no more use shall have 50
Then a Sun dyall in a grave.
Thou Love taughtst mee, by making mee
Love her, who doth neglect both mee and thee,
To'invent, and practise this one way, to'annihilate all three.
[The Will. _1633-69:_ _do. or_ A Will. _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_,
_D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _M_, _O'F_, _P:_ Loves Will. _L74:_
Loves Legacies. _A18_, _N_, _TCC_ (_torn out of TCD_), _S:_
Testamentum. _S96:_ His Last Will and Testament. _JC_]
[2 Here I _1633-54:_ I here _1669_, _Chambers_]
[6 teares. _Ed:_ teares; _1633-69_]
[8 serve her] love her _1669_]
[10 give; _Ed:_ give, _1633-69_]
[10-27 _These stanzas printed without a break, 1669_]
[14 hath] have _1669_]
[18 an incapacitie. ] no good Capacity. _1669_]
[19-27 _omitted_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_JC_, _L74_ (_added later_), _Lec_, _M_ (_added later_), _N_,
_P_, _TCC:_ _given in O'F_, _S_, _and all editions_]
[33 wit. _Ed:_ wit; _1633-69_]
[34 Love, _1650-69:_ love, _1633-39_]
[36 did _1633 and MSS. :_ do _1635-69_, _O'F_]
[45 gifts _1633-35_, _1669:_ gift _1639-54_]
[46 more; But _1633:_ more, but _1635-69_]
[49-51 forth; . . . grave. _1669:_ forth . . . grave, _1633-39 by
interchange:_ forth . . . grave. _1650-54_]
[54 all three. _1633-39_, three _being below the line in 1633
and above in 1635-39:_ al. three _1650-54_, _the full stop
having fallen from_ three _to_ all _below it:_ annihilate
thee. _1669_]
_The Funerall. _
Who ever comes to shroud me, do not harme
Nor question much
That subtile wreath of haire, which crowns my arme;
The mystery, the signe you must not touch,
For 'tis my outward Soule, 5
Viceroy to that, which then to heaven being gone,
Will leave this to controule,
And keepe these limbes, her Provinces, from dissolution.
For if the sinewie thread my braine lets fall
Through every part, 10
Can tye those parts, and make mee one of all;
These haires which upward grew, and strength and art
Have from a better braine,
Can better do'it; Except she meant that I
By this should know my pain, 15
As prisoners then are manacled, when they'are condemn'd to die.
What ere shee meant by'it, bury it with me,
For since I am
Loves martyr, it might breed idolatrie,
If into others hands these Reliques came; 20
As'twas humility
To afford to it all that a Soule can doe,
So,'tis some bravery,
That since you would save none of mee, I bury some of you.
[The Funerall. _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[3 which . . . arme;] about mine arm; _1669_]
[6 then to _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ unto _1633-69_]
[12 These _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _N_, _S_ (The),
_S96_, _TC:_ Those _1633-69_, _Lec_, _O'F_ grew, _1633-39:_
grow, _1650-69_]
[16 condemn'd] condem'nd _1633_]
[17 with me, _1635-69 and MSS. :_ by me, _1633_]
[24 save _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _TC:_
have _1633-69_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S96:_ _om. S_]
_The Blossome. _
Little think'st thou, poore flower,
Whom I have watch'd sixe or seaven dayes,
And seene thy birth, and seene what every houre
Gave to thy growth, thee to this height to raise,
And now dost laugh and triumph on this bough, 5
Little think'st thou
That it will freeze anon, and that I shall
To morrow finde thee falne, or not at all.
Little think'st thou poore heart
That labour'st yet to nestle thee, 10
And think'st by hovering here to get a part
In a forbidden or forbidding tree,
And hop'st her stiffenesse by long siege to bow:
Little think'st thou,
That thou to morrow, ere that Sunne doth wake, 15
Must with this Sunne, and mee a journey take.
But thou which lov'st to bee
Subtile to plague thy selfe, wilt say,
Alas, if you must goe, what's that to mee?
Here lyes my businesse, and here I will stay: 20
You goe to friends, whose love and meanes present
Various content
To your eyes, eares, and tongue, and every part.
If then your body goe, what need you a heart?
Well then, stay here; but know, 25
When thou hast stayd and done thy most;
A naked thinking heart, that makes no show,
Is to a woman, but a kinde of Ghost;
How shall shee know my heart; or having none,
Know thee for one? 30
Practise may make her know some other part,
But take my word, shee doth not know a Heart.
Meet mee at London, then,
Twenty dayes hence, and thou shalt see
Mee fresher, and more fat, by being with men, 35
Then if I had staid still with her and thee.
For Gods sake, if you can, be you so too:
I would give you
There, to another friend, whom wee shall finde
As glad to have my body, as my minde. 40
[The Blossome. _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no title_, _A25_]
[9-13 poore heart . . . bow:] _in brackets 1650-69_]
[10 labour'st _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ labourest _1635-69:_ labours
_1633_]
[15 that Sunne _1633:_ the Sunne _1635-69_]
[18 wilt] will _1669_]
[23 tongue _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _S96_, _TC:_ _om. S:_ tast _1633-69_]
[24 need you a heart? _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ need you have a heart? _JC:_ need
your heart? _1633-69_]
[38 I would _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_,
_S_, _S96_, _TC:_ I will _1633-69_, _Lec_]
_The Primrose, being at Montgomery Castle, upon the hill, on which it
is situate. _
Vpon this Primrose hill,
Where, if Heav'n would distill
A shoure of raine, each severall drop might goe
To his owne primrose, and grow Manna so;
And where their forme, and their infinitie 5
Make a terrestriall Galaxie,
As the small starres doe in the skie:
I walke to finde a true Love; and I see
That'tis not a mere woman, that is shee,
But must, or more, or lesse then woman bee. 10
Yet know I not, which flower
I wish; a sixe, or foure;
For should my true-Love lesse then woman bee,
She were scarce any thing; and then, should she
Be more then woman, shee would get above 15
All thought of sexe, and thinke to move
My heart to study her, and not to love;
Both these were monsters; Since there must reside
Falshood in woman, I could more abide,
She were by art, then Nature falsify'd. 20
Live Primrose then, and thrive
With thy true number five;
And women, whom this flower doth represent,
With this mysterious number be content;
Ten is the farthest number; if halfe ten 25
Belonge unto each woman, then
Each woman may take halfe us men;
Or if this will not serve their turne, Since all
Numbers are odde, or even, and they fall
First into this, five, women may take us all. 30
[The Primrose. _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ The Primrose, being at _&c. _
_1635-69_]
[16 sexe, _1633:_ sexe; _1635-69_]
[17 and not] and _om. 1635-39, A18, N, S, TC_]
[23 women] woman _Chambers_]
[25 number; _Ed:_ number, _1633-69_]
[26 Belonge _all the MSS. :_ Belongs _1633-69_. _See note_]
[27 men; _Ed:_ men, _1633-39:_ men: _1650-69_]
[28 their _1633-39:_ the _1650-69_]
[29 and _1633:_ since _1635-69_]
[30 this, _Ed:_ this _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_,
_N_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ _om. 1635-69, O'F, Chambers_]
_The Relique. _
When my grave is broke up againe
Some second ghest to entertaine,
(For graves have learn'd that woman-head
To be to more then one a Bed)
And he that digs it, spies 5
A bracelet of bright haire about the bone,
Will he not let'us alone,
And thinke that there a loving couple lies,
Who thought that this device might be some way
To make their soules, at the last busie day, 10
Meet at this grave, and make a little stay?
If this fall in a time, or land,
Where mis-devotion doth command,
Then, he that digges us up, will bring
Us, to the Bishop, and the King, 15
To make us Reliques; then
Thou shalt be a Mary Magdalen, and I
A something else thereby;
All women shall adore us, and some men;
And since at such time, miracles are sought, 20
I would have that age by this paper taught
What miracles wee harmelesse lovers wrought.
First, we lov'd well and faithfully,
Yet knew not what wee lov'd, nor why,
Difference of sex no more wee knew, 25
Then our Guardian Angells doe;
Comming and going, wee
Perchance might kisse, but not between those meales;
Our hands ne'r toucht the seales,
Which nature, injur'd by late law, sets free: 30
These miracles wee did; but now alas,
All measure, and all language, I would passe,
Should I tell what a miracle shee was.
[The Relique. _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no title, A25_]
[13 mis-devotion _1633-54_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ mass-devotion
_1669_, _Chambers_]
[15 and _1633-54 and MSS. :_ or _1669_, _Chambers_]
[17 Thou shalt be] You shal be _A25_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_S_. _See note_]
[20 time] times _JC_, _O'F_]
[21 have that age] that age were _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[25-26 Difference . . . doe, _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_
Difference of Sex we never knew,
No more then Guardian Angells do, _1635-69:_
Difference of Sex we never knew,
More then our Guardian Angells do. _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _S_, _S96_ (No more then our _&c. _ _B_,
_S96_)]
[26 doe; _Ed:_ doe, _1633-69_]
[27 wee _Ed:_ wee, _1633-69_]
[28 not] yet _1669_
meales; _Ed:_ meales. _1633:_ meales _1635-69, following some
copies of 1633_]
[30 sets] set _1669_ free: _1650-69:_ free, _1633-39_]
_The Dampe. _
When I am dead, and Doctors know not why,
And my friends curiositie
Will have me cut up to survay each part,
When they shall finde your Picture in my heart,
You thinke a sodaine dampe of love 5
Will through all their senses move,
And worke on them as mee, and so preferre
Your murder, to the name of Massacre.
Poore victories! But if you dare be brave,
And pleasure in your conquest have, 10
First kill th'enormous Gyant, your _Disdaine_,
And let th'enchantresse _Honor_, next be slaine,
And like a Goth and Vandall rize,
Deface Records, and Histories
Of your owne arts and triumphs over men, 15
And without such advantage kill me then.
For I could muster up as well as you
My Gyants, and my Witches too,
Which are vast _Constancy_, and _Secretnesse_,
But these I neyther looke for, nor professe; 20
Kill mee as Woman, let mee die
As a meere man; doe you but try
Your passive valor, and you shall finde than,
In that you'have odds enough of any man.
[The Dampe. _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[4 When] And _1669_
my _1633-39:_ mine _1650-69_]
[9 victories! _1650-69:_ victories; _1633-39_]
[10 your] the _1669_
conquest] conquests _JC_]
[13 and Vandall _1633-54_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ or Vandall _1669_,
_Chambers_]
[15 arts] acts _1669_, _JC_]
[20 professe; _Ed:_ professe, _1633-69_]
[24 In that _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ Naked _1635-69_, _B_,
_D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _JC_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_]
_The Dissolution. _
Shee'is dead; And all which die
To their first Elements resolve;
And wee were mutuall Elements to us,
And made of one another.
My body then doth hers involve, 5
And those things whereof I consist, hereby
In me abundant grow, and burdenous,
And nourish not, but smother.
My fire of Passion, sighes of ayre,
Water of teares, and earthly sad despaire, 10
Which my materialls bee,
But neere worne out by loves securitie,
Shee, to my losse, doth by her death repaire,
And I might live long wretched so
But that my fire doth with my fuell grow. 15
Now as those Active Kings
Whose foraine conquest treasure brings,
Receive more, and spend more, and soonest breake:
This (which I am amaz'd that I can speake)
This death, hath with my store 20
My use encreas'd.
And so my soule more earnestly releas'd,
Will outstrip hers; As bullets flowen before
A latter bullet may o'rtake, the pouder being more.
[The Dissolution. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[10 earthly _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ earthy _1635-69_]
[12 neere _1635-69_ (But . . . securitie _bracketed 1669_): ne'r
_1633_]
[24 latter] later _1669_]
_A Ieat Ring Sent. _
Thou art not so black, as my heart,
Nor halfe so brittle, as her heart, thou art;
What would'st thou say? shall both our properties by thee bee spoke,
Nothing more endlesse, nothing sooner broke?
Marriage rings are not of this stuffe; 5
Oh, why should ought lesse precious, or lesse tough
Figure our loves? Except in thy name thou have bid it say,
I'am cheap, and nought but fashion, fling me'away.
Yet stay with mee since thou art come,
Circle this fingers top, which did'st her thombe. 10
Be justly proud, and gladly safe, that thou dost dwell with me,
She that, Oh, broke her faith, would soon breake thee.
[A Ieat Ring sent. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_, _TCD:_
To a Jeat Ring sent to me. _W_ (_among the_ Epigrams)]
[7 loves] love _O'F_ say, _Ed:_ say _1633-69_]
_Negative love. _
I never stoop'd so low, as they
Which on an eye, cheeke, lip, can prey,
Seldome to them, which soare no higher
Then vertue or the minde to'admire,
For sense, and understanding may 5
Know, what gives fuell to their fire:
My love, though silly, is more brave,
For may I misse, when ere I crave,
If I know yet, what I would have.
If that be simply perfectest 10
Which can by no way be exprest
But _Negatives_, my love is so.
To All, which all love, I say no.
If any who deciphers best,
What we know not, our selves, can know, 15
Let him teach mee that nothing; This
As yet my ease, and comfort is,
Though I speed not, I cannot misse.
[Negative love. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ Negative
Love: or the Nothing. _O'F:_ The Nothing. _A25_, _C_]
[4 to'admire, _1633-39:_ to'admire; _1650-69_]
[5 For] Both _A25_, _C_]
[11 way] means _1669_, _O'F_]
[16 nothing; _1633:_ nothing. _1635-69_]
_The Prohibition.
_S_, _S96:_ _no title_, _JC_]
[9 paining _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_,
_S96_, _TC:_ vexing _1635-69_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_]
[10 working _1633 and MSS. as above:_ active _1635-69 and MSS.
as above_]
[11 pure, and] pure an _1669_, _O'F_]
[14 do. ] do _1633_]
[18-19 Starres . . . showne. Gentle love _Ed:_ Starres . . .
showne, Gentle love _1633-69:_
Stars are not by the sunne enlarg'd; but showne
Greater; Loves deeds
_P_. _See note_]
[24 thee. _Ed:_ thee, _1633-69_]
[28 the _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_,
_S96_, _TC:_ this _1635-69_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_]
_Loves exchange. _
_Love_, any devill else but you,
Would for a given Soule give something too.
At Court your fellowes every day,
Give th'art of Riming, Huntsmanship, or Play,
For them which were their owne before; 5
Onely I have nothing which gave more,
But am, alas, by being lowly, lower.
I aske no dispensation now
To falsifie a teare, or sigh, or vow,
I do not sue from thee to draw 10
A _non obstante_ on natures law,
These are prerogatives, they inhere
In thee and thine; none should forsweare
Except that hee _Loves_ minion were.
Give mee thy weaknesse, make mee blinde, 15
Both wayes, as thou and thine, in eies and minde;
Love, let me never know that this
Is love, or, that love childish is;
Let me not know that others know
That she knowes my paines, least that so 20
A tender shame make me mine owne new woe.
If thou give nothing, yet thou'art just,
Because I would not thy first motions trust;
Small townes which stand stiffe, till great shot
Enforce them, by warres law _condition_ not. 25
Such in loves warfare is my case,
I may not article for grace,
Having put Love at last to shew this face.
This face, by which he could command
And change the Idolatrie of any land, 30
This face, which wheresoe'r it comes,
Can call vow'd men from cloisters, dead from tombes,
And melt both Poles at once, and store
Deserts with cities, and make more
Mynes in the earth, then Quarries were before. 35
For this, Love is enrag'd with mee,
Yet kills not. If I must example bee
To future Rebells; If th'unborne
Must learne, by my being cut up, and torne:
Kill, and dissect me, Love; for this 40
Torture against thine owne end is,
Rack't carcasses make ill Anatomies.
[Loves exchange. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no
title_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_]
[4 or] and _most MSS. _
Play _D:_ play _1633-69_]
[9 or sigh, or vow, _1633-54:_ a sigh, a vow, _1669_]
[18 is; _Ed:_ is. _1633-69_]
[20 paines] paine _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_O'F_, _P_, _TC_]
[21 _1669 omits_ new]
[28 Love _D:_ love _1633-69_
this] his _1669_]
[36 For this, _Ed:_ For, this _1633-69_
Love _D:_ love _1633-69_]
[37 not. If _Ed:_ not; if _1633-39:_ not: if _1650-69_]
_Confined Love. _
Some man unworthy to be possessor
Of old or new love, himselfe being false or weake,
Thought his paine and shame would be lesser,
If on womankind he might his anger wreake,
And thence a law did grow, 5
One might but one man know;
But are other creatures so?
Are Sunne, Moone, or Starres by law forbidden,
To smile where they list, or lend away their light?
Are birds divorc'd, or are they chidden 10
If they leave their mate, or lie abroad a night?
Beasts doe no joyntures lose
Though they new lovers choose,
But we are made worse then those.
Who e'r rigg'd faire ship to lie in harbors, 15
And not to seeke new lands, or not to deale withall?
Or built faire houses, set trees, and arbors,
Only to lock up, or else to let them fall?
Good is not good, unlesse
A thousand it possesse, 20
But doth wast with greedinesse.
[Confined Love _1635-69:_ _no title_, _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_,
_H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ To the
worthiest of all my lovers. _Cy:_ To the of all my loves my
virtuous mistriss. _P_]
[3 his] this _1669_
lesser] the lesser _A18_, _Cy_, _JC_, _P_]
[6 might _1633-69:_ should _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _O'F_, _S_, _TC_]
[9 lend] bend _1669_]
[11 mate, _1633-39:_ meate, _1650:_ meat, _1669_
a night (_i. e. _ a-night) _1633-54:_ all night _1669_]
[12 Beasts] Beast _1635_]
[15 ship] ships _1669_, _Chambers_]
[16 seeke new lands _1633-35 and MSS. :_ seeke lands _1639-69_,
_Chambers, whose note is incorrect_
withall _1633:_ with all _1635-69_]
[17 built _1633-35:_ build _1639-69_]
_The Dreame. _
Deare love, for nothing lesse then thee
Would I have broke this happy dreame,
It was a theame
For reason, much too strong for phantasie,
Therefore thou wakd'st me wisely; yet 5
My Dreame thou brok'st not, but continued'st it,
Thou art so truth, that thoughts of thee suffice,
To make dreames truths; and fables histories;
Enter these armes, for since thou thoughtst it best,
Not to dreame all my dreame, let's act the rest. 10
As lightning, or a Tapers light,
Thine eyes, and not thy noise wak'd mee;
Yet I thought thee
(For thou lovest truth) an Angell, at first sight,
But when I saw thou sawest my heart, 15
And knew'st my thoughts, beyond an Angels art,
When thou knew'st what I dreamt, when thou knew'st when
Excesse of joy would wake me, and cam'st then,
I must confesse, it could not chuse but bee
Prophane, to thinke thee any thing but thee. 20
Comming and staying show'd thee, thee,
But rising makes me doubt, that now,
Thou art not thou.
That love is weake, where feare's as strong as hee;
'Tis not all spirit, pure, and brave, 25
If mixture it of _Feare_, _Shame_, _Honor_, have.
Perchance as torches which must ready bee,
Men light and put out, so thou deal'st with mee,
Thou cam'st to kindle, goest to come; Then I
Will dreame that hope againe, but else would die. 30
[The Dreame. _1633-69:_ _do. or similarly_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_,
_C_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _RP31_,
_S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[6 brok'st . . . continued'st] breakest . . . continuest _1669_,
_A25_, _C_, _P_, _S_]
[7 so truth, _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_TC:_ so true, _1635-69_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S_. _See note_]
[10 act] doe _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_]
[14 an Angell,] but an Angell, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _N_, _TC_]
[16 thoughts,] _om. comma Grolier and Chambers_. _See Note_]
[17 then thou knew'st when _1669_]
[19 must] doe _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _P_, _TC_]
[20 Prophane,] Profaness _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_S96_, _TC_]
[24 feare's as strong _1635-54_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _TCC:_ feares are strong _1669_, _B_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S_, _S96:_ feare is strong, _N_, _TCD_]
[26 have. _1669:_ have; _1633-54_]
[29 cam'st] com'st _1669_
Then I] Thus I _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _TC_
(_RP31 agrees with this group throughout_)]
_A Valediction: of weeping. _
Let me powre forth
My teares before thy face, whil'st I stay here,
For thy face coines them, and thy stampe they beare,
And by this Mintage they are something worth,
For thus they bee 5
Pregnant of thee;
Fruits of much griefe they are, emblemes of more,
When a teare falls, that thou falst which it bore,
So thou and I are nothing then, when on a divers shore.
On a round ball 10
A workeman that hath copies by, can lay
An Europe, Afrique, and an Asia,
And quickly make that, which was nothing, _All_,
So doth each teare,
Which thee doth weare, 15
A globe, yea world by that impression grow,
Till thy teares mixt with mine doe overflow
This world, by waters sent from thee, my heaven dissolved so.
O more then Moone,
Draw not up seas to drowne me in thy spheare, 20
Weepe me not dead, in thine armes, but forbeare
To teach the sea, what it may doe too soone;
Let not the winde
Example finde,
To doe me more harme, then it purposeth; 25
Since thou and I sigh one anothers breath,
Who e'r sighes most, is cruellest, and hasts the others death.
[A Valediction: of _&c. _ _Ed:_ A Valediction of weeping.
_1633-69:_ Valediction of Weeping. _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_
A Valediction. _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec:_ A
Valediction of Teares. _Cy_, _S_, _S96:_ Valediction 2. Of
Tears. _O'F:_ _no title_, _JC_]
[3 beare, _1633:_ beare; _1635-69_]
[6 thee; _Ed:_ thee, _1633-69_]
[8 falst _1633-69:_ falls _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _N_, _S_, _TC_]
[9 shore. ] shore, _1633_]
[13 _All_, _1633:_ _All_ _1635:_ _All. _ _1639:_ _All:_
_1650-69_]
[16 world] would _1669_]
[20 up seas] thy seas _1669_]
[22 soone; _Ed:_ soone, _1633-69_]
[25 purposeth; _Ed:_ purposeth, _1633-69_]
_Loves Alchymie. _
Some that have deeper digg'd loves Myne then I,
Say, where his centrique happinesse doth lie:
I have lov'd, and got, and told,
But should I love, get, tell, till I were old,
I should not finde that hidden mysterie; 5
Oh, 'tis imposture all:
And as no chymique yet th'Elixar got,
But glorifies his pregnant pot,
If by the way to him befall
Some odoriferous thing, or medicinall, 10
So, lovers dreame a rich and long delight,
But get a winter-seeming summers night.
Our ease, our thrift, our honor, and our day,
Shall we, for this vaine Bubles shadow pay?
Ends love in this, that my man, 15
Can be as happy'as I can; If he can
Endure the short scorne of a Bridegroomes play?
That loving wretch that sweares,
'Tis not the bodies marry, but the mindes,
Which he in her Angelique findes, 20
Would sweare as justly, that he heares,
In that dayes rude hoarse minstralsey, the spheares.
Hope not for minde in women; at their best
Sweetnesse and wit, they'are but _Mummy_, possest.
[Loves Alchymie. _1633-69:_ Mummye. _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_ (or Alchymy. _added in a later
hand_), _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD:_
Elegie. _P:_ _no title_, _A25_]
[14 Bubles] Bubless _1669_]
[15 my _1633-69 and MSS. :_ any _S96_, _1855_, _and Grolier_
(_perhaps from some copy of 1633_)]
[23-4 _punctuation from MSS:_
at their best,
Sweetnesse, and wit they'are, but, _Mummy_, possest.
_1633-54:_ _1669 omits all punctuation in these lines_]
_The Flea. _
Marke but this flea, and marke in this,
How little that which thou deny'st me is;
It suck'd me first, and now sucks thee,
And in this flea, our two bloods mingled bee;
Thou know'st that this cannot be said 5
A sinne, nor shame, nor losse of maidenhead,
Yet this enjoyes before it wooe,
And pamper'd swells with one blood made of two,
And this, alas, is more then wee would doe.
Oh stay, three lives in one flea spare, 10
Where wee almost, yea more then maryed are.
This flea is you and I, and this
Our mariage bed, and mariage temple is;
Though parents grudge, and you, w'are met,
And cloysterd in these living walls of Jet. 15
Though use make you apt to kill mee,
Let not to that, selfe murder added bee,
And sacrilege, three sinnes in killing three.
Cruell and sodaine, hast thou since
Purpled thy naile, in blood of innocence? 20
Wherein could this flea guilty bee,
Except in that drop which it suckt from thee?
Yet thou triumph'st, and saist that thou
Find'st not thy selfe, nor mee the weaker now;
'Tis true, then learne how false, feares bee; 25
Just so much honor, when thou yeeld'st to mee,
Will wast, as this flea's death tooke life from thee.
[The Flea _is placed here in the 1633 edition:_ _1635-69 place
it at beginning of_ Songs and Sonets: The Flea. _or no title_,
_A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[3 It suckt mee first, _1633-54_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S96:_
Mee it suck'd first, _1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_,
_L74_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TC_
and now sucks] and now it sucks _1669_]
[5 Thou know'st that _1633-54_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ Confess it.
This cannot be said _1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _H40_,
_L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]
[6 nor shame, nor losse _1633-54_ (shame _1633_), _D_, _H49_,
_Lec:_ or shame, or loss _1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_,
_H40_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TC_]
[9 would] could _1669_]
[11: yea, _1633-54_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ nay, _1669_, _A18_,
_A25_, _B_, _C_, _H40_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TC_]
[16 you] thee _A18_, _Cy_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]
[21 Wherein] In what _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _L74_, _N_,
_O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]
[22 drop] blood _1669_]
_The Curse. _
Who ever guesses, thinks, or dreames he knowes
Who is my mistris, wither by this curse;
His only, and only his purse
May some dull heart to love dispose,
And shee yeeld then to all that are his foes; 5
May he be scorn'd by one, whom all else scorne,
Forsweare to others, what to her he'hath sworne,
With feare of missing, shame of getting, torne:
Madnesse his sorrow, gout his cramp, may hee
Make, by but thinking, who hath made him such: 10
And may he feele no touch
Of conscience, but of fame, and bee
Anguish'd, not that'twas sinne, but that'twas shee:
In early and long scarcenesse may he rot,
For land which had been his, if he had not 15
Himselfe incestuously an heire begot:
May he dreame Treason, and beleeve, that hee
Meant to performe it, and confesse, and die,
And no record tell why:
His sonnes, which none of his may bee, 20
Inherite nothing but his infamie:
Or may he so long Parasites have fed,
That he would faine be theirs, whom he hath bred,
And at the last be circumcis'd for bread:
The venom of all stepdames, gamsters gall, 25
What Tyrans, and their subjects interwish,
What Plants, Mynes, Beasts, Foule, Fish,
Can contribute, all ill which all
Prophets, or Poets spake; And all which shall
Be annex'd in schedules unto this by mee, 30
Fall on that man; For if it be a shee
Nature before hand hath out-cursed mee.
[The Curse. _1633-69:_ A Curse. _or_ The Curse. _A18_, _A25_,
_B_, _C_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_,
_S_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ Dirae. _P_, _Q_]
[2 curse] course _1669_]
[3 His only, and only his purse _1633-54_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_,
_C_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_,
_TC:_ Him, only for his purse _1669_, _Chambers:_ His one and
his onely purse _P_]
[4 heart _1633-54 and MSS. :_ whore _1669 and Chambers_]
[5 And she yeeld then to _1633-54 and MSS. :_ And then yield
unto _1669_, _Chambers_]
[8 getting, _Ed:_ getting _1633-69_
torne: _Ed:_ torne; _1633-54:_ torne. _1669_. _Compare_ 16
_and_ 24]
[9 cramp,] cramps, _1669_, _Chambers_, _and most MSS. _]
[10 him _1633-54 and MSS. :_ them _1669_, _Chambers_]
[12 fame,] shame; _A18_, _A25_, _N_, _P_, _TC_]
[14-16 In early and long scarceness . . . an heire begot:
_1633_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_ (_which gives
alternate version in margin_), _S:_
Or may he for her vertue reverence
One that hates him onely for impotence,
And equall Traitors be she and his sense.
_1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _C_, _JC_, _N_, _P_, _Q_, _S_, _TC_]
[18 Meant] Went _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[26 Tyrans, _1633-35:_ Tyrants, _1639:_ tyrants, _1650-69_]
[27 Mynes, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _H40_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_,
_P_, _Q_, _S_, _TC:_ Myne, _1633-69_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_]
[28 ill _1669:_ ill, _1633-54_]
_The Message. _
Send home my long strayd eyes to mee,
Which (Oh) too long have dwelt on thee;
Yet since there they have learn'd such ill,
Such forc'd fashions,
And false passions, 5
That they be
Made by thee
Fit for no good sight, keep them still.
Send home my harmlesse heart againe,
Which no unworthy thought could staine; 10
But if it be taught by thine
To make jestings
Of protestings,
And crosse both
Word and oath, 15
Keepe it, for then 'tis none of mine.
Yet send me back my heart and eyes,
That I may know, and see thy lyes,
And may laugh and joy, when thou
Art in anguish 20
And dost languish
For some one
That will none,
Or prove as false as thou art now.
[The Message. _1635-69:_ _no title_, _1633:_ Song. _or no
title_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S_,
_S96:_ Sonnet. _P:_ Songes w^{ch} were made to _&c. _ (_vid.
sup. _ _p. _ 18) _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[2 thee; _Ed:_ thee, _1633-69_]
[3 But if they there _1669_, _S_]
[10 staine;] staine, _1633-69_]
[11 But _1635-69:_ Which _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _D_, _H49_,
_Lec_, _N_, _TC_]
[14 crosse, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ breake _1633-69_]
[16 Keep it still 'tis _1669_]
[19 And may laugh, when that Thou _D_, _H49_, _Lec_]
[24 art now. ] dost now. _1669_]
_A nocturnall upon S. _ Lucies _day,_
_Being the shortest day. _
Tis the yeares midnight, and it is the dayes,
_Lucies_, who scarce seaven houres herself unmaskes,
The Sunne is spent, and now his flasks
Send forth light squibs, no constant rayes;
The worlds whole sap is sunke: 5
The generall balme th'hydroptique earth hath drunk,
Whither, as to the beds-feet, life is shrunke,
Dead and enterr'd; yet all these seeme to laugh,
Compar'd with mee, who am their Epitaph.
Study me then, you who shall lovers bee 10
At the next world, that is, at the next Spring:
For I am every dead thing,
In whom love wrought new Alchimie.
For his art did expresse
A quintessence even from nothingnesse, 15
From dull privations, and leane emptinesse:
He ruin'd mee, and I am re-begot
Of absence, darknesse, death; things which are not.
All others, from all things, draw all that's good,
Life, soule, forme, spirit, whence they beeing have; 20
I, by loves limbecke, am the grave
Of all, that's nothing. Oft a flood
Have wee two wept, and so
Drownd the whole world, us two; oft did we grow
To be two Chaosses, when we did show 25
Care to ought else; and often absences
Withdrew our soules, and made us carcasses.
But I am by her death, (which word wrongs her)
Of the first nothing, the Elixer grown;
Were I a man, that I were one, 30
I needs must know; I should preferre,
If I were any beast,
Some ends, some means; Yea plants, yea stones detest,
And love; All, all some properties invest;
If I an ordinary nothing were, 35
As shadow, a light, and body must be here.
But I am None; nor will my Sunne renew.
You lovers, for whose sake, the lesser Sunne
At this time to the Goat is runne
To fetch new lust, and give it you, 40
Enjoy your summer all;
Since shee enjoyes her long nights festivall,
Let mee prepare towards her, and let mee call
This houre her Vigill, and her Eve, since this
Both the yeares, and the dayes deep midnight is. 45
[A nocturnal _&c. _ _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[7 beds-feet,] beds-feet _1633-69_]
[12 every _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_ (_altered to_ a very),
_TC:_ a very _1635-69_]
[16 emptinesse: _1719:_ emptinesse; _Chambers and Grolier:_
emptinesse _1633-54:_ emptinesse, _1669_. _See note_]
[20 have; _Ed:_ have, _1633-69_. ]
[31 know;] know, _1633_]
[32 beast,] beast; _Grolier_]
[34 love; All, all _Ed:_ love, all, all _1633-69_
invest; _Ed:_ invest, _1633:_ invest _1635-69_]
[37 renew. _1633:_ renew, _1635-69_]
[41 all; _Ed:_ all, _1633-69 and Chambers, who places a full
stop after_ festivall]
[44 Eve, _1650-69:_ eve, _1633-39_]
_Witchcraft by a picture. _
I fixe mine eye on thine, and there
Pitty my picture burning in thine eye,
My picture drown'd in a transparent teare,
When I looke lower I espie;
Hadst thou the wicked skill 5
By pictures made and mard, to kill,
How many wayes mightst thou performe thy will?
But now I have drunke thy sweet salt teares,
And though thou poure more I'll depart;
My picture vanish'd, vanish feares, 10
That I can be endamag'd by that art;
Though thou retaine of mee
One picture more, yet that will bee,
Being in thine owne heart, from all malice free.
[Witchcraft _&c. _ _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ The
Picture. _or_ Picture. _Cy_, _JC_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96:_ A Songe.
_B_]
[4 espie; _Ed:_ espie, _1633-69_]
[6 to kill, _Ed:_ to kill? _1633-39:_ to kill; _1650-69_]
[9 And though] Although _1669_ And though thou therefore poure
more will depart; _B_, _H40_]
[10 vanish'd, vanish feares, _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _H40_,
_JC_, _N_, _P_, _S96_, _TC:_ vanished, vanish all feares
_1635-54_, _O'F:_ vanish, vanish fears, _1669_]
[11 that] thy _JC_, _O'F_, _S96_]
[14 all] thy _B_, _H40_, _S96_]
_The Baite. _
Come live with mee, and bee my love,
And wee will some new pleasures prove
Of golden sands, and christall brookes,
With silken lines, and silver hookes.
There will the river whispering runne 5
Warm'd by thy eyes, more then the Sunne.
And there the'inamor'd fish will stay,
Begging themselves they may betray.
When thou wilt swimme in that live bath,
Each fish, which every channell hath, 10
Will amorously to thee swimme,
Gladder to catch thee, then thou him.
If thou, to be so seene, beest loath,
By Sunne, or Moone, thou darknest both,
And if my selfe have leave to see, 15
I need not their light, having thee.
Let others freeze with angling reeds,
And cut their legges, with shells and weeds,
Or treacherously poore fish beset,
With strangling snare, or windowie net: 20
Let coarse bold hands, from slimy nest
The bedded fish in banks out-wrest,
Or curious traitors, sleavesilke flies
Bewitch poore fishes wandring eyes.
For thee, thou needst no such deceit, 25
For thou thy selfe art thine owne bait;
That fish, that is not catch'd thereby,
Alas, is wiser farre then I.
[The Baite. _1635-69:_ _no title_, _1633:_ Song. _or no
title_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _Walton's_
Compleate Angler: _Fourth Day:_ _Chap. XII. :_ Songs that were
made _&c. _ (_vid. sup. p. _ 18) _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[2 some new] all the _P_]
[3 brookes, _Ed:_ brookes: _1633-69_]
[5 whispering _1633:_ whispring _1635-69_]
[6 thy] thine _1669_, _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[7 inamor'd] enamelled _Walton_
stay] play _1669_]
[11 to] unto _JC_, _O'F_, _P:_ to see _N:_ Most amoroussly to
thee will swim _Walton_]
[15 my selfe] mine eyes _Walton:_ my heart _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[18 with] which _1633_]
[20 snare,] snares, _Walton_
windowie] winding _1669_. _See note_]
[23 Or _1633-69:_ Let _Walton_
sleavesilke _1635:_ sleave silke _1639-69 and Walton:_
sleavesicke _1633_]
[24 To witch poor wandring fishes eyes. _Walton_]
[25 thou needst] there needs _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S96_]
[26 bait; _Ed:_ bait, _1633-69_]
[27 catch'd _1633-69:_ catch't _Walton:_ caught _P_]
[28 Is wiser far, alas _Walton_]
_The Apparition. _
When by thy scorne, O murdresse, I am dead,
And that thou thinkst thee free
From all solicitation from mee,
Then shall my ghost come to thy bed,
And thee, fain'd vestall, in worse armes shall see; 5
Then thy sicke taper will begin to winke,
And he, whose thou art then, being tyr'd before,
Will, if thou stirre, or pinch to wake him, thinke
Thou call'st for more,
And in false sleepe will from thee shrinke, 10
And then poore Aspen wretch, neglected thou
Bath'd in a cold quicksilver sweat wilt lye
A veryer ghost then I;
What I will say, I will not tell thee now,
Lest that preserve thee'; and since my love is spent, 15
I'had rather thou shouldst painfully repent,
Then by my threatnings rest still innocent.
[The Apparition. _1633-69:_ _do. or_ An Apparition. _A18_,
_A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[2 that thou thinkst] thou shalt think _1669_]
[3 solicitation] solicitations _JC_, _O'F_]
[5 thee, . . . vestall, _Ed:_ thee . . . vestall _1633-39:_ thee
. . . Vestall _1650-69_]
[7 then] _1669 omits_]
[10 in false sleepe will from _1633_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_,
_S:_ in false sleepe from _1635-54:_ in a false sleepe even
from _1669:_ in a false sleepe from _A25_, _P:_ in a false
sleepe will from _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[13 I;] I, _1633, some copies_]
[17 rest still] keep thee _A25_, _Cy_, _JC_, _O'F_, _P_]
_The broken heart. _
He is starke mad, who ever sayes,
That he hath beene in love an houre,
Yet not that love so soone decayes,
But that it can tenne in lesse space devour;
Who will beleeve mee, if I sweare 5
That I have had the plague a yeare?
Who would not laugh at mee, if I should say,
I saw a flaske of _powder burne a day_?
Ah, what a trifle is a heart,
If once into loves hands it come! 10
All other griefes allow a part
To other griefes, and aske themselves but some;
They come to us, but us Love draws,
Hee swallows us, and never chawes:
By him, as by chain'd shot, whole rankes doe dye, 15
He is the tyran Pike, our hearts the Frye.
If 'twere not so, what did become
Of my heart, when I first saw thee?
I brought a heart into the roome,
But from the roome, I carried none with mee: 20
If it had gone to thee, I know
Mine would have taught thine heart to show
More pitty unto mee: but Love, alas,
At one first blow did shiver it as glasse.
Yet nothing can to nothing fall, 25
Nor any place be empty quite,
Therefore I thinke my breast hath all
Those peeces still, though they be not unite;
And now as broken glasses show
A hundred lesser faces, so 30
My ragges of heart can like, wish, and adore,
But after one such love, can love no more.
[The broken heart. _1633-69:_ Broken Heart. _L74:_ Song. _or
no title_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ Elegie. _P_, _S96_]
[8 flaske _1633_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _Lec_,
_O'F_ (_corrected from_ flash), _P_, _S:_ flash _1635-69_,
_A18_, _H49_, _N_, _TC_]
[10 come! _Ed:_ come? _1633-69_]
[12 some; _Ed:_ some, _1633-69_]
[15 chain'd shot] chain-shott _A18_, _A25_, _N_, _TC_]
[16 tyran] Tyrant _1669_
our hearts] and we _1669_]
[17 did] could _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _L74_, _O'F_, _N_,
_TC:_ would _B_, _Cy_, _M_, _S_]
[20 mee: _1650-69:_ mee; _1633-39_]
[23 alas,] alas _1633_]
[24 first] fierce _A18_, _B_, _N_, _TC_]
[30 hundred] thousand _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _L74_, _M_,
_N_, _P_, _S_, _TC_]
_A Valediction: forbidding mourning. _
As virtuous men passe mildly away,
And whisper to their soules, to goe,
Whilst some of their sad friends doe say,
The breath goes now, and some say, no:
So let us melt, and make no noise, 5
No teare-floods, nor sigh-tempests move,
T'were prophanation of our joyes
To tell the layetie our love.
Moving of th'earth brings harmes and feares,
Men reckon what it did and meant, 10
But trepidation of the spheares,
Though greater farre, is innocent.
Dull sublunary lovers love
(Whose soule is sense) cannot admit
Absence, because it doth remove 15
Those things which elemented it.
But we by a love, so much refin'd,
That our selves know not what it is,
Inter-assured of the mind,
Care lesse, eyes, lips, and hands to misse. 20
Our two soules therefore, which are one,
Though I must goe, endure not yet
A breach, but an expansion,
Like gold to ayery thinnesse beate.
If they be two, they are two so 25
As stiffe twin compasses are two,
Thy soule the fixt foot, makes no show
To move, but doth, if the'other doe.
And though it in the center sit,
Yet when the other far doth rome, 30
It leanes, and hearkens after it,
And growes erect, as that comes home.
Such wilt thou be to mee, who must
Like th'other foot, obliquely runne;
Thy firmnes makes my circle just,
And makes me end, where I begunne. 35
[A Valediction: forbidding _&c. _ _Ed:_ A Valediction
forbidding _&c.
_ _1633-69:_ Valediction forbidding _&c. _
_A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ Valediction agaynst _&c. _ _A25_,
_C:_ A Valediction. _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec:_ Vpon
the partinge from his Mistris. _O'F_, _S96:_ To his love upon
his departure from her. _JC:_ Elegie. _L74_, _P:_ _also in
Walton's_ Life of Donne (1675)]
[4 The breath goes now, _1633-54, and all the MSS. :_ Now his
breath goes, _1669_, _Chambers_
no: _Ed:_ no. _1633-54:_ No; _1669_]
[30 the other] my other _Walton_]
[31 It] Thine _Walton_]
[32 that] mine _Walton_]
[34 runne; _Ed:_ runne. _1633-69_]
[35 circle] circles _1639-54_]
[36 makes me] me to _Walton_]
_The Extasie. _
Where, like a pillow on a bed,
A Pregnant banke swel'd up, to rest
The violets reclining head,
Sat we two, one anothers best.
Our hands were firmely cimented 5
With a fast balme, which thence did spring,
Our eye-beames twisted, and did thred
Our eyes, upon one double string;
So to'entergraft our hands, as yet
Was all the meanes to make us one, 10
And pictures in our eyes to get
Was all our propagation.
As 'twixt two equall Armies, Fate
Suspends uncertaine victorie,
Our soules, (which to advance their state, 15
Were gone out,) hung 'twixt her, and mee.
And whil'st our soules negotiate there,
Wee like sepulchrall statues lay;
All day, the same our postures were,
And wee said nothing, all the day. 20
If any, so by love refin'd,
That he soules language understood,
And by good love were growen all minde,
Within convenient distance stood,
He (though he knew not which soule spake, 25
Because both meant, both spake the same)
Might thence a new concoction take,
And part farre purer then he came.
This Extasie doth unperplex
(We said) and tell us what we love, 30
Wee see by this, it was not sexe,
Wee see, we saw not what did move:
But as all severall soules containe
Mixture of things, they know not what,
Love, these mixt soules, doth mixe againe, 35
And makes both one, each this and that.
A single violet transplant,
The strength, the colour, and the size,
(All which before was poore, and scant,)
Redoubles still, and multiplies. 40
When love, with one another so
Interinanimates two soules,
That abler soule, which thence doth flow,
Defects of lonelinesse controules.
Wee then, who are this new soule, know, 45
Of what we are compos'd, and made,
For, th'Atomies of which we grow,
Are soules, whom no change can invade.
But O alas, so long, so farre
Our bodies why doe wee forbeare? 50
They are ours, though they are not wee, Wee are
The intelligences, they the spheare.
We owe them thankes, because they thus,
Did us, to us, at first convay,
Yeelded their forces, sense, to us, 55
Nor are drosse to us, but allay.
On man heavens influence workes not so,
But that it first imprints the ayre,
Soe soule into the soule may flow,
Though it to body first repaire. 60
As our blood labours to beget
Spirits, as like soules as it can,
Because such fingers need to knit
That subtile knot, which makes us man:
So must pure lovers soules descend 65
T'affections, and to faculties,
Which sense may reach and apprehend,
Else a great Prince in prison lies.
To'our bodies turne wee then, that so
Weake men on love reveal'd may looke; 70
Loves mysteries in soules doe grow,
But yet the body is his booke.
And if some lover, such as wee,
Have heard this dialogue of one,
Let him still marke us, he shall see 75
Small change, when we'are to bodies gone.
[The Extasie. _1633-69:_ _do. or_ Extasie. _A18_, _A25_, _B_,
_D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_,
_TCC_, _TCD_]
[3 reclining _1633-54:_ declining _1669_]
[4 best. _Ed:_ best; _1633-54_
Sate we on one anothers breasts. _1669_]
[6 With _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_P_, _S_, _TC:_ By _1635-69_, _Chambers_]
[8 string; _Ed:_ string, _1633-69_]
[9 to'entergraft _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_,
_N_, _P_, _S_, _TC:_ to engraft _1635-69_, _A25_, _JC_, _O'F_,
_Chambers_]
[11 in _1633-69_, _P:_ on _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TC_]
[15 their _1633 and most MSS. :_ our _1635-69_, _O'F_, _P_]
[18 lay; _Ed:_ lay, _1633-69_]
[25 knew _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_,
_N_, _P_, _TC:_ knowes _1633_, _D_, _Lec_]
[29 doth] do _1669_]
[31 sexe, _1669:_ sexe _1633-54_]
[42 Interinanimates _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TC:_ Interanimates _1633-69_, _D_, _Lec_]
[44 loneliness] loveliness _1669_]
[46 made, _1633-39:_ made: _1650-69_]
[47 Atomies _1633-54:_ Atomes _1669_]
[48 are soules, _1633_, _1669:_ are soule, _1635-54_]
[51 though they are not _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ though not
_1633-69_]
[52 spheare. _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ spheares. _1633-69_]
[55 forces, sense, _A18_, _A25_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ senses force _1633-69_]
[59 Soe _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _H40_, _JC_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _S96_,
_TC:_ For _1633-69_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_]
[64 makes] make _1635-39_]
[72 his] the _1669_]
[76 gone. _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_O'F_, _S_, _TC:_ growne. _1635-69_, _P_, _S96_]
_Loves Deitie. _
I long to talke with some old lovers ghost,
Who dyed before the god of Love was borne:
I cannot thinke that hee, who then lov'd most,
Sunke so low, as to love one which did scorne.
But since this god produc'd a destinie, 5
And that vice-nature, custome, lets it be;
I must love her, that loves not mee.
Sure, they which made him god, meant not so much,
Nor he, in his young godhead practis'd it;
But when an even flame two hearts did touch, 10
His office was indulgently to fit
Actives to passives. Correspondencie
Only his subject was; It cannot bee
Love, till I love her, that loves mee.
But every moderne god will now extend 15
His vast prerogative, as far as Jove.
To rage, to lust, to write to, to commend,
All is the purlewe of the God of Love.
Oh were wee wak'ned by this Tyrannie
To ungod this child againe, it could not bee 20
I should love her, who loves not mee.
Rebell and Atheist too, why murmure I,
As though I felt the worst that love could doe?
Love might make me leave loving, or might trie
A deeper plague, to make her love mee too, 25
Which, since she loves before, I'am loth to see;
Falshood is worse then hate; and that must bee,
If shee whom I love, should love mee.
[Loves Deitie. _1633-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_,
_TCD:_ Elegye. _P_]
[8 much, _1639-69:_ much: _1633:_ much? _1635_]
[9 it; _Ed:_ it. _1633-69_]
[13 subject] _Subject 1669_]
[14 Love, . . . mee. _1633_, _1669_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H40_ (who), _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _S_ (lov'd), _TCD:_
Love, if I love, who loves not me. _1635-54_, _O'F_]
[19 Oh . . . wak'ned] Were we not weak'ned _1669_]
[21 That I should love, who loves not me. _A18_, _A25_, _C_,
_Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _S96_,
_TC:_ _O'F reads as these but alters to as in printed edd. _]
[24 might make _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_JC_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ may make _1633-69_,
_Lec_]
[26 Which,] Which _1633_]
_Loves diet. _
To what a combersome unwieldinesse
And burdenous corpulence my love had growne,
But that I did, to make it lesse,
And keepe it in proportion,
Give it a diet, made it feed upon 5
That which love worst endures, _discretion_.
Above one sigh a day I'allow'd him not,
Of which my fortune, and my faults had part;
And if sometimes by stealth he got
A she sigh from my mistresse heart, 10
And thought to feast on that, I let him see
'Twas neither very sound, nor meant to mee.
If he wroung from mee'a teare, I brin'd it so
With scorne or shame, that him it nourish'd not;
If he suck'd hers, I let him know 15
'Twas not a teare, which hee had got,
His drinke was counterfeit, as was his meat;
For, eyes which rowle towards all, weepe not, but sweat.
What ever he would dictate, I writ that,
But burnt my letters; When she writ to me, 20
And that that favour made him fat,
I said, if any title bee
Convey'd by this, Ah, what doth it availe,
To be the fortieth name in an entaile?
Thus I reclaim'd my buzard love, to flye 25
At what, and when, and how, and where I chuse;
Now negligent of sport I lye,
And now as other Fawkners use,
I spring a mistresse, sweare, write, sigh and weepe:
And the game kill'd, or lost, goe talke, and sleepe. 30
[Loves diet. _1633-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _TCC_ (_torn
out of TCD_): Amoris Dieta. _S96_]
[12 mee. _Ed:_ mee; _1633-35:_ mee: _1639-69_]
[18 For,] Her _1669_]
[19 Whatever . . . that, _1633-39_, _1669:_ Whate'er might him
distast I still writ that, _1650-54:_ Whatsoever hee would
distast I writt that, _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[20 But burnt my letters; When she writ to me, _1633:_ But
burnt her letters when she writ to me, _1635:_ But burnt her
letters when she writ to me; _1639-54_, _Chambers:_ But burnt
my letters which she writ to me; _1669_]
[21 that that _1633:_ if that _1635-69_. _See note_]
[24 name] man _1669_]
[25 reclaim'd _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCC:_ redeem'd _1633_, _Lec_]
[26 chuse] chose _1669_]
[27 sport _1635-69_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC:_ sports, _1633_]
[30 and _1633 and most MSS. :_ or _1635-69_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _S_]
_The Will. _
Before I sigh my last gaspe, let me breath,
Great love, some Legacies; Here I bequeath
Mine eyes to _Argus_, if mine eyes can see,
If they be blinde, then Love, I give them thee;
My tongue to Fame; to'Embassadours mine eares; 5
To women or the sea, my teares.
Thou, Love, hast taught mee heretofore
By making mee serve her who'had twenty more,
That I should give to none, but such, as had too much before.
My constancie I to the planets give; 10
My truth to them, who at the Court doe live;
Mine ingenuity and opennesse,
To Jesuites; to Buffones my pensivenesse;
My silence to'any, who abroad hath beene;
My mony to a Capuchin. 15
Thou Love taught'st me, by appointing mee
To love there, where no love receiv'd can be,
Onely to give to such as have an incapacitie.
My faith I give to Roman Catholiques;
All my good works unto the Schismaticks 20
Of Amsterdam; my best civility
And Courtship, to an Universitie;
My modesty I give to souldiers bare;
My patience let gamesters share.
Thou Love taughtst mee, by making mee 25
Love her that holds my love disparity,
Onely to give to those that count my gifts indignity.
I give my reputation to those
Which were my friends; Mine industrie to foes;
To Schoolemen I bequeath my doubtfulnesse; 30
My sicknesse to Physitians, or excesse;
To Nature, all that I in Ryme have writ;
And to my company my wit.
Thou Love, by making mee adore
Her, who begot this love in mee before, 35
Taughtst me to make, as though I gave, when I did but restore.
To him for whom the passing bell next tolls,
I give my physick bookes; my writen rowles
Of Morall counsels, I to Bedlam give;
My brazen medals, unto them which live 40
In want of bread; To them which passe among
All forrainers, mine English tongue.
Thou, Love, by making mee love one
Who thinkes her friendship a fit portion
For yonger lovers, dost my gifts thus disproportion. 45
Therefore I'll give no more; But I'll undoe
The world by dying; because love dies too.
Then all your beauties will bee no more worth
Then gold in Mines, where none doth draw it forth;
And all your graces no more use shall have 50
Then a Sun dyall in a grave.
Thou Love taughtst mee, by making mee
Love her, who doth neglect both mee and thee,
To'invent, and practise this one way, to'annihilate all three.
[The Will. _1633-69:_ _do. or_ A Will. _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_,
_D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _M_, _O'F_, _P:_ Loves Will. _L74:_
Loves Legacies. _A18_, _N_, _TCC_ (_torn out of TCD_), _S:_
Testamentum. _S96:_ His Last Will and Testament. _JC_]
[2 Here I _1633-54:_ I here _1669_, _Chambers_]
[6 teares. _Ed:_ teares; _1633-69_]
[8 serve her] love her _1669_]
[10 give; _Ed:_ give, _1633-69_]
[10-27 _These stanzas printed without a break, 1669_]
[14 hath] have _1669_]
[18 an incapacitie. ] no good Capacity. _1669_]
[19-27 _omitted_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_,
_JC_, _L74_ (_added later_), _Lec_, _M_ (_added later_), _N_,
_P_, _TCC:_ _given in O'F_, _S_, _and all editions_]
[33 wit. _Ed:_ wit; _1633-69_]
[34 Love, _1650-69:_ love, _1633-39_]
[36 did _1633 and MSS. :_ do _1635-69_, _O'F_]
[45 gifts _1633-35_, _1669:_ gift _1639-54_]
[46 more; But _1633:_ more, but _1635-69_]
[49-51 forth; . . . grave. _1669:_ forth . . . grave, _1633-39 by
interchange:_ forth . . . grave. _1650-54_]
[54 all three. _1633-39_, three _being below the line in 1633
and above in 1635-39:_ al. three _1650-54_, _the full stop
having fallen from_ three _to_ all _below it:_ annihilate
thee. _1669_]
_The Funerall. _
Who ever comes to shroud me, do not harme
Nor question much
That subtile wreath of haire, which crowns my arme;
The mystery, the signe you must not touch,
For 'tis my outward Soule, 5
Viceroy to that, which then to heaven being gone,
Will leave this to controule,
And keepe these limbes, her Provinces, from dissolution.
For if the sinewie thread my braine lets fall
Through every part, 10
Can tye those parts, and make mee one of all;
These haires which upward grew, and strength and art
Have from a better braine,
Can better do'it; Except she meant that I
By this should know my pain, 15
As prisoners then are manacled, when they'are condemn'd to die.
What ere shee meant by'it, bury it with me,
For since I am
Loves martyr, it might breed idolatrie,
If into others hands these Reliques came; 20
As'twas humility
To afford to it all that a Soule can doe,
So,'tis some bravery,
That since you would save none of mee, I bury some of you.
[The Funerall. _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[3 which . . . arme;] about mine arm; _1669_]
[6 then to _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ unto _1633-69_]
[12 These _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _N_, _S_ (The),
_S96_, _TC:_ Those _1633-69_, _Lec_, _O'F_ grew, _1633-39:_
grow, _1650-69_]
[16 condemn'd] condem'nd _1633_]
[17 with me, _1635-69 and MSS. :_ by me, _1633_]
[24 save _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _TC:_
have _1633-69_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S96:_ _om. S_]
_The Blossome. _
Little think'st thou, poore flower,
Whom I have watch'd sixe or seaven dayes,
And seene thy birth, and seene what every houre
Gave to thy growth, thee to this height to raise,
And now dost laugh and triumph on this bough, 5
Little think'st thou
That it will freeze anon, and that I shall
To morrow finde thee falne, or not at all.
Little think'st thou poore heart
That labour'st yet to nestle thee, 10
And think'st by hovering here to get a part
In a forbidden or forbidding tree,
And hop'st her stiffenesse by long siege to bow:
Little think'st thou,
That thou to morrow, ere that Sunne doth wake, 15
Must with this Sunne, and mee a journey take.
But thou which lov'st to bee
Subtile to plague thy selfe, wilt say,
Alas, if you must goe, what's that to mee?
Here lyes my businesse, and here I will stay: 20
You goe to friends, whose love and meanes present
Various content
To your eyes, eares, and tongue, and every part.
If then your body goe, what need you a heart?
Well then, stay here; but know, 25
When thou hast stayd and done thy most;
A naked thinking heart, that makes no show,
Is to a woman, but a kinde of Ghost;
How shall shee know my heart; or having none,
Know thee for one? 30
Practise may make her know some other part,
But take my word, shee doth not know a Heart.
Meet mee at London, then,
Twenty dayes hence, and thou shalt see
Mee fresher, and more fat, by being with men, 35
Then if I had staid still with her and thee.
For Gods sake, if you can, be you so too:
I would give you
There, to another friend, whom wee shall finde
As glad to have my body, as my minde. 40
[The Blossome. _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no title_, _A25_]
[9-13 poore heart . . . bow:] _in brackets 1650-69_]
[10 labour'st _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ labourest _1635-69:_ labours
_1633_]
[15 that Sunne _1633:_ the Sunne _1635-69_]
[18 wilt] will _1669_]
[23 tongue _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _S96_, _TC:_ _om. S:_ tast _1633-69_]
[24 need you a heart? _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ need you have a heart? _JC:_ need
your heart? _1633-69_]
[38 I would _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_,
_S_, _S96_, _TC:_ I will _1633-69_, _Lec_]
_The Primrose, being at Montgomery Castle, upon the hill, on which it
is situate. _
Vpon this Primrose hill,
Where, if Heav'n would distill
A shoure of raine, each severall drop might goe
To his owne primrose, and grow Manna so;
And where their forme, and their infinitie 5
Make a terrestriall Galaxie,
As the small starres doe in the skie:
I walke to finde a true Love; and I see
That'tis not a mere woman, that is shee,
But must, or more, or lesse then woman bee. 10
Yet know I not, which flower
I wish; a sixe, or foure;
For should my true-Love lesse then woman bee,
She were scarce any thing; and then, should she
Be more then woman, shee would get above 15
All thought of sexe, and thinke to move
My heart to study her, and not to love;
Both these were monsters; Since there must reside
Falshood in woman, I could more abide,
She were by art, then Nature falsify'd. 20
Live Primrose then, and thrive
With thy true number five;
And women, whom this flower doth represent,
With this mysterious number be content;
Ten is the farthest number; if halfe ten 25
Belonge unto each woman, then
Each woman may take halfe us men;
Or if this will not serve their turne, Since all
Numbers are odde, or even, and they fall
First into this, five, women may take us all. 30
[The Primrose. _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_,
_O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ The Primrose, being at _&c. _
_1635-69_]
[16 sexe, _1633:_ sexe; _1635-69_]
[17 and not] and _om. 1635-39, A18, N, S, TC_]
[23 women] woman _Chambers_]
[25 number; _Ed:_ number, _1633-69_]
[26 Belonge _all the MSS. :_ Belongs _1633-69_. _See note_]
[27 men; _Ed:_ men, _1633-39:_ men: _1650-69_]
[28 their _1633-39:_ the _1650-69_]
[29 and _1633:_ since _1635-69_]
[30 this, _Ed:_ this _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_,
_N_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ _om. 1635-69, O'F, Chambers_]
_The Relique. _
When my grave is broke up againe
Some second ghest to entertaine,
(For graves have learn'd that woman-head
To be to more then one a Bed)
And he that digs it, spies 5
A bracelet of bright haire about the bone,
Will he not let'us alone,
And thinke that there a loving couple lies,
Who thought that this device might be some way
To make their soules, at the last busie day, 10
Meet at this grave, and make a little stay?
If this fall in a time, or land,
Where mis-devotion doth command,
Then, he that digges us up, will bring
Us, to the Bishop, and the King, 15
To make us Reliques; then
Thou shalt be a Mary Magdalen, and I
A something else thereby;
All women shall adore us, and some men;
And since at such time, miracles are sought, 20
I would have that age by this paper taught
What miracles wee harmelesse lovers wrought.
First, we lov'd well and faithfully,
Yet knew not what wee lov'd, nor why,
Difference of sex no more wee knew, 25
Then our Guardian Angells doe;
Comming and going, wee
Perchance might kisse, but not between those meales;
Our hands ne'r toucht the seales,
Which nature, injur'd by late law, sets free: 30
These miracles wee did; but now alas,
All measure, and all language, I would passe,
Should I tell what a miracle shee was.
[The Relique. _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no title, A25_]
[13 mis-devotion _1633-54_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ mass-devotion
_1669_, _Chambers_]
[15 and _1633-54 and MSS. :_ or _1669_, _Chambers_]
[17 Thou shalt be] You shal be _A25_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_S_. _See note_]
[20 time] times _JC_, _O'F_]
[21 have that age] that age were _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[25-26 Difference . . . doe, _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_
Difference of Sex we never knew,
No more then Guardian Angells do, _1635-69:_
Difference of Sex we never knew,
More then our Guardian Angells do. _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_,
_JC_, _Lec_, _S_, _S96_ (No more then our _&c. _ _B_,
_S96_)]
[26 doe; _Ed:_ doe, _1633-69_]
[27 wee _Ed:_ wee, _1633-69_]
[28 not] yet _1669_
meales; _Ed:_ meales. _1633:_ meales _1635-69, following some
copies of 1633_]
[30 sets] set _1669_ free: _1650-69:_ free, _1633-39_]
_The Dampe. _
When I am dead, and Doctors know not why,
And my friends curiositie
Will have me cut up to survay each part,
When they shall finde your Picture in my heart,
You thinke a sodaine dampe of love 5
Will through all their senses move,
And worke on them as mee, and so preferre
Your murder, to the name of Massacre.
Poore victories! But if you dare be brave,
And pleasure in your conquest have, 10
First kill th'enormous Gyant, your _Disdaine_,
And let th'enchantresse _Honor_, next be slaine,
And like a Goth and Vandall rize,
Deface Records, and Histories
Of your owne arts and triumphs over men, 15
And without such advantage kill me then.
For I could muster up as well as you
My Gyants, and my Witches too,
Which are vast _Constancy_, and _Secretnesse_,
But these I neyther looke for, nor professe; 20
Kill mee as Woman, let mee die
As a meere man; doe you but try
Your passive valor, and you shall finde than,
In that you'have odds enough of any man.
[The Dampe. _1633-69_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[4 When] And _1669_
my _1633-39:_ mine _1650-69_]
[9 victories! _1650-69:_ victories; _1633-39_]
[10 your] the _1669_
conquest] conquests _JC_]
[13 and Vandall _1633-54_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ or Vandall _1669_,
_Chambers_]
[15 arts] acts _1669_, _JC_]
[20 professe; _Ed:_ professe, _1633-69_]
[24 In that _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ Naked _1635-69_, _B_,
_D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _JC_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_]
_The Dissolution. _
Shee'is dead; And all which die
To their first Elements resolve;
And wee were mutuall Elements to us,
And made of one another.
My body then doth hers involve, 5
And those things whereof I consist, hereby
In me abundant grow, and burdenous,
And nourish not, but smother.
My fire of Passion, sighes of ayre,
Water of teares, and earthly sad despaire, 10
Which my materialls bee,
But neere worne out by loves securitie,
Shee, to my losse, doth by her death repaire,
And I might live long wretched so
But that my fire doth with my fuell grow. 15
Now as those Active Kings
Whose foraine conquest treasure brings,
Receive more, and spend more, and soonest breake:
This (which I am amaz'd that I can speake)
This death, hath with my store 20
My use encreas'd.
And so my soule more earnestly releas'd,
Will outstrip hers; As bullets flowen before
A latter bullet may o'rtake, the pouder being more.
[The Dissolution. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[10 earthly _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ earthy _1635-69_]
[12 neere _1635-69_ (But . . . securitie _bracketed 1669_): ne'r
_1633_]
[24 latter] later _1669_]
_A Ieat Ring Sent. _
Thou art not so black, as my heart,
Nor halfe so brittle, as her heart, thou art;
What would'st thou say? shall both our properties by thee bee spoke,
Nothing more endlesse, nothing sooner broke?
Marriage rings are not of this stuffe; 5
Oh, why should ought lesse precious, or lesse tough
Figure our loves? Except in thy name thou have bid it say,
I'am cheap, and nought but fashion, fling me'away.
Yet stay with mee since thou art come,
Circle this fingers top, which did'st her thombe. 10
Be justly proud, and gladly safe, that thou dost dwell with me,
She that, Oh, broke her faith, would soon breake thee.
[A Ieat Ring sent. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_, _TCD:_
To a Jeat Ring sent to me. _W_ (_among the_ Epigrams)]
[7 loves] love _O'F_ say, _Ed:_ say _1633-69_]
_Negative love. _
I never stoop'd so low, as they
Which on an eye, cheeke, lip, can prey,
Seldome to them, which soare no higher
Then vertue or the minde to'admire,
For sense, and understanding may 5
Know, what gives fuell to their fire:
My love, though silly, is more brave,
For may I misse, when ere I crave,
If I know yet, what I would have.
If that be simply perfectest 10
Which can by no way be exprest
But _Negatives_, my love is so.
To All, which all love, I say no.
If any who deciphers best,
What we know not, our selves, can know, 15
Let him teach mee that nothing; This
As yet my ease, and comfort is,
Though I speed not, I cannot misse.
[Negative love. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ Negative
Love: or the Nothing. _O'F:_ The Nothing. _A25_, _C_]
[4 to'admire, _1633-39:_ to'admire; _1650-69_]
[5 For] Both _A25_, _C_]
[11 way] means _1669_, _O'F_]
[16 nothing; _1633:_ nothing. _1635-69_]
_The Prohibition.
