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Title: The Poems of John Donne, Volume 1 (of 2)

Author: John Donne

Editor: Sir Herbert John Clifford Grierson

Release date: April 12, 2015 [eBook #48688]
Most recently updated: October 24, 2024

Language: English

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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE POEMS OF
JOHN DONNE, VOLUME 1 (OF 2) ***

Transcriber's Note
This is the first Volume of two.

Volume I contains the Poems and Line Notes, showing
textual and punctuaton differences between the various
MSS. and Editons and the Index of First Lines. Volume II
contains the Introduction and Commentary, Annotational
Notes for the Poems of Vol. I, and the Index of First Lines
for poems quoted in Vol. II. There are links between the
Poems and the Commentary Notes, with various References
back and forth.

The rest of the Transcriber's Note is at the end of the book.

THE POEMS OF JOHN DONNE
EDITED FROM THE OLD EDITIONS AND NUMEROUS
MANUSCRIPTS,

WITH INTRODUCTIONS & COMMENTARY

BY

HERBERT J. C. GRIERSON M.A.

CHALMERS PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH LITERATURE

IN THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN

VOL. I

THE TEXT OF THE POEMS

WITH APPENDIXES

OXFORD
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS

1912

Title Page

HENRY FROWDE, M.A.
PUBLISHER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
LONDON, EDINBURGH, NEW YORK
TORONTO AND MELBOURNE

PREFACE
The present edition of Donne's poems grew out of my work as a teacher. In
the spring of 1907, just after I had published a small volume on the
literature of the early seventeenth century, I was lecturing to a class of
Honours students on the 'Metaphysical poets'. They found Donne difficult
alike to understand and to appreciate, and accordingly I undertook to read
with them a selection from his poems with a view to elucidating difficult
passages and illustrating the character of his 'metaphysics', the Scholastic
and scientific doctrines which underlie his conceits. The only editions
which we had at our disposal were the modern editions of Donne's poems
by Grosart and Chambers, but I did not anticipate that this would present
any obstacle to the task I had undertaken. About the same time the Master
of Peterhouse asked me to undertake the chapter on Donne, as poet and
prose-artist, for the Cambridge History of English Literature. The result
was that though I had long been interested in Donne, and had given, while
at work on the poetry of the seventeenth century, much thought to his
poetry as a centre of interest and influence, I began to make a more minute
study of the text of his poems than I had yet attempted.

The first result of this study was the discovery that there were several
passages in the poems, as printed in Mr. Chambers' edition, of which I
could give no satisfactory explanation to my class. At the close of the
session I went to Oxford and began in the Bodleian a rapid collation of the
text of that edition with the older copies, especially of 1633. The conclusion
to which I came was that, excellent in many ways as that edition is, the
editor had too often abandoned the reading of 1633 for the sometimes more
obvious but generally weaker and often erroneous emendations of the later
editions. As he records the variants this had become clear in some cases
already, but an examination of the older editions brought out another fact,—
that by modernizing the punctuation, while preserving no record of the
changes made, the editor had corrupted some passages in such a manner as

to make it impossible for a student, unprovided with all the old editions, to
recover the original and sometimes quite correct reading, or to trace the
error to its fountainhead.

My first proposal to the Delegates of the Clarendon Press was that I should
attempt an edition of Donne's poems resting on a collation of the printed
texts; that for all poems which it contains the edition of 1633 should be
accepted as the authority, to be departed from only when the error seemed
to be obvious and certain, and that all such changes, however minute,
should be recorded in the notes. In the case of poems not contained in the
edition of 1633, the first edition (whether 1635, 1649, 1650, or 1669) was to
be the authority and to be treated in the same fashion. Such an edition, it
was hoped, might be ready in a year. I had finished my first collation of the
editions when a copy of the Grolier Club edition came into my hands, and I
included it in the number of those which I compared throughout with the
originals.

While the results of this collation confirmed me in the opinion I had formed
as to the superiority of the edition of 1633 to all its successors, it showed
also that that edition was certainly not faultless, and that the text of those
poems which were issued only in the later editions was in general very
carelessly edited and corrupt, especially of those poems which were added
for the first time in 1669. This raised the question, what use was to be made
of the manuscript copies of the poems in correcting the errors of the
edition? Grosart had based his whole text on one or two manuscripts in
preference to the editions. Mr. Chambers, while wisely refusing to do this,
and adopting the editions as the basis of his text, had made frequent
reference to the manuscripts and adopted corrections from them. Professor
Norton made no use of the manuscripts in preparing the text of his edition,
but he added in an Appendix an account of one of these which had come
into his hands, and later he described some more and showed clearly that he
believed corrections were to be obtained from this source. Accordingly I
resolved to examine tentatively those which were accessible in the British
Museum, especially the transcript of three of the Satyres in Harleian MS.
5110.

A short examination of the manuscripts convinced me that it would be very
unsafe to base a text on any single extant manuscript, or even to make an
eclectic use of a few of them, taking, now from one, now from another,
what seemed a probable emendation. On the other hand it became clear that
if as wide a collation as possible of extant manuscripts were made one
would be able to establish in many cases what was, whether right or wrong,
the traditional reading before any printed edition appeared.

A few experiments further showed that one, and a very important, result of
this collation would be to confirm the trustworthiness of 1633, to show that
in places where modern editors had preferred the reading of some of the
later editions, generally 1635 or 1669, the text of 1633 was not only
intrinsically superior but had the support of tradition, i.e. of the majority of
the manuscripts. If this were the case, then it was also possible that the
traditional, manuscript text might afford corrections when 1633 had fallen
into error. At the same time a very cursory examination of the manuscripts
was sufficient to show that many of them afforded an infinitely more
correct and intelligible text of those poems which were not published in
1633 than that contained in the printed editions.

Another possible result of a wide collation of the manuscripts soon
suggested itself, and that was the settlement of the canon of Donne's poems.
One or two of the poems contained in the old editions had already been
rejected by modern editors, and some of these on the strength of manuscript
ascriptions. But on the one hand, no systematic attempt had been made to
sift the poems, and on the other, experience has shown that nothing is more
unsafe than to trust to the ascriptions of individual, unauthenticated
manuscripts. Here again it seemed to the present editor that if any definite
conclusion was to be obtained it must be by as wide a survey as possible, by
the accumulation of evidence. No such conclusion might be attainable, but
it was only thus that it could be sought.

The outcome of the investigation thus instituted has been fully discussed in
the article on the Text and Canon of Donne's Poems in the second volume,
and I shall not attempt to summarize it here. But it may be convenient for
the student to have a quite brief statement of what it is that the notes in this
volume profess to set forth.

Their first aim is to give a complete account of the variant readings of the
original editions of 1633, 1635, 1639, 1649-50-54 (the text in these three is
identical), and 1669. This was the aim of the edition as originally planned,
and though my opinion of the value of many of the variants of the later
editions has undergone considerable abatement since I was able to study
them in the light afforded by the manuscripts, I have endeavoured to
complete my original scheme; and I trust it may be found that nothing more
important has been overlooked than an occasional misprint in the later
editions. But I know from the experience of examining the work of my
precursors, and of revising my own work, that absolute correctness is
almost unattainable. It has been an advantage to me in this part of the work
to come after Mr. Chambers and the Grolier Club editors, but neither of
these editions records changes of punctuation.

The second purpose of the notes is to set forth the evidence of the
manuscripts. I have not attempted to give anything like a full account of the
variant readings of these, but have recorded so much as is sufficient for four
different purposes.

(1) To vindicate the text of 1633. I have not thought it necessary to detail
the evidence in cases where no one has disputed the 1633 reading. If the
note simply records the readings of the editions it may be assumed that the
manuscript evidence, so far as it is explicit (the manuscripts frequently
abound in absurd errors), is on the side of 1633. In other cases, when there
is something to be said for the text of the later editions, and especially when
modern editors have preferred the later reading (though I have not always
called attention to this) I have set forth the evidence in some detail. At times
I have mentioned each manuscript, at others simply all the MSS.,
occasionally just MSS. This last means generally that all the positive
evidence before me was in favour of the reading, but that my collations
were silent as to some of the manuscripts. My collators, whether myself or
those who worked for me, used Mr. Chambers' edition because of its
numbered lines. Now if Mr. Chambers had already adopted a 1635 or later
reading the tendency of the collator—especially at first, before the
importance of certain readings had become obvious—was to pass over the
agreement of the manuscript with this later reading in silence. In all
important cases I have verified the reading by repeated reference to the

manuscripts, but in some of smaller importance I have been content to
record the general trend of the evidence. I have tried to cite no manuscript
unless I had positive evidence as to its reading.

(2) The second use which I have made of the manuscript evidence is to
justify my occasional departures from the text of the editions, whether 1633
(and these are the departures which call for most justification) or whatever
later edition was the first to contain the poem. In every such case the reader
should see at a glance what was the reading of the first edition, and on what
authority it has been altered. My aim has been a true text (so far as that was
attainable), not a reprint; but I have endeavoured to put the reader in exactly
the same position as I was myself at each stage in the construction of that
text. If I have erred, he can (in a favourite phrase of Donne's) 'control' me.
This applies to spelling and punctuation as well as to the words themselves.
But two warnings are necessary. When I note a reading as found in a
number of editions, e.g. 1635 to 1654 (1635-54), or in all the editions
(1633-69), it must be understood that the spelling is not always the same
throughout. I have generally noted any variation in the use of capitals, but
not always. The spelling and punctuation of each poem is that of the first
edition in which it was published, or of the manuscript from which I have
printed, all changes being recorded. Again, if, in a case where the words and
not the punctuation is the matter in question, I cite the reading of an edition
or some editions followed by a list of agreeing manuscripts, it will be
understood that any punctuation given is that of the editions. If a list of
manuscripts only is given, the punctuation, if recorded, is that of one or two
of the best of these.

In cases where punctuation is the matter in question the issue lies between
the various editions and my own sense of what it ought to be. Wherever it is
not otherwise indicated the punctuation of a poem is that of the first edition
in which it appeared or of the manuscript from which I have printed it. I
have not recorded every variant of the punctuation of later editions, but all
that affect the sense while at the same time not manifestly absurd. The
punctuation of the manuscripts is in general negligible, but of a few
manuscripts it is good, and I have occasionally cited these in support of my
own view as to what the punctuation should be.

(3) A third purpose served by my citation of the manuscripts is to show
clearly that there are more versions than one of some poems. A study of the
notes to the Satyres, The Flea, The Curse, Elegy XI: The Bracelet, will
make this clear.

(4) A fourth, subordinate and occasional, purpose of my citation of the
manuscripts is to show how Donne's poems were understood or
misunderstood by the copyists. Occasionally a reading which is probably
erroneous throws light upon a difficult passage. The version of P at p. 34, ll.
18-19, elucidates a difficult stanza. The reading of Q in The Storme, l. 38,

Yea, and the Sunne

for the usual

I, and the Sunne

suggests, what is probably correct but had not been suspected by any editor,
that 'I' here, as often, is not the pronoun, but 'Aye'.

The order of the poems is that of the editions of 1635 onwards with some
modifications explained in the Introduction. In Appendix B I have placed
all those poems which were printed as Donne's in the old editions (1633 to
1669), except Basse's Epitaph on Shakespeare, and a few found in
manuscripts connected with the editions, or assigned to Donne by
competent critics, all of which I believe to be by other authors. The text of
these has been as carefully revised as that of the undoubted poems. In
Appendix C I have placed a miscellaneous collection of poems loosely
connected with Donne's name, and illustrating the work of some of his
fellow-wits, or the trend of his influence in the occasional poetry of the
seventeenth century.

The work of settling the text, correcting the canon, and preparing the
Commentary has been done by myself. It was difficult to consult others
who had not before them all the complex mass of evidence which I had
accumulated. On some five or six places in the text, however, where final
question to be decided was the intrinsic merits of the readings offered by
the editions and by the manuscripts, or the advisability of a bolder

emendation, I have had the advantage of comparing my opinion with that of
Sir James Murray, Sir Walter Raleigh, Dr. Henry Bradley, Mr. W. A.
Craigie, Mr. J. C. Smith, or Mr. R. W. Chapman.

For such accuracy as I have secured in reproducing the old editions, in the
text and in the notes, I owe much to the help of three friends, Mr. Charles
Forbes, of the Post Office, Aberdeen, who transcribed the greater portion of
my manuscript; Professor John Purves, of University College, Pretoria, who
during a visit to this country read a large section of my proofs, comparing
them with the editions in the British Museum; and especially to my
assistant, Mr. Frederick Rose, M.A., now Douglas Jerrold Scholar, Christ
Church, Oxford, who has revised my proofs throughout with minute care.

I am indebted to many sources for the loan of necessary material. In the first
place I must acknowledge my debt to the Carnegie Trust for the
Universities of Scotland for allowing me a grant of £40 in 1908-9, and of
£30 in 1909-10, for the collation of manuscripts. Without this it would have
been impossible for me to collate, or have collated for me, the widely
scattered manuscripts in London, Petworth, Oxford, Cambridge,
Manchester, and Boston. Some of my expenses in this connexion have been
met by the Delegates of the Clarendon Press, who have also been very
generous in the purchase of necessary books, such as editions of the Poems
and the Sermons. At the outset of my work the Governing Body of Christ
Church, Oxford, lent me the copy of the edition of 1633 (originally the
possession of Sir John Vaughan (1603-1674) Chief Justice of the Common
Pleas) on which the present edition is based, and also their copies of the
editions of 1639, 1650, and 1654. At the same time Sir Walter Raleigh lent
me his copy of the edition of 1669. At an early stage of my work Captain C.
Shirley Harris, of 90 Woodstock Road, Oxford, communicated with me
about Donne's use of the word 'Mucheron', and he was kind enough to lend
me both his manuscript, P, and the transcript which he had caused to be
made. By the kindness of Lord Ellesmere I was permitted to collate his
unique copy of the 1611 edition of the Anatomy of the World and Funerall
Elegie. While I was doing so, Mr. Strachan Holme, the Librarian, drew my
attention to a manuscript collection of Donne's poems (B), and with his kind
assistance I was enabled to collate this at Walkden, Manchester, and again
at Bridgewater House. Mr. Holme has also furnished a photograph of the

title-page of the edition of 1611. To the authorities of Trinity College,
Dublin, and of Trinity College, Cambridge, I am indebted not only for
permission to collate their manuscripts on the spot, but for kindly lending
them to be examined and compared in the Library at King's College,
Aberdeen; and I am indebted for a similar favour to the authorities of
Queen's College, Oxford. In Dublin I met Professor Edward Dowden, and
no one has been a kinder friend to my enterprise. He put at my disposal his
interesting and valuable manuscript (D) and all his collection of Donne's
works. He drew my attention to a manuscript (O'F) in Ellis and Elvey's
catalogue for 1903. Mr. Warwick Bond was good enough to lend me the
notes he had made upon this manuscript, which ultimately I traced to
Harvard College Library. With Professor Dowden, Mr. Edmund Gosse has
given me the most generous and whole-hearted assistance. He lent me, as
soon as ever I applied to him, his valuable and unique Westmoreland MS.,
containing many poems which were not included in any of the old editions.
Some of these Mr. Gosse had already printed in his own delightful Life and
Letters of John Donne (1899), but he has allowed me to reprint these and to
print the rest of the unpublished poems for the first time. From his
manuscript (G) of the Progresse of the Soule, or Metempsychosis, I have
also obtained important emendations of the text. This is the most valuable
manuscript copy of this poem. It will be seen that Mr. Gosse is a very
material contributor to the completeness and interest of the present edition.

To the Marquess of Crewe I am indebted for permission to examine the
manuscript M, to which a note of Sir John Simon's had called my attention;
and to Lord Leconfield for a like permission to collate a manuscript in his
possession, of which a short description is given in the Hist. MSS.
Commission, Sixth Report, p. 312, No. 118. With Mr. Whitcomb's aid I was
enabled to do this carefully, and he has subsequently verified references.
Another interesting manuscript (JC) was lent me by Mr. Elkin Mathews,
who has also put at my disposal his various editions of the Lives of Walton
and other books connected with Donne. Almost at the eleventh hour, Mr.
Geoffrey Keynes, of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, discovered for me a copy
of the 1612 edition of the Anniversaries, for which I had asked in vain in
Notes and Queries. I owe to him, and to the kind permission of Mr. Edward
Huth and the Messrs. Sotheby, a careful collation and a photograph of the
title-page.

For the Commentary Dr. Norman Moore supplied me with a note on the
Galenists and Paracelsians; and Dr. Gaster with the materials for a note on
Donne's use of Jewish Apocrypha. Professor Picavet, of the Sorbonne,
Paris, was kind enough to read in proof my notes on Donne's allusions to
Scholastic doctrines, and to make suggestions. But I have added to these
notes as they passed through the Press, and he must not be made
responsible for my errors. Mr. W. Barclay Squire and Professor C. Sanford
Terry have revised my transcripts and proofs of the music.

I desire lastly to express my gratitude to the officials of the Clarendon Press
for the care with which they have checked my proofs, the patience with
which they have accepted my changes and additions, and the trouble they
have taken to secure photographs, music, and other details. Whatever faults
may be found—and I doubt not they will be many—in my part of the work,
I think the part for which the Press is responsible is wellnigh faultless.
H. J. C. GRIERSON.
Langcroft,

Dinnet, Aberdeenshire.

July 15, 1912.

NOTE
The typography of the edition of 1633 has been
closely followed, in its use for example of 'u' and
'v'; and of long 's', which is avoided in certain
combinations, e.g. 'sk' (but P. 12, l. 27. 'askes'
1633) and frequently 'sb'; nor is it generally used
when the letter following 's' is elided; but there are
one or two exceptions to this.

In the following places I have printed a full 'and'
where 1633 contracts to '&' owing to the length of
the line:

Page 12, l. 4. & whõ; P. 15, l. 40. & drove; P. 65, l.
8. & nought; P. 153, l. 105. & almes; P. 158, l. 101.
& name; do., l. 107. & rockes, &; P. 159, l. 30. &
black; P. 171, l. 83. & lawes; P. 183, l. 18. &
Courts; P. 184, l. 29. & God; P. 205, l. 2. &
pleasure; P. 240, l. 288. & sinke; P. 254, l. 107. &
thinke; do., l. 113. & think; P. 280, l. 24. & Mines;
P. 297, l. 56. & lands; do., l. 62. & brow; P. 306, l.
290. & lents; P. 327 (xii), l. 8. & feed; P. 337, l. 35.
& thou; P. 360, l. 188. & turn'd; P. 384, l. 78. &
face.

In the following places 'm' or 'n', indicated by a
contraction, has been printed in full: Page 12, l. 4.
Her whõ; do. & whõ; P. 37, 1. 17. whẽ (bis); P. 82,
l. 46. thẽ; P. 90, l. 2. frõ; P. 128, l. 28. Valẽtine; P.
141, l. 8. whẽ; P. 150, l. 16. thẽ; P. 159, l. 30.

strãge; P. 169, l. 31. whõ; P. 257, l. 210. successiõ;
P. 266, l. 513. anciẽt; P. 305, l. 255. thẽ; P. 336, l.
10. whẽ; P. 343, l. 126. Frõ; P. 345, l. 169. thẽ; P.
387, l. 71. Pẽbrooke.

There are a few examples of the same changes in
the poems printed from the later editions, but I
have not reproduced any of these editions so
completely as 1633, every poem in which, with the
exception of Basse's An Epitaph upon Shakespeare
(1633. p. 149 i.e. 165) has been here reprinted.

CONTENTS OF VOL. I
SOURCE PAGE
1633 The Printer to the Understanders 1
1633 Hexastichon Bibliopolae 3
1635 Hexastichon ad Bibliopolam 3
1650 Dedication to the Edition of 1650 4
1650 To John Donne 5
1650 To Lucy, Countesse of Bedford, 6
with M. Donnes Satyres
1650 To John Donne 6

SONGS AND SONETS
1633 195 The good-morrow 7
196-7 Song 8
197-8 Womans constancy 9
198-9 The undertaking 10
199-200 The Sunne Rising 11
200-1 The Indifferent 12
201-2 Loves Vsury 13
202-4 The Canonization 14
204-5 The triple Foole 16
205-6 Lovers infiniteness 17
206-8 Song 18
208-9 The Legacie 20
209-10 A Feaver 21
211-12 Aire and Angels 22
212 Breake of day 23
213-14 The Anniversarie 24
214-17 A Valediction: of my name, in the window 25
218-19 Twicknam garden 28
219-21 A Valediction: of the booke 29
222 Communitie 32
223-4 Loves growth 33
224-5 Loves exchange 34

226 Confined Love 36
227 The Dreame 37
228-9 A Valediction: of weeping 38
229-30 Loves Alchymie 39
230-1 The Flea 40
231-2 The Curse 41
186 The Message 43
187-8 A nocturnall upon S. Lucies day, 44
Being the shortest day
189 Witchcraft by a picture 45
190-1 The Baite 46
191 The Apparition 47
192-3 The broken heart 48
193-4 A Valediction: forbidding mourning 49
277-80 The Extasie 51
280-1 Loves Deitie 54
281-2 Loves diet 55
283-5 The Will 56
285-6 The Funerall 58
286-7 The Blossome 59
288-9 The Primrose, being at Montgomery Castle, 61
upon the hill, on which it is situate
289-90 The Relique 62
290-1 The Dampe 63
291-2 The Dissolution 64
292-3 A Ieat Ring sent 65
293 Negative love 66
294 The Prohibition 67
295 The Expiration 68
295 The Computation 69
302 The Paradox 69
1635 63-4 Farewell to love 70
66-7 A Lecture upon the Shadow 71
1650 264-5 Sonnet. The Token 72
391-2 〈Selfe Love〉 He that cannot chuse but love 73

EPIGRAMS
1633 40 Hero and Leander 75
40 Pyramus and Thisbe 75
40 Niobe 75
41 A burnt ship 75

41 Fall of a wall 76
41 A lame begger 76
Westmoreland MS. Cales and Guyana 76
" MS. Sir Iohn Wingefield 76
1633 41 A selfe accuser 76
42 A licentious person 77
42 Antiquary 77
42 Disinherited 77
42 Phryne 77
42 An obscure writer 77
42 Klockius 77
43 Raderus 78
43 Mercurius Gallo-Belgicus 78
43 Ralphius 78
Westmoreland MS. The Lier 78

ELEGIES
1633 44-5 I. Iealosie 79
45-7 II. The Anagram 80
47-8 III. Change 82
49-51 IV. The Perfume 84
51-2 V. His Picture 86
53-5 VI. Oh, let mee not 87
55-6 VII. Natures lay Ideot 89
149-50 VIII. The Comparison 90
151-2 IX. The Autumnall 92
153 X. The Dreame 95
1635 89-93 XI. The Bracelet 96
1669 86-9 XII. His parting from her 100
1635 96-7 XIII. Iulia 104
98-100 XIV. A Tale of a Citizen and his Wife 105
1633 300-2 XV. The Expostulation 108
1635 269-70 XVI. On his Mistris 111
1650 388-90 XVII. Variety 113
1669 94-7 XVIII. Loves Progress 116
97-9 XIX. Going to Bed 119
Westmoreland MS. XX. Loves Warr 122
1633 166-8 HEROICALL EPISTLE: Sapho to Philænis 124

EPITHALAMIONS, OR MARRIAGE SONGS
1633 118-22 An Epithalamion, Or marriage Song on the 127
Lady Elizabeth, and Count Palatine being

married on St. Valentines day
123-27 Eclogue. 1613. December 26 131
127-35 Epithalamion 135
135-8 Epithalamion made at Lincolnes Inne 141

SATYRES
1633 325-8 Satyre I 145
329-32 Satyre II 149
333-6 Satyre III 154
337-45 Satyre IIII 158
346-9 Satyre V 168
1650 262-4 Vpon Mr. Thomas Coryats Crudities 172
Coryats Crudities In eundem Macaronicon 174

LETTERS TO SEVERALL PERSONAGES
1633 56-9 The Storme 175
59-61 The Calme 178
61-3 To Sr Henry Wotton. Sir, more then kisses 180
72-4 To Sr Henry Goodyere. Who makes the Past 183
74-5 To Mr Rowland Woodward. Like one who 185
76-7 To Sr Henry Wootton. Here's no more newes 187
Burley MS. H: W: in Hiber: belligeranti 188
1633 77-9 To the Countesse of Bedford. Madame, Reason is 189
79-82 To the Countesse of Bedford. Madame, 191
You have refin'd
82-4 To Sr Edward Herbert, at Iulyers. Man is a lumpe 193
84-7 To the Countesse of Bedford. T'have written then 195
87-90 To the Countesse of Bedford. This twilight of 198
90-3 To the Countesse of Huntingdon. Madame, 201
Man to Gods image
93-4 To Mr T. W. All haile sweet Poët 203
95 To Mr T. W. Hast thee harsh verse 205
95-6 To Mr T. W. Pregnant again 206
96 To Mr T. W. At once, from 206
Westmoreland MS. To Mr R. W. Zealously my Muse 207
" MS. To Mr R. W. Muse not that by 207
1633 97 To Mr C. B. Thy friend, whom 208

Westmoreland MS. To Mr E. G. Even as lame things 208
1633 100-1 To Mr R. W. If, as mine is 209
Westmoreland MS. To Mr R. W. Kindly I envy 210
1633 98 To Mr S. B. O Thou which 211
101 To Mr I. L. Of that short 212
99-100 To Mr B. B. Is not thy sacred 212
102 To Mr I. L. Blest are your 213
104-5 To Sir H. W. at his going Ambassador to Venice 214
106-8 To Mrs M. H. Mad paper stay 216
108-10 To the Countesse of Bedford. Honour is so 218
111 To the Countesse of Bedford. Though I be dead 220
112-13 A Letter to the Lady Carey, and Mrs Essex Riche, 221
From Amyens. Madame, Here where
115-18 To the Countesse of Salisbury. August. 1614 224
298-9 To the Lady Bedford. You that are she 227

AN ANATOMIE OF THE WORLD
1633 233-5 To the praise of the dead 229
235-51 The first Anniversary 231
252-5 A Funerall Elegie 245

OF THE PROGRESSE OF THE SOULE
1633 257-9 The Harbinger to the Progresse 249
260-77 The second Anniversarie 251

EPICEDES AND OBSEQUIES UPON THE
DEATHS OF SUNDRY PERSONAGES
1633 154-7 Elegie upon the untimely death of the 267
incomparable Prince Henry
139 To the Countesse of Bedford. Letter introducing 270
140-8 Obsequies to the Lord Harrington, brother to 271
the Lady Lucy, Countesse of Bedford
66-8 Elegie on the Lady Marckham 279
69-71 Elegie on Mris Boulstred 282
296-8 Elegie. Death 284
52-3 Elegie on the L. C. 287
162-3 An hymne to the Saints, and to Marquesse 288
Hamylton

EPITAPHS
1635 271 On himselfe 291
386-7 Omnibus 292

1633 before p.1 INFINITATI SACRUM
Epistle 293
1-27 The Progresse of the Soule 295

DIVINE POEMS
1633 103 To E. of D. with six holy Sonnets 317
Walton's Life of To the Lady Magdalen Herbert:
Mr George Herbert of St. Mary Magdalen
317

Holy Sonnets
1633 28 La Corona 318
28-9 Annunciation 319
29 Nativitie 319
30 Temple 320
30-1 Crucifying 320
31 Resurrection 321
31-2 Ascention 321

Holy Sonnets
1635 331-2 I. Thou hast made me 322
1633 32 II. As due by many titles 322
1635 333 III. O might those sighes and teares 323
1633 33 IV. Oh my blacke Soule 323
1635 334 V. I am a little world 324
1633 33-4 VI. This is my playes last scene 324
34 VII. At the round earths imagin'd corners 325
1635 336 VIII. If faithfull soules be alike glorifi'd 325
1633 35 IX. If poysonous mineralls 326
35-6 X. Death be not proud 326
36 XI. Spit in my face you Jewes 327
37 XII. Why are wee by all creatures waited on? 327
37-8 XIII. What if this present were the worlds 328
last night?
38 XIV. Batter my heart 328
39 XV. Wilt thou love God, as he thee! 329
39-40 XVI. Father, part of his double interest 329

Westmoreland MS. XVII. Since she whom I lov'd hath payd 330
her last debt
" MS. XVIII. Show me deare Christ, thy spouse 330
" MS. XIX. Oh, to vex me, contraryes meet in one 331
1633 64-6 The Crosse 331
161-2 Resurrection, imperfect 333
168-9 The Annuntiation and Passion 334
170-1 Goodfriday, 1613. Riding Westward 336
172-85 The Litanie 338
1635 366-8 Vpon the translation of the Psalmes by 348
Sir Philip Sydney, and the Countesse of
Pembroke his Sister
368 Ode: Of our Sense of Sinne 350
369-70 To Mr Tilman after he had taken orders 351
1633 304-5 A Hymne to Christ, at the Authors last going 352
into Germany
306-23 The Lamentations of Ieremy, for the most part 354
according to Tremelius
1635 387-8 Hymne to God my God, in my sicknesse 368
1633 350 A Hymne to God the Father 369
Trinity College, Dublin, MS. To Christ 370
371
ELEGIES UPON THE AUTHOR

APPENDIX A
Latin Poems and Translations
1635 278 De libro cum mutuaretur &c. 397
278 〈Epigramma〉 397
1650 370-1 Amicissimo, & meritissimo, Ben Jonson 398
378 To Mr George Herbert, with one of my Seals 398
379 A sheafe of Snakes used 399
385 Translated out of Gazæus 400

APPENDIX B
Poems attributed to John Donne in the Old
Editions
(1633-1669) and the principal Ms. Collections,
arranged according to their probable Author.

I
Poems. Probably by Sir John Roe, Knt.
1669 130-42 To Sr Nicholas Smyth. Sleep, next society 401
1635 146-7 Satyre. Men write that love and 406
reason disagree
93-5 An Elegie. Come, Fates; I feare you not 407
Hawthornden MS. An Elegie to Mris Boulstred: 1602 410
Addl. MS. 10309 An Elegie. True love findes witt 412
1635 65-6 Song. Deare Love, continue 412
208-9 To Ben. Iohnson, 6 Ian. 1603 414
207-8 To Ben. Iohnson, 9. Novembris, 1603 415
209-10 To Sr Tho. Roe. 1603 416

II
1635 191-5 To the Countesse of Huntington. 417
That unripe side of earth

III
1635 272 Elegie. Death be not proud 422

IV
1635 157-61 Psalme 137. Probably by Francis Davison. 424
By Euphrates Flowry side

V
1635 342 On the blessed Virgin Mary. 427
Probably by Henry Constable

VI
1635 372 On the Sacrament 427

VII
Stowe MS. 961 Absence. Absence, heare my protestation 428
Probably by John Hoskins.

VIII
1635 62 Song. Soules joy. Probably by the 429
Earl of Pembroke
195-6 A Dialogue 430

IX
1669 17 Break of Daye.

Stay, O sweet 432
Probably by John Dowlands.

APPENDIX C
Addl. MS. 25707 A Letter written by Sr H: G: and J: D: 433
alternis vicibus
Addl. MS. 25707 O Frutefull Garden 434
To my Lord of Pembroke 435
Of a Lady in the Black Masque 436
Burley MS. 〈Life.〉 437
〈My Love.〉 437
〈O Eyes!〉 438
〈Silence Best Praise.〉 439
〈Beauty in Little Room.〉 440
〈Loves Zodiake.〉 440
〈Fortune, Love, and Time.〉 440
〈Life a Play.〉 441
A Kisse 441
Epi: B: Jo: 443
Epi: Hen: Princ: Hugo Holland 443
O'Flaherty MS. 〈The Annuntiation. Additional Lines.〉 443
Elegy. To Chast Love 445
Upon his scornefull Mistresse. Elegy 446
Lansdowne MS. 740 〈Absence.〉 447
〈Tongue-tied Love.〉 447
O'Flaherty MS. 〈Love, if a God thou art.〉 448
〈Great Lord of Love.〉 448
〈Loves Exchange.〉 449
Song. Now y'have killd 450
Stowe MS. 961 Love, bred of glances 450
Bridgewater MS. To a Watch restored to its Mystres〈se〉 451
Egerton MS. 〈Ad Solem.〉 451
Stephens MS. 〈If She Deride.〉 452
〈Fortune Never Fails.〉 453
To His Mistress 455
Stowe MS. 961 A Paradoxe of a Painted Face 456

Sonnett. Madam that flea 459
Addl. MS. 11811 On Black Hayre and Eyes 460
Phillipps MS. Fragment of an Elegy 462
Walton's Compleat Angler 〈Farewel, ye guilded follies.〉 465
469
Index of First Lines

PLATES
John Donne, from the engraving prefixed to the Poems, 1635 face page 7
John Donne, 1613, from an engraving prefixed to the prose face page 175
Letters &c., 1651
John Donne, from the frontispiece to Death's Duel, 1632 face page 369

LIST OF EDITIONS REGULARLY CITED IN
NOTES.
1633, 1635, 1639, 1650, 1654, 1669.

Contractions: 1633-54 i.e. All editions between and
including these dates.
1633-69 i.e. All the editions.
Etc.

EDITIONS OCCASIONALLY CITED.
1649, in lists of editions and MSS. appended to poems
first published in that edition.
Textually it is identical with 1650-54.

1719, Tonson's edition.

1855, The Boston edition of that year—cited once.

Grosart, A. B. Grosart's edition of 1872-3.

Grolier, The Grolier Club edition of Professor Norton
and Mrs. Burnett, 1895.

Chambers, Mr. E. K. Chambers' edition of 1896.

LIST OF MS. SIGLA
A10 Additional MS. 10,309, British Museum.
A11 " " 11,811, "
A18 " " 18,646, "
A23 " " 23,229, "
A25 " " 25,707, "
A34 " " 34,744, "
Ash 38 Ashmole MS. 38, Bodleian Library.
B Bridgewater MS., Bridgewater House.
Bur Burley MS., formerly at Burley-on-the-Hill House,
Rutland.
C Cambridge University Library MS.
Cy Carnaby MS., Harvard College.
D Dowden MS., belonging to Professor Edward
Dowden.
E20 Egerton MS. 2013, British Museum.
E22 " " 2230, "
G Gosse MS. of Metempsychosis, belonging to Mr.
Edmund Gosse.
H39 Harleian MS. 3910, British Museum.
H40 " " 4064, "
H49 " " 4944, "
H51 " " 5110, "
HN Hawthornden MS., Library of Society of
Antiquaries, Edinburgh.
JC John Cave MS., belonging to Mr. Elkin Mathews.
L74 Lansdowne MS. 740, British Museum.

L77 " " 777, "
Lec Leconfield MS., at Petworth House.
M Monckton-Milnes MS., belonging to the Marquis of
Crewe.
N Norton MS., Harvard College.
O'F O'Flaherty MS., Harvard College.
P Phillipps MS., belonging to Captain C. Shirley
Harris.
Q Queen's College MS., Queen's College, Oxford.
RP31 Rawlinson Poetical MS. 31, Bodleian Library,
Oxford.
RP61 " " " 61 " " "
S Stephens MS., Harvard College.
S96 Stowe MS. 961, British Museum.
TCC Trinity College, Cambridge, MS.
TCD Trinity College, Dublin, MS. G. 2. 21.
TCD (II) A second collection of poems in the same MS.
W Westmoreland MS., belonging to Mr. Edmund
Gosse.

The following groups are important:—

D, H49, Lec,

and

A18, N, TC, where TC represents TCC and TCD

Note

THE

PRINTER
TO THE

UNDERSTANDERS.

OR this time I must speake only to you: at another, Readers
may perchance serve my turne; and I thinke this a way very
free from exception, in hope that very few will have a minde
to confesse themselves ignorant.

If you looke for an Epistle, as you have before ordinary publications, I am
sory that I must deceive you; but you will not lay it to my charge, when you
shall consider that this is not ordinary, for if I should say it were the best in
this kinde, that ever this Kingdome hath yet seene; he that would doubt of it
must goe out of the Kingdome to enforme himselfe, for the best judgments,
within it, take it for granted.

You may imagine (if it please you) that I could endeare it unto you, by
saying, that importunity drew it on; that had it not beene presented here, it
would have come to us from beyond the Seas; (which perhaps is true
enough,) That my charge and paines in procuring of it hath beene such, and
such. I could adde hereto, a promise of more correctnesse, or enlargement
in the next Edition, if you shall in the meane time content you with this. But
these things are so common, as that I should profane this Peece by applying
them to it; A Peece which who so takes not as he findes it, in what manner
soever, he is unworthy of it, sith a scattered limbe of this Author, hath more
amiablenesse in it, in the eye of a discerner, then a whole body of some
other; Or, (to expresse him best by himselfe)

In the
Storme.

—A hand, or eye,
By Hilyard drawne, is worth a history
By a worse Painter made;—

If any man (thinking I speake this to enflame him for the vent of the
Impression) be of another opinion, I shall as willingly spare his money as
his judgement. I cannot lose so much by him as hee will by himselfe. For I
shall satisfie my selfe with the conscience of well doing, in making so much
good common.

Howsoever it may appeare to you, it shall suffice mee to enforme you, that
it hath the best warrant that can bee, publique authority, and private friends.

There is one thing more wherein I will make you of my counsell, and that
is, That whereas it hath pleased some, who had studyed and did admire him,
to offer to the memory of the Author, not long after his decease, I have
thought I should do you service in presenting them unto you now; onely
whereas, had I placed them in the beginning, they might have serv'd for so
many Encomiums of the Author (as is usuall in other workes, where
perhaps there is need of it, to prepare men to digest such stuffe as follows
after,) you shall here finde them in the end, for whosoever reades the rest so
farre, shall perceive that there is no occasion to use them to that purpose;
yet there they are, as an attestation for their sakes that knew not so much
before, to let them see how much honour was attributed to this worthy man,
by those that are capable to give it. Farewell.

The Printer &c. 1633-49:
om. 1650-69, which
substitute Dedication To
the &c. (p. 4)

2 you: 1635-49: you, 1633

The Printer to the
Vnderstanders. 1635-69:
The Printer to the Reader.
1633. See note

28 here 1635-69: om.
1633 (... you shall here
finde them in the end,...)

Note

Hexastichon Bibliopolae.

I SEE in his last preach'd, and printed Booke,
His Picture in a sheet; in Pauls I looke,
And see his Statue in a sheete of stone,
And sure his body in the grave hath one:
Those sheetes present him dead, these if you buy,
You have him living to Eternity.

Jo. Mar.
Hexastichon Bibliopolae.
1633-69

Hexastichon ad Bibliopolam.

Incerti.

I N thy Impression of Donnes Poems rare,
For his Eternitie thou hast ta'ne care:
'Twas well, and pious; And for ever may
He live: Yet shew I thee a better way;
Print but his Sermons, and if those we buy,
He, We, and Thou shall live t' Eternity.
Hexastichon ad
Bibliopolam. 1635-69

Note

Dedication to the Edition of 1650.

To the Right Honourable
William Lord Craven Baron of

Hamsted-Marsham.

My Lord,

ANY of these Poems have, for severall impressions, wandred
up and down trusting (as well they might) upon the Authors
reputation; neither do they now complain of any injury but
what may proceed either from the kindnesse of the Printer, or
the curtesie of the Reader; the one by adding something too
much, lest any spark of this sacred fire might perish undiscerned, the other
by putting such an estimation upon the wit & fancy they find here, that they
are content to use it as their own: as if a man should dig out the stones of a
royall Amphitheatre to build a stage for a countrey show. Amongst all the
monsters this unlucky age has teemed with, I finde none so prodigious, as
the Poets of these later times, wherein men as if they would level

understandings too as well as estates, acknowledging no inequality of parts
and Judgements, pretend as indifferently to the chaire of wit as to the Pulpit,
& conceive themselves no lesse inspired with the spirit of Poetry then with
that of Religion: so it is not onely the noise of Drums and Trumpets which
have drowned the Muses harmony, or the feare that the Churches ruine wil
destroy their Priests likewise, that now frights them from this Countrey,
where they have been so ingenuously received, but these rude pretenders to
excellencies they unjustly own who profanely rushing into Minervaes
Temple, with noysome Ayres blast the lawrell wch thunder cannot hurt. In
this sad condition these learned sisters are fled over to beg your Lps.
protection, who have been so certain a patron both to arts and armes, and
who in this generall confusion have so intirely preserved your Honour, that
in your Lordship we may still read a most perfect character of what
England was in all her pompe and greatnesse, so that although these poems
were formerly written upon severall occasions, and to severall persons, they
now unite themselves, and are become one pyramid to set your Lordships
statue upon, where you may stand like Armed Apollo the defendor of the
Muses, encouraging the Poets now alive to celebrate your great Acts by
affording your countenance to his poems that wanted onely so noble a
subject.
My Lord,
Your most humble servant
John Donne.
To the &c. 1650-69

Note

To John Donne.
Note (Supp.)

D ONNE, the delight of Phoebus, and each Muse,
Who, to thy one, all other braines refuse;
Whose every work, of thy most early wit,

Came forth example, and remaines so, yet:
Longer a knowing, than most wits doe live;
And which no'n affection praise enough can give!
To it, thy language, letters, arts, best life,
Which might with halfe mankind maintain a strife;
All which I mean to praise, and, yet, I would;
But leave, because I cannot as I should!

B. Jons.
To John Donne. 1650-69,
following the Hexastichon
ad Bibliopolam.

Note (Supp.)

To Lucy, Countesse of Bedford,
with M. Donnes Satyres.

L VCY, you brightnesse of our Spheare, who are
Life of the Muses day, their morning Starre!
If works (not th'Authors) their own grace should look
Whose poems would not wish to be your book?
But these, desir'd by you, the makers ends
Crown with their own. Rare Poems ask rare friends.
Yet, Satyres, since the most of mankind bee
Their unavoided subject, fewest see:
For none ere took that pleasure in sins sense,
But, when they heard it tax'd, took more offence.
They, then, that living where the matter is bred,
Dare for these Poems, yet, both ask, and read,
And like them too; must needfully, though few,
Be of the best: and 'mongst those best are you;
Lucy, you brightnefle of our Spheare, who are
The Muses evening, as their morning-Starre.

B. Jon.

To John Donne.

W HO shall doubt, Donne, where I a Poet bee,
When I dare send my Epigrammes to thee?
That so alone canst judge, so'alone do'st make:
And, in thy censures, evenly, dost take
As free simplicity, to dis-avow,
As thou hast best authority, t'allow.
Read all I send: and, if I finde but one
Mark'd by thy hand, and with the better stone,
My title's seal'd. Those that for claps doe write,
Let punees, porters, players praise delight,
And, till they burst, their backs, like asses load:
A man should seek great glory, and not broad.

B. Jon.
To Lucy &c. To John
Donne &c. 1650-69, in
sheets added 1650.

See Text and Canon &c.

Note (Supp.)

JOHN DONNE
Note
ANNO DNI. 1591. ÆTATIS SVÆ. 18.
ANTES MVERTO QUE MVDADO.

This was for youth, Strength, Mirth, and wit that Time
Most count their golden Age; but t'was not thine.
Thine was thy later yeares, so much refind
From youths Drosse, Mirth, & wit; as thy pure mind
Thought (like the Angels) nothing but the Praise
Of thy Creator, in those last, best Dayes.
Witnes this Booke, (thy Embleme) which begins
With Love; but endes, with Sighes, & Teares for sins.
iz: wa:
Will: Marshall sculpsit

From the engraving prefixed to the Poems in the
Editions of 1635, 1639, 1649, 1650, 1654

Note

SONGS AND SONETS.
Note

The good-morrow.

I WONDER by my troth, what thou, and I
Did, till we lov'd? were we not wean'd till then?
But suck'd on countrey pleasures, childishly?
Or snorted we in the seaven sleepers den?
T'was so; But this, all pleasures fancies bee. 5
If ever any beauty I did see,
Which I desir'd, and got, t'was but a dreame of thee.

And now good morrow to our waking soules,
Which watch not one another out of feare;
For love, all love of other sights controules, 10
And makes one little roome, an every where.
Let sea-discoverers to new worlds have gone,
Let Maps to other, worlds on worlds have showne,
Let us possesse one world, each hath one, and is one.

My face in thine eye, thine in mine appeares, 15
And true plaine hearts doe in the faces rest,
Where can we finde two better hemispheares
Without sharpe North, without declining West?
What ever dyes, was not mixt equally;
If our two loves be one, or, thou and I 20
Love so alike, that none doe slacken, none can die.

SONGS AND SONETS.
1635-69: no division into
sections, 1633

The good-morrow. 1633-
69, A18, L74, N, TCC,
TCD: no title, A25, B, C,
D, H40, H49, JC, Lec,
O'F, P, S: Elegie. S96

2 lov'd? 1639-69: lov'd,
1633-35

3 countrey pleasures,
childishly? 1633-54, D,
H40, H49, Lec: childish
pleasures seelily? 1669,
A18, A25, B, JC, L74, N,
O'F, P, S, S96, TC

4 snorted 1633-54, D,
H40, H49, Lec, O'F, S96:
slumbred 1669, A18, A25,
JC, L74, N, P, TC seaven
sleepers 1633: seven-
sleepers 1635-69

5 this,] as 1669

10 For 1633-69, D, H40,
H49, Lec: But rest of
MSS.

13 to other, worlds on
1633-54: to other worlds
our 1669: to others,
worlds on D, H49, Lec,
and other MSS.

14 one world 1633-69, D,
H49, Lec: our world rest
of MSS.

17 better 1633, D, H40,
H49, Lec: fitter 1635-69,
and rest of MSS.

19 was not] is not 1669

20-1 or, thou and I ... can
die. 1633, D, H40, H49,
Lec: or, thou and I ... can

slacken, ... can die.
Chambers:

both
t
h
o
u
a
n
d
I
Love just alike in all, none
of these loves can
die.

1635-69, JC, O'F, P:

or thou
a
n
d
I
Love just alike in all, none
of these loves can
die.

A18, A25, B, L74, S96, TC

As
t
h
o
u
a
n
d
I
&
c
.

H40:

And
t
h
o
u
a
n

d
I
&
c
.

S

Song.
Note
Music

G OE, and catche a falling starre,
Get with child a mandrake roote,
Tell me, where all past yeares are,
Or who cleft the Divels foot,
Teach me to heare Mermaides singing, 5
Or to keep off envies stinging,
And finde
What winde
Serves to advance an honest minde.

If thou beest borne to strange sights, 10
Things invisible to see,
Ride ten thousand daies and nights,
Till age snow white haires on thee,
Thou, when thou retorn'st, wilt tell mee
All strange wonders that befell thee, 15
And sweare
No where
Lives a woman true, and faire.

If thou findst one, let mee know,
Such a Pilgrimage were sweet; 20
Yet doe not, I would not goe,
Though at next doore wee might meet,

Though shee were true, when you met her,
And last, till you write your letter,
Yet shee 25
Will bee
False, ere I come, to two, or three.
Song. 1633-69: Song, A
Songe, or no title, A18,
A25, B, C, Cy, D, H40,
H49, JC, L74, Lec, N,
O'F, P, S, S96, TCC, TCD

3 past yeares] times past
1669: past times P

11 to see] go see 1669, S,
S96: see most other MSS.

20 sweet; 1669: sweet,
1633-54

24 last, till] last so till
O'F, S, S96

27 False, ... three] False,
ere she come to two or
three. 1669]

Womans constancy.

N OW thou hast lov'd me one whole day,
To morrow when thou leav'st, what wilt thou say?
Wilt thou then Antedate some new made vow?
Or say that now
We are not just those persons, which we were? 5
Or, that oathes made in reverentiall feare
Of Love, and his wrath, any may forsweare?
Or, as true deaths, true maryages untie,
So lovers contracts, images of those,
Binde but till sleep, deaths image, them unloose? 10

Or, your owne end to Justifie,
For having purpos'd change, and falsehood; you
Can have no way but falsehood to be true?
Vaine lunatique, against these scapes I could
Dispute, and conquer, if I would, 15
Which I abstaine to doe,
For by to morrow, I may thinke so too.
Womans constancy. 1633-
69, A18, L74, N, O'F,
TCC, TCD: no title, B, D,
H40, H49, Lec, P, S

8 Or, 1633, 1669: For,
1635-54 (ll. 8-10 in
brackets)

Note

The undertaking.

I HAVE done one braver thing
Then all the Worthies did,
And yet a braver thence doth spring,
Which is, to keepe that hid.

It were but madnes now t'impart 5
The skill of specular stone,
When he which can have learn'd the art
To cut it, can finde none.

So, if I now should utter this,
Others (because no more 10
Such stuffe to worke upon, there is,)
Would love but as before.

But he who lovelinesse within

Hath found, all outward loathes,
For he who colour loves, and skinne, 15
Loves but their oldest clothes.

If, as I have, you also doe
Vertue'attir'd in woman see,
And dare love that, and say so too,
And forget the Hee and Shee; 20

And if this love, though placed so,
From prophane men you hide,
Which will no faith on this bestow,
Or, if they doe, deride:

Then you have done a braver thing 25
Then all the Worthies did;
And a braver thence will spring,
Which is, to keepe that hid.
The undertaking. 1635-
69: no title, 1633, B, D,
H40, H49, JC, Lec, O'F,
P, S: Platonique Love.
A18, N, TCC, TCD

2 Worthies] worthies 1633

3 And yet] Yet B, D, H49,
Lec

7-8 art ... it, 1669: art, ... it
1633-54

16 their] her B

18 Vertue'attir'd in 1633,
A18, B, D, H40, H49, JC,
Lec, N, S, TC: Vertue in
1635-69, O'F, Chambers

26 did; Ed: did. 1633-39:
did, 1650-69

27 spring,] spring 1633-39

Note

The Sunne Rising.

B USIE old foole, unruly Sunne,
Why dost thou thus,
ough windowes, and through curtaines call on us?
Must to thy motions lovers seasons run?
Sawcy pedantique wretch, goe chide 5
Late schoole boyes, and sowre prentices,
Goe tell Court-huntsmen, that the King will ride,
Call countrey ants to harvest offices;
Love, all alike, no season knowes, nor clyme,
Nor houres, dayes, moneths, which are the rags of time. 10

Thy beames, so reverend, and strong
Why shouldst thou thinke?
I could eclipse and cloud them with a winke,
But that I would not lose her sight so long:
If her eyes have not blinded thine, 15
Looke, and to morrow late, tell mee,
Whether both the'India's of spice and Myne
Be where thou leftst them, or lie here with mee.
Aske for those Kings whom thou saw'st yesterday,
And thou shalt heare, All here in one bed lay. 20

She'is all States, and all Princes, I,
Nothing else is.
Princes doe but play us; compar'd to this,
All honor's mimique; All wealth alchimie.
Thou sunne art halfe as happy'as wee, 25
In that the world's contracted thus;
Thine age askes ease, and since thy duties bee
To warme the world, that's done in warming us.
Shine here to us, and thou art every where;

This bed thy center is, these walls, thy spheare. 30

The Sunne Rising. 1633-
69: Sunne Rising. A18,
L74, N, TCC, TCD: Ad
Solem. A25, D, H49, JC,
O'F, S, S96: To the Sunne.
Cy, Lec, O'F (as a second
title): no title, B

3 call] look 1669

6 and] or 1669

sowre] slowe B, Cy, P

8 offices;] offices, 1633

11-14 Thy beames, ... so
long: 1633 and all MSS.:

Thy beames so
reverend,
and strong
Dost thou not
thinke
I could eclipse and
cloude them
with a winke,
But that I would not
lose her sight so
long? 1635-69

17 spice] space 1650-54

18 leftst 1633: left 1635-
69

23 us;] us, 1633

24 wealth] wealth's A25,
C, P

alchimie. Ed: alchimie;
1633-69

26 thus; Ed: thus. 1633-69

Note

The Indifferent.

I CAN love both faire and browne,
Her whom abundance melts, and her whom want betraies,
Her who loves lonenesse best, and her who maskes and plaies,
Her whom the country form'd, and whom the town,
Her who beleeves, and her who tries, 5
Her who still weepes with spungie eyes,
And her who is dry corke, and never cries;
I can love her, and her, and you and you,
I can love any, so she be not true.

Will no other vice content you? 10
Wil it not serve your turn to do, as did your mothers?
Or have you all old vices spent, and now would finde out others?
Or doth a feare, that men are true, torment you?
Oh we are not, be not you so,
Let mee, and doe you, twenty know. 15
Rob mee, but binde me not, and let me goe.
Must I, who came to travaile thorow you,
Grow your fixt subject, because you are true?

Venus heard me sigh this song,
And by Loves sweetest Part, Variety, she swore, 20
She heard not this till now; and that it should be so no more.
She went, examin'd, and return'd ere long,
And said, alas, Some two or three
Poore Heretiques in love there bee,
Which thinke to stablish dangerous constancie. 25
But I have told them, since you will be true,
You shall be true to them, who'are false to you.
The Indifferent. 1633-69,
A18, N, TCC, TCD: A
Songe, Songe, or no title,
B, D, H40, H49, JC, Lec,
O'F, S, S96: Sonnet. P

3 lonenesse] lovers 1669

maskes] sports 1669, S

and 1669: & 1633-39: om.
1650-54

12 spent] worn 1669

15 mee, 1633: me; 1635-
69

17 travaile] spelt travell,
travel 1635-69

19 sigh] sing 1669

20 sweetest Part,]
sweetest sweet, 1669, P, S

21 and that it 1633, B, D,
H49, Lec, S: it 1635-69,
H40, P: and it A18, JC, N,
O'F, S96, TC

Note

Loves Vsury.

F OR every houre that thou wilt spare mee now,
I will allow,
Usurious God of Love, twenty to thee,
When with my browne, my gray haires equall bee;
Till then, Love, let my body raigne, and let 5
Mee travell, sojourne, snatch, plot, have, forget,
Resume my last yeares relict: thinke that yet
We'had never met.

Let mee thinke any rivalls letter mine,
And at next nine 10
Keepe midnights promise; mistake by the way
The maid, and tell the Lady of that delay;
Onely let mee love none, no, not the sport;
From country grasse, to comfitures of Court,

Or cities quelque choses, let report 15
My minde transport.

This bargaine's good; if when I'am old, I bee
Inflam'd by thee,
If thine owne honour, or my shame, or paine,
Thou covet most, at that age thou shalt gaine. 20
Doe thy will then, then subject and degree,
And fruit of love, Love I submit to thee,
Spare mee till then, I'll beare it, though she bee
One that loves mee.
Loves Vsury. 1633-69,
L74: no title, B, Cy, D,
H40, H49, Lec, O'F, P, S:
Elegie. S96

5 raigne, 1633, B, Cy, D,
H40, H49, L74, Lec, P, S:
range, 1635-69, O'F, S96.
See note

6 snatch, 1633, 1669:
match, 1635-54

7 relict] relique 1669

12 that] her 1669

13 sport; 1669: sport
1633-54: sport, most MSS.

15 let report 1633, 1669,
B, Cy, D, H40, H49, L74,
Lec, P, S: let not report
1635-54, O'F, S96,
Chambers. See note

19 or paine 1633, 1669,
and most MSS.: and paine
1635-54, O'F

22 fruit] fruites B, D, H49,
Lec, O'F, S96

24 loves 1633, 1669 and
all the MSS.: love 1635-
54

Note

The Canonization.

F OR Godsake hold your tongue, and let me love,
Or chide my palsie, or my gout,
My five gray haires, or ruin'd fortune flout,
With wealth your state, your minde with Arts improve,
Take you a course, get you a place, 5
Observe his honour, or his grace,
Or the Kings reall, or his stamped face
Contemplate, what you will, approve,
So you will let me love.

Alas, alas, who's injur'd by my love? 10
What merchants ships have my sighs drown'd?
Who saies my teares have overflow'd his ground?
When did my colds a forward spring remove?
When did the heats which my veines fill
Adde one more to the plaguie Bill? 15
Soldiers finde warres, and Lawyers finde out still
Litigious men, which quarrels move,
Though she and I do love.

Call us what you will, wee are made such by love;
Call her one, mee another flye, 20
We'are Tapers too, and at our owne cost die,
And wee in us finde the'Eagle and the Dove.
The Phœnix ridle hath more wit
By us, we two being one, are it.
So to one neutrall thing both sexes fit, 25
Wee dye and rise the same, and prove
Mysterious by this love.

Wee can dye by it, if not live by love,

And if unfit for tombes and hearse
Our legend bee, it will be fit for verse; 30
And if no peece of Chronicle wee prove,
We'll build in sonnets pretty roomes;
As well a well wrought urne becomes
The greatest ashes, as halfe-acre tombes,
And by these hymnes, all shall approve 35
Us Canoniz'd for Love:

And thus invoke us; You whom reverend love
Made one anothers hermitage;
You, to whom love was peace, that now is rage;
Who did the whole worlds soule contract, and drove 40
Into the glasses of your eyes
(So made such mirrors, and such spies,
That they did all to you epitomize,)
Countries, Townes, Courts: Beg from above
A patterne of your love! 45

The Canonization. 1633-
39, A18, Cy, D, H49, Lec,
N, O'F, P, TCC, TCD:
Canonization. 1650-69, S:
Canonizatio. S96: no title,
B, H40, JC

3 five 1633, 1669: true
1635-54

fortune] fortunes 1669

4 improve, 1650-69:
improve 1633-39

7 reall] Roiall Lec

14 veines] reynes 1669

15 more, 1633-54, Lec:
man 1669, A18, B, Cy, D,
H40, H49, JC, N, O'F, P,
S, S96, TC

17 which] whom 1669

18 Though] While 1669

22 Dove. Ed: dove, 1633-
69

24 are it. 1633-69: are it;
Chambers and Grolier

25 So 1650-69: So, 1633-
39. See note

fit, D, H49, Lec: fit. 1633-
69. See note

29 tombes and 1633-54:
tomb or 1669

30 legend] legends 1633

35 these 1633: those
1635-69

36 Love:] Love. 1633

39 rage; Ed: rage, 1633-
69

40 contract] extract A18,
B, Cy, D, H40, H49, Lec,
N, O'F, S, S96, TCC

41 eyes 1633-69: eyes;
Chambers

42-3 brackets, Ed

44 Courts: Beg] Courts
Beg 1669: courts beg
Chambers. See note

from] frow 1633

45 your 1669, A18, B,
H40, JC, N, O'F, P, S96,
TC: our 1633-54, D, H49,
Lec

love! Ed: love. 1633-69

Note

The triple Foole.

I AM two fooles, I know,
For loving, and for saying so
In whining Poëtry;
But where's that wiseman, that would not be I,
If she would not deny? 5
Then as th'earths inward narrow crooked lanes
Do purge sea waters fretfull salt away,
I thought, if I could draw my paines,
Through Rimes vexation, I should them allay,
Griefe brought to numbers cannot be so fierce, 10
For, he tames it, that fetters it in verse.

But when I have done so,
Some man, his art and voice to show,
Doth Set and sing my paine,
And, by delighting many, frees againe 15
Griefe, which verse did restraine.
To Love, and Griefe tribute of Verse belongs,
But not of such as pleases when'tis read,
Both are increased by such songs:
For both their triumphs so are published, 20
And I, which was two fooles, do so grow three;
Who are a little wise, the best fooles bee.
The triple Foole. 1633-69,
A18, L74, N, TCC, TCD:
Song or no title, B, Cy, D,
H40, H49, HN, JC, Lec,
O'F, P, S, S96

4 the wiser man, 1669

5 If he should not deny? P

6 narrow om. P: crooked
om. B

lanes] vaines Cy, P

9 allay, 1633-39: allay.
1650-69, Chambers

10 numbers] number 1669

11 For, he tames it] He
tames it much B

13 and] or 1669

Note

Lovers infinitenesse.

I F yet I have not all thy love,
Deare, I shall never have it all,
I cannot breath one other sigh, to move,
Nor can intreat one other teare to fall,
And all my treasure, which should purchase thee, 5
Sighs, teares, and oathes, and letters I have spent.
Yet no more can be due to mee,
Then at the bargaine made was ment,
If then thy gift of love were partiall,
That some to mee, some should to others fall, 10
Deare, I shall never have Thee All.

Or if then thou gavest mee all,
All was but All, which thou hadst then;
But if in thy heart, since, there be or shall,
New love created bee, by other men, 15
Which have their stocks intire, and can in teares,
In sighs, in oathes, and letters outbid mee,
This new love may beget new feares,
For, this love was not vowed by thee.
And yet it was, thy gift being generall, 20
The ground, thy heart is mine, what ever shall
Grow there, deare, I should have it all.

Yet I would not have all yet,
Hee that hath all can have no more,
And since my love doth every day admit 25
New growth, thou shouldst have new rewards in store;
Thou canst not every day give me thy heart,
If thou canst give it, then thou never gavest it:
Loves riddles are, that though thy heart depart,
It stayes at home, and thou with losing savest it: 30
But wee will have a way more liberall,
Then changing hearts, to joyne them, so wee shall
Be one, and one anothers All.
Lovers infinitenesse.
1633-69: Mon Tout. A25,
C: no title, B, D, H40,
H49, JC, Lec, O'F, P, S:
Elegie. S96

Query Loves
infinitenesse.

3 move, Ed: move; 1633-
69

4 fall, Ed: fall. 1633: fall;
1635-69

6 teares,] teares 1633

spent. Ed: spent, 1633-69
and Grolier: spent;
Chambers

8 Then 1633-35, 1669:
That 1639-54

9 were] was 1669

partiall] generall A25, C

11 Thee 1633: It 1635-69
(it 1669)

12 gavest] givest 1669

13 then; 1635-54: then,
1633

17 and letters 1633: in
letters 1635-69

19 thee. 1639-69: thee,
1633-35

20 it] is 1633

21 is 1633, 1669: was
1635-54

25-6 And since my heart
doth every day beget New
love, &c. A25.

29-30

Except mine come when
thine doth part
And in such giving it,
thou savest it:
A25, C
Perchance mine comes,
when thine doth
parte,
And by such losing it, &c.
JC

31 have] love 1669: find
A25, C

32 them] us 1669

Song.
Note

S WEETEST love, I do not goe,
For wearinesse of thee,
Nor in hope the world can show
A fitter Love for mee;
But since that I 5
Must dye at last, 'tis best,
To use my selfe in jest

Thus by fain'd deaths to dye;

Yesternight the Sunne went hence,
And yet is here to day, 10
He hath no desire nor sense,
Nor halfe so short a way:
Then feare not mee,
But beleeve that I shall make
Speedier journeyes, since I take 15
More wings and spurres then hee.

O how feeble is mans power,
That if good fortune fall,
Cannot adde another houre,
Nor a lost houre recall! 20
But come bad chance,
And wee joyne to'it our strength,
And wee teach it art and length,
It selfe o'r us to'advance.

When thou sigh'st, thou sigh'st not winde, 25
But sigh'st my soule away,
When thou weep'st, unkindly kinde,
My lifes blood doth decay.
It cannot bee
That thou lov'st mee, as thou say'st, 30
If in thine my life thou waste,
Thou art the best of mee.

Let not thy divining heart
Forethinke me any ill,
Destiny may take thy part, 35
And may thy feares fulfill;
But thinke that wee
Are but turn'd aside to sleepe;
They who one another keepe
Alive, ne'r parted bee. 40

Song. 1633-69: Song. or
no title, A18, A25, B, C,
D, H40, H49, JC, Lec, N,
O'F, P, S, S96, TCC,
TCD: in A18, N, TCC,
TCD, this with Send home
my long stray'd eyes and
The Bait are given as
Songs which were made
to certain ayres which
were made before.

1-4 In most MSS. these
lines are written as two
long lines, and so with ll.
9-12, 17-20, 25-28, 33-36

4 mee; 1650-69: mee,
1633-39

5-8 But since ... dye;
1633, A18, A25, B, D,
H40, H49, JC, Lec, N, P,
S, S96, TC:

At the last must part 'tis
best,
Thus to use my selfe in
jest
By fained deaths to
dye; 1635-54,
O'F:
Must dye at last, 'tis best,
Thus to use my self in jest
By fained death to dye;
1669

15 Speedier] Hastier 1669

20 recall! Ed: recall?
1633-69

25 not wind 1633: no
wind 1635-69

32 Thou 1633 and MSS.
generally: That 1635-54:
Which 1669

best 1633-54: life 1669

36 may 1633-35, 1669:
make 1639-54

fulfill; Ed: fulfill, 1633-69

38 turn'd] lai'd 1669

Note

The Legacie.

W HEN I dyed last, and, Deare, I dye
As often as from thee I goe,
Though it be but an houre agoe,
And Lovers houres be full eternity,
I can remember yet, that I 5
Something did say, and something did bestow;
Though I be dead, which sent mee, I should be
Mine owne executor and Legacie.

I heard mee say, Tell her anon,
That my selfe, (that is you, not I,) 10
Did kill me, and when I felt mee dye,
I bid mee send my heart, when I was gone,
But I alas could there finde none,
When I had ripp'd me,'and search'd where hearts did lye;
It kill'd mee againe, that I who still was true, 15
In life, in my last Will should cozen you.

Yet I found something like a heart,
But colours it, and corners had,
It was not good, it was not bad,
It was intire to none, and few had part. 20
As good as could be made by art
It seem'd; and therefore for our losses sad,
I meant to send this heart in stead of mine,

But oh, no man could hold it, for twas thine.
The Legacie. 1633-69:
Legacie. L74: Song. or no
title, A25, B, Cy, D, H40,
H49, Lec, O'F, P, S, S96:
Elegie. A18, N, TCC, TCD

1 When I dyed last,]
When last I dyed, 1669

1-4 (and deare ... eternity)
Grolier.

7 sent 1633, 1669: meant
1635-54

should be] might be 1669

10 that is 1635-69: that's
1633: brackets from A18,
N, TC

13 none, 1633-69: none.
Chambers and Grolier

14 When ... did 1633, A25
(doe), D, H40, H49, Lec,
S, S96: When I had ripp'd,
and search'd where hearts
should 1635-69, A18, L74,
N, TC lye; Ed: lye, 1633-
69, Chambers and
Grolier. See note

18 But] For 1650-69

20 part. 1633-39: part:
1650-69

22 seem'd; Ed: seem'd,
1633-69, Grolier, and
Chambers

our losses sad, 1633-54,
A18, A25, L74, N, O'F, P,
S96, TC: our loss be sad,
1669: our loss be ye sad.
B, Cy, D, H40, H49, Lec,
S: our losses sad; Grolier:
our loss be sad. Chambers

23 meant] thought A18,
L74, N, O'F, TC

this 1633: that 1635-69

Note

A Feaver.

O H doe not die, for I shall hate
All women so, when thou art gone,
That thee I shall not celebrate,
When I remember, thou wast one.

But yet thou canst not die, I know; 5
To leave this world behinde, is death,
But when thou from this world wilt goe,
The whole world vapors with thy breath.

Or if, when thou, the worlds soule, goest,
It stay, tis but thy carkasse then, 10
The fairest woman, but thy ghost,
But corrupt wormes, the worthyest men.

O wrangling schooles, that search what fire
Shall burne this world, had none the wit
Unto this knowledge to aspire, 15
That this her feaver might be it?

And yet she cannot wast by this,
Nor long beare this torturing wrong,
For much corruption needfull is
To fuell such a feaver long. 20

These burning fits but meteors bee,
Whose matter in thee is soone spent.

Thy beauty,'and all parts, which are thee,
Are unchangeable firmament.

Yet t'was of my minde, seising thee, 25
Though it in thee cannot persever.
For I had rather owner bee
Of thee one houre, then all else ever.
A Feaver. 1633-69, D,
H40, H49, Lec, S96: Of a
fever. L74: The Fever. B,
Cy, O'F, P: Fever. A18, N,
TCC, TCD: no title, JC

5 know; Ed: know, 1633-
69

8 with] in 1669

16 might] must TCC

18 beare] endure 1669

torturing] tormenting JC,
O'F (corr. from torturing)

19 For much 1633, A18,
B, D, H40, H49, JC, L74,
Lec, N, S, S96, TC: For
more 1635-69, O'F: Far
more Cy, P

22 is soon] soon is 1669

24 Are] Are an 1669, P,
S96

25 Yet 'twas of 1633-54:
And here as 1669

27 For] Yet 1669

Note

Aire and Angels.

T WICE or thrice had I loved thee,
Before I knew thy face or name;
So in a voice, so in a shapelesse flame,
Angells affect us oft, and worship'd bee;
Still when, to where thou wert, I came, 5
Some lovely glorious nothing I did see.
But since my soule, whose child love is,
Takes limmes of flesh, and else could nothing doe,
More subtile then the parent is,
Love must not be, but take a body too, 10
And therefore what thou wert, and who,
I bid Love aske, and now
That it assume thy body, I allow,
And fixe it selfe in thy lip, eye, and brow.

Whilst thus to ballast love, I thought, 15
And so more steddily to have gone,
With wares which would sinke admiration,
I saw, I had loves pinnace overfraught,
Ev'ry thy haire for love to worke upon
Is much too much, some fitter must be sought; 20
For, nor in nothing, nor in things
Extreme, and scatt'ring bright, can love inhere;
Then as an Angell, face, and wings
Of aire, not pure as it, yet pure doth weare,
So thy love may be my loves spheare; 25
Just such disparitie
As is twixt Aire and Angells puritie,
'Twixt womens love, and mens will ever bee.
Aire and Angels. 1633-69,
A18, D, H49, JC, Lec, N,
O'F, P, S, S96, TCC,
TCD: no title, B, H40

4 bee; Ed: bee, 1633-69

5 came,] came 1633

6 I did] did I 1669

see. Ed: see, 1633-69

7 since Ed: since, 1633-69

11 who, Ed: who 1633-69

14 lip, eye,] lips, eyes,
1669, Chambers

19 Ev'ry thy 1633-39,
A18, B (Even), D, H40,
H49, JC, Lec, N, O'F, S
(Ever), S96, TC: Thy
every 1650-69

22 scatt'ring Ed: scattring,
1633-35: scattering 1639-
69

27 Aire 1633-54 and all
MSS.: Airs 1669,
Chambers

Note
Music

Breake of day.

'T OISwilt
true, 'tis day; what though it be?
thou therefore rise from me?
Why should we rise, because 'tis light?
Did we lie downe, because 'twas night?
Love which in spight of darknesse brought us hether, 5
Should in despight of light keepe us together.

Light hath no tongue, but is all eye;
If it could speake as well as spie,
This were the worst, that it could say,

That being well, I faine would stay, 10
And that I lov'd my heart and honor so,
That I would not from him, that had them, goe.

Must businesse thee from hence remove?
Oh, that's the worst disease of love,
The poore, the foule, the false, love can 15
Admit, but not the busied man.
He which hath businesse, and makes love, doth doe
Such wrong, as when a maryed man doth wooe.
Breake of day, 1633-69,
A18, L74, N, TCC, TCD:
no title or Sonnet, B, D,
H40, H49, JC, Lec, O'F,
P, S, S96: A Songe. A25

1 day;] day, 1633

5 in spight of 1633-39,
1669, A25, JC, S96: in
dispight 1650-54, A18, D,
H40, H49, L74, Lec, N, S,
TC

6 in despight 1633, 1650-
69: in spight 1635-39

keepe] holde A18, L74, N,
S96, TC

9 were] is A18, L74, N,
O'F, S TC

11 I lov'd] I love JC, N,
O'F, TC

12 him, that had them
1633-54, D, H49, Lec, S:
him that had them (or it)
A25, B, C, L74, N, O'F,
TC: her, that had them,
1669: her that hath them
B, JC (it), S96

15 foule,] foole, H40

18 as when ... doth 1633,
1669, A25, C, D, H40,
H49, Lec, S, S96: as if ...
should A18, B, JC, L74,
N, O'F, TC: as when ...
should 1635-54

Note

The Anniversarie.

A LL Kings, and all their favorites,
All glory of honors, beauties, wits,
The Sun it selfe, which makes times, as they passe,
Is elder by a yeare, now, then it was
When thou and I first one another saw: 5
All other things, to their destruction draw,
Only our love hath no decay;
This, no to morrow hath, nor yesterday,
Running it never runs from us away,
But truly keepes his first, last, everlasting day. 10

Two graves must hide thine and my coarse,
If one might, death were no divorce.
Alas, as well as other Princes, wee,
(Who Prince enough in one another bee,)
Must leave at last in death, these eyes, and eares, 15
Oft fed with true oathes, and with sweet salt teares;
But soules where nothing dwells but love
(All other thoughts being inmates) then shall prove
This, or a love increased there above,
When bodies to their graves, soules from their graves remove. 20

And then wee shall be throughly blest,
But wee no more, then all the rest;
Here upon earth, we'are Kings, and none but wee

Can be such Kings, nor of such subjects bee.
Who is so safe as wee? where none can doe 25
Treason to us, except one of us two.
True and false feares let us refraine,
Let us love nobly, and live, and adde againe
Yeares and yeares unto yeares, till we attaine
To write threescore: this is the second of our raigne. 30

The Anniversarie. 1633-
69, A18, N, TCC, TCD: no
title, B, Cy, D, H40, H49,
JC, Lec, O'F, P, S: Ad
Liviam. S96

3 times, as they passe,
1633, 1669 (which
brackets which ... pass),
MSS.: times, as these pass,
1635-54: time, as they
pass, Chambers, who
attributes to 1633, 1669

12 divorce. Ed: divorce,
1633-69

17 love Ed: love; 1633-69

20 to their graves] to their
grave 1635-39

22 wee A18, B, Cy, D,
H40, H49, JC, Lec, N,
O'F, P, S, S96, TC: now
1633-69. See note

rest; Ed: rest. 1633-69

23 none om. 1669, D,
H40, H49, JC, Lec, S, S96

24 None are such Kings,
1669, D, H40, H49, JC,
Lec, S, S96

nor] and D, H40, H49, JC,
Lec, S, S96, bee. Ed: bee;
1633-69

27 refraine,] refraine.
1669

30 threescore: Grolier:
threescore, 1633-69

Note

A Valediction: of my name, in the window.
I.

MY name engrav'd herein,
Doth contribute my firmnesse to this glasse,
Which, ever since that charme, hath beene
As hard, as that which grav'd it, was;
Thine eye will give it price enough, to mock 5
The diamonds of either rock.

II.

'Tis much that Glasse should bee
As all confessing, and through-shine as I,
'Tis more, that it shewes thee to thee,
And cleare reflects thee to thine eye. 10
But all such rules, loves magique can undoe,
Here you see mee, and I am you.

III.

As no one point, nor dash,
Which are but accessaries to this name,
The showers and tempests can outwash, 15
So shall all times finde mee the same;
You this intirenesse better may fulfill,

Who have the patterne with you still.

IIII.

Or, if too hard and deepe
This learning be, for a scratch'd name to teach, 20
It, as a given deaths head keepe,
Lovers mortalitie to preach,
Or thinke this ragged bony name to bee
My ruinous Anatomie.

V.

Then, as all my soules bee, 25
Emparadis'd in you, (in whom alone
I understand, and grow and see,)
The rafters of my body, bone
Being still with you, the Muscle, Sinew, and Veine,
Which tile this house, will come againe. 30

VI.

Till my returne, repaire
And recompact my scattered body so.
As all the vertuous powers which are
Fix'd in the starres, are said to flow
Into such characters, as graved bee 35
When these starres have supremacie:

VII.

So, since this name was cut
When love and griefe their exaltation had,
No doore 'gainst this names influence shut;
As much more loving, as more sad, 40
'Twill make thee; and thou shouldst, till I returne,

Since I die daily, daily mourne.

VIII.

When thy inconsiderate hand
Flings ope this casement, with my trembling name,
To looke on one, whose wit or land, 45
New battry to thy heart may frame,
Then thinke this name alive, and that thou thus
In it offendst my Genius.

IX.

And when thy melted maid,
Corrupted by thy Lover's gold, and page, 50
His letter at thy pillow'hath laid,
Disputed it, and tam'd thy rage,
And thou begin'st to thaw towards him, for this,
May my name step in, and hide his.

X.

And if this treason goe 55
To an overt act, and that thou write againe;
In superscribing, this name flow
Into thy fancy, from the pane.
So, in forgetting thou remembrest right,
And unaware to mee shalt write. 60

XI.

But glasse, and lines must bee,
No meanes our firme substantiall love to keepe;
Neere death inflicts this lethargie,
And this I murmure in my sleepe;
Impute this idle talke, to that I goe, 65

For dying men talke often so.
A Valediction: Of &c. D,
H49: A Valediction of &c.
1633-69, H40, Lec;
Valediction of &c. A18, N,
TCC, TCD: A Valediction
of my name in the Glasse
Window Cy: A
Valediction to &c. B:
Valediction 4: of Glasse
O'F: Valediction in Glasse
P: The Diamond and
Glasse S: Vpon the
ingravinge of his name
with a Diamonde in his
mistris windowe when he
was to travel. S96 (This is
added to the title in O'F.):
similarly, JC

4 was; Ed: was, 1633-69

5 eye] eyes A18, B, Cy,
JC, N, O'F, P, S, S96, TC

8 I, 1633-54: I 1669

12 am you.] see you. 1669

14 accessaries 1633-69,
O'F, S: accessary A18, B,
Cy, D, H40, H49, JC, Lec,
N, P, S96, TC

15 tempests 1633, 1669:
tempest 1635-54

19 Or, Ed: Or 1633-69

32 so. 1633-35: so, 1639-
69, Chambers. See note

34 flow Ed: flow, 1633-69

36 these 1633: those
1635-69

have] had 1669

supremacie: 1633-69:
supremacie. 1650-69. See

note

37 So, Ed: So 1633-69

39 shut; Ed: shut, 1633-69

44 ope 1633-69, O'F, S96:
out A18, B, D, H40, H49,
JC, Lec, N, P, S, TC

48 offendst] offends 1669

50 and] or 1669, JC, O'F,
S96

52-3

Disputed thou it, and tame
thy rage.
If thou to him begin'st to
thaw for this, 1669

55 goe] growe JC, O'F, S

56 againe; 1633: againe:
1635-69

57 this] my 1669

58 pane. 1633: Pen, 1635-
69, O'F, S

60 unaware] unawares B,
N, O'F, P, S, S96, TC

64 this] thus 1635-69,
O'F, P, S, S96

Note

Twicknam garden.

B LASTED with sighs, and surrounded with teares,
Hither I come to seeke the spring,
And at mine eyes, and at mine eares,
Receive such balmes, as else cure every thing;

But O, selfe traytor, I do bring 5
The spider love, which transubstantiates all,
And can convert Manna to gall,
And that this place may thoroughly be thought
True Paradise, I have the serpent brought.

'Twere wholsomer for mee, that winter did 10
Benight the glory of this place,
And that a grave frost did forbid
These trees to laugh, and mocke mee to my face;
But that I may not this disgrace
Indure, nor yet leave loving, Love let mee 15
Some senslesse peece of this place bee;
Make me a mandrake, so I may groane here,
Or a stone fountaine weeping out my yeare.

Hither with christall vyals, lovers come,
And take my teares, which are loves wine, 20
And try your mistresse Teares at home,
For all are false, that tast not just like mine;
Alas, hearts do not in eyes shine,
Nor can you more judge womans thoughts by teares,
Then by her shadow, what she weares. 25
O perverse sexe, where none is true but shee,
Who's therefore true, because her truth kills mee.
Twicknam garden. 1633-
69: do. or Twitnam
Garden. A18, L74 (in
margin), N, O'F, P, S,
S96, TCC, TCD: In a
Garden. B: no title, A25,
Cy, D, H40, H49, JC, Lec,
P

3 eares] years 1669

4 balms ... cure 1633,
A25, D, H49: balm ...
cures 1635-69, A18, B,
Cy, L74, N, O'F, P, S,
S96, TC

thing; Ed: thing, 1633:
thing: 1635-69

6 spider] spiders 1669

8 thoroughly 1633-39:
throughly 1650-69

12 did] would A18, A25,
N, TC

13 laugh,] laugh 1633

14 that I may not] since I
cannot 1669

15 nor yet leave loving,
1633: om. D, H40, H49,
Lec: nor leave this garden,
1635-69, A18, A25, Cy,
JC, L74, N, O'F, P, S,
S96, TC

17 groane A18, D, H40,
H49, N, TC: grow 1633-
69, B, L74, Lec, O'F, P, S,
S96

18 my yeare, 1633, 1669,
D, H40, H49, Lec: the
yeare. 1635-54, A18, A25,
L74, N, O'F, P, TC

20 loves] lovers 1639

24 womans A18, D, H40,
H49, L74, N, TC: womens
1633-69, Lec, P, S96

Note

A Valediction: of the booke.

I 'LL tell thee now (deare Love) what thou shalt doe
To anger destiny, as she doth us,
How I shall stay, though she Esloygne me thus

And how posterity shall know it too;
How thine may out-endure 5
Sybills glory, and obscure
Her who from Pindar could allure,
And her, through whose helpe Lucan is not lame,
And her, whose booke (they say) Homer did finde, and name.

Study our manuscripts, those Myriades 10
Of letters, which have past twixt thee and mee,
Thence write our Annals, and in them will bee
To all whom loves subliming fire invades,
Rule and example found;
There, the faith of any ground 15
No schismatique will dare to wound,
That sees, how Love this grace to us affords,
To make, to keep, to use, to be these his Records.

This Booke, as long-liv'd as the elements,
Or as the worlds forme, this all-graved tome 20
In cypher writ, or new made Idiome,
Wee for loves clergie only'are instruments:
When this booke is made thus,
Should againe the ravenous
Vandals and Goths inundate us, 25
Learning were safe; in this our Universe
Schooles might learne Sciences, Spheares Musick, Angels Verse.

Here Loves Divines, (since all Divinity
Is love or wonder) may finde all they seeke,
Whether abstract spirituall love they like, 30
Their Soules exhal'd with what they do not see,
Or, loth so to amuze
Faiths infirmitie, they chuse
Something which they may see and use;
For, though minde be the heaven, where love doth sit, 35
Beauty a convenient type may be to figure it.

Here more then in their bookes may Lawyers finde,

Both by what titles Mistresses are ours,
And how prerogative these states devours,
Transferr'd from Love himselfe, to womankinde, 40
Who though from heart, and eyes,
They exact great subsidies,
Forsake him who on them relies,
And for the cause, honour, or conscience give,
Chimeraes, vaine as they, or their prerogative. 45

Here Statesmen, (or of them, they which can reade,)
May of their occupation finde the grounds:
Love and their art alike it deadly wounds,
If to consider what 'tis, one proceed,
In both they doe excell 50
Who the present governe well,
Whose weaknesse none doth, or dares tell;
In this thy booke, such will their nothing see,
As in the Bible some can finde out Alchimy.

Thus vent thy thoughts; abroad I'll studie thee, 55
As he removes farre off, that great heights takes;
How great love is, presence best tryall makes,
But absence tryes how long this love will bee;
To take a latitude
Sun, or starres, are fitliest view'd 60
At their brightest, but to conclude
Of longitudes, what other way have wee,
But to marke when, and where the darke eclipses bee?
A Valediction: of &c. Ed:
A Valediction of the
Booke A18, N, TCC,
TCD: Valediction of the
booke. D, H49, Lec:
Valediction 3: Of the
Booke O'F: The Booke
Cy, P: Valediction to his
booke. 1633-69, S: A
Valediction of a booke left
in a windowe. JC

18 Records, 1633-69:
records, Grolier

20 tome 1633-35: to me
1639-54: Tomb. 1669,
A18, Cy, Lec, N, S

21 Idiome, Ed: Idiome;
1633-69

22 instruments: Ed:
instruments, 1633-69. See
note

25 and Goths inundate us,
A18, B, Cy, D, H40, H49,
Lec, N, TC: and the Goths
invade us, 1633-54, S: and
Goths invade us, 1669,
H40, JC (or), O'F, P

26 were safe; 1633: rest
omit semicolon.

Universe 1633-39:
Universe, 1650-69

30 abstract] abstracted
1669

32 Or, ... amuze Ed: Or ...
amuze, 1633-69

33 infirmitie,] infirmities,
1669, D, H49, Lec

38 titles] titles, 1663

39 these states] those rites
A18, N, TC

40 womankinde, Ed:
womankinde. 1633-54:
womankinde: 1669

43 relies, Ed: relies 1633:
relies; 1635-69

44 give,] give; 1635-69

46 Statesmen] Tradesmen
Cy, P

47 grounds: Ed: grounds,
1633-69

49 'tis, one] 'tis on 1669

53 their nothing 1635-54,
A18, B, Cy, D, H40, H49,
JC (nothings), Lec, N,
O'F, S, TC (but the MSS.
waver between their and
there): there something
1633, 1669, P

55 vent 1633, 1669: went
1635-54

thoughts; abroad]
thoughts abroad: 1669

56 great heights] shadows
O'F

63 1669 omits darke

Communitie.

G OOD wee must love, and must hate ill,
For ill is ill, and good good still,
But there are things indifferent,
Which wee may neither hate, nor love,
But one, and then another prove,
As wee shall finde our fancy bent. 5

If then at first wise Nature had
Made women either good or bad,
Then some wee might hate, and some chuse,
But since shee did them so create, 10
That we may neither love, nor hate,
Onely this rests, All, all may use.

If they were good it would be seene,

Good is as visible as greene,
And to all eyes it selfe betrayes: 15
If they were bad, they could not last,
Bad doth it selfe, and others wast,
So, they deserve nor blame, nor praise.

But they are ours as fruits are ours,
He that but tasts, he that devours, 20
And he that leaves all, doth as well:
Chang'd loves are but chang'd sorts of meat,
And when hee hath the kernell eate,
Who doth not fling away the shell?
Communitie. 1635-69: no
title, 1633, A18, B, Cy, D,
H40, H49, JC, L74, Lec,
N, O'F, P, S, S96, TCC,
TCD

3 there 1635-69, A18, B,
N, O'F, S, TC, &c.: these
1633, D, Cy, H49, Lec

7 had Ed: had, 1633-39

12 All, all 1633-54: All
men 1669

15 betrayes: 1650-69:
betrayes, 1633-39

21 well: Ed: well, 1633-
69

Note

Loves growth.

I SCARCE beleeve my love to be so pure
As I had thought it was,
Because it doth endure

Vicissitude, and season, as the grasse;
Me thinkes I lyed all winter, when I swore, 5
My love was infinite, if spring make'it more.

But if this medicine, love, which cures all sorrow
With more, not onely bee no quintessence,
But mixt of all stuffes, paining soule, or sense,
And of the Sunne his working vigour borrow, 10
Love's not so pure, and abstract, as they use
To say, which have no Mistresse but their Muse,
But as all else, being elemented too,
Love sometimes would contemplate, sometimes do.

And yet no greater, but more eminent, 15
Love by the spring is growne;
As, in the firmament,
Starres by the Sunne are not inlarg'd, but showne.
Gentle love deeds, as blossomes on a bough,
From loves awakened root do bud out now. 20
If, as in water stir'd more circles bee
Produc'd by one, love such additions take,
Those like so many spheares, but one heaven make,
For, they are all concentrique unto thee.
And though each spring doe adde to love new heate, 25
As princes doe in times of action get
New taxes, and remit them not in peace,
No winter shall abate the springs encrease.
Loves growth. 1633-69,
A18, N, TCC, TCD: The
Spring. or Spring. 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

Note

Loves exchange.

L OVE, 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

Note

Confined Love.

S OME 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

Note

The Dreame.
Note (Supp.)

D EARE 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)

Note

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

Note

Loves Alchymie.

S OME 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
b
e
s
t
,
Sweetnesse, and wit
they'are, but,
Mummy, possest.
1633-54:

1669 omits all
punctuation in these lines

Note

The Flea.

M ARKE 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

Note

The Curse.

W HO 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

Note

The Message.

S END 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 wch
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

Note

A nocturnall upon S. Lucies day,

Being the shortest day.

T IS 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

Note: Music
Music

The Baite.

C OME 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

Note

The Apparition.

W HEN 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

Note

The broken heart.

H E 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

Note

A Valediction: forbidding mourning.

A S 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

Note

The Extasie.

W HERE, 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

Note

Loves diet.

T O 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

Note

The Will.

B EFORE 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

Note

The Funerall.

W HO 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

Note

The Blossome.

L ITTLE 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

Note

The Primrose, being at Montgomery Castle, upon
the hill, on which it is situate.

V PON 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

Note

The Relique.

W HEN 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.

W HEN 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

Note

The Dissolution.

S HEE'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.

T HOU 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

Note

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

Note

The Prohibition.

T AKE heed of loving mee,
At least remember, I forbade it thee;
Not that I shall repaire my'unthrifty wast
Of Breath and Blood, upon thy sighes, and teares,
By being to thee then what to me thou wast; 5
But, so great Joy, our life at once outweares,
Then, least thy love, by my death, frustrate bee,
If thou love mee, take heed of loving mee.

Take heed of hating mee,
Or too much triumph in the Victorie. 10
Not that I shall be mine owne officer,
And hate with hate againe retaliate;
But thou wilt lose the stile of conquerour,
If I, thy conquest, perish by thy hate.
Then, least my being nothing lessen thee, 15
If thou hate mee, take heed of hating mee.

Yet, love and hate mee too,
So, these extreames shall neithers office doe;
Love mee, that I may die the gentler way;
Hate mee, because thy love is too great for mee; 20
Or let these two, themselves, not me decay;
So shall I, live, thy Stage, not triumph bee;
Lest thou thy love and hate and mee undoe,
To let mee live, O love and hate mee too.
The Prohibition. 1633-69,
A18, N, TCC, TCD: no

title, B, Cy, D, H40, H49,
JC, O'F, S96: in B first
two verses headed J. D.,
last verse T. R.: in A18, N,
S96, TCC, TCD the last
stanza is omitted

3 repaire my'unthrifty
wast] repay in unthrifty a
wast, 1669

5 By ... wast; Ed: By ...
wast, 1635-69, B, Cy,
H40, O'F, P, RP31, S96
(mee for thee B, P): By
being to mee then that
which thou wast; 1633:
om. A18, D, H40, H49, N,
TC

18 neithers Ed: neythers
D, H40, H49, JC: neyther
O'F, RP31: neyther their
Cy: ne'r their 1633-69, B

20 thy 1635-69: my 1633
(thy in some copies)

22 I, live, Ed: I live 1633-
69

Stage, 1635-69, B, Cy,
H40, O'F: stay, 1633, JC:
staye, D, H49

not] and H40

23-4

Lest thou thy love and
hate and mee
undoe
To let mee live, Oh (of in
some copies) love
and hate mee too.

1633, B

Then lest thou thy love
hate, and mee thou
undoe

O let me live, yet love and
hate me too.

1635-54, Cy, D, H40,
H49, JC, O'F (MSS.
omitting first thou and
some with Oh for yet)

Lest thou thy love, and
hate, and me thou
undo,
O let me live, yet love and
hate me too.

1669.

Note

The Expiration.

S O, so, breake off this last lamenting kisse,
Which sucks two soules, and vapors Both away,
Turne thou ghost that way, and let mee turne this,
And let our selves benight our happiest day,
We ask'd none leave to love; nor will we owe 5
Any, so cheape a death, as saying, Goe;

Goe; and if that word have not quite kil'd thee,
Ease mee with death, by bidding mee goe too.
Oh, if it have, let my word worke on mee,
And a just office on a murderer doe. 10
Except it be too late, to kill me so,
Being double dead, going, and bidding, goe.
The Expiration. 1633-69:
An Expiration. A18, N,
TCC, TCD: Valediction.
B: Valedictio. O'F:
Valedictio Amoris. S:
Valedico. P: no title, A25,
C, JC

1 So, so,] So, go 1669

5 ask'd A18, A25, B, C JC,
N, O'F, S96, TC: aske
1633-69, P, S

9 Oh, 1633, A18, A25, JC,
N, TC: Or, 1635-69, B,
O'F, S, S96

The Computation.

F OR the first twenty yeares, since yesterday,
I scarce beleev'd, thou could'st be gone away,
For forty more, I fed on favours past,
And forty'on hopes, that thou would'st, they might last.
Teares drown'd one hundred, and sighes blew out two, 5
A thousand, I did neither thinke, nor doe,
Or not divide, all being one thought of you;
Or in a thousand more, forgot that too.
Yet call not this long life; But thinke that I
Am, by being dead, Immortall; Can ghosts die? 10

The Computation. 1633-
69, A18, N, TCC, TCD: no
title, B, O'F, S

1 For 1633-54: From
1669

the 1633, A18, N, TC: my
1635-69, B, O'F, S,
Chambers

3 For] And 1669

6 One thousand I did think
nothing nor doe, S, O'F
(nothing think) doe, 1635-
69: doe. 1633

7 divide, 1633, 1669:
deem'd, 1635-54, O'F

8 a] one O'F, S: line
dropped A18, N, TC

forgot] forget 1669, A18,
N, O'F, S, TC

Note

The Paradox.

N O Lover saith, I love, nor any other
Can judge a perfect Lover;
Hee thinkes that else none can, nor will agree
That any loves but hee:
I cannot say I lov'd, for who can say 5
Hee was kill'd yesterday?
Love with excesse of heat, more yong then old,
Death kills with too much cold;
Wee dye but once, and who lov'd last did die,
Hee that saith twice, doth lye: 10
For though hee seeme to move, and stirre a while,
It doth the sense beguile.
Such life is like the light which bideth yet
When the lights life is set,
Or like the heat, which fire in solid matter 15
Leaves behinde, two houres after.
Once I lov'd and dy'd; and am now become
Mine Epitaph and Tombe.
Here dead men speake their last, and so do I;
Love-slaine, loe, here I lye. 20

The Paradox. 1635-69: no
title, 1633, A18, H40, L74,
N, O'F, S, S96 TCC, TCD

3 can, nor will agree A18,
H40, N, O'F, S, TC: can or
will agree, 1633-69

6 yesterday?] yesterday.
1633-39

14 lights life H40, L74,
RP31, S: lifes light 1633-
69, A18, N, O'F, S96, TC

15 which Ed: which,
1633-69

17 lov'd A18, H40, L74,
N, O'F, S, TC: love 1633-
69

dy'd] dyed 1633-69

20 lye. H40, RP31, S,
S96: dye. 1633-69, A18,
L74, N, O'F, TC

Note

Farewell to Love.

WHILST yet to prove,
I thought there was some Deitie in love
So did I reverence, and gave
Worship; as Atheists at their dying houre
Call, what they cannot name, an unknowne power, 5
As ignorantly did I crave:
Thus when
Things not yet knowne are coveted by men,
Our desires give them fashion, and so
As they waxe lesser, fall, as they sise, grow. 10

But, from late faire
His hignesse sitting in a golden Chaire,
Is not lesse cared for after three dayes
By children, then the thing which lovers so
Blindly admire, and with such worship wooe; 15

Being had, enjoying it decayes:
And thence,
What before pleas'd them all, takes but one sense,
And that so lamely, as it leaves behinde
A kinde of sorrowing dulnesse to the minde. 20

Ah cannot wee,
As well as Cocks and Lyons jocund be,
After such pleasures? Unlesse wise
Nature decreed (since each such Act, they say,
Diminisheth the length of life a day) 25
This, as shee would man should despise
The sport;
Because that other curse of being short,
And onely for a minute made to be,
(Eagers desire) to raise posterity. 30

Since so, my minde
Shall not desire what no man else can finde,
I'll no more dote and runne
To pursue things which had indammag'd me.
And when I come where moving beauties be, 35
As men doe when the summers Sunne
Growes great,
Though I admire their greatnesse, shun their heat;
Each place can afford shadowes. If all faile,
'Tis but applying worme-seed to the Taile. 40

Farewell to love. 1635-69
(following Soules joy: p.
429), O'F, S96

4 Worship; Ed: Worship,
1635-69

10 sise, 1635-69, O'F: rise
S96

23 pleasures? Ed:
pleasures, 1635-69

26 This, Ed: This; 1635-
69

27 sport; Ed: sport, 1635-
69

29 to be, Ed: to be 1635-
69

30 (Eagers desire) Ed:
Eager, desires 1635-69.
See note

36 summers 1635-69:
summer 1650-1669

Note

A Lecture upon the Shadow.

S TAND still, and I will read to thee
A Lecture, Love, in loves philosophy.
These three houres that we have spent,
Walking here, Two shadowes went
Along with us, which we our selves produc'd; 5
But, now the Sunne is just above our head,
We doe those shadowes tread;
And to brave clearnesse all things are reduc'd.
So whilst our infant loves did grow,
Disguises did, and shadowes, flow, 10
From us, and our cares; but, now 'tis not so.

That love hath not attain'd the high'st degree,
Which is still diligent lest others see.

Except our loves at this noone stay,
We shall new shadowes make the other way. 15
As the first were made to blinde
Others; these which come behinde
Will worke upon our selves, and blind our eyes.

If our loves faint, and westwardly decline;
To me thou, falsly, thine, 20
And I to thee mine actions shall disguise.
The morning shadowes weare away,
But these grow longer all the day,
But oh, loves day is short, if love decay.

Love is a growing, or full constant light; 25
And his first minute, after noone, is night.
A Lecture &c. 1650-69:
Lecture &c, A18, N, TCC,
TCD: Song. 1635-39
(following Dear Love
continue: p. 412): The
Shadowe. O'F, P:
Shadowe. S96: Loves
Lecture. S: Loves Lecture
upon the Shaddow. L74:
Loves Philosophy. JC: no
title, A25, B, C, D, H40,
H49, Lec

4 Walking 1635-69, A18,
A25, N, TC: In walking B,
D, H40, H49, JC, Lec,
S96

here, 1719: here; 1635-
39: here: 1650-69

9 loves 1635-54, A18,
L74, N, TC: love 1669, B,
D, H40, H49, JC, Lec,
O'F, S

12 high'st] least B, D,
H40, H49, JC, Lec, O'F,
S, S96

14 loves 1635-69, A18,
A25, L74, N, TC: love B,
D, H40, H49, JC, Lec,
O'F, S, S96

19 If our loves faint 1635-
69, A25, O'F (love), P,
S96 (love), TC: If once

love faint B, D, H40, H49,
JC, S

26 first A18, A25, B, D,
H40, H49, JC, L74, Lec,
N, O'F, P, S96, TC: short
1635-69

Sonnet. The Token.

S END me some token, that my hope may live,
Or that my easelesse thoughts may sleep and rest;
Send me some honey to make sweet my hive,
That in my passion I may hope the best.
I beg noe ribbond wrought with thine owne hands, 5
To knit our loves in the fantastick straine
Of new-toucht youth; nor Ring to shew the stands
Of our affection, that as that's round and plaine,
So should our loves meet in simplicity;
No, nor the Coralls which thy wrist infold, 10
Lac'd up together in congruity,
To shew our thoughts should rest in the same hold;
No, nor thy picture, though most gracious,
And most desir'd, because best like the best;
Nor witty Lines, which are most copious, 15
Within the Writings which thou hast addrest.

Send me nor this, nor that, t'increase my store,
But swear thou thinkst I love thee, and no more.
Sonnet. The Token. 1649-
69 (following Vpon Mr.
Thomas Coryats
Crudities. at close of
Epicedes): Ad Lesbiam.
S96: no title, B, Cy:
Sonnet. O'F: Elegie. P

1 token B, O'F, S96:
Tokens 1650-69, P

4 passion S96: passions
1650-69, B, P

5 noe B, O'F, P, S96: nor
1650-69

9 simplicity; Ed:
simplicity. 1650-69

11 in 1650-69: with B,
O'F, S96

12 hold; Ed: hold. 1650-
69

14 desir'd because ... best;
B, O'F, S96: desired
'cause 'tis like thee best;
1650-54: desired 'cause
'tis like the best; 1669,
Chambers

17 store, B, O'F, P, S96:
score, 1650-69

〈Selfe Love.〉
H E that cannot chuse but love,
And strives against it still,
Never shall my fancy move;
For he loves 'gaynst his will;
Nor he which is all his own, 5
And can att pleasure chuse,
When I am caught he can be gone,
And when he list refuse.
Nor he that loves none but faire,
For such by all are sought; 10
Nor he that can for foul ones care,
For his Judgement then is nought:

Nor he that hath wit, for he
Will make me his jest or slave;
Nor a fool, for when others..., 15
He can neither....
Nor he that still his Mistresse payes,
For she is thrall'd therefore:
Nor he that payes not, for he sayes
Within, shee's worth no more. 20
Is there then no kinde of men
Whom I may freely prove?
I will vent that humour then
In mine own selfe love.
〈 Selfe Love. 〉 title
given by Chambers: no
title, 1650-69 (in
appendix), JC, O'F

4 'gaynst JC, O'F: against
1650-69

6 And can ... chuse, JC:
And cannot pleasure
chuse, 1650-69: And can
all pleasures chuse, O'F

11 foul ones] fouleness
O'F

14 slave; 1719: slave
1650-69

15 fool, 1719: fool 1650-
69

17 payes, JC, O'F: prays,
1650-69

19 payes not,] payes, not,
1650-69

20 Within, Ed: Within
1650-69

The end of the Songs and Sonets.

Note

EPIGRAMS.

Hero and Leander.

B OTH rob'd of aire, we both lye in one ground,
Both whom one fire had burnt, one water drownd.
Hero and Leander. 1633-
69, A18, HN, N, O'F,
TCC, TCD, W

Note

Pyramus and Thisbe.

T WO, by themselves, each other, love and feare
Slaine, cruell friends, by parting have joyn'd here.
Pyramus and Thisbe.
1633-69, A18, Cy, HN, N,
O'F, TCC, TCD, W

1: feare] feare, Chambers,
and Grolier (which drops
all the other commas)

Niobe.

B Y childrens births, and death, I am become
So dry, that I am now mine owne sad tombe.
Niobe. 1633-69, A18, HN,
N, O'F, TCC, TCD, W

2: mine owne sad tombe.
1633-69: mine owne
tombe. A18, N, TC: made
mine owne tombe. HN, W

Note

A burnt ship.

O UT of a fired ship, which, by no way
But drowning, could be rescued from the flame,
Some men leap'd forth, and ever as they came
Neere the foes ships, did by their shot decay;
So all were lost, which in the ship were found,
They in the sea being burnt, they in the burnt ship drown'd.
A burnt ship. 1633-69,
A18, N, TCC, TCD: Nave
arsa. W: De Nave arsa.
O'F. See note

Note

Fall of a wall.

V NDER an undermin'd, and shot-bruis'd wall
A too-bold Captaine perish'd by the fall,
Whose brave misfortune, happiest men envi'd,
That had a towne for tombe, his bones to hide.

Fall of a wall. 1633-69,
A18, N, TCC, TCD: Caso
d'un muro. O'F, W

4 towne 1633 and MSS.:
towre 1635-69

bones 1633-69, A18, N,
TC: corpse B, HN, O'F, W

Note

A lame begger.

I am unable, yonder begger cries,
To stand, or move; if he say true, hee lies.
A lame begger. 1633-69,
A18, N, TC: A beggar.
HN: no title, P: Zoppo.
O'F, W

Note

Cales and Guyana.

I F you from spoyle of th'old worlds farthest end
To the new world your kindled valors bend,
What brave examples then do prove it trew
That one things end doth still beginne a new.
Cales and Guyana. O'F:
Calez &c. W: first printed
in Gosse's Life and Letters
of John Donne (1899)

Note

Sir Iohn Wingefield.

B EYOND th'old Pillers many have travailed
Towards the Suns cradle, and his throne, and bed:
A fitter Piller our Earle did bestow
In that late Island; for he well did know
Farther then Wingefield no man dares to goe.
Sir Iohn Wingefield. Ed:
Il Cavalliere Gio: Wingef:
W: On Cavallero
Wingfield. O'F: first
printed in Gosse's Life
and Letters of John Donne
(1899)

2 throne W: grave O'F

4 late W: Lady O'F

A selfe accuser.

Y OUR mistris, that you follow whores, still taxeth you:
'Tis strange that she should thus confesse it, though'it be true.
A selfe accuser. 1633-69:
A Mistrisse. HN: no title,
B, O'F, W

2 that] om. HN, O'F, W

thus] om. HN, O'F, W

it] om. HN, O'F

A licentious person.

T HY sinnes and haires may no man equall call,
For, as thy sinnes increase, thy haires doe fall.
A licentious person. 1633-
69, A18, N, TCC, TCD:
Whore. HN: no title, O'F,
RP31, W

1 Thy] His and so
throughout, RP31

Note

Antiquary.

I F in his Studie he hath so much care
To'hang all old strange things, let his wife beware.
Antiquary. 1633-69, A18,
N, P, TCC, TCD, W:
Hammon. HN: no title,
Bur, Cy, O'F: Epigram.
S96

1 he hath so much 1633-
69: he have such A18, N,
TC: Hamon hath such B,
Cy, HN (have), O'F, S96,
W

2 strange om. B, HN, O'F
all om. Bur]

Disinherited.

T HY father all from thee, by his last Will,
Gave to the poore; Thou hast good title still.

Disinherited. 1633-69:
One disinherited. HN: no
title, Cy, O'F, P, W

1 Will, Ed: Will 1633-69

Note

Phryne.

T HY flattering picture, Phryne, is like thee,
Onely in this, that you both painted be.
Phryne. 1633-69, A18, N,
TCC, TCD: no title, O'F

1 like thee,] like to thee,
1650-69

An obscure writer.
HILO, with twelve yeares study, hath beene griev'd
P To be understood; when will hee be beleev'd?
An obscure writer. 1633-
69, A18, N, TCC, TCD: no
title, O'F

1 griev'd Ed: griev'd,
1633-69

2 To be Ed: To'be 1633-69

understood; Ed:
understood, 1633-69

beleev'd?] beleev'd. 1633

Klockius.
LOCKIUS so deeply hath sworne, ne'r more to come
K In bawdie house, that hee dares not goe home.
Klockius. HN: no title,
1633-69, Bur, O'F

1 Klockius] Rawlings Bur

2 In bawdie] In a bawdie
HN

Note

Raderus.

W hy this man gelded Martiall I muse,
Except himselfe alone his tricks would use,
As Katherine, for the Courts sake, put downe Stewes.
Raderus. 1633-69, A18, N,
TCD: Randerus. TCC:
Martial: castratus. W

1 Martiall I muse, 1633-
54: Martiall, I amuse,
1669

Note

Mercurius Gallo-Belgicus.

L ike Esops fellow-slaves, O Mercury,
Which could do all things, thy faith is; and I
Like Esops selfe, which nothing; I confesse

I should have had more faith, if thou hadst lesse;
Thy credit lost thy credit: 'Tis sinne to doe,
In this case, as thou wouldst be done unto,
To beleeve all: Change thy name: thou art like
Mercury in stealing, but lyest like a Greeke.
Mercurius Gallo-Belgicus.
1633-69, A18, B, N, O'F,
S, TCC, TCD, W

8 but lyest 1633-69: and
lyest B, W

Ralphius.

C OMPASSION in the world againe is bred:
Ralphius is sick, the broker keeps his bed.
Ralphius. HN: no title,
1633-69, O'F

Note

The Lier.

T HOU in the fields walkst out thy supping howers,
And yet thou swear'st thou hast supp'd like a king:
Like Nebuchadnezar perchance with grass and flowers,
A sallet worse then Spanish dieting.
The Lier. HN: no title, B,
Bur, Cy, O'F, P, W

2 swear'st HN, W: say'st B,
Cy, O'F

3 grass] hearbes Bur

supp'd like] supp'd and
like HN

Note

ELEGIES.
Note

ELEGIE I.

Iealosie.

F OND woman, which would'st have thy husband die,
And yet complain'st of his great jealousie;
If swolne with poyson, hee lay in' his last bed,
His body with a sere-barke covered,
Drawing his breath, as thick and short, as can 5
The nimblest crocheting Musitian,
Ready with loathsome vomiting to spue
His Soule out of one hell, into a new,
Made deafe with his poore kindreds howling cries,
Begging with few feign'd teares, great legacies, 10
Thou would'st not weepe, but jolly,'and frolicke bee,
As a slave, which to morrow should be free;
Yet weep'st thou, when thou seest him hungerly
Swallow his owne death, hearts-bane jealousie.
O give him many thanks, he'is courteous, 15
That in suspecting kindly warneth us.
Wee must not, as wee us'd, flout openly,
In scoffing ridles, his deformitie;
Nor at his boord together being fatt,
With words, nor touch, scarce lookes adulterate. 20
Nor when he swolne, and pamper'd with great fare,
Sits downe, and snorts, cag'd in his basket chaire,

Must wee usurpe his owne bed any more,
Nor kisse and play in his house, as before.
Now I see many dangers; for that is 25
His realme, his castle, and his diocesse.
But if, as envious men, which would revile
Their Prince, or coyne his gold, themselves exile
Into another countrie,'and doe it there,
Wee play'in another house, what should we feare? 30
There we will scorne his houshold policies,
His seely plots, and pensionary spies,
As the inhabitants of Thames right side
Do Londons Major; or Germans, the Popes pride.
Elegie I. Iealosie. 1635-
54: Elegie I. 1633 and
1669: no title or Elegie
(numbered variously,
according to scheme
adopted) A18, A25, B, Cy,
D, H49, JC, Lec, N, O'F,
P, S, S96, TCC, TCD, W

1 woman,] woman 1633

4 sere-barke 1633-54, B,
Cy, H49, Lec, O'F, S, W:
sere-cloth 1669, D, P:
sore barke A18, A25, JC,
N, TC

10 few] some few A18, N,
TC

12 free; Ed: free, 1633-
69: free. D

16 us. 1633-35: us, 1639-
69

21 great 1633-54, A18,
A25, D, H49, JC, Lec, N,
S, TC, W: high 1669, B,
O'F, P, S96: his Cy

fare, Ed: fare 1633-69

25 Now ... dangers;] Now
do I see my danger; 1669

that all MSS.: it 1633-69

26 diocesse] Diocys D:
Diocis W

27-29 (as envious ... do it
there,) 1669

30 another] anothers 1669
We into some third place
retired were B, O'F, P,
S96

34 Major; 1650-54:
Major, 1633-39: Mayor;
1669

Note

ELEGIE II.

The Anagram.

M ARRY, and love thy Flavia, for, shee
Hath all things, whereby others beautious bee,
For, though her eyes be small, her mouth is great,
Though they be Ivory, yet her teeth be jeat,
Though they be dimme, yet she is light enough, 5
And though her harsh haire fall, her skinne is rough;
What though her cheeks be yellow, her haire's red,
Give her thine, and she hath a maydenhead.
These things are beauties elements, where these
Meet in one, that one must, as perfect, please. 10
If red and white and each good quality
Be in thy wench, ne'r aske where it doth lye.
In buying things perfum'd, we aske; if there
Be muske and amber in it, but not where.

Though all her parts be not in th'usuall place, 15
She'hath yet an Anagram of a good face.
If we might put the letters but one way,
In the leane dearth of words, what could wee say?
When by the Gamut some Musitions make
A perfect song, others will undertake, 20
By the same Gamut chang'd, to equall it.
Things simply good, can never be unfit.
She's faire as any, if all be like her,
And if none bee, then she is singular.
All love is wonder; if wee justly doe 25
Account her wonderfull, why not lovely too?
Love built on beauty, soone as beauty, dies,
Chuse this face, chang'd by no deformities.
Women are all like Angels; the faire be
Like those which fell to worse; but such as shee, 30
Like to good Angels, nothing can impaire:
'Tis lesse griefe to be foule, then to have beene faire.
For one nights revels, silke and gold we chuse,
But, in long journeyes, cloth, and leather use.
Beauty is barren oft; best husbands say, 35
There is best land, where there is foulest way.
Oh what a soveraigne Plaister will shee bee,
If thy past sinnes have taught thee jealousie!
Here needs no spies, nor eunuches; her commit
Safe to thy foes; yea, to a Marmosit. 40
When Belgiaes citties, the round countries drowne,
That durty foulenesse guards, and armes the towne:
So doth her face guard her; and so, for thee,
Which, forc'd by businesse, absent oft must bee,
Shee, whose face, like clouds, turnes the day to night, 45
Who, mightier then the sea, makes Moores seem white,
Who, though seaven yeares, she in the Stews had laid,
A Nunnery durst receive, and thinke a maid,
And though in childbeds labour she did lie,
Midwifes would sweare, 'twere but a tympanie, 50
Whom, if shee accuse her selfe, I credit lesse

Then witches, which impossibles confesse,
Whom Dildoes, Bedstaves, and her Velvet Glasse
Would be as loath to touch as Joseph was:
One like none, and lik'd of none, fittest were, 55
For, things in fashion every man will weare.
Eleg. II. The Anagram.
1635-54: Elegie II. 1633,
1669: Elegie. (numbered
variously) A18, A25, B,
Cy, D, H49, JC, L74, Lec,
M, N, O'F, P, S, S96,
TCC, TCD, W

4 they] theirs 1669, S96

teeth be 1633-69, D, H49,
JC, Lec: teeth are A18,
A25, B, Cy, L74, M, N,
O'F, S, TC, W

6 hair fall] hair's foul 1669

is rough 1633, 1669, A18,
A25, B, D, H49, JC, L74,
Lec, M, N, P, S, TC, W: is
tough 1635-54, O'F,
Chambers

16 an Anagram] the
Anagrams 1669

18 the 1633: that 1635-69

words 1633-69, A25, B,
L74, M, N, O'F, P, S, TC:
letters D, Cy, H49, W

22 unfit. D: unfit; 1633-69

28 deformities.]
deformities; 1633

29 faire] fairer S, S96

35 say,] say, 1633

37 bee,] bee 1633

41-2 When Belgiaes ...
towne: 1633-54: Like
Belgia's cities when the
Country is drown'd, That
... towns; 1669: Like
Belgia's cities the round
country drowns, That ...
towns, Chambers: MSS.
agree with 1633-54, but
before countries read
variously round (A18,
A25, Cy, D, H49, JC, L74,
Lec, M, N, P, TC, W),
lowe (B), foul (O'F, S,
S96, which read country
drowns ... towns)

49 childbeds 1633-54,
Lec, W: childbirths 1669,
A18, A25, B, Cy, D, H49,
JC, L74, O'F, P, S, S96,
TC

52 confesse, Ed: confesse.
1633-69

53-4 Whom ... Joseph
was: 1669 and all MSS [or
a Velvet 1669]: om. 1633-
54

Note

ELEGIE III.

Change.

A lthough thy hand and faith, and good workes too,
Have seal'd thy love which nothing should undoe,
Yea though thou fall backe, that apostasie
Confirme thy love; yet much, much I feare thee.
Women are like the Arts, forc'd unto none, 5
Open to'all searchers, unpriz'd, if unknowne.

If I have caught a bird, and let him flie,
Another fouler using these meanes, as I,
May catch the same bird; and, as these things bee,
Women are made for men, not him, nor mee. 10
Foxes and goats; all beasts change when they please,
Shall women, more hot, wily, wild then these,
Be bound to one man, and did Nature then
Idly make them apter to'endure then men?
They'are our clogges, not their owne; if a man bee 15
Chain'd to a galley, yet the galley'is free;
Who hath a plow-land, casts all his seed corne there,
And yet allowes his ground more corne should beare;
Though Danuby into the sea must flow,
The sea receives the Rhene, Volga, and Po. 20
By nature, which gave it, this liberty
Thou lov'st, but Oh! canst thou love it and mee?
Likenesse glues love: and if that thou so doe,
To make us like and love, must I change too?
More then thy hate, I hate'it, rather let mee 25
Allow her change, then change as oft as shee,
And soe not teach, but force my'opinion
To love not any one, nor every one.
To live in one land, is captivitie,
To runne all countries, a wild roguery; 30
Waters stincke soone, if in one place they bide,
And in the vast sea are more putrifi'd:
But when they kisse one banke, and leaving this
Never looke backe, but the next banke doe kisse,
Then are they purest; Change'is the nursery 35
Of musicke, joy, life, and eternity.
Eleg. III. Change. 1635-
54: Elegie III. 1633,
1669: no title or Elegye
(numbered variously) A18,
A25, B, Cy, D, H49, JC,
L74, Lec, N, O'F, P, S,
S96, TCC, TCD, W

1 workes] word 1669

4 Confirme] Confirms
1669, A25, L74, P

5 Women] Women, 1633

forc'd unto none] forbid to
none B

8 these 1633-54, D, H49,
Lec: those 1669, A18,
A25, B, Cy, JC, L74, N, P,
TC, W

11 Foxes and goats; all
beasts 1633-54: Foxes,
goats and all beasts 1669

13 did] bid 1669

17 a plow-land] plow-
lands P

18 corne] seed P

20 Rhene,] Rhine, 1669

Po. 1633: Po, 1635-69

21 liberty 1633: libertie.
1635-69

23 and ... doe,] then if so
thou do, A18, A25, B, Cy,
D, H49, JC, L74, Lec, N,
O'F, P, S96, TC, W

24 like i.e. alike as in A18,
N, TC

31 bide] abide 1669

32 more putrifi'd 1633-39:
more purifi'd 1650-54:
worse purifi'd 1669:
worse putrifi'd A18, A25,
Cy, D, L74, Lec, N, O'F,
P, S, S96, TC, W: worst
putrifi'd B, H49, JC

Note

ELEGIE IV.

The Perfume.

O NCE, and but once found in thy company,
All thy suppos'd escapes are laid on mee;
And as a thiefe at barre, is question'd there
By all the men, that have beene rob'd that yeare,
So am I, (by this traiterous meanes surpriz'd) 5
By thy Hydroptique father catechiz'd.
Though he had wont to search with glazed eyes,
As though he came to kill a Cockatrice,
Though hee hath oft sworne, that hee would remove
Thy beauties beautie, and food of our love, 10
Hope of his goods, if I with thee were seene,
Yet close and secret, as our soules, we'have beene.
Though thy immortall mother which doth lye
Still buried in her bed, yet will not dye,
Takes this advantage to sleepe out day-light, 15
And watch thy entries, and returnes all night,
And, when she takes thy hand, and would seeme kind,
Doth search what rings, and armelets she can finde,
And kissing notes the colour of thy face,
And fearing least thou'art swolne, doth thee embrace; 20
To trie if thou long, doth name strange meates,
And notes thy palenesse, blushing, sighs, and sweats;
And politiquely will to thee confesse
The sinnes of her owne youths ranke lustinesse;
Yet love these Sorceries did remove, and move 25
Thee to gull thine owne mother for my love.
Thy little brethren, which like Faiery Sprights
Oft skipt into our chamber, those sweet nights,
And kist, and ingled on thy fathers knee,
Were brib'd next day, to tell what they did see: 30
The grim eight-foot-high iron-bound serving-man,
That oft names God in oathes, and onely than,

He that to barre the first gate, doth as wide
As the great Rhodian Colossus stride,
Which, if in hell no other paines there were, 35
Makes mee feare hell, because he must be there:
Though by thy father he were hir'd to this,
Could never witnesse any touch or kisse.
But Oh, too common ill, I brought with mee
That, which betray'd mee to my enemie: 40
A loud perfume, which at my entrance cryed
Even at thy fathers nose, so were wee spied.
When, like a tyran King, that in his bed
Smelt gunpowder, the pale wretch shivered.
Had it beene some bad smell, he would have thought 45
That his owne feet, or breath, that smell had wrought.
But as wee in our Ile emprisoned,
Where cattell onely,'and diverse dogs are bred,
The pretious Vnicornes, strange monsters call,
So thought he good, strange, that had none at all. 50
I taught my silkes, their whistling to forbeare,
Even my opprest shoes, dumbe and speechlesse were,
Onely, thou bitter sweet, whom I had laid
Next mee, mee traiterously hast betraid,
And unsuspected hast invisibly 55
At once fled unto him, and staid with mee.
Base excrement of earth, which dost confound
Sense, from distinguishing the sicke from sound;
By thee the seely Amorous sucks his death
By drawing in a leprous harlots breath; 60
By thee, the greatest staine to mans estate
Falls on us, to be call'd effeminate;
Though you be much lov'd in the Princes hall,
There, things that seeme, exceed substantiall;
Gods, when yee fum'd on altars, were pleas'd well 65
Because you'were burnt, not that they lik'd your smell;
You'are loathsome all, being taken simply alone,
Shall wee love ill things joyn'd, and hate each one?
If you were good, your good doth soone decay;

And you are rare, that takes the good away. 70
All my perfumes, I give most willingly
To'embalme thy fathers corse; What? will hee die?
Eleg. IV. The Perfume.
1635-54: Elegie IV. 1633,
1669: Elegie. (numbered
variously) A18, A25, C, D,
H49, JC, L74, Lec, N,
O'F, P, S, S96, TCC,
TCD, W: Discovered by a
Perfume. B: no title, Cy,
HN

2 suppos'd escapes]
supposed scapes 1669, P

4 By] For P

7-8 1635-69 and MSS.
generally: om. 1633, D,
H49, Lec

9 hath] have A18, A25,
L74, N, P, TC, W

15 Takes] Take A18, A25,
N, P, TC, W

21 To trie &c. 1633, D,
H49, S (dost long): And to
trie &c. 1635-69, A18,
A25, L74, N, O'F, S96
(longest), TC

meates, 1635-69: meates.
1633

22 blushing 1633-54, A18,
A25, JC, N, TC: blushes
1669: blushings B, D,
H49, HN, L74, Lec, O'F,
P, W

29 ingled] dandled 1669

30 see: 1635-69: see.
1633

31 grim eight-foot-high
iron-bound Ed: grim-

eight-foot-high-iron-
bound 1633-69

37 to 1633-69: for MSS.

38 kisse.] kisse; 1633

40 my 1633: mine 1635-
69

44 Smelt] Smells 1669
shivered. A18, D, H49,
L74, N, TC, W: shivered;
1633-69: shivered,
Chambers and Grolier.
See note

46 that smell] the smell
1669

49 monsters Ed: monsters,
1633-69

50 good,] sweet 1669

53 bitter sweet, 1633-39:
bitter-sweet, 1650-69

60 breath; 1650-69:
breath, 1633-39

64 substantiall; Ed:
substantiall. 1633-69

66 you'were] you'er 1669

smell; 1635-39: smell,
1633, 1669: smel 1650-54

71 All] And Chambers

Note

ELEGIE V.

His Picture.

H ERE take my Picture; though I bid farewell,
Thine, in my heart, where my soule dwels, shall dwell.
'Tis like me now, but I dead, 'twill be more
When wee are shadowes both, then'twas before.
When weather-beaten I come backe; my hand, 5
Perhaps with rude oares torne, or Sun beams tann'd,
My face and brest of hairecloth, and my head
With cares rash sodaine stormes, being o'rspread,
My body'a sack of bones, broken within,
And powders blew staines scatter'd on my skinne; 10
If rivall fooles taxe thee to'have lov'd a man,
So foule, and course, as, Oh, I may seeme than,
This shall say what I was: and thou shalt say,
Doe his hurts reach mee? doth my worth decay?
Or doe they reach his judging minde, that hee 15
Should now love lesse, what hee did love to see?
That which in him was faire and delicate,
Was but the milke, which in loves childish state
Did nurse it: who now is growne strong enough
To feed on that, which to disused tasts seemes tough. 20

Eleg. V. His Picture. 1635-
54: Elegie V. 1633, 1669:
Elegye. (numbered
variously) A18, A25, Cy,
D, H49, JC, Lec, N, O'F,
S, S96, TCC, TCD, W:
The Picture. P: Travelling
he leaves his Picture with
his mystris. B

1 Picture; ... farewell, Ed:
Picture, ... farewell; 1633:
rest semicolon or colon
after each

8 With cares rash sodaine
stormes, being o'rspread,
1633, A18, N, TC: With
cares rash, cruel, sudden
storms o'erspread P: With
cares rash-sudden cruel-
storms o'erprest B: With

cares rash sudden storms
o'erpressed S, S96: With
cares rash sudden storms
o'erspread Cy, D, H49,
Lec: With cares rash
sodaine horiness
o'erspread A25, JC, W:
With cares harsh sodaine
horinesse o'rspread, 1635-
69, O'F

16 now love lesse, 1633-
69, A18, N, TC: like and
love less A25, B, Cy, D,
H49, JC, Lec, O'F, P, S,
S96, W

19 nurse] nourish A18, N,
P, S, TC

strong] tough P

20 disused Ed: disus'd
1633-39, A18, A25, B, Cy,
D, H49, JC, Lec, N, O'F,
P, S, S96, TC, W: weake
1650-69

tough.] rough. P

Note

ELEGIE VI.

O H, let mee not serve so, as those men serve
Whom honours smoakes at once fatten and sterve;
Poorely enrich't with great mens words or lookes;
Nor so write my name in thy loving bookes
As those Idolatrous flatterers, which still 5
Their Princes stiles, with many Realmes fulfill
Whence they no tribute have, and where no sway.
Such services I offer as shall pay
Themselves, I hate dead names: Oh then let mee

Favorite in Ordinary, or no favorite bee. 10
When my Soule was in her owne body sheath'd,
Nor yet by oathes betroth'd, nor kisses breath'd
Into my Purgatory, faithlesse thee,
Thy heart seem'd waxe, and steele thy constancie:
So, carelesse flowers strow'd on the waters face, 15
The curled whirlepooles suck, smack, and embrace,
Yet drowne them; so, the tapers beamie eye
Amorously twinkling, beckens the giddie flie,
Yet burnes his wings; and such the devill is,
Scarce visiting them, who are intirely his. 20
When I behold a streame, which, from the spring,
Doth with doubtfull melodious murmuring,
Or in a speechlesse slumber, calmely ride
Her wedded channels bosome, and then chide
And bend her browes, and swell if any bough 25
Do but stoop downe, or kisse her upmost brow;
Yet, if her often gnawing kisses winne
The traiterous banke to gape, and let her in,
She rusheth violently, and doth divorce
Her from her native, and her long-kept course, 30
And rores, and braves it, and in gallant scorne,
In flattering eddies promising retorne,
She flouts the channell, who thenceforth is drie;
Then say I; that is shee, and this am I.
Yet let not thy deepe bitternesse beget 35
Carelesse despaire in mee, for that will whet
My minde to scorne; and Oh, love dull'd with paine
Was ne'r so wise, nor well arm'd as disdaine.
Then with new eyes I shall survay thee,'and spie
Death in thy cheekes, and darknesse in thine eye. 40
Though hope bred faith and love; thus taught, I shall
As nations do from Rome, from thy love fall.
My hate shall outgrow thine, and utterly
I will renounce thy dalliance: and when I
Am the Recusant, in that resolute state, 45
What hurts it mee to be'excommunicate?

Eleg. VI. 1635-69: Elegie
VII. 1633 (Elegie VI.
being Sorrow who to this
house &c. See Epicedes
&c., p. 287): Elegie.
(numbered variously) A18,
A25, B, Cy, D, H49, JC,
L74, Lec, N, O'F, P, S,
S96, TCC, TCD, W

2 fatten] flatter 1669, A18,
B, Cy, L74, N, TC

3 or] and A18, Cy, L74, N,
P, TC

6 stiles, 1633-69, A18, B,
Cy, D, H49, JC, L74, Lec,
N, P, S96, TC, W: style
A25, O'F, S, Chambers
and Grosart

with all MSS., Chambers
and Grosart: which
(probably by confusion of
wch and wth) 1633-69

Realmes] names 1669

7 where] bear 1669

14 constancie: 1635-69:
constancie. 1633

24 then 1633, B, D, H49,
Lec, S, S96, W: there
1635-69, A18, A25, Cy,
JC, N, O'F, P, TC,
Chambers

26 upmost 1633 and most
MSS: utmost 1635-69,
O'F, Chambers brow; Ed:
brow: 1633-39: brow.
1650-69

28 banke A18, D, H49,
JC, N, S, TC, W: banks
1633-69, Lec, O'F

33 the 1633, D, H49, Lec:
her 1635-69, A18, N, TC

who 1633, A18, A25, B,
Cy, D, JC, H49, L74, Lec,
N, P, S, S96, TC: which
1635-69, O'F

37 Oh,] Ah, 1669

39 thee,'] om. 1669

40 eye. Ed: eye; 1633-54:
eye: 1669: eye, Chambers

41 Though ... love; 1633:
Though ... breed ... love:
1635-39: Though ... breed
... love 1650-69 (Through
... 1669)

42 fall. 1633-35: fall
1639-69

43 outgrow] o'ergrow Cy,
P

Note

ELEGIE VII.

N ATURES lay Ideot, I taught thee to love,
And in that sophistrie, Oh, thou dost prove
Too subtile: Foole, thou didst not understand
The mystique language of the eye nor hand:
Nor couldst thou judge the difference of the aire 5
Of sighes, and say, this lies, this sounds despaire:
Nor by the'eyes water call a maladie
Desperately hot, or changing feaverously.
I had not taught thee then, the Alphabet
Of flowers, how they devisefully being set 10
And bound up, might with speechlesse secrecie
Deliver arrands mutely, and mutually.

Remember since all thy words us'd to bee
To every suitor; I, if my friends agree;
Since, household charmes, thy husbands name to teach, 15
Were all the love trickes, that thy wit could reach;
And since, an houres discourse could scarce have made
One answer in thee, and that ill arraid
In broken proverbs, and torne sentences.
Thou art not by so many duties his, 20
That from the worlds Common having sever'd thee,
Inlaid thee, neither to be seene, nor see,
As mine: who have with amorous delicacies
Refin'd thee'into a blis-full Paradise.
Thy graces and good words my creatures bee; 25
I planted knowledge and lifes tree in thee,
Which Oh, shall strangers taste? Must I alas
Frame and enamell Plate, and drinke in Glasse?
Chafe waxe for others seales? breake a colts force
And leave him then, beeing made a ready horse? 30

Elegie VII. 1635-69:
Elegie VIII. 1633: Elegye.
(numbered variously) A18,
A25, B, Cy, D, H49, JC,
Lec, M, N, O'F, P, S,
TCC, TCD, W

2 Oh, ... prove] Oh, how
... prove 1669

6 despaire: 1635-69:
despaire. 1633

7 call 1633, A18, A25, B,
Cy, D, H49, JC, Lec, M,
N, O'F (corrected from
know), P, TC, W: know
1635-69: cast S,
Chambers and Grosart

10 they devisefully being
set] their devise in being
set Cy, P

12 arrands 1633: errands
1635-69: meet errands B

14 agree; Ed: agree.
1633-69

21-2 That ... nor see,] in
brackets 1669

24 Paradise] paradise
1633

25 words 1633-54, A25,
B, Cy, JC, N, O'F, P, W:
works 1669, A18, D, H49,
Lec, TC

bee; Ed: bee, 1633-69

26 thee, 1633: thee: 1635-
69

28 Glasse? Ed: glasse.
1633-69

Note

ELEGIE VIII.

The Comparison.

A S the sweet sweat of Roses in a Still,
As that which from chaf'd muskats pores doth trill,
As the Almighty Balme of th'early East,
Such are the sweat drops of my Mistris breast,
5
And on her 〈brow〉 her skin such lustre sets,
They seeme no sweat drops, but pearle coronets.
Ranke sweaty froth thy Mistresse's brow defiles,
Like spermatique issue of ripe menstruous boiles,
Or like the skumme, which, by needs lawlesse law
Enforc'd, Sanserra's starved men did draw 10
From parboild shooes, and bootes, and all the rest
Which were with any soveraigne fatnes blest,
And like vile lying stones in saffrond tinne,

Or warts, or wheales, they hang upon her skinne.
Round as the world's her head, on every side, 15
Like to the fatall Ball which fell on Ide,
Or that whereof God had such jealousie,
As, for the ravishing thereof we die.
Thy head is like a rough-hewne statue of jeat,
Where marks for eyes, nose, mouth, are yet scarce set; 20
Like the first Chaos, or flat seeming face
Of Cynthia, when th'earths shadowes her embrace.
Like Proserpines white beauty-keeping chest,
Or Joues best fortunes urne, is her faire brest.
Thine's like worme eaten trunkes, cloth'd in seals skin, 25
Or grave, that's dust without, and stinke within.
And like that slender stalke, at whose end stands
The wood-bine quivering, are her armes and hands.
Like rough bark'd elmboughes, or the russet skin
Of men late scurg'd for madnes, or for sinne, 30
Like Sun-parch'd quarters on the citie gate,
Such is thy tann'd skins lamentable state.
And like a bunch of ragged carrets stand
The short swolne fingers of thy gouty hand.
Then like the Chymicks masculine equall fire, 35
Which in the Lymbecks warme wombe doth inspire
Into th'earths worthlesse durt a soule of gold,
Such cherishing heat her best lov'd part doth hold.
Thine's like the dread mouth of a fired gunne,
Or like hot liquid metalls newly runne 40
Into clay moulds, or like to that Ætna
Where round about the grasse is burnt away.
Are not your kisses then as filthy, and more,
As a worme sucking an invenom'd sore?
Doth not thy fearefull hand in feeling quake, 45
As one which gath'ring flowers, still feares a snake?
Is not your last act harsh, and violent,
As when a Plough a stony ground doth rent?
So kisse good Turtles, so devoutly nice
Are Priests in handling reverent sacrifice, 50

And such in searching wounds the Surgeon is
As wee, when wee embrace, or touch, or kisse.
Leave her, and I will leave comparing thus,
She, and comparisons are odious.
Eleg. VIII. The
Comparison. 1635-54:
Elegie VIII. 1669: Elegie.
1633: Elegie. (numbered
variously) A18, A25, B, C,
Cy, JC, L74, N, O'F, P, S,
S96, TCC, TCD, W

2 muskats] muskets 1669

4 breast, 1635-69: breast.
1633

5 〈 brow 〉 Ed: necke
1633-69 and MSS. See
note

6 coronets. 1633-69, A18,
B, Cy, L74, M, N, O'F,
S96, TC: carcanets. A25,
C, JC, S, W: carolettes. P

8 boiles, Ed: boiles. 1633-
69: in MSS. generally
spelt as pronounced, biles
or byles

13 vile lying stones 1635-
54 and MSS.: vile stones
lying 1633, 1669

14 they hang A18, B, JC,
L74, M, N, O'F (altered to
it), S, TC, W: it hangs
1633-69

19 a] om. 1635-39

26 grave] grav'd 1669

dust 1633-69, W: durt
A18, A25, JC, M, N, O'F,
P, S, TC

28 hands. W: hands, 1633-
69

34 thy gouty hand. 1635-
69, A18, A25, B, L74, N,
O'F, P, S96, TC, W (hand;
1635-69): her gouty hand;
1633, JC, S: thy mistress
hand; 1669

37 durt 1635-69: part
1633, from next line

46 feares] fear'd A18, L74,
N, O'F, TC, W

48 when 1635-69 and
MSS.: where 1633

50 Are Priests ...
sacrifice,] A Priest is in
his handling Sacrifice,
1669

51 such A18, A25, B, JC,
L74, N, O'F, P, S, S96,
TC, W: nice 1633-69

Note

ELEGIE IX.

The Autumnall

N O Spring, nor Summer Beauty hath such grace,
As I have seen in one Autumnall face.
Yong Beauties force our love, and that's a Rape,
This doth but counsaile, yet you cannot scape.
If t'were a shame to love, here t'were no shame, 5
Affection here takes Reverences name.
Were her first yeares the Golden Age; That's true,
But now shee's gold oft tried, and ever new.
That was her torrid and inflaming time,

This is her tolerable Tropique clyme. 10
Faire eyes, who askes more heate then comes from hence,
He in a fever wishes pestilence.
Call not these wrinkles, graves; If graves they were,
They were Loves graves; for else he is no where.
Yet lies not Love dead here, but here doth sit 15
Vow'd to this trench, like an Anachorit.
And here, till hers, which must be his death, come,
He doth not digge a Grave, but build a Tombe.
Here dwells he, though he sojourne ev'ry where,
In Progresse, yet his standing house is here. 20
Here, where still Evening is; not noone, nor night;
Where no voluptuousnesse, yet all delight.
In all her words, unto all hearers fit,
You may at Revels, you at Counsaile, sit.
This is loves timber, youth his under-wood; 25
There he, as wine in Iune, enrages blood,
Which then comes seasonabliest, when our tast
And appetite to other things, is past.
Xerxes strange Lydian love, the Platane tree,
Was lov'd for age, none being so large as shee, 30
Or else because, being yong, nature did blesse
Her youth with ages glory, Barrennesse.
If we love things long sought, Age is a thing
Which we are fifty yeares in compassing.
If transitory things, which soone decay, 35
Age must be lovelyest at the latest day.
But name not Winter-faces, whose skin's slacke;
Lanke, as an unthrifts purse; but a soules sacke;
Whose Eyes seeke light within, for all here's shade;
Whose mouthes are holes, rather worne out, then made; 40
Whose every tooth to a severall place is gone,
To vexe their soules at Resurrection;
Name not these living Deaths-heads unto mee,
For these, not Ancient, but Antique be.
I hate extreames; yet I had rather stay 45
With Tombs, then Cradles, to weare out a day.

Since such loves naturall lation is, may still
My love descend, and journey downe the hill,
Not panting after growing beauties, so,
I shall ebbe out with them, who home-ward goe. 50

Eleg. IX. The Autumnall.
1635-54: Elegie. The
Autumnall. 1633: Elegie
IX. 1669: Elegie. A18, N,
TCC, TCD: Elegie
Autumnall. D, H40, H49,
JC, Lec: An autumnall
face: On the Ladie Sr
Edward Herbart mothers
Ladie Danvers. B: On the
Lady Herbert afterwards
Danvers. O'F: Widdow.
M, P: A Paradox of an
ould Woman. S: Elegie
Autumnall on the Lady
Shandoys. S96: no title,
L74

1 Summer 1633: Summers
1635-69

2 face. Ed: face, 1633-69

3 our love, 1633, D, H49,
Lec, S: our Loves, 1669:
your love, 1635-54, A18,
A25, B, H40, L74, M, N,
O'F, P, S96, TC

6 Affection ... takes A18,
A25, B, D, H40, H49, L74,
Lec, M, N, P, S, S96, TC:
Affections ... take 1633-
69, JC, O'F

8 shee's 1635-69, A18,
A25, B, D, H40, H49, JC,
L74, Lec, M, N, O'F, P, S,
S96, TC: they'are 1633

10 tolerable 1633, D, H40,
H49, Lec, S: habitable
1635-69, A18, A25, L74,
M, N, O'F, P, TC

14 for 1633: or 1635-69

15 Love] love 1633

22 Where] Where's O'F, S

23 unto all] to all her P

24 Counsaile, Ed:
counsaile, 1633-54:
counsails 1669

26 enrages] bringes D,
H49: breeds Lec

27 seasonabliest, 1633:
seasonablest, 1635-69

28 past.] past; 1633

30 large 1633: old 1635-
69

37 not] noe several MSS.

38 soules sacke; 1633,
1669, and MSS.: fooles
sack; 1635-54

40 made; Ed: made 1633-
54: made, 1669

42 their soules] the soul
1669

43 Deaths-heads 1633:
Death-heads 1635-69,
Chambers: death-shades
H40

44 Ancient, ... Antique
1633, 1669, D, H49, Lec:
Ancients, ... Antiques
1635-54, B, O'F, S:
ancient ... antiques A18,
A25, H40, L74, M, N, TC

be. Ed: be; 1633

46 a] the 1669, M, P

47 naturall lation A18,
A25, B, D, H40, H49, L74,
M, N, P, S, TC (sometimes
thus, natural-lation):
motion naturall 1633:
naturall station 1635-69,
Lec, O'F

50 ebbe out 1633: ebbe on
1635-69, A18, A25, B, D,
H40, H49, JC, L74, Lec,
M, N, O'F, P, S, TC

Note

ELEGIE X.

The Dreame.

I MAGE of her whom I love, more then she,
Whose faire impression in my faithfull heart,
Makes mee her Medall, and makes her love mee,
As Kings do coynes, to which their stamps impart
The value: goe, and take my heart from hence, 5
Which now is growne too great and good for me:
Honours oppresse weake spirits, and our sense
Strong objects dull; the more, the lesse wee see.
When you are gone, and Reason gone with you,
Then Fantasie is Queene and Soule, and all; 10
She can present joyes meaner then you do;
Convenient, and more proportionall.
So, if I dreame I have you, I have you,
For, all our joyes are but fantasticall.
And so I scape the paine, for paine is true; 15
And sleepe which locks up sense, doth lock out all.
After a such fruition I shall wake,
And, but the waking, nothing shall repent;

And shall to love more thankfull Sonnets make,
Then if more honour, teares, and paines were spent. 20
But dearest heart, and dearer image stay;
Alas, true joyes at best are dreame enough;
Though you stay here you passe too fast away:
For even at first lifes Taper is a snuffe.
Fill'd with her love, may I be rather grown 25
Mad with much heart, then ideott with none.
Eleg. X. The Dreame.
1635-54: Elegie X. 1669:
Elegie. 1633: Picture.
S96: Elegie. or no title,
A18, B, D, H40, H49, L74,
Lec, N, O'F, P, S, S96,
TCC, TCD

7 sense] sense, 1633

8 dull; 1635-69: dull,
1633

16 out] up B, P, S

17 a such 1633-54: such a
1669

22 dreame] dreams 1669

Note

ELEGIE XI.
Note (Supp.)

The Bracelet.

Vpon the losse of his Mistresses Chaine, for which he made satisfaction.

OT that in colour it was like thy haire,

N For Armelets of that thou maist let me weare:
Nor that thy hand it oft embrac'd and kist,
For so it had that good, which oft I mist:
Nor for that silly old moralitie, 5
That as these linkes were knit, our love should bee:
Mourne I that I thy seavenfold chaine have lost;
Nor for the luck sake; but the bitter cost.
O, shall twelve righteous Angels, which as yet
No leaven of vile soder did admit; 10
Nor yet by any way have straid or gone
From the first state of their Creation;
Angels, which heaven commanded to provide
All things to me, and be my faithfull guide;
To gaine new friends, t'appease great enemies; 15
To comfort my soule, when I lie or rise;
Shall these twelve innocents, by thy severe
Sentence (dread judge) my sins great burden beare?
Shall they be damn'd, and in the furnace throwne,
And punisht for offences not their owne? 20
They save not me, they doe not ease my paines,
When in that hell they'are burnt and tyed in chains.
Were they but Crownes of France, I cared not,
For, most of these, their naturall Countreys rot
I think possesseth, they come here to us, 25
So pale, so lame, so leane, so ruinous;
And howsoe'r French Kings most Christian be,
Their Crownes are circumcis'd most Iewishly.
Or were they Spanish Stamps, still travelling,
That are become as Catholique as their King, 30
Those unlickt beare-whelps, unfil'd pistolets
That (more than Canon shot) availes or lets;
Which negligently left unrounded, looke
Like many angled figures, in the booke
Of some great Conjurer that would enforce 35
Nature, as these doe justice, from her course;
Which, as the soule quickens head, feet and heart,
As streames, like veines, run through th'earth's every part,

Visit all Countries, and have slily made
Gorgeous France, ruin'd, ragged and decay'd; 40
Scotland, which knew no State, proud in one day:
And mangled seventeen-headed Belgia.
Or were it such gold as that wherewithall
Almighty Chymiques from each minerall,
Having by subtle fire a soule out-pull'd; 45
Are dirtely and desperately gull'd:
I would not spit to quench the fire they'are in,
For, they are guilty of much hainous Sin.
But, shall my harmlesse angels perish? Shall
I lose my guard, my ease, my food, my all? 50
Much hope which they should nourish will be dead,
Much of my able youth, and lustyhead
Will vanish; if thou love let them alone,
For thou wilt love me lesse when they are gone;
And be content that some lowd squeaking Cryer 55
Well-pleas'd with one leane thred-bare groat, for hire,
May like a devill roare through every street;
And gall the finders conscience, if they meet.
Or let mee creepe to some dread Conjurer,
That with phantastique scheames fils full much paper; 60
Which hath divided heaven in tenements,
And with whores, theeves, and murderers stuft his rents,
So full, that though hee passe them all in sinne,
He leaves himselfe no roome to enter in.
But if, when all his art and time is spent, 65
Hee say 'twill ne'r be found; yet be content;
Receive from him that doome ungrudgingly,
Because he is the mouth of destiny.
Thou say'st (alas) the gold doth still remaine,
Though it be chang'd, and put into a chaine; 70
So in the first falne angels, resteth still
Wisdome and knowledge; but,'tis turn'd to ill:
As these should doe good works; and should provide
Necessities; but now must nurse thy pride.
And they are still bad angels; Mine are none; 75

For, forme gives being, and their forme is gone:
Pitty these Angels; yet their dignities
Passe Vertues, Powers, and Principalities.
But, thou art resolute; Thy will be done!
Yet with such anguish, as her onely sonne 80
The Mother in the hungry grave doth lay,
Vnto the fire these Martyrs I betray.
Good soules, (for you give life to every thing)
Good Angels, (for good messages you bring)
Destin'd you might have beene to such an one, 85
As would have lov'd and worship'd you alone:
One that would suffer hunger, nakednesse,
Yea death, ere he would make your number lesse.
But, I am guilty of your sad decay;
May your few fellowes longer with me stay. 90
But ô thou wretched finder whom I hate
So, that I almost pitty thy estate:
Gold being the heaviest metal amongst all,
May my most heavy curse upon thee fall:
Here fetter'd, manacled, and hang'd in chains, 95
First mayst thou bee; then chaind to hellish paines;
Or be with forraine gold brib'd to betray
Thy Countrey, and faile both of that and thy pay.
May the next thing thou stoop'st to reach, containe
Poyson, whose nimble fume rot thy moist braine; 100
Or libels, or some interdicted thing,
Which negligently kept, thy ruine bring.
Lust-bred diseases rot thee; and dwell with thee
Itching desire, and no abilitie.
May all the evils that gold ever wrought; 105
All mischiefes that all devils ever thought;
Want after plenty; poore and gouty age;
The plagues of travellers; love; marriage
Afflict thee, and at thy lives last moment,
May thy swolne sinnes themselves to thee present. 110
But, I forgive; repent thee honest man:
Gold is Restorative, restore it then:

But if from it thou beest loath to depart,
Because 'tis cordiall, would twere at thy heart.
Elegie XI. &c. Ed.: Eleg.
XII. The Bracelet. &c.
1635 (Eleg. XI. being
Death, for which see p.
284): Eleg. XII. Vpon &c.
1639-54 (Eleg. IV. 1650-
54, a misprint): Elegie
XII. 1669: Elegie
(numbered variously). The
Bracelett. or The Chaine.
A25, B, C, Cy, D, H49,
JC, L74, Lec, M, N, O'F,
P, S, S96, TCD, W

2 For ... weare:] Armelets
of that thou maist still let
me weare: 1669

6 were knit, 1635-69: are
knit Cy: are tyde A25, D,
H49, Lec, N, O'F, P,
R212, S, S96, TCD, W:
were tyde L74

love] loves 1669

11 way 1635-69: taynt
S96, O'F, W: taynts B:
fault A25, Cy, D, H49,
L74, Lec, M, N, P, S, TCD

15 great] old 1669

16 rise; Ed: rise. 1635-69

22 chains. Ed.: chains:
1635-69

24 these 1635-54: them
1669

their naturall Countreys
Cy, O'F: their Countreys
naturall 1635-54, P: their
naturall Countrey 1669,
and rest of MSS.

26 ruinous; Ed: ruinous.
1635-69

28 Iewishly. Ed: Iewishly;
1635-69

35 great] dread 1669

36 course; Ed: course.
1635-69

38 streames, Ed: streames
1635-69

40 ruin'd, ragged and
decay'd; 1669, and MSS.,
but end stop varies:
ruin'd: ragged and decay'd
1635: ruin'd: ragged and
decay'd, 1639-54

42 Belgia. Ed: Belgia:
1635-69

45 soule] Mercury B

47 they'are in, 1635-69:
therein, Cy, P: they were
in, rest of MSS.

51 dead, Ed: dead. 1635-
69

52 lustyhead Ed: lusty
head 1635-69

53 vanish; Ed: vanish,
1635-69

if thou love let them
alone, 1635-39: if thou
Love let them alone,
1650-69: if thou, Love, let
them alone; Grolier
(conjecturing atone)

54-5 gone; And Ed: gone,
And 1635-69, Cy, P:
gone. Oh, rest of MSS.

58 conscience, if they
meet. 1669 and MSS.:

conscience, if hee meet.
1635-54, JC, L74, P

60 scheames D, H49, JC,
Lec, O'F, S96, W: scenes
1635-69, Cy, L74, P, TCD

63 passe] place 1669

65 new par. 1635-69 But
1635-69, Cy, P: And rest
of MSS.

66 yet 1635-69, Cy, P: Oh
rest of MSS.

67 that 1635-54, Cy, P:
the 1669 and rest of MSS.

70 chaine; Ed: chaine,
1635-69

74 pride. Ed: pride, 1635-
69

76 being, Ed: being:
1635-69

77 Angels; yet Cy, D,
H49, N, P, S, TCD:
Angels yet; 1635-69, W

79 done! Ed: done; 1635-
39: done: 1650-54: done?
1669

90 few fellowes] few-
fellowes 1635-69

92 So, that 1635-69, Cy,
P: So much that A25, D,
H49, JC (as), L74, Lec, N,
S, S96 (as), TCD, W (as):
So much B

estate] state D, H49, &c.

93 metal amongst all,]
amongst metals all, 1669,
Cy

95 Here] Her 1639

98 that MSS.: it 1635-69

thy] om. 1669

104 Itching] Itchy MSS.

105 evils that gold ever
1635-69, P: hurt that ever
gold hath rest of MSS.

106 mischiefes all MSS.:
mischiefe 1635-69

108 love; marriage 1635-
54, Cy, P: love and
marriage 1669, and rest of
MSS.

109 at] that 1669

110 thee] thou 1669

113 But if from it ...
depart, 1635-54, Cy, P:
But if that from it ... part,
1669: Or if with it ...
depart rest of MSS.

Note

ELEGIE XII.

His parting from her.

S INCE she must go, and I must mourn, come Night,
Environ me with darkness, whilst I write:
Shadow that hell unto me, which alone
I am to suffer when my Love is gone.
Alas the darkest Magick cannot do it, 5
Thou and greate Hell to boot are shadows to it.
Should Cinthia quit thee, Venus, and each starre,
It would not forme one thought dark as mine are.
I could lend thee obscureness now, and say,
Out of my self, There should be no more Day, 10
Such is already my felt want of sight,
Did not the fires within me force a light.
Oh Love, that fire and darkness should be mixt,
Or to thy Triumphs soe strange torments fixt?
Is't because thou thy self art blind, that wee 15
Thy Martyrs must no more each other see?
Or tak'st thou pride to break us on the wheel,
And view old Chaos in the Pains we feel?
Or have we left undone some mutual Right,
Through holy fear, that merits thy despight? 20
No, no. The falt was mine, impute it to me,
Or rather to conspiring destinie,
Which (since I lov'd for forme before) decreed,
That I should suffer when I lov'd indeed:
And therefore now, sooner then I can say, 25
I saw the golden fruit, 'tis rapt away.
Or as I had watcht one drop in a vast stream,
And I left wealthy only in a dream.
Yet Love, thou'rt blinder then thy self in this,
To vex my Dove-like friend for my amiss: 30
And, where my own sad truth may expiate
Thy wrath, to make her fortune run my fate:
So blinded Justice doth, when Favorites fall,
Strike them, their house, their friends, their followers all.
Was't not enough that thou didst dart thy fires 35
Into our blouds, inflaming our desires,

And made'st us sigh and glow, and pant, and burn,
And then thy self into our flame did'st turn?
Was't not enough, that thou didst hazard us
To paths in love so dark, so dangerous: 40
And those so ambush'd round with houshold spies,
And over all, thy husbands towring eyes
That flam'd with oylie sweat of jealousie:
Yet went we not still on with Constancie?
Have we not kept our guards, like spie on spie? 45
Had correspondence whilst the foe stood by?
Stoln (more to sweeten them) our many blisses
Of meetings, conference, embracements, kisses?
Shadow'd with negligence our most respects?
Varied our language through all dialects, 50
Of becks, winks, looks, and often under-boards
Spoak dialogues with our feet far from our words?
Have we prov'd all these secrets of our Art,
Yea, thy pale inwards, and thy panting heart?
And, after all this passed Purgatory, 55
Must sad divorce make us the vulgar story?
First let our eyes be rivited quite through
Our turning brains, and both our lips grow to:
Let our armes clasp like Ivy, and our fear
Freese us together, that we may stick here, 60
Till Fortune, that would rive us, with the deed
Strain her eyes open, and it make them bleed:
For Love it cannot be, whom hitherto
I have accus'd, should such a mischief doe.
Oh Fortune, thou'rt not worth my least exclame, 65
And plague enough thou hast in thy own shame.
Do thy great worst, my friend and I have armes,
Though not against thy strokes, against thy harmes.
Rend us in sunder, thou canst not divide
Our bodies so, but that our souls are ty'd, 70
And we can love by letters still and gifts,
And thoughts and dreams; Love never wanteth shifts.
I will not look upon the quickning Sun,

But straight her beauty to my sense shall run;
The ayre shall note her soft, the fire most pure; 75
Water suggest her clear, and the earth sure.
Time shall not lose our passages; the Spring
How fresh our love was in the beginning;
The Summer how it ripened in the eare;
And Autumn, what our golden harvests were. 80
The Winter I'll not think on to spite thee,
But count it a lost season, so shall shee.
And dearest Friend, since we must part, drown night
With hope of Day, burthens well born are light.
Though cold and darkness longer hang somewhere, 85
Yet Phoebus equally lights all the Sphere.
And what he cannot in like Portions pay,
The world enjoyes in Mass, and so we may.
Be then ever your self, and let no woe
Win on your health, your youth, your beauty: so 90
Declare your self base fortunes Enemy,
No less by your contempt then constancy:
That I may grow enamoured on your mind,
When my own thoughts I there reflected find.
For this to th'comfort of my Dear I vow, 95
My Deeds shall still be what my words are now;
The Poles shall move to teach me ere I start;
And when I change my Love, I'll change my heart;
Nay, if I wax but cold in my desire,
Think, heaven hath motion lost, and the world, fire: 100
Much more I could, but many words have made
That, oft, suspected which men would perswade;
Take therefore all in this: I love so true,
As I will never look for less in you.
Elegie. XII. &c. Ed: Eleg.
XIIII &c. 1635-54 (Eleg.
XIII. being Come, Fates,
&c., p. 407): Elegie XIIII.
1669: At her Departure.
A25: At his Mistris
departure. B: Elegie. H40,
O'F, P, S96, TCD (II)

1 Night, Ed: night 1635-
69

4 Love] soule 1635-54

5-44 omit, 1635-54, A25,
B

6 Thou and greate Hell
H40, O'F, P, S96: And
that great Hell 1669

to boot are 1669, H40,
O'F: are nought but P,
S96

7 thee, Ed: thee 1669

9 thee H40: them 1669, P,
S96, TCD

10 Day, Ed: Day. 1669

11 felt want H40, O'F, P,
S96, TCD: self-want,
1669

sight, Ed: sight 1669

12 fires H40, S96, TCD:
fire 1669, P

14 Or] Are S96: And TCD

soe H40, O'F, P, S96,
TCD: such 1669

17 the H40, O'F, P, S96,
TCD: thy 1669

20 Through holy fear, that
merits (causes S96) thy
despight (meriteth thy
spight P) H40, O'F, P,
S96, TCD: That thus with
parting thou seek'st us to
spight? 1669

21 was H40, S96: is 1669,
P, TCD

23 Which ... decreed,
H40, O'F, S96: Which
(since I lov'd) for me
before decreed, 1669, P,
TCD: Which, since I lov'd
in jest before, decreed H-
K, which Chambers
follows

25 now, sooner all the
MSS.: sooner now 1669

rapt] wrapt 1669

27 a vast H40, O'F, P,
S96, TCD: the vast 1669

29 thy self] myself
Chambers

31 my own H40, O'F, P,
S96: one 1669

sad 1669: glad H40, O'F,
P, S96, TCD

32 fate: Ed: fate. 1669

33 blinded] blindest H40

34 followers H40, P,
TCD: favourites 1669,
S96

37 glow H40, S96, P,
TCD: blow 1669

38 flame H40, S96, P,
TCD: flames 1669

40 so dangerous H40, P,
S96, TCD: and dangerous
1669

42 all, Ed: all 1669

towring 1669, TCD:
towred O'F, P, S96:
lowering Grolier

the towred husbands eyes
H40: the Loured,

husbandes eyes RP31

43 That flam'd with oylie
H40, O'F, P, S96, TCD:
Inflam'd with th'ouglie
1669

jealousie: Ed: jealousie,
1669

44 with H40, O'F, P, S96,
TCD: in 1669

45 Have we not kept our
guards, H40, O'F, P, S96,
TCD: Have we for this
kept guards, 1669

on 1669: o'r 1635-54

49 most 1635-69, H40,
O'F, P, S96, TCD: best
1669

50 our] thy RP31

52 from our words? 1669:
from words? 1635-54

53 these secrets MSS.: the
secrets 1635-69

our] thy RP31

54 Yea ... panting heart?
1635-69, A25: Yea thy
pale colours inward as thy
heart? H40, O'F, P, S96,
TCD

56 sad] rude P, TCD

57-66 om. 1635-54, A25,
B

58 brains] beams P: brain
Chambers

61 Fortune, Ed: fortune,
1669

would rive us, with H40,
O'F, S96, TCD: would
ruine us with 1669

62 her H40: his 1669

it] yet 1669

bleed: Ed: bleed. 1669

65 Oh Fortune,] Oh
fortune, 1669, S96: And
Fortune H40, P

66 shame. H40, O'F, P,
S96: name. 1669

67 Do thy great worst &c.
1669: Fortune, doe thy
worst &c. 1635-54 (after
56 the vulgar story?)

armes, 1635-69, H40,
O'F, P, S, TCD: charmes
H-K (Grosart and
Chambers)

69 Rend us in sunder,
1669 and MSS.: Bend us,
in sunder 1635-54

72 shifts. 1635: shifts,
1639-69

76 Water H40, P, TCD:
Waters 1635-69, A25, S96

sure. Ed: sure; 1635-69

77 Time] Times H40,
TCD

Spring Ed: spring 1635-69

79 ripened in the eare; B,
H40, O'F, P, S96, TCD:
ripened in the yeare;
1635: inripened the yeare;
1639-69

83-94 omit 1635-54, A25,
B

85 Though H40, P, TCD:
The 1669, S96

87 he ... Portions Ed: he ...
portions H40: he ...
portion O'F, P, TCD: we
... Portion 1669: he can't
in like proportion H-K
(Grosart)

88 enjoyes] yet joys H40

89 ever your] your fayrest
H40, TCD

92 by your contempt then
constancy: H40, S96: be
your contempt then
constancy: O'F, H-K
(Grosart), P, TCD: be
your contempt then her
inconstancy: 1669

94 there reflected H40,
O'F, P, S, TCD: here
neglected 1669: there
neglected H-K (Grosart,
probably wrongly)

95-104 om. TCD

95 For H40, S96: And
1635-69

96 my words are now;
H40, P: my deeds are
now; 1635-69, O'F, S96:
my thoughts are now; A25

102 oft, 1633-54: oft 1669

would 1635-54, A25, B,
H40, O'F, S96: most 1669

Note

ELEGIE XIII.

Iulia.

H ARKE newes, ô envy, thou shalt heare descry'd
My Iulia; who as yet was ne'r envy'd.
To vomit gall in slander, swell her vaines
With calumny, that hell it selfe disdaines,
Is her continuall practice; does her best, 5
To teare opinion even out of the brest
Of dearest friends, and (which is worse than vilde)
Sticks jealousie in wedlock; her owne childe
Scapes not the showres of envie, To repeate
The monstrous fashions, how, were, alive, to eate 10
Deare reputation. Would to God she were
But halfe so loath to act vice, as to heare
My milde reproofe. Liv'd Mantuan now againe,
That fœmall Mastix, to limme with his penne
This she Chymera, that hath eyes of fire, 15
Burning with anger, anger feeds desire,
Tongued like the night-crow, whose ill boding cries
Give out for nothing but new injuries,
Her breath like to the juice in Tenarus
That blasts the springs, though ne'r so prosperous, 20
Her hands, I know not how, us'd more to spill
The food of others, then her selfe to fill.
But oh her minde, that Orcus, which includes
Legions of mischiefs, countlesse multitudes
Of formlesse curses, projects unmade up, 25
Abuses yet unfashion'd, thoughts corrupt,
Mishapen Cavils, palpable untroths,
Inevitable errours, self-accusing oaths:
These, like those Atoms swarming in the Sunne,
Throng in her bosome for creation. 30
I blush to give her halfe her due; yet say,
No poyson's halfe so bad as Iulia.
Elegie XIII. &c. Ed: Eleg.
XV. &c. 1635-54: Elegie

XV. 1669: Iulia. B: Elegy.
Iulia. O'F

5 practice; Ed: practice,
1635-69

7 vilde) Ed: vile) 1635-
69: vilde is the regular
spelling of this word in the
Donne MSS.

8 in wedlock;] in the
sheets of wedlock; B

10 how, 1635: how; 1639-
69

That fœmall Mastix,
1635: 1639-69 and
Chambers drop comma.
But see note

18 injuries, 1635-39:
injuries. 1650-69

20 prosperous, Ed:
prosperous. 1635-69

24 mischiefs O'F:
mischiefe, 1635-69

28 oaths: B, H-K
(Grosart): loathes: 1635-
69, O'F

31 give but half B: give
half her O'F

yet say,] only this say, B:
but this say O'F

Note

ELEGIE XIV.

A Tale of a Citizen and his Wife.

I sing no harme good sooth to any wight,
To Lord or foole, Cuckold, begger or knight,
To peace-teaching Lawyer, Proctor, or brave
Reformed or reduced Captaine, Knave,
Officer, Iugler, or Iustice of peace, 5
Iuror or Iudge; I touch no fat sowes grease,
I am no Libeller, nor will be any,
But (like a true man) say there are too many.
I feare not ore tenus; for my tale,
Nor Count nor Counsellour will redd or pale. 10
A Citizen and his wife the other day
Both riding on one horse, upon the way
I overtooke, the wench a pretty peate,
And (by her eye) well fitting for the feate.
I saw the lecherous Citizen turne backe 15
His head, and on his wifes lip steale a smacke,
Whence apprehending that the man was kinde,
Riding before, to kisse his wife behinde,
To get acquaintance with him I began
To sort discourse fit for so fine a man: 20
I ask'd the number of the Plaguy Bill,
Ask'd if the Custome Farmers held out still,
Of the Virginian plot, and whether Ward
The traffique of the I〈n〉land seas had marr'd,
Whether the Brittaine Burse did fill apace, 25
And likely were to give th'Exchange disgrace;
Of new-built Algate, and the More-field crosses,
Of store of Bankerouts, and poore Merchants losses
I urged him to speake; But he (as mute
As an old Courtier worne to his last suite) 30
Replies with onely yeas and nayes; At last
(To fit his element) my theame I cast
On Tradesmens gaines; that set his tongue agoing:
Alas, good sir (quoth he) There is no doing
In Court nor City now; she smil'd and I, 35
And (in my conscience) both gave him the lie
In one met thought: but he went on apace,

And at the present time with such a face
He rail'd, as fray'd me; for he gave no praise,
To any but my Lord of Essex dayes; 40
Call'd those the age of action; true (quoth Hee)
There's now as great an itch of bravery,
And heat of taking up, but cold lay downe,
For, put to push of pay, away they runne;
Our onely City trades of hope now are 45
Bawd, Tavern-keeper, Whore and Scrivener;
The much of Privileg'd kingsmen, and the store
Of fresh protections make the rest all poore;
In the first state of their Creation,
Though many stoutly stand, yet proves not one 50
A righteous pay-master. Thus ranne he on
In a continued rage: so void of reason
Seem'd his harsh talke, I sweat for feare of treason.
And (troth) how could I lesse? when in the prayer
For the protection of the wise Lord Major, 55
And his wise brethrens worships, when one prayeth,
He swore that none could say Amen with faith.
To get him off from what I glowed to heare,
(In happy time) an Angel did appeare,
The bright Signe of a lov'd and wel-try'd Inne, 60
Where many Citizens with their wives have bin
Well us'd and often; here I pray'd him stay,
To take some due refreshment by the way.
Looke how hee look'd that hid the gold (his hope)
And at's returne found nothing but a Rope, 65
So he on me, refus'd and made away,
Though willing she pleaded a weary day:
I found my misse, struck hands, and praid him tell
(To hold acquaintance still) where he did dwell;
He barely nam'd the street, promis'd the Wine, 70
But his kinde wife gave me the very Signe.
Elegie XIV. &c. Ed: Eleg.
XVI. A Tale &c. 1635-54: