X. 58. 1669, if they meet

ELEGIES. 123
Which hath divided heaven in tenements,
And with whores, thieves, and murderers stuff'd his
rents So full, that though he pass them all in sin, He leaves himself no room to enter in. But if, when all his art and time is spent, He say 'twill ne'er be found ; yet be content ; Receive from him that doom ungrudgingly. Because he is the mouth of destiny. Thou say'st, alas ! the gold doth still remain, Though it be changed, and put into a chain. 70
So in the first fallen angels resteth still Wisdom and knowledge, but 'tis turn'd to ill ; As these should do good works, and should provide Necessities ; but now must nurse thy pride. And they are still bad angels ; mine are none ; For form gives being, and their form is gone. Pity these angels yet ; their dignities Pass Virtues, Powers, and Principalities. But thou art resolute ; thy will be done ; Yet with such anguish, as her only son 80
The mother in the hungry grave doth lay, Unto the fire these martyrs I betray. Good souls — for you give life to everything — Good angels — for good messages you bring — • Destined you might have been to such an one, As would have loved and worshipp'd you alone ; One that would suffer hunger, nakedness, Yea death, ere he would make your number less ;
L 6-^ 1669, place them all 1 . 67. 1669, the doom
124 DONNE S POEMS.
But, I am guilty of your sad decay ;
May your few fellows longer with me stay. 90
But O ! thou wretched finder whom I hate
So, that I almost pity 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,
First mayst thou be ; then chain'd to hellish pains ;
Or be with foreign gold bribed to betray
Thy country, and fail both of it and thy pay.
May the next thing thou stoop'st to reach, contain
Poison, whose nimble fume rot thy moist brain ; 100
Or libels, or some interdicted thing,
Which negligently kept thy ruin bring.
Lust-bred diseases rot thee ; and dwell with thee
Itching desire, and no ability.
May all the evils that gold ever wrought ;
All mischief that all devils ever thought ;
Want after plenty, poor and gouty age.
The plagues of travellers, love, marriage
Afflict thee, and at thy life's last moment,
May thy swollen sins themselves to thee present, no
But, I forgive ; repent thee, honest man ! Gold is restorative ; restore it then : But if from it thou be'st loth to depart, Because 'tis cordial, would 'twere at thy heart.
1. 98. 1669 omits thy
L 108. 1669, love and marriage
1. 113. 1669, But if that from it thou be st loth to part
ELEGIES, 125
ELEGY XII.
Come, Fates ; I fear you not ! All whom I owe Are paid, but you ; then 'rest me ere I go. But Chance from you all sovereignty hath got ; Love woundeth none but those whom Death dares
not ; True if you were, and just in equity, I should have vanquish'd her, as you did me ; Else lovers should not brave Death's pains, and live ; But 'tis a rule, " Death comes not to relieve." Or, pale and wan Death's terrors, are they laid So deep in lovers, they make Death afraid ? 10
Or — the least comfort — have I company ? O'ercame she Fates, Love, Death, as well as me ?
Yes, Fates do silk unto her distaff pay, For ransom, which tax they on us do lay. Love gives her youth — which is the reason why Youths, for her sake, some wither and some die. Poor Death can nothing give ; yet, for her sake, Still in her turn, he doth a lover take. And if Death should prove false, she fears him not ; - Our Muses, to redeem her, she hath got. 20
1. 5. So 1669 ; 1635, Else, if you were
1. 12. So Haslewood-Kingsborough MS. (giving
Fates, Love, Death, in a different order) ; 1635, Or can
the Fates Ijve death
126 DONNE'S POEMS,
That fatal night we last kiss'd, I thus pray'd,
—Or rather, thus despair'd, I should have said —
Kisses, and yet despair ! The forbid tree
Did promise (and deceive) no more than she.
Like lambs, that see their teats, and must eat hay,
A food, whose taste hath made me pine away.
Dives, when thou saw'st bliss, and craved'st to touch
A drop of water, thy great pains were such.
Here grief wants a fresh wit, for mine being spent,
And my sighs weary, groans are all my rent. 30
Unable longer to endure the pain,
They break like thunder, and do bring down rain.
Thus till dry tears solder my eyes, I weep ;
And then, I dream, how you securely sleep.
And in your dreams do laugh at me. I hate,
And pray Love all may ; he pities my state,
But says, I therein no revenge shall find ;
The sun would shine, though all the world were
blind. Yet, to try my hate. Love show'd me your tear ; And I had died, had not your smile been there. 40 Your frown undoes me ; your smile is my wealth j And as you please to look, I have my health. Methought, Love pitying me, when he saw this, Gave me your hands, the backs and palms to kiss. That cured me not, but to bear pain gave strength ; And what is lost in force, is took in length. Icall'd on Love again, who fear'd you so, That his compassion still proved greater woe ; For, then I dream'd I was in bed with you, But durst not feel, for fear it should not be true. 50
ELEGIES. 127
This merits not your anger, had it been ;
The queen of chastity was naked seen ;
And in bed not to feel, the pain I took,
Was more than for Actseon not to look ;
And that breast which lay ope, I did not know,
But for the clearness, from a lump of snow ;
Nor that sweet teat which on the top it bore
From the rose-bud which for my sake you wore.
These griefs to issue> forth, by verse I prove ;
Or turn their course by travel and new love. 60
All would not do ; the best at last I tried ;
Unable longer to hold out, I died.
And then I found I lost life, death by flying ;
Who hundreds live, are but so long in dying.
Charon did let me pass ; I'll him requite.
To mark the groves or shades wrongs my delight ,
I'll speak but of those ghosts I found alone,
Those thousand ghosts, whereof myself made one,
All images of thee ; I asked them why ?
The judge told me, all they for thee did die, 70
And therefore had for their Elysian bliss,
In one another their own loves to kiss.
O here I miss'd, not bliss, but being dead ;
For lo ! I dreamt, I dreamt, and waking said,
" Heaven, if who are in thee there must dwell.
How is't I now was there, and now I fell?"
1. 51. So Haslewood-Kingsborough MS. ; 1635, 02ir 1. 68. So Harl. MSS. 3910 and 4064 ; Addl. MS. 10,309 emits Those
I2S DONNE'S POEMS.
ELEGY XIII.
HIS PARTING FROM HER.
Since she must go, and I must moum, 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 1 the darkest magic cannot do it,
And that great hell, to boot, are shadows to it.
Should Cynthia quit thee, Venus, and each star.
It would not form one thought dark as mine are.
I could lend them obscureness now, and say
Out of myself, there should be no more day. lo
Such is already my self-want of sight.
Did not the fire within me force a light.
O Love, that fire and darkness should be mix'd.
Or to thy triumphs such strange torments fix'd !
Is it because thou thyself art blind, that we,
Thy martyrs, must no more each other see ?
Or takest thou pride to break us on thy wheel,
And view old Chaos in the pains we feel ?
Or have we left undone some mutual rite,
That thus with parting thou seek'st us to spite ? 20
No, no. The fault is mine, impute it to me.
Or rather to conspiring destiny,
1. 4. So 1669 ; 1635, my soul
1. 5. Editions before 1669 omit 11. 5 — 44
ELEGIES. 129
Which, since I loved in jest before, decreed
That I should suffer, when I loved indeed ;
And therefore, sooner now than I can say,
I saw the golden fruit, 'tis rapt away ;
Or as I'd watch'd one drop in the vast stream,
And I left wealthy only in a dream.
Yet, Love, thou'rt blinder than myself in this,
To vex my dove-like friend for my amiss ; 30
And where one sad truth may expiate
Thy wrath, to make her fortune run my fate.
So blinded justice doth, when favourites fall.
Strike them, their house, their friends, their favourites
all. Was't not enough that thou didst dart thy fires Into our bloods, inflaming our desires. And madest us sigh, and blow, and pant, and burn, And then thyself into our flames didst turn ? Was't not enough that thou didst hazard us To paths in love so dark and dangerous, 40
And those so ambush'd round with household spies, And over all thy husband's towering eyes, Inflamed with th' ugly sweat of jealousy ; Yet went we not still on in constancy ? Have we for this kept guards, like spy on spy ? Had correspondence whilst the foe stood by ? Stolen, more to sweeten them, our many blisses Of meetings, conference, embracements, kisses?
1. 23. So Haslewood-Kingsborough MS. ; 1669, loved for me before
1. 45, So 1669 ; 1635, o'er spy VOL. I. 9
130 DONNE S POEMS.
Shadow'd with negligence our best respects ? Varied our language through all dialects 5*^
Of becks, winks, looks, and often under boards Spoke dialogues with our feet far from our words ? Have we proved all the secrets of our art, Yea, thy pale inwards, and thy panting heart ? And, after all this passed purgatoiy, Must sad divorce make us the vulgar story? First let our eyes be riveted quite through Our turning brain, and both our lips grow to j Let our arms clasp like ivy, and our fear Freeze us together, that we may stick here, 60
Till Fortune, that would ruin us with the deed, Strain his eyes open, and yet make them bleed. For Love it cannot be, whom hitherto I have accused, should such a mischief do. O Fortune, thou'rt not worth my least exclaim. And plague enough thou hast in thy own name. Do thy great worst ; my friend and I have charms, Though not against thy strokes, against thy harms. Rend us in sunder ; thou canst not divide Our bodies so, but that our souls are tied, 70
And we can love by letters still and gifts, And thoughts and dreams ; love never wanteth shifts,
1. 49. So 1669 ; 1635, most respects 1. 52. So 1669 ; 1635 omits our 1. 57. Editions before 1669 omit 11. 1. 67. So Haslewood-Kingsborough MS. ; 1635, Fortune, do thy worst, my friend and I have arms L 69. So 1669 ; 1635, Bend us in sunder
ELEGIES. 131
I will not look upon the quickening sun,
But straight her beauty to my sense shall run ;
The air shall note her soft, the fire, most pure j
Waters suggest her clear, and the earth sure.
Time shall not loso our passages ; the spring,
How fresh our love was in the beginning ;
The summer, how it ripen'd in the year ;
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 she.
And dearest friend, since we must part, drown
night With hope of day — burdens well borne are light — ; The cold and darkness longer hang somewhere, Yet Phoebus equally lights all the sphere ; And what we cannot in like portion pay The world enjoys in mass, and so we may. Be then ever yourself, and let no woe Win on your health, your youth, your beauty ; so 90 Declare yourself base Fortune's enemy. No less be your contempt than her inconstancy j That I may grow enamour'd on your mind, When mine own thoughts I here neglected find. And this to the comfort of my dear I vow, My deeds shall still be what my deeds are now ;
L 79. 1639, it inripened 1. 83. Editions before 1669 omit 11. 83—94 L 87. Haslewood-Kingsborough MS., And what he can't in like proportion pay
1. 92. Haslewood-Kingsborough MS., than constancy
132 DONNE'S POEMS.
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 most persuade. Take therefore all in this ; I love so true, As I will never look for less in you.
ELEGY XIV.
JULIA.
Hark, news, O envy ; thou shalt hear descried
My Julia ; who as yet was ne'er envied.
To vomit gall in slander, swell her veins
With calumny, that hell itself disdains,
Is her continual practice ; does her best,
To tear opinion e'en out of the breast
Of dearest friends, and — which is worse than vile —
Sticks jealousy in wedlock ; her own child
Scapes not the showers of envy. To repeat
The monstrous fashions how, were alive to eat lo
Dear reputation ; would to God she were
But half so loth to act vice, as to hear
My mild reproof. Lived Mantuan now again
That female Mastix to limn with his pen,
1. I02. So 1669 ; 1635, would persuade
ELEGIES. 133
This she Chimera that hath eyes of fire, 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 Taenarus, That blasts the springs, though ne'er so prosper- ous ; 20 Her hands, I know not how, used more to spill The food of others than herself to fill ; But O ! her mind, that Orcus, which includes Legions of mischief, countless multitudes Of formless curses, projects unmade up, Abuses yet unfashion'd, thoughts corrupt, Misshapen cavils, palpable untroths, Inevitable errors, self-accusing loaths. These, like those atoms swarming in the sun, Throng in her bosom for creation. 3*^ I blush to give her half her due ; yet say. No poison's half so bad as Julia.
ELEGY XV.
A TALE OF A CITIZEN AND HIS WIFE,
I SING no harm, good sooth, to any wight, To lord or fool, cuckold, beggar, or knight, To peace-teaching lawyer, proctor, or brave Reformed or reduced captain, knave,
1. 28. Haslewood-Kingsborough MS., oathi L 2. 1669, to fool
134 DONNE S POEMS.
Officer, juggler, or justice of peace,
Juror or judge ; I touch no fat sow's grease ;
I am no libeller, nor will be any,
But — like a true man — say there are too many.
I fear not ore tenus ; for my tale
Nor count nor counsellor will look red or pale. lo
A citizen and his wife the other day Both riding on one horse, upon the way I overtook ; the wench, a pretty peat, And — by her eye — well fitting for the feat. I saw the lecherous citizen turn back His head, and on his wife's lip steal a smack ; Whence apprehending that the man was kind. Riding before to kiss his wife behind, To get acquaintance with him I began To sort discourse fit for so fine a man ; 20
I ask'd the number of the plaguing bill ; Ask'd if the custom farmers held out still ; Of the Virginian plot, and whether Ward The traffic of the island seas had marr'd ; Whether the Britain Burse did fill apace, And likely were to give th' Exchange disgrace. Of new-built Aldgate, and the Moor-field crosses, Of store of bankrupts, and poor merchants' losses I urged him to speak ; but he — as mute As an old courtier worn to his last suit — 30
1. 5. 1650, 0_^cer, judge 1. 10. 1669 omits look
1. 21. 1669, plaguy 1. 24. 1669, Midland seas
ELEGIES. 135
Replies with only yeas and nays ; at last
— To fit his element — my theme I cast
On tradesmen's gains ; that set his tongue a-going.
"Alas ! good sir," quoth he, *' there is no doing
In court or city now " ; she smiled, and I,
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' days ; 40
Call'd that the age of action — *' True I " quoth I —
*' There's now as great an itch of bravery.
And heat of taking up, but cold lay down,
For, put to push of pay, away they run ;
Our only city trades of hope now are
Bawds, tavern-keepers, whores, and scriveners.
The much of privileged kinsmen and store
Of fresh protections make the rest all poor.
In the first state of their creation
Though many stoutly stand, yet proves not one 50
A righteous pay-master." Thus ran he on
In a continued rage ; so void of reason
Seem'd his harsh talk, I sweat for fear of treason.
And — troth — how could I less ? when in the prayer
For the protection of the wise Lord Mayor,
1. 38. 1669, times
1. 41. 1669, those
1. 41. 1669, quoth he
1. 46. 1669, whore and scrivener
L 47. i66g, kingstnen and the store
136 DONNE'S POEMS.
And his wise brethren's worships, when one prayeth,
He swore that none could say amen with faith.
To get off him from what I glow'd to hear,
In happy time an angel did appear,
The bright sign of a loved and well-tried inn, 6o
"Where many citizens with their wives had been
Well used and often ; here I pray'd him stay,
To take some due refreshment by the way.
Look, how he look'd that hid the gold, his hope,
And at return found nothing but a rope,
So he at me ; refused and made away.
Though willing she pleaded a weary stay.
I found my miss, strack hands, and pray'd him tell —
To hold acquaintance still — where he did dwell.
He barely named the street, promised the wine, 70
But his kind wife gave me the very sign.
ELEGY XVI.
THE EXPOSTULATION.
To make the doubt clear, that no woman's true, Was it my fate to prove it strong in you ? Thought I, but one had breathed purest air ; And must she needs be false, because she's fair? Is it your beauty's mark, or of your youth, Or your perfection, not to study truth ?
1. 58. So 1669 ; 1635 omits off
1. 64. 1669, his gold 1. 65, 1669, afs
1. 66. 1669, on me 1. 67. 1669, a weary day
ELEGIES. 137
Or think you heaven is deaf, or hath no eyes,
Or those it hath smile at your perjuries ?
Are vows so cheap with women, or the matter
Whereof they're made, that they are writ in water, 10
And blown away with wind ? Or doth their breatli,
Both hot and cold, at once make life and death ?
Who could have thought so many accents sweet
Form'd into words, so many sighs should meet
As from our hearts, so many oaths, and tears
Sprinkled among, all sweeten'd by our fears,
And the divine impression of stolen kisses,
That seal'd the rest, should now prove empty blisses ?
Did you di-aw bonds to forfeit ? sign to break ?
Or must we read you quite from what you speak, 20
And find the truth out the vi^rong way ? or must
He first desire you false, would wish you just?
O ! I profane ! though most of vi^omen be
This kind of beast, my thoughts shall except thee.
My dearest love ; though fro ward jealousy
With circumstance might urge thy inconstancy,
Sooner I'll think the sun will cease to cheer
The teeming earth, and that forget to bear ;
Sooner that rivers will run back, or Thames
With ribs of ice in June will bind his streams ; 30
Or nature, by whose strength the world endures.
Would change her course, before you alter yours.
But O ! that treacherous breast, to whom weak
you Did drift our counsels, and we both may rue,
1. 34. 1669, Did trust
138 DONNE'S POEMS,
Having his falsehood found too late ; 'twas he
That made me cast you guilty, and you me ;
Whilst he, black wretch, betray'd each simple
word We spake, unto the cunning of a third. Cursed may he be, that so our love hath slain, And wander on the earth, wretched as Cain, 40
Wretched as he, and not deserve least pity. In plaguing him, let misery be witty ; Let all eyes shun him, and he shun each eye. Till he be noisome as his infamy ; May he without remorse deny God thrice. And not be trusted more on his soul's price ; And, after all self-torment, when he dies. May wolves tear out his heart, vultures his eyes, Swine eat his bowels, and his falser tongue That utter'd all, be to some raven flung ; 50
And let his carrion corse be a longer feast To the king's dogs, than any other beast. Now have I cursed, let us our love revive ; In me the flame was never more alive. I could begin again to court and praise, And in that pleasure lengthen the short days Of my life's lease ; like painters that do take Delight, not in made work, but whiles they make. I could renew those times, when first I saw Love in your eyes, that gave my tongue the law 60 To like what you liked ; and at masks and plays Commend the self-same actors, the same ways ;
1. 53. 1669, / have
ELEGIES. 139
Ask how you did, and often with intent
Of being officious, be impertinent ;
All which were such soft pastimes, as in these
Love was as subtly catch'd as a disease.
But being got, it is a treasure sweet,
Which to defend is harder than to get ;
And ought not be profaned, on either part,
For though 'tis got by chance, 'tis kept by art 7®
ELEGY XVII.
ELEGY ON HIS MISTRESS.
By our first strange and fatal interview,
By all desires which thereof did ensue,
By our long starving hopes, by that remorse
Which my words' masculine persuasive force
Begot in thee, and by the memory
Of hurts, which spies and rivals threaten'd me,
I calmly beg. But by thy father's wrath.
By all pains, which want and divorcement hath,
I conjure thee, and all the oaths which I
And thou have sworn to seal joint constancy, lO
Here I unswear, and overswear them thus ;
Thou shall not love by ways so dangerous.
L 3. 1669, stHving
1. II. 1669, I here unswear
1. 12. 1669, by means
140 DONNE'S POEMS.
Temper, O fair love, love's impetuous rage ;
Be my true mistress still, not my feign'd page.
I'll go, and, by thy kind leave, leave behind
Thee, only worthy to nurse in my mind
Thirst to come back ; O ! if thou die before,
My soul from- other lands to thee shall soar.
Thy else almighty beauty cannot move
Rage from the seas, nor thy love teach them love, 20
Nor tame wild Boreas' harshness ; thou hast read
How roughly he in pieces shivered
Fair Orithea, whom he swore he loved.
Fall ill or good, 'tis madness to have proved
Dangers unurged ; feed on this flattery,
That absent lovers one in th' other be.
Dissemble nothing, not a boy, nor change
Thy body's habit, nor mind ; be not strange
To thyself only. All will spy in thy face
A blushing womanly discovering grace. 30
Richly clothed apes are call'd apes, and as soon
Eclipsed as bright, we call the moon the moon.
Men of France, changeable chameleons,
Spitals of diseases, shops of fashions,
Love's fuellers, and the rightest company
Of players, which upon the world's stage be,
Will quickly know thee, and no less, alas !
Th' indifferent Italian, as we pass
1. 14. 1669, my true mistress, not myfeignld
1. 23. 1669, The fair
1. 35. 1669, Lives
1. 37. 1669, Will too too quickly know thee, and alas I
ELEGIES. 141
His warm land, well content to think thee page, Will hunt thee with such lust, and hideous rage, 40 As Lot's fair guests were vex'd. But none of these. Nor spongy hydroptic Dutch shall thee displease, If thou stay here. O stay here, for for thee England is only a worthy gallery. To walk in expectation, till from thence Our greatest king call thee to his presence. When I am gone, dream me some happiness ; Nor let thy looks our long-hid love confess ; Nor praise, nor dispraise me, nor bless nor ciu'se Openly love's force, nor in bed fright thy nurse With midnight's startings, crying out, O ! O ! Nurse, O ! my love is slain ; I saw him go O'er the white Alps alone ; I saw him, I, Assail'd, fight, taken, stabb'd, bleed, fall, and die. Augur me better chance, except dread Jove Think it enough for me to have had thy love.
ELEGY XVIIL
The heavens rejoice in motion ; why should I
Abjure my so much loved variety,
And not with many youth and love divide ?
Pleasure is none, if not diversified.
The sun that, sitting in the chair of light,
Sheds flame into what else so ever doth seem bright,
Is not contented at one sign to inn,
Eut ends his year, and with a new begin.
142 DONNE'S POEMS.
All things do willingly in change delight,
The fruitful mother of our appetite ; 10
Rivers the clearer and more pleasing are,
Where their fair-spreading streams run wide and
clear ; And a dead lake, that no strange bark doth greet, Corrupts itself, and what doth live in it. Let no man tell me such a one is fair. And worthy all alone my love to share. Nature in her hath done the liberal part Of a kind mistress, and employed her art, To make her lovable, and I aver Him not humane, that would turn back from her. 20 I love her well, and would, if need were, die, To do her service. But follows it that I Must serve her only, when I may have choice? The law is hard, and shall not have my voice. The last I saw in all extremes is fair. And holds me in the sunbeams of her hair ; Her nymph-like features such agreements have, That I could venture with her to the grave. Another's brown ; I like her not the worse ; Her tongue is soft and takes me with discourse. 30 Others, for that they well descended were, Do in my love obtain as large a share ; And though they be not fair, 'tis much with me To win their love only for their degree. And though I fail of my required ends. The attempt is glorious and itself commends. How happy were our sires in ancient time, Who held plurality of loves no crime.
ELEGIES. 143
With them it was accounted charity To stir up race of all indifferently ; 40
Kindred were not exempted from the bands, Which with the Persian still in usage stands. Women were then no sooner ask'd than won, And what they did was honest and well done. But since this little Honour hath been used, Our weak credulity hath been abused ; The golden laws of nature are repeal'd, Which our first fathers in such reverence held ; Our liberty reversed and charters gone ; And we made servants to Opinion ; 50
A monster in no certain shape attired, And whose original is much desired, Formless at first, but growing on its fashions, And doth prescribe manners and laws to nations. Here love received immedicable harms, And was despoiled of his daring arms ; A greater want than is his daring eyes. He lost those awful wings with which he flies, His sinewy bow and those immortal darts, With which he is wont to bruise resisting hearts. 60
Only some few, strong in themselves and free, Retain the seeds of ancient liberty. Following that part of love although depress'd. Yet make a throne for him within their breast, In spite of modem censures him avowing Their sovereign, all service him allowing Amongst which troop although I am the least, Yet equal in perfection with the best,
144 BONNES POEMS.
I glory in subjection of his hand,
Nor ever did decline his least command ; 70
For in whatever form the message came
My heart did open and receive the same,
But time will in his course a point descry
When I this loved service must deny ;
For our allegiance temporary is ;
With firmer age returns our liberties.
What time in years and judgment we reposed,
Shall not so easily be to change disposed,
Nor to the art of several eyes obeying,
But beauty with true worth securely weighing ; 80
Which being found assembled in some one
We'll leave her ever, and love her alone.
ELEGY XIX.
Whoever loves, if he do not propose
The right true end of love, he's one that goes
To sea for nothing but to make him sick.
Love is a bear-whelp born ; if we o'er-lick
Our love, and force it new strange shapes to take,
We err, and of a lump a monster inake.
Were not a calf a monster, that were grown
Faced like a man, though better than his own ?
Perfection is in unity ; prefer
One woman first, and then one thing in her. lo
1, 82. Query ? love her ever
1. 5. So 1661 ; 1669, strong shapes
ELEGIES. 145
I, when I value gold, may think upon The ductileness, the application, The wholesomeness, the ingenuity. From rust, from soil, from fire ever free j But if I love it, 'tis because 'tis made By our new nature, use, the soul of trade.
All this in women we might think upon, — If women had them — and yet love but one. Can men more injure women than to say They love them for that, by which they're not they ? 20
Makes virtue woman ? must I cool my blood Till I both be, and find one wise and good ? May barren angels love so. But if we Make love to woman, virtue is not she, As beauty is not, nor wealth. He that strays thus From her to hers is more adulterous Than if he took her maid. Search every sphere And firmament, our Cupid is not there. He's an infernal God, and underground With Pluto dwells, where gold and fire abound. 30 Men to such gods their sacrificing coals Did not on altars lay, but pits and holes, Although we see celestial bodies move Above the earth, the earth we till and love. So we her airs contemplate, words and heart, And virtues, but we love the centric part.
Nor is the soul more worthy, or more fit For love, than this, as infinite as it.
1. 25. So 1661 ; 1669, beauties no nor wealth VOL. I. 10
T46 DONNE'S POEMS.
But in attaining this desired place
How much they err, that set out at the face ? 40
The hair a forest is of ambushes,
Of springes, snares, fetters, and manacles ;
The brow becalms us when 'tis smooth and plain.
And when 'tis wrinkled, shipwrecks us again ;
Smooth, 'tis a paradise, where we would have
Immortal stay, but wrinkled 'tis a grave.
The nose, like to the first meridian, runs
Not 'twixt an east and west, but 'twixt two suns ;
It leaves a cheek, a rosy hemisphere,
On either side, and then directs us where 50
Upon the islands fortunate we fall.
Not faint Canaries, but ambrosial,
Her swelling lips, to which when we are come,
"We anchor there, and think ourselves at home,
For they seem all ; there Siren's songs and there
Wise Delphic oracles do fill the ear.
There, in a creek where chosen pearls do swell,
The remora, her cleaving tongue, doth dwell.
These and the glorious promontory, her chin,
O'erpast, and the straight Hellespont between 60
The Sestos and Abydos of her breasts,
Not of two lovers, but two loves, the nests,
1. 41. So 1661 ; 1669, a fount
1. 47. So 1661 ; 1669, a sweet meridian
1. 53. So 1661 ; 1669, Unto her swelling lips when
we are come
1, 57. So 1661 ; 1669, Then
1. 60. So 1661 ; 1669, Being fast, the Straits of
Hellespont
ELEGIES. 147
Succeeds a boundless sea, but yet thine eye
Some island moles may scattered there descry ;
And sailing towards her India, in that way
Shall at her fair Atlantic navel stay.
Though there the current be the pilot made,
Yet, ere thou be where thou shouldst be embay'd,
Thou shalt upon another forest set,
Where many shipwreck, and no further get. 70
"When thou art there, consider what this chase
Misspent by thy beginning at the face.
Rather set out below j practise thy art; Some symmetry the foot hath with that part Which thou dost seek, and is thy map for
that. Lovely enough to stop, but not stay at. Least subject to disguise and change it is ; Men say the devil never can change his ; It is the emblem that hath figured Firmness ; 'tis the first part that comes to bed. 80 Civility we see refined ; the kiss, Which at the face began, transplanted is, Since to the hand, since to the imperial knee, Now at the papal foot delights to be. If kings think that the nearer way, and do Rise from the foot, lovers may do so too ; For, as free spheres move faster far than can Birds, whom the air resists, so may that man Which goes this empty and ethereal way. Than if at beauty's elements he stay. 90
1. 90. So 1661 ; 1669, beauty s enemies
148 DONNE'S POEMS.
Rich Nature in women wisely made Two purses, and their mouths aversely laid- They then, which to the lower tribute owe, That way which that exchequer looks must go ; He which doth not, his error is as great, As who by clyster gives the stomach meat.
ELEGY XX.
TO HIS MISTRESS GOING TO BED.
Come, madam, come, all rest my powers defy ;
Until I labour, I in labour lie.
The foe ofttimes, having the foe in sight,
Is tired with standing, though he never fight.
Off with that girdle, like heaven's zone glittering,
But a far fairer world encompassing.
Unpin that spangled breast -plate, which you wear,
That th' eyes of busy fools may be stopp'd there.
Unlace yourself, for that harmonious chime
Tells me from you that now it is bed-time. 10
Off with that happy busk, which I envy,
That still can be, and. still can stand so nigh.
Your gown going off such beauteous state reveals.
As when from flowery meads th' hill's shadow steals.
Oft with your wiry coronet, and show
The hairy diadems which on you do grow
1. 16. So Stephens MS. ; i66g, The hairy diadem which on your head doih grow
ELEGIES. 149
Off with your hose and shoes ; then softly tread In this love's hallow'd temple, this soft bed. In such white robes heaven's angels used to be Revealed to men ; thou, angel, bring'st with thee 20 A heaven-like Mahomet's paradise ; and though 111 spirits walk in white, we easily know By this these angels from an evil sprite ; Those set our hairs, but these our flesh upright.
Licence my roving hands, and let them go Before, behind, between, above, below. Oh, my America, my Newfoundland, My kingdom, safest when with one man mann'd, My mine of precious stones, my empery ; How am I blest in thus discovering thee ! 30
To enter in these bonds, is to be free ; Then, where my hand is set, my soul shall be.
Full nakedness ! All joys are due to thee ; As souls unbodied, bodies unclothed must be To taste whole joys. Gems which you women
use Are like Atlanta's ball cast in men's views ; That, when a fool's eye lighteth on a gem, His earthly soul might court that, not them. Like pictures, or like books' gay coverings made For laymen, are all women thus array'd. 40
Themselves are only mystic books, which we — Whom their imputed grace will dignify —
1. 17. So Stephens MS. ; 1659, Now off with i/iosc sJioes 1. 22. Query? All spirits
150 DONNE'S POEMS.
Must see reveal'd. Then, since that I may know»
As liberally as to thy midwife show
Thyself ; cast all, yea, this white linen hence ;
There is no penance due to innocence :
To teach thee, I am naked first ; why then,
What needst thou have more covering than a man ?
DIVINE POEMS.
TO THE E[ARL] of D[0NCASTER] : WITH SIX HOLY
SONNETS.
See, sir, how, as the sun's hot masculine flame Begets strange creatures on Nile's dirty slime, In me your fatherly yet lusty rhyme — For these songs are their fruits — have wrought the
same. But though th' engend'ring force from which they came Be strong enough, and Nature doth admit Seven to be bom at once ; I send as yet But six ; they say the seventh hath still some maim. I choose your judgment, which the same degree Doth with her sister, your invention, hold, lo
As fire these drossy rhymes to purify. Or as elixir, to change them to gold.
You are that alchemist, which always had Wit, whose one spark could make good things of bad.
152 DONNE'S POEMS.
LA CORONA.
1. Deign at my hafids this crown of prayer andpraisc^ Weaved in my lone devout melancholy,
Thou which of good hast, yea, art treasury,
All changing unchanged Ancient of days.
But do not with a vile crown of frail bays
Reward my Muse's white sincerity ;
But what Thy thorny crown gain'd, that give me,
A crown of glory, which doth flower always.
The ends crown our works, but Thou crown 'st our
ends, For at our ends begins our endless rest. lo
The first last end, now zealously possess'd, With a strong sober thirst my soul attends. 'Tis time that heart and voice be lifted high ; Salvation to all that will is nigh.
ANNUNCIATION.
2. Salvation to all that will is nigh ;
That All, which always is all everywhere, "Which cannot sin, and yet all sins must bear, Which cannot die, yet cannot choose but die, Lo ! faithful Virgin, yields Himself to lie In prison, in thy womb ; and though He there Can take no sin, nor thou give, yet He'll wear. Taken from thence, flesh, which death's force may