DIVINE POEMS.
To E. of D. with six holy Sonnets.
SEE Sir, how as the Suns hot Masculine flame
Begets strange creatures on Niles durty slime,
In me, your fatherly yet lusty Ryme
(For, these songs are their fruits) have wrought the same;
5But though the ingendring force from whence they came
Bee strong enough, and nature doe admit
Seaven to be borne at once, I send as yet
But six; they say, the seaventh hath still some maime.
I choose your judgement, which the same degree
10Doth with her sister, your invention, hold,
As fire these drossie Rymes to purifie,
Or as Elixar, to change them to gold;
You are that Alchimist which alwaies had
Wit, whose one spark could make good things of bad.
Divine Poems. A18, N, TC: In 1635-69 this is the title at head of each page, but the new section is headed Holy Sonnets.
To E. of D. &c. so headed 1633-69 but placed among Letters &c., and so in O'F and (but L. of D.) W: removed hither by Grosart.
4 their fruits] the fruit W
6 doe 1633: doth 1635-69
8 six;] six, 1633
maime. W: maime; 1633-69
11 drossie] drosse 1650-54
To the Lady Magdalen Herbert: of St. Mary Magdalen.
HER of your name, whose fair inheritance
Bethina was, and jointure Magdalo:
An active faith so highly did advance,
That she once knew, more than the Church did know,
5The Resurrection; so much good there is
Deliver'd of her, that some Fathers be
Loth to believe one Woman could do this;
But, think these Magdalens were two or three.
Increase their number, Lady, and their fame:
10To their Devotion, add your Innocence;
Take so much of th'example, as of the name;
The latter half; and in some recompence
That they did harbour Christ himself, a Guest,
Harbour these Hymns, to his dear name addrest. J.D.
To the Lady Magdalen Herbert: &c. Ed: To the Lady Magdalen Herbert, of &c. Walton's The Life of Mr George Herbert. (1670, pp. 25-6.) See note
4 know, 1675: know 1670
HOLY SONNETS.
La Corona.
1. DEIGNE at my hands this crown of prayer and praise,
Weav'd in my low devout melancholie,
Thou which of good, hast, yea art treasury,
All changing unchang'd Antient of dayes;
5But doe not, with a vile crowne of fraile bayes,
Reward my muses white sincerity,
But what thy thorny crowne gain'd, that give mee,
A crowne of Glory, which doth flower alwayes;
The ends crowne our workes, but thou crown'st our ends,
10For, at our end begins our endlesse rest;
The first last end, now zealously possest,
With a strong sober thirst, my soule attends.
'Tis time that heart and voice be lifted high,
Salvation to all that will is nigh.
Holy Sonnets. 1633-69, being general title to the two groups: Holy Sonnets written 20 years since. H49.
La Corona. 1633-69, A18, D, H49, N, S, TCC, TCD, W: The Crowne. B, O'F, S96
2 low 1633, A18, D, H49, N, TC, W (spelt lowe in MSS.): lone 1635-69, B, O'F, S: loves S96
3 treasury, 1633-69: a Treasurie, B, O'F, S, S96
4 dayes; Ed: dayes, 1633-69
10 For] So W end 1633, A18, B, D, H49, N, O'F, TC, W: ends 1635-69, S96
rest; Ed: rest, 1633-69
11 The] This B, S, S96, W
zealously] soberly B, S96, W: O'F corrects
13 heart and voice] voice and heart B, O'F, S, S96, W
14 nigh.] nigh, 1633