ELEGIE XI.
The Bracelet.
Vpon the losse of his Mistresses Chaine, for which he made satisfaction.
NOT that in colour it was like thy haire,
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:
5Nor for that silly old moralitie,
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
10No leaven of vile soder did admit;
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;
15To gaine new friends, t'appease great enemies;
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,
20And punisht for offences not their owne?
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
25I think possesseth, they come here to us,
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,
30That are become as Catholique as their King,
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
35Of some great Conjurer that would enforce
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
40Gorgeous France, ruin'd, ragged and decay'd;
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,
45Having by subtle fire a soule out-pull'd;
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
50I lose my guard, my ease, my food, my all?
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;
55And be content that some lowd squeaking Cryer
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,
60That with phantastique scheames fils full much paper;
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.
65But if, when all his art and time is spent,
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,
70Though it be chang'd, and put into a chaine;
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.
75And they are still bad angels; Mine are none;
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!
80Yet with such anguish, as her onely sonne
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)
85Destin'd you might have beene to such an one,
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;
90May your few fellowes longer with me stay.
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:
95Here fetter'd, manacled, and hang'd in chains,
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
100Poyson, whose nimble fume rot thy moist braine;
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.
105May all the evils that gold ever wrought;
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,
110May thy swolne sinnes themselves to thee present.
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.
ELEGIE XII.
His parting from her.
SINCE 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.
5Alas the darkest Magick cannot do it,
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,
10Out of my self, There should be no more Day,
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?
15Is't because thou thy self art blind, that wee
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,
20Through holy fear, that merits thy despight?
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:
25And therefore now, sooner then I can say,
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,
30To vex my Dove-like friend for my amiss:
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.
35Was't not enough that thou didst dart thy fires
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
40To paths in love so dark, so dangerous:
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?
45Have we not kept our guards, like spie on spie?
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?
50Varied our language through all dialects,
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?
55And, after all this passed Purgatory,
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
60Freese us together, that we may stick here,
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.
65Oh Fortune, thou'rt not worth my least exclame,
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
70Our bodies so, but that our souls are ty'd,
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;
75The ayre shall note her soft, the fire most pure;
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;
80And Autumn, what our golden harvests were.
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.
85Though cold and darkness longer hang somewhere,
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
90Win on your health, your youth, your beauty: so
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.
95For this to th'comfort of my Dear I vow,
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,
100Think, heaven hath motion lost, and the world, fire:
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
ELEGIE XIII.
Iulia.
HARKE 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,
5Is her continuall practice; does her best,
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
10The monstrous fashions, how, were, alive, to eate
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
15This she Chymera, 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 Tenarus
20That blasts the springs, though ne'r so prosperous,
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
25Of formlesse curses, projects unmade up,
Abuses yet unfashion'd, thoughts corrupt,
Mishapen Cavils, palpable untroths,
Inevitable errours, self-accusing oaths:
These, like those Atoms swarming in the Sunne,
30Throng in her bosome for creation.
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
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,
5Officer, Iugler, or Iustice of peace,
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,
10Nor Count nor Counsellour will redd or pale.
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.
15I saw the lecherous Citizen turne backe
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
20To sort discourse fit for so fine a man:
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,
25Whether the Brittaine Burse did fill apace,
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
30As an old Courtier worne to his last suite)
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
35In Court nor City now; she smil'd 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,
40To any but my Lord of Essex dayes;
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;
45Our onely City trades of hope now are
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,
50Though many stoutly stand, yet proves not one
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
55For the protection of the wise Lord Major,
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,
60The bright Signe of a lov'd and wel-try'd Inne,
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)
65And at's returne found nothing but a Rope,
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;
70He barely nam'd the street, promis'd the Wine,
But his kinde wife gave me the very Signe.
Elegie XIV. &c. Ed: Eleg. XVI. A Tale &c. 1635-54: Elegie XVI. 1669: Elegie XV. O'F: no title, B
2 or foole,] to fool, 1669
5 Iugler, 1635-39: Iudge, 1650-69
9 tenus; Ed: tenus, 1635-69
10 will redd or pale. 1669, B, O'F (shall): will looke redd or pale. 1635-54
14 feate. Ed: feate, 1635-69
16 steale] seale O'F
21 Plaguy 1669, B, O'F: Plaguing 1635-54
22 Custome] custome 1635
24 I〈n〉land Ed: Iland 1635-54: Midland 1669, O'F: the land, the seas B, but later hand has inserted mid above the line: Island Chambers and Grolier
27 More-field] Moorefields B
32 To fit] To hit O'F
33 agoing: Ed: agoing, 1635-69
35 In ... now; Ed: roman 1635-69
38 time 1669: times O'F
41 those ... (quoth Hee) 1669, B, O'F: that ... (quoth I) 1635-54
46 Bawd, ... Scrivener; B, O'F: Bawds, Tavernkeepers, Whores and Scriveners, 1635-54: Bawds, Tavernkeepers, Whore and Scrivener 1669
47 kingsmen, and the store 1669, B, O'F (kingsman): kinsmen, and store 1635-54
58 him off O'F: off him 1669: him 1635-54
61 have bin B, O'F: had beene, 1635-69
64 the gold (his hope)] his gold, his hope 1669
65 at's 1669: at 1635-54
66 on 1669, B: at 1635-54
me,] me: 1635-54
67 day: 1669, B, O'F: stay. 1635-39: stay: 1650-54
69 dwell; 1635: dwell 1639-54: dwell, 1669
ELEGIE XV.
The Expostulation.
TO make the doubt cleare, that no woman's true,
Was it my fate to prove it strong in you?
Thought I, but one had breathed purest aire,
And must she needs be false because she's faire?
5Is it your beauties marke, or of your youth,
Or your perfection, not to study truth?
Or thinke you heaven is deafe, or hath no eyes?
Or those it hath, smile at your perjuries?
Are vowes so cheape with women, or the matter
10Whereof they are made, that they are writ in water,
And blowne away with winde? Or doth their breath
(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 meete
15As from our hearts, so many oathes, and teares
Sprinkled among, (all sweeter by our feares
And the divine impression of stolne kisses,
That seal'd the rest) should now prove empty blisses?
Did you draw bonds to forfet? signe to breake?
20Or must we reade you quite from what you speake,
And finde the truth out the wrong way? or must
Hee first desire you false, would wish you just?
O I prophane, though most of women be
This kinde of beast, my thought shall except thee;
25My dearest love, though froward jealousie,
With circumstance might urge thy'inconstancie,
Sooner I'll thinke the Sunne will cease to cheare
The teeming earth, and that forget to beare,
Sooner that rivers will runne back, or Thames
30With ribs of Ice in June would bind his streames,
Or Nature, by whose strength the world endures,
Would change her course, before you alter yours.
But O that treacherous breast to whom weake you
Did trust our Counsells, and wee both may rue,
35Having his falshood found too late, 'twas hee
That made me cast you guilty, and you me,
Whilst he, black wretch, betray'd each simple word
Wee spake, unto the cunning of a third.
Curst may hee be, that so our love hath slaine,
40And wander on the earth, wretched as Cain,
Wretched as hee, and not deserve least pitty;
In plaguing him, let misery be witty;
Let all eyes shunne him, and hee shunne each eye,
Till hee be noysome as his infamie;
45May he without remorse deny God thrice,
And not be trusted more on his Soules price;
And after all selfe torment, when hee dyes,
May Wolves teare out his heart, Vultures his eyes,
Swine eate his bowels, and his falser tongue
50That utter'd all, be to some Raven flung,
And let his carrion coarse be a longer feast
To the Kings dogges, then any other beast.
Now have I curst, let us our love revive;
In mee the flame was never more alive;
55I could beginne againe to court and praise,
And in that pleasure lengthen the short dayes
Of my lifes lease; like Painters that do take
Delight, not in made worke, but whiles they make;
I could renew those times, when first I saw
60Love in your eyes, that gave my tongue the law
To like what you lik'd; and at maskes and playes
Commend the selfe same Actors, the same wayes;
Aske how you did, and often with intent
Of being officious, be impertinent;
65All which were such soft pastimes, as in these
Love was as subtilly catch'd, as a disease;
But being got it is a treasure sweet,
Which to defend is harder then to get:
And ought not be prophan'd on either part,
70For though'tis got by chance, 'tis kept by art.
Elegie XV. Ed: Eleg. XVII. The Expostulation. 1635-54: Elegie XVII. 1669: Elegie. 1633, B, Cy, H40, HN, M, N, O'F, P, RP31, S, S96, TCD, Jonson's Underwoods
2 strong] full Und
3 purest] the purer Und
6 Or your 1633-69: Or of your H40
8 it hath,] she hath B, H40, M, N, P, S96
12 (Both hot and cold at once) RP31: Both ... at once, Und: (Both ... cold) at once 1633-69, S96: Both heate and coole at once M
make] threat Und
14 Form'd into] Tun'd to our Und
15 As] Blowne Und
16-18 (all sweeter ... the rest) 1633, B, Cy, M, N, O'F, P, RP31: (all sweetend &c. 1635, which does not complete the bracket: (all sweetend by our fears) &c. 1639-69, L74 (sweeter), P (sweeter), S96 (sweetned)
22 wish] have P
24 This kinde of beast,] The common Monster, Und
my thought 1633: my thoughts 1635-69, HN, S96
25 though froward] how ever RP31, Und
26 thy'inconstancie,] the contrarie. Und
28 beare, 1633: beare: 1635-69
30 would 1633, Und: will 1635-69
streames, Ed: streames; 1633-69
32 yours.] yours; 1633
34 trust 1633-69: drift Chambers
37 wretch] wrech 1633
38 third. Ed: third; 1633-69
39 love] loves RP31
40 wretched as Cain, 1633-69, B, Cy, N, O'F: as wretched Cain, P: as cursed Cain, S: wretched on the Earth, as Cain: Und
52 dogges, ... beast.] dogges; ... beast; 1633
53 have I] I have 1669
revive] receive Und
58 worke, 1633-39, most MSS.: works, 1650-69, S96, Und
61 and playes] or playes Und
64 be] grow Und
65 soft] lost Und