IX.
I F poysonous mineralls, and if that tree,
Whose fruit threw death on else immortall us,
If lecherous goats, if serpents envious
Cannot be damn'd; Alas; why should I bee?
5Why should intent or reason, borne in mee,
Make sinnes, else equall, in mee more heinous?
And mercy being easie, and glorious
To God; in his sterne wrath, why threatens hee?
But who am I, that dare dispute with thee
10O God? Oh! of thine onely worthy blood,
And my teares, make a heavenly Lethean flood,
And drowne in it my sinnes blacke memorie;
That thou remember them, some claime as debt,
I thinke it mercy, if thou wilt forget.
IX. 1635-69, B, O'F, S96, W: V. 1633, A18, D, &c.
1 poysonous] poysons 1639-54
and if that] or if the B, O'F, S96
2 (else immortal) 1635-69
5 or] and B, O'F, S96
6 mee] mee, 1633
8 God;] God, 1633
9-10 thee O God? W: thee? O God, 1633-69
12 memorie;] memorie, 1633
14 forget.] forget, 1633
X.
D EATH be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not soe,
For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill mee.
5From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
10And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.
X. 1635-69: VI. 1633, A18, D, &c.: XI. B, O'F, S96, W
4 mee.] mee; 1633
5 pictures 1633 and MSS.: picture 1635-69
8 deliverie.] deliverie 1633-69
9 Chance, W: chance, 1633-69
10 dost] doth 1633
dwell,] dwell. 1633
12 better] easier B, O'F, S96, W
13 wake] live B, S96, W
14 more; death, Ed: more, death 1633-69