JOHN DONNE
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
SONGS AND SONETS.
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?
5T'was so; But this, all pleasures fancies bee.
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;
10For love, all love of other sights controules,
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.
15My face in thine eye, thine in mine appeares,
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;
20If our two loves be one, or, thou and I
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 thou and I
Love just alike in all, none of these loves can die.
1635-69, JC, O'F, P:
or thou and I
Love just alike in all, none of these loves can die.
A18, A25, B, L74, S96, TC
As thou and I &c.
H40:
And thou and I &c.
S
Song.
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,
5Teach me to heare Mermaides singing,
Or to keep off envies stinging,
And finde
What winde
Serves to advance an honest minde.
10If thou beest borne to strange sights,
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
15All strange wonders that befell thee,
And sweare
No where
Lives a woman true, and faire.
If thou findst one, let mee know,
20Such a Pilgrimage were sweet;
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,
25Yet shee
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
5We are not just those persons, which we were?
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,
10Binde but till sleep, deaths image, them unloose?
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
15Dispute, and conquer, if I would,
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)
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.
5It were but madnes now t'impart
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,
10Others (because no more
Such stuffe to worke upon, there is,)
Would love but as before.
But he who lovelinesse within
Hath found, all outward loathes,
15For he who colour loves, and skinne,
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,
20And forget the Hee and Shee;
And if this love, though placed so,
From prophane men you hide,
Which will no faith on this bestow,
Or, if they doe, deride:
25Then you have done a braver thing
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
The Sunne Rising.
BUSIE old foole, unruly Sunne,
Why dost thou thus,
Through windowes, and through curtaines call on us?
Must to thy motions lovers seasons run?
5Sawcy pedantique wretch, goe chide
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,
10Nor houres, dayes, moneths, which are the rags of time.
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:
15If her eyes have not blinded thine,
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,
20And thou shalt heare, All here in one bed lay.
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.
25Thou sunne art halfe as happy'as wee,
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;
30This bed thy center is, these walls, thy spheare.
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
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,
5Her who beleeves, and her who tries,
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.
10Will no other vice content you?
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,
15Let mee, and doe you, twenty know.
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,
20And by Loves sweetest Part, Variety, she swore,
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,
25Which thinke to stablish dangerous constancie.
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
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;
5Till then, Love, let my body raigne, and let
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,
10And at next nine
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,
15Or cities quelque choses, let report
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,
20Thou covet most, at that age thou shalt gaine.
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
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,
5Take you a course, get you a place,
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.
10Alas, alas, who's injur'd by my love?
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
15Adde one more to the plaguie Bill?
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;
20Call her one, mee another flye,
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.
25So to one neutrall thing both sexes fit,
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
30Our legend bee, it will be fit for verse;
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,
35And by these hymnes, all shall approve
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;
40Who did the whole worlds soule contract, and drove
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
45A patterne of your love!
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
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,
5If she would not deny?
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,
10Griefe brought to numbers cannot be so fierce,
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,
15And, by delighting many, frees againe
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:
20For both their triumphs so are published,
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
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,
5And all my treasure, which should purchase thee,
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,
10That some to mee, some should to others fall,
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,
15New love created bee, by other men,
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.
20And yet it was, thy gift being generall,
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,
25And since my love doth every day admit
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,
30It stayes at home, and thou with losing savest it:
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.
S WEETEST love, I do not goe,
For wearinesse of thee,
Nor in hope the world can show
A fitter Love for mee;
5But since that I
Must dye at last, 'tis best,
To use my selfe in jest
Thus by fain'd deaths to dye;
Yesternight the Sunne went hence,
10And yet is here to day,
He hath no desire nor sense,
Nor halfe so short a way:
Then feare not mee,
But beleeve that I shall make
15Speedier journeyes, since I take
More wings and spurres then hee.
O how feeble is mans power,
That if good fortune fall,
Cannot adde another houre,
20Nor a lost houre recall!
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.
25When thou sigh'st, thou sigh'st not winde,
But sigh'st my soule away,
When thou weep'st, unkindly kinde,
My lifes blood doth decay.
It cannot bee
30That thou lov'st mee, as thou say'st,
If in thine my life thou waste,
Thou art the best of mee.
Let not thy divining heart
Forethinke me any ill,
35Destiny may take thy part,
And may thy feares fulfill;
But thinke that wee
Are but turn'd aside to sleepe;
They who one another keepe
40Alive, ne'r parted bee.
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
The Legacie.
WHEN 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,
5I can remember yet, that I
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,
10That my selfe, (that is you, not I,)
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;
15It kill'd mee againe, that I who still was true,
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,
20It was intire to none, and few had part.
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
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.
5But yet thou canst not die, I know;
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,
10It stay, tis but thy carkasse then,
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
15Unto this knowledge to aspire,
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
20To fuell such a feaver long.
These burning fits but meteors bee,
Whose matter in thee is soone spent.
Thy beauty,'and all parts, which are thee,
Are unchangeable firmament.
25Yet t'was of my minde, seising thee,
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
Aire and Angels.
TWICE 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;
5Still when, to where thou wert, I came,
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,
10Love must not be, but take a body too,
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.
15Whilst thus to ballast love, I thought,
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
20Is much too much, some fitter must be sought;
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,
25So thy love may be my loves spheare;
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
Breake of day.
'T IS true, 'tis day; what though it be?
O wilt thou therefore rise from me?
Why should we rise, because 'tis light?
Did we lie downe, because 'twas night?
5Love which in spight of darknesse brought us hether,
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,
10That being well, I faine would stay,
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,
15The poore, the foule, the false, love can
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
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
5When thou and I first one another saw:
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,
10But truly keepes his first, last, everlasting day.
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,)
15Must leave at last in death, these eyes, and eares,
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,
20When bodies to their graves, soules from their graves remove.
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.
25Who is so safe as wee? where none can doe
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
30To write threescore: this is the second of our raigne.
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