XI.
Happy, who, thy tender barnes
From the armes
Of their wailing mothers tearing,
'Gainst the walls shall dash their bones,
65Ruthlesse stones
With their braines and blood besmearing.
Psalme 137. 1633-69, A25, C, RP61 in Certaine selected Psalmes of David (in Verse) differint from Those usually sung in the Church Composed by Francis Davison esqr. deceased and other Gentlemen. Manuscribd by R. Crane. Addl. MS. 27407, Harl. MSS. 3357 and 6930
4 with our cryes] with mournful cries Crane
6 his] the Crane
16 all forlorne] soe forlorne Crane
22-3
To your Harpes sing us some layes
To the praise Crane
24 merry.] merry, 1633-39
25-6 moanes ... groanes] interchanged Crane
31-2
if I faile
To bewayle Crane
42 renewed.] renewed 1633
43 curse] plague Crane
45 ruines] Ruine Crane
revell'd. Ed: revell'd, 1633-39
52-3 shall ... shall] shalt ... shalt Crane
59-60
What by thee
Wee (poore wee) have &c. Crane
V.
On the blessed Virgin Mary.
Probably by Henry Constable.
I N that, ô Queene of Queenes, thy birth was free
From that which others doth of grace bereave,
When in their mothers wombe they life receive,
God, as his sole-borne daughter loved thee.
5To match thee like thy births nobilitie,
He thee his Spirit for thy spouse did leave,
By whom thou didst his onely sonne conceive,
And so wast link'd to all the Trinitie.
Cease then, ô Queenes, that earthly Crownes doe weare,
10To glory in the Pompe of earthly things;
If men such high respects unto you beare,
Which daughters, wives, and mothers are to Kings,
What honour can unto that Queene be done
Who had your God for Father, Spouse and Sonne?
On the &c. 1635-69, A10, B, O'F, S, S96: also among Spiritual Sonnets by H. C. in Harl. MS. 7553
6 thy spouse A10, B: his spouse 1635-69
12 to B: of 1635-69
Kings,] kings, 1635
VI.
On the Sacrament.
HE was the Word that spake it,
Hee tooke the bread and brake it;
And what that Word did make it,
I doe beleeve and take it.
On the &c. 1635-69
VII.
Absence.
That time and absence proves
Rather helps than hurts to loves.
Probably by John Hoskins.
A BSENCE heare my protestation
Against thy strengthe
Distance and lengthe,
Doe what thou canst for alteration:
5For harts of truest mettall
Absence doth joyne, and time doth settle.
Who loves a Mistris of right quality,
His mind hath founde
Affections grounde
10Beyond time, place, and all mortality:
To harts that cannot vary
Absence is present, time doth tary:
My Sences want their outward motion
Which now within
15Reason doth win,
Redoubled by her secret notion:
Like rich men that take pleasure
In hidinge more then handling treasure.
By absence this good means I gaine
20That I can catch her
Where none can watch her
In some close corner of my braine:
There I embrace and there kiss her,
And so enjoye her, and so misse her.
Absence. The Grove (1721): do. or no title, B, Cy, HN (signed J. H.), L74, O'F, P, S, S96 (the text here printed): also in Davison's Poetical Rhapsody (PR) 1602 and (a maimed and altered version) in Wit Restored (WR) 1658
1 heare B, S96, Grove: heare thou Cy, HN, L74, PR, S, WR
3 Distance] Disdayne HN
4 you can PR: yee dare HN
5 For hearts where love's refined WR
6 Are absent joyned, by tyme combined. WR
7 right S96: such Grove, HN, L74, PR
8 He soon hath found PR
10 all] om. WR
11 To] That WR
12 present] presence B
tary] carry WR
13 motion] motions PR
16 by ... notion:] in ... notions: PR: in ... notion HN
18 hidinge] finding Grove
19 means] mean WR
23 There I embrace and there kiss her, S96: There I embrace her, and &c. L74: There I embrace and there I kiss her, B, O'F, WR: There I embrace and kiss her, Grove, HN, PR
24 and so misse her B, Cy, HN, L74, O'F, S96, WR: while none misse her. Grove: I both enjoy and miss her. PR
VIII.
Song.
Probably by the Earl of Pembroke.
SOULES joy, now I am gone,
And you alone,
(Which cannot be,
Since I must leave my selfe with thee,
5And carry thee with me)
Yet when unto our eyes
Absence denyes
Each others sight,
And makes to us a constant night,
10When others change to light;
O give no way to griefe,
But let beliefe
Of mutuall love,
This wonder to the vulgar prove
15Our Bodyes, not wee move.
Let not thy wit beweepe
Wounds but sense-deepe,
For when we misse
By distance our lipp-joying blisse,
20Even then our soules shall kisse,
Fooles have no meanes to meet,
But by their feet.
Why should our clay,
Over our spirits so much sway,
25To tie us to that way?
O give no way to griefe, &c.
Song. 1635-69, O'F: also in the Poems &c. (1660) of the Earle of Pembroke and Sr Benjamin Ruddier, and the Lansdowne MS. 777, here it is signed E. of Pembroke.
1 now] when 1660, L77
17 Wounds L77: Words 1635-69, O'F
sense-deepe,] no hyphen, 1635-69
18 when] while L77
19 lipp-joyning L77 (not lives joining as Chambers reports): hopes joyning 1635-69, O'F
A Dialogue.
Earle of Pembroke.
I F her disdaine least change in you can move,
you doe not love,
For whilst your hopes give fuell to the fire,
you sell desire.
5Love is not love, but given free,
And so is mine, so should yours bee.
Her heart that melts at others moane,
to mine is stone.
Her eyes that weepe a strangers hurt to see,
10 joy to wound mee:
Yet I so much affect each part,
As (caus'd by them) I love my smart.
Say her disdaynings justly must be grac't
with name of chaste.
15And that shee frownes least longing should exceed,
and raging breed;
Soe can her rigor ne'er offend
Unlesse selfe-love seeke private end.
Ben: Ruddier
'Tis love breeds love in mee, and cold disdaine
20 kils that againe,
As water causeth fire to fret and fume,
till all consume.
Who can of love more free gift make,
Then to loves self, for loves own sake.
25I'll never dig in Quarry of an heart
to have no part,
Nor roast in fiery eyes, which alwayes are
Canicular.
Who this way would a Lover prove,
30May shew his patience, not his love.
A frowne may be sometimes for physick good,
But not for food;
And for that raging humour there is sure
A gentler Cure.
35Why barre you love of private end,
Which never should to publique tend?
A Dialogue. Ed: A Dialogue betweene Sr Henry Wotton and Mr Donne. 1635-69 among Letters to Severall Personages: no heading but divided between Earle of Pembroke and Ben: Ruddier H39, H40, P: and so between P and R in the Poems &c. (1660) of Pembroke and Ruddier. See note: only 18 lines and no dialogue, Cy: in TCD (II) the first part is given to Earl of Pembroke and Sr Henry Wotton, the second to Sr Ben. Ruddier and Dr John Donne
3 whilst your hopes give H39, (the), H40, P: when the hope gives 1635-54: when that hope gives 1669
7 melts at H39, H40, P, TCD: melts to hear of 1635-69
9 a strangers] anothers P
hurt H39, H40, P, TCD: eyes 1635-69 and mod. edd.
11 much Cy, H39, H40, P, TCD: well 1635-69
13 Say 1635-69: I think H39: Think H40: But thinke P
her disdaynings 1635-69: her unkindness H40: that her disdaine P
must be] may well be P
17-18 text H40, P, P and R:
So her disdaines can ne'er offend;
Vnlesse selfe-love take private end. 1635-69
21 causeth] maketh H40, P
23-4
Who can of love more free gift make
Then to loves self, for loves owne sake
H39, H40, P (but H39 has to love in 23)
Who can of love more gift make,
Then to love selfe for loves sake. 1635-39
Who can of love more rich gift make,
Then to love selfe-love for loves sake? 1650-54
Who can of love more rich gift make,
Then to Loves self for loves own sake. 1669
25 Quarry] quarryes P
27 roast 1669, H40: rest 1635-54: waste H39, P
30 May] doth H39, H40, P
IX.
Break of Daye.
Stanza prefixed to Donne's Poem (p. 23) in Stowe MS. 961 and in Edition of 1669.
Probably by John Dowlands.
STAY, O sweet, and do not rise,
The light that shines comes from thine eyes;
The day breaks not, it is my heart,
Because that you and I must part.
5Stay, or else my joys will die,
And perish in their infancie.
Stanza &c.] given as a separate poem in A25 (where it is written in at the side), C, O'F, P: printed in John Dowland's A Pilgrim's Solace (1612)
1 Stay, O sweet] Lie still my dear A25, C
3 The day breakes not] There breakes not day S96
4 Because that] To think that S96
5 Stay] Oh stay S96
APPENDIX C.
A
SELECTION OF POEMS WHICH FREQUENTLY
ACCOMPANY POEMS BY JOHN DONNE
IN MANUSCRIPT COLLECTIONS OR
HAVE BEEN ASCRIBED TO
DONNE BY MODERN
EDITORS.
I.
POEMS FROM ADDITIONAL MS. 25707.
A Letter written by Sr H: G: and J: D: alternis vicibus.
SINCE ev'ry Tree beginns to blossome now
Perfuminge and enamelinge each bow,
Hartes should as well as they, some fruits allow.
For since one old poore sunn serves all the rest,
5You sev'rall sunns that warme, and light each brest
Doe by that influence all your thoughts digest.
And that you two may soe your vertues move,
On better matter then beames from above,
Thus our twin'd souls send forth these buds of love.
10As in devotions men Joyne both there hands,
Wee make ours doe one Act to seale the bands,
By which we enthrall ourselves to your commands,
And each for others faith and zeale stand bound:
As safe as spirits are from any wound,
15Soe free from impure thoughts they shal be found.
Admit our magique then by which wee doe
Make you appeere to us, and us to you,
Supplying all the Muses in you twoe.
Wee doe consider noe flower that is sweet,
20But wee your breath in that exhaling meet,
And as true types of you, them humbly greet.
Heere in our Nightingales we heere you singe
Who soe doe make the whole yeare through a springe,
And save us from the feare of Autumns stinge.
25In Anchors calme face wee your smoothnes see,
Your mindes unmingled, and as cleare as shee
That keepes untoucht her first virginitie.
Did all St. Edith nunns descend againe
To honor Polesworth with their cloystred traine,
30Compar'd with you each would confesse some stayne.
Or should wee more bleed out our thoughts in inke,
Noe paper (though it woulde be glad to drinke
Those drops) could comprehend what wee doe thinke.
For t'were in us ambition to write
35Soe, that because wee two, you two unite,
Our letter should as you, bee infinite.
Letter written &c. A25: published by Chambers, who completes the names
2 bow, Ed: bow A25
9 twin'd A25: twined Chambers
10 hands, Ed: hands A25
12-13 commands, ... bound: Ed: command. ... bound, A25
25 Anchors Chambers: Anchos A25
29 traine, Ed: traine A25
31 inke, Ed: inke A25
O Frutefull Garden.
O FRUTEFULL garden, and yet never tilde,
Box full of Treasure yet by noe man filde.
O thou which haste, made him that first made thee;
O neare of kinne to all the Trinetie;
5O Pallace where the kinge of all, and more;
Went in, and out, yet never opened doore;
Whose flesh is purer, than an others sperrit
Reache him our Prayers, and reach us down his merrit;
O bread of lyfe which sweld'ste up without Leaven;
10O bridge which joynst togeather earth and heaven;
Whose eyes see me through these walles, and throughe glasse,
And through this fleshe as thorowe Cipres passe.
Behould a little harte made greate by thee
Swellinge, yet shrinkinge at thy majestie.
15O dwell in it, for where soe ere thou go'ste
There is the Temple of the Holy Ghoste.
O Frutefull Garden. A25: [TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.] Chambers
6 out, Ed: out A25
8 merrit; Ed: merrit, A25
9 Leaven, Ed: Leaven A25
To my Lord of Pembroke.
FYE, Fye you sonnes of Pallas what madd rage
Makes you contend that Love's, or God, or page?
Hee that admires, his weaknes doth confess;
For as Love greater growes; soe hee growes less.
5Hee that disdaines, what honor wynns thereby,
That he feeles not, or triumphes on a fly?
If love with queasie paine thy stomack move,
Soe will a slutt whome none dare touch; or love.
If it with sacred straines doe thee inspire
10Of Poetrie; soe wee maye want admire.
If it thee valiant make, his ryvall hate
Can out doe that and make men desperate.
Yealdinge to us, all woemen conquer us,
By gentlenes we are betrayed thus.
15We will not strive with Love that's a shee beaste;
But playinge wee are bounde, and yeald in Jest;
As in a Cobwebb toyle, a flye hath beene
Undone; so have I some fainte lover seene.
Love cannot take away our strength, but tame,
20And wee less feele the thinge then feare the name;
Love is a temperate bath; hee that feeles more
Heate or could there, was hott, or could before.
But as Suñ beames which would but norishe, burne,
Drawne into hollow Christall, soe we turne
25To fire her bewties Lustre willingly,
By gatheringe it in our false treacherous eye.
Love is nor you, nor you; but I a balme,
Sword to the stiff, unto the wounded balme.
Prayes noe thinge adds, if it be infinite,
30If it be nothing, who can lessen it?
To my Lord of Pembroke. A25, Chambers
3 confess; Ed: confess A25
5 disdaines, Ed: disdaines A25
6 fly? Ed: fly; A25
19 tame, Ed: tame A25
27 I a balme, A25: Aye a calm, Chambers conjectures
Of a Lady in the Black Masque.
WHY chose shee black; was it that in whitenes
Shee did Leda equal? whose brightnes
Must suffer loss to put a bewtie on
Which hath no grace but from proportion.
5It is but Coullor, which to loose is gayne,
For shee in black doth th'Æthiopian staine,
Beinge the forme that beautifies the creature
Her rareness not in Coullor is; but feature.
Black on her receaves soe strong a grace
10It seemes the fittest beautie for the face.
Coullor is not, but in æstimation
Faire, or foule, as it is stild by fashion.
Kinges wearinge sackcloath it doth royall make;
Soe black〈ne〉s from her face doth beautie take.
15It not in Coullor but in her, inheres,
For what she is, is faire, not what she weares;
The Moore shalle envye her, as much, or more,
As did the Ladies of our Court before.
The Sunn shall mourne that hee had westwarde beene,
20To seeke his Love; whilst shee i'th North was seene.
Her blacknes lends like lustre to her eyes,
As in the night pale Phoebe glorifyes.
Hell, synne, and vice their attributes shall loose
Of black, for it wan, and pale whitenes choose,
25As like themselves, Common, and most in use:
Sad of that Coulor is the late abuse.
Of a Lady &c. A25, Chambers
10 face. Ed: face A25
13 make; Ed: make A25
14 black〈ne〉s Chambers: blacks A25
16 weares; Ed: weares, A25
II.
POEMS FROM THE BURLEY MS.
〈Life.〉
THIS lyfe it is not life, it is a sight
That wee have of ye earth, ye earth of vs;
It is a feild, where sence & reason fight,
The soules & bodies quarrells to discus;
5It is a iorney where wee do not goe,
but fly wth speedy wings t'our blisse or woe.
It is a chaine yt hath but two smale links
Where〈with〉 or graue is to or bodie ioyned;
It is a poysned feast wherein who thinks
10To tast ioyes cup, ye cup of death doth find.
It is a play, presented in heauens eye
Wherein or parts are to do naught but dye.
〈Life.〉 Ed: no title, Bur
2 vs; Ed: vs Bur
3 feild, Ed: feild Bur
4 discus; Ed: discus Bur
6 Woe. Ed: woe Bur
8 Where〈with〉 Ed: where Bur
ioyned; Ed: ioyned Bur
〈My Love.〉
MY love doth fly wth wings of feare
And doth a flame of fire resemble,
wch mounting high & burning cleere
yet ever more doth wane & tremble.
5My loue doth see & still admire,
Admiring breedeth humblenes;
blind loue is bold, but my desire
the more it loues presumes ye lesse.
My loue seekes no reward or glory
10but wth it self it self contenteth,
is never sullaine, never sory,
never repyneth or repenteth.
O'who the sunne beames can behold
but hath some passion, feeles some heat,
15for though the sunn himself be cold
his beames reflecting fire begett.
O yt myne eyes, ô that myne hart
Were both enlarged to contayne
the beames & ioyes shee doth impart,
20whilst shee this bowre doth not disdayne;
this bowre vnfit for such a gueste,
but since she makes it now her Inn,
Would god twere like her sacred breast
most fayre wthout, most rich wthin.
〈My Love.〉 Ed: no title and no punctuation, Bur
4 wane Ed: weane Bur
12 never Ed: ne're Bur
〈O Eyes!〉
O Eyes, what do you see?
O eares what do you heare?
that makes yo wish to bee
All eyes or else all eare?
5I see a face as fayre
As mans eye ever saw,
I here as sweet an ayre
as yt wch rocks did draw,
I wish, when in such wise
10I see or heare ye same,
I had all Argus eyes
or else ye eare〈s〉 of fame.
〈O Eyes!〉 Ed: no title and no punctuation, Bur
12 eare〈s〉 Ed: eare Bur:
Cui, quot sunt corpore plumae,
Tot vigiles oculi subter, mirabile dictu,
Tot linguae, totidem ora sonant, tot subrigit auris.
Virgil: Aen. iv. 181-3.
〈Silence Best Praise.〉
C ÕMEND her? no. I dare not terme her fayre,
nor sugred sweet, nor tall, nor louely browne;
suffice it yt she is wthout compare;
but how, I dare not tell lest she should frowne.
5but those parts 〈least〉 wch others make theyre pryde,
and feed there fancies wth devised lyes;
giue me but leaue to pull my saint asyde,
and tell her in her eare that she is wise.
to write of beauties rare ther is noe art,
10for why tis common to there sex & kind,
but making choice of natures better part
my Muse doth most desire to prayse her mind.
But as her vertue〈s〉 clayme a crowne of bayes,
So manners makes me sylent in her prayse.
〈Silence Best Praise.〉 Ed: no title, Bur
1 fayre, Ed: fayre Bur
2 sweet, ... tall, ... browne; Ed: no stops, Bur
3 compare; Ed: compare Bur
4 frowne. Ed: frowne Bur
5 〈least〉 Ed: lest Bur
pryde, Ed: pryde Bur
6 lyes; Ed: lyes Bur
7 asyde, Ed: asyde Bur
8 wise. Ed: wise Bur
9-10 art, ... kind. Ed: no commas, Bur
10 common] cõmõ Bur
12 mind. Ed: mind Bur
13 vertue〈s〉 Ed: vertue Bur
bayes, Ed: bayes Bur
〈Beauty in Little Room.〉
THOSE drossy heads & irrepurged braynes
wch sacred fyre of loue hath not refined
may grossly think my loue smale worth contaynes
because shee is of body smale combined.
5Not diving to ye depth of natures reach,
Wch on smale things doth greatest guifts bestow:
small gems & pearls do witt more truly teach
Wch little are yet great in vertue grow,
of flowers most part ye least wee sweetest see,
10of creatures having life & sence ye annt
is smalst, yet great her guifts & vertues bee,
frugall & provident for feare of want.
Wherfore who sees not natures full intent?
she made her smale to make her excellent.
〈Beauty in Little Room.〉 Ed: no title, Bur
5 depth Ed: depht Bur
reach, Ed: reach Bur
6 bestow: Ed: bestow Bur
8 grow, Ed: grow Bur
11 bee, Ed: bee Bur
13 intent? Ed: intent Bur
〈Loves Zodiake.〉
I THAT ye higher half of loues
Round Zodiake haue rune,
And in the signe of crabbed chaunce
My Tropick haue begun,
5Am taught to teach ye man is blest
Whose loues lott lights so badd,
as his solstitium soonest makes
And so growes Retrograde.
〈Loves Zodiake〉 Ed: no title, Bur
〈Fortune, Love, and Time.〉
WHEN fortune, loue, and Tyme bad me be happie,
Happy I was by fortune, loue, and tyme.
These powres at highest then began to vary,
and cast him downe whome they had caus'd to clyme;
5They prun'd theire wings, and tooke theire flight in rage;
fortune to fooles, loue to gold, and tyme to age.
Fooles, gold, and age, (o foolish golden age!)
Witt, fayth, and loue must begg, must brybe, must dy;
These are the actors and the world's the stage,
10Desert and hope are as but standers by:
True lovers sit and tune this restlesse song;
Fortune, loue, and tyme haue done me wrong.
〈Fortune, Love, and Time.〉 Ed: no title and no punctuation, Bur
〈Life a Play.〉
WHAT is or life? a play of passion.
or mirth? the musick of diuision.
Or mothers wombs the tyring houses bee
Where we are drest for liues short comedy.
5The earth the stage, heauen ye spectator is,
Who still doth note who ere do act amisse.
Or graues that hyde vs, frõ the all-seeing suñ,
Are but drawne curtaynes whẽ the play is done.
〈Life a Play.〉 Ed: no title, and no punctuation except the two marks of interrogation, Bur
A Kisse.
O WHAT a blisse
is this?
heaven is effected
and loues eternity contracted
5In one short kisse.
For not tymes measure
makes pleasure
more full,
tedious and dull
10all ioyes are thought
yt are not in an instant wrought.
Cupi〈d〉s blest and highest spheare
is heare.
heere on his throne
15in his bright imperial crowne
hee sitts.
Those witts
That thinke to proue
that mortals know
20in any place below
a blisse so great
so sweet
Are heretiques in loue.
These pleasures high
25now dye,
but still beginning
new & greater glory wiñing
gett fresh supply.
No short breath'd panting
30nor faynting
is heere,
fuller and freer
more pleasinge is
this pleasure still, & none but this.
35Heer'es no blush nor labor great,
no sweat;
Heres no payne
nor repentance when againe
Loue cooles.
40O fooles
That fondly glory
in base condition
of sensual fruition,
you do mistake
45& make
yr heaven purgatory.
A Kisse. Bur
8 full. Ed: full Bur
12 Cupi〈d〉s Ed: Cupis Bur
27 new Ed: now Bur
28 supply. Ed: supply Bur
31 heere, Ed: heere Bur
35 great, Ed: great Bur
39 cooles. Ed: cooles Bur
43 fruition, Ed: fruition Bur
Epi: B: Jo:
TELL me who can when a player dies
In wch of his shapes againe hee shall rise?
What need hee stand at the iudgment throne
Who hath a heaven and a hell of his owne.
5Then feare not Burbage heavens angry rodd,
When thy fellows are angells & old Hemmĩgs is God.
Epi: B: Jo: (i.e. Epitaph: Ben Ionson) Bur: no punctuation
Epi: Hen: Princ: Hugo Holland.
LOE now hee shineth yonder
A fixed starr in heaven,
Whose motion is vnder
None of the planetts seaven;
5And if the soñ should tender
The moone his loue and marry,
They never could engender
So fayre a starr as Harry.
Epi: Hen: Princ: Hugo Holland. Bur: no punctuation
III.
POEMS FROM VARIOUS MSS.
〈The Annuntiation.
Additional Lines.〉
NATURE amaz'd sawe man without mans ayde
Borne of a mother nursed by her a mayd,
The child the Parent was, the worke the word,
No word till then did such a worke affoord.
5Twas lesse from nothing the world's all to growe
Then all-Creators height to stoope so lowe.
A virgin mother to a child bredd wonder,
T'was more a child should bee the God of thunder.
Th'omnipotent was strangely potent heere
10To make the powerfull God pearelesse appeare.
Hee in our body cladd, for our soules love
Came downe to us, yet stay'd vnchanged above.
Yet God through man shind still in this cleere brooke,
Through meane shewes into maiesty wee looke.
15Sinnes price seemd payd with brasse, fewe sawe the gold,
Yet true stones set in lead theyr lustre hold.
His birth though poore, Prophets foretold his story,
Hee breathd with beasts, but Angels sung his glory.
Hee, so farr of, so weake, yet Herod quakes,
20The citty dreads, babes, murderd, feare mistakes.
His Circumcision bore sinne, payne, and shame,
Young bloud new budd, hence bloomd a sauiours name.
His paynes and passion bredd compassion, wonder;
Earth trembling, heavens darke, rocks rent asunder.
25His birth, life, death, his words, his workes, his face
Shewd a rich Jewell shining through the case,
Cast thus, since man at gods high presence trembles.
Heere man mans troth loves whome his sheepe resembles.
The bright Sunne beame a sickly eye may dim̃e,
30A little babe in shallow heart may swim̃.
Hee heavens wealth to a poore stable brings,
Th'oxestall the Court unto the king of kings.
No Shadowes now nor lightning flames give terror.
This light tells with our tongue, and beares or error.
35Pure infant teares, moist pearle adornd his cheeke,
Assignd, ere borne, our erring soules to seeke.
Hee first wept teares, then bloud, a deare redemption;
This bought what Adam sould, that seemd preemption.
Cleare droppe, deare seede, the corne had bloudy eares,
40Rich harvest reapd in bloud and sowne in teares.
Who this Corne in theyr hart nor thresh, nor lay,
Breake for sinnes debt, unthrifty never pay.
Use wealth, it wastes, a stayd hand heapes the store,
But this the more wee use wee have the more;
45Use, not like usury whose growth is lending,
Rich thoughts this treasure keepe and thrive by spending;
Th'expense runnes circular, turning returning,
Such love no hart consumes, yet ever burning.
〈The Annuntiation. Additional Lines.〉 Ed: these lines run straight on as part of The Annuntiation and Passion in O'F
2 a mayd] Norton supplies a mayd, Ed: mayd O'F
3 was,... word, Ed: no commas, O'F
6 lowe. Ed: lowe O'F
7 wonder, Ed: wonder O'F
8 thunder. Ed: thunder O'F
13 brooke, Ed: brooke O'F
21 shame, Ed: shame O'F
23 wonder; Ed: wonder O'F
24 trembling, Ed: trembling O'F
26 case, Ed: case O'F
27 trembles. Ed: trembles O'F
28 resembles. Ed: resẽbles O'F
29 dim̃e, Ed: dim̃e O'F
31 brings, Ed: brings O'F
35 cheeke, Ed: cheeke O'F
37 redemption; Ed: redemption O'F
38 preemption. Ed: preemption O'F
39 eares, Ed: eares O'F
41 lay, Ed: lay O'F
43 store, Ed: store O'F
44 more; Ed: more O'F
45 Use, ... lending, Ed: no commas, O'F
46 spending; Ed: spending O'F
47 returning, Ed: returning O'F
48 consumes, Ed: consumes O'F
Elegy. To Chast Love.
C HAST Love, let mee embrace thee in mine armes
Without the thought of lust. From thence no harmes
Ensue, no discontent attende those deeds
So innocently good wch thy love breeds.
5Th'approche of day brings to thy sence no feares,
Nor is the black nights worke washd in thy teares;
Thou takst no care to keepe thy lover true,
Nor yet by flighte, nor fond inventions new
To hold him in, who with like flame of love
10Must move his spirit too, as thine doth move;
wch ever mounts aloft with golden wings
And not declines to lowe despised things.
Thy soule is bodyd within thy quiet brest
In safety, free from trouble and unrest.
15Thou fearst no ill because thou dost no ill,
Like mistress of thy selfe, thy thought, and will,
Obey thy mind, a mind for ever such
As all may prayse, but none admire too much.
Then come, Chast Love, choyse part of womankind
20Infuse chast thoughts into my loving mind.
Elegy. To Chast Love. O'F
5 feares, Ed: feares O'F
6 teares; Ed: teares O'F
7 true, Ed: true O'F
9 in, Ed: in O'F
10 move; Ed: move O'F
15 ill, Ed: ill O'F
16 will, Ed: will O'F
Upon his scornefull Mistresse. Elegy.
C RUELL since that thou dost not feare the curse
Wch thy disdayne, and my despayre procure,
My prayer for thee shall torment thee worse
Then all the payne thou coudst thereby endure.
5May, then, that beauty wch I did conceave
In thee above the height of heavens course,
When first my Liberty thou didst bereave,
Bee doubled on thee and with doubled force.
Chayne thousand vassalls in like thrall with mee,
10Wch in thy glory mayst thou still despise,
As the poore Trophyes of that victory
Which thou hast onely purchasd by thine eyes;
And when thy Triumphs so extended are
That there is nought left to bee conquered,
15Mayst thou with the great Monarchs mournfull care
Weepe that thine Honors are so limited;
So thy disdayne may melt it selfe to love
By an unlookd for and a wondrous change,
Wch to thy selfe above the rest must prove
20In all th'effects of love paynefully strange,
While wee thy scorned subjects live to see
Thee love the whole world, none of it love thee.
Upon his scornefull Mistresse. O'F: no title, B, which adds note, This hath relation to 'When by thy scorne'. See The Apparition, p. [191]
2 despayre B: disdayne O'F
procure, Ed: procure O'F
6 course, Ed: course O'F
7 bereave, Ed: bereave O'F
8 force. Ed: force O'F
9 Chayne B: Stay O'F mee, Ed: mee O'F
10 despise, Ed: despise O'F
12 eyes; Ed: eyes O'F
14 conquered, Ed: conquered O'F
16 limited; Ed: limited O'F
18 change, Ed: change O'F
20 strange, Ed: strange O'F
〈Absence.〉
WONDER of Beautie, Goddesse of my sense,
You that have taught my soule to love aright,
You in whose limbes are natures chief expense
Fitt instrument to serve your matchless spright,
5If ever you have felt the miserie
Of being banish'd from your best desier,
By Absence, Time, or Fortunes tyranny,
Sterving for cold, and yet denied for fier:
Deare mistresse pittie then the like effects
10The which in mee your absence makes to flowe,
And haste their ebb by your divine aspect
In which the pleasure of my life doth growe:
Stay not so long for though it seem a wonder
You keepe my bodie and my soule asunder.
FINIS.
〈Tongue-tied Love.〉
FAIRE eies do not think scorne to read of Love
That to your eies durst never it presume,
Since absence those sweet wonders do〈th〉 remove
That nourish thoughts, yet sence and wordes consume;
5This makes my pen more hardy then my tongue,
Free from my feare yet feeling my desire,
To utter that I have conceal'd so long
By doing what you did yourself require.
Believe not him whom Love hath left so wise
10As to have power his owne tale for to tell,
For childrens greefes do yield the loudest cries,
And cold desires may be expressed well:
In well told Love most often falsehood lies,
But pittie him that only sighes and dies.
FINIS.
〈Absence.〉 〈Tongue-tied Love.〉 Ed: whole sonnets without titles in L74: the last six lines of the second appear among Donne's poems in B, O'F, S96 〈Tongue-tied Love.〉
12 cold desires] coldest Ayres O'F
〈Love, if a God thou art.〉
LOVE if a god thou art
then evermore thou must
Bee mercifull and just;
If thou bee just, ô wherefore doth thy dart
5Wound mine alone and not my mistresse hart?
If mercifull, then why
Am I to payne reservd
Who have thee truely serv'd,
When shee that by thy powre sets not a fly
10Laughs thee to scorne and lives at liberty?
Then if a God thou woulds accounted bee,
Heale mee like her, or else wound her like mee.
〈Great Lord of Love.〉
G REATE Lord of love, how busy still thou art
To give new wounds and fetters to my hart!
Is't not enough that thou didst twice before
It so mangle
5And intangle
By sly arts
of false harts.
Forbeare mee, Ile make love no more.
Fy busy Lord, will it not thee suffice
10To use the Rhetorique of her tongue and eyes
When I am waking, but that absent so
They invade mee
To perswade mee,
When that sleepe
15Oft should keepe
And lock out every sence of woe.
If thou perswade mee thus to speake, I dye
And shee the murdresse, for me will deny;
And if for silence I bee prest, Her good
20Yet I cherish
Though I perish,
For that shee
Shall bee free
From that foule guilt of spilling bloud.
〈Love if a God thou art.〉 〈Great Lord of Love.〉 〈Loves Exchange.〉 all without titles in O'F: punctuation mainly the Editor's
〈Loves Exchange.〉
1. T O sue for all thy Love, and thy whole hart
were madnesse.
I doe not sue, nor can admitt,
(Fayrest) from you to have all yet;
5 Who giveth all, hath nothing to impart
But sadnesse.
2. Hee who receaveth all can have no more,
Then seeing.
My love by length of every howre
10Gathers new strength, new growth, new power:
You must have dayly new rewards in store
Still beeing.
3. You cannot every day give mee yor hart
For merit;
15Yet if you will, when yours doth goe
You shall have still one to bestow,
For you shall mine, when yours doth part,
Inherit.
4. Yet if you please weele find a better way
20 Then change them,
For so alone (dearest) wee shall
Bee one and one another all;
Let us so joyne our harts, that nothing may
Estrange them.
Song.
NOW y'have killd mee with yor scorne
Who shall live to call you fayre?
What new foole must now bee borne
To prepare
5Dayly sacrifice of service new,
Teares too good for woemen true?
Who shall sorrow when you crye
And to please you dayly dye?
Men succeeding shall beware
10And woemen cruell, no more fayre.
2.
Now y'have killd mee, never looke
Any left to call you trewe;
Who more madd must now bee tooke
To renewe
15My oblations dayly, lost?
Vowes too good for woemen chast!
Who shall call you sweete, and sweare
T'is yor face renews the yeare?
Men by my Death shall beleeve,
20And woemen cruell yet shall greeve.
Song. O'F: punctuation mainly Editor's
Love, bred of glances.
LOVE bred of Glances twixt amorous eyes
Like Childrens fancies, sone borne, sone dyes.
Guilte, Bitternes, and smilinge woe
Doth ofte deceaue poore lovers soe,
5As the fonde Sence th'unwary soule deceives
With deadly poison wrapt in Lily leaves.
But harts so chain'd as Goodnes stands
With truthe unstain'd to couple hands,
Love beinge to all beauty blinde
10Save the cleere beauties of the minde,
There heaven is pleasd, continuall blessings sheddinge,
Angells are guests and dance at this blest weddinge.
Love &c. 〈True Love.〉 Chambers, who prints from RP117: no title, O'F, P, S96 (from which present text is taken)
2 borne B, P, O'F, S96: bred Chambers
4 Doth S96: does B, O'F: doe P
5 As] And Chambers
7 as Goodnes] 'tis goodnes Chambers
8 hands, Ed: hands S96
10 minde, B: minde S96
11 There heav'n is O'F, P, S96: Where Reason is Chambers
sheddinge, Ed: sheddinge S96
12 this] his Chambers
To a Watch restored to its Mystres.
G OE and Count her better howers.
For they are happier than oures.
The day that gives her any bliss,
Make it as long againe as 'tis.
5The hower shee smyles in, lett it bee
By thy acte multiplyde to three.
But if shee frowne on thee or mee,
Know night is made by her, not thee;
Be swifte in such an hower & soone,
10See thou make night, ere it be noone.
Obey her tymes, whoe is the free
Faire Sunne that governes thee & mee.
To a Watch &c. B, where note below title says none of J. D. and poem is signed W. L.
〈Ad Solem.〉
WHERFORE peepst thou, envious daye?
We can kisse without thee.
Lovers hate the golden raye,
Which thou bearst about thee.
5Goe and give them light that sorowe
Or the saylor flyinge:
Our imbraces need noe morowe
Nor our blisses eying.
We shall curse thy curyous eye
10For thy soone betrayinge,
And condemn thee for a spye
Yf thou catch us playinge.
Gett thee gone and lend thy flashes
Where there's need of lendinge,
15Our affections are not ashes
Nor our pleasures endinge.
Weare we cold or withered heare
We would stay thee by us,
Or but one anothers feare
20Then thou shouldst not flye us.
Wee are yongue, thou spoilst our pleasure;
Goe to sea and slumber,
Darknes only gives us leasure
Our stolne joyes to number.
〈Ad Solem.〉 Ed: no title, Add. MSS. 22603, 33998, Egerton MS. 2013, Harleian MS. 791, S, TCD(II): printed J. Wilson: Cheerful Ayres (1659), Grosart and Chambers: text from Eg. MS. 2013: punctuation partly Editor's
2 kisse] live E20
9 curyous A22, A33, H79, S, TCD: envious E20
19 one anothers feare TCD: one another fear E20: one anothers sphere A22, A33, S
23 gives] lends A22, A33
〈If She Deride.〉
G REATE and goode if she deryde mee
Let me walke Ile not despayre,
Ere to morrowe Ile provide mee
One as greate, lesse prowd, more faire.
5They that seeke Love to constraine
Have theire labour for their paine.
They that strongly can importune
And will never yeild nor tyre,
Gaine the paye in spight of Fortune
10But such game Ile not desyre.
Where the prize is shame or synn,
Wynners loose and loosers wynn.
Looke upon the faythfull lover,
Griefe stands paynted in his face,
15Groanes, and Teares and sighs discover
That they are his onely grace:
Hee must weepe as children doe
That will in the fashion wooe.
I whoe flie these idle fancies
20Which my dearest rest betraye,
Warnd by others harmfull chances,
Vse my freedome as I may.
When all the worlde says what it cann
'Tis but—Fie, vnconstant mann!
〈If She Deryde.〉 Chambers: no title, S: also, Chambers reports, in C.C.C. Oxon. MS. 327, f. 26: printed by Grosart and Chambers
11 Where the prize is Chambers: Where they prize this ('t' struck out) S: Where they prize is Grosart
14 Teares and sighs] Chambers reverses
〈Fortune Never Fails.〉
WHAT if I come to my mistris bedd
The candles all ecclipst from shyninge,
Shall I then attempt for her mayden-head
Or showe my selfe a coward by declyninge?
5Oh noe
Fie doe not soe,
For thus much I knowe by devyninge,
Blynd is Love
The dark it doth approve,
10To pray on pleasures pantinge;
What needeth light
For Cupid in the night,
If jealous eyes be wantinge.
Fortune never failes, if she badd take place,
15To shroude all the faire proceedings:
Love and she though blynd, yet each other embrace,
To favor all their servants meetings:
Venture I say
To sport and to play,
20If in place all be fitting;
Though she say fie
Yet doth she not denie:
For fie is but a word of tryall:
Jealosie doth sleepe,
25Then doe not weepe
At force of a faynt denyall.
Glorious is my love, with tryumphs in her face,
Then to to bould were I to venter:
Who loves deserves to live in a princes grace,
30Why stand you then affraid to enter?
Lights are all out
Then make noe doubt
A lover bouldly maye take chusinge.
Bewtie is a baite
35For a princely mate.
Fy, why stand you then a musinge?
You'll repent too late
If she doe you hate,
For loves delight refusinge.
〈Fortune Never Fails.〉 Grosart: no title, RP31, S: also, Chambers reports, in C.C.C. Oxon. MS. 327, f. 21: printed Grosart and Chambers, and, last two verses only, Simeon
10 pantinge;] hauntinge: RP31
14 she badd S: she bidd Grosart: she bids Chambers: the bould RP31
19 and to play RP31, S: and play Grosart and Chambers
26 faynt] fair Chambers
28 were] was RP31
29 princes] Princess Chambers
33 lover] woer Chambers
chusinge] a choosing Chambers
To His Mistress.
1. B ELEEVE yor Glasse, and if it tell you (Deare)
Yor Eyes inshrine
A brighter shine
Then faire Apollo, looke if theere appeare
5The milkie skye
The Crimson dye
Mixt in your cheeks, and then bid Phoebus sett,
More Glory then hee owes appears. But yet
2. Be not deceived with fond Alteration
10. . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
As Cynthias Globe,
A snow white robe
15 Is soonest spotled, a Carnation dye
Fades, and discolours open'd but to Eie.
3. Make use of youth, and bewty whilest they flourish:
Tyme never sleepes,
Though it but creeps
20 It still gets forward. Do not vainly nourish
Them to selfe-use,
It is Abuse;
The richest Grownds lying wast turne Boggs and rott,
And soe beinge useles, were as good were not.
254. Walke in a meddowe by a Rivers side,
Upon whose Bancks
Grow milk-white Ranks
Of full blown Lyllies in their height of Pryde,
Which downward bend
30And nothing tend
Save their owne Bewties in the Glassie streame:
Looke to yor selfe: Compare yorselfe to them.
5. In show, in bewtie, marke what followes then:
Sommer must end,
35The sunn must bend
His Longe Absented beames to others: then
Their spring being crost
By wynters frost
And sneap'd by bytter storms against wch nought boots,
40They bend their prowd topps lower then their roots.
6. Then none regard them; but wth heedles feet
In durt each treads
Their declyned heads.
So when youthe wasted, Age, and you shall meet,
45Then I alone
Shall sadly moane
That Interviewe; others it will not move,
So light regard we, what we little Love.
FINIS.
To His Mistress. Le Prince D'Amour (1660): no title, S (whence text): printed by Simeon, Grosart, Chambers: punctuation partly Editor's
1 if it tell] it will tell Chambers
9 deceived] deceiv'd S
16 open'd] opened S
24 were not] as not LeP D' A
31 the Glassie S: a Glassie LePD'A: their Glassie Chambers
32 to them. S: with them. Chambers
36 then] when Chambers
39 sneap'd Ed: snep'd S: swept LePD'A: snipped Chambers
A Paradoxe of a Painted Face.
NOT kisse? By Jove I must, and make impression
As longe as Cupid dares to holde his Session
Vpon my flesh and blood: our kisses shall
Outminute Time and without number fall.
5Doe I not know these Balls of blushinge Red
That on thy Cheekes thus amorouslie are spred?
Thy snowy necke, those veynes upon thy Browe
Which with their azure crincklinge sweetly bowe
Are artificiall? Borrowed? and no more thine owne
10Then Chaines which on St. George's Day are showne,
Are proper to the wearers? Yet for this
I idole thee, and beg a luscious kisse.
The fucus, and Ceruse, which on thy face
Thy Cunninge hand layes on to add new Grace,
15Detaine me with such pleasing fraude, that I
Finde in thy art, what can in nature Lie.
Much like a painter that upon some Wall
On which the radiant Sun-beames use to fall
Paints with such art a Gilded butterflye
20That silly maides with slowe-moved fingers trye
To Catch it, and then blush at theire mistake,
Yet of this painted flye most reckonynge make:
Such is our state; since what we looke upon
Is nought but Coullor and Proportion.
25Take me a face, as full of fraud and Lies
As Gypsies in your cunninge Lotteries,
That is more false, and more Sophisticate
Than are Saints reliques, or a man of state.
Yet such being Glazed by the sleight of arte,
30Gaines admiration, winninge many a Harte.
Put case there be a difference in the molde,
Yet may thy Venus be more Chaste, and holde
A dearer treasure: oftentimes we see
Rich Candian wines in woodden Boules to bee.
35The odoriferous Civet doth not lie
Within the muskat's nose, or eare, or eye,
But in a baser place; for prudent nature
In drawinge us of various formes and stature
Gives from the curious shop of hir rich treasure
40To faire parts comeliness, to baser, pleasure.
The fairest flowers, which in the Springe doe growe
Are not so much for use, as for the showe,
As Lillies, Hyacinths, and the georgious birthe
Of all pide flowers that diaper the earthe,
45Please more with their discoloured purple traine
Then wholesome pothearbs which for use remaine.
Shall I a Gaudy Speckled Serpent kiss
For that the colours which he weares are his?
A perfumed Cordevant who will not wear
50Because the sente is borrowed elsewhere?
The roabes and vestiments, which grace us all
Are not our owne, but adventitiall.
Time rifles Natures beauty, but slye Arte
Repaires by cunninge this decayinge parte.
55Fills here a wrinckle, and there purles a veyne,
And with a nimble hand runs o're againe
The breaches dented in by th'arme of time,
And makes Deformity to be no crime.
As when great men be grip't by sicknes hand,
60Industrious Physicke pregnantly doth stand
To patch up foule diseases, and doth strive
To keepe theire totteringe Carcasses alive.
Beautie is a candlelight which every puffe
Blowes out, and leaves nought but a stinking snuffe
65To fill our nostrills with; this boldelie thinke,
The cleerest Candle makes the greatest stincke,
As your pure fode and cleerest nutryment
Gets the most hott, and nose stronge excrement.
Why hange we then on thinges so apt to varie,
70So fleetinge, brittle, and so temporarie?
That agues, Coughes, the toothache, or Catarr
(Slight hansells of diseases) spoile and marr.
But when olde age theire beauties hath in Chace,
And plowes up furrowes in theire once-smoothe face,
75Then they become forsaken, and doe showe
Like stately abbeyes ruin'd longe agoe.
Nature but gives the modell, and first draught
Of faire perfection, which by art is taught
To speake itselfe, a compleat form and birthe,
80Soe stands a Copie to these shapes on earthe.
Jove grante me then a reparable face
Which, whiles that Colours are, can want no grace.
Pigmalions painted statue I coulde love,
Soe it were warme and softe, and coulde but move.
A Paradoxe of a Painted Face. H39, S, S96, TCD (II) Pembroke and Ruddier (1660), Le Prince D'Amour (1660), Simeon (1856-7), Grosart (from S), Chambers (from Simeon, and Pembroke and Ruddier): text from S96: punctuation partly Editor's
8 azure crincklinge S96: azure winckles P and R: azure twinklinge S: azur'd wrinklings TCD: azure wrinkles Chambers
15 Detaine] Deceive H39, P and R, LeP D' A, TCD, Chambers
pleasing] cunning TCD
18 radiant S96: cadent H39, TCD, LeP D' A, Grosart, and Chambers: splendent P and R
21 then] yet S96
32 Chaste] choise P and R, LeP D' A, TCD
39 shop] shape S96
rich] largest S96: large P and R, Grosart, and Chambers
45 discoloured] discovered H39: but discoloured is here variegated
53 rifles] rifled S96
55 purles] fills S: purls is embroiders as with gold or silver thread
67 clearest] choicest P and R: cleanest S: finest Chambers
68 most hott] most stronge S96
72 hansells H39: houses S, S96, Chambers: touches P and R: causes LeP D' A
73 beauties] brav'ries H39
79 To speake itselfe TCD, P and R: Speake to itselfe S, S96: Speake for itselfe H39: To make itselfe Simeon, Grosart, and Chambers
Sonnett.
MADAM that flea that Crept between your brests
I envied, that there he should make his rest:
The little Creatures fortune was soe good
That Angells feed not on so pretious foode.
5How it did sucke how eager tickle you
(Madam shall fleas before me tickle you?)
Oh I can not holde; pardon if I kild it.
Sweet Blood, to you I aske this, that which fild it
Ran from my Ladies Brest. Come happie flea
10That dide for suckinge of that milkie Sea.
Oh now againe I well could wishe thee there,
About hir Hart, about hir anywhere;
I would vowe (Dearest flea) thou shouldst not dye,
If thou couldst sucke from hir hir crueltye.
Sonnett. O'F, S96: no title, S: On A Flea on His Mistress's Bosom Simeon, Grosart, Chambers (from Simeon): text from S96
7 I can not holde] I not hold can Chambers
kild Ed: killed Chambers: kill S96
13 vowe ] now Chambers
Dearest S96: deare S, O'F, Chambers
thou] that thou Chambers
On Black Hayre and Eyes.
I F shaddowes be the pictures excellence;
And make it seeme more lively to the sence;
If starres in the bright day are hid from sight
And shine most glorious in the masque of night;
5Why should you thinke (rare creature) that you lack
Perfection cause your haire and eyes are blacke,
Or that your heavenly beauty which exceedes
The new sprung lillies in their mayden weeds,
The damaske coullour of your cheekes and lipps
10Should suffer by their darknesse an eclipps?
Rich diamonds shine brightest, being sett
And compassed within a foyle of Jett.
Nor was it fitt that Nature should have mayde
So bright a sunne to shine without a shade.
15It seemes that Nature when she first did fancie
Your rare composure studied Necromancie,
That when to you this guift she did impart
She used altogether the black art.
By which infused power from Magique tooke
20You doe command all spiritts with a looke:
Shee drew those Magique circles in your eyes,
And mayde your hayre the chaines wherewith shee ties
Rebelling hearts: those blew veines which appeare,
Winding Meander about either spheare,
25Misterious figures are, and when you list
Your voice commandeth like the Exorcist,
And every word which from your Pallett falleth
In a deep charme your hearer's heart inthralleth.
Oh! If in Magique you have skill so farre,
30Vouchsafe me to be your familiar.
Nor hath kind Nature her black art reveal'd
To outward partes alone, some lie conceal'd,
And as by heads of springs men often knowe
The nature of the streames that run belowe,
35So your black haire and eyes do give direction
To make me thinke the rest of like complexion:
That rest where all rest lies that blesseth Man,
That Indian mine, that straight of Magellan,
That worlde dividing gulfe where he that venters,
40With swelling sayles and ravisht senses enters
To a new world of blisse. Pardon, I pray,
If my rude muse presumeth to display
Secretts unknowne, or hath her bounds orepast
In praysing sweetnesse which I ne're did tast;
45Sterved men doe know there's meate, and blind men may
Though hid from light presume there is a day.
The rover in the marke his arrowe sticks
Sometimes as well as he that shootes att prickes,
And if I might direct my shaft aright,
50The black mark would I hitt and not the white.
On Black Hayre and Eyes Add. MS. 11811, on which text is based: in several MSS. including A25, TCD (II), L77: printed in Parnassus Biceps (1656), Pembroke and Ruddier's Poems (1660), Simeon (1856-7), Grosart, and Chambers
2 it A21, H60, TCD: them A11: things L77
4 shine H39, TCD: seem A11, Grosart, and Chambers
8 mayden weeds,] maidenheads, H39, TCD, Grosart, and Chambers
9 The damasque coullor of] That cherry colour of H39, TCD: Or that the cherries of Some MSS.
12 compassed ] compos'd A11
foyle] field Chambers
19 tooke] book Grosart and Chambers
20 all spiritts] like spirits Grosart and Chambers
25 figures] fables A11
26 commandeth] commands A11
29 you have skill L77, TCD, &c.: your power A11: you have power Grosart and Chambers
33 For (And) as by the springhead a man may (men often) know L77, TCD, and other MSS.
34 streame ... runs L77, &c.
44 did] shall TCD and other MSS.
47 sticks] strikes Grosart and Chambers
49 direct L77, TCD, &c.: ayme A11, Grosart, and Chambers
Fragment of an Elegy.
A ND though thy glasse a burning one become
And turne us both to ashes on her urne,
Yet to our glory till the later day
Our dust shall daunce like attomes in her ray.
5And when the world shall in confusion burne,
And Kinges and peasantes scramble at an urne,
Like tapers new blowne out wee happy then
Will at her beames catch fire and live againe.
But this is sence, and some one may-be glad
10That I so good a cause of sorrow had,
Will with all those whome I affect may dye
So I might please him with an elegie.
O let there never line of witt be read
To please the living that doth speake thee dead;
15Some tender-harted mother good and mild,
Who on the deare grave of her tender child
So many sad teares hath beene knowne to rayne
As out of dust would mould him up againe,
And with hir plaintes enforce the wormes to place
20Themselves like veynes so neatly on his face,
And every lymne, as if that they wer striving
To flatter hir with hope of his reviving:
Shee should read this, and hir true teares alone
Should coppy forth these sad lines on the stone
25Which hides thee dead, and every gentle hart
That passeth by should of his teares impart
So great a portion, that if after times
Ruine more churches for the Clergyes crimes,
When any shall remove thy marble hence,
30Which is lesse stone then hee that takes it thence,
Thou shalt appeare within thy tearefull cell
Much like a faire nymph bathing in a well.
But when they find thee dead so lovely fair,
Pitty and sorrow then shall straight repaire
35And weepe beside thy grave with cipresse cround,
To see the secound world of beauty dround,
And add sufficient teares as they condole
'Twould make thy body swimme up to thy soule.
Such eyes should read the lines are writ of thee;
40But such a losse should have no elegie
To palliate the wound wee tooke in hir,
Who rightly greeves admittes no comforter.
He that had tane to heart thy parting hence
Should have beene chain'd to Bedlam two houres thence,
45And not a frind of his ere shed a teare
To see him for thy sake distracted there,
But hugge himselfe for loving such as hee
That could runne mad with greefe for loosing thee.
I, haplesse soule, that never knew a frend
50But to bewayle his too untimely end,
Whose hopes (cropt in the bud) have never come
But to sitt weeping on a sencelesse tombe,
That hides not dust enough to count the teares
Which I have fruitlesse spent in so few yeares,
55I that have trusted those that would have given
For our deare Saviour and the Sonne of heaven
Ten times the valew Judas had of yore,
Onely to sell him for three peeces more;
I that have lov'd and trusted thus in vaine
60Yet weepe for thee, and till the clowdes shall daigne
To throw on Egipt more then Nile ere sweld,
These teares of mine shalbee unparellell'd.
He that hath lov'd, enjoy'd, and then beene crost,
Hath teares at will to mourne for what he lost;
65He that hath trusted and his hope appeares
Wrong'd but by death may soone dissolve in teares;
But hee unhappy man whose love and trust
Nere met fruition nor a promise just,
For him (unlesse like thee hee deadly slepe)
70'Tis easier to runn mad then 'tis to weepe;
And yet I can. Fall then yee mournefull showers,
And as old time leades on the winged howers,
Bee you their minutes, and let men forgett
To count their ages from the plague of sweat,
75From eighty eight, the Poulder-plot, or when
Men were affrayd to talke of it againe;
And in their numerations be it sayd
Thus old was I when such a teare was shed,
And when that other fell a comett rose
80And all the world tooke notice of my woes.
Yet finding them past cure, as doctores fly
Their patientes past all hope of remedy,
No charitable soule will once impart
One word of comfort to so sicke a heart;
85But as a hurt deare beaten from the heard,
Men of my shadow allmost now affeard
Fly from my woes, that whilome wont to greet mee,
And well nigh thinke it ominous to meete mee.
Sad lines go yee abroad; go saddest muse,
90And as some nations formerly did use
To lay their sicke men in the street, that those,
Who of the same disease had scapt the throwes,
Might minister releefe as they went by
To such as felt the selfsame malady,
95So haplesse lynes fly through the fairest land,
And if ye light into some blessed hand,
That hath a heart as merry as the shine
Of golden dayes, yet wrong'd as much as mine,
Pitty may lead that happy man to mee,
100And his experience worke a remedy
To those sad fittes which (spight of nature's lawes)
Torture a poore hart that out-lives the cause.
But this must never bee, nor is it fitt
An ague or some sickenes lesse then itt
105Should glory in the death of such as hee,
That had a heart of flesh and valued thee.
Brave Roman, I admire thee that would'st dy
At no lesse rate then for an empery.
Some massy diamond from the center drawne,
110For which all Europ wer an equall pawne,
Should (beaten into dust) bee drunke by him
That wanted courage good enough to swimme
Through seas of woes for thee, and much despise
To meet with death at any lower prize,
115Whilst greefe alone workes that effect in mee,
And yet no greefe but for the losse of thee.
Fortune now doe thy worst, for I have gott
By this her death so strong an antidote,
That all thy future crosses shall not have
120More then an angry smile, nor shall the grave
Glory in my last day: these lines shall give
To us a second life, and we will live
To pull the distaffe from the hand of fate;
And spinn our own thrides for so long a date,
125That death shall never seize uppon our fame
Till this shall perish in the whole world's frame.
Fragment of an Elegy. From P, where it appears as portion of an 'heroical epistle' from Lady Penelope Rich to Sir Philip Sidney: punctuation Ed.
〈Farewel, ye guilded follies.〉
FAREWEL ye guilded follies, pleasing troubles,
Farewel ye honour'd rags, ye glorious bubbles;
Fame's but a hollow echo, gold pure clay,
Honour the darling but of one short day.
5Beauty (th'eyes idol) but a damasked skin,
State but a golden prison, to keepe in
And torture free-born minds; imbroidered trains
Meerly but Pageants, proudly swelling vains,
And blood ally'd to greatness, is a loane
10Inherited, not purchased, not our own.
Fame, honor, beauty, state, train, blood and birth,
Are but the fading blossomes of the earth.
I would be great, but that the Sun doth still
Level his rayes against the rising hill:
15I would be high, but see the proudest Oak
Most subject to the rending Thunder-stroke;
I would be rich, but see men too unkind
Dig in the bowels of the richest mine;
I would be wise, but that I often see
20The Fox suspected whilst the Ass goes free;
I would be fair, but see the fair and proud
Like the bright sun, oft setting in a cloud;
I would be poor, but know the humble grass
Still trampled on by each unworthy Asse:
25Rich, hated; wise, suspected; scorn'd, if poor;
Great, fear'd; fair, tempted; high, stil envied more:
I have wish'd all, but now I wish for neither,
Great, high, rich, wise, nor fair, poor I'l be rather.
Would the world now adopt me for her heir,
30Would beauties Queen entitle me the Fair,
Fame speak me fortune's Minion, could I vie
Angels with India, with a speaking eye
Command bare heads, bow'd knees, strike Justice dumb
As wel as blind and lame, or give a tongue
35To stones, by Epitaphs, be called great Master
In the loose rhimes of every Poetaster;
Could I be more then any man that lives,
Great, fair, rich, wise in all Superlatives;
Yet I more freely would these gifts resign
40Then ever fortune would have made them mine,
And hold one minute of this holy leasure,
Beyond the riches of this empty pleasure.
Welcom pure thoughts, welcom ye silent groves,
These guests, these Courts, my soul most dearly loves,
45Now the wing'd people of the Skie shall sing
My cheerful Anthems to the gladsome Spring;
A Pray'r book now shall be my looking-glasse,
Wherein I will adore sweet vertues face.
Here dwell no hateful looks, no Pallace cares,
50No broken vows dwell here, nor pale-faced fears,
Then here I'l sit and sigh my hot loves folly,
And learn t'affect an holy melancholy.
And if contentment be a stranger, then
I'l nere look for it, but in heaven again.
〈Farewell, Ye Guilded Follies.〉 Ed: variously titled, Add. MS. 18220, C.C.C. Oxon. MS. 324, Egerton MS. 2603, Harleian MS. 6057: printed in Walton's Compleat Angler (1653), Wits Interpreter (1655) Hannah's Courtly Poets: Grosart prints from MS. Dd. 643 in Cambridge University Library, and Chambers follows—a very inferior version: text from Walton
2 ye glorious] ye christal A18, E26, H60: the christall WI
6 keepe A18, E26, H60: live Walton
8 proudly] proud Walton
9 a loane Ed: a lone Walton: but loane MSS.
18 mine E26, CCC: mind Walton, A182, H60, WI: minds Grosart and Chambers
19-20
I would be wise but that the fox I see
Suspected guilty when the Ass goes free
A182, E26, H60, Grosart, and Chambers
21-2
I would be fair, but see that Champion proud
The bright sun often setting in a cloud
WI and MSS., but with The worlds bright eye or fair eye
31-2
could I vie
Angels with India, Walton, A182, E26, H60
could I joy
The blisse of angells, CCC
could I vie (vey Grosart)
The blisse of angells, Grosart and Chambers
43 ye silent groves, Walton: the silent Groves, WI: ye careless groves, H60: the careless grove, CCC: ye careless groans, Grosart and Chambers
44 These are the courts my soul entire loves, A182: These are my guests, this is the court I love, CCC: These are my guests, this is that courtage tones, Grosart and Chambers: the court age loves, Ash 38
46 My Anthem; be my Selah gentle Spring. A182: Mine anthems; be my cellar, gentle spring. Grosart and Chambers
48 wherein] In which Walton
49-50
Here dwells no hartlesse Love, no palsey fears,
No short joys purchased with eternal tears. A182, H60
51 hot loves Walton: hot youths H60: past years A182
53 be] prove A182