ELEGIE VII.

Eleg. VI.1635-69:Elegie VII.1633(Elegie VI.beingSorrow who to this house&c.SeeEpicedes&c.,p.287): Elegie. (numbered variously)A18,A25,B,Cy,D,H49,JC,L74,Lec,N,O'F,P,S,S96,TCC,TCD,W2 fatten] flatter1669,A18,B,Cy,L74,N,TC3 or] andA18,Cy,L74,N,P,TC6 stiles,1633-69,A18,B,Cy,D,H49,JC,L74,Lec,N,P,S96,TC,W:styleA25,O'F,S,Chambers and Grosartwithall MSS., Chambers and Grosart:which (probably by confusion ofwchandwth)1633-69Realmes] names16697 where] bear166914 constancie:1635-69:constancie.163324 then1633,B,D,H49,Lec,S,S96,W:there1635-69,A18,A25,Cy,JC,N,O'F,P,TC,Chambers26 upmost1633 and most MSS:utmost1635-69,O'F,Chambersbrow;Ed:brow:1633-39:brow.1650-6928 bankeA18,D,H49,JC,N,S,TC,W:banks1633-69,Lec,O'F33 the1633,D,H49,Lec:her1635-69,A18,N,TCwho1633,A18,A25,B,Cy,D,JC,H49,L74,Lec,N,P,S,S96,TC:which1635-69,O'F37 Oh,] Ah,166939 thee,']om. 166940 eye.Ed:eye;1633-54:eye:1669:eye,Chambers41 Though ... love;1633:Though ... breed ... love:1635-39:Though ... breed ... love1650-69(Through ...1669)42 fall.1633-35:fall1639-6943 outgrow] o'ergrowCy,P

Eleg. VI.1635-69:Elegie VII.1633(Elegie VI.beingSorrow who to this house&c.SeeEpicedes&c.,p.287): Elegie. (numbered variously)A18,A25,B,Cy,D,H49,JC,L74,Lec,N,O'F,P,S,S96,TCC,TCD,W

2 fatten] flatter1669,A18,B,Cy,L74,N,TC

3 or] andA18,Cy,L74,N,P,TC

6 stiles,1633-69,A18,B,Cy,D,H49,JC,L74,Lec,N,P,S96,TC,W:styleA25,O'F,S,Chambers and Grosart

withall MSS., Chambers and Grosart:which (probably by confusion ofwchandwth)1633-69

Realmes] names1669

7 where] bear1669

14 constancie:1635-69:constancie.1633

24 then1633,B,D,H49,Lec,S,S96,W:there1635-69,A18,A25,Cy,JC,N,O'F,P,TC,Chambers

26 upmost1633 and most MSS:utmost1635-69,O'F,Chambersbrow;Ed:brow:1633-39:brow.1650-69

28 bankeA18,D,H49,JC,N,S,TC,W:banks1633-69,Lec,O'F

33 the1633,D,H49,Lec:her1635-69,A18,N,TC

who1633,A18,A25,B,Cy,D,JC,H49,L74,Lec,N,P,S,S96,TC:which1635-69,O'F

37 Oh,] Ah,1669

39 thee,']om. 1669

40 eye.Ed:eye;1633-54:eye:1669:eye,Chambers

41 Though ... love;1633:Though ... breed ... love:1635-39:Though ... breed ... love1650-69(Through ...1669)

42 fall.1633-35:fall1639-69

43 outgrow] o'ergrowCy,P

Note

NATURES lay Ideot, I taught thee to love,And in that sophistrie, Oh, thou dost proveToo subtile: Foole, thou didst not understandThe mystique language of the eye nor hand:5Nor couldst thou judge the difference of the aireOf sighes, and say, this lies, this sounds despaire:Nor by the'eyes water call a maladieDesperately hot, or changing feaverously.I had not taught thee then, the Alphabet10Of flowers, how they devisefully being setAnd bound up, might with speechlesse secrecieDeliver arrands mutely, and mutually.Remember since all thy words us'd to beeTo every suitor;I,if my friends agree;15Since, household charmes, thy husbands name to teach,Were all the love trickes, that thy wit could reach;And since, an houres discourse could scarce have madeOne answer in thee, and that ill arraidIn broken proverbs, and torne sentences.20Thou art not by so many duties his,That from the worlds Common having sever'd thee,Inlaid thee, neither to be seene, nor see,As mine: who have with amorous delicaciesRefin'd thee'into a blis-full Paradise.25Thy graces and good words my creatures bee;I planted knowledge and lifes tree in thee,Which Oh, shall strangers taste? Must I alasFrame and enamell Plate, and drinke in Glasse?Chafe waxe for others seales? breake a colts force30And leave him then, beeing made a ready horse?

NATURES lay Ideot, I taught thee to love,

And in that sophistrie, Oh, thou dost prove

Too subtile: Foole, thou didst not understand

The mystique language of the eye nor hand:

5Nor couldst thou judge the difference of the aire

Of sighes, and say, this lies, this sounds despaire:

Nor by the'eyes water call a maladie

Desperately hot, or changing feaverously.

I had not taught thee then, the Alphabet

10Of flowers, how they devisefully being set

And bound up, might with speechlesse secrecie

Deliver arrands mutely, and mutually.

Remember since all thy words us'd to bee

To every suitor;I,if my friends agree;

15Since, household charmes, thy husbands name to teach,

Were all the love trickes, that thy wit could reach;

And since, an houres discourse could scarce have made

One answer in thee, and that ill arraid

In broken proverbs, and torne sentences.

20Thou art not by so many duties his,

That from the worlds Common having sever'd thee,

Inlaid thee, neither to be seene, nor see,

As mine: who have with amorous delicacies

Refin'd thee'into a blis-full Paradise.

25Thy graces and good words my creatures bee;

I planted knowledge and lifes tree in thee,

Which Oh, shall strangers taste? Must I alas

Frame and enamell Plate, and drinke in Glasse?

Chafe waxe for others seales? breake a colts force

30And leave him then, beeing made a ready horse?

Elegie VII.1635-69:Elegie VIII.1633:Elegye. (numbered variously)A18,A25,B,Cy,D,H49,JC,Lec,M,N,O'F,P,S,TCC,TCD,W2 Oh, ... prove] Oh, how ... prove16696 despaire:1635-69:despaire.16337 call1633,A18,A25,B,Cy,D,H49,JC,Lec,M,N,O'F(corrected fromknow),P,TC,W:know1635-69:castS,Chambers and Grosart10 they devisefully being set] their devise in being setCy,P12 arrands1633:errands1635-69:meet errandsB14agree;Ed:agree.1633-6921-2 That ... nor see,]in brackets 166924 Paradise] paradise163325 words1633-54,A25,B,Cy,JC,N,O'F,P,W:works1669,A18,D,H49,Lec,TCbee;Ed:bee,1633-6926 thee,1633:thee:1635-6928 Glasse?Ed:glasse.1633-69

Elegie VII.1635-69:Elegie VIII.1633:Elegye. (numbered variously)A18,A25,B,Cy,D,H49,JC,Lec,M,N,O'F,P,S,TCC,TCD,W

2 Oh, ... prove] Oh, how ... prove1669

6 despaire:1635-69:despaire.1633

7 call1633,A18,A25,B,Cy,D,H49,JC,Lec,M,N,O'F(corrected fromknow),P,TC,W:know1635-69:castS,Chambers and Grosart

10 they devisefully being set] their devise in being setCy,P

12 arrands1633:errands1635-69:meet errandsB

14agree;Ed:agree.1633-69

21-2 That ... nor see,]in brackets 1669

24 Paradise] paradise1633

25 words1633-54,A25,B,Cy,JC,N,O'F,P,W:works1669,A18,D,H49,Lec,TC

bee;Ed:bee,1633-69

26 thee,1633:thee:1635-69

28 Glasse?Ed:glasse.1633-69

Note

The Comparison.

AS the sweet sweat of Roses in a Still,As that which from chaf'd muskats pores doth trill,As the Almighty Balme of th'early East,Such are the sweat drops of my Mistris breast,5And on her 〈brow〉 her skin such lustre sets,They seeme no sweat drops, but pearle coronets.Ranke sweaty froth thy Mistresse's brow defiles,Like spermatique issue of ripe menstruous boiles,Or like the skumme, which, by needs lawlesse law10Enforc'd, Sanserra's starved men did drawFrom parboild shooes, and bootes, and all the restWhich were with any soveraigne fatnes blest,And like vile lying stones in saffrond tinne,Or warts, or wheales, they hang upon her skinne.15Round as the world's her head, on every side,Like to the fatall Ball which fell on Ide,Or that whereof God had such jealousie,As, for the ravishing thereof we die.Thyheadis like a rough-hewne statue of jeat,20Where marks for eyes, nose, mouth, are yet scarce set;Like the first Chaos, or flat seeming faceOf Cynthia, when th'earths shadowes her embrace.Like Proserpines white beauty-keeping chest,Or Joues best fortunes urne, is her faire brest.25Thine's like worme eaten trunkes, cloth'd in seals skin,Or grave, that's dust without, and stinke within.And like that slender stalke, at whose end standsThe wood-bine quivering, are her armes and hands.Like rough bark'd elmboughes, or the russet skin30Of men late scurg'd for madnes, or for sinne,Like Sun-parch'd quarters on the citie gate,Such is thy tann'd skins lamentable state.And like a bunch of ragged carrets standThe short swolne fingers of thy gouty hand.35Then like the Chymicks masculine equall fire,Which in the Lymbecks warme wombe doth inspireInto th'earths worthlesse durt a soule of gold,Such cherishing heat her best lov'd part doth hold.Thine's like the dread mouth of a fired gunne,40Or like hot liquid metalls newly runneInto clay moulds, or like to that ÆtnaWhere round about the grasse is burnt away.Are not your kisses then as filthy, and more,As a worme sucking an invenom'd sore?45Doth not thy fearefull hand in feeling quake,As one which gath'ring flowers, still feares a snake?Is not your last act harsh, and violent,As when a Plough a stony ground doth rent?So kisse good Turtles, so devoutly nice50Are Priests in handling reverent sacrifice,And such in searching wounds the Surgeon isAs wee, when wee embrace, or touch, or kisse.Leave her, and I will leave comparing thus,She, and comparisons are odious.

AS the sweet sweat of Roses in a Still,

As that which from chaf'd muskats pores doth trill,

As the Almighty Balme of th'early East,

Such are the sweat drops of my Mistris breast,

5And on her 〈brow〉 her skin such lustre sets,

They seeme no sweat drops, but pearle coronets.

Ranke sweaty froth thy Mistresse's brow defiles,

Like spermatique issue of ripe menstruous boiles,

Or like the skumme, which, by needs lawlesse law

10Enforc'd, Sanserra's starved men did draw

From parboild shooes, and bootes, and all the rest

Which were with any soveraigne fatnes blest,

And like vile lying stones in saffrond tinne,

Or warts, or wheales, they hang upon her skinne.

15Round as the world's her head, on every side,

Like to the fatall Ball which fell on Ide,

Or that whereof God had such jealousie,

As, for the ravishing thereof we die.

Thyheadis like a rough-hewne statue of jeat,

20Where marks for eyes, nose, mouth, are yet scarce set;

Like the first Chaos, or flat seeming face

Of Cynthia, when th'earths shadowes her embrace.

Like Proserpines white beauty-keeping chest,

Or Joues best fortunes urne, is her faire brest.

25Thine's like worme eaten trunkes, cloth'd in seals skin,

Or grave, that's dust without, and stinke within.

And like that slender stalke, at whose end stands

The wood-bine quivering, are her armes and hands.

Like rough bark'd elmboughes, or the russet skin

30Of men late scurg'd for madnes, or for sinne,

Like Sun-parch'd quarters on the citie gate,

Such is thy tann'd skins lamentable state.

And like a bunch of ragged carrets stand

The short swolne fingers of thy gouty hand.

35Then like the Chymicks masculine equall fire,

Which in the Lymbecks warme wombe doth inspire

Into th'earths worthlesse durt a soule of gold,

Such cherishing heat her best lov'd part doth hold.

Thine's like the dread mouth of a fired gunne,

40Or like hot liquid metalls newly runne

Into clay moulds, or like to that Ætna

Where round about the grasse is burnt away.

Are not your kisses then as filthy, and more,

As a worme sucking an invenom'd sore?

45Doth not thy fearefull hand in feeling quake,

As one which gath'ring flowers, still feares a snake?

Is not your last act harsh, and violent,

As when a Plough a stony ground doth rent?

So kisse good Turtles, so devoutly nice

50Are Priests in handling reverent sacrifice,

And such in searching wounds the Surgeon is

As wee, when wee embrace, or touch, or kisse.

Leave her, and I will leave comparing thus,

She, and comparisons are odious.

Eleg. VIII. The Comparison.1635-54:Elegie VIII.1669:Elegie.1633:Elegie. (numbered variously)A18,A25,B,C,Cy,JC,L74,N,O'F,P,S,S96,TCC,TCD,W2 muskats] muskets16694 breast,1635-69:breast.16335 〈brow〉Ed: necke 1633-69 and MSS. See note6 coronets.1633-69,A18,B,Cy,L74,M,N,O'F,S96,TC:carcanets.A25,C,JC,S,W:carolettes.P8 boiles,Ed:boiles.1633-69:in MSS. generally spelt as pronounced, bilesorbyles13 vile lying stones1635-54 and MSS.:vile stones lying1633,166914 they hangA18,B,JC,L74,M,N,O'F(altered toit),S,TC,W:it hangs1633-6919 a]om.1635-3926 grave] grav'd1669dust1633-69,W:durtA18,A25,JC,M,N,O'F,P,S,TC28 hands.W:hands,1633-6934 thy gouty hand.1635-69,A18,A25,B,L74,N,O'F,P,S96,TC,W(hand;1635-69): her gouty hand;1633,JC,S:thy mistress hand;166937 durt1635-69:part1633,from next line46 feares] fear'dA18,L74,N,O'F,TC,W48 when1635-69 and MSS.:where163350 Are Priests ... sacrifice,] A Priest is in his handling Sacrifice,166951 suchA18,A25,B,JC,L74,N,O'F,P,S,S96,TC,W:nice1633-69

Eleg. VIII. The Comparison.1635-54:Elegie VIII.1669:Elegie.1633:Elegie. (numbered variously)A18,A25,B,C,Cy,JC,L74,N,O'F,P,S,S96,TCC,TCD,W

2 muskats] muskets1669

4 breast,1635-69:breast.1633

5 〈brow〉Ed: necke 1633-69 and MSS. See note

6 coronets.1633-69,A18,B,Cy,L74,M,N,O'F,S96,TC:carcanets.A25,C,JC,S,W:carolettes.P

8 boiles,Ed:boiles.1633-69:in MSS. generally spelt as pronounced, bilesorbyles

13 vile lying stones1635-54 and MSS.:vile stones lying1633,1669

14 they hangA18,B,JC,L74,M,N,O'F(altered toit),S,TC,W:it hangs1633-69

19 a]om.1635-39

26 grave] grav'd1669

dust1633-69,W:durtA18,A25,JC,M,N,O'F,P,S,TC

28 hands.W:hands,1633-69

34 thy gouty hand.1635-69,A18,A25,B,L74,N,O'F,P,S96,TC,W(hand;1635-69): her gouty hand;1633,JC,S:thy mistress hand;1669

37 durt1635-69:part1633,from next line

46 feares] fear'dA18,L74,N,O'F,TC,W

48 when1635-69 and MSS.:where1633

50 Are Priests ... sacrifice,] A Priest is in his handling Sacrifice,1669

51 suchA18,A25,B,JC,L74,N,O'F,P,S,S96,TC,W:nice1633-69

Note

The Autumnall

NOSpring, norSummerBeauty hath such grace,As I have seen in oneAutumnallface.YongBeautiesforce our love, and that's aRape,This doth butcounsaile, yet you cannot scape.5If t'were ashameto love, here t'were noshame,Affectionhere takesReverencesname.Were her first yeares theGolden Age; That's true,But now shee'sgoldoft tried, and ever new.That was her torrid and inflaming time,10This is her tolerableTropique clyme.Faire eyes, who askes more heate then comes from hence,He in a fever wishes pestilence.Call not these wrinkles,graves; Ifgravesthey were,They wereLoves graves; for else he is no where.15Yet lies not Lovedeadhere, but here doth sitVow'd to this trench, like anAnachorit.And here, till hers, which must be hisdeath, come,He doth not digge aGrave, but build aTombe.Here dwells he, though he sojourne ev'ry where,20InProgresse, yet his standing house is here.Here, where stillEveningis; notnoone, nornight;Where novoluptuousnesse, yet alldelight.In all her words, unto all hearers fit,You may atRevels, you atCounsaile, sit.25This is loves timber, youth his under-wood;There he, as wine inIune, enrages blood,Which then comes seasonabliest, when our tastAnd appetite to other things, is past.XerxesstrangeLydianlove, thePlatanetree,30Was lov'd for age, none being so large as shee,Or else because, being yong, nature did blesseHer youth with ages glory,Barrennesse.If we love things long sought,Ageis a thingWhich we are fifty yeares in compassing.35If transitory things, which soone decay,Agemust be lovelyest at the latest day.But name notWinter-faces, whose skin's slacke;Lanke, as an unthrifts purse; but a soules sacke;WhoseEyesseeke light within, for all here's shade;40Whosemouthesare holes, rather worne out, then made;Whose every tooth to a severall place is gone,To vexe their soules atResurrection;Name not these livingDeaths-headsunto mee,For these, notAncient, butAntiquebe.45I hate extreames; yet I had rather stayWithTombs, thenCradles, to weare out a day.Since such loves naturall lation is, may stillMy love descend, and journey downe the hill,Not panting after growing beauties, so,50I shall ebbe out with them, who home-ward goe.

NOSpring, norSummerBeauty hath such grace,

As I have seen in oneAutumnallface.

YongBeautiesforce our love, and that's aRape,

This doth butcounsaile, yet you cannot scape.

5If t'were ashameto love, here t'were noshame,

Affectionhere takesReverencesname.

Were her first yeares theGolden Age; That's true,

But now shee'sgoldoft tried, and ever new.

That was her torrid and inflaming time,

10This is her tolerableTropique clyme.

Faire eyes, who askes more heate then comes from hence,

He in a fever wishes pestilence.

Call not these wrinkles,graves; Ifgravesthey were,

They wereLoves graves; for else he is no where.

15Yet lies not Lovedeadhere, but here doth sit

Vow'd to this trench, like anAnachorit.

And here, till hers, which must be hisdeath, come,

He doth not digge aGrave, but build aTombe.

Here dwells he, though he sojourne ev'ry where,

20InProgresse, yet his standing house is here.

Here, where stillEveningis; notnoone, nornight;

Where novoluptuousnesse, yet alldelight.

In all her words, unto all hearers fit,

You may atRevels, you atCounsaile, sit.

25This is loves timber, youth his under-wood;

There he, as wine inIune, enrages blood,

Which then comes seasonabliest, when our tast

And appetite to other things, is past.

XerxesstrangeLydianlove, thePlatanetree,

30Was lov'd for age, none being so large as shee,

Or else because, being yong, nature did blesse

Her youth with ages glory,Barrennesse.

If we love things long sought,Ageis a thing

Which we are fifty yeares in compassing.

35If transitory things, which soone decay,

Agemust be lovelyest at the latest day.

But name notWinter-faces, whose skin's slacke;

Lanke, as an unthrifts purse; but a soules sacke;

WhoseEyesseeke light within, for all here's shade;

40Whosemouthesare holes, rather worne out, then made;

Whose every tooth to a severall place is gone,

To vexe their soules atResurrection;

Name not these livingDeaths-headsunto mee,

For these, notAncient, butAntiquebe.

45I hate extreames; yet I had rather stay

WithTombs, thenCradles, to weare out a day.

Since such loves naturall lation is, may still

My love descend, and journey downe the hill,

Not panting after growing beauties, so,

50I shall ebbe out with them, who home-ward goe.

Eleg. IX. The Autumnall.1635-54:Elegie. The Autumnall.1633:Elegie IX.1669:Elegie.A18, N, TCC, TCD:Elegie Autumnall.D, H40, H49, JC, Lec:An autumnall face: On the Ladie SrEdward Herbart mothers Ladie Danvers.B:On the Lady Herbert afterwards Danvers.O'F:Widdow.M,P:A Paradox of an ould Woman.S:Elegie Autumnall on the Lady Shandoys.S96: no title, L741Summer 1633: Summers 1635-692 face.Ed:face,1633-693 our love,1633,D,H49,Lec,S:our Loves,1669:your love,1635-54,A18,A25,B,H40,L74,M,N,O'F,P,S96,TC6Affection... takesA18,A25,B,D,H40,H49,L74,Lec,M,N,P,S,S96,TC:Affections... take1633-69,JC,O'F8 shee's1635-69,A18,A25,B,D,H40,H49,JC,L74,Lec,M,N,O'F,P,S,S96,TC:they'are163310 tolerable1633,D,H40,H49,Lec,S:habitable1635-69,A18,A25,L74,M,N,O'F,P,TC14 for1633:or1635-6915 Love] love163322 Where] Where'sO'F,S23 unto all] to all herP24Counsaile,Ed:counsaile,1633-54:counsails166926 enrages] bringesD,H49:breedsLec27 seasonabliest,1633:seasonablest,1635-6928 past.] past;163330 large1633:old1635-6937 not] noeseveral MSS.38 soules sacke;1633,1669,and MSS.:fooles sack;1635-5440 made;Ed:made1633-54:made,166942 their soules] the soul166943Deaths-heads1633:Death-heads1635-69,Chambers:death-shadesH4044Ancient, ... Antique1633,1669,D,H49,Lec:Ancients, ... Antiques1635-54,B,O'F,S:ancient ... antiquesA18,A25,H40,L74,M,N,TCbe.Ed:be;163346 a] the1669,M,P47 naturall lationA18,A25,B,D,H40,H49,L74,M,N,P,S,TC(sometimes thus, natural-lation): motion naturall1633:naturall station1635-69,Lec,O'F50 ebbe out1633:ebbe on1635-69,A18,A25,B,D,H40,H49,JC,L74,Lec,M,N,O'F,P,S,TC

1Summer 1633: Summers 1635-69

2 face.Ed:face,1633-69

3 our love,1633,D,H49,Lec,S:our Loves,1669:your love,1635-54,A18,A25,B,H40,L74,M,N,O'F,P,S96,TC

6Affection... takesA18,A25,B,D,H40,H49,L74,Lec,M,N,P,S,S96,TC:Affections... take1633-69,JC,O'F

8 shee's1635-69,A18,A25,B,D,H40,H49,JC,L74,Lec,M,N,O'F,P,S,S96,TC:they'are1633

10 tolerable1633,D,H40,H49,Lec,S:habitable1635-69,A18,A25,L74,M,N,O'F,P,TC

14 for1633:or1635-69

15 Love] love1633

22 Where] Where'sO'F,S

23 unto all] to all herP

24Counsaile,Ed:counsaile,1633-54:counsails1669

26 enrages] bringesD,H49:breedsLec

27 seasonabliest,1633:seasonablest,1635-69

28 past.] past;1633

30 large1633:old1635-69

37 not] noeseveral MSS.

38 soules sacke;1633,1669,and MSS.:fooles sack;1635-54

40 made;Ed:made1633-54:made,1669

42 their soules] the soul1669

43Deaths-heads1633:Death-heads1635-69,Chambers:death-shadesH40

44Ancient, ... Antique1633,1669,D,H49,Lec:Ancients, ... Antiques1635-54,B,O'F,S:ancient ... antiquesA18,A25,H40,L74,M,N,TC

be.Ed:be;1633

46 a] the1669,M,P

47 naturall lationA18,A25,B,D,H40,H49,L74,M,N,P,S,TC(sometimes thus, natural-lation): motion naturall1633:naturall station1635-69,Lec,O'F

50 ebbe out1633:ebbe on1635-69,A18,A25,B,D,H40,H49,JC,L74,Lec,M,N,O'F,P,S,TC

Note

The Dreame.

IMAGE of her whom I love, more then she,Whose faire impression in my faithfull heart,Makes mee herMedall, and makes her love mee,As Kings do coynes, to which their stamps impart5The value: goe, and take my heart from hence,Which now is growne too great and good for me:Honoursoppresse weake spirits, and our senseStrong objects dull; the more, the lesse wee see.When you are gone, andReasongone with you,10ThenFantasieis Queene and Soule, and all;She can present joyes meaner then you do;Convenient, and more proportionall.So, if I dreame I have you, I have you,For, all our joyes are but fantasticall.15And so I scape the paine, for paine is true;And sleepe which locks up sense, doth lock out all.After a such fruition I shall wake,And, but the waking, nothing shall repent;And shall to love more thankfull Sonnets make,20Then if morehonour,teares, andpaineswere spent.But dearest heart, and dearer image stay;Alas, true joyes at best aredreameenough;Though you stay here you passe too fast away:For even at first lifesTaperis a snuffe.25Fill'd with her love, may I be rather grownMad with muchheart, thenideottwith none.

IMAGE of her whom I love, more then she,

Whose faire impression in my faithfull heart,

Makes mee herMedall, and makes her love mee,

As Kings do coynes, to which their stamps impart

5The value: goe, and take my heart from hence,

Which now is growne too great and good for me:

Honoursoppresse weake spirits, and our sense

Strong objects dull; the more, the lesse wee see.

When you are gone, andReasongone with you,

10ThenFantasieis Queene and Soule, and all;

She can present joyes meaner then you do;

Convenient, and more proportionall.

So, if I dreame I have you, I have you,

For, all our joyes are but fantasticall.

15And so I scape the paine, for paine is true;

And sleepe which locks up sense, doth lock out all.

After a such fruition I shall wake,

And, but the waking, nothing shall repent;

And shall to love more thankfull Sonnets make,

20Then if morehonour,teares, andpaineswere spent.

But dearest heart, and dearer image stay;

Alas, true joyes at best aredreameenough;

Though you stay here you passe too fast away:

For even at first lifesTaperis a snuffe.

25Fill'd with her love, may I be rather grown

Mad with muchheart, thenideottwith none.

Eleg. X. The Dreame.1635-54:Elegie X.1669:Elegie.1633:Picture.S96:Elegie.or no title,A18,B,D,H40,H49,L74,Lec,N,O'F,P,S,S96,TCC,TCD7 sense] sense,16338 dull;1635-69:dull,163316 out] upB,P,S17 a such1633-54:such a166922dreame]dreams1669

Eleg. X. The Dreame.1635-54:Elegie X.1669:Elegie.1633:Picture.S96:Elegie.or no title,A18,B,D,H40,H49,L74,Lec,N,O'F,P,S,S96,TCC,TCD

7 sense] sense,1633

8 dull;1635-69:dull,1633

16 out] upB,P,S

17 a such1633-54:such a1669

22dreame]dreams1669

Note

Note (Supp.)

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 yet10No leaven of vile soder did admit;Nor yet by any way have straid or goneFrom the first state of their Creation;Angels, which heaven commanded to provideAll 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 severeSentence (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 rot25I 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 pistoletsThat (more than Canon shot) availes or lets;Which negligently left unrounded, lookeLike many angled figures, in the booke35Of some great Conjurer that would enforceNature, 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 made40GorgeousFrance, ruin'd, ragged and decay'd;Scotland, which knew no State, proud in one day:And mangled seventeen-headedBelgia.Or were it such gold as that wherewithallAlmightyChymiquesfrom 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? Shall50I lose my guard, my ease, my food, my all?Much hope which they should nourish will be dead,Much of my able youth, and lustyheadWill vanish; if thou love let them alone,For thou wilt love me lesse when they are gone;55And be content that some lowd squeaking CryerWell-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 stillWisdome and knowledge; but,'tis turn'd to ill:As these should doe good works; and should provideNecessities; 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 dignitiesPasse Vertues, Powers, and Principalities.But, thou art resolute; Thy will be done!80Yet with such anguish, as her onely sonneThe 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 hateSo, 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 betrayThy Countrey, and faile both of that and thy pay.May the next thing thou stoop'st to reach, containe100Poyson, 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 theeItching 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; marriageAfflict 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.

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

40GorgeousFrance, ruin'd, ragged and decay'd;

Scotland, which knew no State, proud in one day:

And mangled seventeen-headedBelgia.

Or were it such gold as that wherewithall

AlmightyChymiquesfrom 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.beingDeath,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.orThe Chaine.A25,B,C,Cy,D,H49,JC,L74,Lec,M,N,O'F,P,S,S96,TCD,W2 For ... weare:] Armelets of that thou maist still let me weare:16696 were knit,1635-69:are knitCy:are tydeA25,D,H49,Lec,N,O'F,P,R212,S,S96,TCD,W:were tydeL74love] loves166911 way1635-69:tayntS96,O'F,W:tayntsB:faultA25,Cy,D,H49,L74,Lec,M,N,P,S,TCD15 great] old166916 rise;Ed:rise.1635-6922 chains.Ed.:chains:1635-6924 these1635-54:them1669their naturall CountreysCy,O'F:their Countreys naturall1635-54,P:their naturall Countrey1669, and rest of MSS.26 ruinous;Ed:ruinous.1635-6928 Iewishly.Ed:Iewishly;1635-6935 great] dread166936 course;Ed:course.1635-6938 streames,Ed:streames1635-6940 ruin'd, ragged and decay'd;1669, and MSS., but end stop varies:ruin'd: ragged and decay'd1635:ruin'd: ragged and decay'd,1639-5442Belgia.Ed:Belgia:1635-6945 soule] MercuryB47 they'are in,1635-69:therein,Cy,P:they were in,rest of MSS.51 dead,Ed:dead.1635-6952 lustyheadEd:lusty head1635-6953 vanish;Ed:vanish,1635-69if thou love let them alone,1635-39:if thou Love let them alone,1650-69:if thou, Love, let them alone;Grolier(conjecturingatone)54-5 gone; AndEd:gone, And1635-69,Cy,P:gone. Oh,rest of MSS.58 conscience, if they meet.1669 and MSS.:conscience, if hee meet.1635-54,JC,L74,P60 scheamesD,H49,JC,Lec,O'F,S96,W:scenes1635-69,Cy,L74,P,TCD63 passe] place166965new par. 1635-69But1635-69,Cy,P:Andrest of MSS.66 yet1635-69,Cy,P:Ohrest of MSS.67 that1635-54,Cy,P:the1669 and rest of MSS.70 chaine;Ed:chaine,1635-6974 pride.Ed:pride,1635-6976 being,Ed:being:1635-6977 Angels; yetCy,D,H49,N,P,S,TCD:Angels yet;1635-69,W79 done!Ed:done;1635-39:done:1650-54:done?166990 few fellowes] few-fellowes1635-6992 So, that1635-69,Cy,P:So much thatA25,D,H49,JC(as),L74,Lec,N,S,S96(as),TCD,W(as): So muchBestate] stateD,H49,&c.93 metal amongst all,] amongst metals all,1669,Cy95 Here] Her163998 thatMSS.:it1635-69thy]om. 1669104 Itching] ItchyMSS.105 evils that gold ever1635-69,P:hurt that ever gold hathrest of MSS.106 mischiefesall MSS.:mischiefe1635-69108 love; marriage1635-54,Cy,P:love and marriage1669,and rest of MSS.109 at] that1669110 thee] thou1669113 But if from it ... depart,1635-54,Cy,P:But if that from it ... part,1669:Or if with it ... departrest of MSS.

2 For ... weare:] Armelets of that thou maist still let me weare:1669

6 were knit,1635-69:are knitCy:are tydeA25,D,H49,Lec,N,O'F,P,R212,S,S96,TCD,W:were tydeL74

love] loves1669

11 way1635-69:tayntS96,O'F,W:tayntsB:faultA25,Cy,D,H49,L74,Lec,M,N,P,S,TCD

15 great] old1669

16 rise;Ed:rise.1635-69

22 chains.Ed.:chains:1635-69

24 these1635-54:them1669

their naturall CountreysCy,O'F:their Countreys naturall1635-54,P:their naturall Countrey1669, and rest of MSS.

26 ruinous;Ed:ruinous.1635-69

28 Iewishly.Ed:Iewishly;1635-69

35 great] dread1669

36 course;Ed:course.1635-69

38 streames,Ed:streames1635-69

40 ruin'd, ragged and decay'd;1669, and MSS., but end stop varies:ruin'd: ragged and decay'd1635:ruin'd: ragged and decay'd,1639-54

42Belgia.Ed:Belgia:1635-69

45 soule] MercuryB

47 they'are in,1635-69:therein,Cy,P:they were in,rest of MSS.

51 dead,Ed:dead.1635-69

52 lustyheadEd:lusty head1635-69

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(conjecturingatone)

54-5 gone; AndEd:gone, And1635-69,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 scheamesD,H49,JC,Lec,O'F,S96,W:scenes1635-69,Cy,L74,P,TCD

63 passe] place1669

65new par. 1635-69But1635-69,Cy,P:Andrest of MSS.

66 yet1635-69,Cy,P:Ohrest of MSS.

67 that1635-54,Cy,P:the1669 and rest of MSS.

70 chaine;Ed:chaine,1635-69

74 pride.Ed:pride,1635-69

76 being,Ed:being:1635-69

77 Angels; yetCy,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-fellowes1635-69

92 So, that1635-69,Cy,P:So much thatA25,D,H49,JC(as),L74,Lec,N,S,S96(as),TCD,W(as): So muchB

estate] stateD,H49,&c.

93 metal amongst all,] amongst metals all,1669,Cy

95 Here] Her1639

98 thatMSS.:it1635-69

thy]om. 1669

104 Itching] ItchyMSS.

105 evils that gold ever1635-69,P:hurt that ever gold hathrest of MSS.

106 mischiefesall MSS.:mischiefe1635-69

108 love; marriage1635-54,Cy,P:love and marriage1669,and rest of MSS.

109 at] that1669

110 thee] thou1669

113 But if from it ... depart,1635-54,Cy,P:But if that from it ... part,1669:Or if with it ... departrest of MSS.

Note

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 aloneI 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.ShouldCinthiaquit 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 weeThy 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 expiateThy 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 firesInto 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 us40To paths in love so dark, so dangerous:And those so ambush'd round with houshold spies,And over all, thy husbands towring eyesThat 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 blissesOf meetings, conference, embracements, kisses?Shadow'd with negligence our most respects?50Varied our language through all dialects,Of becks, winks, looks, and often under-boardsSpoak 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 throughOur turning brains, and both our lips grow to:Let our armes clasp like Ivy, and our fear60Freese us together, that we may stick here,Till Fortune, that would rive us, with the deedStrain her eyes open, and it make them bleed:For Love it cannot be, whom hithertoI 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 divide70Our 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 SpringHow 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 nightWith hope of Day, burthens well born are light.85Though cold and darkness longer hang somewhere,YetPhoebusequally 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 woe90Win on your health, your youth, your beauty: soDeclare 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 madeThat, oft, suspected which men would perswade;Take therefore all in this: I love so true,As I will never look for less in you.

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.

ShouldCinthiaquit 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,

YetPhoebusequally 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.beingCome, 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:night1635-694 Love] soule1635-545-44omit,1635-54,A25,B6 Thou and greate HellH40,O'F,P,S96:And that great Hell1669to boot are1669,H40,O'F:are nought butP,S967 thee,Ed:thee16699 theeH40:them1669,P,S96,TCD10 Day,Ed:Day.166911 felt wantH40,O'F,P,S96,TCD:self-want,1669sight,Ed:sight166912 firesH40,S96,TCD:fire1669,P14 Or] AreS96:AndTCDsoeH40,O'F,P,S96,TCD:such166917 theH40,O'F,P,S96,TCD:thy166920 Through holy fear, that merits (causesS96) thy despight (meriteth thy spightP)H40,O'F,P,S96,TCD:That thus with parting thou seek'st us to spight?166921 wasH40,S96:is1669,P,TCD23 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, decreedH-K,which Chambers follows25 now, soonerall the MSS.:sooner now1669rapt] wrapt166927 a vastH40,O'F,P,S96,TCD:the vast166929 thy self] myselfChambers31 my ownH40,O'F,P,S96:one1669sad1669:gladH40,O'F,P,S96,TCD32 fate:Ed:fate.166933 blinded] blindestH4034 followersH40,P,TCD:favourites1669,S9637 glowH40,S96,P,TCD:blow166938 flameH40,S96,P,TCD:flames166940 so dangerousH40,P,S96,TCD:and dangerous166942 all,Ed:all1669towring1669,TCD:towredO'F,P,S96:loweringGrolierthe towred husbands eyesH40:the Loured, husbandes eyesRP3143 That flam'd with oylieH40,O'F,P,S96,TCD:Inflam'd with th'ouglie1669jealousie:Ed:jealousie,166944 withH40,O'F,P,S96,TCD:in166945 Have we not kept our guards,H40,O'F,P,S96,TCD:Have we for this kept guards,1669on1669:o'r1635-5449 most1635-69,H40,O'F,P,S96,TCD:best166950 our] thyRP3152 from our words?1669:from words?1635-5453 these secretsMSS.:the secrets1635-69our] thyRP3154 Yea ... panting heart?1635-69,A25:Yea thy pale colours inward as thy heart?H40,O'F,P,S96,TCD56 sad] rudeP,TCD57-66om.1635-54,A25,B58 brains] beamsP:brainChambers61 Fortune,Ed:fortune,1669would rive us, withH40,O'F,S96,TCD:would ruine us with166962 herH40:his1669it] yet1669bleed:Ed:bleed.166965 Oh Fortune,] Oh fortune,1669,S96:And FortuneH40,P66 shame.H40,O'F,P,S96:name.166967 Do thy great worst&c.1669:Fortune, doe thy worst&c.1635-54(after56 the vulgar story?)armes,1635-69,H40,O'F,P,S,TCD:charmesH-K(Grosart and Chambers)69 Rend us in sunder,1669 and MSS.:Bend us, in sunder1635-5472 shifts.1635:shifts,1639-6976 WaterH40,P,TCD:Waters1635-69,A25,S96sure.Ed:sure;1635-6977 Time] TimesH40,TCDSpringEd:spring1635-6979 ripened in the eare;B,H40,O'F,P,S96,TCD:ripened in the yeare;1635:inripened the yeare;1639-6983-94omit1635-54,A25,B85 ThoughH40,P,TCD:The1669,S9687 he ... PortionsEd:he ... portionsH40:he ... portionO'F,P,TCD:we ... Portion1669:he can't in like proportionH-K(Grosart)88 enjoyes] yet joysH4089 ever your] your fayrestH40,TCD92 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:166994 there reflectedH40,O'F,P,S,TCD:here neglected1669:there neglectedH-K(Grosart, probably wrongly)95-104om. TCD95 ForH40, S96:And1635-6996 my words are now;H40, P:my deeds are now;1635-69, O'F, S96:my thoughts are now;A25102 oft,1633-54:oft1669would1635-54, A25, B, H40, O'F, S96:most1669

Elegie. XII.&c.Ed:Eleg. XIIII&c.1635-54(Eleg. XIII.beingCome, 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:night1635-69

4 Love] soule1635-54

5-44omit,1635-54,A25,B

6 Thou and greate HellH40,O'F,P,S96:And that great Hell1669

to boot are1669,H40,O'F:are nought butP,S96

7 thee,Ed:thee1669

9 theeH40:them1669,P,S96,TCD

10 Day,Ed:Day.1669

11 felt wantH40,O'F,P,S96,TCD:self-want,1669

sight,Ed:sight1669

12 firesH40,S96,TCD:fire1669,P

14 Or] AreS96:AndTCD

soeH40,O'F,P,S96,TCD:such1669

17 theH40,O'F,P,S96,TCD:thy1669

20 Through holy fear, that merits (causesS96) thy despight (meriteth thy spightP)H40,O'F,P,S96,TCD:That thus with parting thou seek'st us to spight?1669

21 wasH40,S96:is1669,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, decreedH-K,which Chambers follows

25 now, soonerall the MSS.:sooner now1669

rapt] wrapt1669

27 a vastH40,O'F,P,S96,TCD:the vast1669

29 thy self] myselfChambers

31 my ownH40,O'F,P,S96:one1669

sad1669:gladH40,O'F,P,S96,TCD

32 fate:Ed:fate.1669

33 blinded] blindestH40

34 followersH40,P,TCD:favourites1669,S96

37 glowH40,S96,P,TCD:blow1669

38 flameH40,S96,P,TCD:flames1669

40 so dangerousH40,P,S96,TCD:and dangerous1669

42 all,Ed:all1669

towring1669,TCD:towredO'F,P,S96:loweringGrolier

the towred husbands eyesH40:the Loured, husbandes eyesRP31

43 That flam'd with oylieH40,O'F,P,S96,TCD:Inflam'd with th'ouglie1669

jealousie:Ed:jealousie,1669

44 withH40,O'F,P,S96,TCD:in1669

45 Have we not kept our guards,H40,O'F,P,S96,TCD:Have we for this kept guards,1669

on1669:o'r1635-54

49 most1635-69,H40,O'F,P,S96,TCD:best1669

50 our] thyRP31

52 from our words?1669:from words?1635-54

53 these secretsMSS.:the secrets1635-69

our] thyRP31

54 Yea ... panting heart?1635-69,A25:Yea thy pale colours inward as thy heart?H40,O'F,P,S96,TCD

56 sad] rudeP,TCD

57-66om.1635-54,A25,B

58 brains] beamsP:brainChambers

61 Fortune,Ed:fortune,1669

would rive us, withH40,O'F,S96,TCD:would ruine us with1669

62 herH40:his1669

it] yet1669

bleed:Ed:bleed.1669

65 Oh Fortune,] Oh fortune,1669,S96:And FortuneH40,P

66 shame.H40,O'F,P,S96:name.1669

67 Do thy great worst&c.1669:Fortune, doe thy worst&c.1635-54(after56 the vulgar story?)

armes,1635-69,H40,O'F,P,S,TCD:charmesH-K(Grosart and Chambers)

69 Rend us in sunder,1669 and MSS.:Bend us, in sunder1635-54

72 shifts.1635:shifts,1639-69

76 WaterH40,P,TCD:Waters1635-69,A25,S96

sure.Ed:sure;1635-69

77 Time] TimesH40,TCD

SpringEd:spring1635-69

79 ripened in the eare;B,H40,O'F,P,S96,TCD:ripened in the yeare;1635:inripened the yeare;1639-69

83-94omit1635-54,A25,B

85 ThoughH40,P,TCD:The1669,S96

87 he ... PortionsEd:he ... portionsH40:he ... portionO'F,P,TCD:we ... Portion1669:he can't in like proportionH-K(Grosart)

88 enjoyes] yet joysH40

89 ever your] your fayrestH40,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 reflectedH40,O'F,P,S,TCD:here neglected1669:there neglectedH-K(Grosart, probably wrongly)

95-104om. TCD

95 ForH40, S96:And1635-69

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:oft1669

would1635-54, A25, B, H40, O'F, S96:most1669

Note

Iulia.

HARKE newes, ô envy, thou shalt heare descry'dMyIulia; who as yet was ne'r envy'd.To vomit gall in slander, swell her vainesWith calumny, that hell it selfe disdaines,5Is her continuall practice; does her best,To teare opinion even out of the brestOf dearest friends, and (which is worse than vilde)Sticks jealousie in wedlock; her owne childeScapes not the showres of envie, To repeate10The monstrous fashions, how, were, alive, to eateDeare reputation. Would to God she wereBut halfe so loath to act vice, as to heareMy milde reproofe. Liv'dMantuannow againe,That fœmall Mastix, to limme with his penne15This sheChymera, that hath eyes of fire,Burning with anger, anger feeds desire,Tongued like the night-crow, whose ill boding criesGive out for nothing but new injuries,Her breath like to the juice inTenarus20That blasts the springs, though ne'r so prosperous,Her hands, I know not how, us'd more to spillThe food of others, then her selfe to fill.But oh her minde, thatOrcus, which includesLegions of mischiefs, countlesse multitudes25Of 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 asIulia.

HARKE newes, ô envy, thou shalt heare descry'd

MyIulia; 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'dMantuannow againe,

That fœmall Mastix, to limme with his penne

15This sheChymera, 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 inTenarus

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, thatOrcus, 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 asIulia.

Elegie XIII.&c. Ed:Eleg. XV.&c. 1635-54:Elegie XV.1669:Iulia.B:Elegy. Iulia.O'F5 practice;Ed:practice,1635-697 vilde)Ed:vile)1635-69:vildeis the regular spelling of this word in the Donne MSS.8 in wedlock;] in the sheets of wedlock;B10 how,1635:how;1639-69That fœmall Mastix,1635:1639-69 and Chambers drop comma. But see note18 injuries,1635-39:injuries.1650-6920 prosperous,Ed:prosperous.1635-6924 mischiefsO'F:mischiefe,1635-6928 oaths:B,H-K(Grosart): loathes:1635-69,O'F31 give but halfB:give half herO'Fyet say,] only this say,B:but this sayO'F

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:vildeis 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 mischiefsO'F:mischiefe,1635-69

28 oaths:B,H-K(Grosart): loathes:1635-69,O'F

31 give but halfB:give half herO'F

yet say,] only this say,B:but this sayO'F

Note

A Tale of a Citizen and his Wife.

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