Category: Essays, Letters & Speeches
The Letters to Severall Persons of Honour, _now for the first time reprinted in their original form, were collected and published by John Donne, Jr., in 1651, twenty years after the death of the author. Apparently the sales were not large, for three years later the original sh...
I am not weary of writing; it is the course but durable garment of my love; but I am weary of wanting you. I have a minde like those bodies, which have hot Livers, and cold stom...
5. Part 5If this Letter finde you in a progresse, or at _Bath_, or at any place of equall leasure to our _Spâ_, you will perchance descend to reade so low meditations as these. Nothing i...
13. Part 13After I was grown to be your Lordships, by all the titles that I could thinke upon, it hath pleased your Lordship to make another title to me, by buying me. You may have many be...
12. Part 12This is the fourth of this moneth, and I receive your Pacquet so late, that I have scarce waking time enough to tell you so, or to write any thing but dreams. I have both your L...
11. Part 11Our blessed Saviour, who abounds in power and goodnesse towards us all, blesse you, and your family, with blessings proportioned to his ends in you all, and blesse you with the...
8. Part 8To you that are not easily scandalized, and in whom, I hope, neither my Religion nor Morality can suffer, I dare write my opinion of that Book in whose bowels you left me. It ha...
15. Part 15By 1582, the recurring annual error of approximately eleven minutes in the Julian calendar amounted to ten days. Pope Gregory XIII accordingly ordained that ten days should be d...
10. Part 10Because in your last Letter, I have an invitation to come to you, though I never thought my self so fallen from my interest, which, by your favour, I prescribe in, in you, and t...
1. Part 1The Letters to Severall Persons of Honour, _now for the first time reprinted in their original form, were collected and published by John Donne, Jr., in 1651, twenty years after...
9. Part 9I would have intermitted this week without writing, if I had not found the name of my Lady _Huntington_ in your Letter. The devotion which I owe, and (in good faith) pay in my b...
6. Part 6In the History or style of friendship, which is best written both in deeds and words, a Letter, which is of a mixed nature, and hath something of both, is a mixed Parenthesis: I...
14. Part 14"The occasion of my going hither was thus: hearing that a war about the title of Cleves, Juliers, and some other provinces betwixt the Low Countries and Germany, should be made,...
7. Part 7I write not to you out of my poor Library, where to cast mine eye upon good Authors kindles or refreshes sometimes meditations not unfit to communicate to near friends; nor from...
4. Part 4I do not remember that ever I have seen a petition in verse, I would not therefore be singular, nor adde these to your other papers. I have yet adventured so near as to make a p...
2. Part 2I had need do somewhat towards you above my promises; How weak are my performances, when even my promises are defective? I cannot promise, no not in mine own hopes, equally to y...
16. Part 16In such times, one may suppose that the Lord Keeper's young secretary had matters in hand more pressing than the payment of that debt of "a continual tribute of letters" which h...