Part 17

Thou shalt not laugh in this leafe, Muse, nor they Whom any pitty warmes; He which did lay Rules to make Courtiers, (hee being understood May make good Courtiers, but who Courtiers good?) Frees from the sting of jests all who in extreme 5 Are wreched or wicked: of these two a theame Charity and liberty give me. What is hee Who Officers rage, and Suiters misery Can write, and jest? If all things be in all, As I thinke, since all, which were, are, and shall 10 Bee, be made of the same elements: Each thing, each thing implyes or represents. Then man is a world; in which, Officers Are the vast ravishing seas; and Suiters, Springs; now full, now shallow, now drye; which, to 15 That which drownes them, run: These selfe reasons do Prove the world a man, in which, officers Are the devouring stomacke, and Suiters The excrements, which they voyd. All men are dust; How much worse are Suiters, who to mens lust 20 Are made preyes? O worse then dust, or wormes meat, For they do eate you now, whose selves wormes shall eate. They are the mills which grinde you, yet you are The winde which drives them; and a wastfull warre Is fought against you, and you fight it; they 25 Adulterate lawe, and you prepare their way Like wittals; th'issue your owne ruine is. Greatest and fairest Empresse, know you this? Alas, no more then Thames calme head doth know Whose meades her armes drowne, or whose corne o'rflow: 30 You Sir, whose righteousnes she loves, whom I By having leave to serve, am most richly For service paid, authoriz'd, now beginne To know and weed out this enormous sinne. O Age of rusty iron! Some better wit 35 Call it some worse name, if ought equall it; The iron Age _that_ was, when justice was sold; now Injustice is sold dearer farre. Allow All demands, fees, and duties, gamsters, anon The mony which you sweat, and sweare for, is gon 40 Into other hands: So controverted lands Scape, like Angelica, the strivers hands. If Law be in the Judges heart, and hee Have no heart to resist letter, or fee, Where wilt thou appeale? powre of the Courts below 45 Flow from the first maine head, and these can throw Thee, if they sucke thee in, to misery, To fetters, halters; But if the injury Steele thee to dare complaine, Alas, thou go'st Against the stream, when upwards: when thou art most 50 Heavy and most faint; and in these labours they, 'Gainst whom thou should'st complaine, will in the way Become great seas, o'r which, when thou shalt bee Forc'd to make golden bridges, thou shalt see That all thy gold was drown'd in them before; 55 All things follow their like, only who have may have more. Judges are Gods; he who made and said them so, Meant not that men should be forc'd to them to goe, By meanes of Angels; When supplications We send to God, to Dominations, 60 Powers, Cherubins, and all heavens Courts, if wee Should pay fees as here, Daily bread would be Scarce to Kings; so 'tis. Would it not anger A Stoicke, a coward, yea a Martyr, To see a Pursivant come in, and call 65 All his cloathes, Copes; Bookes, Primers; and all His Plate, Challices; and mistake them away, And aske a fee for comming? Oh, ne'r may Faire lawes white reverend name be strumpeted, To warrant thefts: she is established 70 Recorder to Destiny, on earth, and shee Speakes Fates words, and but tells us who must bee Rich, who poore, who in chaires, who in jayles: Shee is all faire, but yet hath foule long nailes, With which she scracheth Suiters; In bodies 75 Of men, so in law, nailes are th'extremities, So Officers stretch to more then Law can doe, As our nailes reach what no else part comes to. Why barest thou to yon Officer? Foole, Hath hee Got those goods, for which erst men bar'd to thee? 80 Foole, twice, thrice, thou hast bought wrong, and now hungerly Beg'st right; But that dole comes not till these dye. Thou had'st much, and lawes Urim and Thummim trie Thou wouldst for more; and for all hast paper Enough to cloath all the great Carricks Pepper. 85 Sell that, and by that thou much more shalt leese, Then Haman, when he sold his Antiquities. O wretch that thy fortunes should moralize Esops fables, and make tales, prophesies. Thou'art the swimming dog whom shadows cosened, 90 And div'st, neare drowning, for what's vanished.

[Satyre V. _1633-69_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _Q_, _S_, _W:_ Satyre the third. _P:_ _no title_, _L74_, _N_, _TCD_ (_in L74 it is third, in N, TCD fourth in order_)]

[1 shalt] shal _1669_]

[9 and] in _1669_]

[12 implyes _1635-69:_ _spelt_ employes _1633 and some MSS._

represents. _1635-69:_ represents, _1633_]

[13 Officers] Officers, _1633-69_]

[14 ravishing _1633-69:_ ravenous _Q:_ ravening _P_, _S_]

[19 voyd. All _1669:_ voyd; all _1633-54_

dust; _W:_ dust, _1633-69_]

[21 preyes? _1669:_ preyes. _1633-54_]

[26 their _1633_, _D_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _S_, _TCD_, _W:_ the _1635-69_, _O'F_, _P_, _Q_]

[27 wittals; _W:_ wittals, _1633-69_

is.] is; _1633_]

[33 authoriz'd, _1635-54:_ authorized, _1633:_ authoriz'd. _1669_]

[35-6 Some ... equall it;] _in brackets_ _1635-54_]

[37-9

The iron Age _that_ was, when justice was sold, now Injustice is sold deerer farre; allow All demands, fees, and duties; gamsters, anon

_1633_, _D_, _JC_ (All claym'd fees), _Lec_, _N_, _Q_ (All claym'd fees), _TCD_, _W_ (All claym'd fees):

The iron Age _that_ was, when justice was sold (now Injustice is sold dearer) did allow All claim'd fees and duties. Gamesters, anon

_1635-54_, _B_, _O'F_, _P_ (_the last two omit_ that was), _Chambers (no italics):_

The iron Age was, when justice was sold, now Injustice is sold dearer far, allow All claim'd fees and duties, Gamesters, anon

_1669_ ]

[46 Flow] Flows _O'F_, _Chambers_. _See note_]

[49 complaine,] complaine; _1633_

go'st] goest _1633-39_]

[50 when upwards: _1633-54_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _Q_, _S_, _TCD_, _W_: upwards, _1669_, _Chambers_]

[52 the, _1633_: thy _1635-69_]

[56 only who have] only, who have, _1633_

more.] more _1633_]

[57 he ... so, _1633-54_: and he who made them so, _1669_: he ... and cal'd (_changed to_ stil'd) them so, _O'F_]

[58 that] _om. 1669_]

[59 supplications] supplication _1635-54_]

[61 Courts, _1635-69_, _B_, _JC_, _L74_, _O'F_, _P_, _Q_, _W_: Court, _1633_, _D_, _Lec_, _N_, _S_, _TCD_]

[63 'tis. Would _1669_: 'tis, would _1633_: 'tis; Would _1635-54_]

[68 aske _1669_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _Q_, _S_, _W_: lack _1633-54_, _Lec_

comming?] comming; _1633_]

[72 Speakes Fates words, and but tells us _&c._ _Q_, _W_, _Chambers_: Speakes Fates words, and tells who must bee _1633-69_]

[76 men,] men; _1633_

th'extremities, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _Q_, _S_, _TCD_, _W:_ extremities, _1633:_ extremities. _1635-69_]

[78 comes to.] can come to. _Q_]

[80 which erst men bar'd _1635-69,_ _B_, _O'F_, _Q_, _S_, _W:_ which men bared _1633_, _D_, _Lec_, _N_, _TCD:_ which men erst bar'd _A25_, _L74_, _P_]

[85: great] _om. Q_

Carricks _1633-35:_ Charricks _1639-69_]

[87 Haman, _1633:_ Hammon, _1635-69_, _P:_ _MSS. generally vary between_ Haman _and_ Hammond

when _1633_, _1669_, _D_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_, _TCD:_ if _1635-54_, _A25_, _B_, _JC_, _O'F_, _Q_, _S_]

[90 Thou'art _Ed:_ Thou art _1633-69_

cosened,] cozeneth, _1669_]

[91 And _1633:_ Which _1635-69:_ Whoe _Q_

div'st, _1633-54_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TCD:_ div'st _1669:_ div'dst _D_, _L74_, _Lec_ (_altered from_ div'st), _W:_ div'd _A25_, _B_, _JC_, _O'F_, _S_ (_Grosart_), _Q_

what's vanished. _N:_ what vanished. _1633-54 and rest of MSS.:_ what vanisheth. _1669_]

_Vpon Mr. Thomas Coryats Crudities._

Oh to what height will love of greatnesse drive Thy leavened spirit, _Sesqui-superlative_? Venice vast lake thou hadst seen, and would seek than Some vaster thing, and found'st a Curtizan. That inland Sea having discovered well, 5 A Cellar gulfe, where one might saile to hell From Heydelberg, thou longdst to see: And thou This Booke, greater then all, producest now. Infinite worke, which doth so far extend, That none can study it to any end. 10 'Tis no one thing, it is not fruit nor roote; Nor poorely limited with head or foot. If man be therefore man, because he can Reason, and laugh, thy booke doth halfe make man. One halfe being made, thy modestie was such, 15 That thou on th'other half wouldst never touch. When wilt thou be at full, great Lunatique? Not till thou exceed the world? Canst thou be like A prosperous nose-borne wenne, which sometimes growes To be farre greater then the Mother-nose? 20 Goe then; and as to thee, when thou didst go, _Munster_ did Townes, and _Gesner_ Authors show, Mount now to _Gallo-belgicus_; appear As deepe a States-man, as a Gazettier. Homely and familiarly, when thou com'st back, 25 Talke of _Will. Conquerour_, and _Prester Iack_. Go bashfull man, lest here thou blush to looke Vpon the progresse of thy glorious booke, To which both Indies sacrifices send; The West sent gold, which thou didst freely spend, 30 (Meaning to see't no more) upon the presse. The East sends hither her deliciousnesse; And thy leaves must imbrace what comes from thence, The Myrrhe, the Pepper, and the Frankincense. This magnifies thy leaves; but if they stoope 35 To neighbour wares, when Merchants do unhoope Voluminous barrels; if thy leaves do then Convey these wares in parcels unto men; If for vast Tons of Currans, and of Figs, Of Medicinall and Aromatique twigs, 40 Thy leaves a better method do provide, Divide to pounds, and ounces sub-divide; If they stoope lower yet, and vent our wares, Home-_manufactures_, to thick popular Faires, If _omni-praegnant_ there, upon warme stalls, 45 They hatch all wares for which the buyer calls; Then thus thy leaves we justly may commend, That they all kinde of matter comprehend. Thus thou, by means which th'Ancients never took, A Pandect makest, and Vniversall Booke. 50 The bravest Heroes, for publike good, Scattered in divers Lands their limbs and blood. Worst malefactors, to whom men are prize, Do publike good, cut in Anatomies; So will thy booke in peeces; for a Lord 55 Which casts at Portescues, and all the board, Provide whole books; each leafe enough will be For friends to passe time, and keep company. Can all carouse up thee? no, thou must fit Measures; and fill out for the half-pint wit: 60 Some shall wrap pils, and save a friends life so, Some shall stop muskets, and so kill a foe. Thou shalt not ease the Criticks of next age So much, at once their hunger to asswage: Nor shall wit-pirats hope to finde thee lye 65 All in one bottome, in one Librarie. Some Leaves may paste strings there in other books, And so one may, which on another looks, Pilfer, alas, a little wit from you; [Sidenote *: I meane from one page which shall paste strings in a booke[1]] But hardly[*] much; and yet I think this true; 70 As _Sibyls_ was, your booke is mysticall, For every peece is as much worth as all. Therefore mine impotency I confesse, The healths which my braine bears must be far lesse: Thy Gyant-wit'orethrowes me, I am gone; 75 And rather then read all, I would reade none.

_I. D._

[Footnote 1: I meane _&c._ _side-note in 1611_]

[Vpon Mr. _&c._ _1649_, _where it was placed with_ The Token (_p._ 72_), _at the end of the_ Funerall Elegies: _appeared originally in_ Coryats Crudities (_1611: see note_) _with heading_ Incipit Joannes Donne.]

[2 leavened _1611:_ learned _1649-69 and mod. edd._]

[7 longdst _1611:_ long'st _1649-69_]

[19 sometimes.] sometime _1611_]

[24 Gazettier. _1611:_ Garretteir _1649-69_]

[28 booke,] booke. _1611_]

[37 barrels; _1649-69:_ barrels, _1611_]

[56 board, _1611:_ board _1649-69_]

_In eundem Macaronicon._

_Quot, dos haec_, +Linguists+ perfetti, _Disticha_ fairont, _Tot_ cuerdos +States-men+, _hic_ livre fara _tuus_. Es _sat_ a my l'honneur estre hic inteso; Car +I leave+ L'honra, de personne nestre creduto, _tibi_.

_Explicit Joannes Donne._

[In eundem _&c. 1611, concluding the above_]

* * * * *

* * * * *

LETTERS

TO SEVERALL PERSONAGES.

THE STORME.

To Mr. _Christopher Brooke_.

Thou which art I, ('tis nothing to be soe) Thou which art still thy selfe, by these shalt know Part of our passage; And, a hand, or eye By _Hilliard_ drawne, is worth an history, By a worse painter made; and (without pride) 5 When by thy judgment they are dignifi'd, My lines are such: 'Tis the preheminence Of friendship onely to'impute excellence. England to whom we'owe, what we be, and have, Sad that her sonnes did seeke a forraine grave 10 (For, Fates, or Fortunes drifts none can soothsay, Honour and misery have one face and way.) From out her pregnant intrailes sigh'd a winde Which at th'ayres middle marble roome did finde Such strong resistance, that it selfe it threw 15 Downeward againe; and so when it did view How in the port, our fleet deare time did leese, Withering like prisoners, which lye but for fees, Mildly it kist our sailes, and, fresh and sweet, As to a stomack sterv'd, whose insides meete, 20 Meate comes, it came; and swole our sailes, when wee So joyd, as _Sara_'her swelling joy'd to see. But 'twas but so kinde, as our countrimen, Which bring friends one dayes way, and leave them then. Then like two mighty Kings, which dwelling farre 25 Asunder, meet against a third to warre, The South and West winds joyn'd, and, as they blew, Waves like a rowling trench before them threw. Sooner then you read this line, did the gale, Like shot, not fear'd till felt, our sailes assaile; 30 And what at first was call'd a gust, the same Hath now a stormes, anon a tempests name. _Ionas_, I pitty thee, and curse those men, Who when the storm rag'd most, did wake thee then; Sleepe is paines easiest salue, and doth fullfill 35 All offices of death, except to kill. But when I wakt, I saw, that I saw not; I, and the Sunne, which should teach mee'had forgot East, West, Day, Night, and I could onely say, If'the world had lasted, now it had beene day. 40 Thousands our noyses were, yet wee'mongst all Could none by his right name, but thunder call: Lightning was all our light, and it rain'd more Then if the Sunne had drunke the sea before. Some coffin'd in their cabbins lye,'equally 45 Griev'd that they are not dead, and yet must dye; And as sin-burd'ned soules from graves will creepe, At the last day, some forth their cabbins peepe: And tremblingly'aske what newes, and doe heare so, Like jealous husbands, what they would not know. 50 Some sitting on the hatches, would seeme there, With hideous gazing to feare away feare. Then note they the ships sicknesses, the Mast Shak'd with this ague, and the Hold and Wast With a salt dropsie clog'd, and all our tacklings 55 Snapping, like too-high-stretched treble strings. And from our totterd sailes, ragges drop downe so, As from one hang'd in chaines, a yeare agoe. Even our Ordinance plac'd for our defence, Strive to breake loose, and scape away from thence. 60 Pumping hath tir'd our men, and what's the gaine? Seas into seas throwne, we suck in againe; Hearing hath deaf'd our saylers; and if they Knew how to heare, there's none knowes what to say. Compar'd to these stormes, death is but a qualme, 65 Hell somewhat lightsome, and the'Bermuda calme. Darknesse, lights elder brother, his birth-right Claims o'r this world, and to heaven hath chas'd light. All things are one, and that one none can be, Since all formes, uniforme deformity 70 Doth cover, so that wee, except God say Another _Fiat_, shall have no more day. So violent, yet long these furies bee, That though thine absence sterve me,'I wish not thee.

[The Storme. To Mr. Christopher Brooke. _1633_ (_1635-69 add_ from the Iland voyage with the Earle of Essex): The Storme, A Storme _or_ Storme; _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _HN_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _Q_, _S_, _TCD_, _W_: _some add_ To Mr. C: B: _or a longer note to the same effect as 1635-69:_ to S^r Basil Brooke _JC_, _S_]

[2 these _1633 and most MSS._: this _1635-69_, _O'F_, _S_]

[4 an _1633:_ a _1635-69_]

[7 such: _Ed:_ such. _1633-69_]

[11 soothsay, _1650-54:_ _spelt_ Southsay _1633-39:_ gainsay _1669_]

[12 and way. _1633_, _1669:_ one way. _1635-54_]

[18 lye] laie _Q_]

[19 fresh _W:_ fresh, _1633-69_]

[20 As _W:_ As, _1633-69_]

[23 'twas _1650-69:_ 'twas, _1633-39_]

[30 fear'd] fear'd, _1633_]

[37 not; _Ed:_ not. _1633-69_]

[38 I, and the Sunne, _1633-69 and most MSS.:_ yea, and the Sunne, _Q_]

[39 Day, Night, _D_, _W:_ day, night, _1633-69_

could onely say _1633-69:_ could but say _Cy_, _HN_, _JC_, _L74_, _Q_, _N_, _S_, _TCD_, _W:_ could then but say _O'F:_ could say _H49_, _Lec:_ should say _D_]

[40 lasted, now _1633_, _1669:_ lasted, yet _1635-54:_ Lasted yet, _O'F_]

[42 his] this _1669_]

[44 before.] before; _1633_]

[46 dye; _Ed:_ dye. _1633-69_]

[47 graves _1669_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _TCD_, _W:_ grave _1633-54_, _Cy_]

[49 tremblingly _1633_, _A25_, _D_, _H49_, _HN_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _TCD_, _W:_ trembling _1635-69_, _Cy_, _JC_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_]

[50 Like _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _HN_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _TCD_, _W:_ As _1635-69_]

[53 Then] There _1669_]

[54 this] an _1635-69_]

[56 too-high-stretched _1633_, _A25_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TCD_, _W_ (_MS. spelling generally_ to _and_ stretcht): too-too-high-stretch'd _1635-54:_ to too-high-stretch'd _1669_, _B_, _O'F_]

[59 Even our Ordinance _1633 and MSS.:_ Yea even our Ordinance _1635-69_]

[60 Strive _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _HN_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _S_, _TCD_, _W:_ Strives _1635-69_, _Chambers:_ Striv'd _A25_, _B_, _Cy_]

[66 Hell] Hell's _S_

lightsome] light _B_, _Cy_

and the'Bermuda _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _TCD_, _W:_ and the Bermudas _B_, _Cy_, _HN_, _P_, _S_, _Q:_ the Bermudas _1635-54_, _O'F:_ the _Bermuda's_ _1669_]

[67 elder _A25_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _HN_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _Q_, _S_, _TCD_, _W:_ eldest _1633-69_, _B_, _Lec_]

[68 Claims _1635-69 and MSS.:_ Claim'd _1633_ this _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _HN_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _TCD:_ the _1635-69_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_, _Q_, _S_]

THE CALME.

Our storme is past, and that storms tyrannous rage, A stupid calme, but nothing it, doth swage. The fable is inverted, and farre more A blocke afflicts, now, then a storke before. Stormes chafe, and soone weare out themselves, or us; 5 In calmes, Heaven laughs to see us languish thus. As steady'as I can wish, that my thoughts were, Smooth as thy mistresse glasse, or what shines there, The sea is now. And, as the Iles which wee Seeke, when wee can move, our ships rooted bee. 10 As water did in stormes, now pitch runs out: As lead, when a fir'd Church becomes one spout. And all our beauty, and our trimme, decayes, Like courts removing, or like ended playes. The fighting place now seamens ragges supply; 15 And all the tackling is a frippery. No use of lanthornes; and in one place lay Feathers and dust, to day and yesterday. Earths hollownesses, which the worlds lungs are, Have no more winde then the upper valt of aire. 20 We can nor lost friends, nor sought foes recover, But meteorlike, save that wee move not, hover. Onely the Calenture together drawes Deare friends, which meet dead in great fishes jawes: And on the hatches as on Altars lyes 25 Each one, his owne Priest, and owne Sacrifice. Who live, that miracle do multiply Where walkers in hot Ovens, doe not dye. If in despite of these, wee swimme, that hath No more refreshing, then our brimstone Bath, 30 But from the sea, into the ship we turne, Like parboyl'd wretches, on the coales to burne. Like _Bajazet_ encag'd, the shepheards scoffe, Or like slacke sinew'd _Sampson_, his haire off, Languish our ships. Now, as a Miriade 35 Of Ants, durst th'Emperours lov'd snake invade, The crawling Gallies, Sea-goales, finny chips, Might brave our Pinnaces, now bed-ridde ships. Whether a rotten state, and hope of gaine, Or to disuse mee from the queasie paine 40 Of being belov'd, and loving, or the thirst Of honour, or faire death, out pusht mee first, I lose my end: for here as well as I A desperate may live, and a coward die. Stagge, dogge, and all which from, or towards flies, 45 Is paid with life, or pray, or doing dyes. Fate grudges us all, and doth subtly lay A scourge,'gainst which wee all forget to pray, He that at sea prayes for more winde, as well Under the poles may begge cold, heat in hell. 50 What are wee then? How little more alas Is man now, then before he was? he was Nothing; for us, wee are for nothing fit; Chance, or our selves still disproportion it. Wee have no power, no will, no sense; I lye, 55 I should not then thus feele this miserie.

[The Calme. _1633-69:_ _similarly_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _HN_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _Q_, _S_, _TCD_]

[4 storke] stroke _1639_]

[7 can wish, that my _1633_, _A25_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _TCD:_ could wish that my _Q:_ could wish my _1635-69_, _Chambers, who makes no note of 1633 reading_]

[9 the Iles _1633-69:_ these isles _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _Chambers (no note):_ those Iles _B_, _Cy_, _HN_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _Q_, _TCD_]

[11 out: _1635-69:_ out _1633_]

[14 ended] ending _1669_]

[15 ragges] rage _1669_]

[17 No] Now _1669_]

[21 lost] lefte _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_, _TCD_]