Part 26

[Footnote 1: _The entrance._ _1612-21_: _om. 1625-33_: _no notes, 1635-69_]

[Footnote 2: _disestimation_] _estimation_ _1625_]

[Footnote 3: _Incommodities &c._ _1612-21:_ _om. 1625-33_]

[Footnote 4: _Her ignorance &c.:_ _1612-25:_ _om. 1633_]

[5 All, _1612_: all, _1625-69_]

[10 Though] Through _1612-25_]

[12 be fail'd,] he fail'd, _1621-33_]

[13 twinckle] twincke _1625_]

[20 strings: _Ed_: strings. _1612-69_]

[23 are _Ed:_ are, _1612-69_]

[24 was fram'd, _1612-25:_ was fram'd: _1633-69_]

[27 Deluge, _1612-25:_ deluge, _1633-69_]

[29 all. _Ed:_ all, _1612-33:_ all; _1635-69_]

[33 Maid, _1612-25_, _1669:_ maid, _1633-54_]

[35 is, _1612-25:_ is _1633-69_]

[43 thy] they _1621-25_

issue, _1612-33:_ issue _1635-69_. _See note_]

[46 safe-sealing] safe-fealing _1621-39_]

[47 goe] goe; _1612-25_]

[48 Health, _1612-33:_ Health; _1635-69_, _Chambers and Grolier_

so. _1612-21:_ so, _1625-69_, _Chambers and Grolier_. _See note_]

[50 bee. _Ed:_ bee _1612-35:_ bee, _1639-69_]

[51 why, _1612-21:_ why _1625-69_

nor] or _1669_]

[57 more, _1612-25:_ more _1633-69_]

[67 was but] twas but _1612-25_]

[81 Shee, shee _1621-25:_ Shee, she _1633-69_]

[82 is] is. _1612-25_]

[96 parch'd _1612-21_, _1639-69:_ pach'd _1625:_ patch'd _1633-35_]

[99 knell,] knell _1633_]

[101 So this, _1612-33:_ So, this _1635-69_]

[103 thrust;] trust; _1669_]

[113 shroud] shourd _1621-25_]

[116 exalted] exhalted _1621_

goe,] goe. _1612-21_]

[123 Complexion _1612-25:_ complexion _1633-69_]

[124 Ingredients _1612-25:_ ingredients _1633-69_]

[134 a point, _1612-21:_ a-point. _1625:_ a point: _1633-69_]

[136 there. _1612-25:_ there, _1633-69_]

[137 wonne] worne _1612-25:_ woon _1633_]

[140 to _1612-25:_ too _1633-69_]

[146 Accident _1612-25:_ accident _1633-69_]

[156 Death _1612-25:_ death _1633-69_]

[161 thee, both _1612-25:_ thee both _1633-69_]

[172 first-built _1612-25:_ first built _1633-69_]

[173 didst] dost _1669_]

[177 the rage _1612-25:_ a rage _1633-69_]

[179 Death _1612-25:_ death _1633-69_]

[181 Peece, discharg'd, _1612:_ Peece, discharg'd _1625:_ Peece discharg'd _1633:_ Peece discharg'd, _1635-69_]

[183 This _1612-25:_ this _1633-69_]

[185 soule, _1612-21:_ soule _1625-69_]

[187 Twenty, perchance,] Twentie, perchance _1625:_ Twenty perchance _1633-69_]

[197 _Venus_] _no ital. 1612-25, and so with_ Hesper _&c._

retards] recards _1612-25_]

[201 Who, if _1612-25:_ Who if _1633-69_]

[204 barr'd;] bard; _1612-39_]

[209 the] those _1669_]

[214 her] _om. 1650-69_]

[219-20 _text 1612-25_ (_but_ soul _1612-25, and_ then _1625 and_ shee _1612-25_):

This must, my Soule, thy long-short Progresse bee, To'advance these thoughts; Remember then that she,

_1633-69_, _Chambers and Grolier_. _See note_]

[231 discoverie] Discoveree. _1612-25_]

[232 Of all,] Of all _1612-25_]

[236 assign'd _Ed:_ assigned _1612-69_]

[238 Dignities, _1612-25:_ dignities, _1633-69_]

[241 Gold, _1612-25:_ gold, _1633-69_]

[243 understood] unstood _1621-25_]

[249 well,] well _1612-25_]

[251 little] little _1633_]

[265 Ayre, and Fire, _1612-25:_ aire, and fire, _1633-69_]

[266 ingredients, _1612:_ ingredients. _1621-69_]

[268 'tis] ty's _1612-21_]

[270 breake _1612:_ brake _1621-33:_ break _1635-69_]

[287 said. _1612-25:_ said, _1633-69_]

[291 Pedantery] Pedantry _1650-69_]

[292 taught] thought _1612-25_]

[300 shalt] shall _1612-25_, _1669_]

[308 all] aie _1612-21:_ are _1625_]

[314 print,] point, _1612-33_]

[323 earthly] early _1625_]

[324 there.] there, _1633-39_]

[326 choose _1612-25:_ chose _1633-69_]

[327 will not] will nor _1612-25_]

[328 Divine _1612-25:_ Divine, _1633-69_]

[329 Great _1612-25:_ great _1633-69_]

[333 wits _1612-25:_ wits, _1633-69_]

[336 some] some, _1633_]

[338 lyes] wise _1612-25_]

[353 thought] thoughts _1612-25_]

[366 rebellious] rebellions _1635-69_]

[369 impressions _1612-25:_ _rest_ impression]

[378 ill,)] _last bracket dropped 1612-33_]

[380 whither] _spelt_ whether _1612-33_]

[383 study, _1635-69:_ study _1612-33_]

[391 _that_ ... _that_] _no italics 1612-25_]

[397 eies, _1612-21:_ eyes _1625:_ eyes; _1633-69_, _Chambers_. _See note_]

[398 Saint, _1612-25:_ Saint _1633-69_

vow] row _1612-25_]

[399 remaines;] remaines, _1612-25_]

[402 that] _in italics 1633-69_]

[404 Creatures _1612-25:_ creatures _1633-69_]

[416 Thinks] Thinke _1612-25_]

[420 enow] enough _1633_]

[421 this _1612:_ his _1621-69_]

[421-2 place, ... little, _1612:_ place ... little, _1621-33_]

[423 affords] affoords _1612-25_

world, foundation _1633-69:_ worlds, foundatione _1612-25_]

[426 Benefits ... Rods] _capitals from 1612-25_]

[428 Warre] _no capital 1612-39_]

[429 that] the _1625_]

[433 much] much, _1633-39_]

[435 up] upon _1612-25_]

[449 Here _1612-25:_ here _1633-69_]

[463 cleare,] cleane, _1635_]

[475 _My Lord_] _no italics 1612-25_]

[477 redresse] Reders _1612-25_]

[482 What e'r] What eye _1612-25_]

[500 where] waere _1612_]

[501 even] ever _1625_]

[506: within; _Ed:_ within, _1612-39:_ within. _1650-69_]

[516: invoke] inroque _1612-25_]

[518 French _1635-69:_ french _1612-33_]

[520 Rent] Rent. _1633_]

* * * * *

EPICEDES AND OBSEQVIES

_Vpon_

The deaths of sundry Personages.

* * * * *

_Elegie upon the untimely death of the incomparable Prince Henry._

Looke to mee faith, and looke to my faith, God; For both my centers feele this period. Of waight one center, one of greatnesse is; And Reason is that center, Faith is this; For into'our reason flow, and there do end 5 All, that this naturall world doth comprehend: Quotidian things, and equidistant hence, Shut in, for man, in one circumference. But for th'enormous greatnesses, which are So disproportion'd, and so angulare, 10 As is Gods essence, place and providence, Where, how, when, what soules do, departed hence, These things (eccentrique else) on faith do strike; Yet neither all, nor upon all, alike. For reason, put to'her best extension, 15 Almost meetes faith, and makes both centers one. And nothing ever came so neare to this, As contemplation of that Prince, wee misse. For all that faith might credit mankinde could, Reason still seconded, that this prince would. 20 If then least moving of the center, make More, then if whole hell belch'd, the world to shake, What must this do, centers distracted so, That wee see not what to beleeve or know? Was it not well beleev'd till now, that hee, 25 Whose reputation was an extasie On neighbour States, which knew not why to wake, Till hee discover'd what wayes he would take; For whom, what Princes angled, when they tryed, Met a _Torpedo_, and were stupified; 30 And others studies, how he would be bent; Was his great fathers greatest instrument, And activ'st spirit, to convey and tie This soule of peace, through Christianity? Was it not well beleev'd, that hee would make 35 This generall peace, th'Eternall overtake, And that his times might have stretch'd out so farre, As to touch those, of which they emblems are? For to confirme this just beleefe, that now The last dayes came, wee saw heav'n did allow, 40 That, but from his aspect and exercise, In peacefull times, Rumors of war did rise. But now this faith is heresie: we must Still stay, and vexe our great-grand-mother, Dust. Oh, is God prodigall? hath he spent his store 45 Of plagues, on us; and onely now, when more Would ease us much, doth he grudge misery; And will not let's enjoy our curse; to dy? As, for the earth throwne lowest downe of all, T'were an ambition to desire to fall, 50 So God, in our desire to dye, doth know Our plot for ease, in being wretched so. Therefore we live; though such a life wee have, As but so many mandrakes on his grave. What had his growth, and generation done, 55 When, what we are, his putrefaction Sustaines in us; Earth, which griefes animate? Nor hath our world now, other Soule then that. And could griefe get so high as heav'n, that Quire, Forgetting this their new joy, would desire 60 (With griefe to see him) hee had staid below, To rectifie our errours, They foreknow. Is th'other center, Reason, faster then? Where should we looke for that, now we'are not men? For if our Reason be'our connexion 65 Of causes, now to us there can be none. For, as, if all the substances were spent, 'Twere madnesse, to enquire of accident, So is't to looke for reason, hee being gone, The onely subject reason wrought upon. 70 If Fate have such a chaine, whose divers links Industrious man discerneth, as hee thinks; When miracle doth come, and so steale in A new linke, man knowes not, where to begin: At a much deader fault must reason bee, 75 Death having broke off such a linke as hee. But now, for us, with busie proofe to come, That we'have no reason, would prove wee had some. So would just lamentations: Therefore wee May safelyer say, that we are dead, then hee. 80 So, if our griefs wee do not well declare, We'have double excuse; he'is not dead; and we are. Yet I would not dy yet; for though I bee Too narrow, to thinke him, as hee is hee, (Our Soules best baiting, and midd-period, 85 In her long journey, of considering God) Yet, (no dishonour) I can reach him thus, As he embrac'd the fires of love, with us. Oh may I, (since I live) but see, or heare, That she-Intelligence which mov'd this spheare, 90 I pardon Fate, my life: Who ere thou bee, Which hast the noble conscience, thou art shee, I conjure thee by all the charmes he spoke, By th'oathes, which onely you two never broke, By all the soules yee sigh'd, that if you see 95 These lines, you wish, I knew your history. So much, as you, two mutuall heav'ns were here, I were an Angell, singing what you were.

[Epicedes _&c._ _1635-69:_ Elegie upon _&c._ _1613_, _in the_ Lachrymae Lachrymarum _&c. of Joshua Sylvester_. _See note:_ Elegie on Prince Henry. _1633-54_, _O'F:_ _similarly_, _Cy_, _N_, _TCD:_ An Elegie on the untimely _&c._ _1669_]

[8 man _1633-69:_ men _1613_]

[17 neare] nere _1633_]

[18 that _1633-69:_ the _1613_]

[19 might credit _1633-69:_ could credit _1613_]

[21 moving _1633-69:_ movings _1613_]

[22 shake, _1650-69:_ shake. _1633-39_]

[26 extasie _Ed:_ exstasie, _1633-69_]

[31 bent; _Ed:_ bent, _1613_, _1633-69_]

[34 through _1613-33:_ to _1635-69_

Christianity? _1669:_ Christianity: _1633-54_]

[42 did _1633:_ should _1613_, _1635-69_]

[44 great-grand-mother, _1613:_ great grand mother, _1633:_ great grand-mother, _1635-69_]

[46 us;] us, _1633_]

[48 to dy? _Ed:_ to dy. _1633:_ to die! _1635-54:_ _no stop_, _1669_]

[57 animate?] animate; _1633_]

[66 Of _1633-69:_ With _1613_]

[67 as, _1613:_ as _1633-69_]

[69 So is't to] So is' to _1669_]

[71 Fate _1633-69:_ Faith _1613_]

[72 thinks; _Ed:_ thinks, _1613_, _1633-69_]

[73 come, _1633-69:_ joine; _1613_

so steale in _1633-69:_ to steal-in _1613_]

[77 proofe _1633-69:_ proofes _1613_]

[78 some. _1633:_ some, _1635-69_]

[80 hee. _1633:_ hee, _1635-69_]

[82 and we are. _1633-54:_ we are. _1613_, _1669_]

[83 I would not _1633-54:_ would not I _1669_]

[91 Who _Ed:_ who _1633-69_]

[92 shee, _1633-69:_ she. _Chambers_]

[97 So much, as you, _1633-69:_ So, much as you _Chambers_]

_To the Countesse of_ Bedford.

MADAME,

_I have learn'd by those lawes wherein I am a[1] little conversant, that hee which bestowes any cost upon the dead, obliges him which is dead, but not the[2] heire; I do not therefore send this paper to your Ladyship, that you should thanke mee for it, or thinke that I thanke you in it; your favours and benefits to mee are so much above my merits, that they are even above my gratitude, if that were to be judged by words which must expresse it: But, Madame, since your noble brothers fortune being yours, the evidences also concerning it are yours,[3] so his vertue[4] being yours, the evidences concerning it,[5] belong also to you, of which by your acceptance this may be one peece, in which quality I humbly present it, and as a testimony how intirely your familie possesseth_

Your Ladiships most humble and thankfull servant

JOHN DONNE.

[To the Countesse _&c._ _1633-69_, _and in most of the MSS. as next page_]

[Footnote 1: a _1633-54:_ _om. 1669_]

[Footnote 2: the] his _1669_]

[Footnote 3: yours, _1633:_ yours: _1635-69_]

[Footnote 4: vertue _1633:_ vertues _1635-69_]

[Footnote 5: it, _1633:_ that _1635-69_]

_Obsequies to the Lord Harrington, brother to the Lady Lucy, Countesse of Bedford._