Part 3

The following groups are important:--

_D_, _H49_, _Lec_,

and

_A18_, _N_, _TC_, where _TC_ represents _TCC_ and _TCD_

THE PRINTER

TO THE

UNDERSTANDERS.

For this time I must speake only to you: at another, _Readers_ may perchance serve my turne; and I thinke this a way very free from exception, in hope that very few will have a minde to confesse themselves ignorant.

If you looke for an Epistle, as you have before ordinary publications, I am sory that I must deceive you; but you will not lay it to my charge, when you shall consider that this is not ordinary, for if I should say it were the best in this kinde, that ever this Kingdome hath yet seene; he that would doubt of it must goe out of the Kingdome to enforme himselfe, for the best judgments, within it, take it for granted.

You may imagine (if it please you) that I could endeare it unto you, by saying, that importunity drew it on; that had it not beene presented here, it would have come to us from beyond the Seas; (which perhaps is true enough,) That my charge and paines in procuring of it hath beene such, and such. I could adde hereto, a promise of more correctnesse, or enlargement in the next Edition, if you shall in the meane time content you with this. But these things are so common, as that I should profane this Peece by applying them to it; A Peece which who so takes not as he findes it, in what manner soever, he is unworthy of it, sith a scattered limbe of this Author, hath more amiablenesse in it, in the eye of a discerner, then a whole body of some other; Or, (to expresse him best by himselfe)

[Sidenote: _In the Storme._]

--_A hand, or eye, By_ Hilyard _drawne, is worth a history By a worse Painter made_;--

If any man (thinking I speake this to enflame him for the vent of the Impression) be of another opinion, I shall as willingly spare his money as his judgement. I cannot lose so much by him as hee will by himselfe. For I shall satisfie my selfe with the conscience of well doing, in making so much good common.

Howsoever it may appeare to you, it shall suffice mee to enforme you, that it hath the best warrant that can bee, publique authority, and private friends.

There is one thing more wherein I will make you of my counsell, and that is, That whereas it hath pleased some, who had studyed and did admire him, to offer to the memory of the Author, not long after his decease, I have thought I should do you service in presenting them unto you now; onely whereas, had I placed them in the beginning, they might have serv'd for so many Encomiums of the Author (as is usuall in other workes, where perhaps there is need of it, to prepare men to digest such stuffe as follows after,) you shall here finde them in the end, for whosoever reades the rest so farre, shall perceive that there is no occasion to use them to that purpose; yet there they are, as an attestation for their sakes that knew not so much before, to let them see how much honour was attributed to this worthy man, by those that are capable to give it. _Farewell._

[The Printer _&c._ _1633-49:_ _om. 1650-69, which substitute Dedication_ To the _&c._ (_p._ 4)]

[2 you: _1635-49:_ you, _1633_]

[The Printer to the Vnderstanders. _1635-69:_ The Printer to the Reader. _1633. See note_]

[28 here _1635-69: om. 1633_ (... you shall here finde them in the end,...)]

_Hexastichon Bibliopolae._

I see in his last preach'd, and printed Booke, His Picture in a sheet; in _Pauls_ I looke, And see his Statue in a sheete of stone, And sure his body in the grave hath one: Those sheetes present him dead, these if you buy, You have him living to Eternity.

JO. MAR.

[Hexastichon Bibliopolae. _1633-69_]

Hexastichon ad Bibliopolam.

Incerti.

_In thy Impression of_ Donnes _Poems rare, For his Eternitie thou hast ta'ne care: 'Twas well, and pious; And for ever may He live: Yet shew I thee a better way; Print but his Sermons, and if those we buy, He, We, and Thou shall live t' Eternity._

[Hexastichon ad Bibliopolam. _1635-69_]

_Dedication to the Edition of 1650._

To the Right Honourable _William_ Lord _Craven_ Baron of _Hamsted-Marsham_.

_My Lord_,

Many of these Poems have, for severall impressions, wandred up and down trusting (as well they might) upon the Authors reputation; neither do they now complain of any injury but what may proceed either from the kindnesse of the Printer, or the curtesie of the Reader; the one by adding something too much, lest any spark of this sacred fire might perish undiscerned, the other by putting such an estimation upon the wit & fancy they find here, that they are content to use it as their own: as if a man should dig out the stones of a royall Amphitheatre to build a stage for a countrey show. Amongst all the monsters this unlucky age has teemed with, I finde none so prodigious, as the Poets of these later times, wherein men as if they would level understandings too as well as estates, acknowledging no inequality of parts and Judgements, pretend as indifferently to the chaire of wit as to the Pulpit, & conceive themselves no lesse inspired with the spirit of Poetry then with that of Religion: so it is not onely the noise of Drums and Trumpets which have drowned the Muses harmony, or the feare that the Churches ruine wil destroy their Priests likewise, that now frights them from this Countrey, where they have been so ingenuously received, but these rude pretenders to excellencies they unjustly own who profanely rushing into _Minervaes_ Temple, with noysome Ayres blast the lawrell w^{ch} thunder cannot hurt. In this sad condition these learned sisters are fled over to beg your L^{ps}. protection, who have been so certain a patron both to arts and armes, and who in this generall confusion have so intirely preserved your Honour, that in your Lordship we may still read a most perfect character of what _England_ was in all her pompe and greatnesse, so that although these poems were formerly written upon severall occasions, and to severall persons, they now unite themselves, and are become one pyramid to set your Lordships statue upon, where you may stand like Armed _Apollo_ the defendor of the Muses, encouraging the Poets now alive to celebrate your great Acts by affording your countenance to his poems that wanted onely so noble a subject.

My Lord,

_Your most humble servant_

JOHN DONNE.

[To the _&c._ _1650-69_]

TO JOHN DONNE.

Donne, _the delight of Phoebus, and each Muse, Who, to thy one, all other braines refuse; Whose every work, of thy most early wit, Came forth example, and remaines so, yet: Longer a knowing, than most wits doe live; And which no'n affection praise enough can give! To it, thy language, letters, arts, best life, Which might with halfe mankind maintain a strife; All which I mean to praise, and, yet, I would; But leave, because I cannot as I should_!

B. JONS.

[To John Donne. _1650-69, following the_ Hexastichon ad Bibliopolam.]

To LUCY, COUNTESSE OF BEDFORD, with M. DONNES Satyres.

_Lucy_, you brightnesse of our Spheare, who are Life of the _Muses_ day, their morning Starre! If works (not th'Authors) their own grace should look Whose poems would not wish to be your book? But these, desir'd by you, the makers ends Crown with their own. Rare Poems ask rare friends. Yet, _Satyres_, since the most of mankind bee Their unavoided subject, fewest see: For none ere took that pleasure in sins sense, But, when they heard it tax'd, took more offence. They, then, that living where the matter is bred, Dare for these Poems, yet, both ask, and read, And like them too; must needfully, though few, Be of the best: and 'mongst those best are you; _Lucy_, you brightnefle of our Spheare, who are The _Muses_ evening, as their morning-Starre.

B. JON.

TO JOHN DONNE.

Who shall doubt, _Donne_, where I a _Poet_ bee, When I dare send my _Epigrammes_ to thee? That so alone canst judge, so'alone do'st make: And, in thy censures, evenly, dost take As free simplicity, to dis-avow, As thou hast best authority, t'allow. Read all I send: and, if I finde but one Mark'd by thy hand, and with the better stone, My title's seal'd. Those that for claps doe write, Let punees, porters, players praise delight, And, till they burst, their backs, like asses load: A man should seek great glory, and not broad.

B. JON.

[To Lucy _&c._ To John Donne _&c._ _1650-69, in sheets added 1650_. _See_ Text and Canon _&c._]

SONGS _AND_ SONETS.

_The good-morrow._

I wonder by my troth, what thou, and I Did, till we lov'd? were we not wean'd till then? But suck'd on countrey pleasures, childishly? Or snorted we in the seaven sleepers den? T'was so; But this, all pleasures fancies bee. 5 If ever any beauty I did see, Which I desir'd, and got, t'was but a dreame of thee.

And now good morrow to our waking soules, Which watch not one another out of feare; For love, all love of other sights controules, 10 And makes one little roome, an every where. Let sea-discoverers to new worlds have gone, Let Maps to other, worlds on worlds have showne, Let us possesse one world, each hath one, and is one.

My face in thine eye, thine in mine appeares, 15 And true plaine hearts doe in the faces rest, Where can we finde two better hemispheares Without sharpe North, without declining West? What ever dyes, was not mixt equally; If our two loves be one, or, thou and I 20 Love so alike, that none doe slacken, none can die.

[SONGS AND SONETS. _1635-69: no division into sections, 1633_]

[The good-morrow. _1633-69_, _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no title_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S:_ Elegie. _S96_]

[2 lov'd? _1639-69:_ lov'd, _1633-35_]

[3 countrey pleasures, childishly? _1633-54_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec:_ childish pleasures seelily? _1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC_]

[4 snorted _1633-54_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S96:_ slumbred _1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _TC_ seaven sleepers _1633:_ seven-sleepers _1635-69_]

[5 this,] as _1669_]

[10 For _1633-69_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec:_ But _rest of MSS_.]

[13 to other, worlds on _1633-54:_ to other worlds our _1669:_ to others, worlds on _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _and other MSS_.]

[14 one world _1633-69_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ our world _rest of MSS_.]

[17 better _1633_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec:_ fitter _1635-69_, _and rest of MSS_.]

[19 was not] is not _1669_]

[20-1 or, thou and I ... can die. _1633_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec:_ or, thou and I ... can slacken, ... can die. _Chambers:_

both thou and I Love just alike in all, none of these loves can die.

_1635-69_, _JC_, _O'F_, _P:_ or thou and I Love just alike in all, none of these loves can die.

_A18_, _A25_, _B_, _L74_, _S96_, _TC_

As thou and I _&c._

_H40:_

And thou and I _&c._

_S_]

_Song._

Goe, and catche a falling starre, Get with child a mandrake roote, Tell me, where all past yeares are, Or who cleft the Divels foot, Teach me to heare Mermaides singing, 5 Or to keep off envies stinging, And finde What winde Serves to advance an honest minde.

If thou beest borne to strange sights, 10 Things invisible to see, Ride ten thousand daies and nights, Till age snow white haires on thee, Thou, when thou retorn'st, wilt tell mee All strange wonders that befell thee, 15 And sweare No where Lives a woman true, and faire.

If thou findst one, let mee know, Such a Pilgrimage were sweet; 20 Yet doe not, I would not goe, Though at next doore wee might meet, Though shee were true, when you met her, And last, till you write your letter, Yet shee 25 Will bee False, ere I come, to two, or three.

[Song. _1633-69:_ Song, A Songe, _or no title_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_]

[3 past yeares] times past _1669:_ past times _P_]

[11 to see] go see _1669_, _S_, _S96:_ see _most other MSS_.]

[20 sweet; _1669:_ sweet, _1633-54_]

[24 last, till] last so till _O'F_, _S_, _S96_]

[27 False, ... three] False, ere she come to two or three. _1669_]

_Womans constancy._

Now thou hast lov'd me one whole day, To morrow when thou leav'st, what wilt thou say? Wilt thou then Antedate some new made vow? Or say that now We are not just those persons, which we were? 5 Or, that oathes made in reverentiall feare Of Love, and his wrath, any may forsweare? Or, as true deaths, true maryages untie, So lovers contracts, images of those, Binde but till sleep, deaths image, them unloose? 10 Or, your owne end to Justifie, For having purpos'd change, and falsehood; you Can have no way but falsehood to be true? Vaine lunatique, against these scapes I could Dispute, and conquer, if I would, 15 Which I abstaine to doe, For by to morrow, I may thinke so too.

[Womans constancy. _1633-69_, _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no title_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _P_, _S_]

[8 Or, _1633_, _1669:_ For, _1635-54_ (_ll._ 8-10 _in brackets_)]

_The undertaking._

I have done one braver thing Then all the _Worthies_ did, And yet a braver thence doth spring, Which is, to keepe that hid.

It were but madnes now t'impart 5 The skill of specular stone, When he which can have learn'd the art To cut it, can finde none.

So, if I now should utter this, Others (because no more 10 Such stuffe to worke upon, there is,) Would love but as before.

But he who lovelinesse within Hath found, all outward loathes, For he who colour loves, and skinne, 15 Loves but their oldest clothes.

If, as I have, you also doe Vertue'attir'd in woman see, And dare love that, and say so too, And forget the Hee and Shee; 20

And if this love, though placed so, From prophane men you hide, Which will no faith on this bestow, Or, if they doe, deride:

Then you have done a braver thing 25 Then all the _Worthies_ did; And a braver thence will spring, Which is, to keepe that hid.

[The undertaking. _1635-69:_ _no title_, _1633_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S:_ Platonique Love. _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_]

[2 _Worthies_] _worthies_ _1633_]

[3 And yet] Yet _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_]

[7-8 art ... it, _1669:_ art, ... it _1633-54_]

[16 their] her _B_]

[18 Vertue'attir'd in _1633_, _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _S_, _TC:_ Vertue in _1635-69_, _O'F_, _Chambers_]

[26 did; _Ed:_ did. _1633-39:_ did, _1650-69_]

[27 spring,] spring _1633-39_]

_The Sunne Rising._

Busie old foole, unruly Sunne, Why dost thou thus, Through windowes, and through curtaines call on us? Must to thy motions lovers seasons run? Sawcy pedantique wretch, goe chide 5 Late schoole boyes, and sowre prentices, Goe tell Court-huntsmen, that the King will ride, Call countrey ants to harvest offices; Love, all alike, no season knowes, nor clyme, Nor houres, dayes, moneths, which are the rags of time. 10

Thy beames, so reverend, and strong Why shouldst thou thinke? I could eclipse and cloud them with a winke, But that I would not lose her sight so long: If her eyes have not blinded thine, 15 Looke, and to morrow late, tell mee, Whether both the'India's of spice and Myne Be where thou leftst them, or lie here with mee. Aske for those Kings whom thou saw'st yesterday, And thou shalt heare, All here in one bed lay. 20

She'is all States, and all Princes, I, Nothing else is. Princes doe but play us; compar'd to this, All honor's mimique; All wealth alchimie. Thou sunne art halfe as happy'as wee, 25 In that the world's contracted thus; Thine age askes ease, and since thy duties bee To warme the world, that's done in warming us. Shine here to us, and thou art every where; This bed thy center is, these walls, thy spheare. 30

[The Sunne Rising. _1633-69:_ Sunne Rising. _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ Ad Solem. _A25_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96:_ To the Sunne. _Cy_, _Lec_, _O'F (as a second title):_ _no title_, _B_]

[3 call] look _1669_]

[6 and] or _1669_

sowre] slowe _B_, _Cy_, _P_]

[8 offices;] offices, _1633_]

[11-14 Thy beames, ... so long: _1633 and all MSS.:_

Thy beames so reverend, and strong Dost thou not thinke I could eclipse and cloude them with a winke, But that I would not lose her sight so long? _1635-69_ ]

[17 spice] space _1650-54_]

[18 leftst _1633:_ left _1635-69_]

[23 us;] us, _1633_]

[24 wealth] wealth's _A25_, _C_, _P_

alchimie. _Ed:_ alchimie; _1633-69_]

[26 thus; _Ed:_ thus. _1633-69_]

_The Indifferent._

I can love both faire and browne, Her whom abundance melts, and her whom want betraies, Her who loves lonenesse best, and her who maskes and plaies, Her whom the country form'd, and whom the town, Her who beleeves, and her who tries, 5 Her who still weepes with spungie eyes, And her who is dry corke, and never cries; I can love her, and her, and you and you, I can love any, so she be not true.

Will no other vice content you? 10 Wil it not serve your turn to do, as did your mothers? Or have you all old vices spent, and now would finde out others? Or doth a feare, that men are true, torment you? Oh we are not, be not you so, Let mee, and doe you, twenty know. 15 Rob mee, but binde me not, and let me goe. Must I, who came to travaile thorow you, Grow your fixt subject, because you are true?

_Venus_ heard me sigh this song, And by Loves sweetest Part, Variety, she swore, 20 She heard not this till now; and that it should be so no more. She went, examin'd, and return'd ere long, And said, alas, Some two or three Poore Heretiques in love there bee, Which thinke to stablish dangerous constancie. 25 But I have told them, since you will be true, You shall be true to them, who'are false to you.

[The Indifferent. _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ A Songe, Songe, _or no title_, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96:_ Sonnet. _P_]

[3 lonenesse] lovers _1669_

maskes] sports _1669_, _S_

and _1669:_ & _1633-39:_ _om._ _1650-54_]

[12 spent] worn _1669_]

[15 mee, _1633:_ me; _1635-69_]

[17 travaile] _spelt_ travell, travel _1635-69_]

[19 sigh] sing _1669_]

[20 sweetest Part,] sweetest sweet, _1669_, _P_, _S_]

[21 and that it _1633_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _S:_ it _1635-69_, _H40_, _P:_ and it _A18_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _S96_, _TC_]

_Loves Vsury._

For every houre that thou wilt spare mee now, I will allow, Usurious God of Love, twenty to thee, When with my browne, my gray haires equall bee; Till then, Love, let my body raigne, and let 5 Mee travell, sojourne, snatch, plot, have, forget, Resume my last yeares relict: thinke that yet We'had never met.

Let mee thinke any rivalls letter mine, And at next nine 10 Keepe midnights promise; mistake by the way The maid, and tell the Lady of that delay; Onely let mee love none, no, not the sport; From country grasse, to comfitures of Court, Or cities quelque choses, let report 15 My minde transport.

This bargaine's good; if when I'am old, I bee Inflam'd by thee, If thine owne honour, or my shame, or paine, Thou covet most, at that age thou shalt gaine. 20 Doe thy will then, then subject and degree, And fruit of love, Love I submit to thee, Spare mee till then, I'll beare it, though she bee One that loves mee.

[Loves Vsury. _1633-69_, _L74:_ _no title_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S:_ Elegie. _S96_]

[5 raigne, _1633_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _P_, _S:_ range, _1635-69_, _O'F_, _S96_. _See note_]

[6 snatch, _1633_, _1669:_ match, _1635-54_]

[7 relict] relique _1669_]

[12 that] her _1669_]

[13 sport; _1669:_ sport _1633-54:_ sport, _most MSS._]

[15 let report _1633_, _1669_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _P_, _S:_ let not report _1635-54_, _O'F_, _S96_, _Chambers_. _See note_]

[19 or paine _1633, 1669, and most MSS.:_ and paine _1635-54_, _O'F_]

[22 fruit] fruites _B_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _S96_]

[24 loves _1633, 1669 and all the MSS.:_ love _1635-54_]

_The Canonization._

For Godsake hold your tongue, and let me love, Or chide my palsie, or my gout, My five gray haires, or ruin'd fortune flout, With wealth your state, your minde with Arts improve, Take you a course, get you a place, 5 Observe his honour, or his grace, Or the Kings reall, or his stamped face Contemplate, what you will, approve, So you will let me love.

Alas, alas, who's injur'd by my love? 10 What merchants ships have my sighs drown'd? Who saies my teares have overflow'd his ground? When did my colds a forward spring remove? When did the heats which my veines fill Adde one more to the plaguie Bill? 15 Soldiers finde warres, and Lawyers finde out still Litigious men, which quarrels move, Though she and I do love.

Call us what you will, wee are made such by love; Call her one, mee another flye, 20 We'are Tapers too, and at our owne cost die, And wee in us finde the'Eagle and the Dove. The Phœnix ridle hath more wit By us, we two being one, are it. So to one neutrall thing both sexes fit, 25 Wee dye and rise the same, and prove Mysterious by this love.

Wee can dye by it, if not live by love, And if unfit for tombes and hearse Our legend bee, it will be fit for verse; 30 And if no peece of Chronicle wee prove, We'll build in sonnets pretty roomes; As well a well wrought urne becomes The greatest ashes, as halfe-acre tombes, And by these hymnes, all shall approve 35 Us _Canoniz'd_ for Love:

And thus invoke us; You whom reverend love Made one anothers hermitage; You, to whom love was peace, that now is rage; Who did the whole worlds soule contract, and drove 40 Into the glasses of your eyes (So made such mirrors, and such spies, That they did all to you epitomize,) Countries, Townes, Courts: Beg from above A patterne of your love! 45

[The Canonization. _1633-39_, _A18_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ Canonization. _1650-69_, _S:_ Canonizatio. _S96:_ _no title_, _B_, _H40_, _JC_]