Part 37

_Parturiunt madido quae nixu praela, recepta, Sed quae scripta manu, sunt veneranda magis. Qui liber in pluteos, blattis cinerique relictos, Si modo sit praeli sanguine tinctus, abit; Accedat calamo scriptus, reverenter habetur, 5 Involat et veterum scrinia summa Patrum. Dicat Apollo modum; Pueros infundere libro Nempe vetustatem canitiemque novo. Nil mirum, medico pueros de semine natos, Haec nova fata libra posse dedisse novo. 10 Si veterem faciunt pueri, qui nuperus, Annon Ipse Pater Iuvenem me dabit arte senem? Hei miseris senibus! nos vertit dura senectus Omnes in pueros, neminem at in Iuvenem. Hoc tibi servasti praestandum, Antique Dierum, 15 Quo viso, et vivit, et juvenescit Adam. Interea, infirmae fallamus taedia vitae, Libris, et Coelorum aemulâ amicitiâ. Hos inter, qui a te mihi redditus iste libellus, Non mihi tam charus, tam meus, ante fuit._ 20

_Transiit in Sequanam Moenus; Victoris in aedes; Et Francofurtum, te revehente, meat._

[DE LIBRO &c. _1635-69_ _among certain prose letters in Latin and English_

_Title_:--mutuaretur Impresso;] mutuaretur, Impresso, _1635-69_

frustatim] frustratim _1635-69_

lacerato;] lacerato, _1635-69_]

[2 _manu, sunt_] _manu sunt, 1635-69_]

[4 _abit;_] _abit, 1635-69_]

[ _Ed_: _in old edd. these lines are 3 and 4 of above poem_. _See note_]

[1 _aedes_;] _aedes, 1635-69_]

Amicissimo, & meritissimo BEN. JONSON.

In Vulponem.

_Qvod arte ausus es hic tuâ, Poeta, Si auderent hominum Deique juris Consulti, veteres sequi aemularierque, O omnes saperemus ad salutem. His sed sunt veteres araneosi; 5 Tam nemo veterum est sequutor, ut tu Illos quod sequeris novator audis. Fac tamen quod agis; tuique primâ Libri canitie induantur horâ: Nam chartis pueritia est neganda, 10 Nascanturque senes, oportet, illi Libri, queis dare vis perennitatem. Priscis, ingenium facit, laborque Te parem; hos superes, ut et futuros, Ex nostrâ vitiositate sumas, 15 Quâ priscos superamus, et futuros._

[Amicissimo _&c._ _in sheets added 1650: prefixed originally to Quarto edition of Jonson's Volpone. 1607, later to Folio edition of The Workes of Beniamin Jonson. 1616., when In Vulponem was added: in both signed I.D._]

[11 Nascanturque _1607_: Nascunturque _1616_, _1650-69_]

To M^r _George Herbert_, with one of my Seal(s), of the Anchor and Christ.

_Qvi prius assuetus Serpentum fasce Tabellas Signare, (haec nostrae symbola parva Domus) Adscitus domui Domini, patrioque relicto Stemmate, nanciscor stemmata jure nova. Hinc mihi Crux primo quae fronti impressa lavacro, 5 Finibus extensis, anchora facta patet. Anchorae in effigiem Crux tandem desinit ipsam, Anchora fit tandem Crux tolerata diu. Hoc tamen ut fiat, Christo vegetatur ab ipso Crux, et ab Affixo, est Anchora facta, Iesu. 10 Nec Natalitiis penitus serpentibus orbor, Non ita dat Deus, ut auferat ante data. Quâ sapiens, Dos est; Quâ terram lambit et ambit, Pestis; At in nostra fit Medicina Cruce, Serpens; fixa Cruci si sit Natura; Crucique 15 A fixo, nobis, Gratia tota fluat. Omnia cum Crux sint, Crux Anchora facta, sigillum Non tam dicendum hoc quam Catechismus erit. Mitto nec exigua, exiguâ sub imagine, dona, Pignora amicitiae, et munera; Vota, preces. 20 Plura tibi accumulet, sanctus cognominis, Ille Regia qui flavo Dona sigillat Equo._

[To M^r George Herbert _&c._ _1650-69_, _in sheets added 1650: two and a half lines in Walton's Life of Donne (1658): for Herbert's reply see note Title:_--sent him with one _Walton_ (1670) Seal, _1650-69:_ Seales _Walton_]

[1 fasce] falce _Walton_]

[5 _fronti_] _fronte 1650-69_]

[17 _facta,_] _fixa,_ _1650-69_]

[19 Mitto] Mitto, _1650-69_]

A Sheafe of Snakes used heretofore to be My Seal, The Crest of our poore Family. Adopted in Gods Family, and so Our old Coat lost, unto new armes I go. The Crosse (my seal at Baptism) spred below, 5 Does, by that form, into an Anchor grow. Crosses grow Anchors; Bear, as thou shouldst do Thy Crosse, and that Crosse grows an Anchor too. But he that makes our Crosses Anchors thus, Is Christ, who there is crucifi'd for us. 10 Yet may I, with this, my first Serpents hold, God gives new blessings, and yet leaves the old; The Serpent, may, as wise, my pattern be; My poison, as he feeds on dust, that's me. And as he rounds the Earth to murder sure, 15 My death he is, but on the Crosse, my cure. Crucifie nature then, and then implore All Grace from him, crucified there before; When all is Crosse, and that Crosse Anchor grown, This Seal's a Catechism, not a Seal alone. 20 Under that little Seal great gifts I send, <Wishes,> and prayers, pawns, and fruits of a friend. And may that Saint which rides in our great Seal, To you, who bear his name, great bounties deal.

[A sheafe _&c._] _1650-69 and in Walton's_ Life of Donne (1658), _in all of which and in all subsequent editions except Grolier the first two lines are printed as a title, Walton bracketing them_:--

A sheafe of Snakes used heretofore to be _my Seal, The Crest of our poore Family_. ]

[4 Our ... unto] My ... into _Walton_]

[5 at] in _Walton_]

[11 with this I may _Walton_]

[15 to murder sure,] to murder, sure _Walton_]

[16 He is my death; _Walton_]

[22 Wishes, _Ed_: Works, _1650-69_: Both works _Walton_: Lat. _vota_]

[23-4

Oh may that Saint that rides on our great Seal, To you that bear his name large bounty deal.

_Walton_. ]

Translated out of _Gazæus_, _Vota Amico facta_. _fol._ 160.

God grant thee thine own wish, and grant thee mine, Thou, who dost, best friend, in best things outshine; May thy soul, ever chearfull, nere know cares, Nor thy life, ever lively, know gray haires. Nor thy hand, ever open, know base holds, 5 Nor thy purse, ever plump, know pleits, or folds. Nor thy tongue, ever true, know a false thing, Nor thy word, ever mild, know quarrelling. Nor thy works, ever equall, know disguise, Nor thy fame, ever pure, know contumelies. 10 Nor thy prayers, know low objects, still Divine; God grant thee thine own wish, and grant thee mine.

Translated _&c._] _1650-69_, _in sheets added 1650_: _for original see note_]

APPENDIX B.

POEMS WHICH HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO JOHN DONNE IN THE OLD EDITIONS AND THE PRINCIPAL MS. COLLEC- TIONS, ARRANGED ACCORDING TO THEIR PROBABLE AUTHORS.

I.

POEMS

PROBABLY BY SIR JOHN ROE, KNT.

_To S^{r} Nicholas Smyth._

Sleep, next Society and true friendship, Mans best contentment, doth securely slip His passions and the worlds troubles. Rock me O sleep, wean'd from my dear friends company, In a cradle free from dreams or thoughts, there 5 Where poor men ly, for Kings asleep do fear. Here sleeps House by famous Ariosto, By silver-tongu'd Ovid, and many moe, Perhaps by golden-mouth'd Spencer too pardie, (Which builded was some dozen Stories high) 10 I had repair'd, but that it was so rotten, As sleep awak'd by Ratts from thence was gotten: And I will build no new, for by my Will, Thy fathers house shall be the fairest still In Excester. Yet, methinks, for all their Wit, 15 Those wits that say nothing, best describe it. Without it there is no Sense, only in this Sleep is unlike a long Parenthesis. Not to save charges, but would I had slept The time I spent in London, when I kept 20 Fighting and untrust gallants Company, In which Natta, the new Knight, seized on me, And offered me the experience he had bought With great Expence. I found him throughly taught In curing Burnes. His thing hath had more scars 25 Then Things himselfe; like Epps it often wars, And still is hurt. For his Body and State The Physick and Counsel which came too late, 'Gainst Whores and Dice, hee nowe on mee bestowes Most superficially: hee speaks of those 30 (I found by him) least soundly who most knows: He swears well, speakes ill, but best of Clothes, What fits Summer, what Winter, what the Spring. He had Living, but now these waies come in His whole Revenues. Where each Whore now dwells, 35 And hath dwelt, since his fathers death, he tells. Yea he tells most cunningly each hid cause Why Whores forsake their Bawds. To these some Laws He knows of the Duello, and touch his Skill The least lot in that or those he quarrell will, 40 Though sober; but so never fought. I know What made his Valour, undubb'd, Windmill go, Within a Pint at most: yet for all this (Which is most strange) Natta thinks no man is More honest than himself. Thus men may want 45 Conscience, whilst being brought up ignorant, They use themselves to vice. And besides those Illiberal Arts forenam'd, no Vicar knows, Nor other Captain less then he; His Schools Are Ordinaries, where civil men seem fools, 50 Or are for being there; His best bookes, Plaies, Where, meeting godly Scenes, perhaps he praies. His first set prayer was for his father, ill And sick, that he might dye: That had, until The Lands were gone, he troubled God no more: 55 And then ask'd him but his Right, That the whore Whom he had kept, might now keep him: She spent, They left each other on even terms; she went To Bridewel, he unto the Wars, where want Hath made him valiant, and a Lieutenant 60 He is become: Where, as they pass apace, He steps aside, and for his Captains place He praies again: Tells God, he will confess His sins, swear, drink, dice and whore thenceforth less, On this Condition, that his Captain dye 65 And he succeed; But his Prayer did not; They Both cashir'd came home, and he is braver now Than'his captain: all men wonder, few know how. Can he rob? No. Cheat? No. Or doth he spend His own? No. Fidus, he is thy dear friend, 70 That keeps him up. I would thou wert thine own, Or thou'hadst as good a friend as thou art one. No present Want nor future hope made me, Desire (as once I did) thy friend to be: But he had cruelly possest thee then, 75 And as our Neighbours the Low-Country men, Being (whilst they were Loyal, with Tyranny Opprest) broke loose, have since refus'd to be Subject to good Kings, I found even so, Wer't thou well rid of him, thou't have no moe. 80 Could'st thou but chuse as well as love, to none Thou should'st be second: Turtle and Damon Should give thee place in songs, and Lovers sick Should make thee only Loves Hieroglyphick: Thy Impress should be the loving Elm and Vine, 85 Where now an ancient Oak, with Ivy twine Destroy'd, thy Symbol is. O dire Mischance! And, O vile verse! And yet your Abraham France Writes thus, and jests not. Good Fidus for this Must pardon me, Satyres bite when they kiss. 90 But as for Natta, we have since faln out: Here on his knees he pray'd, else we had fought. And because God would not he should be winner, Nor yet would have the Death of such a sinner, At his seeking, our Quarrel is deferr'd, 95 I'll leave him at his Prayers, and (as I heard) His last; Fidus, and you, and I do know, I was his friend, and durst have been his foe, And would be either yet; But he dares be Neither; Sleep blots him out and takes in thee. 100 "The mind, you know is like a Table-book, Which, th'old unwipt, new writing never took. Hear how the Huishers Checques, Cupbord and Fire I pass'd; by which Degrees young men aspire In Court; And how that idle and she-state, 105 Whenas my judgment cleer'd, my soul did hate; How I found there (if that my trifling Pen Durst take so hard a Task) Kings were but men, And by their Place more noted, if they erre; How they and their Lords unworthy men prefer; 110 And, as unthrifts had rather give away Great Summs to flatterers, than small debts pay, So they their weakness hide, and greatness show, By giving them that which to worth they owe: What Treason is, and what did Essex kill, 115 Not true Treason, but Treason handled ill; And which of them stood for their Countries good, Or what might be the Cause of so much Blood. He said she stunck, and men might not have said That she was old before that she was dead. 120 His Case was hard, to do or suffer; loth To do, he made it harder, and did both. Too much preparing lost them all their Lives, Like some in Plagues kill'd with preservatives. Friends, like land-souldiers in a storm at Sea, 125 Not knowing what to do, for him did pray. They told it all the world; where was their wit? Cuffs putting on a sword, might have told it. And Princes must fear Favorites more then Foes, For still beyond Revenge Ambition goes. 130 How since Her death, with Sumpter-horse that Scot Hath rid, who, at his coming up, had not A Sumpter-dog. But till that I can write Things worth thy Tenth reading (dear Nick) goodnight.

[To S^{r} Nicholas Smyth. _Ed_: Satyra Sexta. To S^{r} _&c._ _S_: Satires to S^{r} Nic: Smith. 1602 _B_: A Satire: to S^{r} Nicholas Smith. 1602, _L74_: A Satyricall Letter to S^{r} Nich: Smith. Quere, if Donnes or S^{r} Th: Rowes. _O'F_: _no title_ _N_, _TCD_ (_JR in margin_): Satyre VI. _1669_ (_on which the present text is based_)]

[1 Sleep, next] Sleep next, _1669_]

[2 slip _1669_, _S_: skipp _B_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _TCD_. _In 1669 full stops after slip and rock me and no stop after troubles_]

[3 Rock] rock _1669_]

[4 my _MSS._: thy _1669_]

[6 asleep] all sleap _B_]

[9 golden-mouth'd] gold-mouth'd _B_, _S_]

[14 still] still. _1669_]

[25 hath had _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCD_: had had _1669_: had _B_]

[26 Things _B_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCD_: T _1669_]

[28-31 _text from B_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCD_, _which bracket which ... late_: _see note_:

The Physick and Councel (which came too late 'Gainst Whores and Dice) he now on me bestows: Most superficially he speaks of those. I found, by him, least sound him who most knows.

_1669_ ]

[33 what Winter] what What Winter _1669_]

[35 each _B_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCD_: his _1669_]

[37 cunningly _1669_, _L74_, _N_, _TCD_: perfectly _B_, _O'F_, _S_]

[39 Duello, _B_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCD_: Duel, _1669_

touch _B_, _L74_, _O'F_, _S_: on _1669_: only _N_, _TCD_]

[40 those _B_, _L74_, _O'F_: these _1669_]

[41 but so never fought. _B_, _L74_, _O'F_, _S_ (soe as), _TCD_ (nere): but nere fought. _1669_]

[42 Valour, undubb'd, Windmill go, _Ed_: Valour undubd Windmill go. _1669_: valours undubb'd Wine-mill go. _L74_, _N_, _TCD_: his undouted valour windmill goe. _B_: his undaunted valour windmill goe. _O'F_, _S_]

[45 want] vaunt _S_]

[47 besides] except _B_, _O'F_, _S_]

[49 he; _Ed_: he, _1669_]

[53 father, ill] fathers ill, _1669_]

[65 his] if his _1669_]

[66 succeed; _Ed_: succeed, _1669_

They _Ed_: they _1669_]

[68 Than'his _Ed_: Than his _1669_: Then's _N_, _TCD_

how. _Ed_: how, _1669_]

[69 Or _Ed_: or _1669_]

[72 thou'hadst _L74_, _N_, _TCD_: thou hadst _1669_]

[81 love, _Ed_: love _1669_]

[82 Damon] damon _1669_]

[83 thee] the _1669_]

[86-7 Oak, with Ivy twine Destroy'd, thy Symbol is. _L74_, _N_, _TCD_: Oak with Ivy twine, Destroy'd thy Symbole is. _1669_: Oak with ivy twine. Destroy'd thy symbol is! _Chambers_]

[87 Mischance!] Mischance? _1669_]

[88 your _B_, _L74_, _N_, _S_, _TCD_: our _1669_]

[92 knees] knees, _1669_]

[97 Fidus, and you, and I _N_, _TCD_: and Fidus, you and I _1669_: Fidus, and you, and he _B_, _L74_, _O'F_, _S_]

[100 Neither; _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCD_: Neither yet. _1669_

Sleep] sleep _1669_]

[102 Which, th'old unwipt, _B_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCD_: "The old unwipt _1669_]

[104-6 _1669 has colon after pass'd, brackets by which ... Court and Whenas ... cleer'd, and places comma after hate_]

[107 there (if that _1669_: then that (if _B_, _O'F_, _S_]

[111 And, as unthrifts _Ed_: And, as unthrifts, _1669_, _Chambers_]

[112 pay, _Ed_: pay; _1669_: pay. _Chambers_]

[113 weakness _B_, _L74_, _O'F_, _S_: greatness _1669_, _N_, _TCD_]

[116 ill; _Ed_: ill: _1669_]

[118 Blood. _Ed_: Blood; _1669_]

[121 hard, _Ed_: hard _1669_]

[122 both. _Ed_: both _1669_]

[127 world; _Ed_: world, _1669_]

[132 Hath rid,] Doth ryde, _B_]

[133 till that _1669_: till _N_, _TCD_: untill _B_, _O'F_, _S_]

_Satyre._

Men write that love and reason disagree, But I ne'r saw't exprest as 'tis in thee. Well, I may lead thee, God must make thee see, But, thine eyes blinde too, there's no hope for thee. Thou say'st shee's wise and witty, faire and free, 5 All these are reasons why she should scorne thee. Thou dost protest thy love, and wouldst it shew By matching her as she would match her foe: And wouldst perswade her to a worse offence, Then that whereof thou didst accuse her wench. 10 Reason there's none for thee, but thou may'st vexe Her with example. Say, for feare her sexe Shunne her, she needs must change; I doe not see How reason e'r can bring that _must_ to thee. Thou art a match a Iustice to rejoyce, 15 Fit to be his, and not his daughters choyce. Urg'd with his threats shee'd scarcely stay with thee, And wouldst th'have this to chuse thee, being free? Goe then and punish some soone-gotten stuffe, For her dead husband this hath mourn'd enough, 20 In hating thee. Thou maist one like this meet; For spight take her, prove kinde, make thy breath sweet, Let her see she hath cause, and to bring to thee Honest children, let her dishonest bee. If shee be a widow, I'll warrant her 25 Shee'll thee before her first husband preferre, And will wish thou hadst had her maidenhead; Shee'll love thee so, for then thou hadst bin dead. But thou such strong love, and weake reasons hast, Thou must thrive there, or ever live disgrac'd. 30 Yet pause a while; and thou maist live to see A time to come, wherein she may beg thee; If thou'lt not pause nor change, she'll beg thee now. Doe what she can, love for nothing shee'll allow. Besides, her were too much gaine and merchandise, 35 And when thou art rewarded, desert dies. Now thou hast odds of him she loves, he may doubt Her constancy, but none can put thee out. Againe, be thy love true, shee'll prove divine, And in the end the good on't will be thine: 40 For thou must never think on other love, And so wilt advance her as high above Vertue as cause above effect can bee: 'Tis vertue to be chast, which shee'll make thee.

[Satyre. _B_, _O'F_: A Satire: upon one who was his Rivall in a widdowes Love. _A10_: Satyre VI. _1635-54_: Satyre. VII. _1669_ (_where Satyre VI. is Sleep, next Society &c._)]

[4 thine eyes _1635-69_: thy eye's _A10_]

[11 thee,] the, _1669_]

[13 she needs must change; I _1635-69_: she must change, yet I _A10_]

[16 and _1635-69_: but _B_]

[17 Urg'd _A10_, _B_, _O'F_: Dry'd _1635-69_]

[19 some] _1635 duplicates_]

[22 sweet, _1639-69_: sweet. _1635_]

[27 maidenhead; _Ed_: maidenhead, _1635-69_]

[28 (Shee'll love thee so) for, _1635-69_]

[29 strong] firm _A10_]

[32 thee; _Grosart_: thee. _1635-69_]

[33 now. _Grosart_: now, _1635-69_]

[34 love for nothing shee'll _1635-69_: she'le love for nought _A10_]

[35 Besides, hers _Ed_: Besides, here _1635-69_: But hers _A10_: Besides her _O'F_]

[38-9 out. Againe, _1635-69_: out Againe; _A10_]

[40 And in _1635-69_: And yet in _A10_

thine: _Ed_: thine. _1635-69_]

[41 For thou must never think on _H-K_ (_Grosart_): And thou must never think on, _A10_: For though thou must ne'r thinke of _1635-69_]

[42 And so wilt advance her _1635-69_: For that will her advance _A10_]

[43 bee: _Ed_: bee, _1635-69_]

AN ELEGIE.

_Reflecting on his passion for his mistrisse._