No More Learning

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. _


Faire soule, which wast, not onely, as all soules bee,
Then when thou wast infused, harmony,
But did'st continue so; and now dost beare
A part in Gods great organ, this whole Spheare:
If looking up to God; or downe to us, 5
Thou finde that any way is pervious,
Twixt heav'n and earth, and that mans actions doe
Come to your knowledge, and affections too,
See, and with joy, mee to that good degree
Of goodnesse growne, that I can studie thee, 10
And, by these meditations refin'd,
Can unapparell and enlarge my minde,
And so can make by this soft extasie,
This place a map of heav'n, my selfe of thee.
Thou seest mee here at midnight, now all rest; 15
Times dead-low water; when all mindes devest
To morrows businesse, when the labourers have
Such rest in bed, that their last Church-yard grave,
Subject to change, will scarce be'a type of this,
Now when the clyent, whose last hearing is 20
To morrow, sleeps, when the condemned man,
(Who when hee opes his eyes, must shut them than
Againe by death,) although sad watch hee keepe,
Doth practice dying by a little sleepe,
Thou at this midnight seest mee, and as soone 25
As that Sunne rises to mee, midnight's noone,
All the world growes transparent, and I see
Through all, both Church and State, in seeing thee;
And I discerne by favour of this light,
My selfe, the hardest object of the sight. 30
God is the glasse; as thou when thou dost see
Him who sees all, seest all concerning thee,
So, yet unglorified, I comprehend
All, in these mirrors of thy wayes, and end.
Though God be our true glasse, through which we see 35
All, since the beeing of all things is hee,
Yet are the trunkes which doe to us derive
Things, in proportion fit, by perspective,
Deeds of good men; for by their living here,
Vertues, indeed remote, seeme to be neare. 40
But where can I affirme, or where arrest
My thoughts on his deeds? which shall I call best?
For fluid vertue cannot be look'd on,
Nor can endure a contemplation.
As bodies change, and as I do not weare 45
Those Spirits, humors, blood I did last yeare,
And, as if on a streame I fixe mine eye,
That drop, which I looked on, is presently
Pusht with more waters from my sight, and gone,
So in this sea of vertues, can no one 50
Bee'insisted on; vertues, as rivers, passe,
Yet still remaines that vertuous man there was.
And as if man feed on mans flesh, and so
Part of his body to another owe,
Yet at the last two perfect bodies rise, 55
Because God knowes where every Atome lyes;
So, if one knowledge were made of all those,
Who knew his minutes well, hee might dispose
His vertues into names, and ranks; but I
Should injure Nature, Vertue, and Destinie, 60
Should I divide and discontinue so,
Vertue, which did in one intirenesse grow.
For as, hee that would say, spirits are fram'd
Of all the purest parts that can be nam'd,
Honours not spirits halfe so much, as hee 65
Which sayes, they have no parts, but simple bee;
So is't of vertue; for a point and one
Are much entirer then a million.
And had Fate meant to have his vertues told,
It would have let him live to have beene old; 70
So, then that vertue in season, and then this,
We might have seene, and said, that now he is
Witty, now wise, now temperate, now just:
In good short lives, vertues are faine to thrust,
And to be sure betimes to get a place, 75
When they would exercise, lacke time, and space.
So was it in this person, forc'd to bee
For lack of time, his owne epitome:
So to exhibit in few yeares as much,
As all the long breath'd Chronicles can touch. 80
As when an Angell down from heav'n doth flye,
Our quick thought cannot keepe him company,
Wee cannot thinke, now hee is at the Sunne,
Now through the Moon, now he through th'aire doth run,
Yet when he's come, we know he did repaire 85
To all twixt Heav'n and Earth, Sunne, Moon, and Aire;
And as this Angell in an instant knowes,
And yet wee know, this sodaine knowledge growes
By quick amassing severall formes of things,
Which he successively to order brings; 90
When they, whose slow-pac'd lame thoughts cannot goe
So fast as hee, thinke that he doth not so;
Just as a perfect reader doth not dwell,
On every syllable, nor stay to spell,
Yet without doubt, hee doth distinctly see 95
And lay together every A, and B;
So, in short liv'd good men, is'not understood
Each severall vertue, but the compound good;
For, they all vertues paths in that pace tread,
As Angells goe, and know, and as men read. 100
O why should then these men, these lumps of Balme
Sent hither, this worlds tempests to becalme,
Before by deeds they are diffus'd and spred,
And so make us alive, themselves be dead?
O Soule, O circle, why so quickly bee 105
Thy ends, thy birth and death, clos'd up in thee?
Since one foot of thy compasse still was plac'd
In heav'n, the other might securely'have pac'd
In the most large extent, through every path,
Which the whole world, or man the abridgment hath. 110
Thou knowst, that though the tropique circles have
(Yea and those small ones which the Poles engrave,)
All the same roundnesse, evennesse, and all
The endlesnesse of the equinoctiall;
Yet, when we come to measure distances, 115
How here, how there, the Sunne affected is,
When he doth faintly worke, and when prevaile,
Onely great circles, than can be our scale:
So, though thy circle to thy selfe expresse
All, tending to thy endlesse happinesse, 120
And wee, by our good use of it may trye,
Both how to live well young, and how to die,
Yet, since we must be old, and age endures
His Torrid Zone at Court, and calentures
Of hot ambitions, irrelegions ice, 125
Zeales agues, and hydroptique avarice,
Infirmities which need the scale of truth,
As well as lust, and ignorance of youth;
Why did'st thou not for these give medicines too,
And by thy doing tell us what to doe? 130
Though as small pocket-clocks, whose every wheele
Doth each mismotion and distemper feele,
Whose _hand_ gets shaking palsies, and whose _string_
(His sinewes) slackens, and whose _Soule_, the spring,
Expires, or languishes, whose pulse, the _flye_, 135
Either beates not, or beates unevenly,
Whose voice, the _Bell_, doth rattle, or grow dumbe,
Or idle,'as men, which to their last houres come,
If these clockes be not wound, or be wound still,
Or be not set, or set at every will; 140
So, youth is easiest to destruction,
If then wee follow all, or follow none.
Yet, as in great clocks, which in steeples chime,
Plac'd to informe whole towns, to'imploy their time,
An error doth more harme, being generall, 145
When, small clocks faults, only'on the wearer fall;
So worke the faults of age, on which the eye
Of children, servants, or the State relie.
Why wouldst not thou then, which hadst such a soule,
A clock so true, as might the Sunne controule, 150
And daily hadst from him, who gave it thee,
Instructions, such as it could never be
Disordered, stay here, as a generall
And great Sun-dyall, to have set us All?
O why wouldst thou be any instrument 155
To this unnaturall course, or why consent
To this, not miracle, but Prodigie,
That when the ebbs, longer then flowings be,
Vertue, whose flood did with thy youth begin,
Should so much faster ebb out, then flow in? 160
Though her flood was blowne in, by thy first breath,
All is at once sunke in the whirle-poole death.
Which word I would not name, but that I see
Death, else a desert, growne a Court by thee.
Now I grow sure, that if a man would have 165
Good companie, his entry is a grave.
Mee thinkes all Cities, now, but Anthills bee,
Where, when the severall labourers I see,
For children, house, Provision, taking paine,
They'are all but Ants, carrying eggs, straw, and grain; 170
And Church-yards are our cities, unto which
The most repaire, that are in goodnesse rich.
There is the best concourse, and confluence,
There are the holy suburbs, and from thence
Begins Gods City, New Jerusalem, 175
Which doth extend her utmost gates to them.
At that gate then Triumphant soule, dost thou
Begin thy Triumph; But since lawes allow
That at the Triumph day, the people may,
All that they will, 'gainst the Triumpher say, 180
Let me here use that freedome, and expresse
My griefe, though not to make thy Triumph lesse.
By law, to Triumphs none admitted bee,
Till they as Magistrates get victorie;
Though then to thy force, all youthes foes did yield, 185
Yet till fit time had brought thee to that field,
To which thy ranke in this state destin'd thee,
That there thy counsailes might get victorie,
And so in that capacitie remove
All jealousies 'twixt Prince and subjects love, 190
Thou could'st no title, to this triumph have,
Thou didst intrude on death, usurp'dst a grave.
Then (though victoriously) thou hadst fought as yet
But with thine owne affections, with the heate
Of youths desires, and colds of ignorance, 195
But till thou should'st successefully advance
Thine armes 'gainst forraine enemies, which are
Both Envy, and acclamations popular,
(For, both these engines equally defeate,
Though by a divers Mine, those which are great,) 200
Till then thy War was but a civill War,
For which to Triumph, none admitted are.
No more are they, who though with good successe,
In a defensive war, their power expresse;
Before men triumph, the dominion 205
Must be _enlarg'd_ and not _preserv'd_ alone;
Why should'st thou then, whose battailes were to win
Thy selfe, from those straits nature put thee in,
And to deliver up to God that state,
Of which he gave thee the vicariate, 210
(Which is thy soule and body) as intire
As he, who takes endeavours, doth require,
But didst not stay, t'enlarge his kingdome too,
By making others, what thou didst, to doe;
Why shouldst thou Triumph now, when Heav'n no more 216
Hath got, by getting thee, then't had before?
For, Heav'n and thou, even when thou livedst here,
Of one another in possession were.
But this from Triumph most disables thee,
That, that place which is conquered, must bee 220
Left safe from present warre, and likely doubt
Of imminent commotions to breake out:
And hath he left us so? or can it bee
His territory was no more then Hee?
No, we were all his charge, the Diocis 225
Of ev'ry exemplar man, the whole world is,
And he was joyned in commission
With Tutelar Angels, sent to every one.
But though this freedome to upbraid, and chide
Him who Triumph'd, were lawfull, it was ty'd 230
With this, that it might never reference have
Unto the Senate, who this triumph gave;
Men might at Pompey jeast, but they might not
At that authoritie, by which he got
Leave to Triumph, before, by age, he might; 235
So, though, triumphant soule, I dare to write,
Mov'd with a reverentiall anger, thus,
That thou so earely wouldst abandon us;
Yet I am farre from daring to dispute
With that great soveraigntie, whose absolute 240
Prerogative hath thus dispens'd with thee,
'Gainst natures lawes, which just impugners bee
Of early triumphs; And I (though with paine)
Lessen our losse, to magnifie thy gaine
Of triumph, when I say, It was more fit, 245
That all men should lacke thee, then thou lack it.
Though then in our time, be not suffered
That testimonie of love, unto the dead,
To die with them, and in their graves be hid,
As Saxon wives, and French soldurii did; 250
And though in no degree I can expresse
Griefe in great Alexanders great excesse,
Who at his friends death, made whole townes devest
Their walls and bullwarks which became them best:
Doe not, faire soule, this sacrifice refuse, 255
That in thy grave I doe interre my Muse,
Who, by my griefe, great as thy worth, being cast
Behind hand, yet hath spoke, and spoke her last.


[Obsequies to _&c. _ _B_, _S96_ _and similarly_ _A25_, _C_,
_D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _TCD:_ Obsequies
to the Lord Harringtons brother. To the Countesse of Bedford.
_1633-54:_ Obsequies on the Lord Harrington, &c. To the
Countess of Bedford. _1669_]

[7 mans _1633_, _D_, _H49:_ mens _1635-69 and most MSS_. ]

[11 these _1633-69:_ those _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _O'F_, _S_,
_TCD_]

[15 midnight, now _1633-69:_ midnight; now _Chambers:_
midnight now, _Grolier_]

[26 that Sunne] this Sunne _N_, _TCD_]

[30 hardest] hardyest _1669_]

[34 end. _D:_ end; _1633-69_]

[35 our true glasse, _1633-69_ (glass, _1633_): truly our
glass _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_,
_S96_, _TCD_

see] see. _1633_ _some copies_, _1635_]

[38 Things, in proportion fit, by perspective, _D:_ Things, in
proportion fit by perspective, _1633:_ Things, in proportion,
fit by perspective, _1635-54_, _Chambers:_ Things in
proportion, fit by perspective, _1669_. _See note_]

[39 men; _D:_ men, _1633:_ men: _1635-69_]

living _1633:_ beeing _1635-69_, _Chambers and Grolier_]

[40 neare. _1635-69:_ nere; _1633_]

[44 contemplation. _Ed:_ contemplation; _1633-69_]

[51 on; _Ed:_ on, _1633-69_]

[52 was. _Ed:_ was; _1633-69_]

[53 feed _1635-69 and MSS. :_ feeds _1633_]

[63 would _1633:_ should _1635-69_]

[69 to have his _1633_, _A25_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _S_, _S96_, _TCD:_ to'have had his _1635-69_, _O'F_,
_Chambers_]

[70 old; _Ed:_ old, _1633-39:_ old. _1650-69_]

[71 So, then that _Ed:_ So then, that _1633:_ So, then, that
_1635-69_]

[76 exercise] exercse _1633_ _some copies:_ encrease _D_,
_H49_, _Lec:_ exercise: they _S_

lacke _1633-54:_ last _1669_

time] room _A25_, _B_, _JC_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCD_]

[78 epitome: _D:_ epitome. _1633-69_]

[80 Chronicles] Chroniclers _1669_

can touch. ] can touch; _1633_]

[84 he] _om. 1669_, _O'F_]

[86 Aire; _1669:_ Aire. _1633-35:_ Air, _1639-54_]

[87 instant] instant, _1633_]

[98 good; _Ed:_ good. _1633-69_]

[102 this _A25_, _B_, _C_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_,
_TCD:_ the _1633-69_

tempests _A25_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _N_, _S96_, _TCD:_ tempest
_1633-69_, _O'F_, _S_]

[106 death, _Ed:_ death _1633-69_]

[110 man] man, _1633_

hath. ] hath, _1633_ _some copies_, _1633-39_]

[117 When . . . when _1633-69_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ Where . . .
where _rest of MSS. _]

[118 circles, than can _D:_ circles, then, can _1633-69_]

[121 it] that _many MSS. _]

[125 ambitions,] ambition, _1669_]

[126 agues, _Ed:_ agues; _1633-69_]

[127-8 _in brackets_ _1635-69_]

[128 As well as lust, _1669:_ As well, as lust _1633-54_]

[130 tell us _1633_, _1669_, _A25_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _S_,
_TCD:_ set us _1635-54_, _B_, _O'F_, _S96_, _and Chambers_]

[133 _hand_ gets _A25_, _B_, _C_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _N_, _S_,
_TCD:_ _hands_ get _1633-54:_ _hands_ gets _1669_. _See note_]

[135 _flye_, _1633:_ _flee_, _1635-69_]

[138 houres come, _1633-54:_ hour come, _1669:_ hours are
come, _Chambers_]

[142 none. _1635-69:_ none; _1633_]

[146 fall; _Ed:_ fall. _1633-69_]

[154 great] grave _A25_, _C_]

[155 wouldst] wouldest _1639-54_

any _1633-35_, _and MSS. :_ an _1639-69_, _Chambers_]

[158 when _1633-69:_ where _C_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_,
_TCD:_ whereas _B_]

[161 was _1633:_ were _1635-69_]

[165 grow sure, _1633_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ am sure, _1635-69_]

[170 and _1633-69:_ or _A25_, _B_, _C_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_,
_S96_, _TCD_]

[176 them. _D:_ them; _1633_, _1639-69:_ them, _1635_]

[178 Triumph; _1633:_ Triumph. _1635-69_]

[184 victorie; _Ed:_ victorie, _1633-69_]

[186 brought] wrought _1639_, _Chambers_]

[192 usurp'dst _B_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _TCD:_ usurp'st
_1633_, _Lec_, _S96:_ usurpe _1635-69_, _A25_, _JC_, _O'F_,
_Chambers_]

[193 Then _1635-69:_ That _1633_]

[198 acclamations _1669_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_,
_N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCD:_ acclamation _1633-54_]

[202 are. _D:_ are; _1633-69_]

[204 expresse; _Ed:_ expresse. _1633-69_]

[212 endeavours, _1633-54_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCD:_ Indentours, _1669_,
_Chambers_]

[216 'thad] t'had _1633-39_]

[218 were. _D:_ were; _1633-69_]

[222 out: _1635-69:_ out. _1633_]

[224 His _1633-54:_ This _1669_

then _1633-69:_ but _D_, _H49_, _N_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_, _TCD_]

[231 reference] reverence _1650-54_]

[239 I am] am I _B_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96_]

[241 with _1633-69_, _O'F:_ for _A25_, _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _N_,
_TCD_]

[247 time,] times, _1669_, _B_, _JC_, _O'F_, _N_, _S_, _S96_,
_TCD_]

[250 soldurii _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ soldarii _1633-69_]

[251 expresse] expresse, _1633_]

[257 Who, _1633:_ Which, _1639-69_]




_Elegie on the Lady_ Marckham.


Man is the World, and death th'Ocean,
To which God gives the lower parts of man.
This Sea invirons all, and though as yet
God hath set markes, and bounds, twixt us and it,
Yet doth it rore, and gnaw, and still pretend, 5
And breaks our bankes, when ere it takes a friend.
Then our land waters (teares of passion) vent;
Our waters, then, above our firmament,
(Teares which our Soule doth for her sins let fall)
Take all a brackish taft, and Funerall, 10
And even these teares, which should wash sin, are sin.
We, after Gods _Noe_, drowne our world againe.
Nothing but man of all invenom'd things
Doth worke upon itselfe, with inborne stings.
Teares are false Spectacles, we cannot see 15
Through passions mist, what wee are, or what shee.
In her this sea of death hath made no breach,
But as the tide doth wash the slimie beach,
And leaves embroder'd workes upon the sand,
So is her flesh refin'd by deaths cold hand. 20
As men of China,'after an ages stay,
Do take up Porcelane, where they buried Clay;
So at this grave, her limbecke, which refines
The Diamonds, Rubies, Saphires, Pearles, and Mines,
Of which this flesh was, her soule shall inspire 25
Flesh of such stuffe, as God, when his last fire
Annuls this world, to recompence it, shall,
Make and name then, th'Elixar of this All.
They say, the sea, when it gaines, loseth too;
If carnall Death (the yonger brother) doe 30
Usurpe the body,'our soule, which subject is
To th'elder death, by sinne, is freed by this;
They perish both, when they attempt the just;
For, graves our trophies are, and both deaths dust.
So, unobnoxious now, she'hath buried both; 35
For, none to death sinnes, that to sinne is loth,
Nor doe they die, which are not loth to die;
So hath she this, and that virginity.
Grace was in her extremely diligent,
That kept her from sinne, yet made her repent. 40
Of what small spots pure white complaines! Alas,
How little poyson cracks a christall glasse!
She sinn'd, but just enough to let us see
That God's word must be true, All, sinners be.
Soe much did zeale her conscience rarefie 45
That, extreme truth lack'd little of a lye,
Making omissions, acts; laying the touch
Of sinne, on things that sometimes may be such.
As _Moses_ Cherubines, whose natures doe
Surpasse all speed, by him are winged too: 50
So would her soule, already'in heaven, seeme then,
To clyme by teares, the common staires of men.
How fit she was for God, I am content
To speake, that Death his vaine hast may repent.
How fit for us, how even and how sweet, 55
How good in all her titles, and how meet,
To have reform'd this forward heresie,
That women can no parts of friendship bee;
How Morall, how Divine shall not be told,
Lest they that heare her vertues, thinke her old: 60
And lest we take Deaths part, and make him glad
Of such a prey, and to his tryumph adde.


[Elegie _&c. _ _1633-54:_ An Elegie _&c. _ _1669:_ _similarly_,
_A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _N_, _P_, _S96_, _TC_]

[6 And breaks _1633-54:_ To break _1669_

bankes _D_, _Cy_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_,
_TCC:_ bounds _A25_, _C:_ banke, _1633-69_, _N_ (s _added_),
_TCD_]

[8 firmament,] firmament. _1633_]

[10 Funerall, _Ed:_ Funerall. _1633-69_]

[11 these _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ those _1633-69_]

[12 after Gods _Noe_, drowne _1633-54_ (_No_, _1633-54_):
after God, new drown _1669_

our world _1669_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_,
_P_, _S96_, _TCD:_ the world _1633-54_, _A18_, _A25_, _JC_,
_TCC_]

[16 mist] mistes _Cy_, _L74_, _N_, _TCD_]

[19 embroder'd _1635-54:_ embroderd _1633:_ embroider'd
_1669_]

[21 stay, _Ed:_ stay _1633-69_]

[25 which _Ed:_ which, _1633-69_]

[28 then, _1633:_ then _1635-39:_ them _1650-69_]

[34 and both deaths dust. _Ed:_ and both Deaths' dust.
_Grolier:_ and both, deaths dust. _1633:_ and both death's
dust. _1635-69 and Chambers:_ and both dead dust. _D_, _Cy_,
_H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _S96_. _See note_]

[36 loth, _Ed:_ loth. _1633-69_]

[37 die; _Ed:_ die, _1633-69_]

[42 cracks _1633-69_, _A25_, _Cy_, _P_ (crackt): breakes
_A18_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_,
_S96_, _TC_

glasse! _Ed:_ glasse? _1633-69_]

[44-5 _omitted in 1633 between foot of one page and top of
next_]

[45 rarefie,] rectify, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _S96_]

[48 sometimes _1633 and MSS. :_ sometime _1635-69_, _and
Chambers_]

[52 teares,] tears _Chambers_

the . . . men _in brackets_ _A18_, _N_, _TC_]

[54 Death _D:_ death _1633-69_]

[58 women _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_,
_Lec_, _N_, _P_, _TC:_ woman _1633_, _Cy_

parts] parte _Cy_, _JC_. _This line written in large letters
in several MSS. _]

[60 vertues, _1633-35_, _1669:_ vertue, _1639-54_

thinke] thinks _1639_

old: _Ed:_ old. _1633-69_]

[62 tryumph _1633-69_, _A25_, _D_, _H40_, _Lec:_ triumphes
_A18_, _B_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TC_]




_Elegie on M^{ris}_ Boulstred.


Death I recant, and say, unsaid by mee
What ere hath slip'd, that might diminish thee.
Spirituall treason, atheisme 'tis, to say,
That any can thy Summons disobey.
Th'earths face is but thy Table; there are set 5
Plants, cattell, men, dishes for Death to eate.
In a rude hunger now hee millions drawes
Into his bloody, or plaguy, or sterv'd jawes.
Now hee will seeme to spare, and doth more wast,
Eating the best first, well preserv'd to last. 10
Now wantonly he spoiles, and eates us not,
But breakes off friends, and lets us peecemeale rot.
Nor will this earth serve him; he sinkes the deepe
Where harmelesse fish monastique silence keepe,
Who (were Death dead) by Roes of living sand, 15
Might spunge that element, and make it land.
He rounds the aire, and breakes the hymnique notes
In birds (Heavens choristers,) organique throats,
Which (if they did not dye) might seeme to bee
A tenth ranke in the heavenly hierarchie. 20
O strong and long-liv'd death, how cam'st thou in?
And how without Creation didst begin?
Thou hast, and shalt see dead, before thou dyest,
All the foure Monarchies, and Antichrist.
How could I thinke thee nothing, that see now 25
In all this All, nothing else is, but thou.
Our births and lives, vices, and vertues, bee
Wastfull consumptions, and degrees of thee.
For, wee to live, our bellowes weare, and breath,
Nor are wee mortall, dying, dead, but death. 30
And though thou beest, O mighty bird of prey,
So much reclaim'd by God, that thou must lay
All that thou kill'st at his feet, yet doth hee
Reserve but few, and leaves the most to thee.
And of those few, now thou hast overthrowne 35
One whom thy blow makes, not ours, nor thine own.
She was more stories high: hopelesse to come
To her Soule, thou'hast offer'd at her lower roome.
Her Soule and body was a King and Court:
But thou hast both of Captaine mist and fort. 40
As houses fall not, though the King remove,
Bodies of Saints rest for their soules above.
Death gets 'twixt soules and bodies such a place
As sinne insinuates 'twixt just men and grace,
Both worke a separation, no divorce. 45
Her Soule is gone to usher up her corse
Which shall be'almost another soule, for there
Bodies are purer, then best Soules are here,
Because in her, her virtues did outgoe
Her yeares, would'st thou, O emulous death, do so? 50
And kill her young to thy losse? must the cost
Of beauty,'and wit, apt to doe harme, be lost?
What though thou found'st her proofe 'gainst sins of youth?
Oh, every age a diverse sinne pursueth.
Thou should'st have stay'd, and taken better hold, 55
Shortly, ambitious; covetous, when old,
She might have prov'd: and such devotion
Might once have stray'd to superstition.
If all her vertues must have growne, yet might
Abundant virtue'have bred a proud delight. 60
Had she persever'd just, there would have bin
Some that would sinne, mis-thinking she did sinne.
Such as would call her friendship, love, and faine
To sociablenesse, a name profane;
Or sinne, by tempting, or, not daring that, 65
By wishing, though they never told her what.
Thus might'st thou'have slain more soules, had'st thou not crost
Thy selfe, and to triumph, thine army lost.
Yet though these wayes be lost, thou hast left one,
Which is, immoderate griefe that she is gone. 70
But we may scape that sinne, yet weepe as much,
Our teares are due, because we are not such.
Some teares, that knot of friends, her death must cost,
Because the chaine is broke, though no linke lost.


[Elegie on M^{ris} Boulstred. _1633-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_,
_Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_,
_TCC_, _TCD:_ _in_ _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_ _this and the_ Elegie,
Death, be not proud (_p. _ 416) _are given as one poem_. _See
note_]

[5 there are set] and the meate _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _TC_]

[6 dishes _1633_, _1650-69:_ dished _1635-39_, _A18_, _L74_,
_N_, _O'F_, _S96_, _TC_]

[10 first,] fruite _or_ fruites _A18_, _H49_, _L74_, _N_,
_TC:_ first fruit _P_]

[14 keepe, _1635-39:_ keepe. _1633_, _1650-69_]

[15 by Roes _1633:_ the Roes _1635-54:_ the Rows _1669:_ by
rows _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TC_]

[18 birds _Ed:_ birds, _1633-69_ (Heavens choristers)]
_brackets from HN_]

[27 lives, _1635-69_, _A25_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_, _S:_ lifes,
_HN:_ life, _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_TC_]

[34 to thee. _1633:_ for thee. _1635-69_]

[35 thou hast _1633-69:_ hast thou _HN_]

[36 blow] blow, _1633_]

[41 King _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _HN_,
_Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TC:_ Kings _1635-69_]

[45 worke _1633-69_, _HN_, _O'F_, _S:_ workes _A18_, _Cy_,
_D_, _H49_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _TC:_ makes _Lec_. _See note_]

[56 Shortly,] Shortly _1633_

ambitious; _1635-69:_ ambitious, _1633_]

[62 mis-thinking] mistaking _Cy_, _HN_, _O'F_ (_but altered to
text_)]

[64 profane; _1669:_ profane, _1635-54:_ profane. _1633_]

[74 though _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _HN_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_,
_P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ but _1633_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_]

[_Here follow in 1635-54_ By our first strange (_p. _ 111),
Madame, That I (_p. _ 291), _and_ Death be not proud, (_p. _
422). _In 1669_ My Fortune and (_p. _ 292) _precedes_ Madame,
That I]




ELEGIE.

_Death.
_


Language thou art too narrow, and too weake
To ease us now; great sorrow cannot speake;
If we could sigh out accents, and weepe words,
Griefe weares, and lessens, that tears breath affords.
Sad hearts, the lesse they seeme the more they are, 5
(So guiltiest men stand mutest at the barre)
Not that they know not, feele not their estate,
But extreme sense hath made them desperate.
Sorrow, to whom we owe all that we bee;
Tyrant, in the fift and greatest Monarchy, 10
Was't, that she did possesse all hearts before,
Thou hast kil'd her, to make thy Empire more?
Knew'st thou some would, that knew her not, lament,
As in a deluge perish th'innocent?
Was't not enough to have that palace wonne, 15
But thou must raze it too, that was undone?
Had'st thou staid there, and look'd out at her eyes,
All had ador'd thee that now from thee flies,
For they let out more light, then they tooke in,
They told not when, but did the day beginne. 20
She was too Saphirine, and cleare for thee;
Clay, flint, and jeat now thy fit dwellings be;
Alas, shee was too pure, but not too weake;
Who e'r saw Christall Ordinance but would break?
And if wee be thy conquest, by her fall 25
Th'hast lost thy end, for in her perish all;
Or if we live, we live but to rebell,
They know her better now, that knew her well.
If we should vapour out, and pine, and die;
Since, shee first went, that were not miserie. 30
Shee chang'd our world with hers; now she is gone,
Mirth and prosperity is oppression;
For of all morall vertues she was all,
The Ethicks speake of vertues Cardinall.
Her soule was Paradise; the Cherubin 35
Set to keepe it was grace, that kept out sinne.
Shee had no more then let in death, for wee
All reape consumption from one fruitfull tree.
God tooke her hence, lest some of us should love
Her, like that plant, him and his lawes above, 40
And when wee teares, hee mercy shed in this,
To raise our mindes to heaven where now she is;
Who if her vertues would have let her stay
Wee'had had a Saint, have now a holiday.
Her heart was that strange bush, where, sacred fire, 45
Religion, did not consume, but'inspire
Such piety, so chast use of Gods day,
That what we turne to _feast_, she turn'd to _pray_,
And did prefigure here, in devout tast,
The rest of her high Sabaoth, which shall last. 50
Angels did hand her up, who next God dwell,
(For she was of that order whence most fell)
Her body left with us, lest some had said,
Shee could not die, except they saw her dead;
For from lesse vertue, and lesse beautiousnesse, 55
The Gentiles fram'd them Gods and Goddesses.
The ravenous earth that now wooes her to be
Earth too, will be a _Lemnia_; and the tree
That wraps that christall in a wooden Tombe,
Shall be tooke up spruce, fill'd with diamond; 60
And we her sad glad friends all beare a part
Of griefe, for all would waste a Stoicks heart.


[Elegie. _1633:_ Elegie XI. Death. _1635-54_ (_being places
among the_ Elegies): Elegie XI. _1669:_ An Elegie upon the
death of M^{ris} Boulstred. _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _H40_, _L74_,
_N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no title, HN_]

[2 sorrow _1633_, _B_, _Cy_, _H40_, _HN_, _L74_, _N_, _P_,
_TC:_ sorrowes _1635-69_, _O'F_, _S_]

[8 desperate. _Ed:_ desperate; _1633-69_]

[10 Tyrant, _1633_, _1669_ (_no comma_): Tyran, _1635-54_]

[20 beginne. _Ed:_ beginne; _1633-69_]

[21 for _1635-69:_ to _1633_]

[26 for in her _1633 and all the MSS. :_ in her we _1635-69_,
_Chambers_]

[28 They . . . that . . . well; _1633_, _Cy_, _H40_, _HN_, _L74_,
_N_, _S_, _TC:_ That know her better now, who knew her well.
_1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_]

[29 and pine, and] or pine, or _Cy_, _H40_, _HN_, _O'F_, _P_,
_S_, _S96:_ or pine, and _L74_, _TCC_]

[30 miserie. _Ed:_ miserie; _1633-69_]

[34 The Ethicks speake _1633_, _A18_, _Cy_, _H40_, _L74_, _N_,
_P_, _TC:_ That Ethickes speake _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _S:_
The ethenickes spake _HN_

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

[36 that kept out] to keep out _HN_, _P_

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

[37 She had no more; then let in death for we _1669_]

[38 tree. _Ed:_ tree; _1633-69_]

[41-2 And when we see his mercy shewne in this 'Twill _&c. _
_S_]

[44 holiday. _Ed:_ holiday; _1633-69_

_All the MSS. omit_ have, _but O'F inserts it later_]

[48 That what _1633-69:_ That when _HN_

turne] turn'd _Cy_, _HN_, _P_, _S96_

to _feast_, _Ed:_ to feast, _1633-69_

feast] feasts _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_

to _pray_, _Ed:_ to pray, _1633-69_]

[50 last. ] last; _1633_]

[53 Her body left _1633_, _A18_, _HN_, _N_, _TC:_ Her bodie's
left _1635-69_]

[56 fram'd] fain'd _Cy_, _P:_ form'd _H40_, _HN_]

[57 wooes] woes _1633_

be] be, _1633_]

[58 _All the MSS. omit_ a _before_ Lemnia, _but O'F inserts_]

[61 sad glad _1633-69:_ glad sad _B_, _Cy_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_,
_P_, _S_, _S96_]

[62 waste _1633_, _A18_, _Cy_, _H40_, _HN_, _L74_, _N_, _P_,
_TC:_ breake _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_]




_Elegie on the L. C. _


Sorrow, who to this house scarce knew the way:
Is, Oh, heire of it, our All is his prey.
This strange chance claimes strange wonder, and to us
Nothing can be so strange, as to weepe thus.
'Tis well his lifes loud speaking workes deserve, 5
And give praise too, our cold tongues could not serve:
'Tis well, hee kept teares from our eyes before,
That to fit this deepe ill, we might have store.
Oh, if a sweet briar, climbe up by'a tree,
If to a paradise that transplanted bee, 10
Or fell'd, and burnt for holy sacrifice,
Yet, that must wither, which by it did rise,
As we for him dead: though no familie
Ere rigg'd a soule for heavens discoverie
With whom more Venturers more boldly dare 15
Venture their states, with him in joy to share.
Wee lose what all friends lov'd, him; he gaines now
But life by death, which worst foes would allow,
If hee could have foes, in whose practise grew
All vertues, whose names subtile Schoolmen knew. 20
What ease, can hope that wee shall see'him, beget,
When wee must die first, and cannot dye yet?
His children are his pictures, Oh they bee
Pictures of him dead, senselesse, cold as he.
Here needs no marble Tombe, since hee is gone, 25
He, and about him, his, are turn'd to stone.


[Elegie _&c. _ _1635-69_, _following_ Death be not proud (_p. _
422): Elegie, Funerall Elegie, _or no title_, _B_, _Cy_, _HN_,
_O'F_, _S96:_ Elegie VI. (_being placed among the_ Elegies)
_1633:_ Elegie. (_being eighth among_ Elegies) _D_, _H49_,
_Lec:_ Elegia tercia. _S:_ Elegie XIII^a. _JC_, _W_]

[1 who _1633-39:_ that _1650-69_]

[2 prey. _1633:_ prey, _1633-54:_ Pay. _1669_]

[4 thus. _1669:_ thus; _1633-54_]

[13 dead: _1633-69:_ dead. _HN_, _Grolier_]

[16 Venture their states] Venter estates _B_

share. _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _W:_ share _1633:_ share, _1635-69_,
_Chambers and Grolier_. _See note_]

[17 him;] him, _1633_]

[20 names] name _1635-69_

knew. _Ed:_ knew; _1635-69_]

[24 he. _1650-69:_ he, _1633-39_]




_An hymne to the Saints, and to Marquesse Hamylton. _

_To Sir Robert Carr. _

SIR,

_I Presume you rather try what you can doe in me, then what I can
doe in verse; you know my uttermost when it was best, and even then
I did best when I had least truth for my subjects. In this present
case there is so much truth as it defeats all Poetry.
Call therefore this paper by what name you will, and, if it bee not
worthy of him, nor of you, nor of mee, smother it, and bee that the
sacrifice. If you had commanded mee to have waited on his body to
Scotland and preached there, I would have embraced the obligation
with more alacrity; But, I thanke you that you would command me
that which I was loath to doe, for, even that hath given a
tincture of merit to the obedience of_

Your poore friend and
servant in Christ Jesus

I. D.


[2 verse; _1635-69:_ verse, _1633_]

[3 best] at the best _A18_, _TCC_

subjects. _1635-69:_ subjects, _1633:_ subject, _A18_, _TCC_]

[6-7 of him . . . sacrifice. _1635-69:_ of you nor of him, we
will smother it, and be it your sacrifice. _1633:_ of him, nor
of you, nor of anye; smother it, and bee that the sacrifice.
_A18_, _TCC_]

[9 the _1635-69:_ your _1633_, _A18_, _TCC_

more] much _1633_]

[10 loath] loather _1633_]

in Christ Jesus] _om. _ _A18_, _TCC_]




Whether that soule which now comes up to you
Fill any former ranke or make a new;
Whether it take a name nam'd there before,
Or be a name it selfe, and _order_ more
Then was in heaven till now; (for may not hee 5
Bee so, if every severall Angell bee
A _kind_ alone? ) What ever order grow
Greater by him in heaven, wee doe not so.
One of your orders growes by his accesse;
But, by his losse grow all our _orders_ lesse; 10
The name of _Father_, _Master_, _Friend_, the name
Of _Subject_ and of _Prince_, in one are lame;
Faire mirth is dampt, and conversation black,
The _household_ widdow'd, and the _garter_ slack;
The _Chappell_ wants an eare, _Councell_ a tongue; 15
_Story_, a theame; and _Musicke_ lacks a song;
Blest _order_ that hath him! the losse of him
Gangreend all _Orders_ here; all lost a limbe.
Never made body such hast to confesse
What a soule was; All former comelinesse 20
Fled, in a minute, when the soule was gone,
And, having lost that beauty, would have none;
So fell our _Monasteries_, in one instant growne
Not to lesse houses, but, to heapes of stone;
So sent this body that faire forme it wore, 25
Unto the spheare of formes, and doth (before
His soule shall fill up his sepulchrall stone,)
Anticipate a Resurrection;
For, as in his fame, now, his soule is here,
So, in the forme thereof his bodie's there. 30
And if, faire soule, not with first _Innocents_
Thy station be, but with the _Paenitents_,
(And, who shall dare to aske then when I am
Dy'd scarlet in the blood of that pure Lambe,
Whether that colour, which is scarlet then, 35
Were black or white before in eyes of men? )
When thou rememb'rest what sins thou didst finde
Amongst those many friends now left behinde,
And seest such sinners as they are, with thee
Got thither by repentance, Let it bee 40
Thy wish to wish all there, to wish them cleane;
Wim _him_ a _David_, _her_ a _Magdalen_.


[An hymne _&c. _ _1633-69_, _in all of which it is classed with
the_ Divine Poems, _following_ Resurrection. _In 1635-69 it
is preceded by the letter_ To Sir Robert Carr. : _in 1633 the
letter follows_, _and has no heading:_ _similarly in_ _A18_,
_O'F_, _TCC_. _See note_]

[1 Whether] Whither _1633_, _and so in_ 3]

[2 new; _Ed:_ new, _1633-69_]

[6 so,] so? _1633_]

[7 alone? ) _1635-54:_ alone;) _1633:_ alone) _1669_]

[8 so. _Ed:_ so; _1633-69_]

[12 are _1633_, _A18_, _TCC:_ is _1635-69_, _O'F_]

[16 song; _1633:_ song. _1635-69_]

[17 him! _Ed:_ him, _1633-69_]

[18 Gangreend _1635-69:_ Gangred _1633_

limbe. _1633-35:_ limbe: _1639-69_]

[22 none; _Ed:_ none: _1650-69:_ none, _1633-39_]

[23 one instant _1633:_ an instant _1635-69_]

[25 this _1633_, _A18_, _TCC:_ his _1635-69_]

[29 For, as in his _1633-39:_ For, as it his _1650-54:_ For,
as it is his _1669_]

[30 there. _Ed:_ there; _1633-39:_ there, _1650-69_]

[36 in eyes] in the eyes _A18_, _O'F_, _TCC_]




EPITAPHS.


EPITAPH ON HIMSELFE.

_To the Countesse of Bedford. _


MADAME,

That I might make your Cabinet my tombe,
And for my fame which I love next my soule,
Next to my soule provide the happiest roome,
Admit to that place this last funerall Scrowle.
Others by Wills give Legacies, but I 5
Dying, of you doe beg a Legacie.

My fortune and my will this custome breake,
When we are senselesse grown to make stones speak,
Though no stone tell thee what I was, yet thou
In my graves inside see what thou art now: 10
Yet th'art not yet so good; till us death lay
To ripe and mellow there, w'are stubborne clay,
Parents make us earth, and soules dignifie
Vs to be glasse, here to grow gold we lie;
Whilst in our soules sinne bred and pampered is, 15
Our soules become worme-eaten Carkasses.


[Epitaph. _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_

On himselfe. _1635-69_

To the Countesse of Bedford. _O'F_, _S96:_ _no heading, and
epistle only_, _A25_, _C_ _The introductory epistle, and
the first ten lines of the epitaph, the whole with heading_
Elegie. , _is printed 1635-54 among the_ Funerall Elegies. _The
full epitaph without epistle and with heading_ On himselfe.
_is included among the_ Divine Poems, _where it follows the_
Lamentations of Jeremy. _In his note Chambers_ (II. 234)
_reverses these facts_. _In 1669_ On himselfe. _is transferred
to the_ Funerall Elegies _and is followed immediately by the_
Elegie, _i. e. the epistle and incomplete epitaph_. _They are
here given for the first time in a separate group_]

[5 Others by Wills _1635-69:_ Others by testaments _A25_, _C_,
_O'F_ (_altered to_ wills), _S96:_ Men by testament _B:_ Then
by testament _H40:_ O then by testament _D_, _H49_]

[10 now: _1650-69:_ now, _1635-39_]

[12 there, _1635_, _1669:_ thee, _1639-54_]




_Omnibus. _


My Fortune and my choice this custome break,
When we are speechlesse grown, to make stones speak,
Though no stone tell thee what I was, yet thou
In my graves inside seest what thou art now:
Yet thou'art not yet so good, till death us lay 5
To ripe and mellow here, we are stubborne Clay.
Parents make us earth, and soules dignifie
Vs to be glasse; here to grow gold we lie.
Whilst in our soules sinne bred and pamper'd is,
Our soules become wormeaten carkases; 10
So we our selves miraculously destroy.
Here bodies with lesse miracle enjoy
Such priviledges, enabled here to scale
Heaven, when the Trumpets ayre shall them exhale.
Heare this, and mend thy selfe, and thou mendst me, 15
By making me being dead, doe good to thee,
And thinke me well compos'd, that I could now
A last-sicke houre to syllables allow.


[Omnibus. _D_, _H49:_ To all. _H40_, _RP31:_ Another on the
same. (_i. e. M^{rs} Boulstred_) _P:_ On himselfe. _1635-69:_
_no title_, _B_, _S96:_ _in MSS. this complete epitaph follows
the epistle_ (_p. _ 291); _but in B they are separated by
various poems and in P the epistle is not given_]

[3 tell] tel _1635_]

[4 seest] see _D_, _H49:_ _compare incomplete version_. ]

[5 Yet _1635-69:_ Nay _S96_

thou'art _Ed:_ thou art _1635-69_]

[8 lie. _Ed:_ lie; _1635-69_]

[14 them] then _1669_]

[16 to thee, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _O'F_, _S96:_ for thee,
_1635-69_]




INFINITATI SACRUM,

16. _Augusti_ 1601.

METEMPSYCHOSIS.

_Poema Satyricon. _

* * * * *


EPISTLE.


Others at the Porches and entries of their Buildings set their Armes;
I, my picture; if any colours can deliver a minde so plaine, and flat,
and through light as mine. Naturally at a new Author, I doubt, and
sticke, and doe not say quickly, good. I censure much and taxe; And
this liberty costs mee more then others, by how much my owne things
are worse then others. Yet I would not be so rebellious against my
selfe, as not to doe it, since I love it; nor so unjust to others, to
do it _sine talione_. As long as I give them as good hold upon mee,
they must pardon mee my bitings. I forbid no reprehender, but him that
like the Trent Councell forbids not bookes, but Authors, damning what
ever such a name hath or shall write. None writes so ill, that he
gives not some thing exemplary, to follow, or flie. Now when I beginne
this booke, I have no purpose to come into any mans debt[1]; how my
stocke will hold out I know not; perchance waste, perchance increase
in use; if I doe borrow any thing of Antiquitie, besides that I make
account that I pay it to posterity, with as much and as good: You
shall still finde mee to acknowledge it, and to thanke not him onely
that hath digg'd out treasure for mee, but that hath lighted mee a
candle to the place. All which I will bid you remember, (for I will
have no such Readers as I can teach) is, that the Pithagorian doctrine
doth not onely carry one soule from man to man, nor man to beast, but
indifferently to plants also: and therefore you must not grudge to
finde the same soule in an Emperour, in a Post-horse, and in a
Mucheron,[2] since no unreadinesse in the soule, but an indisposition
in the organs workes this. And therefore though this soule could not
move when it was a Melon, yet it may remember, and now tell mee,[3] at
what lascivious banquet it was serv'd. And though it could not speake,
when it was a spider, yet it can remember and now tell me, who used it
for poyson to attaine dignitie. How ever the bodies have dull'd her
other faculties, her memory hath ever been her owne,
which makes me so seriously deliver you by her
relation all her passages from her first making
when shee was that apple[4] which Eve
eate,[5] to this time when shee is
hee,[6] whose life you shall
finde in the end of
this booke.


[Infinitati _&c. _ _1633-69:_ (_in 1633 it is the first poem;
in 1633-69 it follows the_ Funerall Elegies, _from which it
is separated by some prose letters, and precedes_ Divine Poems
_as here_), _A18_, _G_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_

Metempsychosis. _1650-69:_ Metempsycosis. _1633-39_]


[Footnote 1: debt; _Ed:_ debt, _1633-69_]

[Footnote 2: Mucheron, _1633_, _N_, _TC:_ Mushrome, _G:_
Maceron, _1635-69_, _O'F_]

[Footnote 3: and can now tell mee, _1635-69_]

[Footnote 4: apple] aple _1633_]

[Footnote 5: eate, _1633-69:_ ate, _O'F:_ eat, _mod. editors_]

[Footnote 6: shee is hee, _1633_, _A18_, _G_, _N_, _TC:_ shee
is shee, _1635-69_]




THE PROGRESSE OF THE SOULE.


_First Song. _


I.

I sing the progresse of a deathlesse soule,
Whom Fate, which God made, but doth not controule,
Plac'd in most shapes; all times before the law
Yoak'd us, and when, and since, in this I sing.
And the great world to his aged evening; 5
From infant morne, through manly noone I draw.
What the gold Chaldee, or silver Persian saw,
Greeke brasse, or Roman iron, is in this one;
A worke t'outweare _Seths_ pillars, bricke and stone,
And (holy writt excepted) made to yeeld to none. 10


II.

Thee, eye of heaven, this great Soule envies not,
By thy male force, is all wee have, begot.
In the first East, thou now beginst to shine,
Suck'st early balme, and Iland spices there,
And wilt anon in thy loose-rein'd careere 15
At Tagus, Po, Sene, Thames, and Danow dine,
And see at night thy Westerne land of Myne,
Yet hast thou not more nations seene then shee,
That before thee, one day beganne to bee,
And thy fraile light being quench'd, shall long,
long out live thee. 20


III.

Nor, holy _Ianus_, in whose soveraigne boate
The Church, and all the Monarchies did floate;
That swimming Colledge, and free Hospitall
Of all mankinde, that cage and vivarie
Of fowles, and beasts, in whose wombe, Destinie 25
Us, and our latest nephewes did install
(From thence are all deriv'd, that fill this All,)
Did'st thou in that great stewardship embarke
So diverse shapes into that floating parke,
As have beene moved, and inform'd by this heavenly sparke. 30


IV.

Great Destiny the Commissary of God,
That hast mark'd out a path and period
For every thing; who, where wee of-spring tooke,
Our wayes and ends seest at one instant; Thou
Knot of all causes, thou whose changelesse brow 35
Ne'r smiles nor frownes, O vouch thou safe to looke
And shew my story, in thy eternall booke:
That (if my prayer be fit) I may'understand
So much my selfe, as to know with what hand,
How scant, or liberall this my lifes race is spand. 40


V.

To my sixe lustres almost now outwore,
Except thy booke owe mee so many more,
Except my legend be free from the letts
Of steepe ambition, sleepie povertie,
Spirit-quenching sicknesse, dull captivitie, 45
Distracting businesse, and from beauties nets,
And all that calls from this, and to others whets,
O let me not launch out, but let mee save
Th'expense of braine and spirit; that my grave
His right and due, a whole unwasted man may have. 50


VI.

But if my dayes be long, and good enough,
In vaine this sea shall enlarge, or enrough
It selfe; for I will through the wave, and fome,
And shall, in sad lone wayes a lively spright,
Make my darke heavy Poem light, and light. 55
For though through many streights, and lands I roame,
I launch at paradise, and I saile towards home;
The course I there began, shall here be staid,
Sailes hoised there, stroke here, and anchors laid
In Thames, which were at Tigrys, and Euphrates waide. 60


VII.

For the great soule which here amongst us now
Doth dwell, and moves that hand, and tongue, and brow,
Which, as the Moone the sea, moves us; to heare
Whose story, with long patience you will long;
(For 'tis the crowne, and last straine of my song) 65
This soule to whom _Luther_, and _Mahomet_ were
Prisons of flesh; this soule which oft did teare,
And mend the wracks of th'Empire, and late Rome,
And liv'd when every great change did come,
Had first in paradise, a low, but fatall roome. 70


VIII.

Yet no low roome, nor then the greatest, lesse,
If (as devout and sharpe men fitly guesse)
That Crosse, our joy, and griefe, where nailes did tye
That All, which alwayes was all, every where;
Which could not sinne, and yet all sinnes did beare; 75
Which could not die, yet could not chuse but die;
Stood in the selfe same roome in Calvarie,
Where first grew the forbidden learned tree,
For on that tree hung in security
This Soule, made by the Makers will from pulling free. 80


IX.

Prince of the orchard, faire as dawning morne,
Fenc'd with the law, and ripe as soone as borne
That apple grew, which this Soule did enlive,
Till the then climing serpent, that now creeps
For that offence, for which all mankinde weepes, 85
Tooke it, and t'her whom the first man did wive
(Whom and her race, only forbiddings drive)
He gave it, she, t'her husband, both did eate;
So perished the eaters, and the meate:
And wee (for treason taints the blood) thence die and sweat. 90


X.

Man all at once was there by woman slaine,
And one by one we'are here slaine o'er againe
By them. The mother poison'd the well-head,
The daughters here corrupt us, Rivolets;
No smalnesse scapes, no greatnesse breaks their nets; 95
She thrust us out, and by them we are led
Astray, from turning, to whence we are fled.
Were prisoners Judges, 'twould seeme rigorous,
Shee sinn'd, we beare; part of our paine is, thus
To love them, whose fault to this painfull love yoak'd us. 100


XI.

So fast in us doth this corruption grow,
That now wee dare aske why wee should be so.
Would God (disputes the curious Rebell) make
A law, and would not have it kept? Or can
His creatures will, crosse his? Of every man 105
For one, will God (and be just) vengeance take?
Who sinn'd? t'was not forbidden to the snake
Nor her, who was not then made; nor is't writ
That Adam cropt, or knew the apple; yet
The worme and she, and he, and wee endure for it. 110


XII.

But snatch mee heavenly Spirit from this vaine
Reckoning their vanities, lesse is their gaine
Then hazard still, to meditate on ill,
Though with good minde; their reasons, like those toyes
Of glassie bubbles, which the gamesome boyes 115
Stretch to so nice a thinnes through a quill
That they themselves breake, doe themselves spill:
Arguing is heretiques game, and Exercise
As wrastlers, perfects them; Not liberties
Of speech, but silence; hands, not tongues, end heresies. 120


XIII.

Just in that instant when the serpents gripe,
Broke the flight veines, and tender conduit-pipe,
Through which this soule from the trees root did draw
Life, and growth to this apple, fled away
This loose soule, old, one and another day. 125
As lightning, which one scarce dares say, he saw,
'Tis so soone gone, (and better proofe the law
Of sense, then faith requires) swiftly she flew
To a darke and foggie Plot; Her, her fates threw
There through th'earths pores, and in a Plant hous'd her anew. 130


XIV.

The plant thus abled, to it selfe did force
A place, where no place was; by natures course
As aire from water, water fleets away
From thicker bodies, by this root thronged so
His spungie confines gave him place to grow: 135
Just as in our streets, when the people stay
To see the Prince, and have so fill'd the way
That weesels scarce could passe, when she comes nere
They throng and cleave up, and a passage cleare,
As if, for that time, their round bodies flatned were. 140


XV.

His right arme he thrust out towards the East,
West-ward his left; th'ends did themselves digest
Into ten lesser strings, these fingers were:
And as a slumberer stretching on his bed,
This way he this, and that way scattered 145
His other legge, which feet with toes upbeare.
Grew on his middle parts, the first day, haire,
To show, that in loves businesse hee should still
A dealer bee, and be us'd well, or ill:
His apples kindle, his leaves, force of conception kill. 150


XVI.

A mouth, but dumbe, he hath; blinde eyes, deafe eares,
And to his shoulders dangle subtile haires;
A young _Colossus_ there hee stands upright,
And as that ground by him were conquered
A leafie garland weares he on his head 155
Enchas'd with little fruits, so red and bright
That for them you would call your Loves lips white;
So, of a lone unhaunted place possest,
Did this soules second Inne, built by the guest,
This living buried man, this quiet mandrake, rest. 160


XVII.