Who thought that this device might be some way Meet at this grave, and make a little stay? If this fall in a time or land Where mass-devotion doth command, Thou shalt be a Mary Magdalen, and I All women shall adore us, and some men: First we lov'd well and faithfully, No more than guardian angels do; Coming and going we Perchance might kiss, but yet between those meals Our hands ne'er touch'd the seals Which Nature, injur'd by late law, set free: Donne Fij 10 20 30 33 THE DAMP. WHEN I am dead, and doctors know not why, And my friends' curiosity Will have me çut up, to survey each part, And they shall find your picture in mine heart; Will thro' all their senses move, And work on them as me, and so prefer Poor victories! but if you dare be brave, A First kill th' enormous giant, your disdain,.. Deface records and histories Of your own acts and triumphs over men, For I could muster up, as well as you, Which are vast Constancy and Secretness; Kill me as woman; let me die As a mere man: do you but try Your passive valour, and you shall find then, 110 20 24 THE DISSOLUTION. SHE's dead! and all which die To their first elements resolve; My body then doth her's involve, And those things, whereaf I consist, hereby My fire of passion, sighs of air, Water of tears, and earthly sad despair, (But near worn out by Love's security) But that my fire doth with my fuel grow. Now as those active kings, Whose foreign conquest treasure brings, Receive more, and spend more, and soonest break; This, (which I am amaz'd that I can speak) This death hath, with my store, My use increas'd: And so my soul, more earnestly releas'd, 20 Will outstrip her's; as bullets flown before A later bullet may o'ertake, the powder being more. 23 THOU A JET RING SENT. HOU art not so black as my heart, Nor half so brittle as her heart thou art. [thee be spoke? What wouldst thou say? shall both our properties by Nothing more endless, nothing sooner broke. Marriage-rings are not of this stuff'; Oh! why should ought less precious, or less tough, Figure our loves? except in thy naine thou have bid it I'm cheap, and nought but fashion; fling me away. [say Yet stay with me, since thou art come; Circle this finger's top, which didst her thumb: Be justly proud, and gladly safe, that thou dost dwell with me; She that, oh! broke her faith would soon break thee. NEGATIVE LOVE. I NEVER Stoop'd so low as they Which on an eye, cheek, lip, can prey, If that be simply perfectest Which can by no means be exprest But negatives, my love is so; To all which all love I say No. If any who deciphers best, What we know not (ourselves) can know, Let him teach me that nothing: this As yet my ease and comfort is, Tho' I speed not I cannot miss. THE PROHIBITION, TAKE heed of loving me, At least remember I forbade it thee; Not that I shall repair my' unthrifty waste Take heed of hating me, Or too much triumph in the victory; 10 18 10 |