THE WILL BEFORE I sigh my last gasp, let me breathe, Thou, Love, hast taught me heretofore My constancy I to the planets give ; My truth to them who at the Court do live; To Jesuits; to buffoons my pensiveness; My money to a Capuchin Thou, Love, taught'st me, by appointing me To love there where no love received can be, Only to give to those that have an incapacity. My faith I give to Roman Catholics; Of Amsterdam; my best civility My patiënce let gamesters share : Thou, Love, taught'st me, by making me Love her that holds my love disparity, Only to give to those that count my gifts indignity. I give my reputation to those Which were my friends; mine industry to foes; To Nature all that I in rhyme have writ ; Thou, Love, by making me adore Her, who begot this love in me before, Taught'st me to make, as though I gave, when I do but restore. To him for whom the passing-bell next tolls, For younger lovers, dost my gifts thus disproportion. Therefore I'll give no more, but I'll undo Than a sun-dial in a grave: Thou, Love, taught'st me by making me Love her who doth neglect both me and thee, To invent and practise this one way to annihilate all three. THE FUNERAL WHOEVER comes to shroud me, do not harm, That subtle wreath of hair which crowns my arm; Viceroy to that, which unto heaven being gone, And keep these limbs, her provinces, from dissolutiön. For if the sinewy thread my brain lets fall Can tie those parts, and make me one of all, Have from a better brain, Can better do't; except she meant that I By this should know my pain, As prisoners then are manacled, when they 're condemn'd to die. Whate'er she meant by it, bury it with me; Love's martyr, it might breed idolatry If into other hands these relics came. |