_The
Lamentations
of Ieremy, for the most part according to
Tremelius.
John Donne
I sacrifice this Iland unto thee,
And all whom I lov'd there, and who lov'd mee; 10
When I have put our seas twixt them and mee,
Put thou thy sea betwixt my sinnes and thee.
As the trees sap doth seeke the root below
In winter, in my winter now I goe,
Where none but thee, th'Eternall root 15
Of true Love I may know.
Nor thou nor thy religion dost controule,
The amorousnesse of an harmonious Soule,
But thou would'st have that love thy selfe: As thou
Art jealous, Lord, so I am jealous now, 20
Thou lov'st not, till from loving more, thou free
My soule: Who ever gives, takes libertie:
O, if thou car'st not whom I love
Alas, thou lov'st not mee.
Seale then this bill of my Divorce to All, 25
On whom those fainter beames of love did fall;
Marry those loves, which in youth scattered bee
On Fame, Wit, Hopes (false mistresses) to thee.
Churches are best for Prayer, that have least light:
To see God only, I goe out of sight: 30
And to scape stormy dayes, I chuse
An Everlasting night.
[A Hymne _&c._ _1633-69:_ A Hymne to Christ. _A18_, _N_,
_TCC_, _TCD:_ At his going with my Lord of Doncaster 1619.
_B_, _and similarly_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96:_ _in MSS. last two
lines of each stanza given as one_]
[2 my ... thy] an ...
the _P_]
[3 soever swallow mee, that] soe'er swallows me up, that
_O'F_]
[10 I lov'd there, _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC:_ I love here,
_1635-69:_ I love there _P_
who lov'd mee; _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ who love mee;
_1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_]
[11 our seas _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ this flood _1635-69:_
these (_or_ those) seas _B_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_]
_The
Lamentations
of Ieremy, for the most part according to
Tremelius.
_
CHAP. I.
1 How sits this citie, late most populous,
Thus solitary, and like a widdow thus!
Amplest of Nations, Queene of Provinces
She was, who now thus tributary is!
2 Still in the night shee weepes, and her teares fall 5
Downe by her cheekes along, and none of all
Her lovers comfort her; Perfidiously
Her friends have dealt, and now are enemie.
3 Unto great bondage, and afflictions
Juda is captive led; Those nations 10
With whom shee dwells, no place of rest afford,
In streights shee meets her Persecutors sword.
4 Emptie are the gates of Sion, and her waies
Mourne, because none come to her solemne dayes.
Her Priests doe groane, her maides are comfortlesse, 15
And shee's unto her selfe a bitternesse.
5 Her foes are growne her head, and live at Peace,
Because when her transgressions did increase,
The Lord strooke her with sadnesse: Th'enemie
Doth drive her children to captivitie. 20
6 From Sions daughter is all beauty gone,
Like Harts, which seeke for Pasture, and find none,
Her Princes are, and now before the foe
Which still pursues them, without strength they go.
7 Now in her daies of Teares, Jerusalem 25
(Her men slaine by the foe, none succouring them)
Remembers what of old, shee esteemed most,
Whilest her foes laugh at her, for what she hath lost.
8 Jerusalem hath sinn'd, therefore is shee
Remov'd, as women in uncleannesse bee; 30
Who honor'd, scorne her, for her foulnesse they
Have seene; her selfe doth groane, and turne away.
9 Her foulnesse in her skirts was seene, yet she
Remembred not her end; Miraculously
Therefore shee fell, none comforting: Behold 35
O Lord my affliction, for the Foe growes bold.
10 Upon all things where her delight hath beene,
The foe hath stretch'd his hand, for shee hath seene
Heathen, whom thou command'st, should not doe so,
Into her holy Sanctuary goe. 40
11 And all her people groane, and seeke for bread;
And they have given, only to be fed,
All precious things, wherein their pleasure lay:
How cheape I'am growne, O Lord, behold, and weigh.
