_Wherein_,
By occasion of the untimely death of
Mistris ELIZABETH DRVRY,
the frailty and the decay of this
whole World is represented.
By occasion of the untimely death of
Mistris ELIZABETH DRVRY,
the frailty and the decay of this
whole World is represented.
John Donne
Shee was all spices, you all metalls; so
In you two wee did both rich Indies know.
And as no fire, nor rust can spend or waste 35
One dramme of gold, but what was first shall last,
Though it bee forc'd in water, earth, salt, aire,
Expans'd in infinite, none will impaire;
So, to your selfe you may additions take,
But nothing can you lesse, or changed make. 40
Seeke not in seeking new, to seeme to doubt,
That you can match her, or not be without;
But let some faithfull booke in her roome be,
Yet but of _Iudith_ no such booke as shee.
[To the _&c. _ _1635-69_, _O'F:_ Elegie to the Lady Bedford.
_1633_, _Cy_, _H40_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _TCD:_ Elegia Sexta.
_S:_ _In 1633, Cy, H40, N, TCD it follows, in P precedes, the
Funerall Elegy_ Death (_p. _ 284), _to which it is apparently
a covering letter:_ _In L74 it follows the_ Elegy on the Lady
Marckham: _O'F places it among the_ Letters, _S among the_
Elegies]
[1 she and you,] she, and you _1633-69_, _Chambers_. _See
note_]
[4 two;] the two; _1669_]
[6 yet; _Ed:_ yet _1633-39:_ yet. _1650-69_]
[8 make; _Ed:_ make, _1633-69_]
[10 goe. _Ed:_ goe; _1633-69_]
[13 stay,] stay _1633-35_
th'other] thother _1633_
clay. _Ed:_ clay; _1633-69_]
[16 there, _Ed:_ there; _1633-69_]
[17 honour] honour: _1633_
due] due; _1633_]
[20 were] was _1633_]
[22 as all in you] as in you all _O'F:_ that in you all _Cy_,
_H40_, _L74_, _N_, _S_
is. _Ed:_ is; _1633-69_]
[28 the bed;] a bed; _Cy_, _H40_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S:_ her
bed; _P_]
[30 were:] were; _1633_]
[32 are. ] are; _1633_]
[34 know. ] know; _1633_]
[41 doubt, _1633:_ doubt; _1635-69_]
[42 can] _twice in 1633_]
AN ANATOMIE OF THE WORLD.
_Wherein_,
By occasion of the untimely death of
Mistris ELIZABETH DRVRY,
the frailty and the decay of this
whole World is represented.
* * * * *
The first Anniversary.
* * * * *
_To the praise of the dead_,
_and the_ ANATOMIE.
Well dy'd the World, that we might live to see
This world of wit, in his Anatomie:
No evill wants his good; so wilder heires
Bedew their Fathers Tombes, with forced teares,
Whose state requites their losse: whiles thus we gain, 5
Well may wee walke in blacks, but not complaine.
Yet how can I consent the world is dead
While this Muse lives? which in his spirits stead
Seemes to informe a World; and bids it bee,
In spight of losse or fraile mortalitie? 10
And thou the subject of this welborne thought,
Thrice noble maid, couldst not have found nor sought
A fitter time to yeeld to thy sad Fate,
Then whiles this spirit lives, that can relate
Thy worth so well to our last Nephews eyne, 15
That they shall wonder both at his and thine:
Admired match! where strives in mutuall grace
The cunning pencill, and the comely face:
A taske which thy faire goodnesse made too much
For the bold pride of vulgar pens to touch; 20
Enough is us to praise them that praise thee,
And say, that but enough those prayses bee,
Which hadst thou liv'd, had hid their fearfull head
From th'angry checkings of thy modest red:
Death barres reward and shame: when envy's gone, 25
And gaine, 'tis safe to give the dead their owne.
As then the wise Egyptians wont to lay
More on their Tombes, then houses: these of clay,
But those of brasse, or marble were: so wee
Give more unto thy Ghost, then unto thee. 30
Yet what wee give to thee, thou gav'st to us,
And may'st but thanke thy selfe, for being thus:
Yet what thou gav'st, and wert, O happy maid,
Thy grace profest all due, where 'tis repayd.
So these high songs that to thee suited bin 35
Serve but to sound thy Makers praise, in thine,
Which thy deare soule as sweetly sings to him
Amid the Quire of Saints, and Seraphim,
As any Angels tongue can sing of thee;
The subjects differ, though the skill agree: 40
For as by infant-yeares men judge of age,
Thy early love, thy vertues, did presage
What an high part thou bear'st in those best songs,
Whereto no burden, nor no end belongs.
Sing on thou virgin Soule, whose lossfull gaine 45
Thy lovesick parents have bewail'd in vaine;
Never may thy Name be in our songs forgot,
Till wee shall sing thy ditty and thy note.
[An Anatomie _&c. _ _1611-33:_ Anatomie _&c. _ _1635-69_
The first Anniversary. _1612-69:_ _om.