As streames are, Power is; those blest flowers that dwell
At the rough streames calme head, thrive and do well,
But having left their roots, and themselves given 105
To the streames tyrannous rage, alas, are driven
Through mills, and rockes, and woods, and at last, almost
Consum'd in going, in the sea are lost:
So perish Soules, which more chuse mens unjust
Power from God claym'd, then God himselfe to trust.
At the rough streames calme head, thrive and do well,
But having left their roots, and themselves given 105
To the streames tyrannous rage, alas, are driven
Through mills, and rockes, and woods, and at last, almost
Consum'd in going, in the sea are lost:
So perish Soules, which more chuse mens unjust
Power from God claym'd, then God himselfe to trust.
John Donne
O where?
Mirreus
Thinking her unhous'd here, and fled from us,
Seekes her at Rome; there, because hee doth know 45
That shee was there a thousand yeares agoe,
He loves her ragges so, as wee here obey
The statecloth where the Prince sate yesterday.
Crantz to such brave Loves will not be inthrall'd,
But loves her onely, who at Geneva is call'd 50
Religion, plaine, simple, sullen, yong,
Contemptuous, yet unhansome; As among
Lecherous humors, there is one that judges
No wenches wholsome, but course country drudges.
Graius stayes still at home here, and because 55
Some Preachers, vile ambitious bauds, and lawes
Still new like fashions, bid him thinke that shee
Which dwels with us, is onely perfect, hee
Imbraceth her, whom his Godfathers will
Tender to him, being tender, as Wards still 60
Take such wives as their Guardians offer, or
Pay valewes. Carelesse Phrygius doth abhorre
All, because all cannot be good, as one
Knowing some women whores, dares marry none.
Graccus loves all as one, and thinkes that so 65
As women do in divers countries goe
In divers habits, yet are still one kinde,
So doth, so is Religion; and this blind-
nesse too much light breeds; but unmoved thou
Of force must one, and forc'd but one allow; 70
And the right; aske thy father which is shee,
Let him aske his; though truth and falshood bee
Neare twins, yet truth a little elder is;
Be busie to seeke her, beleeve mee this,
Hee's not of none, nor worst, that seekes the best. 75
To adore, or scorne an image, or protest,
May all be bad; doubt wisely; in strange way
To stand inquiring right, is not to stray;
To sleepe, or runne wrong, is. On a huge hill,
Cragged, and steep, Truth stands, and hee that will 80
Reach her, about must, and about must goe;
And what the hills suddennes resists, winne so;
Yet strive so, that before age, deaths twilight,
Thy Soule rest, for none can worke in that night.
To will, implyes delay, therefore now doe: 85
Hard deeds, the bodies paines; hard knowledge too
The mindes indeavours reach, and mysteries
Are like the Sunne, dazling, yet plaine to all eyes.
Keepe the truth which thou hast found; men do not stand
In so ill case here, that God hath with his hand 90
Sign'd Kings blanck-charters to kill whom they hate,
Nor are they Vicars, but hangmen to Fate.
Foole and wretch, wilt thou let thy Soule be tyed
To mans lawes, by which she shall not be tryed
At the last day? Oh, will it then boot thee 95
To say a Philip, or a Gregory,
A Harry, or a Martin taught thee this?
Is not this excuse for mere contraries,
Equally strong? cannot both sides say so?
That thou mayest rightly obey power, her bounds know; 100
Those past, her nature, and name is chang'd; to be
Then humble to her is idolatrie.
As streames are, Power is; those blest flowers that dwell
At the rough streames calme head, thrive and do well,
But having left their roots, and themselves given 105
To the streames tyrannous rage, alas, are driven
Through mills, and rockes, and woods, and at last, almost
Consum'd in going, in the sea are lost:
So perish Soules, which more chuse mens unjust
Power from God claym'd, then God himselfe to trust. 110
[Satyre III. _1633-69_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _H51_ (_with title_
Of Religion. ), _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _Q_, _S_, _W:_ Satire the
4th. _A25_, _Cy:_ Satyre the Second. _P:_ A Satire. _L74:_ _no
title_, _N_, _TCD_]
[1 chokes] checks _1635-54:_ cheeks _1669_
eye-lids; _Ed:_ eye-lids, _1633-39:_ eyelids. _1650-69_]
[3 and] but _1669_]
[7 to _1635-69_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _H51_, _JC_,
_L74_, _O'F_, _P_, _Q_, _S_, _W:_ in _1633_, _Lec_, _N_,
_TCD_]
[9 honour was] honours were _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _S_]
[14 so easie wayes and neare _1633-69_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_P_, _TCD:_ wayes easie and neere _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H49_, _H51_, _JC_, _Q_, _S_, _W:_ wayes so easy and neere
_O'F_]
[15 this;] this. _1633_]
[16 is. ] is; _1633_]
[17 Dutch, and dar'st _1633-69_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_,
_TCD:_ Dutch? dar'st _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _H51_,
_JC_, _O'F_, _Q_, _S_, _W_]
[22-3 discoueries? . . . Salamanders, _Ed:_ discoueries, . .
Thinking her unhous'd here, and fled from us,
Seekes her at Rome; there, because hee doth know 45
That shee was there a thousand yeares agoe,
He loves her ragges so, as wee here obey
The statecloth where the Prince sate yesterday.
Crantz to such brave Loves will not be inthrall'd,
But loves her onely, who at Geneva is call'd 50
Religion, plaine, simple, sullen, yong,
Contemptuous, yet unhansome; As among
Lecherous humors, there is one that judges
No wenches wholsome, but course country drudges.
Graius stayes still at home here, and because 55
Some Preachers, vile ambitious bauds, and lawes
Still new like fashions, bid him thinke that shee
Which dwels with us, is onely perfect, hee
Imbraceth her, whom his Godfathers will
Tender to him, being tender, as Wards still 60
Take such wives as their Guardians offer, or
Pay valewes. Carelesse Phrygius doth abhorre
All, because all cannot be good, as one
Knowing some women whores, dares marry none.
Graccus loves all as one, and thinkes that so 65
As women do in divers countries goe
In divers habits, yet are still one kinde,
So doth, so is Religion; and this blind-
nesse too much light breeds; but unmoved thou
Of force must one, and forc'd but one allow; 70
And the right; aske thy father which is shee,
Let him aske his; though truth and falshood bee
Neare twins, yet truth a little elder is;
Be busie to seeke her, beleeve mee this,
Hee's not of none, nor worst, that seekes the best. 75
To adore, or scorne an image, or protest,
May all be bad; doubt wisely; in strange way
To stand inquiring right, is not to stray;
To sleepe, or runne wrong, is. On a huge hill,
Cragged, and steep, Truth stands, and hee that will 80
Reach her, about must, and about must goe;
And what the hills suddennes resists, winne so;
Yet strive so, that before age, deaths twilight,
Thy Soule rest, for none can worke in that night.
To will, implyes delay, therefore now doe: 85
Hard deeds, the bodies paines; hard knowledge too
The mindes indeavours reach, and mysteries
Are like the Sunne, dazling, yet plaine to all eyes.
Keepe the truth which thou hast found; men do not stand
In so ill case here, that God hath with his hand 90
Sign'd Kings blanck-charters to kill whom they hate,
Nor are they Vicars, but hangmen to Fate.
Foole and wretch, wilt thou let thy Soule be tyed
To mans lawes, by which she shall not be tryed
At the last day? Oh, will it then boot thee 95
To say a Philip, or a Gregory,
A Harry, or a Martin taught thee this?
Is not this excuse for mere contraries,
Equally strong? cannot both sides say so?
That thou mayest rightly obey power, her bounds know; 100
Those past, her nature, and name is chang'd; to be
Then humble to her is idolatrie.
As streames are, Power is; those blest flowers that dwell
At the rough streames calme head, thrive and do well,
But having left their roots, and themselves given 105
To the streames tyrannous rage, alas, are driven
Through mills, and rockes, and woods, and at last, almost
Consum'd in going, in the sea are lost:
So perish Soules, which more chuse mens unjust
Power from God claym'd, then God himselfe to trust. 110
[Satyre III. _1633-69_, _B_, _D_, _H49_, _H51_ (_with title_
Of Religion. ), _JC_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _Q_, _S_, _W:_ Satire the
4th. _A25_, _Cy:_ Satyre the Second. _P:_ A Satire. _L74:_ _no
title_, _N_, _TCD_]
[1 chokes] checks _1635-54:_ cheeks _1669_
eye-lids; _Ed:_ eye-lids, _1633-39:_ eyelids. _1650-69_]
[3 and] but _1669_]
[7 to _1635-69_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _H51_, _JC_,
_L74_, _O'F_, _P_, _Q_, _S_, _W:_ in _1633_, _Lec_, _N_,
_TCD_]
[9 honour was] honours were _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _S_]
[14 so easie wayes and neare _1633-69_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_P_, _TCD:_ wayes easie and neere _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H49_, _H51_, _JC_, _Q_, _S_, _W:_ wayes so easy and neere
_O'F_]
[15 this;] this. _1633_]
[16 is. ] is; _1633_]
[17 Dutch, and dar'st _1633-69_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_,
_TCD:_ Dutch? dar'st _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _H51_,
_JC_, _O'F_, _Q_, _S_, _W_]
[22-3 discoueries? . . . Salamanders, _Ed:_ discoueries, . .
