But why doe I thus
travaile
in the skill
Of despis'd poetrie, and perchance spill
My fortune?
Of despis'd poetrie, and perchance spill
My fortune?
John Donne
abuse
My witt? and breake the Hymen of my muse
For one poore houres love? Deserves it such
Which serves not me, to doe on her as much?
Or if it could, I would that fortune shunn: 5
Who would be rich, to be foe foone undone?
The beggars best is, wealth he doth not know;
And but to shew it him, encreases woe.
But we two may enjoye an hour? when never
It returnes, who would have a losse for ever? 10
Nor can so short a love, if true, but bring
A halfe howres feare, with the thought of losing:
Before it, all howres were hope; and all are
(That shall come after it,) yeares of dispaire.
This joye brings this doubt, whether it were more 15
To have enjoy'd it, or have died before?
T'is a lost paradise, a fall from grace,
Which I thinke, Adam felt more then his race.
Nor need those angells any other Hell;
It is enough for them, from Heaven they fell. 20
Besides, Conquest in love is all in all;
That when I liste, shee under me may fall:
And for this turne, both for delight and view,
I'le have a Succuba, as good as you.
But when these toyes are past, and hott blood ends, 25
The best enjoying is, we still are frends.
Love can but be frendshipps outside; their two
Beauties differ, as myndes and bodies do.
Thus, I this great Good still would be to take,
Vnless one houre, another happy make: 30
Or, that I might forgett it instantlie;
Or in that blest estate, that I might die.
But why doe I thus travaile in the skill
Of despis'd poetrie, and perchance spill
My fortune? or undoe myself in sport 35
By having but that dangerous name in Court?
I'le leave, and since I doe your poet prove,
Keep you my lines as secret as my Love.
[An Elegie _&c. _ _A10_, _L74_ (J. R. _in margin_), _RP31_:
Elegie _N_, _TCD_ (J. R. ): Elegie to his M. promissing to love
him an hour. _HN_ (_signed J. R. _): An Elegy 1602. To M^{rs}
Boulstrede. _Le Prince d'Amour. &c.
My witt? and breake the Hymen of my muse
For one poore houres love? Deserves it such
Which serves not me, to doe on her as much?
Or if it could, I would that fortune shunn: 5
Who would be rich, to be foe foone undone?
The beggars best is, wealth he doth not know;
And but to shew it him, encreases woe.
But we two may enjoye an hour? when never
It returnes, who would have a losse for ever? 10
Nor can so short a love, if true, but bring
A halfe howres feare, with the thought of losing:
Before it, all howres were hope; and all are
(That shall come after it,) yeares of dispaire.
This joye brings this doubt, whether it were more 15
To have enjoy'd it, or have died before?
T'is a lost paradise, a fall from grace,
Which I thinke, Adam felt more then his race.
Nor need those angells any other Hell;
It is enough for them, from Heaven they fell. 20
Besides, Conquest in love is all in all;
That when I liste, shee under me may fall:
And for this turne, both for delight and view,
I'le have a Succuba, as good as you.
But when these toyes are past, and hott blood ends, 25
The best enjoying is, we still are frends.
Love can but be frendshipps outside; their two
Beauties differ, as myndes and bodies do.
Thus, I this great Good still would be to take,
Vnless one houre, another happy make: 30
Or, that I might forgett it instantlie;
Or in that blest estate, that I might die.
But why doe I thus travaile in the skill
Of despis'd poetrie, and perchance spill
My fortune? or undoe myself in sport 35
By having but that dangerous name in Court?
I'le leave, and since I doe your poet prove,
Keep you my lines as secret as my Love.
[An Elegie _&c. _ _A10_, _L74_ (J. R. _in margin_), _RP31_:
Elegie _N_, _TCD_ (J. R. ): Elegie to his M. promissing to love
him an hour. _HN_ (_signed J. R. _): An Elegy 1602. To M^{rs}
Boulstrede. _Le Prince d'Amour. &c.
