_B_, _O'F_: A Satire: upon one who was his Rivall
in a widdowes Love.
in a widdowes Love.
John Donne
Thou dost protest thy love, and wouldst it shew
By matching her as she would match her foe:
And wouldst perswade her to a worse offence,
Then that whereof thou didst accuse her wench. 10
Reason there's none for thee, but thou may'st vexe
Her with example. Say, for feare her sexe
Shunne her, she needs must change; I doe not see
How reason e'r can bring that _must_ to thee.
Thou art a match a Iustice to rejoyce, 15
Fit to be his, and not his daughters choyce.
Urg'd with his threats shee'd scarcely stay with thee,
And wouldst th'have this to chuse thee, being free?
Goe then and punish some soone-gotten stuffe,
For her dead husband this hath mourn'd enough, 20
In hating thee. Thou maist one like this meet;
For spight take her, prove kinde, make thy breath sweet,
Let her see she hath cause, and to bring to thee
Honest children, let her dishonest bee.
If shee be a widow, I'll warrant her 25
Shee'll thee before her first husband preferre,
And will wish thou hadst had her maidenhead;
Shee'll love thee so, for then thou hadst bin dead.
But thou such strong love, and weake reasons hast,
Thou must thrive there, or ever live disgrac'd. 30
Yet pause a while; and thou maist live to see
A time to come, wherein she may beg thee;
If thou'lt not pause nor change, she'll beg thee now.
Doe what she can, love for nothing shee'll allow.
Besides, her<s> were too much gaine and merchandise, 35
And when thou art rewarded, desert dies.
Now thou hast odds of him she loves, he may doubt
Her constancy, but none can put thee out.
Againe, be thy love true, shee'll prove divine,
And in the end the good on't will be thine: 40
For thou must never think on other love,
And so wilt advance her as high above
Vertue as cause above effect can bee:
'Tis vertue to be chast, which shee'll make thee.
[Satyre.
_B_, _O'F_: A Satire: upon one who was his Rivall
in a widdowes Love. _A10_: Satyre VI. _1635-54_: Satyre. VII.
_1669_ (_where Satyre VI. is Sleep, next Society &c. _)]
[4 thine eyes _1635-69_: thy eye's _A10_]
[11 thee,] the, _1669_]
[13 she needs must change; I _1635-69_: she must change, yet I
_A10_]
[16 and _1635-69_: but _B_]
[17 Urg'd _A10_, _B_, _O'F_: Dry'd _1635-69_]
[19 some] _1635 duplicates_]
[22 sweet, _1639-69_: sweet. _1635_]
[27 maidenhead; _Ed_: maidenhead, _1635-69_]
[28 (Shee'll love thee so) for, _1635-69_]
[29 strong] firm _A10_]
[32 thee; _Grosart_: thee. _1635-69_]
[33 now. _Grosart_: now, _1635-69_]
[34 love for nothing shee'll _1635-69_: she'le love for nought
_A10_]
[35 Besides, hers _Ed_: Besides, here _1635-69_: But hers
_A10_: Besides her _O'F_]
[38-9 out. Againe, _1635-69_: out Againe; _A10_]
[40 And in _1635-69_: And yet in _A10_
thine: _Ed_: thine. _1635-69_]
[41 For thou must never think on _H-K_ (_Grosart_): And thou
must never think on, _A10_: For though thou must ne'r thinke
of _1635-69_]
[42 And so wilt advance her _1635-69_: For that will her
advance _A10_]
[43 bee: _Ed_: bee, _1635-69_]
AN ELEGIE.
_Reflecting on his passion for his mistrisse. _
Come, Fates; I feare you not. All whom I owe
Are paid, but you. Then rest me ere I goe.