20
Nor come a velvet Justice with a long
Great traine of blew coats, twelve, or fourteen strong,
Wilt thou grin or fawne on him, or prepare
A speech to Court his beautious sonne and heire!
Nor come a velvet Justice with a long
Great traine of blew coats, twelve, or fourteen strong,
Wilt thou grin or fawne on him, or prepare
A speech to Court his beautious sonne and heire!
John Donne
:_ body _1633_]
[8 smother, _1650-69:_ smother _1633-39_]
[17 presence _Ed:_ presence, _1633-69_. _See note_]
[22 faire, rich, glad, and in _A18_, _N_, _TC_, _W:_ faire and
rich, in _1633-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_]
[25 Patricians,] Patricians _1633_]
[26 Sonns of . . . deep oceans, _Ed:_ Some of these Senators
wealths deep oceans, _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ Sonnes of these
Senatours, wealths deep oceans _W:_ Sonnes of those Senatours,
wealths deepe oceans, _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _S96_ (_but_
Senators _O'F_, _S96_). _See note_]
[29 those fellowships] that Fellowship _S96_]
[31 bring. _W:_ bring _1633-39:_ bring, _1650-69_]
[32 straw'd] strow'd _1669_]
[42 thee. _1635-69:_ thee; _1633_]
[46 All wayes _W:_ Alwaies, _1633:_ Alwayes, _1635-69_]
[49 Oh winter dayes _A34_, _B_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _W:_ Winter
dayes _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[53 eyes, _1635-69:_ eyes; _1633_]
[55 still. _W:_ still, _1633-69_]
[57 nill _W:_ will _1633-69 and rest of MSS. :_ _B inserts_
not. _See note_]
[59 runne the worlds halfe frame, _A34_, _B_, _S96_, _W:_
runne the Heavens halfe frame, _1635-69_, _O'F:_ come the
worlds half frame, _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[60 _put_] _but_ _1633_]
[72 _puts_] _put_ _1669_]
[73 Thy virgins girdle _1633-69_, _W:_ The Virgin Girdle _B_,
_O'F_, _S96:_ Thy Virgin girdle _P_]
[74 [loves alter] _1633-69_]
[76 were] wee _some copies of 1633_, _Grolier_]
[78 art] are _1669_]
[86 spent, _Ed:_ spent; _1633:_ spent: _1635-69_]
[95 maime, _1633_, _W:_ name, _1635-69_, _A18_, _A34_, _B_,
_N_, _P_, _S96_, _TC_]
SATYRES.
_Satyre I. _
Away thou fondling motley humorist,
Leave mee, and in this standing woodden chest,
Consorted with these few bookes, let me lye
In prison, and here be coffin'd, when I dye;
Here are Gods conduits, grave Divines; and here 5
Natures Secretary, the Philosopher;
And jolly Statesmen, which teach how to tie
The sinewes of a cities mistique bodie;
Here gathering Chroniclers, and by them stand
Giddie fantastique Poets of each land. 10
Shall I leave all this constant company,
And follow headlong, wild uncertaine thee?
First sweare by thy best love in earnest
(If thou which lov'st all, canst love any best)
Thou wilt not leave mee in the middle street, 15
Though some more spruce companion thou dost meet,
Not though a Captaine do come in thy way
Bright parcell gilt, with forty dead mens pay,
Not though a briske perfum'd piert Courtier
Deigne with a nod, thy courtesie to answer.
20
Nor come a velvet Justice with a long
Great traine of blew coats, twelve, or fourteen strong,
Wilt thou grin or fawne on him, or prepare
A speech to Court his beautious sonne and heire!
For better or worse take mee, or leave mee: 25
To take, and leave mee is adultery.
Oh monstrous, superstitious puritan,
Of refin'd manners, yet ceremoniall man,
That when thou meet'st one, with enquiring eyes
Dost search, and like a needy broker prize 30
The silke, and gold he weares, and to that rate
So high or low, dost raise thy formall hat:
That wilt consort none, untill thou have knowne
What lands hee hath in hope, or of his owne,
As though all thy companions should make thee 35
Jointures, and marry thy deare company.
Why should'st thou (that dost not onely approve,
But in ranke itchie lust, desire, and love
The nakednesse and barenesse to enjoy,
Of thy plumpe muddy whore, or prostitute boy) 40
Hate vertue, though shee be naked, and bare?
At birth, and death, our bodies naked are;
And till our Soules be unapparrelled
Of bodies, they from blisse are banished.
Mans first blest state was naked, when by sinne 45
Hee lost that, yet hee was cloath'd but in beasts skin,
And in this course attire, which I now weare,
With God, and with the Muses I conferre.
But since thou like a contrite penitent,
Charitably warn'd of thy sinnes, dost repent 50
These vanities, and giddinesses, loe
I shut my chamber doore, and come, lets goe.
But sooner may a cheape whore, who hath beene
Worne by as many severall men in sinne,
As are black feathers, or musk-colour hose, 55
Name her childs right true father, 'mongst all those:
Sooner may one guesse, who shall beare away
The Infanta of London, Heire to an India;
And sooner may a gulling weather Spie
By drawing forth heavens Scheme tell certainly 60
What fashioned hats, or ruffes, or suits next yeare
Our subtile-witted antique youths will weare;
Then thou, when thou depart'st from mee, canst show
Whither, why, when, or with whom thou wouldst go.
But how shall I be pardon'd my offence 65
That thus have sinn'd against my conscience?
Now we are in the street; He first of all
Improvidently proud, creepes to the wall,
And so imprisoned, and hem'd in by mee
Sells for a little state his libertie; 70
Yet though he cannot skip forth now to greet
Every fine silken painted foole we meet,
He them to him with amorous smiles allures,
And grins, smacks, shrugs, and such an itch endures,
As prentises, or schoole-boyes which doe know 75
Of some gay sport abroad, yet dare not goe.
And as fidlers stop lowest, at highest sound,
So to the most brave, stoops hee nigh'st the ground.
But to a grave man, he doth move no more
Then the wise politique horse would heretofore, 80
Or thou O Elephant or Ape wilt doe,
When any names the King of Spaine to you.
Now leaps he upright, Joggs me, & cryes, Do you see
Yonder well favoured youth? Which? Oh, 'tis hee
That dances so divinely; Oh, said I, 85
Stand still, must you dance here for company?
Hee droopt, wee went, till one (which did excell
Th'Indians, in drinking his Tobacco well)
Met us; they talk'd; I whispered, let'us goe,
'T may be you smell him not, truely I doe; 90
He heares not mee, but, on the other side
A many-coloured Peacock having spide,
Leaves him and mee; I for my lost sheep stay;
He followes, overtakes, goes on the way,
Saying, him whom I last left, all repute 95
For his device, in hansoming a sute,
To judge of lace, pinke, panes, print, cut, and plight,
Of all the Court, to have the best conceit;
Our dull Comedians want him, let him goe;
But Oh, God strengthen thee, why stoop'st thou so?
[8 smother, _1650-69:_ smother _1633-39_]
[17 presence _Ed:_ presence, _1633-69_. _See note_]
[22 faire, rich, glad, and in _A18_, _N_, _TC_, _W:_ faire and
rich, in _1633-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_]
[25 Patricians,] Patricians _1633_]
[26 Sonns of . . . deep oceans, _Ed:_ Some of these Senators
wealths deep oceans, _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC:_ Sonnes of these
Senatours, wealths deep oceans _W:_ Sonnes of those Senatours,
wealths deepe oceans, _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _S96_ (_but_
Senators _O'F_, _S96_). _See note_]
[29 those fellowships] that Fellowship _S96_]
[31 bring. _W:_ bring _1633-39:_ bring, _1650-69_]
[32 straw'd] strow'd _1669_]
[42 thee. _1635-69:_ thee; _1633_]
[46 All wayes _W:_ Alwaies, _1633:_ Alwayes, _1635-69_]
[49 Oh winter dayes _A34_, _B_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _W:_ Winter
dayes _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[53 eyes, _1635-69:_ eyes; _1633_]
[55 still. _W:_ still, _1633-69_]
[57 nill _W:_ will _1633-69 and rest of MSS. :_ _B inserts_
not. _See note_]
[59 runne the worlds halfe frame, _A34_, _B_, _S96_, _W:_
runne the Heavens halfe frame, _1635-69_, _O'F:_ come the
worlds half frame, _1633_, _A18_, _N_, _TC_]
[60 _put_] _but_ _1633_]
[72 _puts_] _put_ _1669_]
[73 Thy virgins girdle _1633-69_, _W:_ The Virgin Girdle _B_,
_O'F_, _S96:_ Thy Virgin girdle _P_]
[74 [loves alter] _1633-69_]
[76 were] wee _some copies of 1633_, _Grolier_]
[78 art] are _1669_]
[86 spent, _Ed:_ spent; _1633:_ spent: _1635-69_]
[95 maime, _1633_, _W:_ name, _1635-69_, _A18_, _A34_, _B_,
_N_, _P_, _S96_, _TC_]
SATYRES.
_Satyre I. _
Away thou fondling motley humorist,
Leave mee, and in this standing woodden chest,
Consorted with these few bookes, let me lye
In prison, and here be coffin'd, when I dye;
Here are Gods conduits, grave Divines; and here 5
Natures Secretary, the Philosopher;
And jolly Statesmen, which teach how to tie
The sinewes of a cities mistique bodie;
Here gathering Chroniclers, and by them stand
Giddie fantastique Poets of each land. 10
Shall I leave all this constant company,
And follow headlong, wild uncertaine thee?
First sweare by thy best love in earnest
(If thou which lov'st all, canst love any best)
Thou wilt not leave mee in the middle street, 15
Though some more spruce companion thou dost meet,
Not though a Captaine do come in thy way
Bright parcell gilt, with forty dead mens pay,
Not though a briske perfum'd piert Courtier
Deigne with a nod, thy courtesie to answer.
20
Nor come a velvet Justice with a long
Great traine of blew coats, twelve, or fourteen strong,
Wilt thou grin or fawne on him, or prepare
A speech to Court his beautious sonne and heire!
For better or worse take mee, or leave mee: 25
To take, and leave mee is adultery.
Oh monstrous, superstitious puritan,
Of refin'd manners, yet ceremoniall man,
That when thou meet'st one, with enquiring eyes
Dost search, and like a needy broker prize 30
The silke, and gold he weares, and to that rate
So high or low, dost raise thy formall hat:
That wilt consort none, untill thou have knowne
What lands hee hath in hope, or of his owne,
As though all thy companions should make thee 35
Jointures, and marry thy deare company.
Why should'st thou (that dost not onely approve,
But in ranke itchie lust, desire, and love
The nakednesse and barenesse to enjoy,
Of thy plumpe muddy whore, or prostitute boy) 40
Hate vertue, though shee be naked, and bare?
At birth, and death, our bodies naked are;
And till our Soules be unapparrelled
Of bodies, they from blisse are banished.
Mans first blest state was naked, when by sinne 45
Hee lost that, yet hee was cloath'd but in beasts skin,
And in this course attire, which I now weare,
With God, and with the Muses I conferre.
But since thou like a contrite penitent,
Charitably warn'd of thy sinnes, dost repent 50
These vanities, and giddinesses, loe
I shut my chamber doore, and come, lets goe.
But sooner may a cheape whore, who hath beene
Worne by as many severall men in sinne,
As are black feathers, or musk-colour hose, 55
Name her childs right true father, 'mongst all those:
Sooner may one guesse, who shall beare away
The Infanta of London, Heire to an India;
And sooner may a gulling weather Spie
By drawing forth heavens Scheme tell certainly 60
What fashioned hats, or ruffes, or suits next yeare
Our subtile-witted antique youths will weare;
Then thou, when thou depart'st from mee, canst show
Whither, why, when, or with whom thou wouldst go.
But how shall I be pardon'd my offence 65
That thus have sinn'd against my conscience?
Now we are in the street; He first of all
Improvidently proud, creepes to the wall,
And so imprisoned, and hem'd in by mee
Sells for a little state his libertie; 70
Yet though he cannot skip forth now to greet
Every fine silken painted foole we meet,
He them to him with amorous smiles allures,
And grins, smacks, shrugs, and such an itch endures,
As prentises, or schoole-boyes which doe know 75
Of some gay sport abroad, yet dare not goe.
And as fidlers stop lowest, at highest sound,
So to the most brave, stoops hee nigh'st the ground.
But to a grave man, he doth move no more
Then the wise politique horse would heretofore, 80
Or thou O Elephant or Ape wilt doe,
When any names the King of Spaine to you.
Now leaps he upright, Joggs me, & cryes, Do you see
Yonder well favoured youth? Which? Oh, 'tis hee
That dances so divinely; Oh, said I, 85
Stand still, must you dance here for company?
Hee droopt, wee went, till one (which did excell
Th'Indians, in drinking his Tobacco well)
Met us; they talk'd; I whispered, let'us goe,
'T may be you smell him not, truely I doe; 90
He heares not mee, but, on the other side
A many-coloured Peacock having spide,
Leaves him and mee; I for my lost sheep stay;
He followes, overtakes, goes on the way,
Saying, him whom I last left, all repute 95
For his device, in hansoming a sute,
To judge of lace, pinke, panes, print, cut, and plight,
Of all the Court, to have the best conceit;
Our dull Comedians want him, let him goe;
But Oh, God strengthen thee, why stoop'st thou so?