heere on his throne
in his bright imperial crowne 15
hee sitts.
in his bright imperial crowne 15
hee sitts.
John Donne
> _Ed_: _no title and no
punctuation_, _Bur_]
<_Life a Play. _>
What is o^r life? a play of passion.
o^r mirth? the musick of diuision.
O^r mothers wombs the tyring houses bee
Where we are drest for liues short comedy.
The earth the stage, heauen y^e spectator is, 5
Who still doth note who ere do act amisse.
O^r graues that hyde vs, fro the all-seeing sun,
Are but drawne curtaynes wh? the play is done.
[<Life a Play. > _Ed_: _no title, and no punctuation except the
two marks of interrogation_, _Bur_]
_A Kisse. _
O what a blisse
is this?
heaven is effected
and loues eternity contracted
In one short kisse. 5
For not tymes measure
makes pleasure
more full,
tedious and dull
all ioyes are thought 10
y^t are not in an instant wrought.
Cupi<d>s blest and highest spheare
is heare.
heere on his throne
in his bright imperial crowne 15
hee sitts.
Those witts
That thinke to proue
that mortals know
in any place below 20
a blisse so great
so sweet
Are heretiques in loue.
These pleasures high
now dye, 25
but still beginning
new & greater glory wining
gett fresh supply.
No short breath'd panting
nor faynting 30
is heere,
fuller and freer
more pleasinge is
this pleasure still, & none but this.
Heer'es no blush nor labor great, 35
no sweat;
Heres no payne
nor repentance when againe
Loue cooles.
O fooles 40
That fondly glory
in base condition
of sensual fruition,
you do mistake
& make 45
y^r heaven purgatory.
[A Kisse. _Bur_]
[8 full. _Ed_: full _Bur_]
[12 Cupi<d>s _Ed_: Cupis _Bur_]
[27 new _Ed_: now _Bur_]
[28 supply. _Ed_: supply _Bur_]
[31 heere, _Ed_: heere _Bur_]
[35 great, _Ed_: great _Bur_]
[39 cooles. _Ed_: cooles _Bur_]
[43 fruition, _Ed_: fruition _Bur_]
_Epi: B: Jo:_
Tell me who can when a player dies
In w^{ch} of his shapes againe hee shall rise?
What need hee stand at the iudgment throne
Who hath a heaven and a hell of his owne.
Then feare not Burbage heavens angry rodd, 5
When thy fellows are angells & old Hemm? gs is God.
[Epi: B: Jo: (i. e.
punctuation_, _Bur_]
<_Life a Play. _>
What is o^r life? a play of passion.
o^r mirth? the musick of diuision.
O^r mothers wombs the tyring houses bee
Where we are drest for liues short comedy.
The earth the stage, heauen y^e spectator is, 5
Who still doth note who ere do act amisse.
O^r graues that hyde vs, fro the all-seeing sun,
Are but drawne curtaynes wh? the play is done.
[<Life a Play. > _Ed_: _no title, and no punctuation except the
two marks of interrogation_, _Bur_]
_A Kisse. _
O what a blisse
is this?
heaven is effected
and loues eternity contracted
In one short kisse. 5
For not tymes measure
makes pleasure
more full,
tedious and dull
all ioyes are thought 10
y^t are not in an instant wrought.
Cupi<d>s blest and highest spheare
is heare.
heere on his throne
in his bright imperial crowne 15
hee sitts.
Those witts
That thinke to proue
that mortals know
in any place below 20
a blisse so great
so sweet
Are heretiques in loue.
These pleasures high
now dye, 25
but still beginning
new & greater glory wining
gett fresh supply.
No short breath'd panting
nor faynting 30
is heere,
fuller and freer
more pleasinge is
this pleasure still, & none but this.
Heer'es no blush nor labor great, 35
no sweat;
Heres no payne
nor repentance when againe
Loue cooles.
O fooles 40
That fondly glory
in base condition
of sensual fruition,
you do mistake
& make 45
y^r heaven purgatory.
[A Kisse. _Bur_]
[8 full. _Ed_: full _Bur_]
[12 Cupi<d>s _Ed_: Cupis _Bur_]
[27 new _Ed_: now _Bur_]
[28 supply. _Ed_: supply _Bur_]
[31 heere, _Ed_: heere _Bur_]
[35 great, _Ed_: great _Bur_]
[39 cooles. _Ed_: cooles _Bur_]
[43 fruition, _Ed_: fruition _Bur_]
_Epi: B: Jo:_
Tell me who can when a player dies
In w^{ch} of his shapes againe hee shall rise?
What need hee stand at the iudgment throne
Who hath a heaven and a hell of his owne.
Then feare not Burbage heavens angry rodd, 5
When thy fellows are angells & old Hemm? gs is God.
[Epi: B: Jo: (i. e.
