Ed: in 1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _W_
Appeared in 1669 edition after the Elegies, unnumbered but
with the heading_ To his Mistris going to Bed.
_H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _W_
Appeared in 1669 edition after the Elegies, unnumbered but
with the heading_ To his Mistris going to Bed.
John Donne
10
Off with that happy busk, which I envie,
That still can be, and still can stand so nigh.
Your gown going off, such beautious state reveals,
As when from flowry meads th'hills shadow steales.
Off with that wyerie Coronet and shew 15
The haiery Diademe which on you doth grow:
Now off with those shooes, and then safely tread
In this loves hallow'd temple, this soft bed.
In such white robes, heaven's Angels us'd to be
Receavd by men; Thou Angel bringst with thee 20
A heaven like Mahomets Paradise; and though
Ill spirits walk in white, we easly know,
By this these Angels from an evil sprite,
Those set our hairs, but these our flesh uprigh
Licence my roaving hands, and let them go, 25
Before, behind, between, above, below.
O my America! my new-found-land,
My kingdome, safliest when with one man man'd,
My Myne of precious stones, My Emperie,
How blest am I in this discovering thee! 30
To enter in these bonds, is to be free;
Then where my hand is set, my seal shall be.
Full nakedness! All joyes are due to thee,
As souls unbodied, bodies uncloth'd must be,
To taste whole joyes. Gems which you women use 35
Are like Atlanta's balls, cast in mens views,
That when a fools eye lighteth on a Gem,
His earthly soul may covet theirs, not them.
Like pictures, or like books gay coverings made
For lay-men, are all women thus array'd; 40
Themselves are mystick books, which only wee
(Whom their imputed grace will dignifie)
Must see reveal'd. Then since that I may know;
As liberally, as to a Midwife, shew
Thy self: cast all, yea, this white lynnen hence, 45
There is no pennance due to innocence.
To teach thee, I am naked first; why than
What needst thou have more covering then a man.
[Elegie XIX. _&c.
Ed: in 1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _W_
Appeared in 1669 edition after the Elegies, unnumbered but
with the heading_ To his Mistris going to Bed. _The MSS.
include it among the Elegies either with no heading, or
simply_ Elegye, _or numbered according to the scheme adopted:
B gives title which I have adopted as consistent with other
titles_]
[4 he _1669:_ they _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_TC_]
[5 glittering] glistering _MSS. _]
[8 That I may see my shrine that shines so fair. _Cy_, _P_]
[10 it is _1669:_ 'tis your _MSS. _]
[11 which] whom _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _S_, _TC_,
_W_]
[14 from _MSS. :_ through _1669_
shadow] shadows _1669_]
[16 Diademe . . . grow: _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_,
_L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TC:_ Diadem which on your
head doth grow: _1669:_ Diadems which on you do grow. _S_,
_Chambers_]
[17 Now . . . shooes, _1669_, _JC_, _W:_ Off . . .
Off with that happy busk, which I envie,
That still can be, and still can stand so nigh.
Your gown going off, such beautious state reveals,
As when from flowry meads th'hills shadow steales.
Off with that wyerie Coronet and shew 15
The haiery Diademe which on you doth grow:
Now off with those shooes, and then safely tread
In this loves hallow'd temple, this soft bed.
In such white robes, heaven's Angels us'd to be
Receavd by men; Thou Angel bringst with thee 20
A heaven like Mahomets Paradise; and though
Ill spirits walk in white, we easly know,
By this these Angels from an evil sprite,
Those set our hairs, but these our flesh uprigh
Licence my roaving hands, and let them go, 25
Before, behind, between, above, below.
O my America! my new-found-land,
My kingdome, safliest when with one man man'd,
My Myne of precious stones, My Emperie,
How blest am I in this discovering thee! 30
To enter in these bonds, is to be free;
Then where my hand is set, my seal shall be.
Full nakedness! All joyes are due to thee,
As souls unbodied, bodies uncloth'd must be,
To taste whole joyes. Gems which you women use 35
Are like Atlanta's balls, cast in mens views,
That when a fools eye lighteth on a Gem,
His earthly soul may covet theirs, not them.
Like pictures, or like books gay coverings made
For lay-men, are all women thus array'd; 40
Themselves are mystick books, which only wee
(Whom their imputed grace will dignifie)
Must see reveal'd. Then since that I may know;
As liberally, as to a Midwife, shew
Thy self: cast all, yea, this white lynnen hence, 45
There is no pennance due to innocence.
To teach thee, I am naked first; why than
What needst thou have more covering then a man.
[Elegie XIX. _&c.
Ed: in 1669_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_,
_H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _W_
Appeared in 1669 edition after the Elegies, unnumbered but
with the heading_ To his Mistris going to Bed. _The MSS.
include it among the Elegies either with no heading, or
simply_ Elegye, _or numbered according to the scheme adopted:
B gives title which I have adopted as consistent with other
titles_]
[4 he _1669:_ they _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_,
_TC_]
[5 glittering] glistering _MSS. _]
[8 That I may see my shrine that shines so fair. _Cy_, _P_]
[10 it is _1669:_ 'tis your _MSS. _]
[11 which] whom _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _S_, _TC_,
_W_]
[14 from _MSS. :_ through _1669_
shadow] shadows _1669_]
[16 Diademe . . . grow: _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _JC_,
_L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TC:_ Diadem which on your
head doth grow: _1669:_ Diadems which on you do grow. _S_,
_Chambers_]
[17 Now . . . shooes, _1669_, _JC_, _W:_ Off . . .
