_Such an opinion (in due
measure)
made, &c.
John Donne
_ Compare: 'But though all
knowledge be in those Authors already, yet, as some poisons, and some
medicines, hurt not, nor profit, except the creature in which they
reside, contribute their lively activitie and vigor; so, much of the
knowledge buried in Books perisheth, and becomes ineffectuall, if it
be not applied, and refreshed by a companion, or friend. Much of their
goodnesse hath the same period which some Physicians of _Italy_ have
observed to be in the biting of their _Tarentola_, that it affects no
longer, then the flie lives. ' _Letters_, p. 107.
PAGE =245=, l. 460. _As matter fit for Chronicle, not verse. _ Compare
_The Canonization_, p. 15, ll. 31-2:
And if no peece of Chronicle wee prove
We'll build in sonnets pretty roomes . . .
God's 'last, and lasting'st peece, a song' is of course Moses' song in
Deuteronomy xxxii: 'Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak,' &c.
l. 467.
_Such an opinion (in due measure) made, &c. _ The bracket of
_1611_ makes the sense less ambiguous than the commas of _1633_:
Such an opinion, in due measure, made.
According to the habits of old punctuation, 'in due measure' thus
comma'd off might be an adjunct of 'made me . . . invade'. The bracket
shows that the phrase goes with 'opinion'. 'Such an opinion (with
all due reverence spoken),' &c. Donne finds that he is attributing to
himself the same thoughts as God.
A FUNERALL ELEGIE.
l. 2. _to confine her in a marble chest. _ The 'Funerall Elegie' was
probably the first composed of these poems. Elizabeth Drury's parents
erected over her a very elaborate marble tomb.
PAGE =246=, l.
knowledge be in those Authors already, yet, as some poisons, and some
medicines, hurt not, nor profit, except the creature in which they
reside, contribute their lively activitie and vigor; so, much of the
knowledge buried in Books perisheth, and becomes ineffectuall, if it
be not applied, and refreshed by a companion, or friend. Much of their
goodnesse hath the same period which some Physicians of _Italy_ have
observed to be in the biting of their _Tarentola_, that it affects no
longer, then the flie lives. ' _Letters_, p. 107.
PAGE =245=, l. 460. _As matter fit for Chronicle, not verse. _ Compare
_The Canonization_, p. 15, ll. 31-2:
And if no peece of Chronicle wee prove
We'll build in sonnets pretty roomes . . .
God's 'last, and lasting'st peece, a song' is of course Moses' song in
Deuteronomy xxxii: 'Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak,' &c.
l. 467.
_Such an opinion (in due measure) made, &c. _ The bracket of
_1611_ makes the sense less ambiguous than the commas of _1633_:
Such an opinion, in due measure, made.
According to the habits of old punctuation, 'in due measure' thus
comma'd off might be an adjunct of 'made me . . . invade'. The bracket
shows that the phrase goes with 'opinion'. 'Such an opinion (with
all due reverence spoken),' &c. Donne finds that he is attributing to
himself the same thoughts as God.
A FUNERALL ELEGIE.
l. 2. _to confine her in a marble chest. _ The 'Funerall Elegie' was
probably the first composed of these poems. Elizabeth Drury's parents
erected over her a very elaborate marble tomb.
PAGE =246=, l.
