Spake he all
_Languages_?
John Donne
then England say
Thou 'hast lost a man where language chose to stay
And shew it's gracefull power. I would not praise
That and his vast wit (which in these vaine dayes
Make many proud) but as they serv'd to unlock 5
That Cabinet, his minde: where such a stock
Of knowledge was repos'd, as all lament
(Or should) this generall cause of discontent.
And I rejoyce I am not so severe,
But (as I write a line) to weepe a teare 10
For his decease; Such sad extremities
May make such men as I write _Elegies_.
And wonder not; for, when a generall losse
Falls on a nation, and they slight the crosse,
God hath rais'd _Prophets_ to awaken them 15
From stupifaction; witnesse my milde pen,
Not us'd to upbraid the world, though now it must
Freely and boldly, for, the cause is just.
Dull age, Oh I would spare thee, but th'art worse,
Thou art not onely dull, but hast a curse 20
Of black ingratitude; if not, couldst thou
Part with _miraculous Donne_, and make no vow
For thee and thine, successively to pay
A sad remembrance to his dying day?
Did his youth scatter _Poetrie_, wherein 25
Was all Philosophie? Was every sinne,
Character'd in his _Satyres_? made so foule
That some have fear'd their shapes, and kept their soule
Freer by reading verse? Did he give _dayes_
Past marble monuments, to those, whose praise 30
He would perpetuate? Did hee (I feare
The dull will doubt:) these at his twentieth yeare?
But, more matur'd: Did his full soule conceive,
And in harmonious-holy-numbers weave
[Sidenote: _La Corona. _]
A _Crowne of sacred sonets_, fit to adorne 35
A dying Martyrs brow: or, to be worne
On that blest head of _Mary Magdalen_:
After she wip'd Christs feet, but not till then?
Did hee (fit for such penitents as shee
And hee to use) leave us a _Litany_? 40
Which all devout men love, and sure, it shall,
As times grow better, grow more classicall.
Did he write _Hymnes_, for piety and wit
Equall to those great grave _Prudentius_ writ?
Spake he all _Languages_? knew he all _Lawes_? 45
The grounds and use of _Physicke_; but because
'Twas mercenary wav'd it? Went to see
That blessed place of _Christs nativity_?
Did he returne and preach him? preach him so
As none but hee did, or could do? They know 50
(Such as were blest to heare him know) 'tis truth.
Did he confirme thy age? convert thy youth?
Did he these wonders? And is this deare losse
Mourn'd by so few? (few for so great a crosse. )
But sure the silent are ambitious all 55
To be _Close Mourners_ at his Funerall;
If not; In common pitty they forbare
By repetitions to renew our care;
Or, knowing, griefe conceiv'd, conceal'd, consumes
Man irreparably, (as poyson'd fumes 60
Do waste the braine) make silence a safe way
To'inlarge the Soule from these walls, mud and clay,
(Materialls of this body) to remaine
With _Donne_ in heaven, where no promiscuous paine
Lessens the joy wee have, for, with _him_, all 65
Are satisfyed with _joyes essentiall_.
My thoughts, Dwell on this _Ioy_, and do not call
Griefe backe, by thinking of his Funerall;
Forget he lov'd mee; Waste not my sad yeares;
(Which haste to _Davids_ seventy, fill'd with feares 70
And sorrow for his death;) Forget his parts,
Which finde a living grave in good mens hearts;
And, (for, my first is daily paid for sinne)
Forget to pay my second sigh for him:
Forget his powerfull preaching; and forget 75
I am his _Convert_. Oh my frailtie! let
My flesh be no more heard, it will obtrude
This lethargie: so should my gratitude,
My vowes of gratitude should so be broke;
Which can no more be, then _Donnes_ vertues spoke 80
By any but himselfe; for which cause, I
Write no _Encomium_, but an _Elegie_.
Thou 'hast lost a man where language chose to stay
And shew it's gracefull power. I would not praise
That and his vast wit (which in these vaine dayes
Make many proud) but as they serv'd to unlock 5
That Cabinet, his minde: where such a stock
Of knowledge was repos'd, as all lament
(Or should) this generall cause of discontent.
And I rejoyce I am not so severe,
But (as I write a line) to weepe a teare 10
For his decease; Such sad extremities
May make such men as I write _Elegies_.
And wonder not; for, when a generall losse
Falls on a nation, and they slight the crosse,
God hath rais'd _Prophets_ to awaken them 15
From stupifaction; witnesse my milde pen,
Not us'd to upbraid the world, though now it must
Freely and boldly, for, the cause is just.
Dull age, Oh I would spare thee, but th'art worse,
Thou art not onely dull, but hast a curse 20
Of black ingratitude; if not, couldst thou
Part with _miraculous Donne_, and make no vow
For thee and thine, successively to pay
A sad remembrance to his dying day?
Did his youth scatter _Poetrie_, wherein 25
Was all Philosophie? Was every sinne,
Character'd in his _Satyres_? made so foule
That some have fear'd their shapes, and kept their soule
Freer by reading verse? Did he give _dayes_
Past marble monuments, to those, whose praise 30
He would perpetuate? Did hee (I feare
The dull will doubt:) these at his twentieth yeare?
But, more matur'd: Did his full soule conceive,
And in harmonious-holy-numbers weave
[Sidenote: _La Corona. _]
A _Crowne of sacred sonets_, fit to adorne 35
A dying Martyrs brow: or, to be worne
On that blest head of _Mary Magdalen_:
After she wip'd Christs feet, but not till then?
Did hee (fit for such penitents as shee
And hee to use) leave us a _Litany_? 40
Which all devout men love, and sure, it shall,
As times grow better, grow more classicall.
Did he write _Hymnes_, for piety and wit
Equall to those great grave _Prudentius_ writ?
Spake he all _Languages_? knew he all _Lawes_? 45
The grounds and use of _Physicke_; but because
'Twas mercenary wav'd it? Went to see
That blessed place of _Christs nativity_?
Did he returne and preach him? preach him so
As none but hee did, or could do? They know 50
(Such as were blest to heare him know) 'tis truth.
Did he confirme thy age? convert thy youth?
Did he these wonders? And is this deare losse
Mourn'd by so few? (few for so great a crosse. )
But sure the silent are ambitious all 55
To be _Close Mourners_ at his Funerall;
If not; In common pitty they forbare
By repetitions to renew our care;
Or, knowing, griefe conceiv'd, conceal'd, consumes
Man irreparably, (as poyson'd fumes 60
Do waste the braine) make silence a safe way
To'inlarge the Soule from these walls, mud and clay,
(Materialls of this body) to remaine
With _Donne_ in heaven, where no promiscuous paine
Lessens the joy wee have, for, with _him_, all 65
Are satisfyed with _joyes essentiall_.
My thoughts, Dwell on this _Ioy_, and do not call
Griefe backe, by thinking of his Funerall;
Forget he lov'd mee; Waste not my sad yeares;
(Which haste to _Davids_ seventy, fill'd with feares 70
And sorrow for his death;) Forget his parts,
Which finde a living grave in good mens hearts;
And, (for, my first is daily paid for sinne)
Forget to pay my second sigh for him:
Forget his powerfull preaching; and forget 75
I am his _Convert_. Oh my frailtie! let
My flesh be no more heard, it will obtrude
This lethargie: so should my gratitude,
My vowes of gratitude should so be broke;
Which can no more be, then _Donnes_ vertues spoke 80
By any but himselfe; for which cause, I
Write no _Encomium_, but an _Elegie_.
