_ _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_
Epithalamion on a Citizen.
Epithalamion on a Citizen.
John Donne
_1633-69_]
[214 eye] hand _1650-69_]
[215 burnt] burn _1669_]
[218 divine. _1635-69:_ divine; _1633_]
[230 all; _1635-69:_ all, _1633_]
_Epithalamion made at Lincolnes Inne. _
The Sun-beames in the East are spred,
Leave, leave, faire Bride, your solitary bed,
No more shall you returne to it alone,
It nourseth sadnesse, and your bodies print,
Like to a grave, the yielding downe doth dint; 5
You and your other you meet there anon;
Put forth, put forth that warme balme-breathing thigh,
Which when next time you in these sheets wil smother,
There it must meet another,
Which never was, but must be, oft, more nigh; 10
Come glad from thence, goe gladder then you came,
_To day put on perfection, and a womans name_.
Daughters of London, you which bee
Our Golden Mines, and furnish'd Treasurie,
You which are Angels, yet still bring with you 15
Thousands of Angels on your mariage daies,
Help with your presence and devise to praise
These rites, which also unto you grow due;
Conceitedly dresse her, and be assign'd,
By you, fit place for every flower and jewell, 20
Make her for love fit fewell
As gay as Flora, and as rich as Inde;
So may shee faire, rich, glad, and in nothing lame,
_To day put on perfection, and a womans name_.
And you frolique Patricians, 25
Sonns of these Senators wealths deep oceans,
Ye painted courtiers, barrels of others wits,
Yee country men, who but your beasts love none,
Yee of those fellowships whereof hee's one,
Of study and play made strange Hermaphrodits, 30
Here shine; This Bridegroom to the Temple bring.
Loe, in yon path which store of straw'd flowers graceth,
The sober virgin paceth;
Except my sight faile, 'tis no other thing;
Weep not nor blush, here is no griefe nor shame, 35
_To day put on perfection, and a womans name_.
Thy two-leav'd gates faire Temple unfold,
And these two in thy sacred bosome hold,
Till, mystically joyn'd, but one they bee;
Then may thy leane and hunger-starved wombe 40
Long time expect their bodies and their tombe,
Long after their owne parents fatten thee.
All elder claimes, and all cold barrennesse,
All yeelding to new loves bee far for ever,
Which might these two dissever, 45
All wayes all th'other may each one possesse;
For, the best Bride, best worthy of praise and fame,
_To day puts on perfection, and a womans name_.
Oh winter dayes bring much delight,
Not for themselves, but for they soon bring night; 50
Other sweets wait thee then these diverse meats,
Other disports then dancing jollities,
Other love tricks then glancing with the eyes,
But that the Sun still in our halfe Spheare sweates;
Hee flies in winter, but he now stands still. 55
Yet shadowes turne; Noone point he hath attain'd,
His steeds nill bee restrain'd,
But gallop lively downe the Westerne hill;
Thou shalt, when he hath runne the worlds half frame,
_To night put on perfection, and a womans name_. 60
The amorous evening starre is rose,
Why then should not our amorous starre inclose
Her selfe in her wish'd bed? Release your strings
Musicians, and dancers take some truce
With these your pleasing labours, for great use 65
As much wearinesse as perfection brings;
You, and not only you, but all toyl'd beasts
Rest duly; at night all their toyles are dispensed;
But in their beds commenced
Are other labours, and more dainty feasts; 70
She goes a maid, who, least she turne the same,
_To night puts on perfection, and a womans name_.
Thy virgins girdle now untie,
And in thy nuptiall bed (loves altar) lye
A pleasing sacrifice; now dispossesse 75
Thee of these chaines and robes which were put on
T'adorne the day, not thee; for thou, alone,
Like vertue'and truth, art best in nakednesse;
This bed is onely to virginitie
A grave, but, to a better state, a cradle; 80
Till now thou wast but able
To be what now thou art; then that by thee
No more be said, _I may bee_, but, _I am_,
_To night put on perfection, and a womans name_.
Even like a faithfull man content, 85
That this life for a better should be spent,
So, shee a mothers rich stile doth preferre,
And at the Bridegroomes wish'd approach doth lye,
Like an appointed lambe, when tenderly
The priest comes on his knees t'embowell her; 90
Now sleep or watch with more joy; and O light
Of heaven, to morrow rise thou hot, and early;
This Sun will love so dearely
Her rest, that long, long we shall want her sight;
Wonders are wrought, for shee which had no maime, 95
_To night puts on perfection, and a womans name_.
[Epithalamion _&c.
_ _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_
Epithalamion on a Citizen. _A34_, _B_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96:_
_do. _ of the La: Eliz: _P:_ Epithalamion. _W_]
[4 bodies _1635-69 and MSS. :_ 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.
[214 eye] hand _1650-69_]
[215 burnt] burn _1669_]
[218 divine. _1635-69:_ divine; _1633_]
[230 all; _1635-69:_ all, _1633_]
_Epithalamion made at Lincolnes Inne. _
The Sun-beames in the East are spred,
Leave, leave, faire Bride, your solitary bed,
No more shall you returne to it alone,
It nourseth sadnesse, and your bodies print,
Like to a grave, the yielding downe doth dint; 5
You and your other you meet there anon;
Put forth, put forth that warme balme-breathing thigh,
Which when next time you in these sheets wil smother,
There it must meet another,
Which never was, but must be, oft, more nigh; 10
Come glad from thence, goe gladder then you came,
_To day put on perfection, and a womans name_.
Daughters of London, you which bee
Our Golden Mines, and furnish'd Treasurie,
You which are Angels, yet still bring with you 15
Thousands of Angels on your mariage daies,
Help with your presence and devise to praise
These rites, which also unto you grow due;
Conceitedly dresse her, and be assign'd,
By you, fit place for every flower and jewell, 20
Make her for love fit fewell
As gay as Flora, and as rich as Inde;
So may shee faire, rich, glad, and in nothing lame,
_To day put on perfection, and a womans name_.
And you frolique Patricians, 25
Sonns of these Senators wealths deep oceans,
Ye painted courtiers, barrels of others wits,
Yee country men, who but your beasts love none,
Yee of those fellowships whereof hee's one,
Of study and play made strange Hermaphrodits, 30
Here shine; This Bridegroom to the Temple bring.
Loe, in yon path which store of straw'd flowers graceth,
The sober virgin paceth;
Except my sight faile, 'tis no other thing;
Weep not nor blush, here is no griefe nor shame, 35
_To day put on perfection, and a womans name_.
Thy two-leav'd gates faire Temple unfold,
And these two in thy sacred bosome hold,
Till, mystically joyn'd, but one they bee;
Then may thy leane and hunger-starved wombe 40
Long time expect their bodies and their tombe,
Long after their owne parents fatten thee.
All elder claimes, and all cold barrennesse,
All yeelding to new loves bee far for ever,
Which might these two dissever, 45
All wayes all th'other may each one possesse;
For, the best Bride, best worthy of praise and fame,
_To day puts on perfection, and a womans name_.
Oh winter dayes bring much delight,
Not for themselves, but for they soon bring night; 50
Other sweets wait thee then these diverse meats,
Other disports then dancing jollities,
Other love tricks then glancing with the eyes,
But that the Sun still in our halfe Spheare sweates;
Hee flies in winter, but he now stands still. 55
Yet shadowes turne; Noone point he hath attain'd,
His steeds nill bee restrain'd,
But gallop lively downe the Westerne hill;
Thou shalt, when he hath runne the worlds half frame,
_To night put on perfection, and a womans name_. 60
The amorous evening starre is rose,
Why then should not our amorous starre inclose
Her selfe in her wish'd bed? Release your strings
Musicians, and dancers take some truce
With these your pleasing labours, for great use 65
As much wearinesse as perfection brings;
You, and not only you, but all toyl'd beasts
Rest duly; at night all their toyles are dispensed;
But in their beds commenced
Are other labours, and more dainty feasts; 70
She goes a maid, who, least she turne the same,
_To night puts on perfection, and a womans name_.
Thy virgins girdle now untie,
And in thy nuptiall bed (loves altar) lye
A pleasing sacrifice; now dispossesse 75
Thee of these chaines and robes which were put on
T'adorne the day, not thee; for thou, alone,
Like vertue'and truth, art best in nakednesse;
This bed is onely to virginitie
A grave, but, to a better state, a cradle; 80
Till now thou wast but able
To be what now thou art; then that by thee
No more be said, _I may bee_, but, _I am_,
_To night put on perfection, and a womans name_.
Even like a faithfull man content, 85
That this life for a better should be spent,
So, shee a mothers rich stile doth preferre,
And at the Bridegroomes wish'd approach doth lye,
Like an appointed lambe, when tenderly
The priest comes on his knees t'embowell her; 90
Now sleep or watch with more joy; and O light
Of heaven, to morrow rise thou hot, and early;
This Sun will love so dearely
Her rest, that long, long we shall want her sight;
Wonders are wrought, for shee which had no maime, 95
_To night puts on perfection, and a womans name_.
[Epithalamion _&c.
_ _1633-69_, _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_
Epithalamion on a Citizen. _A34_, _B_, _O'F_, _S_, _S96:_
_do. _ of the La: Eliz: _P:_ Epithalamion. _W_]
[4 bodies _1635-69 and MSS. :_ 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.