No More Learning

For, as, if all the substances were spent,
'Twere madnesse, to enquire of accident,
So is't to looke for reason, hee being gone,
The onely subject reason wrought upon. 70
If Fate have such a chaine, whose divers links
Industrious man discerneth, as hee thinks;
When miracle doth come, and so steale in
A new linke, man knowes not, where to begin:
At a much deader fault must reason bee, 75
Death having broke off such a linke as hee.
But now, for us, with busie proofe to come,
That we'have no reason, would prove wee had some.
So would just lamentations: Therefore wee
May safelyer say, that we are dead, then hee. 80
So, if our griefs wee do not well declare,
We'have double excuse; he'is not dead; and we are.
Yet I would not dy yet; for though I bee
Too narrow, to thinke him, as hee is hee,
(Our Soules best baiting, and midd-period, 85
In her long journey, of considering God)
Yet, (no dishonour) I can reach him thus,
As he embrac'd the fires of love, with us.
Oh may I, (since I live) but see, or heare,
That she-Intelligence which mov'd this spheare, 90
I pardon Fate, my life: Who ere thou bee,
Which hast the noble conscience, thou art shee,
I conjure thee by all the charmes he spoke,
By th'oathes, which onely you two never broke,
By all the soules yee sigh'd, that if you see 95
These lines, you wish, I knew your history.
So much, as you, two mutuall heav'ns were here,
I were an Angell, singing what you were.


[Epicedes _&c. _ _1635-69:_ Elegie upon _&c. _ _1613_, _in the_
Lachrymae Lachrymarum _&c. of Joshua Sylvester_. _See note:_
Elegie on Prince Henry. _1633-54_, _O'F:_ _similarly_, _Cy_,
_N_, _TCD:_ An Elegie on the untimely _&c. _ _1669_]

[8 man _1633-69:_ men _1613_]

[17 neare] nere _1633_]

[18 that _1633-69:_ the _1613_]

[19 might credit _1633-69:_ could credit _1613_]

[21 moving _1633-69:_ movings _1613_]

[22 shake, _1650-69:_ shake.
_1633-39_]

[26 extasie _Ed:_ exstasie, _1633-69_]

[31 bent; _Ed:_ bent, _1613_, _1633-69_]

[34 through _1613-33:_ to _1635-69_

Christianity? _1669:_ Christianity: _1633-54_]

[42 did _1633:_ should _1613_, _1635-69_]

[44 great-grand-mother, _1613:_ great grand mother, _1633:_
great grand-mother, _1635-69_]

[46 us;] us, _1633_]

[48 to dy? _Ed:_ to dy. _1633:_ to die! _1635-54:_ _no stop_,
_1669_]

[57 animate? ] animate; _1633_]

[66 Of _1633-69:_ With _1613_]

[67 as, _1613:_ as _1633-69_]

[69 So is't to] So is' to _1669_]

[71 Fate _1633-69:_ Faith _1613_]

[72 thinks; _Ed:_ thinks, _1613_, _1633-69_]

[73 come, _1633-69:_ joine; _1613_

so steale in _1633-69:_ to steal-in _1613_]

[77 proofe _1633-69:_ proofes _1613_]

[78 some. _1633:_ some, _1635-69_]

[80 hee. _1633:_ hee, _1635-69_]

[82 and we are. _1633-54:_ we are. _1613_, _1669_]

[83 I would not _1633-54:_ would not I _1669_]

[91 Who _Ed:_ who _1633-69_]

[92 shee, _1633-69:_ she. _Chambers_]

[97 So much, as you, _1633-69:_ So, much as you _Chambers_]




_To the Countesse of_ Bedford.


MADAME,

_I have learn'd by those lawes wherein I am a[1] little conversant,
that hee which bestowes any cost upon the dead, obliges him which is
dead, but not the[2] heire; I do not therefore send this paper to your
Ladyship, that you should thanke mee for it, or thinke that I thanke
you in it; your favours and benefits to mee are so much above my
merits, that they are even above my gratitude, if that were to be
judged by words which must expresse it: But, Madame, since your noble
brothers fortune being yours, the evidences also concerning it are
yours,[3] so his vertue[4] being yours, the evidences concerning
it,[5] belong also to you, of which by your acceptance this may be one
peece, in which quality I humbly present it, and as a testimony how
intirely your familie possesseth_

Your Ladiships most humble
and thankfull servant

JOHN DONNE.


[To the Countesse _&c. _ _1633-69_, _and in most of the MSS. as
next page_]


[Footnote 1: a _1633-54:_ _om. 1669_]

[Footnote 2: the] his _1669_]

[Footnote 3: yours, _1633:_ yours: _1635-69_]

[Footnote 4: vertue _1633:_ vertues _1635-69_]

[Footnote 5: it, _1633:_ that _1635-69_]




_Obsequies to the Lord Harrington, brother to the Lady Lucy,
Countesse of Bedford.