And shine as you exalted are! Two names of friendship, but one star: Of hearts the union: and those not by chance Made, or indenture, or leased out to advance The profits for a time. No pleasures vain did chime Of rimes or riots at your feasts, Orgies of drink or feign’d protests; But simple love of greatness and of good, That knits brave minds and manners more than blood. This made you first to know the _Why_ _You liked_, then after, to apply That liking, and approach so one the t’other Till either grew a portion of the other: Each stylèd by his end The copy of his friend. You lived to be the great surnames And titles by which all made claims Unto the Virtue--nothing perfect done But as a _CARY_ or a _MORISON_. And such the force the fair example had As they that saw The good, and durst not practise it, were glad That such a law Was left yet to mankind, Where they might read and find Friendship indeed was written, not in words, And with the heart, not pen, Of two so early men, Whose lines her rules were and records: Who, ere the first down bloomed on the chin, Had sow’d these fruits, and got the harvest in. JOHN DONNE 1573-1631 _195._ _Daybreak_ Stay, O sweet, and do not rise! The light that shines comes from thine eyes; The day breaks not: it is my heart, Because that you and I must part. Stay! or else my joys will die And perish in their infancy. _196._ _Song_ Go and catch a falling star, Get with child a mandrake root, Tell me where all past years are, Or who cleft the Devil’s foot; Teach me to hear mermaids singing, Or to keep off envy’s stinging, And find What wind Serves to advance an honest mind. If thou be’st born to strange sights, Things invisible to see, Ride ten thousand days and nights Till Age snow white hairs on thee; Thou, when thou return’st, wilt tell me All strange wonders that befell thee, And swear No where Lives a woman true and fair. If thou find’st one, let me know; Such a pilgrimage were sweet, Yet do not; I would not go, Though at next door we might meet. Though she were true when you met her, And last till you write your letter, Yet she Will be False, ere I come, to two or three. _197._ _That Time and Absence proves_ _Rather helps than hurts to loves_ Absence, hear thou my protestation Against thy strength, Distance and length: Do what thou canst for alteration, For hearts of truest mettle Absence doth join and Time doth settle.