The Poems of John Donne, Volume 1 (of 2): Edited from the Old Editions and Numerous ManuscriptsDonne, John
General
The Poems of John Donne, Volume 1 (of 2): Edited from the Old Editions and Numerous Manuscripts
Donne, John
English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700
Let not thy divining heart
Forethinke me any ill,
Destiny may take thy part, 35
And may thy feares fulfill;
But thinke that wee
Are but turn'd aside to sleepe;
They who one another keepe
Alive, ne'r parted bee. 40
[Song. _1633-69:_ Song. _or no title_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _C_,
_D_, _H40_, _H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_,
_TCC_, _TCD:_ _in A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_, _this with_ Send
home my long stray'd eyes _and_ The Bait _are given as_ Songs
which were made to certain ayres which were made before.]
[1-4 _In most MSS. these lines are written as two long lines,
and so with ll._ 9-12, 17-20, 25-28, 33-36]
[4 mee; _1650-69:_ mee, _1633-39_]
[5-8 But since ... dye; _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _D_, _H40_,
_H49_, _JC_, _Lec_, _N_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_
At the last must part 'tis best,
Thus to use my selfe in jest
By fained deaths to dye; _1635-54_, _O'F:_
Must dye at last, 'tis best,
Thus to use my self in jest
By fained death to dye; _1669_
]
[15 Speedier] Hastier _1669_]
[20 recall! _Ed:_ recall? _1633-69_]
[25 not wind _1633:_ no wind _1635-69_]
[32 Thou _1633 and MSS. generally:_ That _1635-54:_ Which
_1669_
best _1633-54:_ life _1669_]
[36 may _1633-35_, _1669:_ make _1639-54_
fulfill; _Ed:_ fulfill, _1633-69_]
[38 turn'd] lai'd _1669_]
_The Legacie._
When I dyed last, and, Deare, I dye
As often as from thee I goe,
Though it be but an houre agoe,
And Lovers houres be full eternity,
I can remember yet, that I 5
Something did say, and something did bestow;
Though I be dead, which sent mee, I should be
Mine owne executor and Legacie.
I heard mee say, Tell her anon,
That my selfe, (that is you, not I,) 10
Did kill me, and when I felt mee dye,
I bid mee send my heart, when I was gone,
But I alas could there finde none,
When I had ripp'd me,'and search'd where hearts did lye;
It kill'd mee againe, that I who still was true, 15
In life, in my last Will should cozen you.
Yet I found something like a heart,
But colours it, and corners had,
It was not good, it was not bad,
It was intire to none, and few had part. 20
As good as could be made by art
It seem'd; and therefore for our losses sad,
I meant to send this heart in stead of mine,
But oh, no man could hold it, for twas thine.
[The Legacie. _1633-69:_ Legacie. _L74:_ Song. _or no title_,
_A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_,
_S96:_ Elegie. _A18_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_]
[1 When I dyed last,] When last I dyed, _1669_]
[1-4 (and deare ... eternity) _Grolier_.]
[7 sent _1633_, _1669:_ meant _1635-54_
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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