These lines are full of the wit that Dryden speaks of, horribly misused to obscure the most beautiful feelings. Some of them are among the passages quoted in Dr. Johnson to illustrate the faults of the metaphysical school. Mr. Chalmers and others have thought it probable, that it was upon this occasion Donne wrote a set of verses, which he addressed to his wife, on her proposing to accompany him abroad as a page; but as the writer speaks of going to Italy, which appears to have been out of the question in this two months' visit to Paris, they most probably belong to some other journey or intended journey, the period of which is unknown. The numbers of these verses are sometimes rugged, but they are full of as much nature and real feeling, as sincerity ever put into a true passion. There is an awfulness in the commencing adjuration:-- "By our first strange and fatal interview, By all desires which thereof did ensue; By our long striving hopes; by that remorse Which my words' masculine persuasive force Begot in thee, and by the memory Of hurts which spies and rivals threaten me, I calmly beg: but by thy father's wrath, By all pains which want and divorcement hath, I conjure thee, and all the oaths which I And thou have sworn to seal joint constancy, I here unswear, and overswear them thus: Thou shalt not love by means so dangerous. Temper, O fair Love! love's impetuous rage; Be my true mistress, not my feigned page. I'll go; and by thy kind leave, leave behind Thee, only worthy to nurse in my mind Thirst to come back. O! if thou die before, My soul from other lands to thee shall soar: Thy (else almighty) beauty cannot move Rage from the seas, nor thy love teach them love, Nor tame wild Boreas' harshness: thou hast read How roughly he in pieces shiverèd Fair Orithea, whom he swore he loved. Fall ill or good, 'tis madness to have proved Dangers unurged: feed on this flattery, That absent lovers one in the other be; Dissemble nothing, not a boy, nor change Thy body's habit, nor mind; be not strange To thyself only: all will spy in thy face A blushing womanly discovering grace. * * * * * When I am gone dream me some happiness, Nor let thy looks our long-hid love confess; Nor praise nor dispraise me, nor bless nor curse Openly love's force; nor in bed fright thy nurse With midnight's startings, crying out, Oh! oh! Nurse! oh, my love is slain! I saw him go O'er the white Alps alone; I saw him, I, Assailed, taken, fight, stabbed, bleed, fall, and die. Augur me better chance; except dread Jove Think it enough for me to have had thy love."