Let not thy divining heart Are but laid aside to sleep : FROM 'VERSES TO SIR HENRY WOOTTON.' Be then thine own home, and in thyself dwell; Be thine own palace, or the world's thy jail. Fishes glide, leaving no print where they pass, Having from these suck'd all they had of worth To know my rules, I have, and you have, Donne. THE WILL. Before I sigh my last gasp, let me breathe, Thou, Love, hast taught me heretofore By making me serve her who had twenty more, That I should give to none, but such as had too much before. My constancy I to the planets give, My truth to them who at the court do live ; To Jesuits; to buffoons my pensiveness; Thou, Love, taught'st me, by appointing me My faith I give to Roman Catholics; My modesty I give to shoulders bare; My patience let gamesters share. Thou, Love, taught'st me, by making me Love her that holds my love disparity, Only to give to those that count my gifts indignity. I give my reputation to those Which were my friends; my industry to foes; To schoolmen I bequeath my doubtfulness; My sickness to physicians. or excess ; To Nature, all that I in rhyme have writ; And to my company my wit; Thou, Love, by making me adore Her, who begot this love in me before, Taught'st me to make, as though I gave, when I did but restore. To him for whom the passing bell next tolls I give my physic books; my written rolls My brazen medals, unto them which live Thou, Love, by making me love one For younger lovers, dost my gifts thus disproportion. Therefore I'll give no more; but I'll undo Than a sun-dial on a grave. Thou, Love, taughtest me, by making me Love her, who doth neglect both me and thee, To invent and practise this one way to annihilate all three. THE ENGLISH POETS: SELECTIONS, WITH CRITICAL INTRODUCTIONS BY VARIOUS WRITERS, AND A GENERAL INTRODUCTION BY MATTHEW ARNOLD. EDITED BY THOMAS HUMPHRY WARD, M.A. THE aim of this book is to furnish in a convenient form a thoroughly representative selection of English poetry, from Chaucer to modern times, excluding the drama and the writings of living poets. The distinguishing feature is that the work of selection and criticism has been entrusted to a number of different writers, who have been chosen for their special acquaintance with the poets and the periods with which they deal. It is hoped that the book may thus claim a degree of authority which could not be claimed by any single writer who should attempt to cover the whole vast field of English poetry. Beaumont and Fletcher . . . A. C. BRADLEY. Browne, Wither and Habington W. T. ARNOLD. |