John Donne - Delphi Poets Series (38 page)
Read John Donne - Delphi Poets Series Online
Authors: John Donne
The Poems
York House, Strand, London — at the age of 25, Donne was appointed chief secretary to the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, Sir Thomas Egerton, and was established at Egerton’s home, York House, in the influential social centre in England. It seemed that Donne was destined for a promising diplomatic career; however, events took a downward turn when he met Egerton’s daughter…
The Italianate York Water Gate — all that now remains of York House
Donne’s employer, Thomas Egerton, 1st Viscount Brackley (1540-1617)
LIST OF POEMS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
A NOCTURNAL UPON ST. LUCY’S DAY, BEING THE SHORTEST DAY.
A VALEDICTION FORBIDDING MOURNING.
A DIALOGUE BETWEEN SIR HENRY WOTTON AND MR. DONNE.
O, LET ME NOT SERVE SO, AS THOSE MEN SERVE
NATURE’S LAY IDIOT, I TAUGHT THEE TO LOVE
A TALE OF A CITIZEN AND HIS WIFE.
TO THE EARL OF DONCASTER WITH SIX HOLY SONNETS.
TO THE LADY MAGDALEN HERBERT, OF ST. MARY MAGDALEN.
THOU HAST MADE ME, AND SHALL THY WORK DECAY?
AS DUE BY MANY TITLES I RESIGN
O! MIGHT THOSE SIGHS AND TEARS RETURN AGAIN
O, MY BLACK SOUL, NOW THOU ART SUMMONED
I AM A LITTLE WORLD MADE CUNNINGLY
THIS IS MY PLAY’S LAST SCENE; HERE HEAVENS APPOINT
AT THE ROUND EARTH’S IMAGINED CORNERS BLOW
IF FAITHFUL SOULS BE ALIKE GLORIFIED
IF POISONOUS MINERALS, AND IF THAT TREE
DEATH, BE NOT PROUD, THOUGH SOME HAVE CALLED THEE
SPIT IN MY FACE, YOU JEWS, AND PIERCE MY SIDE
WHY ARE WE BY ALL CREATURES WAITED ON?
WHAT IF THIS PRESENT WERE THE WORLD’S LAST NIGHT?
BATTER MY HEART, THREE-PERSON’D GOD; FOR YOU
WILT THOU LOVE GOD AS HE THEE?
FATHER, PART OF HIS DOUBLE INTEREST
SINCE SHE WHOM I LOVED HATH PAID HER LAST DEBT
SHOW ME, DEAR CHRIST, THY SPOUSE SO BRIGHT AND CLEAR
OH, TO VEX ME, CONTRARIES MEET IN ONE
GOOD-FRIDAY, 1613, RIDING WESTWARD.
UPON THE TRANSLATION OF THE PSALMS BY SIR PHILIP SIDNEY, AND THE COUNTESS OF PEMBROKE, HIS SISTER.
ODE: VENGEANCE WILL SIT ABOVE OUR FAULTS
TO MR. TILMAN AFTER HE HAD TAKEN ORDERS.
A HYMN TO CHRIST, AT THE AUTHOR’S LAST GOING INTO GERMANY.
THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMY, FOR THE MOST PART ACCORDING TO TREMELLIUS.
HYMN TO GOD, MY GOD, IN MY SICKNESS.
TO GEORGE HERBERT, SENT HIM WITH ONE OF MY SEALS OF THE ANCHOR AND CHRIST.
A SHEAF OF SNAKES USED HERETOFORE TO BE MY SEAL, THE CREST OF OUR POOR FAMILY.
TRANSLATED OUT OF GAZÆUS, “VOTA AMICO FACTA,” FOL. 160.
AWAY THOU FONDLING MOTLEY HUMORIST
SIR; THOUGH (I THANKE GOD FOR IT) I DO HATE
KIND PITY CHOKES MY SPLEEN; BRAVE SCORN FORBIDS
WELL; I MAY NOW RECEIVE, AND DIE; MY SINN
THOU SHALT NOT LAUGH IN THIS LEAFE, MUSE, NOR THEY
MEN WRITE THAT LOVE AND REASON DISAGREE
UPON MR. THOMAS CORYATS CRUDITIES
EPITHALAMION ON THE LADY ELIZABETH AND COUNT PALATINE BEING MARRIED ON ST. VALENTINE’S DAY.
ECLOGUE AT THE MARRIAGE OF THE EARL OF SOMERSET.
EPITHALAMION MADE AT LINCOLN’S INN.
A LETTER WRITTEN BY SIR H. G. AND J. D. ALTERNIS VICIBUS
TO SIR HENRY WOTTON, AT HIS GOING AMBASSADOR TO VENICE
H. W. IN HIBERNIA BELLIGERANTI
TO SIR EDWARD HERBERT, AT JULIERS
TO THE COUNTESS OF BEDFORD AT NEW YEAR'S TIDE
A LETTER TO THE LADY CAREY, AND MISTRESS ESSEX RICH, FROM AMIENS
MY FORTUNE AND MY WILL THIS CUSTOM BREAK
MAN IS THE WORLD, AND DEATH THE OCEAN
ELEGY UPON THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF THE INCOMPARABLE PRINCE HENRY
OBSEQUIES OF THE LORD HARRINGTON, BROTHER TO THE COUNTESS OF BEDFORD
ELEGY ON MISTRESS BOULSTRED (I)
ELEGY ON MISTRESS BOULSTRED (II)
A HYMN TO THE SAINTS, AND TO MARQUIS HAMILTON
DE LIBRO CUM MUTUARETUR IMPRESSO
AMICISSIMO, ET MERITISSIMO BEN. JOHNSON
TRANSLATED OUT OF GAZÆUS, VOTA AMICO FACTA. FOL.160
LIST OF POEMS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER