John Donne
Page 50
56. sutures: Seams between cranial bones.
58. concupiscence: Carnal desire for the things of this world.
Text notes: 50 others ms] other 1633; 52 Points ms] Pants 1633; 63 That ms] The 1633
Resurrection, Imperfect
title Resurrection, Imperfect: The poem is incomplete, hence Desunt cætera, ‘The rest is lacking’ (Latin).
1. repast: Recovered from; passed beyond.
2. the wound … last: A lunar eclipse reputed to have occurred during Christ’s crucifixion.
6. enlight’ned: Possessing light; to put light into.
8. grow pale: Grow dim; become fearful.
11. stations: The Stations of the Cross; every earthly state of being.
12. For: Before.
13. all gold: Alchemists claimed they could turn base metals into gold.
14. tincture: The essential principle of any substance.
15. Leaden and iron wills: Those who are lethargic or determined.
22. the whole: The entire created order.
The Annunciation and Passion
title Annunciation: The Angel Gabriel’s visit to Mary to tell her that she would bear the Son of God.
Passion: The sufferings of Christ on the cross, commemorated on Good Friday. In 1608 the Feast of the Annunciation and Good Friday fell on the same day, 25 March.
1. Tamely: Submissively.
3. She: The speaker’s soul.
4. circle: A symbol of perfection.
6. feast or fast: The Annunciation is celebrated with a feast; Good Friday is commemorated through fasting.
12. Golgotha: The site of Christ’s crucifixion.
14. almost fifty … scarce fifteen: Mary was fifteen at the Annunciation and fifty when Christ was crucified.
16. her to John: After Jesus was crucified, John took Mary into his home, as Jesus had requested (John 19:26–7).
17. orbity: Bereavement, especially for children.
22. Ave: (Latin) ‘Hail’, the greeting of Gabriel to Mary.
Consummatum est: (Latin) ‘It is finished’, Christ’s last words (John 19:30).
23. court of faculties: Learned church administrators.
25. the self-fixed pole: The North Pole.
26. the next star: The North Star.
31–2. fiery pillar … cloud: To lead the Jews, God took the form of a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night (Exodus 13:21).
39. spouse: The Church.
45. in gross: In general.
uplay: Store up.
46. retail: Relate in detail.
A Litany
title Litany: A traditional prayer comprising a series of supplications.
7. red earth: Adam was made from red clay.
12. bearing one: By bearing man’s sins, Christ saved man from eternal damnation.
25. intend: Intensify, multiply.
32. undistinct: Unable to be separated.
33. power, love, knowledge: Qualities of God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
40. disseiz’d: Dispossessed.
45. such titles: Just claims.
46. nonage: Infancy, youth.
47. wardship: Guardianship.
49. denizened: Made a citizen.
56. great grandfathers: The Hebrew patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, et al.
61. fructify: Bear fruit, become fruitful.
66. two: The Old and New Testaments.
73. zodiac: Celestial sphere.
74. engirt: Encircle, envelop.
80. decline: Humble, lower.
86. Abel: The first martyr, killed by his brother Cain.
88. patience: Endurance or acceptance.
99. Diocletian: The Roman emperor Diocletian (ad 245?–316?) who persecuted Christians.
108. widowhead: Widowhood.
109. above: In heaven.
110. doctors: Great theologians.
111. Both books: The Old and New Testaments.
116. run: Also draw back from.
117. Mean ways: Middle courses.
128. squibs: Small fireworks terminated by a slight explosion.
129. immure: Enclose, confine.
142. news: Innovations.
146. slack: Idle.
147. by vicious: In the light of vices rather than virtues.
152. pervious: Open, penetrable.
156. middle kind: Somewhere between divine and human.
157. ungracious: Without God’s grace.
167. free confession: Cf. John 18, where Jesus acknowledges his identity, and the arresting soldiers fell to the ground.
178. express: Press or squeeze out.
185. seal: Guarantee of divine favour.
193. lay or ghostly sword: Secular or spiritual power.
196. second deluge: A future flood; Noah’s was the first.
206. Job’s sick day: Cf. Job 2:2–7; God allows Satan to put Job through trials to test Job’s love for and belief in God.
208. evenness: Constant devotion.
209. aguish: Fitful shaking or shivering; feverish.
211. fast: Steadfast, tenacious.
227. physic: Medicine.
230. envenomed: Men poisoned by Satan in the guise of the serpent.
231. starve: Die.
241. nature’s nothing: Nature’s worthless trifles.
245. taking our blood: By being crucified for our sins.
Text notes: title A Litany ms] The Litany 1633–69; 13 could 1633] did ms; 23 storms 1633] stones ms; 26 glass 1633] dark ms; 48 fair 1633] omitted 1649–69; 53 mine 1633] our ms; 54 how 1633] what ms; 56 of 1633] in ms; 61 sanctified 1633 and ms] satisfied ms; 78 books 1633] works ms; 83 that long 1633] that love ms, that live ms; 112 wrought 1633] wrote 1635–69; 128 clods 1633] clouds 1635–69; 153 fame 1635] flame 1633; 154 through 1635] for 1633; 163 through 1635] though 1633; 173 clothes 1633] robes 1635–69 and ms; 182 sin 1633] him ms; 208 evenness 1633] enemies ms; 209 aguish 1633] anguish ms; 231 will 1635–69] well 1633; 234 lock 1633] stop ms; 243 echoes 1633] wretches ms; 243 cry 1633] eye ms; 246 or 1633] and 1635–69
Goodfriday, 1613. Riding Westward
2. The’intelligence … moves: Angels were thought to determine the motion of the celestial spheres.
3–6. And as … obey: The natural motion of the lower celestial spheres is east to west, but the motions of higher spheres affect those paths.
11. sun: Pun on ‘Son’.
17. Who sees … must die: ‘And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live’ (Exodus 33:20).
19–20. It made … wink: Christ’s death produced an earthquake and an eclipse of the sun (Matthew 27:50–51; Luke 23:44–6).
32. Half … ransomed us: In bearing Christ, Mary helped give salvation to mankind.
38. leave: Cease.
Text notes: 4 motions ms] motion 1633; 22 turn ms] tune 1633
The Lamentations of Jeremy, for the most part according to Tremelius
title Tremelius: Immanuel Tremellius (1510–80), born Jewish, converted to Calvinism, professor of Hebrew at Cambridge until 1553 and Heidelberg, 1562–77. He, along with Francis Junius, translated the Old Testament into Latin.
1. this city: Jerusalem; Donne refers to Zion and Jerusalem as ‘she’ and ‘her’.
4. tributary: Forced to pay tribute.
15. comfortless: Either she is unable to comfort them or they are unable to comfort her.
40. holy sanctuary: The Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
67. girt: Encircled with an armed force.
92. His footstool: ‘Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool’ (Isaiah 66:1).
97. horn: Emblem of power.
107. holds: Strongholds.
122. bar: Defensive barrier.
127. sackcloth: Coarse fabric, worn by mourners or the poor.
girt: Clothe.
143. disturn: To turn away, avert.
145. passengers: Passers-by.
167. of a span: Within a short space of time.
221. He gives his cheeks to whosoever will: ‘But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also’ (Matthew 5:39).
277. sea-calves: Seals.
293. Nazarite: Religious devotee such as Samson; also a follower of Jesus of Nazareth, a Christian.
295. carbuncles: Shiny (fiery) gemstones.
296. saphirine: Transparent like sapphire.
303. pitiful: Full of pity.
304. dressed: Prepared for eating.
337. the anointed Lord: King of Judah.
341. Edom’s: Esau, brother of Jacob. Also the region between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba which bordered ancient Palestine.
342. Uz: Biblical land (Lamentations 4:21).
Text notes: 4 tributary 1633] solitarie ms; 56 whence 1633] whom 1635–69; 76 they could not 1633] and none could 1635–69; 78 o’erturned 1635] returned 1633; 157 against 1633] unto 1635–69; 161 for 1633] out 1635–69, forth ms; 166 this 1633–69 and ms] thus ms; 174 His 1633] Thy 1635–69; 182 girt 1633] hemd ms; 187 8 1635] omitted 1633; 229 wrung 1635] wrong 1633; 256 sigh 1633] sight 1649–69; 268–9 Chap. 1635–69 and ms] Cap. 1633; 273 sons 1633] stones ms; 274 at 1633] as 1649–69; 296 saphirine 1635–69] seraphine 1633; 342 Uz 1635–69 and ms] her 1633, Huz ms, Hus ms; 348–9 Chap. 1635–69 and ms] Cap. 1633; 354 fathers 1633–69] father ms; 355 drink 1635–69] drunk 1633; 368 oven 1635–69] Ocean 1633
Translated out of Gazæus, Vota Amico Facta
title out of Gazæus: from Angelin Gazet, ‘Prayers Composed by a friend’ (Vota Amico Facta), in Pia Hilaria variaque carmina (Poems and Songs to Saint Hilary), 1618.
6. pleats: Folds.
9. equal: Just, fair, impartial.
disguise: Falsity.
10. contumelies: Insulting reproaches; dishonour and humiliation.
Text note: Copy-text, 1650
Upon the Translation of the Psalms by Sir Philip Sidney and the Countess of Pembroke, His Sister
title Translation … His Sister: Translated by Sir Philip Sidney (1554–86) and his sister Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke (1561–1621), unpublished until 1823.
1–2. External … square: God’s infinite perfection, symbolized by the circle, cannot be held within boundaries, here represented by the square.
9. first author: King David.
cloven: Split; the Psalms are sung in both human and divine tongues.
39. chambers: Music rooms.
46. this Moses and this Miriam: Miriam took up the song of her brother Moses (Exodus 15:1–21). The Countess completed the translation after Philip Sidney’s death.
53. translated: Moved to another place (by taking up into heaven).
Text notes: Copy-text, 1635; 46 this Moses ms] Thy Moses 1635; 53 these ms] those 1635
To Mr Tilman after He Had Taken Orders
title Mr Tilman: Edward Tilman, who was ordained a deacon on 20 December 1618.
2. thy hand … plough: ‘And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee, but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God’ (Luke 9:61–2).
3. lay-scornings: Attitudes towards the clergy later outlined in ll. 26–30.
6. vintage: Ripening and harvesting of grapes to be made into wine, here a spiritual maturation.
14. stamp: Instrument for making impressions; the imprint or sign made by such an instrument.
23. purchase: Gain or attainment; also occupation.
30. dressing … compliment: Taken from George Herbert’s ‘The Church Porch’ (1633), ll. 80–81: ‘Fly idleness, which yet thou canst not fly / By dressing, mistressing, and compliment.’
40. dignities: Titles and privileges.
46. optics: Telescope.
47. brave: Worthy, excellent.
engines: Ingenuity; devices.
54. hermaphrodite: A person embodying opposites, here the imperfections of the flesh and the holiness of the divine.
Text notes: Copy-text, 1635; 47 engines ms] engine 1635
A Hymn to Christ, at the Author’s Last Going into Germany
title Last … Germany: Donne travelled to Germany in May 1619, on a diplomatic mission.
2. ark: Symbol of God’s providence, referring to Noah’s ark and the flood (Genesis 6:12–21).
9. island: England.
12. sea: Christ’s blood.
17–18. Nor Thou … soul: God granted man free will to choose whether or not to love and follow Him.
21. from loving more: A punning allusion to Donne’s wife, Anne More, who had died in 1617.
Hymn to God my God, in my Sickness
9. South-west discovery: Probably the Strait of Magellan.
10. Per fretum febris: (Latin) Through the raging fever. Fretum also means ‘strait’.
straits: Also trials, sufferings.
13–15. As West … resurrection: The sun sets in the west, symbolizing death, and rises in the east, suggesting resurrection.
18. Anyan: A north-west passage linking the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
20. Japhet … Cham … Shem: Sons of Noah, whose descendants supposedly populated Europe, Africa and Asia.
21–2. We think … one place: Referring to the common belief that the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden had stood at the site of Christ’s crucifixion.
23. both Adams: Both the first man and Christ.
26. purple: The colour both of Christ’s blood and of his garments when he was hailed as king of the Jews (John 19:2–5).
Text notes: Copy-text, 1635; 12 their ms] those 1635
A Hymn to God the Father
1. that sin where I begun: Original sin.
2. done: The pun on ‘Donne’ occurs throughout.
6. more: A pun on Anne More, Donne’s wife.
15. Thy sun: A pun on the ‘Son’, Christ, signifying mercy.
Text notes: 7 by which I won ms] which I have won 1633; 15 Swear ms] But swear 1633; 18 have ms] fear 1633
To Mr George Herbert, with One of my Seals, of the Anchor and Christ
The original Latin text was written by Donne. The English is an anonymous seventeenth-century translation.
title the Anchor and Christ: According to Walton’s Life of Dr John Donne, Donne later adopted this new seal of Christ crucified upon an anchor, a symbol of hope, engraved it in stone and set in gold, and sent it to his closest friends as a memento to remember him by.
11. my first serpents hold: The serpents represent the death of original sin and Christ’s death upon the cross.
Text note: Copy-text, 1650
PROSE
Prose Letters
Madam (‘I will have leave to speak like a lover’)
In all likelihood written to Anne More shortly after she arrived in London to stay with her aunt, Elizabeth Wolley, at York House, between 1597 when Wolley married Donne’s employer, Sir Thomas Egerton, and 20 January 1600, when she died.
2. mark: Boundary, limit; indicator, sign; distinctive feature.
3. end: Limit, extremity or termination point in time; object, aim, purpose; resolution of doubt; completion of an action, result.
8. rage: Fun, riotous or wanton behaviour; folly, rashness.
20. another: Another letter, suggesting that Donne’s letter is a response to a letter Anne sent to him.
21. honour: Both the mark and the expression of reverence or high esteem; glory, good name; nobleness of character; promise, or word of honour; token of regard, bow, obeisance.
21. lieutenant: Representative, substitute.
Text note: Copy-text, Burley ms
‘I send to you now that I may know how I do’
In all likelihood, written to Anne More around the time Donne wrote ‘Metempsychosis’, when he was afraid that her father’s objections would prevent her from marrying him.
Text note: Copy-text, Burley ms
To the Right Worshipfu
l Sir George More, Knight (‘If a very respective fear of your displeasure’)
2. my lord: Donne’s employer, Sir Thomas Egerton, who became Sir George More’s brother-in-law when he married Elizabeth Wolley in 1597.
10. York House: Egerton’s London mansion, where Anne More went to live with her aunt, who died on 20 January 1600.
11–12. promise and contract … conscience: A legally and morally binding clandestine marriage contract.
12. lying: Staying.
22. estate: Financial situation.
24–5. impossibilitate: Prevent.
28. hindrance: Injury; put a hindrance in our way.
52. contentment: Satisfaction, contentment, pleasure.
Text note: Copy-text, Loseley ms
Sir (‘I write not to you out of mine poor library’)
Probably written to Sir Henry Goodyere, with whom Donne corresponded regularly in the years after his marriage.
address A.v[uestra] Merced: (Spanish) To your grace or to your worship.
6. gamesome: Merry, playful.
7. by the side of her: Next to his wife Anne, who sacrificed her inheritance by marrying Donne.
8. that: Our wretched financial situation.
11. take so short a list: Take so short a time writing an artful letter.
13–14. As I have … pleasure: In the past, presumably during the time when he was desperately unhappy, fearing that Anne More would not marry him.
16–17. she … her: Soul.
21. too tender towards these impressions: Too attuned to Donne’s moods.
23. St Hierome: St Jerome.
24. ne contristaretur delicias suas: As Donne explains in his sermon ‘Preached to the King’s Majesty at Whitehall’, ‘as St. Hierome states [Adam’s] fault, that he eat that fruit, Ne contristaretur delicias suas, lest he should cast her, whom he loved so much, into an inordinate dejection’.
26. bark: Small boat.
27. coarse: Ordinary, common; rough, stormy.
31. My Lady: Donne’s patron, Lucy, Countess of Bedford, who returned in haste to Twickenham Park, her residence outside London from 1608 to 1617.
32–3. Sir Tho[mas] Bartlet: Goodyere lived at the home of Sir Thomas Bartlett.
36. Mistress Herbert: Lady Magdalen Herbert, to whom Donne addressed the verse epistle ‘To Mrs M. H.’
38. comfortable: Strengthening morally or spiritually; reassuring, cheering.
42. lover: Donne’s customary way of signing letters to friends, much as we would use ‘love’.