by John Donne
THE PRIMROSE
THE RELIC.
THE DAMP.
THE DISSOLUTION.
A JET RING SENT.
NEGATIVE LOVE.
THE PROHIBITION.
THE EXPIRATION.
THE COMPUTATION.
THE PARADOX.
SOUL’S JOY, NOW I AM GONE.
FAREWELL TO LOVE.
A LECTURE UPON THE SHADOW.
A DIALOGUE BETWEEN SIR HENRY WOTTON AND MR. DONNE.
THE TOKEN.
SELF-LOVE.
JEALOUSY.
THE ANAGRAM.
CHANGE.
THE PERFUME.
HIS PICTURE.
O, LET ME NOT SERVE SO, AS THOSE MEN SERVE
NATURE’S LAY IDIOT, I TAUGHT THEE TO LOVE
THE COMPARISON.
THE AUTUMNAL.
THE DREAM.
THE BRACELET.
COME FATES; I FEAR YOU NOT!
HIS PARTING FROM HER.
JULIA.
A TALE OF A CITIZEN AND HIS WIFE.
THE EXPOSTULATION.
ON HIS MISTRESS.
VARIETY
LOVES PROGRESS
TO HIS MISTRESS GOING TO BED.
LOVE’S WAR
TO THE EARL OF DONCASTER WITH SIX HOLY SONNETS.
LA CORONA.
ANNUNCIATION.
NATIVITY.
TEMPLE.
CRUCIFYING.
RESURRECTION.
ASCENSION.
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
THE CROSS.
RESURRECTION, IMPERFECT.
THE ANNUNCIATION AND PASSION.
GOOD-FRIDAY, 1613, RIDING WESTWARD.
A LITANY.
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.
A HYMN TO GOD THE FATHER.
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
TO SIR NICHOLAS SMYTH
UPON MR. THOMAS CORYATS CRUDITIES
IN EUNDEM MACARONICUM
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.
THE STORM
THE CALM
TO MR B. B.
TO MR C. B.
TO MR S. B.
TO MR E. G.
TO MR I. L.
TO MR I. L.
TO MR R. W.
TO MR R. W.
TO MR R. W.
TO MR R. W.
TO MR ROLAND WOODWARD
TO MR T. W.
TO MR T. W.
TO MR T. W.
TO MR T. W.
TO SIR HENRY GOODYER
A LETTER WRITTEN BY SIR H. G. AND J. D. ALTERNIS VICIBUS
TO SIR HENRY WOTTON
TO SIR HENRY WOTTON
TO SIR HENRY WOTTON, AT HIS GOING AMBASSADOR TO VENICE
H. W. IN HIBERNIA BELLIGERANTI
TO SIR EDWARD HERBERT, AT JULIERS
TO MRS M. H. (MAD PAPER STAY)
TO THE COUNTESS OF BEDFORD AT NEW YEAR'S TIDE
TO THE COUNTESS OF BEDFORD
TO THE COUNTESS OF BEDFORD
TO THE COUNTESS OF BEDFORD
TO THE COUNTESS OF BEDFORD
TO THE COUNTESS OF BEDFORD
TO THE LADY BEDFORD
EPITAPH ON HIMSELF
A LETTER TO THE LADY CAREY, AND MISTRESS ESSEX RICH, FROM AMIENS
TO THE COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON
TO THE COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON
TO THE COUNTESS OF SALISBURY
ON HIMSELF.
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)
DEATH
ELEGY ON THE LORD CHANCELLOR
A HYMN TO THE SAINTS, AND TO MARQUIS HAMILTON
HERO AND LEANDER.
PYRAMUS AND THISBE.
NIOBE.
A BURNT SHIP.
FALL OF A WALL.
A LAME BEGGAR.
A SELF-ACCUSER.
A LICENTIOUS PERSON.
ANTIQUARY.
DISINHERITED.
PHRYNE.
AN OBSCURE WRITER.
KLOCKIUS
RADERUS.
MERCURIUS GALLO-BELGICUS.
RALPHIUS
THE PROGRESS OF THE SOUL
A FUNERAL ELEGY.
THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY.
THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY
DE LIBRO CUM MUTUARETUR IMPRESSO
AMICISSIMO, ET MERITISSIMO BEN. JOHNSON
TO MR. GEORGE HERBERT
A SHEAF OF SNAKES
TRANSLATED OUT OF GAZÆUS, VOTA AMICO FACTA. FOL.160
LIST OF POEMS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
A-D E-H I-L M-O P-S T-V W-Z
A BURNT SHIP.
A DIALOGUE BETWEEN SIR HENRY WOTTON AND MR. DONNE.
A FEVER.
A FUNERAL ELEGY.
A HYMN TO CHRIST, AT THE AUTHOR’S LAST GOING INTO GERMANY.
A HYMN TO GOD THE FATHER.
A HYMN TO THE SAINTS, AND TO MARQUIS HAMILTON
A JET RING SENT.
A LAME BEGGAR.
A LECTURE UPON THE SHADOW.
A LETTER TO THE LADY CAREY, AND MISTRESS ESSEX RICH, FROM AMIENS
A LETTER WRITTEN BY SIR H. G. AND J. D. ALTERNIS VICIBUS
A LICENTIOUS PERSON.
A LITANY.
A NOCTURNAL UPON ST. LUCY’S DAY, BEING THE SHORTEST DAY.
A SELF-ACCUSER.
A SHEAF OF SNAKES
A SHEAF OF SNAKES USED HERETOFORE TO BE MY SEAL, THE CREST OF OUR POOR FAMILY.
A TALE OF A CITIZEN AND HIS WIFE.
A VALEDICTION FORBIDDING MOURNING.
A VALEDICTION OF WEEPING.
AIR AND ANGELS.
AMICISSIMO, ET MERITISS
IMO BEN. JOHNSON
AN OBSCURE WRITER.
ANNUNCIATION.
ANTIQUARY.
AS DUE BY MANY TITLES I RESIGN
ASCENSION.
AT THE ROUND EARTH’S IMAGINED CORNERS BLOW
AWAY THOU FONDLING MOTLEY HUMORIST
BATTER MY HEART, THREE-PERSON’D GOD; FOR YOU
BREAK OF DAY.
CHANGE.
COME FATES; I FEAR YOU NOT!
COMMUNITY.
CONFINED LOVE.
CRUCIFYING.
DE LIBRO CUM MUTUARETUR IMPRESSO
DEATH
DEATH, BE NOT PROUD, THOUGH SOME HAVE CALLED THEE
DISINHERITED.
ECLOGUE AT THE MARRIAGE OF THE EARL OF SOMERSET.
ELEGY ON MISTRESS BOULSTRED (I)
ELEGY ON MISTRESS BOULSTRED (II)
ELEGY ON THE LORD CHANCELLOR
ELEGY UPON THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF THE INCOMPARABLE PRINCE HENRY
EPITAPH ON HIMSELF
EPITHALAMION MADE AT LINCOLN’S INN.
EPITHALAMION ON THE LADY ELIZABETH AND COUNT PALATINE BEING MARRIED ON ST. VALENTINE’S DAY.
FALL OF A WALL.
FAREWELL TO LOVE.
FATHER, PART OF HIS DOUBLE INTEREST
GO AND CATCH A FALLING STAR.
GOOD-FRIDAY, 1613, RIDING WESTWARD.
H. W. IN HIBERNIA BELLIGERANTI
HERO AND LEANDER.
HIS PARTING FROM HER.
HIS PICTURE.
HYMN TO GOD, MY GOD, IN MY SICKNESS.
I AM A LITTLE WORLD MADE CUNNINGLY
IF FAITHFUL SOULS BE ALIKE GLORIFIED
IF POISONOUS MINERALS, AND IF THAT TREE
IN EUNDEM MACARONICUM
JEALOUSY.
JULIA.
KIND PITY CHOKES MY SPLEEN; BRAVE SCORN FORBIDS
KLOCKIUS
LA CORONA.
LOVE’S ALCHEMY.
LOVE’S DEITY.
LOVE’S DIET.
LOVE’S EXCHANGE.
LOVE’S GROWTH.
LOVE’S USURY.
LOVE’S WAR
LOVERS’ INFINITENESS.
LOVES PROGRESS
MAN IS THE WORLD, AND DEATH THE OCEAN
MEN WRITE THAT LOVE AND REASON DISAGREE
MERCURIUS GALLO-BELGICUS.
MY FORTUNE AND MY WILL THIS CUSTOM BREAK
NATIVITY.
NATURE’S LAY IDIOT, I TAUGHT THEE TO LOVE
NEGATIVE LOVE.
NIOBE.
O! MIGHT THOSE SIGHS AND TEARS RETURN AGAIN
O, LET ME NOT SERVE SO, AS THOSE MEN SERVE
O, MY BLACK SOUL, NOW THOU ART SUMMONED
OBSEQUIES OF THE LORD HARRINGTON, BROTHER TO THE COUNTESS OF BEDFORD
ODE: VENGEANCE WILL SIT ABOVE OUR FAULTS
OH, TO VEX ME, CONTRARIES MEET IN ONE
ON HIMSELF.
ON HIS MISTRESS.
PHRYNE.
PYRAMUS AND THISBE.
RADERUS.
RALPHIUS
RESURRECTION, IMPERFECT.
RESURRECTION.
SELF-LOVE.
SHOW ME, DEAR CHRIST, THY SPOUSE SO BRIGHT AND CLEAR
SINCE SHE WHOM I LOVED HATH PAID HER LAST DEBT
SIR; THOUGH (I THANKE GOD FOR IT) I DO HATE
SOUL’S JOY, NOW I AM GONE.
SPIT IN MY FACE, YOU JEWS, AND PIERCE MY SIDE
SWEETEST LOVE, I DO NOT GO
TEMPLE.
THE ANAGRAM.
THE ANNIVERSARY.
THE ANNUNCIATION AND PASSION.
THE APPARITION.
THE AUTUMNAL.
THE BAIT.
THE BLOSSOM.
THE BRACELET.
THE BROKEN HEART.
THE CALM
THE CANONIZATION.
THE COMPARISON.
THE COMPUTATION.
THE CROSS.
THE CURSE.
THE DAMP.
THE DISSOLUTION.
THE DREAM.
THE DREAM.
THE ECSTACY.
THE EXPIRATION.
THE EXPOSTULATION.
THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY.
THE FLEA.
THE FUNERAL.
THE GOOD-MORROW.
THE INDIFFERENT.
THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMY, FOR THE MOST PART ACCORDING TO TREMELLIUS.
THE LEGACY.
THE MESSAGE.
THE PARADOX.
THE PERFUME.
THE PRIMROSE
THE PROGRESS OF THE SOUL
THE PROHIBITION.
THE RELIC.
THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY
THE STORM
THE SUN RISING.
THE TOKEN.
THE TRIPLE FOOL.
THE UNDERTAKING.
THE WILL.
THIS IS MY PLAY’S LAST SCENE; HERE HEAVENS APPOINT
THOU HAST MADE ME, AND SHALL THY WORK DECAY?
THOU SHALT NOT LAUGH IN THIS LEAFE, MUSE, NOR THEY
TO GEORGE HERBERT, SENT HIM WITH ONE OF MY SEALS OF THE ANCHOR AND CHRIST.
TO HIS MISTRESS GOING TO BED.
TO MR B. B.
TO MR C. B.
TO MR E. G.
TO MR I. L.
TO MR I. L.
TO MR R. W.
TO MR R. W.
TO MR R. W.
TO MR R. W.
TO MR ROLAND WOODWARD
TO MR S. B.
TO MR T. W.
TO MR T. W.
TO MR T. W.
TO MR T. W.
TO MR. GEORGE HERBERT
TO MR. TILMAN AFTER HE HAD TAKEN ORDERS.
TO MRS M. H. (MAD PAPER STAY)
TO SIR EDWARD HERBERT, AT JULIERS
TO SIR HENRY GOODYER
TO SIR HENRY WOTTON
TO SIR HENRY WOTTON
TO SIR HENRY WOTTON, AT HIS GOING AMBASSADOR TO VENICE
TO SIR NICHOLAS SMYTH
TO THE COUNTESS OF BEDFORD
TO THE COUNTESS OF BEDFORD
TO THE COUNTESS OF BEDFORD
TO THE COUNTESS OF BEDFORD
TO THE COUNTESS OF BEDFORD
TO THE COUNTESS OF BEDFORD AT NEW YEAR'S TIDE
TO THE COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON
TO THE COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON
TO THE COUNTESS OF SALISBURY
TO THE EARL OF DONCASTER WITH SIX HOLY SONNETS.
TO THE LADY BEDFORD
TO THE LADY MAGDALEN HERBERT, OF ST. MARY MAGDALEN.
TRANSLATED OUT OF GAZÆUS, “VOTA AMICO FACTA,” FOL. 160.
TRANSLATED OUT OF GAZÆUS, VOTA AMICO FACTA. FOL.160
TWICKENHAM GARDEN.
UPON MR. THOMAS CORYATS CRUDITIES
UPON THE TRANSLATION OF THE PSALMS BY SIR PHILIP SIDNEY, AND THE COUNTESS OF PEMBROKE, HIS SISTER.
VALEDICTION TO HIS BOOK.
VARIETY
WELL; I MAY NOW RECEIVE, AND DIE; MY SINN
WHAT IF THIS PRESENT WERE THE WORLD’S LAST NIGHT?
WHY ARE WE BY ALL CREATURES WAITED ON?
WILT THOU LOVE GOD AS HE THEE?
WITCHCRAFT BY A PICTURE.
WOMAN’S CONSTANCY.
The Prose
Donne’s house in Pyrford, Surrey, where he lived after his marriage to Egerton’s daughter Anne More in 1601. His father-in-law was furious with Donne and actually sent him to the Fleet Prison for a time. It was not until 1609 when they were fully reconciled. In the meantime, Donne lived as an exile of sorts, scraping a meagre living as a lawyer
BIATHANATOS
Written in 1608 and published after Donne’s death, this non-fiction treatise is a heterodox defence of suicide. In the work, Donne uses prominent Biblical examples including Jesus, Samson, Saul, and Judas Iscariot to support his argument.
John Donne by Issac Oliver, c. 1627
CONTENTS
BIATHANATOS
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY
THE PREFACE
THE FIRST PART: OF LAW AND NATURE
THE SECOND PART: OF THE LAW
OF REASON
THE THIRD PART: OF THE LAW OF GOD
CONCLUSION
BIATHANATOS
A Declaration of the Paradox or Thesis that Self-homicide is not so Naturally a Sin that it May Never Be Otherwise; in which the nature and the extent of all the laws which seem to be violated by this act are diligently surveyed.
Written by John Donne, who afterwards was ordained in the Church of England and died Dean of Saint Paul’s, London....
“I do not profess everything to be true. But I will roil the waters for the readers’ profit.”
Published by Authority.
London. Printed for John Dawson.
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY
To the right honorable Lord Philip Herbert: My lord, although I have not exactly obeyed your commands, yet I hope I have exceeded them by presenting to your honor this treatise, which is so much the better for being none of my own and which perchance may deserve to live for facilitating the issues of death.
It was written long since by my father and by him forbidden both the press and the fire; neither would I have subjected it now to the public view. But I could find no certain way to defend it from the one save by committing it to the other. For since the beginning of this war, my study having been often searched and all my books (almost my brains) by their continual alarums sequestered for the use of the Committee, two dangers appeared more eminently to hover over this work, being then a manuscript—the danger of being utterly lost and the danger of being utterly found. These dangers are fathered by some of those wild atheists who, as if they came into the world by conquest, own all other men’s wits and are resolved to be learned, in spite of their stars, which would fairly have inclined them to a more modest and honest course of life.
Your lordship’s protection will defend this innocent writing from these two monsters, men who cannot write and men who cannot read, and I am very confident that all those who can will think it may deserve this favor from your lordship. For although this book appears under the form of a paradox, still I desire your lordship to look upon this doctrine as a firm and established truth.
“To dare death gives life.”
Your lordship’s most humble servant,
John Donne
From my house in Covent Garden 28.
THE PREFACE
Declaring the Reasons, the Purpose, the Way, and the End of the Author
Beza, a man as eminent and illustrious in the full glory and noon of learning as others were in the dawning and morning (when even the least sparkle was notorious) confesses of himself that but for the anguish of a running sore on his head, he would have drowned himself from the Miller’s Bridge in Paris, if his uncle just then had not by chance come that way. I often have such a sickly inclination. Whether it is because I had my first breeding and conversation with men of a suppressed and afflicted religion, accustomed to despising death and hungry for an imagined martyrdom; or because the common enemy finds that door in me worst locked against him; or because there is a perplexity and flexibility in the doctrine itself; or because my conscience always assures me that no rebellious grudging at God’s gifts or other sinful concurrence accompanies these thoughts in me; or because a brave scorn or a faint cowardliness beget it whenever any affliction assails me—whatever the reason, I think I have the keys of my prison in my own hand, and no remedy presents itself so quickly to my heart as my own sword. Often, meditation on this act has won me to a charitable interpretation of their action who die thus and has provoked me a little to watch and attack the reasons of those who pronounce such peremptory judgments upon them.
