Herbert J.C. Grierson, ed. (1886–1960). Metaphysical Lyrics & Poems of the 17th C. 1921.
John Donne124. To Sir H. W. at his going Ambassador to Venice
AFTER those reverend papers, whose soule is | |
Our good and great Kings lov’d hand and fear’d name, | |
By which to you he derives much of his, | |
And (how he may) makes you almost the same, | |
A Taper of his Torch, a copie writ | 5 |
From his Originall, and a faire beame | |
Of the same warme, and dazeling Sun, though it | |
Must in another Sphere his vertue streame: | |
After those learned papers which your hand | |
Hath stor’d with notes of use and pleasure too, | 10 |
From which rich treasury you may command | |
Fit matter whether you will write or doe: | |
After those loving papers, where friends send | |
With glad griefe, to your Sea-ward steps, farewel, | |
Which thicken on you now, as prayers ascend | 15 |
To heaven in troupes at’a good mans passing bell: | |
Admit this honest paper, and allow | |
It such an audience as your selfe would aske; | |
What you must say at Venice this meanes now, | |
And hath for nature, what you have for taske: | 20 |
To sweare much love, not to be chang’d before | |
Honour alone will to your fortune fit; | |
Nor shall I then honour your fortune, more | |
Then I have done your honour wanting it. | |
But’tis an easier load (though both oppresse) | 25 |
To want, then governe greatnesse, for wee are | |
In that, our owne and onely businesse, | |
In this, wee must for others vices care; | |
‘Tis therefore well your spirits now are plac’d | |
In their last Furnace, in activity; | 30 |
Which fits them (Schooles and Courts and Warres o’rpast) | |
To touch and test in any best degree. | |
For mee, (if there be such a thing as I) | |
Fortune (if there be such a thing as shee) | |
Spies that I beare so well her tyranny, | 35 |
That she thinks nothing else so fit for mee; | |
But though she part us, to heare my oft prayers | |
For your increase, God is as neere mee here; | |
And to send you what I shall begge, his staires | |
In length and ease are alike every where. | 40 |