Waltoniana | Page 5

Oh I would spare thee, but
th'art worse, Thou art not onely dull, but hast a curse Of black
ingratitude; if not, couldst thou Part with _miraculous Donne_, and
make no vow For thee, and thine, successively to pay A sad
remembrance to his dying day? Did his youth scatter _Poetry_, wherein
Was all Philosophy? was every sinne, Character'd in his _Satyrs_?
Made so foule That some have fear'd their shapes, and kept their soule
Safer by reading verse? Did he give dayes Past marble monuments, to
those, whose praise He would perpetuate? Did he (I feare The dull will
doubt:) these at his twentieth year? But, more matur'd; Did his full
soule conceive, And in harmonious-holy-numbers weave A [2]_Crown
of sacred sonnets_, fit to adorne A dying Martyrs brow: or, to be worne
On that blest head of _Mary Magdalen_, After she wip'd Christs feet,
but not till then? Did hee (fit for such penitents as shee And he to use)
leave us a _Litany_, Which all devout men love, and sure, it shall, As
times grow better, grow more classicall? Did he write _Hymnes_, for
piety, for wit,[3] Equall to those, great grave Prudentius writ? Spake he
all _Languages_? knew he all Lawes? The grounds and use of
_Physick_; but because 'Twas mercenary, wav'd it? Went to see That
blessed place of _Christs nativity_? Did he returne and preach him?
preach him so As since S. Paul none did, none could? Those know,
(Such as were blest to heare him) this is truth.[4] Did he confirm thy
aged?[5] convert thy youth? Did he these wonders? And is this deare
losse Mourn'd by so few? (few for so great a crosse.) But sure the silent
are ambitious all To be Close Mourners at his Funerall; If not; In
common pitty they forbare By repetitions to renew our care; Or,
knowing, griefe conceiv'd, conceal'd, consumes Man irreparably, (as

poyson'd fumes Doe waste the braine) make silence a safe way,
To'inlarge the Soule from these walls, mud and clay, (Materials of this
body) to remaine With Donne in heaven, where no promiscuous pain
Lessens the joy we have, for, with _him_, all Are satisfy'd with joyes
essentiall. Dwell on this joy my thoughts; oh, doe not call[6] Griefe
back, by thinking of his Funerall; Forget hee lov'd mee; Waste not my
sad yeares; (Which hast to Davids seventy,) fill'd with feares And
sorrow for his death; Forget his parts, Which finde a living grave in
good mens hearts; And, (for, my first is dayly payd for sinne) Forget to
pay my second sigh for him: Forget his powerfull preaching; and forget
I am his Convert. Oh my frailty! let My flesh be no more heard, it will
obtrude This lethargy: so should my gratitude, My flowes[7] of
gratitude should so be broke; Which can no more be, than Donnes
vertues spoke By any but himselfe; for which cause, I Write no
_Encomium_, but this _Elegie_,[8] Which, as a free-will-offring, I here
give Fame, and the world, and parting with it grieve I want abilities, fit
to set forth A monument, great, as Donnes matchlesse worth. IZ. WA.
FOOTNOTES
[1] In the edition of 1633, the poem opens thus:-- Is _Donne_, great
Donne deceas'd? then England say Thou'hast lost a man where
language chose to stay And shew it's gracefull power, &c.
[2] La Corona.
[3] for piety and wit,--1633.
[4] As none but hee did, or could do? They know (Such as were blest to
heare him know) 'tis truth.--1633.
[5] age in the edition of 1633.
[6] My thoughts, Dwell on this _Joy_, and do not call--1633.
[7] vowes in the edition of 1633.
[8] Write no _Encomium_, but an Elegie. Here the poem closed in the
edition of 1633.
* * * * *

LINES ON A PORTRAIT OF DONNE IN HIS EIGHTEENTH
YEAR.
1635.

[Engraved under William Marshall's Portrait of Donne, "Anno Domini.
1591. Aetatis suae 18," prefixed to the second edition of Donne's
Poems, 1635.]

On a Portrait of DONNE _taken in his eighteenth year._
This was for youth, Strength, Mirth, and wit that Time Most count their
golden Age; but t'was not thine. Thine was thy later yeares, so much
refind From youths Drosse, Mirth & wit; as thy pure mind Thought
(like the Angels) nothing but the Praise Of thy Creator, in those last,
best Dayes. Witnes this Booke, (thy Embleme) which begins With
Love; but endes, with Sighes, & Teares for sin's. IZ: WA:
* * * * *

COMMENDATORY VERSES PREFIXED TO THE MERCHANTS
MAPPE OF COMMERCE.
1638.

[The Merchants Mappe of Commerce: wherein the Universall Manner
and Matter of Trade, is compendiously handled. By Lewes Roberts,
Merchant. At London, Printed by R.O. for Ralph Mabb MDCXXXVIII.
_fol._
--The Second Edition,