Chapter XVI

Father, part of his double interest
Unto thy kingdome, thy Sonne gives to mee,
His joynture in the knottie Trinitie
Hee keepes, and gives to me his deaths conquest.
This Lambe, whose death, with life the world hath blest, 5
Was from the worlds beginning slaine, and he
Hath made two Wills, which with the Legacie
Of his and thy kingdome, doe thy Sonnes invest.
Yet such are thy laws, that men argue yet
Whether a man those statutes can fulfill; 10
None doth; but all-healing grace and spirit
Revive againe what law and letter kill.
Thy lawes abridgement, and thy last command
Is all but love; Oh let this last Will stand!

[XVI. _1635-69:_ XII. _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _&c.:_ IV. _B_,
_O'F_, _S96_, _W_]

[3 Trinitie] Trinitie, _1633_]

[8 doe _1633:_ _om. 1635-69:_ doth _A18_, _B_, _D_, _H49_,
_N_, _O'F_, _S96_, _TC_, _W_

invest. _W:_ invest, _1633-39:_ invest: _1650-69_]

[9 thy _O'F_, _S96_, _W:_ these _1633-69:_ those _A18_, _D_,
_H49_, _N_, _TC_]

[11 doth;] doth, _1633_

but all-healing _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _TC_, _W:_ but thy
all-healing _1633-69_. _See note_

spirit] Spirit, _1633-69_]

[12 Revive againe] Revive and quicken _B_, _O'F_, _S96_, _W_

kill. _1635-69:_ kill, _1633_]

[14 this _1633-69:_ that _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _N_, _TC_, _W:_
thy _B_, _O'F_, _S96_]

XVII.

Since she whom I lov'd hath payd her last debt
To Nature, and to hers, and my good is dead,
And her Soule early into heaven ravished,
Wholly on heavenly things my mind is sett.
Here the admyring her my mind did whett 5
To seeke thee God; so streames do shew their head;
But though I have found thee, and thou my thirst hast fed,
A holy thirsty dropsy melts mee yett.
But why should I begg more Love, when as thou
Dost wooe my soule for hers; offring all thine: 10
And dost not only feare least I allow
My Love to Saints and Angels things divine,
But in thy tender jealosy dost doubt
Least the World, Fleshe, yea Devill putt thee out.

[XVII. _W:_ _first printed in Gosse's_ Life and Letters of
John Donne, 1899]

[2 dead,] dead _W_]

[6 their] y^r _W_

head;] head, _W_]

[10 wooe] _spelt_ woe _W_]

[12 divine,] divine _W_]

XVIII.

Show me deare Christ, thy spouse, so bright and clear.
What! is it She, which on the other shore
Goes richly painted? or which rob'd and tore
Laments and mournes in Germany and here?
Sleepes she a thousand, then peepes up one yeare? 5
Is she selfe truth and errs? now new, now outwore?
Doth she, and did she, and shall she evermore
On one, on seaven, or on no hill appeare?
Dwells she with us, or like adventuring knights
First travaile we to seeke and then make Love? 10
Betray kind husband thy spouse to our sights,
And let myne amorous soule court thy mild Dove,
Who is most trew, and pleasing to thee, then
When she'is embrac'd and open to most men.

[XVIII. _W:_ _first printed in Gosse's_ Life _&c._]

[2 What!] What _W_]

[3 tore] _so I read W:_ lore _Gosse_]