Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO SIR HENRY WOTTON (2), by JOHN DONNE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Here's no more newes, then vertue, I may as well Last Line: At court; though from court, were the better stile. Variant Title(s): Early Verse Letters: To Sir Henry Wotten Subject(s): Wotton, Sir Henry (1568-1639) | ||||||||
Here's no more newes, then vertue, 'I may as well Tell you Cales, or St Michaels tale for newes, as tell That vice doth here habitually dwell. Yet, as to'get stomachs, we walke up and downe, And toyle to sweeten rest, so, may God frowne, If, but to loth both, I haunt Court, or Towne. For here no one is from the'extremitie Of vice, by any other reason free, But that the next to'him, still, is worse then hee. In this worlds warfare, they whom rugged Fate, (Gods Commissary,) doth so throughly hate, As in'the Courts Squadron to marshall their state: If they stand arm'd with seely honesty, With wishing prayers, and neat integritie, Like Indians 'gainst Spanish hosts they bee. Suspitious boldnesse to this place belongs, And to'have as many eares as all have tongues; Tender to know, tough to acknowledge wrongs. Beleeve mee Sir, in my youths giddiest dayes, When to be like the Court, was a playes praise, Playes were not so like Courts, as Courts'are like playes. Then let us at these mimicke antiques jeast, Whose deepest projects, and egregious gests Are but dull Moralls of a game at Chests. But now 'tis incongruity to smile, Therefore I end; and bid farewell a while, At Court; though From Court, were the better stile. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON THE DEATH OF SIR HENRY WOOTTON by ABRAHAM COWLEY HENRICO WOTTONI IN HIBERNIA BELLIGERANTI by JOHN DONNE TO SIR H. WOTTON AT HIS GOING AMBASSADOR TO VENICE by JOHN DONNE A DIALOGUE by WILLIAM HERBERT (1580-1630) AD HENRICUM WOTTONEM by THOMAS BASTARD A HYMN TO CHRIST, AT THE AUTHOR'S LAST GOING INTO GERMANY by JOHN DONNE A HYMN TO GOD THE FATHER by JOHN DONNE A LECTURE UPON THE SHADOW by JOHN DONNE A NOCTURNAL UPON ST. LUCY'S DAY, BEING THE SHORTEST DAY by JOHN DONNE |
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