Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO THE COUNTESS OF BEDFORD (2), by JOHN DONNE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Madam, reason is our soul's left hand, faith her right Last Line: For all the good which you can do me here. | ||||||||
MADAME, Reason is our Soules left hand, Faith her right, By these wee reach divinity, that's you; Their loves, who have the blessings of your light, Grew from their reason, mine from faire faith grew. But as, although a squint lefthandednesse Be'ungracious, yet we cannot want that hand, So would I, not to encrease, but to expresse My faith, as I beleeve, so understand. Therefore I study you first in your Saints, Those friends, whom your election glorifies, Then in your deeds, accesses, and restraints, And what you reade, and what your selfe devize. But soone, the reasons why you'are lov'd by all, Grow infinite, and so passe reasons reach, Then backe againe to'implicite faith I fall, And rest on what the Catholique voice doth teach; That you are good: and not one Heretique Denies it: if he did, yet you are so. For, rockes, which high top'd and deep rooted sticke, Waves wash, not undermine, nor overthrow. In every thing there naturally growes A Balsamum to keepe it fresh, and new, If 'twere not injur'd by extrinsique blowes; Your birth and beauty are this Balme in you. But you of learning and religion, And vertue, 'and such ingredients, have made A methridate, whose operation Keepes off, or cures what can be done or said. Yet, this is not your physicke, but your food, A dyet fit for you; for you are here The first good Angell, since the worlds frame stood, That ever did in womans shape appeare. Since you are then Gods masterpeece, and so His Factor for our loves; do as you doe, Make your returne home gracious; and bestow This life on that; so make one life of two. For so God helpe mee, 'I would not misse you there For all the good which you can do me here. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...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 A VALEDICTION: FORBIDDING MOURNING by JOHN DONNE A VALEDICTION: OF MY NAME IN THE WINDOW by JOHN DONNE A VALEDICTION: OF THE BOOKE by JOHN DONNE A VALEDICTION: OF WEEPING by JOHN DONNE AN ANATOMY OF THE WORLD: THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY by JOHN DONNE ELEGY: 11. THE BRACELET; UPON THE LOSS OF HIS MISTRESS'S CHAIN by JOHN DONNE |
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