The Apparition
The Apparition
Original Text
John Donne, Poems, by J. D. With elegies on the authors death (M. F. for J. Marriot, 1633). MICF no. 556 ROBA. Facs. edn. Menston: Scolar Press, 1969. PR 2245 A2 1633A. STC 7045.
1When by thy scorn, O murd'ress, I am dead
2 And that thou think'st thee free
3From all solicitation from me,
4Then shall my ghost come to thy bed,
5And thee, feign'd vestal, in worse arms shall see;
7And he, whose thou art then, being tir'd before,
8Will, if thou stir, or pinch to wake him, think
9 Thou call'st for more,
10And in false sleep will from thee shrink;
11And then, poor aspen wretch, neglected thou
12Bath'd in a cold quicksilver sweat wilt lie
13 A verier ghost than I.
14What I will say, I will not tell thee now,
15Lest that preserve thee; and since my love is spent,
16I'had rather thou shouldst painfully repent,
17Than by my threat'nings rest still innocent.
Notes
6] It was a common belief that candles burned dim and blue in the presence of ghosts. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1633
RPO poem Editors
N. J. Endicott
RPO Edition
3RP 1.171.
Rhyme