To Mr. I. L.
To Mr. I. L.
Original Text
Donne, John. The Satires, Epigrams and Verse Letters of John Donne. Edited by W. Milgate. London: Oxford University Press, 1967: 67.
1Of that short roll of friends writ in my heart,
2Which with thy name begins, since their depart,
3Whether in th' English provinces they be,
4Or drink of Po, Sequan, or Danubie,
5There's none that sometime greets us not, and yet
6Your Trent is Lethe; that past, us you forget.
7You do not duties of societies,
8If from th' embrace of a loved wife you rise,
9View your fat beasts, stretch'd barns, and labour'd fields,
10Eat, play, ride, take all joys which all day yields,
11And then again to your embracements go:
12Some hours on us your friends, and some bestow
13Upon your Muse, else both we shall repent;
14I that my love, she that her gifts on you are spent.
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire, assisted by Ana Berdinskikh
RPO Edition
2009
Rhyme
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