Twicknam Garden
Twicknam Garden
Original Text
Donne, John. The Elegies and the Songs and Sonnets of John Donne. Edited by Helen Gardner. London: Oxford University Press, 1965: 83-84.
1Blasted with sighs, and surrounded with tears,
2 Hither I come to seek the spring,
3 And at mine eyes, and at mine ears,
4Receive such balms as else cure every thing;
5 But oh, self-traitor, I do bring
6The spider love, which transubstantiates all,
7 And can convert manna to gall,
8And that this place may thoroughly be thought
9True paradise, I have the serpent brought.
10'Twere wholesomer for me, that winter did
11 Benight the glory of this place,
12 And that a grave frost did forbid
13These trees to laugh, and mock me to my face;
14 But that I may not this disgrace
15Endure, nor yet leave loving, Love let me
16 Some senseless piece of this place be;
17Make me a mandrake, so I may grow here,
18Or a stone fountain weeping out my year.
19Hither with crystal phials, lovers, come,
20 And take my tears, which are love's wine,
21 And try your mistress' tears at home,
22For all are false, that taste not just like mine;
23 Alas ! hearts do not in eyes shine,
24Nor can you more judge women's thoughts by tears,
25 Than by her shadow what she wears.
26Oh perverse sex, where none is true but she,
27Who's therefore true, because her truth kills me.
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire, assisted by Ana Berdinskikh
RPO Edition
2009
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