| Herbert J.C. Grierson, ed. (1886–1960). Metaphysical Lyrics & Poems of the 17th C. 1921. |
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| John Donne |
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121. Elegie
His Picture |
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| HERE take my Picture; though I bid farewell, | |
| Thine, in my heart, where my soule dwels, shall dwell. | |
| 'Tis like me now, but I dead, 'twill be more | |
| When wee are shadowes both, then'twas before. | |
| When weather-beaten I come backe; my hand, | 5 |
| Perhaps with rude oares torne, or Sun beams tann'd, | |
| My face and brest of hairecloth, and my head | |
| With cares rash sodaine stormes, being o'rspread, | |
| My body'a sack of bones, broken within, | |
| And powders blew staines scatter'd on my skinne; | 10 |
| If rivall fooles taxe thee to'have lov'd a man, | |
| So foule, and course, as, Oh, I may seeme than, | |
| This shall say what I was: and thou shalt say, | |
| Doe his hurts reach mee? doth my worth decay? | |
| Or doe they reach his judging minde, that hee | 15 |
| Should now love lesse, what hee did love to see? | |
| That which in him was faire and delicate, | |
| Was but the milke, which in loves childish state | |
| Did nurse it: who now is growne strong enough | |
| To feed on that, which to disused tasts seemes tough. | 20 |
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