| John Donne (1572–1631). The Poems of John Donne. 1896. | | | Divine Poems
Holy Sonnets | | XIII. “What if this present were the world’s last night?” |
| | | WHAT if this present were the world’s last night? | |
| Mark in my heart, O soul, where thou dost dwell, | |
| The picture of Christ crucified, and tell | |
| Whether His countenance can thee affright. | |
| Tears in His eyes quench the amazing light; | 5 |
| Blood fills his frowns, which from His pierced head fell; | |
| And can that tongue adjudge thee unto hell, | |
| Which pray’d forgiveness for His foes’ fierce spite? | |
| No, no; but as in my idolatry | |
| I said to all my profane mistresses, | 10 |
| Beauty of pity, foulness only is | |
| A sign of rigour; so I say to thee, | |
| To wicked spirits are horrid shapes assign’d; | |
| This beauteous form assumes a piteous mind. | | | | |
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