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Songs and Sonnets
A Valediction of my name, in the window

by John Donne

I

      My name engrav'd herein, 
Doth contribute my firmnesse to this glasse, 
   Which, ever since that charme, hath beene 
   As hard, as that which grav'd it, was, 
Thine eye will give it price enough, to mock 
      The diamonds of either rock. 


II

      'Tis much that Glasse should bee 
As all confessing, and through-shine as I, 
   'Tis more, that it shewes thee to thee, 
   And cleare reflects thee to thine eye. 
But all such rules, loves magique can undoe, 
      Here you see mee, and I am you. 


III

      As no one point, nor dash, 
Which are but accessaries to this name, 
   The showers and tempests can outwash, 
   So shall all times finde mee the same; 
You this intirenesse better may fulfill, 
      Who have the patterne with you still. 


IIII

      Or if too hard and deepe 
This learning be, for a scratch'd name to teach, 
   It, as a given deaths head keepe, 
   Lovers mortalitie to preach, 
Or thinke this ragged bony name to bee 
      My ruinous Anatomie. 


V

      Then, as all my soules bee, 
Emparadis'd in you, (in whom alone 
   I understand, and grow and see,) 
   The rafters of my body, bone 
Being still with you, the Muscle, Sinew, and Veine, 
      Which tile this house, will come againe. 


VI

      Till my returne, repaire 
And recompact my scattered body so. 
   As all the vertuous powers which are 
   Fix'd in the starres, are said to flow, 
Into such characters, as graved bee 
      When these starres have supremacie. 


VII

      So since this name was cut 
When love and griefe their exaltation had, 
   No doore 'gainst this names influence shut, 
   As much more loving, as more sad, 
'Twill make thee; and thou shouldst, till I returne, 
      Since I die daily, daily mourne. 


VIII

      When thy inconsiderate hand 
Flings ope this casement, with my trembling name, 
   To looke on one, whose wit or land, 
   New battry to thy heart may frame, 
Then thinke this name alive, and that thou thus 
      In it offendst my Genius. 


IX

   And when thy melted maid, 
Corrupted by thy Lover's gold, and page, 
   His letter at thy pillow'hath laid, 
   Disputed it, and tam'd thy rage, 
And thou begin'st to thaw towards him, for this, 
   May my name step in, and hide his. 


X

   And if this treason goe 
To an overt act, and that thou write againe; 
   In superscribing, this name flow 
   Into thy fancy, from the pane. 
So, in forgetting thou remembrest right, 
   And unaware to mee shalt write. 


XI

   But glasse, and lines must bee, 
No meanes our firme substantiall love to keepe; 
   Neere death inflicts this lethargie, 
   And this I murmure in my sleepe; 
Impute this idle talke, to that I goe, 
   For dying men talke often so.
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