Tudor and Stuart Love Songs — Dr. John Donne

A WOMAN'S CONSTANCY.

Now thou hast loved me one whole day, To-morrow, when thou leav'st, what wilt thou say?

Wilt thou then ante-date some new-made vow?

Or say, that now We are not just those persons which we were?

Or, that oaths made in reverential fear Of Love and his wrath any may forswear?

Or, as true deaths true marriages untie, So lovers' contracts, images of those, Bind but till Sleep, Death's image, them unloose?

Or, your own end to justify For having purposed change and falsehood, you Can have no way but falsehood to be true?

Vain lunatic!

Against these scapes I could Dispute and conquer if I would;

Which I abstain to do;

For, by to-morrow, I may think so too.

Dr. John Donne.

SWEETEST LOVE.

Sweetest love, I do not go For weariness of thee, Nor in hope the world can show A fitter love for me.

But since that I Must die at last, 'tis best Thus to use myself in jest By feigned death to die.

Yester-night the sun went hence, And yet is here to-day;

He hath no desire nor sense, Nor half so short a way: Then fear not me, But believe that I shall make Hastier journeys, since I take More wings and spurs than he.

Dr. John Donne.