[lxxiii.]
_To your self._
_SIR_,
I send you here a Translation; but it is not onely to beleeve me, it is a
great invention to have understood any piece of this Book, whether the
gravity of the matter, or the Poeticall form, give it his inclination, and
_principium motus_; you are his center, or his spheare, and to you as to
his proper place he addresses himself. Besides that all my things, not
onely by obligation, but by custome, know that that is the way they should
goe. I spake of this to my L[ady] of _Bedford_, thinking then I had had a
copy which I made long since, at Sea, but because I finde it not, I have
done that again: when you finde it not unseasonable, let her see it; and
if you can think it fit, that a thing that hath either wearied, or
distasted you, should receive so much favour, put it amongst her papers:
when you have a new stomach to it, I will provide you quickly a new Copy.
_Your very true friend and servant
and lover_
J. Donne.
_At my_ Micham
_Hospitall_, Aug. 10.
[lxxiv.]
_To the gallant Knight Sir_ Tho. Lucy.
_SIR_,
Because in your last Letter, I have an invitation to come to you, though I
never thought my self so fallen from my interest, which, by your favour, I
prescribe in, in you, and therefore when in the spring I hoped to have
strength enough, to come into those parts, upon another occasion, I always
resolved to put my self into your presence too, yet now I aske you more
particularly how you dispose of your self; for though I have heard, that
you purpose a journey to the _Bath_, and from thence hither, yet I can
hope, that my service at _Lincolns Inne_ being ended for next Terme, I may
have intermission enough to waite upon you at _Polesworth_, before the
season call you to _Bath_. I was no easie apprehender of the fear of your
departing from us; neither am I easie in the hope of seeing you intirely
over suddenly. God loves your soul if he be loth to let it go inch-meale,
and not by swallowings; and he loves it too, if he build it up again stone
after stone; his will is not done except his way, and his leasure be
observed. In my particular, I am sorry, if my ingenuity and candor in
delivering myself in those points, of which you speak to me, have defaced
those impressions which were in you before: if my freedome have occasioned
your captivity, I am miserably sorry. I went unprofitably and
improvidently, to the utmost end of Truth, because I would go as farre as
I could to meet Peace; if my going so far in declaring my self, brought
you where you could not stop. But as I was as confident in your strength,
as in mine own, so am I still, in him, who strengthens all our
infirmities and will, I doubt not, bring you and me together, in all those
particulars, so as we shall not part in this world, nor the next. Sir,
your own soul cannot be more zealous of your peace, then I am: and God,
who loves that zeale in me, will not suffer you to suspect it. I am
surprised with a necessity of writing now, in a minute; for I sent to
_Bedford_ house to informe my self of means to write, and your daughter
sent me word, of a present messenger, and therefore the rest of this I
shall make up in my prayers to our blessed Saviour, for all happinesses to
you.
_Your poor servant in Chr. Jesus_
J. Donne.
_Drury house the 22 of
Decemb. 1607._
[lxxv.]
_To Sir_ H. G.