The first of this moneth I received a Letter from you; no Letter comes so
late, but that it brings fresh newes hither. Though I presume M{r} _Pore_
[_Pory_], and since, Sir _Rob. Rich_ came after the writing of that
Letter, yet it was good newes to me, that you thought me worthy of so good
a testimony. And you were subtile in the disguise: for you shut up your
Letter, thus, _Lond._ 22. in our stile, but I am not so good a Cabalist,
as to finde in what moneth it was written. But, Sir, in the offices of so
spirituall a thing as friendship, so momentary a thing as time, must have
no consideration. I keep it therefore to read every day, as newly
written: to which vexation it must be subject, till you relieve it with an
other. If I ought you not a great many thankes for every particular part
of it, I should yet thanke you for the length; and love it, as my
mistresses face, every line and feature, but best all together. All that I
can do towards retribution, is, (as other bankrupts do in prison) to make
means by Commissioners, that a great debt may be accepted by small summes
weekly. And in that proportion I have paid my tribute to you, almost ever
since I came; and shall still do so. You know that they say, those are the
strongest, and the firmest, and most precious things, which are composed
of the most, and smallest parts. I will flatter my self therefore, that
the number of my Letters may at last make a strong argument of my desire
to serve you, but because I remember, out of this Philosophy, that they
should be little, as well as many, lest this Letter should not get into
the building, it shall be no bigger; thus much addition will not much
disfigure it, that it sweare to you that I am
_Your affectionate servant_
J. Donne.
_Sir, I cry you mercy for sealing your sisters letter, but I deliver you
up my authority, and I remember you, that you have hers to open it again.
You will the easilier forgive me, that I write no newes, when you observe
by this transgression, that I live in a place which hath quenched in me
even the remembrances of good manners. By naming her, I have made my
postscript the worthyest place of my letter: and therefore I chuse that
place to present my service to all the company at our lodging; in which
house, if I cannot get room for a pallat, at my return, my comfort is,
that I can ever hope to be so near them as the Spittle in the_ Savoy,
_where they receive Travellers._
[xc.]
_To the Honourable Knight, Sir_ ROBERT KARRE.
_Sir_,
Though I have left my bed, I have not left my bed-side; I sit there still,
and as a Prisoner discharged sits at the Prison doore, to beg Fees, so sit
I here, to gather crummes. I have used this leisure, to put the
meditations had in my sicknesse, into some such order, as may minister
some holy delight. They arise to so many sheetes (perchance 20.) as that
without saying for that furniture of an Epistle, That my Friends
importun'd me to Print them, I importune my Friends to receive them
Printed. That, being in hand, through this long Trunke, that reaches from
Saint _Pauls_, to Saint _James_, I whisper into your earre this question,
whether there be any uncomlinesse, or unseasonablenesse, in presenting
matter of Devotion, or Mortification, to that Prince, whom I pray God
nothing may ever Mortifie, but Holinesse. If you allow my purposes in
generall, I pray cast your eye upon the Title and the Epistle, and
rectifie me in them: I submit substance, and circumstance to you, and the
poore Author of both,
_Your very humble and very thankfull
Servant
in Christ Jesus_
J. Donne.
[xci.]
_To your selfe._