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| The Crying Spider by Odilon Redon (1881) |
This week's poem comes via the Guardian's books e-bulletin. "Have Donne with me!" it taunted ... so, here it is (Carol Rumens deciphers it here)
Twickenham Garden
Blasted with sighs, and surrounded with tears,
Hither I come to seek the spring,
And at mine eyes, and at mine ears,
Receive such balms as else cure every thing.
But O! self-traitor, I do bring
The spider Love, which transubstantiates all,
And can convert manna to gall;
And that this place may thoroughly be thought
True paradise, I have the serpent brought.
’Twere wholesomer for me that winter did
Benight the glory of this place,
And that a grave frost did forbid
These trees to laugh and mock me to my face ;
But that I may not this disgrace
Endure, nor yet leave loving, Love, let me
Some senseless piece of this place be;
Make me a mandrake, so I may grow here,
Or a stone fountain weeping out my year.
Hither with crystal phials, lovers, come,
And take my tears, which are love’s wine,
And try your mistress’ tears at home,
For all are false, that taste not just like mine.
Alas! hearts do not in eyes shine,
Nor can you more judge women’s thoughts by tears,
Than by her shadow what she wears.
O perverse sex, where none is true but she,
Who’s therefore true, because her truth kills me.
John Donne (1572-1631)
In his lifetime Donne was best known for his sermons - he was Dean of St Paul's Cathedral. He studied law but never worked as a lawyer. A scandalous marriage led to a brief imprisonment. After a long search for public office he was ordained in the Church of England and became chaplain to James I. During his lifetime his poetry circulated in manuscript among his friends and patrons; he considered print publication as beneath his dignity as a gentleman.
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