The opening of John Donne’s first Satire. I have the added commentary of the Oxford texts edition of The Satires, Epigrams and Verse Letters edited by W.Milgate but I’m enjoying the scans of the 1633 edition at the Digital Donne
Away thou fondling motley humorist,
Leave mee, and in this standing woodden chest,
Consorted with these few bookes, let me lye
In prison, and here be coffin’d, when I dye;
Here are Gods conduits; grave Divines, and here
Natures Secretary, the Philosopher.
And jolly Statesmen, which teach how to tie
The sinewes of a cities mistique bodie;
Here gathering Chroniclers, and by them stand
Giddie fantastique Poëts of each land.
Shall I leave all this constant company,
And follow headlong, wild uncertaine thee?
Extracts 