LINES ON A PORTRAIT OF DONNE IN HIS EIGHTEENTH YEAR.
Reading edition
1635.
[Engraved under William Marshall's Portrait of Donne, "Anno Domini. 1591. Aetatis suae 18," prefixed to the second edition of Donne's Poems, 1635.]
On a Portrait of DONNE taken in his eighteenth year.
This was for youth, Strength, Mirth, and wit that Time Most count their golden Age; but t'was not thine. Thine was thy later yeares, so much refind From youths Drosse, Mirth & wit; as thy pure mind Thought (like the Angels) nothing but the Praise Of thy Creator, in those last, best Dayes. Witnes this Booke, (thy Embleme) which begins With Love; but endes, with Sighes, & Teares for sin's. IZ: WA:
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