and equal traitors be she and his sense。 may he dream treason； and believe that he meant to perform it； and confesses； and die； and no record tell why ； his sons； which none of his may be； inherit nothing but his infamy ； or may he so long parasites have fed； that he would fain be theirs whom he hath bred； and at the last be circumcised for bread。 the venom of all stepdames； gamesters gall； what tyrants and their subjects interwish； what plants； mine； beasts； fowl； fish； can contribute； all ill； which all prophets or poets spake； and all which shall be annexd in schedules unto this by me； fall on that man ； for if it be a she nature beforehand hath out…cursèd me。 the message。 send home my long strayd eyes to me； which； o ！ too long have dwelt on thee ； yet since there they have learnd such ill； such forced fashions； and false passions； that they be made by thee fit for no good sight； keep them still。 send home my harmless heart again； which no unworthy thought could stain ； which if it be taught by thine to make jestings of protestings； and break both word and oath； keep it； for then tis none of mine。 yet send me back my heart and eyes； that i may know； and see thy lies； and may laugh and joy； when thou art in anguish and dost languish for some one that will none； or prove as false as thou art now。 a nocturnal upon st。 lucys day； being the shortest day。 tis the years midnight； and it is the days； lucys； who scarce seven hours herself unmasks ； the sun is spent； and now his flasks send forth light squibs； no constant rays ； the worlds whole sap is sunk ； the general balm th hydroptic earth hath drunk； whither； as to the beds…feet； life is shrunk； dead and interrd ； yet all these seem to laugh； pared with me； who am their epitaph。 study me then； you who shall lovers be at the next world； that is； at the next spring ； for i am every dead thing； in whom love wrought new alchemy。 for his art did express a quintessence even from nothingness； from dull privations； and lean emptiness ； he ruind me； and i am re…begot of absence； darkness； death—things which are not。 all others； from all things； draw all thats good； life； soul； form； spirit； whence they being have ； i； by loves limbec； am the grave of all； thats nothing。 oft a flood have we two wept； and so drownd the whole world； us two ； oft did we grow； to be two chaoses； when we did show care to aught else ； and often absences withdrew our souls； and made us carcasses。 but i am by her death—which word wrongs her— of the first nothing the elixir grown ； were i a man； that i were one i needs must know ； i should prefer； if i were any beast； some ends； some means ； yea plants； yea stones detest； and love ； all； all some properties invest。 if i an ordinary nothing were； as shadow； a light； and body must be here。 but i am none ； nor will my sun renew。 you lovers； for whose sake the lesser sun at this time to the goat is run to fetch new lust； and give it you； enjoy your summer all； since she enjoys her long nights festival。 let me prepare towards her； and let me call this hour her vigil； and her eve； since this both the years and the days deep midnight is。 witchcraft by a picture。 i fix mine eye on thine； and there pity my picture burning in thine eye ； my picture drownd in a transparent tear； when i look lower i espy ； hadst thou the wicked skill by pictures made and marrd； to kill； how many ways mightst thou perform thy will？ but now ive drunk thy sweet salt tears； and though thou pour more； ill depart ； my picture vanished； vanish all fears that i can be endamaged by that art ； though thou retain of me one picture more； yet that will be； being in thine own heart； from all malice free。 the bait。 e live with me； and be my love； and we will some new pleasures prove of golden sands； and crystal brooks； with silken lines and silver hooks。 there will the river whispring run warmd by thy eyes； more than the sun ； and there th enamourd fish will stay； begging themselves they may betray。 when thou wilt swim in that live bath； each fish； which every channel hath； will amorously to thee swim； gladder to catch thee； than thou him。 if thou； to be so seen； best loth； by sun or moon； thou darknest both； and if myself have leave to see； i need not their light； having thee。 let others freeze with angling reeds； and cut their legs with shells and weeds； or treacherously poor fish beset； with strangling snare； or windowy net。 let coarse bold hands from slimy nest the bedded fish in banks out…wrest ； or curious traitors； sleeve…silk flies； bewitch poor fishes wandring eyes。 for thee； thou needst no such deceit； for thou thyself art thine own bait ： that fish； that is not catchd thereby； alas ！ is wiser far than i。 the apparition。 when by thy scorn； o murdress； i am dead； and that thou thinkst thee free from all solicitation from me； then shall my ghost e to thy bed； and thee； feignd vestal； in worse arms shall see ： then thy sick taper will begin to wink； and he； whose thou art then； being tired before； will； if thou stir； or pinch to wake him； think thou callst for more； and； in false sleep； will from thee shrink ： and then； poor aspen wretch； neglected thou bathed in a cold quicksilver sweat wilt lie； a verier ghost than i。 what i will say； i will not tell thee now； lest that preserve thee ； and since my love is spent； id rather thou shouldst painfully repent； than by my threatenings rest still innocent。 d John Donne Selected Poems…7 the broken heart。 he is stark mad； whoever says； that he hath been in love an hour； yet not that love so soon decays； but that it can ten in less space devour ； who will believe me； if i swear that i have had the plague a year？ who would not laugh at me；