she were scarce anything ； and then； should she be more than woman； she would get above all thought of sex； and think to move my heart to study her； and not to love。 both these were monsters ； since there must reside falsehood in woman； i could more abide； she were by art； than nature falsified。 live； primrose； then； and thrive with thy true number five ； and； woman； whom this flower doth represent； with this mysterious number be content ； ten is the farthest number ； if half ten belongs to each woman； then each woman may take half us men ； or—if this will not serve their turn—since all numbers are odd； or even； and they fall first into five； women may take us all。 ．． John Donne Selected Poems…9 …。网 the relic。 when my grave is broke up again some second guest to entertain； —for graves have learnd that woman…head； to be to more than one a bed— and he that digs it； spies a bracelet of bright hair about the bone； will he not let us alone； and think that there a loving couple lies； who thought that this device might be some way to make their souls at the last busy day meet at this grave； and make a little stay？ if this fall in a time； or land； where mass…devotion doth mand； then he that digs us up will bring us to the bishop or the king； to make us relics ； then thou shalt be a mary magdalen； and i a something else thereby ； all women shall adore us； and some men。 and； since at such time miracles are sought； i would have that age by this paper taught what miracles we harmless lovers wrought。 first we loved well and faithfully； yet knew not what we loved； nor why ； difference of sex we never knew； no more than guardian angels do ； ing and going we perchance might kiss； but not between those meals ； our hands neer touchd the seals； which nature； injured by late law； sets free。 these miracles we did ； but now alas ！ all measure； and all language； i should pass； should i tell what a miracle she was。 the damp。 when i am dead； and doctors know not why； and my friends curiosity will have me cut up to survey each part； when they shall find your picture in my heart； you think a sudden damp of love will thorough all their senses move； and work on them as me； and so prefer your murder to the name of massacre； poor victories ； but if you dare be brave； and pleasure in your conquest have； first kill th enormous giant； your disdain ； and let th enchantress honour； next be slain ； and like a goth and vandal rise； deface records and histories of your own arts and triumphs over men； and without such advantage kill me then； for i could muster up； as well as you； my giants； and my witches too； which are vast constancy and secretness ； but these i neither look for nor profess ； kill me as woman； let me die as a mere man ； do you but try your passive valour； and you shall find then； naked you have odds enough of any man。 the dissolution。 shes dead ； and all which die to their first elements resolve ； and we were mutual elements to us； and made of one another。 my body then doth hers involve； and those things whereof i consist hereby in me abundant grow； and burdenous； and nourish not； but smother。 my fire of passion； sighs of air； water of tears； and earthly sad despair； which my materials be； but near worn out by loves security； she； to my loss； doth by her death repair。 and i might live long wretched so； but that my fire doth with my fuel grow。 now； as those active kings whose foreign conquest treasure brings； receive more； and spend more； and soonest break； this —which i am amazed that i can speak— this death； hath with my store my use increased。 and so my soul； more earnestly released； will outstrip hers ； as bullets flown before a latter bullet may oertake； the powder being more。 a jet ring sent。 thou art not so black as my heart； nor half so brittle as her heart； thou art ； what wouldst thou say ？ shall both our properties by thee be spoke； —nothing more endless； nothing sooner broke？ marriage rings are not of this stuff ； oh； why should ought less precious； or less tough figure our loves ？ except in thy name thou have bid it say； 〃—im cheap； and nought but fashion ； fling me away。〃 yet stay with me since thou art e； circle this fingers top； which didst her thumb ； be justly proud； and gladly safe； that thou dost dwell with me ； she that； o ！ broke her faith； would soon break thee。 negative love。 i never stoopd so low； as they which on an eye； cheek； lip； can prey ； seldom to them which soar no higher than virtue； or the mind to admire。 for sense and understanding may know what gives fuel to their fire ； my love； though silly； is more brave ； for may i miss； wheneer i crave； if i know yet what i would have。 if that be simply perfectest； which can by no way be expressd but negatives； my love is so。 to all； which all love； i say no。 if any who deciphers best； what we know not—ourselves—can know； let him teach me that nothing。 this as yet my ease and fort is； though i speed not； i cannot miss。 the prohibition。 take heed of loving me ； at least remember； i forbade it thee ； not that i shall repair my unthrifty waste of breath and blood； upon thy sighs and tears； by being to thee then what to me thou wast ； but so great joy our life at once outwears。 then； lest thy love by my death frustrate be； if thou love me； take heed of loving me。 take heed of hating me； or too much triumph in the victory ； not that i shall be mine own officer； and hate with hate again retaliate ； but thou wilt lose the style of conqueror； if i； thy conquest； perish by thy hate。 then； lest my being nothing lessen thee； if thou hate me； take heed of hating me。 yet love and hate me too ； so these extremes shall neer their office do ； love me； that i may die the gentl