Holy Sonnet XVIII
by John Donne
Pseudo-Martyr (1610), Ignatius His Conclave (1611), An Anatomy of the World (1611), Progress of the Soul (1612), Anniversary (1612). His sermons were published posthumously in three volumes, LXXX Sermons (1640), Fifty Sermons (1649), XXVI Sermons (1660), all edited by his son John. See also H.J.C. Grierson's 1912 edition of his work.
Holy Sonnet XVIII
by John Donne
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Show me, dear Christ, thy Spouse, so bright and clear.
What! is it She, which on the other shore
Goes richly painted? or which, robbed and tore,
Laments and mourns in Germany and here?
Sleeps she a thousand, then peeps up one year?
Is she self-truth and errs? now new, now outwore?
Doth she, and did she, and shall she evermore
On one, on seven, or on no hill appear?
Dwells she with us, or like adventuring knights
First travail we to seek and then make love?
Betray, kind husband, thy spouse to our sights,
And let mine amorous soul court thy mild dove,
Who is most true and pleasing to thee then
When she's embraced and open to most men.
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