John Donne
English poet and cleric (1572–1631)
1572–1631, born in London
- Born
- 1 February 1572
- Birthplace
- London
- Died
- 31 March 1631
From their work
Our two souls therefore which are one, Though I must go, endure not yet A breach, but an expansion, Like gold to airy thinness beat.
Oh my black soul! now art thou summonedBy sickness, death's herald, and champion;Thou art like a pilgrim, which abroad hath doneTreason, and durst not turn to whence he is fled;Or like a thief, which till death's doom be read,Wisheth himself delivered from prison,But damned and haled to execution,Wisheth that still he might be imprisoned.Yet grace, if thou repent, thou canst not lack;But who shall give thee that grace to begin?Oh make thy self with holy mourning black,And red with blushing, as thou art with sin;Or wash thee in Christ's blood, which hath this mightThat being red, it dyes red souls to white
Quotes from Wikiquote (CC BY-SA 4.0). Texts of this author are in the public domain in the UK.