Digital Donne: the Online Variorum
The 1654 Prose Letters Letter 34, cont. (p.104) |
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me, that he is a fool which cannot make one Sonnet, and he is mad which makes two. The other stronger reason, is my in- tegrity to the other Countesse, of whose worthinesse though I swallowed your opi- nion at first upon your words, yet I have had since an explicit faith, and now a knowledge: and for her delight (since she descends to them) I had reserved not only all the verses, which I should make, but all the thoughts of womens worthinesse. But because I hope she will not disdain, that I should write well of her Picture, I have o- beyed you thus far, as to write: but intreat you by your friendship, that by this occasi- on of versifying, I be not traduced, nor esteemed light in that Tribe, and that house where I have lived. If those reasons which moved you to bid me write be not con- stant in you still, or if you meant not that I should write verses; of if these verses be too bad, or too good, over or under her under- standing, and not fit; I pray receive them, as a companion and supplement of this [CW: Letter] |
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