Digital Donne: the Online Variorum
The 1654 Prose Letters Letter 45, cont. (p.142) |
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sisted, so we think our selves justly excusa- ble to our friends and our selves, if when we should do businesse, we come to the place of businesse, as Courts and the houses of great Princes and officers. I do not so much intimate your infirmity in this, as frankly confesse mine own. The master of Latine language says, Oculi & aures aliorium te speculantur & custodiunt. So those two words are synonimous, & only the observation of others upon me, is my preservation from extream idlenesse, else I professe, that I hate businesse so much, as I am sometimes glad to remember, that the Roman Church reads that verse A negotio perambulante in tenebris, which we read from the pestilence wal- king at night, so equall to me do the plague and businesse deserve avoiding, but you will neither beleeve that I abhor busi- nesse, if I inlarge this Letter, nor that I would afford you that ease which I affect, Therefore returne to your pleasures. Your unprofitablest friend March 14. 1607. Jo. Donne. [CW: I] |
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