Digital Donne: the Online Variorum
The 1654 Prose Letters Letter 17, cont., and Letter 18 (p.48) |
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but cure these affections, which are the bestiall part. Line omitted Line omitted To Sir H. Goodere. sir, Every tuesday I make account that I turn a great hour-glass, and consider that a weeks life is run out since I writ. But if I aske my self what I have done in the last watch, or would do in the next, I can say nothing; if I say that I have passed it with- out hurting any, so may the Spider in my window. The primitive Monkes were excusable in their retirings and enclosures of themselves: for even of them every one cultivated his own garden and orchard, that is, his soul and body, by meditation, and manufactures; and they ought the world no more since they consumed none of her sweetnesse, nor begot others to bur- den her. But for me, if I were able to hus- band all my time so thriftily, as not onely not to wound my soul in any minute by actuall sinne, but not to rob and cousen her [CW: by] |
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