Digital Donne: the Online Variorum
The 1654 Prose Letters Letter 18, cont. (p.52) |
|
am so well content to be lesse, that is dead. You, Sir, are farre enough from these de- scents, your vertue keeps you secure, and your naturall disposition to mirth will pre- serve you; but lose none of these holds, a slip is often as dangerous as a bruise, and though you cannot fall to my lownesse, yet in a much lesse distraction you may meet my sadnesse; for he is no safer which falls from an high tower into the leads; then he which falls from thence to the ground: make therefore to your self some mark, and go towards it alegrement. Though I be in such a planetary and erratique fortune, that I can do nothing constantly, yet you may finde some constancy in my constant advising you to it. Your hearty true friend J. Donne. I came this evening from M. Jones his house in Essex, where M. Martin hath been, and left a relation of Captain Whitcocks death, perchance it is no news to you, but it was to me; without doubt want [CW: broke] |
 |