Digital Donne: the Online Variorum
  The 1654 Prose Letters Letter 85, cont. (p.238) |
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when we gather the fruit, but acknowledge that all the year she doth many motherly offices in preparing it: so is not friendship then onely to be esteemed, when she is de- livered of a Letter, or any other reall office, but in her continuall propensnesse and in- clination to do it. This hath made me easie in pardoning my long silences, and in promising my self your forgivenesse for not answering your Letter sooner. For my pur- pose of proceeding in the profession of the law, so farre as to a title you may be pleased to correct that imagination, wheresoever you finde it. I ever thought the study of it my best entertainment, and pastime, but I have no ambition, nor designe upon the style. Of my Anniversaries, the fault that I acknowledge in my self, is to have descen- ded to print any thing in verse, which though it have excuse even in our times, by men who professe, and practise much gra- vitie; yet I confesse I wonder how I de- clined to it, and do not pardon my self: But for the other part of the imputation of having [CW: said] |
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