Public-domain source text

To <abbr epub:type="z3998:name-title">Mr.</abbr> Rowland Woodward

by John Donne

From Standard Ebooks · standardebooks/john-donne_poetry

Muse Not That by Thy Mind Thy Body Is Led
Muse not that by thy mind thy body is led: For by thy mind, my mind’s distempered. So thy care lives long, for I bearing part It eats not only thine, but my swoll’n heart. And when it gives us intermission We take new hearts for it to feed upon. But as a lay man’s genius doth control Body and mind; the Muse being the soul’s soul Of poets, that methinks should ease our anguish, Although our bodies wither and minds languish. Wright then, that my griefs which thine got may be Cured by thy charming sovereign melody.

Source record

This is a source transcription from Standard Ebooks, published in Past Poetry’s public-domain archive without line-by-line editorial notes. Public-domain source edition. Availability can vary by territory.

View the source edition →