The Apparition

John Donne

John Donne portrait

1572 to 1631

Poem Image
Track 1

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I'had rather thou shouldst painfully repent,
And he, whose thou art then, being tyr'd before,
Then by my threatnings rest still innocent.
From all solicitation from mee,
A veryer ghost then I;
Then thy sicke taper will begin to winke,
Will, if thou stirre, or pinch to wake him, thinke
Thou call'st for more,
Bath'd in a cold quicksilver sweat wilt lye
Lest that preserve thee; and since my love is spent,
And thee, fain'd vestall, in worse armes shall see;
What I will say, I will not tell thee now,
When by thy scorne, O murdresse, I am dead,
And that thou thinkst thee free
And in false sleepe will from thee shrinke,
And then poore Aspen wretch, neglected thou
Then shall my ghost come to thy bed,

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Poet portrait