Absence. Appendix A. Doubtful Poems. John Donne. 1896. The Poems of John Donne

John Donne (1572–1631). The Poems of John Donne. 1896.

Appendix A. Doubtful Poems

Absence

	That time and absence proves
	Rather helps than hurts to loves.

ABSENCE, hear thou my protestation 1

Against thy strength,

Distance, and length;

Do what thou canst 2 for alteration,

For hearts of truest mettle

Absence doth join and time doth settle.

Who loves a mistress of such quality,

His mind hath found 3

Affection’s ground

Beyond time, place; and all mortality;

To hearts that cannot vary

Absence is present, Time doth tarry.

My senses want their outward motion, 4

Which now within

Reason doth win,

Redoubled by her secret notion; 5

Like rich men that take pleasure

In hiding 6 more than handling treasure.

By absence this good means I gain,

That I can catch her,

Where none can watch her,

In some close corner of my brain;

There I embrace and kiss her,

And so enjoy her, and none miss her. 7

Note 1. l. 1. So Poet. Rh., Harvey MS.; Sim., Cott. MS. hear my protestation; St. MS. hear this my protestation [back]

Note 2. l. 4. Poet. Rh. ed. 2, you can [back]

Note 3. l. 8. Poet. Rh. He soon hath found [back]

Note 4. l. 13. Sim. Thy senses; Poet. Rh. motions. [back]

Note 5. l. 16. Poet. Rh. Redoubled in her secret notions. [back]

Note 6. l. 18. Cotton MS. In finding. [back]

Note 7. ll. 23, 24. Cotton MS. while none miss her.
Poet. Rh. And so I both enjoy and miss her.

	Sim. There I embrace her and there kiss her,
	And so enjoy her and so miss her.