Love
Selfe Love
From Poems (Grierson, 1912)
He that cannot chuse but love,
And strives against it still,
Never shall my fancy move;
For he loves 'gaynst his will;
Nor he which is all his own,
And can att pleasure chuse,
When I am caught he can be gone,
And when he list refuse.
Nor he that loves none but faire,
For such by all are sought;
Nor he that can for foul ones care,
For his Judgement then is nought:
Nor he that hath wit, for he
Will make me his jest or slave;
Nor a fool, for when others...,
He can neither....
Nor he that still his Mistresse payes,
For she is thrall'd therefore:
Nor he that payes not, for he sayes
Within, shee's worth no more.
Is there then no kinde of men
Whom I may freely prove?
I will vent that humour then
In mine own selfe love.
Cite this poem
MLA
Donne, John. “Selfe Love.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/donne/176/.
Chicago
Donne, John. “Selfe Love.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/donne/176/.
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