Relationships

Translated out of Gazæus: Vota Amico facta

by John Donne 1572–1631

From Poems (Grierson, 1912)

Relationships

God grant thee thine own wish, and grant thee mine,
Thou, who dost, best friend, in best things outshine;
May thy soul, ever chearfull, nere know cares,
Nor thy life, ever lively, know gray haires.
Nor thy hand, ever open, know base holds,
Nor thy purse, ever plump, know pleits, or folds.
Nor thy tongue, ever true, know a false thing,
Nor thy word, ever mild, know quarrelling.
Nor thy works, ever equall, know disguise,
Nor thy fame, ever pure, know contumelies.
Nor thy prayers, know low objects, still Divine;
God grant thee thine own wish, and grant thee mine.

MLA

Donne, John. “Translated out of Gazæus: Vota Amico facta.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/donne/214/.

Chicago

Donne, John. “Translated out of Gazæus: Vota Amico facta.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/donne/214/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by John Donne