Works by John Donne
Verse
- Close section Anniversaries
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Divine Poems
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Holy Sonnets
- To the Lady Magdalen Herbert of St. Mary Magdalen
- Close section La Corona
- To E. of D. with six holy Sonnets
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Holy Sonnets
- 1. As due by many titles
- 2. Oh my black Soul
- 3. This is my plays last scene
- 4. At the round earths imagined corners
- 5. If poisonous minerals
- 6. Death be not proud
- 7. Spit in my face you Jews
- 8. Why are we by all creatures waited on?
- 9. What if this present were the worlds last night?
- 10. Batter my heart
- 11. Wilt thou love God, as he thee!
- 12. Father, part of his double interest
- Close section Holy Sonnets (added in 1635): Divine Meditations
- Close section Holy Sonnets (from the Westmoreland MS.)
- Close section The Litany
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Occasional Poems
- The Cross
- Resurrection, imperfect
- Upon the Annunciation and Passion
- Good Friday, 1613. Riding Westward
- To Mr. Tilman after he had taken orders
- Upon the translation of the Psalmes by Sir Philip Sidney, and the Countess of Pembroke his Sister
- The Lamentations of Jeremy, for the most part according to Tremelius
- Close section Hymns
- Close section Latin Poems
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Holy Sonnets
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Dubia: Poems Included in Editions from 1633 to 1669
(attrib.)
- Heroic Epistle: Sapho to Philænis (attrib.)
- Sonnet. the Token (attrib.)
- <Self Love> He that cannot choose but love (attrib.)
- Song: 'Stay, O sweet, and do not rise' (attrib.)
- His parting from her (attrib.)
- Julia (attrib.)
- A Tale of a Citizen and his Wife (attrib.)
- The Expostulation (attrib.)
- Variety (attrib.)
- Close section Elegies
- Close section Epicedes and Obsequies Upon the Deaths of Sundry Personages
- Close section Epigrams
- Close section Epitaphs
- Close section Epitaphs and Inscriptions
- Close section Epithalamions, or Marriage Songs
- Close section Latin Poems and Translations
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Verse Letters
- The Storm
- The Calm
- To Mr. T.W.
- To Mr. T.W.
- To Mr. T.W.
- To Mr. T.W.
- To Mr. R.W.
- To Mr. R.W.
- To Mr. C.B.
- To Mr. E.G.
- To Mr. R.W.
- To Mr. R.W.
- To Mr. S.B.
- To Mr. I.L.
- Close section To Mr. B.B.
- To Mr. I.L.
- To Mr Rowland Woodward
- To Sr Henry Wotton
- To Sr Henry Wotton
- H: W: in Hiber: belligeranti (co-author)
- To Sir H. W. at his going Ambassador to Venice
- A Letter written by Sir H: G: and J: D: alternis vicibus (co-author)
- To Sr Henry Goodyere
- To Sir Edward Herbert, at Julyers
- To the Countess of Huntington
- To Mrs M. H.
- To the Countess of Bedford
- To the Countess of Bedford
- To the Lady Bedford
- To the Countess of Bedford
- To the Countess of Bedford
- To the Countess of Bedford
- Epitaph on himself
- To the Countess of Bedford
- A Letter to that Lady Carey, and Mrs Essex Riche
- To the Countess of Salisbury. August. 1614
- To the Countesse of Huntington (‘That unripe side of earth’)
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Poems attributed to John Donne in the Old Editions (1613–1669) and the principal MS. Collections
(attrib.)
- Close section VIII (attrib.)
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I Poems. Probably by Sir John Roe, Knt
(attrib.)
- To Sir Nicholas Smyth (attrib.)
- Satire: Men write that love and reason disagree (attrib.)
- An Elegy: Comes, Fates; I fear you not (attrib.)
- An Elegy to Mris Boulstred: 1602 (attrib.)
- An Elegy (attrib.)
- Song (attrib.)
- To Ben Johnson, 6 Ian. 1603 (attrib.)
- To Ben Johnson, 9 Novembris, 1603 (attrib.)
- To Sir Tho. Roe 1603 (attrib.)
- II. To the Countesse of Huntington. (attrib.)
- III Elegy (attrib.)
- IV (attrib.)
- V On the blessed Virgin Mary (attrib.)
- VI On the Sacrament (attrib.)
- VII Absence (attrib.)
- IX Break of Day (attrib.)
- Close section Satires
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Selection of poems which accompany poems by John Donne
(attrib.)
- Close section I Poems from Additional MS. 25707 (attrib.)
- Close section II Poems from the Burley MS. (attrib.)
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III Poems from Various MSS
(attrib.)
- Elegy. to Chaste Love (attrib.)
- Upon his Scornful Mistress. Elegy. (attrib.)
- <Absence.> (attrib.)
- <Tongue-tied Love.> (attrib.)
- <Love, if a God thou art.> (attrib.)
- <Great Lord of Love.> (attrib.)
- <Loves Exchange.> (attrib.)
- Song. (attrib.)
- Love, bred of glances (attrib.)
- To a Watch restored to its Mistress (attrib.)
- <Ad Solem.> (attrib.)
- <If She Deride.> (attrib.)
- <Fortune Never Fails.> (attrib.)
- To His Mistress (attrib.)
- A Paradox of a Painted Face (attrib.)
- Sonnet (attrib.)
- On Black Hair and Eyes (attrib.)
- <Farewell, ye gilded follies.> (attrib.)
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Songs and Sonnets
- Song
- The Message
- Song
- The Bait
- Community
- Confined Love
- Break of day
- The Computation
- The Expiration
- Witchcraft by a picture
- A Jet Ring sent
- The Paradox
- The Prohibition
- The Curse
- The Indifferent
- Woman's constancy
- The Apparition
- Loves Usury
- Loves diet
- Loves exchange
- Loves Deity
- The Damp
- The Legacy
- The broken heart
- The triple Fool
- The Flea
- The Will
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Songs and Sonnets (ii)
- Negative love
- The undertaking
- [Image and Dream]
- The Ecstasy
- A Fever
- A Valediction: forbidding mourning
- A Valediction: of my name, in the window
- A Valediction: of the book
- A Valediction: of weeping
- The good-morrow
- The Anniversary
- The Sun Rising
- The Canonization
- Air and Angels
- Loves growth
- Lovers infiniteness
- A Lecture upon the Shadow
- The Dream
- Loves Alchemy
- Farewell to love
- Twickenham Garden
- A nocturnal upon S. Lucy's day, Being the shortest day
- The Dissolution
- The Blossom
- The Primrose, being at Montgomery Castle upon the hill, on which it is situate
- The Relic
- The Funeral
- On 'Volpone'
Prose
- Biathanatos
- Close section Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions
- Close section Essays in Divinity
- Ignatius His Conclave
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Paradoxes and Problems
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Paradoxes
- That all things kill themselves
- That women ought to paint themselves
- That old Men are more Fantastic than young
- That Nature is our worst Guide
- That only Cowards dare die
- That the gifts of the body are better than those of the mind or of Fortune
- That a wise man is known by much Laughing
- That good is more common than evil
- That by Discord things increase
- That it is possible to find some virtue in some women
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Problems
- Why are Courtiers sooner Atheists than men of other Condition
- Why doth Sir Walter Ralegh write the History of these times
- Why do Great Men choose of all dependents to prefer their Bawds
- Why doth not Gold soil the fingers
- Why die none for love now
- Why do young Laymen so much study Divinity
- Why hath the common opinion afforded women Souls
- Why are the fairest falsest
- Why have Bastards best Fortune
- Why Venus star only doth cast a Shadow
- Why is Venus star multinominous and called both Hesperus and vesper
- Why is there more variety of green than other colour
- Why doth the Pox so much affect to undermine the nose
- Why are new Officers least oppressing
- Why Puritans make long Sermons
- Why are Statesmen most Incredible
- Why doth Johannes Salisburiensis writing de Nugis Curialium handle the Providence and Omnipotency of God
- Why do Women delight so much in Feathers
- Why did the Devil reserve Jesuits for these latter times
- Close section Dubia (attrib.)
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Paradoxes
- Pseudo-Martyr
Sermons
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Sermons
- 1 From a Sermon Preached to Queen Anne, at Denmark-house, December 14. 1617
- 2 From a Sermon Preached at Lincoln's Inne. [?Spring or Summer 1618]
- 3 From a Lent-Sermon Preached at White-hall, February 12. 1619
- 4 From a Sermon Preached to the Lords upon Easter-day, the King being then dangerously sick at New-Market. [1619]
- 5 A Sermon of Valediction at my going into Germany, at Lincolns-Inne, April 18. 1619
- 6 From a Sermon Preached at White-Hall, April 2. 1620
- 7 From a Sermon Preached at Lincoln's Inne. [?Easter Term 1620]
- 8 From a Sermon Preached to the Countess of Bedford, then at Harrington house, January 7. 1621
- 9 From a Sermon Preached [at Lincoln's Inn in Trinity Term 1621]
- 10 From a Sermon Preached at Lincolns Inne
- 11 From a Sermon Preached at Saint Pauls upon Christmas day. 1621
- 12 From a Sermon Preached at White-hall, March 8. 1622
- 13 From a Sermon Preached upon Easter-day. [1622]
- 14 From a Sermon Preached at the Spittle, Upon Easter-Monday. 1622
- 15 From a Sermon Preached at St. Pauls on Midsummer day. 1622
- 16 From a Sermon Preached at Hanworth, to my Lord of Carlile, and his company .. Aug. 25. 1622
- 17 From a Sermon Preached to the Earl of Carlile, and his Company, at Sion. [?Autumn 1622]
- 18 From a Sermon Preached to the Honourable Company of the Virginian Plantation, 13o November. 1622
- 19 From a Sermon Preached at St. Pauls, upon Christmas day. 1622
- 20 From a Sermon Preached upon Candlemas day. [?1623]
- 21 From a Sermon Preached at White-hall, the first Friday in Lent, 1623
- 22 From a Sermon Preached to the Nobility
- 23 From a Sermon Preached upon All-Saints Day. [?1623]
- 24 From a Sermon Preached at S. Pauls, upon Easter-day in the Evening. 1624
- 25 From a Sermon Preached to the Earl of Exeter, and his company, in his Chapel at Saint Johns, 13. June. 1624
- 26 From an Anniversary Sermon Preached at St. Dunstans, upon the commemoration of a Parishioner. [?29 June 1624]
- 27 From a Sermon Preached upon the Penitential Psalms. [?1624–5]
- 28 From a Sermon Preached upon the Penitential Psalms. [?1624–5]
- 29 From a Sermon Preached at Pauls, upon Christmas Day, in the Evening. 1624
- 30 From a Sermon Preached At S. Pauls, the Sunday After the Conversion of S. Paul. 1625
- 31 From a Sermon Preached at White-hall, March 4. 1625
- 32 From the First Sermon Preached to King Charles, at Saint James, 3o April. 1625
- 33 From a Sermon Preached at S. Pauls, in the Evening, upon Easter-day. 1625
- 34 From a Sermon Preached at Denmark house, some few days before the body of King James was buried, Apr. 26. 1625
- 35 From a Sermon Preached at S. Pauls, May 8. 1625
- 36 From a Sermon Preached upon Whitsunday. [?1625]
- 37 From the second of my Prebend Sermons upon my five Psalmes. Preached at S. Pauls, January 29. 1626
- 38 From a Sermon Preached to the King in my Ordinary waiting at White-hall, 18. April. 1626
- 39 From a Sermon Preached to the Household at White-hall, April 30. 1626
- 40 From a Sermon Preached upon Whitsunday. [?1626]
- 41 From the Third of My Prebend Sermons Upon My Five Psalmes: Preached At S. Pauls, November 5. 1626. in Vesperis
- 42 From a Sermon Preached At the Funerals of Sir William Cokayne Knight, Alderman of London, December 12. 1626
- 43 From a Sermon Preached at S. Pauls upon Christmas day. 1626
- 44 From the fourth of my Prebend Sermons upon my five Psalmes: Preached at S. Pauls, 28 January. 1627
- 45 From a Sermon Preached upon Candlemas day. [?1627]
- 46 From a Sermon Preached to the King at White-hall, the first Sunday in Lent. [?11 February 1627]
- 47 From a Sermon Preached at S. Pauls, upon Easter-day. 1627
- 48 From a Sermon Preached at Saint Pauls Cross, 6 May. 1627
- 49 From a Sermon Preached at Saint Pauls
- 50 From a Sermon Preached at Saint Pauls
- 51 From a Sermon Preached at White-hall
- 52 From a Sermon Preached at White-hall
- 53 From a Sermon Preached at S. Dunstanes upon Trinity Sunday. 1627
- 54 From a Sermon of Commemoration of the Lady Danvers
- 55 From a Sermon Preached at the Earl of Bridgewaters house in London at the marriage of his daughter
- 56 From a Sermon Preached at White-hall, February 29. 1628
- 57 From a Sermon Preached at S. Pauls, for Easter-day. 1628
- 58 From a Sermon Preached to the King at White-hall, April 15. 1628
- 59 From a Sermon Preached in Saint Pauls in the Evening, November 23. 1628
- 60 From a Sermon Preached At S. Pauls in the Evening, Upon the Day of S. Pauls Conversion. 1629
- 61 From a Sermon Preached upon Easter-day. 1629
- 62 From a Sermon Preached to the King, at the Court in April. 1629
- 63 From a Sermon Preached to the King, at the Court. [April or May 1629]
- 64 From a Sermon Preached at S. Pauls, upon Whitsunday. 1629
- 65 From a Sermon Preached at St. Pauls Cros, November 22. 1629
- 66 From a Sermon Preached upon Christmas Day. [?1629]
- 67 From a Sermon Preached on the Conversion of S. Paul. 1630
- 68 A Lent-Sermon Preached to the King, at White-hall, February 12. 1630
- 69 From a Sermon Preached at S. Pauls, upon Easter-day. 1630
- 70 From a Sermon Preached in Lent, to the King, April 20. 1630 [?]
- 71 Deaths Duel, or, a Consolation to the Soul
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Sermons Preached at Lincoln's Inn: 1620–1623
- Sermon 1: Preached at Lincoln's Inn upon Trinity-Sunday. 1620. Gen. 18. 25
- Sermon 2: Preached at Lincoln's Inn. Matth. 18. 7
- Sermon 3: Preached at Lincoln's Inn. The second Sermon on Matth. 18. 7
- Sermon 4: Preached upon the First Person of the Trinity. 2 Cor. 1. 3
- Sermon 5: Preached upon the First Person of the Trinity. 1 Pet. 1. 17
- Sermon 6: Preached upon the Second Person of the Trinity. 1 Cor. 16. 22
- Sermon 7: Preached upon the Second Person of the Trinity. Psal. 2. 12
- Sermon 8: Preached upon the Third Person of the Trinity. Rom. 8. 16
- Sermon 9: A Sermon Preached at Lincoln's-Inn, Ascension-day, 1622. Deut. 12. 30
- Sermon 10: Encænia. The Feast of Dedication
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Sermons Preached at St Paul's Cathedral, 1626
- Sermon 1 Preached upon the Penitential Psalms
- Sermon 2 Preached upon the Penitential Psalms
- Sermon 3 Preached upon the Penitential Psalms
- Sermon 4 Preached upon the Penitential Psalms
- Sermon 5 The first Sermon upon this Text, Preached at S. Paul's, in the Evening, upon Easter-day. 1626
- Sermon 6 Preached at S. Paul's, May 21 1626
- Sermon 7 Preached upon Whitsunday
- Sermon 8 Preached at S. Paul's, June 21 1626
- Sermon 9 Preached at Saint Paul's
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Sermons Preached at the Court of Charles I
- 1. The First Sermon Preached to King Charles, At Saint James: 3 ̊. April. 1625. [Ps. 11: 3]
- 2. A Sermon, Preached to the Kings Mtie. at Whitehall, 24. Febr. 1625. [Isa. 50: 1]
- 3. Preached to the King in my Ordinary wayting at White-hall, 18. Aprill 1626. [John 14: 2]: 18. Aprill 1626. [John 14: 2]
- 4. A Serman Preached to the Household at White-hall, April 30. 1626. [Matt. 9: 13]
- 5. Preached to the King, at White-Hall, the first of April, 1627. [Mark 4: 24]
- 6. A Sermon Preached at White-hall. February 29. 1627. [Acts 7: 60]
- 7. Preached to the King at White-hall, upon the occasion of the Fast, April 5. 1628 [Ps. 6: 6, 7]
- 8. Preached to the King at White-hall, April 15. 1628 [Isa. 32: 8]
- 9. A Lent-Sermon Preached at White-hall, February 20. 1628. [Jas. 2: 12]
- 10. Two Sermons Preached before King Charles, Upon the xxvi verse of the first Chapter of Genesis. [Gen. 1: 26]
- 11. The Second Sermon Preached before King Charles, Upon the xxvi verse of the first Chapter of Genesis. [Gen. 1: 26]
- 12. A Lent-Sermon Preached to the King, at White-hall, February 12. 1629. [Matt. 6: 21]
- 13. Preached to the King. April 20. 1630. [Job 16: 17, 18, 19]
- 14. Deaths Dvell, or, A Consolation to the Soul, against the dying Life, and liuing Death of the Body. [Ps. 68: 20]
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Sermons Preached at the Jacobean Courts, 1615–1619
- Sermon 1 A Sermon Preached at Greenwich Aprill 30. 1615.
- Sermon 2 A Sermon Preached at White-hall, Aprill 21. 1616.
- Sermon 3 A Sermon Preached at White-hall, Novemb. 2. 1617.
- Sermon 4 A Sermon Preached to Queen Anne, at Denmarke-house. December 14. 1617.
- Sermon 5 A Lent-Sermon Preached at White-Hall, February 20. 1617.
- Sermon 6 A Sermon Preached at White-hall, Aprill 12. 1618.
- Sermon 7 A Sermon Preached at White-hall, Aprill 19. 1618.
- Sermon 8 A Second Sermon Preached at White-hall. April 21. 1618.
- Sermon 9 A Lent-Sermon Preached at White-Hall, February 12. 1618.
- Sermon 10 Preached to the Lords upon Easter-day, at the Communion: The King being then dangerously sick at New-Market.
- A Sermon upon the XV Verse of the XX Chapter of the Book of Judges (1622)
Letters
- [To…?] [August 1597]
- To Sir Henry Wotton (1600)
- To Sir Henry Wotton (1600)
- To Sir Thomas Egerton (February 1602 – March 1602)
- To Sir George More (2 February 1602)
- To Sir George More (11 February 1602)
- To Sir Thomas Egerton (12 February 1602)
- To Sir George More (13 February 1602)
- To Sir George More (March 1602)
- To Sir Thomas Egerton (1 March 1602)
- To Sir Henry Goodyer (1604)
- To Sir Henry Goodyer (1606)
- To Sir Henry Goodyer (January 1607)
- To Sir Henry Goodyer (1607)
- To Magdalen Danvers (July 1607)
- To Sir Henry Goodyer (1608)
- To Sir Henry Goodyer (1608)
- To Sir Henry Goodyer (1608 – 1609)
- To Lucy Russell (1608 – 1609)
- To Sir Henry Goodyer (September 1608)
- To Sir Henry Goodyer (1609)
- To Sir Henry Goodyer (1609)
- To Sir Edward Herbert (1610)
- To Sir Toby Matthew (1611 – 1612)
- To George Gerrard (14 April 1612)
- To Sir Robert More (10 August 1614)
- To Sir Henry Goodyer (20 December 1614)
- To Sir Edward Herbert (23 January 1615)
- To Sir Henry Goodyer (April 1615)
- To Elizabeth Rainsford (1616)
- To Susan Montgomery (March 1619 – April 1619)
- To Sir Robert Ker (April 1619 – May 1619)
- To Sir Toby Matthew (September 1619)
- To Sir Henry Goodyer (4 October 1622)
- To Sir Robert Ker (April 1623 – June 1623)
- To Sir Robert Ker (January 1624)
- To Elizabeth Stuart (1624)
- To Lady Bridget Kingsmill (26 October 1624)
- To Ann Cokayne (1625 – 1628)
- To Elizabeth Stuart (May 1625)
- To Elizabeth Stuart (March 1626)
- To Sir Robert Ker (April 1627)
- To Sir Robert Ker (April 1627)
- To Sir Robert Ker (April 1627)
- To Ann Cokayne (August 1628)
- To Ann Cokayne (1629)
- To George Gerrard (December 1630)
- To Ann Cokayne (15 January 1631)
