Meditation #17 By John Donne From Devotions upon Emergent Occasions (1624), XVII: Nunc Lento Sonitu Dicunt, Morieris (Now this bell, tolling softly for another, says to me, Thou must die.) Perchance, he for whom this bell tolls may be so ill, as that he knows not it tolls for him; and perchance I may think myself so much better than I am, as that...Learn More

TWICE or thrice had I loved thee, Before I knew thy face or name ; So in a voice, so in a shapeless flame Angels affect us oft, and worshipp'd be. Still when, to where thou wert, I came, Some lovely glorious nothing did I see. But since my soul, whose child Love is, Takes limbs of flesh, and else could nothing do, More subtle than the parent...Learn More

Salute the last, and everlasting day, Joy at the uprising of this Sun, and Son, Ye whose true tears, or tribulation Have purely wash'd, or burnt your drossy clay. Behold, the Highest, parting hence away, Lightens the dark clouds, which He treads upon; Nor doth he by ascending show alone, But first He, and He first enters the way. O strong Ram,...Learn More

No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for...Learn More

Aucun homme n’est une île, un tout, complet en soi Tout homme est un fragment du continent Une partie de l’ensemble Si la mer emporte une motte de terre L’Europe en est amoindrie Comme si les flots avaient emporté un promontoire Le manoir de tes amis ou le tien La mort de tout homme me diminue Parce que j’appartiens au genre humain Aussi n’envoie...Learn More