Page:The Poems of John Donne - 1896 - Volume 1.djvu/50

xlvi tunity drew it on; that had it not been presented here, it would have come to us from beyond the seas (which perhaps is true enough); that my charge and pains in procuring of it hath been such, and such. I could add hereto, a promise of more correctness or enlargement in the next edition, if you shall in the meantime content you with this. But these things are so common, as that I should profane this piece by applying them to it; a piece which whoso takes not as he finds it, in what manner soever, he is unworthy of it, sith a scattered limb of this author hath more amiableness in it, in the eye of a discerner, than a whole body of some other; or (to express him best by himself)—

If any man (thinking I speak this to inflame him for the vent of the impression) be of another opinion, I shall as willingly spare his money as his judgment. I cannot lose so much by him as he will by himself. For I shall satisfy myself with the conscience of well-doing, in making so much good, common.

Howsoever it may appear to you, it shall suffice me to inform you, that it hath the best