The Hewson Anthology of Metaphysical Poets Quotes

“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 whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”
― Various, The Hewson Anthology of Metaphysical Poets

“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 they who are about me, and see my state, may have caused it to toll for me, and I know not that.”
― Various, The Hewson Anthology of Metaphysical Poets

“That thou mayest rightly obey power, her bounds know; Those past, her nature and name is chang'd; to be Then humble to her is idolatry.”
― Various, The Hewson Anthology of Metaphysical Poets

“thou Of force must one, and forc'd, but one allow, And the right; ask thy father which is she, Let him ask his; though truth and falsehood be Near twins, yet truth a little elder is; Be busy to seek her; believe me this, He's not of none, nor worst, that seeks the best.”
― Various, The Hewson Anthology of Metaphysical Poets

“Go and catch a falling star, Get with child a mandrake root, Tell me where all past years are, Or who cleft the devil's foot, Teach me to hear mermaids singing, Or to keep off envy's stinging, And find What wind Serves to advance an honest mind.”
― Various, The Hewson Anthology of Metaphysical Poets

“Twice or thrice had I lov'd 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 I did see. But since my soul, whose child love is, Takes limbs of flesh, and else could nothing do, More subtle than the parent is Love must not be, but take a body too; And therefore what thou wert, and who, I bid Love ask, and now That it assume thy body, I allow, And fix itself in thy lip, eye, and brow.”
― Various, The Hewson Anthology of Metaphysical Poets

“If we love things long sought, age is a thing Which we are fifty years in compassing; If transitory things, which soon decay, Age must be loveliest at the latest day. But name not winter faces, whose skin's slack, Lank as an unthrift's purse, but a soul's sack; Whose eyes seek light within, for all here's shade; Whose mouths are holes, rather worn out than made; Whose every tooth to a several place is gone, To vex their souls at resurrection: Name not these living death's-heads unto me, For these, not ancient, but antique be.”
― Various, The Hewson Anthology of Metaphysical Poets

“And yet as Angels in some brighter dreams Call to the soul, when man doth sleep: So some strange thoughts transcend our wonted themes, And into glory peep.”
― Various, The Hewson Anthology of Metaphysical Poets

“Aurelian Townshend Kind and True 'Tis not how witty nor how free, Nor yet how beautiful she be, But how much kind and true to me. Freedom and wit none can confine And beauty like the sun doth shine, But kind and true are only mine. Let others with attention sit To listen, and admire her wit, That is a rock where I'll not split. Let others dote upon her eyes And burn their hearts for sacrifice, Beauty's a calm where danger lies. But kind and true have been long tried A harbour where we may confide, And safely there at anchor ride. From change of winds there we are free And need not fear storms' tyranny, Nor pirate though a prince he be.”
― Various, The Hewson Anthology of Metaphysical Poets

“For Joy, like Wine, kept close does better tast ; If it take air before, its spirits wast.”
― Various, The Hewson Anthology of Metaphysical Poets