Monday, February 28, 2011

John Donne, Divine Meditation 19

Oh, to vex me,
contraries meet in one:
Inconstancy
unnaturally hath begot
A constant habit;
that when I would not
I change in vows,
and in devotion.
As humorous is my contrition
As my profane love,
and as soon forgot:
As riddlingly distempered,
cold and hot,
As praying, as mute;
as infinite, as none.


I durst not view heaven yestereday; and today
In prayers, and flattering speeches I court God:
Tomorrow I quake with true fear of his rod.
So my devout fits come and go away
Like a fantastic ague: save that here
Those are my best days, when I shake with fear.