Love's Usury

John Donne

For every hour that thou wilt spare me now
I will allow,
Usurious God of Love, twenty to thee,
When with my brown my gray hairs equal be;
Till then, Love, let my body reign, and let
Me travel, sojourn, snatch, plot, have, forget,
Resume my last year’s relic: think that yet
We’had never met.
Let me think any rival’s letter mine,
And at next nine
Keep midnight’s promise; mistake by the way
The maid, and tell the Lady of that delay;
Only let me love none, no, not the sport;
From country grass, to comfitures of Court,
Or cities quelque choses, let report
My mind transport.

This bargain’s good; if when I’m old, I be
Inflamed by thee,
If thine own honour, or my shame, or pain,
Thou covet most, at that age thou shalt gain.
Do thy will then, then subject and degree,
And fruit of love, Love I submit to thee;
Spare me till then, I’ll bear it, though she be
One that loves me.

Next 10 Poems

• John Donne : Nativity
• John Donne : Negative Love
• John Donne : On The Progress Of The Soul...
• John Donne : Relic, The
• John Donne : Satire Iii
• John Donne : Self-love
• John Donne : Song ( Go And Catch A Falling Star )
• John Donne : Sun Rising, The
• John Donne : Sweetest Love, I Do Not Go
• John Donne : That Time And Absence Proves Rather Helps Than Hurts To Loves

Previous 10 Poems

• John Donne : Loves' Infiniteness
• John Donne : Love's Deity
• John Donne : Love's Alchemy
• John Donne : Indifferent, The
• John Donne : Hym To God, My God In My Sickness
• John Donne : Holy Sonnets: Since She Whom I Lov'd Hath Paid Her Last Debt
• John Donne : Holy Sonnet Xviii: Show Me, Dear Christ, Thy Spouse, So Bright And Clear
• John Donne : Holy Sonnet Xvii: Since She Whom I Loved
• John Donne : Holy Sonnet Xvi: Father, Part Of His Double Interest
• John Donne : Holy Sonnet Xv: Wilt Thou Love God, As He Thee? Then Digest