by John Donne (1572 - 1631)
What if this present Matches original text
Language: English
What if this present were the world's last night? Marke in my heart, O Soule, where thou dost dwell, The picture of Christ crucified, and tell Whether that countenance can thee affright, Teares in his eyes quench the amazing light, Blood fills his frownes, which from his pierc'd head fell. And can that tongue adjudge thee into hell, Which pray'd forgivenesse for his foes fierce spight? No, no; but as in my Idolatrie I said to all my profane mistresses, Beauty, of pity, foulenesse onely is A sign of rigour: so I say to thee, To wicked spirits are horrid shapes assign'd, This beauteous forme assures a piteous minde.
Composition:
- Set to music by (Edward) Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976), "What if this present", op. 35 no. 5 (1945), published 1946 [ high voice and piano ], from The Holy Sonnets of John Donne, no. 5
Text Authorship:
- by John Donne (1572 - 1631), no title, appears in Holy Sonnets, no. 13
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Daniel Johannsen) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 109