The Will

Before I sigh my last gasp, let me breathe, Great Love, some legacies: here I bequeathe Mine eyes to Argus, if mine eyes can see, If they be blind, then, Love, I give them thee; My tongue to Fame, to embassadors my ears; To women, or the sea, my tears; Thou, Love, hast taught me heretofore By making me serve her who had twenty more, That I should give to none, but such as had too much before. My constancy I to the planets give; My truth to them who at the court do live; Mine ingenuity and openness To Jesuits; to buffoons my pensiveness; My silence to any who abroad have been; My money to a Capuchin. Thou, Love, taught’st me, by appointing me To love there, where no love received can be, Only to give to such as have an incapacity. My faith I give to Roman Catholics; All my good works unto the schismatics Of Amsterdam; my best civility And courtship to an University; My modesty I give to shoulders bare; My patience let gamesters share. Thou, Love, taught’st me, by making me Love her, that holds my love disparity, Only to give to those that count my gifts indignity. I give my reputatiòn to those Which were my friends; mine industry to foes; To schoolmen I bequeathe my doubtfulness; My sickness to physicians, or excess; To Nature all that I in rhyme have writ; And to my company my wit. Thou, Love, by making me adore Her, who begot this love in me before, Taught’st me to make, as though I gave, when I do but restore. To him, for whom the passing-bell next tolls, I give my physic-books; my written rolls Of moral counsels I to Bedlam give: My brazen medals unto them which live In want of bread; to them which pass among All foreigners, mine English tongue. Thou, Love, by making me love one Who thinks her friendship a fit portiòn For younger lovers, dost my gifts thus disproportion. Therefore I ’ll give no more, but I ’ll undo The world by dying; because Love dies too. Then all your beauties will be no more worth Than gold in mines, where none doth draw it forth; And all your graces no more use shall have, Than a sun-dial in a grave. Thou, Love, taught’st me, by making me Love her, who doth neglect both me and thee, To invent and practise this one way to annihilate all three.