• Home >
  • Primary Sources >
  • Poetry >
  • John Donne >
  • John Donne: The Undertaking

TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Current Events This Week: January 2023

African Americans by the Numbers

Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents

The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales

 

The UndertakingI have done one braver thing Than all the Worthies did; And yet a braver thence doth spring, Which is, to keep that hid. It were but madness now to impart The skill of specular stone, When he, which can have learn’d the art To cut it, can find none. So, if I now should utter this, Others—because no more Such stuff to work upon, there is— Would love but as before. But he who loveliness within Hath found, all outward loathes, For he who color loves, and skin, Loves but their oldest clothes. If, as I have, you also do Virtue in woman see, And dare love that, and say so too, And forget the He and She; And if this love, though placéd so, From profane men you hide, Which will no faith on this bestow, Or, if they do, deride; Then you have done a braver thing Than all the Worthies did; And a braver thence will spring, Which is, to keep that hid.

American Indian Heritage Month

.com/t/lit/donne-songs-sonnets/undertaking.html

Sources +

Our Common Sources

.com/t/lit/donne-songs-sonnets/undertaking.html

Sources +

Our Common Sources

Our Common Sources

Christina Rossetti: Under the Rose

  • Christina Rossetti: Under the Rose

TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Current Events This Week: January 2023

African Americans by the Numbers

Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents

The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales

TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Current Events This Week: January 2023

African Americans by the Numbers

Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents

The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales

  • Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
  • The Twelve Dancing Princesses
  • Current Events This Week: January 2023
  • African Americans by the Numbers
  • Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
  • The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales