Discussion Groups / English Usage / May 2009

Hello:

Let me see if I'm right in my assumptions:

1.
"that would not be I"
means
"who would not be willing to take my place"
?

2.
"I should them allay"
means
"I should allay them"
?

3.
"To love and grief tribute of verse belongs,
    But not of such as pleases when 'tis read."
means
"To love and grief the/a tribute of verse belongs,
    But not (AS THAT HAPPENS) WHEN the verses are sung by others for
the pleasure of others, in your presence." (you're feeling ridiculed)
?

4.
"Both are increasèd by such songs"
means
"the feeling of love and its pain are both intensified when listening to
such songs"
?

[BTW, interesting the accent/stress on the last syllable in the online
edition: "increasèd", probably for rhythm]

5.
"Who are a little wise, the best fools be."
means
"Who are NOT wise, in fact the best fools around."
?

---------
THE TRIPLE FOOL.
by John Donne (p. 79)

    I am two fools, I know,
    For loving, and for saying so
        In whining poetry ;
But where's that wise man, that would not be I,
        If she would not deny ?
Then as th' earth's inward narrow crooked lanes
    Do purge sea water's fretful salt away,[6]
I thought, if I could draw my pains
    Through rhyme's vexation, I should them allay.
Grief brought to numbers [7] cannot be so fierce,
For he tames it, that fetters it in verse.

    But when I have done so,
    Some man, his art and voice to show,
        Doth set [8] and sing my pain ;
And, by delighting many, frees again
        Grief, which verse did restrain.
To love and grief tribute of verse belongs,
    But not of such as pleases when 'tis read.
Both are increasèd by such songs,
    For both their triumphs so are published,
And I, which was two fools, do so grow three.
Who are a little wise, the best fools be.

http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/donne/triplefool.php
-------
Norton:
[6] The salinity of sea water was believed to be filtered as it passed
through veins within the earth.
[7] Verses.
[8] Set to music.