y the solitude and close imprisonment that they
reduce me to after, that I am so much the oftener at my prayers, in
which I shall never leave out your happiness; and I doubt not,
among His other blessings, God will add some one to you for my
prayers. A man would almost be content to die--if there were no
other benefit in death--to hear of so much sorrow, and so much good
testimony from good men, as I--God be blessed for it--did upon the
report of my death; yet I perceive it went not through all; for one
writ to me, that some--and he said of my friends--conceived I was
not so ill as I pretended, but withdrew myself to live at ease,
discharged of preaching. It is an unfriendly, and, God knows, an
ill-grounded interpretation; for I have always been sorrier when I
could not preach, than any could be they could not hear me. It hath
been my desire, and God may be pleased to grant it, that I might
die in the pulpit; if not that, yet that I might take my death in
the pulpit; that is, die the sooner by occasion of those labours.
Sir, I hope to see you presently after Candlemas; about which time
will fall my Lent Sermon at Court, except my Lord Chamberlain
believe me to be dead, and so leave me out of the roll: but as long
as I live, and am not speechless, I would not willingly, decline
that service. I have better leisure to write, than you to read; yet
I would not willingly oppress you with too much letter. God so
bless you and your son, as I wish to

"Your poor friend and Servant
"In Christ Jesus,
"J. Donne."

Before that month ended, he was appointed to preach upon his old
constant day, the first Friday in Lent: he had notice of it, and had in
his sickness so prepared for that employment, that as he had long
thirsted for it, so he resolved his weakness should not hinder his
journey; he came therefore to London some few days before his appointed
day of preaching. At his coming thither, many of his friends--who with
sorrow saw his sickness had left him but so much flesh as did only cover
his bones--doubted his strength to perform that task, and did therefore
dissuade him from undertaking it, assuring him, however, it was like to
shorten his life: but he passionately denied their requests, saying "he
would not doubt that that God, who in so many weaknesses had assisted
him with an unexpected streng