Excerpt from The Poetical Works of Dr. John Donne: With a Memoir Spirit of poetry, than with that of religion: so it is not only the noise of drums and trumpets, which have drowned the Muses' harmony, or the fear that the church's ruin will destroy the priests likewise, that now frights them from this country, where they have been so ingeniously received; but these rude pretenders to excellences they unjustly own, who profanely rushing into Miner va's temple, with noisome airs blast the laurel, which thunder cannot hurt. In this sad condition, these learned sisters are fled over to beg your lordship's protection, who have been so certain a patron both to arts and arms, and who, in this general confusion, have so entirely preserved your honor, that in your lordship we may still read a most perfect character of what England was in all her pomp and greatness. So that although these poems were formerly written, upon several occasions, to several persons, they now unite themselves, and are become one pyramid to set your lordship's statue upon where you may stand, like armed Apollo, the defender of the Muses, encouraging the poets now alive to celebrate your great acts, by affording your countenance to his poems, that wanted only so noble a subject. My Lord, Your most humble servant, john donne.* The eldest son of the poet, and editor of several of his father's works.

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