365 Day Project: Day 90

The Ghastly Whim of John Donne

Izaak Walton (1593–1683).?The Lives of John Donne and George Herbert.?

[Vol. 15, pp. 364-369 of The Harvard Classics]

Today’s reading is once again from Izaak Walton’s, The Lives of John Donne and George Herbert. In the excerpt, Walton describes several events that occurred in the days leading up to John Donne’s death.?Donne was a 17th Century English poet, priest and philosopher. Walton holds him in very high regard and that is clearly reflected in his writing as he describes Donne’s last days.?

I thought the following passage was a perfect example of Walton’s brilliance.

“Upon Monday, after the drawing this picture, he took his last leave of his beloved study; and, being sensible of his hourly decay, retired himself to his bed-chamber; and that week sent at several times for many of his most considerable friends, with whom he took a solemn and deliberate farewell, commending to their considerations some sentences useful for the regulation of their lives; and then dismissed them, as good Jacob did his sons, with a spiritual benediction. The Sunday following, he appointed his servants, that if there were any business yet undone that concerned him or themselves, it should be prepared against Saturday next; for after that day he would not mix his thoughts with anything that concerned this world; nor ever did; but, as Job, so he “waited for the appointed day of his dissolution.”

When that inevitable day arrives for each of us, will our thoughts and actions be so deliberate and orderly?

Matt

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Resources

Kindle version of The Harvard Classics ($1.99):?https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089K4RP1F/