Holy Sonnet XVII "Since she whom I lov’d hath paid her last debt" by John Donne (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions)

 

Holy Sonnet XVII "Since she whom I lov’d hath paid her last debt"

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions) 

Since she whom I loved hath paid her last debt

Since she whom I loved hath paid her last debt

To nature, and to hers, and my good is dead,

And her soul early into heaven ravishèd,

Wholly on heavenly things my mind is set.

Here the admiring her my mind did whet

To seek thee, God; so streams do show their head;

But though I have found thee, and thou my thirst hast fed,

A holy thirsty dropsy melts me yet.

 

But why should I beg more love, whenas thou

Dost woo my soul for hers, offering all thine:

And dost not only fear lest I allow

My love to saints and angels, things divine,

But in thy tender jealousy dost doubt

Lest the world, flesh, yea, devil put thee out?

 

Summary

“Since she whom I loved hath paid her last debt”

The speaker begins by saying that the woman he loved has died—she has fulfilled her final obligation in life, which is to die.

 

“To nature, and to hers, and my good is dead,”

She has paid her debt to nature (the natural law of mortality), and to hers (possibly referring to her duties or to God). With her death, the speaker’s greatest source of good or happiness has also died.

 

“And her soul early into heaven ravishèd,”

Her soul has been taken—perhaps suddenly or even forcefully—into heaven, and at an early stage in life.

 

“Wholly on heavenly things my mind is set.”

As a result, the speaker’s thoughts are now completely focused on spiritual and heavenly matters.

 

“Here the admiring her my mind did whet”

While she was alive, admiring her sharpened or stirred his mind toward higher things—possibly towards God.

 

“To seek thee, God; so streams do show their head;”

Her influence led him to seek God, in the same way that streams reveal the place where they begin—their source or head.

 

“But though I have found thee, and thou my thirst hast fed,”

Even though he has found God and feels spiritually nourished by Him,

 

“A holy thirsty dropsy melts me yet.”

He still feels an overwhelming spiritual longing, like a person suffering from dropsy (a condition marked by constant thirst). This is a metaphor for an intense, insatiable spiritual desire.

 

“But why should I beg more love, whenas thou”

The speaker questions why he should ask God for more love,

 

“Dost woo my soul for hers, offering all thine:”

Because God is already courting his soul, as He did hers, and is offering all of His love.

 

“And dost not only fear lest I allow”

God is concerned—not just that the speaker might turn his love to saints and angels—

 

“My love to saints and angels, things divine,”

—even though saints and angels are divine beings worthy of admiration—

 

“But in thy tender jealousy dost doubt”

God, in His loving jealousy, also fears something more—

 

“Lest the world, flesh, yea, devil put thee out?”

—that worldly temptations, bodily desires, or even the devil might drive God out of the speaker’s heart.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

Since she whom I loved hath paid her last debt

→ Since the woman I loved has died, fulfilling life’s final obligation,

 

To nature, and to hers, and my good is dead,

→ She has fulfilled her duties to nature and to herself—and with her gone, all my happiness is also gone.

 

And her soul early into heaven ravishèd,

→ Her soul was taken up into heaven at an early time.

 

Wholly on heavenly things my mind is set.

→ Now, my thoughts are completely focused on spiritual and heavenly matters.

 

Here the admiring her my mind did whet

→ When she was alive, admiring her sharpened and inspired my thoughts.

 

To seek thee, God; so streams do show their head;

→ She led me toward seeking You, God—just like small streams point back to their source.

 

But though I have found thee, and thou my thirst hast fed,

→ Even though I’ve found You and You’ve satisfied my spiritual thirst,

 

A holy thirsty dropsy melts me yet.

→ I still feel a deep spiritual yearning, like someone with an unquenchable thirst.

 

But why should I beg more love, whenas thou

→ But why should I ask You for more love,

 

Dost woo my soul for hers, offering all thine:

→ When You already pursue my soul (as You did hers), offering me all of Yourself?

 

And dost not only fear lest I allow

→ And You’re not only afraid I might give my love to others—

 

My love to saints and angels, things divine,

→ Even if I were to give my love to saints and angels—things still holy and heavenly—

 

But in thy tender jealousy dost doubt

→ But in Your loving jealousy, You worry even more deeply

 

Lest the world, flesh, yea, devil put thee out?

→ That worldly desires, bodily temptations, or even the devil might replace You in my heart.

 

Analysis in Detail

Overview and Context

This sonnet is one of John Donne’s Holy Sonnets, a series of devotional poems written after the death of his wife, Anne More. In this particular poem, Donne mourns her death but simultaneously explores how her passing has drawn him closer to God. The sonnet moves from personal grief to spiritual reflection, ultimately meditating on divine love and human weakness.

 

Tone and Mood

The tone begins as sorrowful and reflective, with a sense of personal loss. But as the poem progresses, it becomes contemplative, devotional, and even pleading—a spiritual self-examination in the wake of bereavement. The mood shifts from grief to a yearning for deeper communion with God.

 

Structure and Form

The poem is a Petrarchan (Italian) sonnet consisting of:

An octave (first 8 lines) presenting the situation: the death of the beloved and its spiritual impact.

A sestet (final 6 lines) exploring the implications of divine love and the struggle to remain faithful to God.

The sonnet follows a traditional rhyme scheme and employs iambic pentameter, though Donne’s rhythm often reflects natural speech and emotion more than strict metrical regularity.

 

Themes

1. Love and Loss

Donne begins with mourning: his beloved is gone, and with her, his “good” is also dead. He views her death as a “debt” she owed to nature and to God. This metaphorical framing softens the blow of loss, portraying it as part of a larger, divine order.

2. Spiritual Awakening through Grief

Her death redirects Donne’s attention away from earthly attachment to spiritual truth. Her soul’s ascent becomes a catalyst for his own spiritual growth. He acknowledges that loving her taught him to seek God, much like how a stream points back to its source.

3. Human Longing and Divine Love

Though he has “found” God and his thirst has been “fed,” he still experiences an intense spiritual longing—described through the metaphor of dropsy (a disease marked by constant thirst). This paradox suggests that spiritual fulfillment also deepens one’s desire for more of God.

4. Divine Jealousy

Donne introduces the idea of God as a jealous lover who wants exclusive devotion. God not only fears the speaker’s affection might drift toward saints and angels (which are still holy things) but is even more concerned about worldly distractions like flesh and the devil. This highlights the tension between divine love and worldly temptations.

 

Imagery and Metaphors

“Paid her last debt” – Death is imagined as a final payment to nature and God.

“Streams do show their head” – Her life and love point the speaker back to the source (God), like a stream leading to its origin.

“Holy thirsty dropsy” – A rich paradox expressing unquenchable spiritual thirst even after encountering God.

“Tender jealousy” – God’s loving possessiveness, echoing biblical language about divine jealousy (e.g., Exodus 34:14).

 

Religious and Philosophical Insight

Donne reflects the Christian doctrine of divine grace and exclusivity—that God's love is all-encompassing and demands undivided attention. At the same time, Donne’s Protestant belief in personal relationship with God is present; he emphasizes direct divine communication and internal struggle, not merely ritual or theology.

The poem also raises a philosophical tension: Can a person ever truly love another and still love God above all else? Donne's resolution seems to be that true love—earthly or divine—ultimately leads one closer to God, if rightly understood.

 

Personal and Poetic Voice

Donne’s voice here is deeply personal. Unlike earlier metaphysical poems where he might play with wit and sensual paradoxes, here he shows emotional vulnerability. Yet his metaphysical style persists in the use of paradox, direct address to God, and extended metaphors, making this a signature Donne work—combining intellect, emotion, and faith.

 

Conclusion

Holy Sonnet XVII is a heartfelt meditation on love, grief, and spiritual longing. Donne turns the pain of loss into a pathway toward divine connection. He portrays God as both a comforter and a jealous lover, desiring total devotion. In its layered structure, vivid metaphors, and sincere emotional tone, the poem exemplifies Donne’s genius at combining the personal with the theological—making sorrow a source of deeper spiritual insight.

 

Possible Exam Questions

What does the phrase “paid her last debt” mean in the poem?

 

Who is the “she” referred to in the opening line of the sonnet?

 

What metaphor does Donne use to describe his continued spiritual longing after finding God?

 

What does Donne mean by “holy thirsty dropsy”?

 

How does the speaker say he was led to seek God?

 

What role does jealousy play in Donne’s portrayal of God in this sonnet?

 

Identify two heavenly or spiritual images used in the poem.

 

What does the poet suggest about human love leading to divine love?

 

Discuss how Donne blends personal grief and spiritual reflection in Holy Sonnet XVII.

 

Analyze the central theme of divine jealousy in the sonnet. How does Donne portray God’s desire for undivided love?

 

How does John Donne use metaphysical conceits and religious imagery to express his spiritual struggle in the poem?

 

Explore the emotional journey of the speaker in Holy Sonnet XVII—from mourning to spiritual realization.

 

Evaluate how the death of Donne’s beloved acts as a turning point in his relationship with God.

 

Do you think Donne’s grief weakens or strengthens his faith in this sonnet? Justify your answer with references from the poem.

 

What is the significance of the metaphor “streams do show their head” in the context of the speaker’s spiritual awakening?

 

Why does Donne express concern that even saints and angels might distract him from God? What does this suggest about his concept of divine love?

 

How does the form and structure of the Petrarchan sonnet help convey the message of the poem?

 

Explore the paradox presented in the lines:

“But though I have found thee, and thou my thirst hast fed,

A holy thirsty dropsy melts me yet.”