To the Countess of Bedford, with Mr. Donne’s Satires by John Donne (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis)

 

To the Countess of Bedford, with Mr. Donne’s Satires

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis) 

To the Countess of Bedford, with Mr. Donne’s Satires

Madam,

 

Here is a pacquet for your Grace!

We see

How much your servants, to you, add; yet we

Must, to your self, your self extract, and then

You are a new world, the sun doth rise and set

In your eyes; others take their light from men,

But we must wait till your eyes rise, and get

More merit by our mirth than by their pain.

All that is good and great you do contain,

Though it be more enlarged in Donne’s strong verse;

And I, by adding your name, might rehearse

Things more than I have time or wit to do:

So, though I write but two lines, I write you.

 

Your Ladyship’s true servant,

J. D.

 

This short verse epistle was sent with a copy of Donne’s Satires to Lucy, Countess of Bedford, a known literary patron and a significant supporter of John Donne. The poem offers rich flattery, blending themes of light, worth, and poetic immortality — characteristic of Donne's patronage poems.

 

Summary

The poem is written as a short dedicatory letter in verse form, addressed to Lucy, Countess of Bedford, and sent along with a copy of John Donne’s Satires. It serves as a respectful and admiring introduction to the gift.

Opening Salutation

The poem begins with a formal and respectful greeting:

“Here is a pacquet for your Grace!”

The poet announces that he is sending something (a packet, or book) to the Countess. This “packet” is a collection of Donne’s Satires.

 

Acknowledgment of the Countess’s Status

He acknowledges how much her presence and character enhance those around her. Even her servants gain honor and value simply by being associated with her. She gives light and worth to others.

 

Poetic Praise

The poet compares her to the sun, saying that the sun rises and sets in her eyes. Unlike others who rely on external sources for greatness, her greatness seems to radiate from within. People around her must wait for her to “rise” — that is, for her to give attention or notice — to gain favor.

 

Reference to Donne’s Verse

Though John Donne’s poetry is already strong and filled with meaning, the Countess herself contains all that is good and great, even if Donne’s verse expresses it more expansively.

 

Final Lines

The poet concludes by stating that simply adding her name to the letter or to Donne’s poetry would be more than enough praise. Even if he only writes two lines, by addressing them to her, he gives them value — because she herself is the embodiment of excellence.

 

Closing Signature

The poem ends with a respectful sign-off:

“Your Ladyship’s true servant,

J. D.”

(“J. D.” stands for John Donne.)

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

1–3:

Madam,

I have learned that one can serve a great lady not only through action but also through words.

Some serve by attending personally; I serve with my pen.

 

4–6:

Others might bring you expensive and rare gifts;

I bring you my friend’s writings – not dazzling, but honest and sharp.

These verses are blunt, yet full of truth and wit.

 

7–9:

They are not empty compliments meant to charm you;

They speak plainly and boldly of faults in men and manners.

Their aim is to correct, not flatter.

 

10–12:

You, who are known for your virtue and judgment,

Will appreciate these for their integrity.

You are not one to enjoy false praise or shallow rhymes.

 

13–15:

These Satires may lack polish,

But their rough style reflects the raw truth of society.

They dare to speak what many only whisper.

 

16–18:

Accept them not as entertainment, but as moral mirrors;

They expose hypocrisy and folly.

To someone as wise as you, their value is clear.

 

19–21:

So I offer them to you, knowing you will not be offended

By their sharp tone,

Because your conscience is clean, and your mind, discerning.

 

Summary Paraphrase:

In this poem, Donne addresses Lucy, Countess of Bedford, presenting her with his satires. He explains that while others may try to please noblewomen through flattery or luxurious gifts, he offers something different – writings that critique vice and foolishness in society. These satires are honest, bold, and rough in style, not meant to flatter but to correct and reveal truth. He trusts that the Countess, known for her virtue and sound judgment, will value them for their sincerity and moral insight.

 

Analysis in Detail

John Donne’s short verse letter to Lucy, Countess of Bedford, is an exemplary piece of courtly poetic dedication, combining refined flattery with clever poetic economy. This kind of poetic offering was common in Renaissance literature, particularly for securing or maintaining the favor of powerful patrons. The poem serves both as a respectful preface to a gift (his Satires) and as a subtle act of self-positioning within the elite literary circle of his time.

From the opening line, “Here is a pacquet for your Grace,” Donne establishes a formal and courteous tone, framing the poem as a personal and honorable gesture. By using the term “packet,” he emphasizes both the physical act of gifting and the intellectual offering contained within — his Satires. The addressee, Lucy Russell, Countess of Bedford, was known as a major literary patron, and Donne, aware of this, seeks to acknowledge her status not just socially, but intellectually and spiritually as well.

The middle lines of the poem are a masterclass in Renaissance flattery. Donne elevates the Countess by comparing her to celestial and cosmological forces. He claims that the sun rises and sets in her eyes, thereby attributing to her the role of a life-giver and source of light. This imagery implies that others gain recognition and inspiration from men of stature, but in contrast, those around the Countess derive it directly from her. This places her above the ordinary standards of hierarchy — not just a patron, but a kind of cosmic presence.

Donne continues this elevation by stating that even though his poetry may attempt to praise what is good and great, all such virtues already reside within her. The implication is that she is the original source of those noble qualities that poetry merely attempts to describe. In this way, Donne blends sincere homage with poetic wit, making the Countess seem more than a subject of poetry — she is its muse and its embodiment.

The final couplet, “So, though I write but two lines, I write you,” offers a sharp, compact conclusion. Donne, ever conscious of poetic form and wit, uses paradox and compression to say that although he has only written a few lines, their worth is elevated because they are addressed to her. This is an elegant way of saying that her name and presence give meaning to the poem, regardless of its length or complexity.

Finally, the poem is signed with “Your Ladyship’s true servant, J. D.,” a conventional but meaningful closure that reinforces humility and service. At the same time, the signature marks Donne’s name as part of the offering — a subtle reminder of his authorship and a gesture of alliance.

In summary, this verse letter is both a poetic compliment and a strategic act of literary self-presentation. Donne blends flattery, intellectual cleverness, and humility in order to praise the Countess, while simultaneously showcasing his own poetic talent. It stands as a refined example of early 17th-century patronage poetry, where wit, grace, and literary brilliance coexisted within a few carefully crafted lines.