To Mr. I. L. by John Donne (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis)

 

To Mr. I. L.

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis) 

To Mr. I. L.

Of that short roll of friends writ in my heart,

Which with thy name begins, since their depart,

Whether in th' English provinces they be,

Or drink of Po, or taste the Hellespont,

I thus salute thee from a country seat,

Which long hath been a stage, and now a seat.

Since the dull grammarian’s precepts, and the rules

Of time, place, fashion, all are fled from schools,

And thou, a moral man, by vice dost thrive,

And he who virtue loves, doth beg to live,

I love thy judgment, whom the world doth hate,

And more the dregs of it, fools fortunate.

I do confess that I have missed a line,

But not the muses’ diet, bread and wine.

They seem to look again, and pray anew—

Thy better genius now hath care of you.

You are still worthy; if not of her sight,

Yet, of her tears; and now she weeps with right.

For, since thy love was lost, her dew did dry,

And that course is not yet repaired by thy eye.

Thou art much missed; that all good spirits see,

And I am glad to find thy muse and thee

Still just and true, and now as good as free.

Thou writ’st not of a prison, or a court,

Where tears and smiles, of both sides, counterfeit.

Thou speak’st of melancholy, honest mirth,

And what heaven gave thee, liberty and earth.

Thou know’st all joys, and dost dwell with the wise,

Whose hearts are not enticed with vanity’s disguise.

So, since thy Muse is not a flatterer,

Nor thine own conscience her interpreter,

I wish thee wise and good; and from thy verse,

To banish all self-love, the Muse’s curse.

And if this country life be not too dull,

Let me redeem thy time, that’s here at full.

 

Summary

Opening Salutation

Donne begins by warmly addressing his friend. He states that in the short list of friends he keeps close to his heart, this friend’s name comes first. Even though many of their mutual friends are now far away—whether in England or abroad—Donne still holds this particular friend in high regard and sends his greetings from a country estate.

 

Reflection on Changing Times

Donne reflects on how the world has changed: education has lost its former structure and rules, and moral values seem inverted. Immoral men now thrive, while those who love virtue are forced to beg for a living. Despite this, Donne commends his friend’s judgment, which the world fails to appreciate. He also criticizes how luck favors foolish people.

 

Poetry and Inspiration

Donne humorously admits that he might be lacking a poetic line (perhaps due to disuse), but he has not lost the essential inspiration for poetry—the "diet" of the muses, metaphorically bread and wine. He implies that the poetic spirit or muse is still with his friend, encouraging and guiding him.

 

Emotional Loss and Mourning

He suggests that his friend has suffered a personal loss—possibly the death or departure of a loved one. The muse, representing inspiration and perhaps emotion, has been grieving with him. Since the friend’s sorrow, even nature (symbolized by dew) seems to have lost its vitality.

 

Praise for His Friend's Writings

Donne expresses that his friend’s absence is deeply felt by all good-spirited people. He is glad, however, that his friend and his poetry still remain honest, true, and (importantly) free. His friend doesn’t write about the artificial world of court or prison life, where expressions are fake and smiles are false.

 

Themes in His Friend’s Poetry

The friend writes about genuine things—melancholy, honest joy, and the blessings of freedom and the natural world. He lives among the wise, those who are not fooled by superficial vanities.

 

Final Wishes and Encouragement

Donne praises his friend for not flattering others through his poetry and for not misusing his own conscience to justify his writing. He ends by wishing his friend continued wisdom and goodness, and advises him to avoid self-love, which he calls the “curse” of poets. Lastly, he offers to help his friend redeem time, suggesting that their simple rural life might not be so dull after all.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

1. Of that short roll of friends writ in my heart,

→ From the small list of friends I truly cherish in my heart,

 

2. Which with thy name begins, since their depart,

→ Your name comes first on that list, especially now that others have gone away.

 

3. Whether in th’ English provinces they be,

→ Whether they are living somewhere in the English countryside,

 

4. Or drink of Po, or taste the Hellespont,

→ Or have traveled to Italy (near the river Po) or Turkey (near the Hellespont).

 

5. I thus salute thee from a country seat,

→ I send my greetings to you from a house in the countryside,

 

6. Which long hath been a stage, and now a seat.

→ A place that used to be full of action like a stage, but now is calm and restful.

 

7. Since the dull grammarian’s precepts, and the rules

→ Since the boring lessons of grammar and the strict rules

 

8. Of time, place, fashion, all are fled from schools,

→ About time, place, and manners have vanished from education,

 

9. And thou, a moral man, by vice dost thrive,

→ And now you, though an ethical man, succeed in a world full of vice,

 

10. And he who virtue loves, doth beg to live,

→ While someone who lives virtuously must struggle to survive,

 

11. I love thy judgment, whom the world doth hate,

→ I admire your way of thinking, even though the world dislikes it,

 

12. And more the dregs of it, fools fortunate.

→ Especially the worst parts of the world—those foolish people who happen to be lucky.

 

13. I do confess that I have missed a line,

→ I admit I’ve lost the knack for writing poetic lines,

 

14. But not the muses’ diet, bread and wine.

→ But I haven’t lost the essentials of poetic inspiration—its spiritual nourishment.

 

15. They seem to look again, and pray anew—

→ It seems the Muses (sources of inspiration) are returning and praying again,

 

16. Thy better genius now hath care of you.

→ Your higher inspiration (genius) is now watching over you again.

 

17. You are still worthy; if not of her sight,

→ You are still deserving—even if not of the Muse’s direct presence,

 

18. Yet, of her tears; and now she weeps with right.

→ At least of her tears, and now she weeps for good reason.

 

19. For, since thy love was lost, her dew did dry,

→ Ever since you lost the one you loved, her (the Muse’s) inspiration dried up too,

 

20. And that course is not yet repaired by thy eye.

→ And your poetic vision still hasn’t been fully restored since that loss.

 

21. Thou art much missed; that all good spirits see,

→ You are greatly missed; every good and wise person notices it.

 

22. And I am glad to find thy muse and thee

→ And I’m happy to see that your Muse and you

 

23. Still just and true, and now as good as free.

→ Are still honest and faithful—and now nearly free from all burdens.

 

24. Thou writ’st not of a prison, or a court,

→ You don’t write about prison life or the royal court,

 

25. Where tears and smiles, of both sides, counterfeit.

→ Where both sorrow and joy are fake and deceptive.

 

26. Thou speak’st of melancholy, honest mirth,

→ You write of real sadness and true joy,

 

27. And what heaven gave thee, liberty and earth.

→ And the gifts that heaven gave you: freedom and life on earth.

 

28. Thou know’st all joys, and dost dwell with the wise,

→ You understand true happiness and live among the wise,

 

29. Whose hearts are not enticed with vanity’s disguise.

→ Who are not fooled by the false appearance of pride and vanity.

 

30. So, since thy Muse is not a flatterer,

→ Since your poetry is not full of flattery,

 

31. Nor thine own conscience her interpreter,

→ And you don’t let your conscience distort or justify her voice,

 

32. I wish thee wise and good; and from thy verse,

→ I wish you continued wisdom and virtue, and in your poetry

 

33. To banish all self-love, the Muse’s curse.

→ You should keep away from self-importance, which ruins true inspiration.

 

34. And if this country life be not too dull,

→ And if this rural life isn’t too boring for you,

 

35. Let me redeem thy time, that’s here at full.

→ Let me help you make the most of your time here, which is fully available.

 

Analysis in Detail

This poem is part of Donne’s verse letters, a form of poetic correspondence popular in his time. Such letters often reflect personal sentiments, moral observations, and commentary on society or friendship. Written in rhymed couplets, the poem maintains a steady rhythm and tone, blending personal address with philosophical meditation.

 

1. Theme of Friendship and Personal Loyalty

From the opening lines, Donne emphasizes his deep regard for his friend. He metaphorically says the friend’s name is first on the list written in his heart. Despite the departure of other friends—whether by distance or death—Donne remains loyal. This strong personal attachment sets the tone for the entire poem. It reflects the Renaissance ideal of true friendship being constant, noble, and independent of worldly shifts.

 

2. Social Critique and Reversal of Values

Donne laments the moral decay of the age: schools no longer teach properly, and society rewards vice while punishing virtue. He criticizes the way immoral people prosper, while honest, virtuous individuals suffer. This observation is not merely complaint—it reflects a common concern among Renaissance thinkers: the idea that true merit is overlooked in favor of shallow fortune.

By praising his friend’s judgment “whom the world doth hate,” Donne sets up a contrast between genuine moral integrity and societal shallowness. He elevates his friend as a moral hero in a fallen world.

 

3. Reflection on Poetic Inspiration and Loss

Donne discusses poetic inspiration symbolically through references to the Muses—classical figures of creativity. He jokes that he has “missed a line,” but still retains the “diet” of the Muses—bread and wine, suggesting he has the essentials of poetic spirit, if not the exact technical sharpness. This self-deprecating humor adds intimacy and realism to the poem.

He then shifts focus to his friend’s personal grief, possibly mourning the loss of a loved one. The Muse is said to be weeping with him, and inspiration seems to have dried up since that sorrow. The link between emotion and poetry is strong: true poetic expression flows from deep human experience, including loss.

 

4. Praise for Simplicity and Rural Life

Donne expresses relief that his friend is away from corrupt environments like courts or prisons, where emotions are faked. Instead, he values his friend’s honest depictions of melancholy and joy, grounded in the blessings of freedom and nature.

This section reflects a kind of pastoral idealism, in which life away from power structures and artificiality allows for clarity, authenticity, and moral uprightness. It ties into the Renaissance revival of interest in classical pastoral themes—where rural life symbolizes virtue, peace, and truth.

 

5. Emphasis on Moral Integrity and Artistic Honesty

Donne further praises his friend’s poetic voice for not being a flatterer, unlike poets who wrote merely to please powerful patrons. He commends the fact that his friend’s conscience does not twist or manipulate the poetic voice. In this, Donne seems to argue for artistic honesty—where poetry must not serve ego (“self-love”) but truth.

This connects with Renaissance views on the ethical responsibilities of the writer. Donne presents poetry as a sacred gift, one that must be exercised with humility and moral clarity.

 

6. Tone and Poetic Voice

The tone throughout is warm, respectful, and contemplative. While there are moments of witty play and rhetorical flair, the dominant voice is that of a wise and faithful friend offering support, recognition, and guidance. Donne speaks with affection, but also with moral seriousness—encouraging his friend to continue living and writing in truth.

 

7. Conclusion: Time and Redemption

Donne ends the poem with a tender offer to “redeem” his friend’s time in the countryside. This closing is gentle, comforting, and affectionate. He suggests that rural life need not be dull if shared with good company and good purpose. It’s a reminder that friendship, moral reflection, and the simple life offer their own deep joys—even more so than the noisy, deceptive world of ambition and flattery.

 

Final Thought

“To Mr. I. L.” is not just a personal letter but a moral and poetic statement. It reflects Donne’s loyalty to friendship, his critique of societal corruption, and his belief in poetry as a moral art. He encourages his friend to continue walking the path of truth, even if the world does not reward it. The poem stands as an elegant blend of private emotion and public commentary—hallmarks of Donne’s poetic greatness.