Paradoxes Problems Essays Characters, Title page 1 – Encomium
PARADOXES, PROBLEMES, ESSAYES, CHARACTERS, Written By Dr DONNE Dean of PAULS: To which is added a Book of EPIGRAMS: Written in Latin by the same Author; translated into English by I: MAINE, D. D.
As also Ignatius his Conclave, A SATYR, Translated out of the Originall Copy written in Latin by the same Author; found lately amongst his own Papers.
De Iesuitorum dissidiis.
Quos pugnare, Scholis, clamāt, hi, (discite Regna)
Non sunt Unanimes, conveniunt que nimis.
London, Printed by T: N: for Humphrey Moseley at the Prince's Armes in St Pauls Churchyard, 1652.
The Table.
PARADOXES.
I. A Defence of Womens Inconstancy. 1
II. That Women ought to paint 7
III. That by Discord Things increase. 10
IV. That Good is more common then Evill 13
V. That all things kill themselves 16
VI. That it is possible to finde some vertue in some Women. 18
VII. That Old men are more fantasticke then Young. 20
VIII. That Nature is our worst Guide. 23
IX. That only Cowards dare lye, 26
X. That a Wise Man is known by much laughing. 29
XI. That the Gifts of the Body are better then those of the Minde. 33
XII. That Virginity is a Vertue. 81
PROBLEMS.
I. WHy have Bastards the best Fortune. 38
II. Why Puritans make long Sermons. 41
III. Why did the Devil reserve Iesuites till these latter dayes. 42
IV. Why is there more variety of Green then of other colours. 43
V. Why doe young Lay-men so much study Divinity. 44
VI. Why hath the common Opinion afforded Women souls. 45
VII. Why are the Fairest falsest. 47
VIII. Why Venus-Star only doth cast a shadow? 49
IX. Why is Venus-star multinominous, called both Hesperus & Vesper? 52
X. Why are New Officers least oppressing? 54
XI. VVhy doth the Pox so much affect to undermine the Nose? 66
XII. VVhy die none for Love now? 58
XIII. VVhy doe women delight much in Feathers? 59
XIV. VVhy doth not Gold soyle the Fingers? ib.
XV. VVhy doe Great men of all dependants, choose to preserve their little Pimps? 60
XVI. VVhy are Courtiers sooner Atheists, then men of other conditions? 61
XVII. VVhy are Statesmen most incredulous? 62
CHARACTERS.
THe Character of a Scot at the first sight. 65
The true Character of a Dunce. 67
AN Essay of Valour, 72
A Sheaf of Miscellany Epigrams, 88
IGnatius nis Conclave, 107
Ben. Johnson to the Author.
WHo can doubt, Donne, where I a Poet bee?
When I dare send my Epigrams to thee
That so alone canst judge, so alone dost make:
And in thy censures, evenly, dost take
As free simplicitie, to disavow,
As thou hast best authority t' allow:
Read all I send: and, if I finde but one
Mark'd by thy hand, and with the better stone
My title's seal'd. Those that for claps do write,
Let punies, porters, players praise delight,
And till they burst, their backs, like asses load:
A man should seek great glory, and not broad.