Jesse Sharpe PhD thesis - Research@StAndrews:FullText ...

Donne’s Incarnating Words 58
But then there is the inevitable recognition that despite his best efforts, the name in the
window can easily be overcome.
When thy inconsiderate hand
Flings out this casement, with my trembling name,
To look on one whose wit or land
New batt’ry to thy heart may frame,
Then think this name alive, and that thou thus
In it offend’st my Genius.
And when thy melted maid,
Corrupted by thy lover’s gold (and page),
His letter at thy pillow’th laid,
Disputed it, and tamed thy rage,
And thou beginn’st to thaw t’wards him for this,
May my name step in, and hide his.
And if this treason go
T’an overt act, and that thou write again,
In superscribing, this name flow
Into thy fancy from the pane.
So, in forgetting thou rememb’rest right
And unawares to me shall write. (43-60)