{
 "id": "john-donne/the-expostulation",
 "title": "The Expostulation",
 "ordinal": "Elegy XV",
 "subtitle": null,
 "poet": "John Donne",
 "poet_slug": "john-donne",
 "language": "en",
 "book": "Poems, by J. D. with Elegies on the Authors Death",
 "book_slug": "poems-1633",
 "book_kind": "volume",
 "sequence": null,
 "container": "Elegies",
 "epigraph": null,
 "first_published": {
  "year": 1633,
  "venue": "Poems, by J. D. with Elegies on the Authors Death (1633)",
  "note": "First located printing is this volume; an earlier periodical printing has not been established.",
  "uncertain": false,
  "sources": [
   "https://archive.org/details/donnepoems"
  ]
 },
 "source": {
  "kind": "standard-ebooks",
  "repo": "standardebooks/john-donne_poetry",
  "file": "elegies.xhtml",
  "upstream": [
   "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
   "https://archive.org/details/poemswithelegie00chamgoog",
   "https://archive.org/details/poemswithelegie01chamgoog"
  ],
  "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)"
 },
 "verification": {
  "level": "structural-only",
  "last_checked": "2026-08-15",
  "corrections": [
   {
    "line": 2,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 2,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 5.3 character advances (~2.6 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 4,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.8 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 6,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.9 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 8,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.9 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 10,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.8 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 12,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.9 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 14,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.8 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 16,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.8 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 18,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.9 character advances (~1.5 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 20,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 3.0 character advances (~1.5 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 22,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.9 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 24,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.9 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 26,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.9 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 28,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.9 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 30,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.8 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 32,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.9 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 34,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.8 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 36,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.8 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 38,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.8 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 40,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.8 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 42,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.9 character advances (~1.5 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 44,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.8 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 46,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.8 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 48,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.6 character advances (~1.3 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 50,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.6 character advances (~1.3 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 52,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.5 character advances (~1.3 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 54,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.8 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 56,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.7 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 58,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.8 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 60,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.8 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 62,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 2.9 character advances (~1.4 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 64,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 3.0 character advances (~1.5 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 66,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 3.0 character advances (~1.5 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 68,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 3.0 character advances (~1.5 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   },
   {
    "line": 70,
    "field": "indent",
    "was": 0,
    "now": 1,
    "why": "Indentation absent from the source markup and measured from the scan: this line starts 3.1 character advances (~1.6 em) right of its own page's base margin, where the verse sets flush. Converted at 3.0 advances per indent level (tools/defects.py indent).",
    "checked_against": "https://archive.org/details/poemsofjohndonne01donn_1",
    "date": "2026-08-20"
   }
  ]
 },
 "stats": {
  "n_lines": 70,
  "n_stanzas": 1,
  "n_parts": 0,
  "longest_line_chars": 53,
  "max_indent": 2
 },
 "site_ready": true,
 "parts": [],
 "stanzas": [
  [
   {
    "text": "To make the doubt clear, that no woman’s true,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Was it my fate to prove it strong in you?",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Thought I, but one had breathèd purest air;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And must she needs be false, because she’s fair?",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Is it your beauty’s mark, or of your youth,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Or your perfection, not to study truth?",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Or think you heaven is deaf, or hath no eyes,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Or those it hath smile at your perjuries?",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Are vows so cheap with women, or the matter",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Whereof they’re made, that they are writ in water,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And blown away with wind? Or doth their breath,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Both hot and cold, at once make life and death?",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Who could have thought so many accents sweet",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Form’d into words, so many sighs should meet",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "As from our hearts, so many oaths, and tears",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Sprinkled among, all sweeten’d by our fears,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And the divine impression of stolen kisses,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That seal’d the rest, should now prove empty blisses?",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Did you draw bonds to forfeit? sign to break?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Or must we read you quite from what you speak,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And find the truth out the wrong way? or must",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He first desire you false, would wish you just?",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "O! I profane! though most of women be",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "This kind of beast, my thoughts shall except thee,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "My dearest love; though froward jealousy",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With circumstance might urge thy inconstancy,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Sooner I’ll think the sun will cease to cheer",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The teeming earth, and that forget to bear;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Sooner that rivers will run back, or Thames",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With ribs of ice in June will bind his streams;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Or nature, by whose strength the world endures,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Would change her course, before you alter yours.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "But O! that treacherous breast, to whom weak you",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Did drift our counsels, and we both may rue,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Having his falsehood found too late; ’twas he",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That made me cast you guilty, and you me;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Whilst he, black wretch, betray’d each simple word",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "We spake, unto the cunning of a third.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Cursed may he be, that so our love hath slain,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And wander on the earth, wretched as Cain,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Wretched as he, and not deserve least pity.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In plaguing him, let misery be witty;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Let all eyes shun him, and he shun each eye,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Till he be noisome as his infamy;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "May he without remorse deny God thrice,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And not be trusted more on his soul’s price;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And, after all self-torment, when he dies,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "May wolves tear out his heart, vultures his eyes,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Swine eat his bowels, and his falser tongue",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That utter’d all, be to some raven flung;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And let his carrion corse be a longer feast",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To the king’s dogs, than any other beast.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Now have I cursed, let us our love revive;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In me the flame was never more alive.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "I could begin again to court and praise,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And in that pleasure lengthen the short days",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Of my life’s lease; like painters that do take",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Delight, not in made work, but whiles they make.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "I could renew those times, when first I saw",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Love in your eyes, that gave my tongue the law",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "To like what you liked; and at masks and plays",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Commend the selfsame actors, the same ways;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Ask how you did, and often with intent",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of being officious, be impertinent;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "All which were such soft pastimes, as in these",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Love was as subtly catch’d as a disease.",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "But being got, it is a treasure sweet,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Which to defend is harder than to get;",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "And ought not be profaned, on either part,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For though ’tis got by chance, ’tis kept by art.",
    "indent": 1
   }
  ]
 ]
}