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Article: John Donne's strategies for discreet preaching.
- Article from:
- Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900
- Article date:
- January 1, 2004
- Author:
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In a January 1614 letter to Sir Robert Ker, John Donne acknowledges his reluctance to write an epithalamium in honor of the scandalous Somerset-Howard marriage: "If my Muse were onely out of fashion, and but wounded and maimed like Free will in the Roman Church, I should adventure to put her to an Epithalamion. But since she is dead ... I have not so much Muse left as to lament her losse. Perchance this businesse may produce occasions, wherein I may expresse my opinion of it, in a more serious manner. Which I speake neither upon any apparent conjecture, nor upon any overvaluing of my abilities, but out of a generall readinesse and alacrity to be serviceable and gratefull ...