The Ecstasy - John Donne
/The Ecstasy - John Donne/
When Soul and Body Merge in a Supreme Bond of Love
Original (English): Where, like a pillow on a bed,
English: Where, like a pillow on a bed,
Original (English): A pregnant bank swell'd up, to rest
English: A pregnant bank swell'd up, to rest
Original (English): The violet's reclining head,
English: The violet's reclining head,
Original (English): Sat we two, one another's best.
English: Sat we two, one another's best.
Original (English): Our hands were firmly cemented
English: Our hands were firmly cemented
Original (English): With a fast balm, which thence did spring,
English: With a fast balm, which thence did spring,
Original (English): Our eye-beams twisted, and did thread
English: Our eye-beams twisted, and did thread
Original (English): Our eyes, upon one double string;
English: Our eyes, upon one double string;
Original (English): So to engraft our hands, as yet
English: So to engraft our hands, as yet
Original (English): Was all the means to make us one,
English: Was all the means to make us one,
Original (English): And pictures in our eyes to get
English: And pictures in our eyes to get
Original (English): Was all our propagation.
English: Was all our propagation.
Original (English): As 'twixt two equal armies, Fate
English: As 'twixt two equal armies, Fate
Original (English): Suspends uncertain victory,
English: Suspends uncertain victory,
Original (English): Our souls—which to advance their state,
English: Our souls—which to advance their state,
Original (English): Were gone out—hung 'twixt her and me.
English: Were gone out—hung 'twixt her and me.
Original (English): And whilst our souls negotiate there,
English: And whilst our souls negotiate there,
Original (English): We like sepulchral statues lay;
English: We like sepulchral statues lay;
Original (English): All day, the same our postures were,
English: All day, the same our postures were,
Original (English): And we said nothing, all the day.
English: And we said nothing, all the day.
Original (English): If any, so by love refined,
English: If any, so by love refined,
Original (English): That he soul's language understood,
English: That he soul's language understood,
Original (English): And by good love were grown all mind,
English: And by good love were grown all mind,
Original (English): Within convenient distance stood,
English: Within convenient distance stood,
Original (English): He—though he knew not which soul spake,
English: He—though he knew not which soul spake,
Original (English): Because both meant, both spake the same—
English: Because both meant, both spake the same—
Original (English): Might thence a new concoction take
English: Might thence a new concoction take
Original (English): And part far purer than he came.
English: And part far purer than he came.
Original (English): This ecstasy doth unperplex
English: This ecstasy doth unperplex
Original (English): (We said) and tell us what we love;
English: (We said) and tell us what we love;
Original (English): We see by this, it was not sex;
English: We see by this, it was not sex;
Original (English): We see, we saw not what did move;
English: We see, we saw not what did move;
Original (English): But as all several souls contain
English: But as all several souls contain
Original (English): Mixture of things they know not what,
English: Mixture of things they know not what,
Original (English): Love these mix'd souls doth mix again,
English: Love these mix'd souls doth mix again,
Original (English): And makes both one, each this and that.
English: And makes both one, each this and that.
Original (English): A single violet transplant,
English: A single violet transplant,
Original (English): The strength, the colour, and the size,
English: The strength, the colour, and the size,
Original (English): (All which before was poor and scant)
English: (All which before was poor and scant)
Original (English): Redoubles still, and multiplies.
English: Redoubles still, and multiplies.
Original (English): When love, with one another so
English: When love, with one another so
Original (English): Interanimates two souls,
English: Interanimates two souls,
Original (English): That abler soul, which thence doth flow,
English: That abler soul, which thence doth flow,
Original (English): Defects of loneliness controls.
English: Defects of loneliness controls.
Original (English): We then, who are this new soul, know
English: We then, who are this new soul, know
Original (English): Of what we are composed, and made,
English: Of what we are composed, and made,
Original (English): For th' atomies of which we grow
English: For th' atomies of which we grow
Original (English): Are souls, whom no change can invade.
English: Are souls, whom no change can invade.
Original (English): But O alas, so long, so far
English: But O alas, so long, so far
Original (English): Our bodies why do we forbear?
English: Our bodies why do we forbear?
Original (English): They are ours, though not we; we are
English: They are ours, though not we; we are
Original (English): The intelligences, they the spheres.
English: The intelligences, they the spheres.
Original (English): We owe them thanks, because they thus
English: We owe them thanks, because they thus
Original (English): Did us, to us, at first convey,
English: Did us, to us, at first convey,
Original (English): Yielded their forces, sense, to us,
English: Yielded their forces, sense, to us,
Original (English): Nor are dross to us, but allay.
English: Nor are dross to us, but allay.
Original (English): On man heaven's influence works not so,
English: On man heaven's influence works not so,
Original (English): But that it first imprints the air;
English: But that it first imprints the air;
Original (English): So soul into the soul may flow,
English: So soul into the soul may flow,
Original (English): Though it to body first repair.
English: Though it to body first repair.
Original (English): As our blood labors to beget
English: As our blood labors to beget
Original (English): Spirits, as like souls as it can,
English: Spirits, as like souls as it can,
Original (English): Because such fingers need to knit
English: Because such fingers need to knit
Original (English): That subtle knot which makes us man,
English: That subtle knot which makes us man,
Original (English): So must pure lovers' souls descend
English: So must pure lovers' souls descend
Original (English): T' affections, and to faculties,
English: T' affections, and to faculties,
Original (English): Which sense may reach and apprehend,
English: Which sense may reach and apprehend,
Original (English): Else a great prince in prison lies.
English: Else a great prince in prison lies.
Original (English): To our bodies turn we then, that so
English: To our bodies turn we then, that so
Original (English): Weak men on love reveal'd may look;
English: Weak men on love reveal'd may look;
Original (English): Love's mysteries in souls do grow,
English: Love's mysteries in souls do grow,
Original (English): But yet the body is his book.
English: But yet the body is his book.
Original (English): And if some lover, such as we,
English: And if some lover, such as we,
Original (English): Have heard this dialogue of one,
English: Have heard this dialogue of one,
Original (English): Let him still mark us, he shall see
English: Let him still mark us, he shall see
Original (English): Small change, when we're to bodies gone.
English: Small change, when we're to bodies gone.
In “The Ecstasy,” John Donne meditates on the profound connection between lovers that transcends mere physical attraction. The poem begins with the lovers seated on a bank, hands intertwined, their gazes merging in a silent exchange. In typical metaphysical fashion, Donne uses the image of souls leaving the body to “negotiate” in a higher spiritual realm, suggesting that true love involves an intertwining of minds and spirits before it fully manifests in the physical world.
Donne then argues that although the meeting of souls is sublime, the body must not be disregarded. He compares bodies to spheres guided by the intelligence of the soul. Without physical union, the couple’s powerful spiritual bond is only partially realized—an incomplete expression of love. He concludes that embracing both the body and soul allows love to flourish more fully, rendering it accessible not only to the lovers themselves but also to any onlooker capable of understanding such profound unity.
Throughout the poem, Donne’s intricate conceits underscore the interplay between earthly reality and transcendent spiritual experience. He insists that the physical aspect of love is not base or sinful but rather essential to complete the connection initiated by the soul. Ultimately, “The Ecstasy” celebrates a comprehensive view of love, one that joins the spiritual and corporeal in harmonious accord.
Key points
1) True love unites two souls in a realm beyond simple physical attraction. 2) The physical body remains essential for fully expressing emotional and spiritual bonds. 3) Metaphysical conceits highlight how divine elements of love manifest in everyday experiences. 4) Balanced unity of mind, soul, and body enriches both personal understanding and shared devotion.