THE UNDERTAKING. by John Donne I HAVE done one braver thing       Than all the Worthies did ; And yet a braver thence doth spring,       Which is, to keep that hid. It were but madness now to impart       The skill of specular stone, When he, which can have learn'd the art       To cut it, can find none. So, if I now should utter this,       Others—because no more Such stuff to work upon, there is—       Would love but as before. But he who loveliness within       Hath found, all outward loathes, For he who color loves, and skin,       Loves but their oldest clothes. 10 If, as I have, you also do       Virtue in woman see, And dare love that, and say so too,       And forget the He and She ; And if this love, though placèd so,       From profane men you hide, Which will no faith on this bestow,       Or, if they do, deride ; Then you have done a braver thing       Than all the Worthies did ; And a braver thence will spring,       Which is, to keep that hid. 20 l. 18. So 1635; 1633 Virtue attired in woman see Audio Reading by Anniina Jokinen, ©2003. Quicktime To get the free Quicktime plugin, click here. For the direct .MP3 file, click here. Source: Donne, John. Poems of John Donne. vol I. E. K. Chambers, ed. London: Lawrence & Bullen, 1896. 6-7. to John Donne Copyright © 1996-2014 Anniina Jokinen. All Rights Reserved. Created by Anniina Jokinenon August 11, 1999. Last updated August 8, 2014.