A Jet Ring Sent / John Donne

THOU art not so black as my heart, 
Nor half so brittle as her heart, thou art ; 
What would'st thou say ? shall both our properties by thee be spoke, 
—Nothing more endless, nothing sooner broke? 

Marriage rings are not of this stuff ; 
Oh, why should ought less precious, or less tough 
Figure our loves ? except in thy name thou have bid it say, 
"—I'm cheap, and nought but fashion ; fling me away." 

Yet stay with me since thou art come, 
Circle this finger's top, which didst her thumb ; 
Be justly proud, and gladly safe, that thou dost dwell with me ; 
She that, O ! broke her faith, would soon break thee.

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