Final answer:
The lines from John Donne's poems and their meanings are as follows: 1) If they be two - describes a couple who are unified as one. 2) And sacrilege, three sins - lists the sins of sacrilege, atheism, and despair. 3) Death, be not proud - addresses death and its lack of power. 4) She is all states - describes the mistress encompassing different expressions of beauty. 5) Thy soul the fixt foot - compares the soul to a fixed foot of a compass. 6) Wherein could this flea guilty be - questions the guilt of a flea. 7) For thou art not so - challenges the power of Death. 8) She is all states, and all princes I - highlights the power and importance of the mistress and the speaker.
Step-by-step explanation:
1) If they be two - This line is from John Donne's poem 'The Good-Morrow'. In this line, Donne is referring to a couple who are so unified and connected that they are like one person. The meaning of the line is that if the couple is considered as separate individuals, they are incomplete and only when they are together, they become whole.
2) And sacrilege, three sins - This line is from John Donne's poem 'Hymn to God, My God, in My Sickness.' In this line, Donne is listing three sins: sacrilege, which refers to the act of disrespecting or profaning sacred things; atheism, which refers to the denial of the existence of God; and despair, which refers to feeling hopeless or giving up on hope. The meaning of the line is that these three sins are serious offenses.
3) Death, be not proud - This line is from John Donne's poem 'Death, be not proud.' In this line, Donne is directly addressing death and telling it not to be proud or boastful because death is not the ultimate end or something to be feared. The meaning of the line is that death is not powerful or victorious over the soul.
4) She is all states - This line is from John Donne's poem 'Elegy XIX: To His Mistress Going to Bed.' In this line, Donne is describing his mistress as being all different types of landscapes and environments. He is emphasizing her beauty and the variety of experiences he has with her. The meaning of the line is that his mistress encompasses all the different expressions of beauty.
5) Thy soul the fixt foot - This line is from John Donne's poem 'The Prohibition.' In this line, Donne is comparing the soul to the fixed foot of a compass, which remains steady and stable while the other foot moves to draw a circle. The meaning of the line is that the soul is the unchanging core or center that guides and directs the movements and actions of a person.
6) Wherein could this flea guilty be - This line is from John Donne's poem 'The Flea.' In this line, Donne is questioning the guilt or sinfulness of a flea that has bitten both him and his lover. The meaning of the line is that the guilt of the flea's actions is insignificant compared to the intimacy and union it represents between the speaker and his lover.
7) For thou art not so - This line is from John Donne's poem 'Sonnet X: Death, Be Not Proud.' In this line, Donne is addressing Death and telling it that it is not as powerful or fearsome as it claims to be. The meaning of the line is that Death is not invincible or worthy of fear.
8) She is all states, and all princes I - This line is also from John Donne's poem 'Elegy XIX: To His Mistress Going to Bed.' In this line, Donne is stating that his mistress embodies all different social statuses and positions of power, and that he himself holds the same power and importance when he is with her. The meaning of the line is that the love and intimacy between them elevate both the mistress and the speaker.