Spaces:
Runtime error
Runtime error
| <HTML> | |
| <HEAD> | |
| <TITLE>A Funeral Elegy for Master William Peter</TITLE | |
| </HEAD> | |
| <BODY> | |
| <P>W[illiam] S[hakespeare], "A Funeral Elegy for Master William Peter," | |
| (London: G.Eld for T.Thorpe, 1612). Normalized text, ed. Donald Foster.</P> | |
| <CENTER> | |
| <H2>TO MASTER JOHN PETER<BR> | |
| of Bowhay in Devon, Esquire.</H2> | |
| </CENTER> | |
| <P>The love I bore to your brother, and will do to his memory, hath craved | |
| from me this last duty of a friend; I am herein but a second to the | |
| privilege of truth, who can warrant more in his behalf than I undertook to | |
| deliver. Exercise in this kind I will little affect, and am less addicted | |
| to, but there must be miracle in that labor which, to witness my | |
| remembrance to this departed gentleman, I would not willingly undergo. Yet | |
| whatsoever is here done, is done to him and to him only. For whom and whose | |
| sake I will not forget to remember any friendly respects to you, or to any | |
| of those that have loved him for himself, and himself for his | |
| deserts.</P> | |
| <ADDRESS ALIGN=RIGHT>W. S.</ADDRESS> | |
| <CENTER> | |
| <H1>A FUNERAL ELEGY.</H1> | |
| </CENTER> | |
| <TABLE> | |
| <TR><TD><TD> Since time, and his predestinated end, | |
| <TR><TD><TD> Abridged the circuit of his hopeful days, | |
| <TR><TD><TD> Whiles both his youth and virtue did intend | |
| <TR><TD><TD> The good endeavors of deserving praise, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5 width=15%>5<TD> What memorable monument can last | |
| <TR><TD> Whereon to build his never-blemished name | |
| <TR><TD> But his own worth, wherein his life was graced. . . | |
| <TR><TD> Sith as that ever he maintained the same? | |
| <TR><TD> Oblivion in the darkest day to come, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>10<TD> When sin shall tread on merit in the dust, | |
| <TR><TD> Cannot rase out the lamentable tomb | |
| <TR><TD> Of his short-lived deserts; but still they must, | |
| <TR><TD> Even in the hearts and memories of men, | |
| <TR><TD> Claim fit respect, that they, in every limb | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>15<TD> Remembering what he was, with comfort then | |
| <TR><TD> May pattern out one truly good, by him. | |
| <TR><TD> For he was truly good, if honest care | |
| <TR><TD> Of harmless conversation may commend | |
| <TR><TD> A life free from such stains as follies are, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>20<TD> Ill recompensed only in his end. | |
| <TR><TD> Nor can the tongue of him who loved him least | |
| <TR><TD> (If there can be minority of love | |
| <TR><TD> To one superlative above the rest | |
| <TR><TD> Of many men in steady faith) reprove | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>25<TD> His constant temper, in the equal weight | |
| <TR><TD> Of thankfulness and kindness: Truth doth leave | |
| <TR><TD> Sufficient proof, he was in every right | |
| <TR><TD> As kind to give, as thankful to receive. | |
| <TR><TD> The curious eye of a quick-brained survey | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>30<TD> Could scantly find a mote amidst the sun | |
| <TR><TD> Of his too-shortened days, or make a prey | |
| <TR><TD> Of any faulty errors he had done. | |
| <TR><TD> Not that he was above the spleenful sense | |
| <TR><TD> And spite of malice, but for that he had | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>35<TD> Warrant enough in his own innocence | |
| <TR><TD> Against the sting of some in nature bad. | |
| <TR><TD> Yet who is he so absolutely blest | |
| <TR><TD> That lives encompassed in a mortal frame, | |
| <TR><TD> Sometime in reputation not oppressed | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>40<TD> By some in nothing famous but defame? | |
| <TR><TD> Such in the bypath and the ridgeway lurk | |
| <TR><TD> That leads to ruin, in a smooth pretense | |
| <TR><TD> Of what they do to be a special work | |
| <TR><TD> Of singleness, not tending to offense; | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>45<TD> Whose very virtues are, not to detract | |
| <TR><TD> Whiles hope remains of gain (base fee of slaves), | |
| <TR><TD> Despising chiefly men in fortunes wracked. | |
| <TR><TD> But death to such gives unremembered graves. | |
| <TR><TD> Now therein lived he happy, if to be | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>50<TD> Free from detraction happiness it be. | |
| <TR><TD> His younger years gave comfortable hope | |
| <TR><TD> To hope for comfort in his riper youth, | |
| <TR><TD> Which, harvest-like, did yield again the crop | |
| <TR><TD> Of education, bettered in his truth. | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>55<TD> Those noble twins of heaven-infused races, | |
| <TR><TD> Learning and wit, refined in their kind | |
| <TR><TD> Did jointly both, in their peculiar graces, | |
| <TR><TD> Enrich the curious temple of his mind; | |
| <TR><TD> Indeed a temple, in whose precious white | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>60<TD> Sat reason by religion overswayed, | |
| <TR><TD> Teaching his other senses, with delight, | |
| <TR><TD> How piety and zeal should be obeyed. | |
| <TR><TD> Not fruitlessly in prodigal expense | |
| <TR><TD> Wasting his best of time, but so content | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>65<TD> With reason's golden mean to make defense | |
| <TR><TD> Against the assault of youth's encouragement; | |
| <TR><TD> As not the tide of this surrounding age | |
| <TR><TD> (When now his father's death had freed his will) | |
| <TR><TD> Could make him subject to the drunken rage | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>70<TD> Of such whose only glory is their ill. | |
| <TR><TD> He from the happy knowledge of the wise | |
| <TR><TD> Draws virtue to reprove secured fools | |
| <TR><TD> And shuns the glad sleights of ensnaring vice | |
| <TR><TD> To spend his spring of days in sacred schools. | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>75<TD> Here gave he diet to the sick desires | |
| <TR><TD> That day by day assault the weaker man, | |
| <TR><TD> And with fit moderation still retires | |
| <TR><TD> From what doth batter virtue now and then. | |
| <TR><TD> But that I not intend in full discourse | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>80<TD> To progress out his life, I could display | |
| <TR><TD> A good man in each part exact and force | |
| <TR><TD> The common voice to warrant what I say. | |
| <TR><TD> For if his fate and heaven had decreed | |
| <TR><TD> That full of days he might have lived to see | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>85<TD> The grave in peace, the times that should succeed | |
| <TR><TD> Had been best-speaking witnesses with me; | |
| <TR><TD> Whose conversation so untouched did move | |
| <TR><TD> Respect most in itself, as who would scan | |
| <TR><TD> His honesty and worth, by them might prove | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>90<TD> He was a kind, true, perfect gentleman. | |
| <TR><TD> Not in the outside of disgraceful folly, | |
| <TR><TD> Courting opinion with unfit disguise, | |
| <TR><TD> Affecting fashions, nor addicted wholly | |
| <TR><TD> To unbeseeming blushless vanities, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>95<TD> But suiting so his habit and desire | |
| <TR><TD> As that his virtue was his best attire. | |
| <TR><TD> Not in the waste of many idle words | |
| <TR><TD> Cared he to be heard talk, nor in the float | |
| <TR><TD> Of fond conceit, such as this age affords, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>100<TD> By vain discourse upon himself to dote; | |
| <TR><TD> For his becoming silence gave such grace | |
| <TR><TD> To his judicious parts, as what he spake | |
| <TR><TD> Seemed rather answers which the wise embrace | |
| <TR><TD> Than busy questions such as talkers make. | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>105<TD> And though his qualities might well deserve | |
| <TR><TD> Just commendation, yet his furnished mind | |
| <TR><TD> Such harmony of goodness did preserve | |
| <TR><TD> As nature never built in better kind; | |
| <TR><TD> Knowing the best, and therefore not presuming | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>110<TD> In knowing, but for that it was the best, | |
| <TR><TD> Ever within himself free choice resuming | |
| <TR><TD> Of true perfection, in a perfect breast; | |
| <TR><TD> So that his mind and body made an inn, | |
| <TR><TD> The one to lodge the other, both like framed | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>115<TD> For fair conditions, guests that soonest win | |
| <TR><TD> Applause; in generality, well famed, | |
| <TR><TD> If trim behavior, gestures mild, discreet | |
| <TR><TD> Endeavors, modest speech, beseeming mirth, | |
| <TR><TD> True friendship, active grace, persuasion sweet, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>120<TD> Delightful love innated from his birth, | |
| <TR><TD> Acquaintance unfamiliar, carriage just, | |
| <TR><TD> Offenseless resolution, wished sobriety, | |
| <TR><TD> Clean-tempered moderation, steady trust, | |
| <TR><TD> Unburthened conscience, unfeigned piety; | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>125<TD> If these, or all of these, knit fast in one | |
| <TR><TD> Can merit praise, then justly may we say, | |
| <TR><TD> Not any from this frailer stage is gone | |
| <TR><TD> Whose name is like to live a longer day. . . | |
| <TR><TD> Though not in eminent courts or places great | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>130<TD> For popular concourse, yet in that soil | |
| <TR><TD> Where he enjoyed his birth, life, death, and seat | |
| <TR><TD> Which now sits mourning his untimely spoil. | |
| <TR><TD> And as much glory is it to be good | |
| <TR><TD> For private persons, in their private home, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>135<TD> As those descended from illustrious blood | |
| <TR><TD> In public view of greatness, whence they come. | |
| <TR><TD> Though I, rewarded with some sadder taste | |
| <TR><TD> Of knowing shame, by feeling it have proved | |
| <TR><TD> My country's thankless misconstruction cast | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>140<TD> Upon my name and credit, both unloved | |
| <TR><TD> By some whose fortunes, sunk into the wane | |
| <TR><TD> Of plenty and desert, have strove to win | |
| <TR><TD> Justice by wrong, and sifted to embane | |
| <TR><TD> My reputation with a witless sin; | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>145<TD> Yet time, the father of unblushing truth, | |
| <TR><TD> May one day lay ope malice which hath crossed it, | |
| <TR><TD> And right the hopes of my endangered youth, | |
| <TR><TD> Purchasing credit in the place I lost it. | |
| <TR><TD> Even in which place the subject of the verse | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>150<TD> (Unhappy matter of a mourning style | |
| <TR><TD> Which now that subject's merits doth rehearse) | |
| <TR><TD> Had education and new being; while | |
| <TR><TD> By fair demeanor he had won repute | |
| <TR><TD> Amongst the all of all that lived there, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>155<TD> For that his actions did so wholly suit | |
| <TR><TD> With worthiness, still memorable here. | |
| <TR><TD> The many hours till the day of doom | |
| <TR><TD> Will not consume his life and hapless end, | |
| <TR><TD> For should he lie obscured without a tomb, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>160<TD> Time would to time his honesty commend; | |
| <TR><TD> Whiles parents to their children will make known, | |
| <TR><TD> And they to their posterity impart, | |
| <TR><TD> How such a man was sadly overthrown | |
| <TR><TD> By a hand guided by a cruel heart, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>165<TD> Whereof as many as shall hear that sadness | |
| <TR><TD> Will blame the one's hard fate, the other's madness; | |
| <TR><TD> Whiles such as do recount that tale of woe, | |
| <TR><TD> Told by remembrance of the wisest heads, | |
| <TR><TD> Will in the end conclude the matter so, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>170<TD> As they will all go weeping to their beds. | |
| <TR><TD> For when the world lies wintered in the storms | |
| <TR><TD> Of fearful consummation, and lays down | |
| <TR><TD> Th' unsteady change of his fantastic forms, | |
| <TR><TD> Expecting ever to be overthrown; | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>175<TD> When the proud height of much affected sin | |
| <TR><TD> Shall ripen to a head, and in that pride | |
| <TR><TD> End in the miseries it did begin | |
| <TR><TD> And fall amidst the glory of his tide; | |
| <TR><TD> Then in a book where every work is writ | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>180<TD> Shall this man's actions be revealed, to show | |
| <TR><TD> The gainful fruit of well-employed wit, | |
| <TR><TD> Which paid to heaven the debt that it did owe. | |
| <TR><TD> Here shall be reckoned up the constant faith, | |
| <TR><TD> Never untrue, where once he love professed; | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>185<TD> Which is a miracle in men, one saith, | |
| <TR><TD> Long sought though rarely found, and he is best | |
| <TR><TD> Who can make friendship, in those times of change, | |
| <TR><TD> Admired more for being firm than strange. | |
| <TR><TD> When those weak houses of our brittle flesh | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>190<TD> Shall ruined be by death, our grace and strength, | |
| <TR><TD> Youth, memory and shape that made us fresh | |
| <TR><TD> Cast down, and utterly decayed at length; | |
| <TR><TD> When all shall turn to dust from whence we came | |
| <TR><TD> And we low-leveled in a narrow grave, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>195<TD> What can we leave behind us but a name, | |
| <TR><TD> Which, by a life well led, may honor have? | |
| <TR><TD> Such honor, O thou youth untimely lost, | |
| <TR><TD> Thou didst deserve and hast; for though thy soul | |
| <TR><TD> Hath took her flight to a diviner coast, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>200<TD> Yet here on earth thy fame lives ever whole, | |
| <TR><TD> In every heart sealed up, in every tongue | |
| <TR><TD> Fit matter to discourse, no day prevented | |
| <TR><TD> That pities not thy sad and sudden wrong, | |
| <TR><TD> Of all alike beloved and lamented. | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>205<TD> And I here to thy memorable worth, | |
| <TR><TD> In this last act of friendship, sacrifice | |
| <TR><TD> My love to thee, which I could not set forth | |
| <TR><TD> In any other habit of disguise. | |
| <TR><TD> Although I could not learn, whiles yet thou wert, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>210<TD> To speak the language of a servile breath, | |
| <TR><TD> My truth stole from my tongue into my heart, | |
| <TR><TD> Which shall not thence be sundered, but in death. | |
| <TR><TD> And I confess my love was too remiss | |
| <TR><TD> That had not made thee know how much I prized thee, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>215<TD> But that mine error was, as yet it is, | |
| <TR><TD> To think love best in silence: for I sized thee | |
| <TR><TD> By what I would have been, not only ready | |
| <TR><TD> In telling I was thine, but being so, | |
| <TR><TD> By some effect to show it. He is steady | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>220<TD> Who seems less than he is in open show. | |
| <TR><TD> Since then I still reserved to try the worst | |
| <TR><TD> Which hardest fate and time thus can lay on me. | |
| <TR><TD> T' enlarge my thoughts was hindered at first, | |
| <TR><TD> While thou hadst life; I took this task upon me, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>225<TD> To register with mine unhappy pen | |
| <TR><TD> Such duties as it owes to thy desert, | |
| <TR><TD> And set thee as a president to men, | |
| <TR><TD> And limn thee to the world but as thou wert. . . | |
| <TR><TD> Not hired, as heaven can witness in my soul, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>230<TD> By vain conceit, to please such ones as know it, | |
| <TR><TD> Nor servile to be liked, free from control, | |
| <TR><TD> Which, pain to many men, I do not owe it. | |
| <TR><TD> But here I trust I have discharged now | |
| <TR><TD> (Fair lovely branch too soon cut off) to thee, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>235<TD> My constant and irrefragable vow, | |
| <TR><TD> As, had it chanced, thou mightst have done to me. . . | |
| <TR><TD> But that no merit strong enough of mine | |
| <TR><TD> Had yielded store to thy well-abled quill | |
| <TR><TD> Whereby t' enroll my name, as this of thine, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>240<TD> How s'ere enriched by thy plenteous skill. | |
| <TR><TD> Here, then, I offer up to memory | |
| <TR><TD> The value of my talent, precious man, | |
| <TR><TD> Whereby if thou live to posterity, | |
| <TR><TD> Though 't be not as I would, 'tis as I can: | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>245<TD> In minds from whence endeavor doth proceed, | |
| <TR><TD> A ready will is taken for the deed. | |
| <TR><TD> Yet ere I take my longest last farewell | |
| <TR><TD> From thee, fair mark of sorrow, let me frame | |
| <TR><TD> Some ampler work of thank, wherein to tell | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>250<TD> What more thou didst deserve than in thy name, | |
| <TR><TD> And free thee from the scandal of such senses | |
| <TR><TD> As in the rancor of unhappy spleen | |
| <TR><TD> Measure thy course of life, with false pretenses | |
| <TR><TD> Comparing by thy death what thou hast been. | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>255<TD> So in his mischiefs is the world accursed: | |
| <TR><TD> It picks out matter to inform the worst. | |
| <TR><TD> The willful blindness that hoodwinks the eyes | |
| <TR><TD> Of men enwrapped in an earthy veil | |
| <TR><TD> Makes them most ignorantly exercise | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>260<TD> And yield to humor when it doth assail, | |
| <TR><TD> Whereby the candle and the body's light | |
| <TR><TD> Darkens the inward eyesight of the mind, | |
| <TR><TD> Presuming still it sees, even in the night | |
| <TR><TD> Of that same ignorance which makes them blind. | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>265<TD> Hence conster they with corrupt commentaries, | |
| <TR><TD> Proceeding from a nature as corrupt, | |
| <TR><TD> The text of malice, which so often varies | |
| <TR><TD> As 'tis by seeming reason underpropped. | |
| <TR><TD> O, whither tends the lamentable spite | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>270<TD> Of this world's teenful apprehension, | |
| <TR><TD> Which understands all things amiss, whose light | |
| <TR><TD> Shines not amidst the dark of their dissension? | |
| <TR><TD> True 'tis, this man, whiles yet he was a man, | |
| <TR><TD> Soothed not the current of besotted fashion, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>275<TD> Nor could disgest, as some loose mimics can, | |
| <TR><TD> An empty sound of overweening passion, | |
| <TR><TD> So much to be made servant to the base | |
| <TR><TD> And sensual aptness of disunioned vices, | |
| <TR><TD> To purchase commendation by disgrace, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>280<TD> Whereto the world and heat of sin entices. | |
| <TR><TD> But in a safer contemplation, | |
| <TR><TD> Secure in what he knew, he ever chose | |
| <TR><TD> The ready way to commendation, | |
| <TR><TD> By shunning all invitements strange, of those | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>285<TD> Whose illness is, the necessary praise | |
| <TR><TD> Must wait upon their actions; only rare | |
| <TR><TD> In being rare in shame (which strives to raise | |
| <TR><TD> Their name by doing what they do not care), | |
| <TR><TD> As if the free commission of their ill | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>290<TD> Were even as boundless as their prompt desires; | |
| <TR><TD> Only like lords, like subjects to their will, | |
| <TR><TD> Which their fond dotage ever more admires. | |
| <TR><TD> He was not so: but in a serious awe, | |
| <TR><TD> Ruling the little ordered commonwealth | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>295<TD> Of his own self, with honor to the law | |
| <TR><TD> That gave peace to his bread, bread to his health; | |
| <TR><TD> Which ever he maintained in sweet content | |
| <TR><TD> And pleasurable rest, wherein he joyed | |
| <TR><TD> A monarchy of comfort's government, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>300<TD> Never until his last to be destroyed. | |
| <TR><TD> For in the vineyard of heaven-favored learning | |
| <TR><TD> Where he was double-honored in degree, | |
| <TR><TD> His observation and discreet discerning | |
| <TR><TD> Had taught him in both fortunes to be free; | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>305<TD> Whence now retired home, to a home indeed | |
| <TR><TD> The home of his condition and estate, | |
| <TR><TD> He well provided 'gainst the hand of need, | |
| <TR><TD> Whence young men sometime grow unfortunate; | |
| <TR><TD> His disposition, by the bonds of unity, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>310<TD> So fastened to his reason that it strove | |
| <TR><TD> With understanding's grave immunity | |
| <TR><TD> To purchase from all hearts a steady love; | |
| <TR><TD> Wherein not any one thing comprehends | |
| <TR><TD> Proportionable note of what he was, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>315<TD> Than that he was so constant to his friends | |
| <TR><TD> As he would no occasion overpass | |
| <TR><TD> Which might make known his unaffected care, | |
| <TR><TD> In all respects of trial, to unlock | |
| <TR><TD> His bosom and his store, which did declare | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>320<TD> That Christ was his, and he was friendship's rock: | |
| <TR><TD> A rock of friendship figured in his name, | |
| <TR><TD> Foreshowing what he was, and what should be, | |
| <TR><TD> Most true presage; and he discharged the same | |
| <TR><TD> In every act of perfect amity. | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>325<TD> Though in the complemental phrase of words | |
| <TR><TD> He never was addicted to the vain | |
| <TR><TD> Of boast, such as the common breath affords; | |
| <TR><TD> He was in use most fast, in tongue most plain, | |
| <TR><TD> Nor amongst all those virtues that forever | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>330<TD> Adorned his reputation will be found | |
| <TR><TD> One greater than his faith, which did persever, | |
| <TR><TD> Where once it was protested, alway sound. | |
| <TR><TD> Hence sprung the deadly fuel that revived | |
| <TR><TD> The rage which wrought his end, for had he been | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>335<TD> Slacker in love, he had been longer lived | |
| <TR><TD> And not oppressed by wrath's unhappy sin. . . | |
| <TR><TD> By wrath's unhappy sin, which unadvised | |
| <TR><TD> Gave death for free good will, and wounds for love. | |
| <TR><TD> Pity it was that blood had not been prized | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>340<TD> At higher rate, and reason set above | |
| <TR><TD> Most unjust choler, which untimely drew | |
| <TR><TD> Destruction on itself; and most unjust, | |
| <TR><TD> Robbed virtue of a follower so true | |
| <TR><TD> As time can boast of, both for love and trust: | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>345<TD> So henceforth all (great glory to his blood) | |
| <TR><TD> Shall be but seconds to him, being good. | |
| <TR><TD> The wicked end their honor with their sin | |
| <TR><TD> In death, which only then the good begin. | |
| <TR><TD> Lo, here a lesson by experience taught | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>350<TD> For men whose pure simplicity hath drawn | |
| <TR><TD> Their trust to be betrayed by being caught | |
| <TR><TD> Within the snares of making truth a pawn; | |
| <TR><TD> Whiles it, not doubting whereinto it enters, | |
| <TR><TD> Without true proof and knowledge of a friend, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>355<TD> Sincere in singleness of heart, adventers | |
| <TR><TD> To give fit cause, ere love begin to end: | |
| <TR><TD> His unfeigned friendship where it least was sought, | |
| <TR><TD> Him to a fatal timeless ruin brought; | |
| <TR><TD> Whereby the life that purity adorned | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>360<TD> With real merit, by this sudden end | |
| <TR><TD> Is in the mouth of some in manner scorned, | |
| <TR><TD> Made questionable, for they do intend, | |
| <TR><TD> According to the tenor of the saw | |
| <TR><TD> Mistook, if not observed (writ long ago | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>365<TD> When men were only led by reason's law), | |
| <TR><TD> That "Such as is the end, the life proves so." | |
| <TR><TD> Thus he, who to the universal lapse | |
| <TR><TD> Gave sweet redemption, offering up his blood | |
| <TR><TD> To conquer death by death, and loose the traps | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>370<TD> Of hell, even in the triumph that it stood: | |
| <TR><TD> He thus, for that his guiltless life was spilt | |
| <TR><TD> By death, which was made subject to the curse, | |
| <TR><TD> Might in like manner be reproved of guilt | |
| <TR><TD> In his pure life, for that his end was worse. | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>375<TD> But O far be it, our unholy lips | |
| <TR><TD> Should so profane the deity above | |
| <TR><TD> As thereby to ordain revenging whips | |
| <TR><TD> Against the day of judgment and of love. | |
| <TR><TD> The hand that lends us honor in our days | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>380<TD> May shorten when it please, and justly take | |
| <TR><TD> Our honor from us many sundry ways, | |
| <TR><TD> As best becomes that wisdom did us make. | |
| <TR><TD> The second brother, who was next begot | |
| <TR><TD> Of all that ever were begotten yet, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>385<TD> Was by a hand in vengeance rude and hot | |
| <TR><TD> Sent innocent to be in heaven set. | |
| <TR><TD> Whose fame the angels in melodious choirs | |
| <TR><TD> Still witness to the world. Then why should he, | |
| <TR><TD> Well-profited in excellent desires, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>390<TD> Be more rebuked, who had like destiny? | |
| <TR><TD> Those saints before the everlasting throne | |
| <TR><TD> Who sit with crowns of glory on their heads, | |
| <TR><TD> Washed white in blood, from earth hence have not gone | |
| <TR><TD> All to their joys in quiet on their beds, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>395<TD> But tasted of the sour-bitter scourge | |
| <TR><TD> Of torture and affliction ere they gained | |
| <TR><TD> Those blessings which their sufferance did urge, | |
| <TR><TD> Whereby the grace fore-promised they attained. | |
| <TR><TD> Let then the false suggestions of the froward, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>400<TD> Building large castles in the empty air, | |
| <TR><TD> By suppositions fond and thoughts untoward | |
| <TR><TD> (Issues of discontent and sick despair) | |
| <TR><TD> Rebound gross arguments upon their heart | |
| <TR><TD> That may disprove their malice, and confound | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>405<TD> Uncivil loose opinions which insert | |
| <TR><TD> Their souls into the roll that doth unsound | |
| <TR><TD> Betraying policies, and show their brains, | |
| <TR><TD> Unto their shame, ridiculous; whose scope | |
| <TR><TD> Is envy, whose endeavors fruitless pains, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>410<TD> In nothing surely prosperous, but hope. . . | |
| <TR><TD> And that same hope, so lame, so unprevailing, | |
| <TR><TD> It buries self-conceit in weak opinion; | |
| <TR><TD> Which being crossed, gives matter of bewailing | |
| <TR><TD> Their vain designs, on whom want hath dominion. | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>415<TD> Such, and of such condition, may devise | |
| <TR><TD> Which way to wound with defamation's spirit | |
| <TR><TD> (Close-lurking whisper's hidden forgeries) | |
| <TR><TD> His taintless goodness, his desertful merit. | |
| <TR><TD> But whiles the minds of men can judge sincerely, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>420<TD> Upon assured knowledge, his repute | |
| <TR><TD> And estimation shall be rumored clearly | |
| <TR><TD> In equal worth--time shall to time renew 't. | |
| <TR><TD> The grave, that in his ever-empty womb | |
| <TR><TD> Forever closes up the unrespected, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>425<TD> Who when they die, die all, shall not entomb | |
| <TR><TD> His pleading best perfections as neglected. | |
| <TR><TD> They to his notice in succeeding years | |
| <TR><TD> Shall speak for him when he shall lie below; | |
| <TR><TD> When nothing but his memory appears | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>430<TD> Of what he was, then shall his virtues grow. | |
| <TR><TD> His being but a private man in rank | |
| <TR><TD> (And yet not ranked beneath a gentleman) | |
| <TR><TD> Shall not abridge the commendable thank | |
| <TR><TD> Which wise posterity shall give him then; | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>435<TD> For nature, and his therein happy fate. | |
| <TR><TD> Ordained that by his quality of mind | |
| <TR><TD> T' ennoble that best part, although his state | |
| <TR><TD> Were to a lower blessedness confined. | |
| <TR><TD> Blood, pomp, state, honor, glory and command, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>440<TD> Without fit ornaments of disposition, | |
| <TR><TD> Are in themselves but heathenish and profaned, | |
| <TR><TD> And much more peaceful is a mean condition | |
| <TR><TD> Which, underneath the roof of safe content, | |
| <TR><TD> Feeds on the bread of rest, and takes delight | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>445<TD> To look upon the labors it hath spent | |
| <TR><TD> For its own sustenance, both day and night; | |
| <TR><TD> Whiles others, plotting which way to be great, | |
| <TR><TD> How to augment their portion and ambition, | |
| <TR><TD> Do toil their giddy brains, and ever sweat | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>450<TD> For popular applause and power's commission. | |
| <TR><TD> But one in honors, like a seeled dove | |
| <TR><TD> Whose inward eyes are dimmed with dignity, | |
| <TR><TD> Does think most safety doth remain above, | |
| <TR><TD> And seeks to be secure by mounting high: | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>455<TD> Whence, when he falls, who did erewhile aspire, | |
| <TR><TD> Falls deeper down, for that he climbed higher. | |
| <TR><TD> Now men who in lower region live | |
| <TR><TD> Exempt from danger of authority | |
| <TR><TD> Have fittest times in reason's rules to thrive, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>460<TD> Not vexed with envy of priority, | |
| <TR><TD> And those are much more noble in the mind | |
| <TR><TD> Than many that have nobleness by kind. | |
| <TR><TD> Birth, blood, and ancestors, are none of ours, | |
| <TR><TD> Nor can we make a proper challenge to them | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>465<TD> But virtues and perfections in our powers | |
| <TR><TD> Proceed most truly from us, if we do them. | |
| <TR><TD> Respective titles or a gracious style, | |
| <TR><TD> With all what men in eminence possess, | |
| <TR><TD> Are, without ornaments to praise them, vile: | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>470<TD> The beauty of the mind is nobleness. | |
| <TR><TD> And such as have that beauty, well deserve | |
| <TR><TD> Eternal characters, that after death | |
| <TR><TD> Remembrance of their worth we may preserve, | |
| <TR><TD> So that their glory die not with their breath. | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>475<TD> Else what avails it in a goodly strife | |
| <TR><TD> Upon this face of earth here to contend, | |
| <TR><TD> The good t' exceed the wicked in their life, | |
| <TR><TD> Should both be like obscured in their end? | |
| <TR><TD> Until which end, there is none rightly can | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>480<TD> Be termed happy, since the happiness | |
| <TR><TD> Depends upon the goodness of the man, | |
| <TR><TD> Which afterwards his praises will express. | |
| <TR><TD> Look hither then, you that enjoy the youth | |
| <TR><TD> Of your best days, and see how unexpected | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>485<TD> Death can betray your jollity to ruth | |
| <TR><TD> When death you think is least to be respected! | |
| <TR><TD> The person of this model here set out | |
| <TR><TD> Had all that youth and happy days could give him, | |
| <TR><TD> Yet could not all-encompass him about | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>490<TD> Against th' assault of death, who to relieve him | |
| <TR><TD> Strook home but to the frail and mortal parts | |
| <TR><TD> Of his humanity, but could not touch | |
| <TR><TD> His flourishing and fair long-lived deserts, | |
| <TR><TD> Above fate's reach, his singleness was such. | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>495<TD> So that he dies but once, but doubly lives, | |
| <TR><TD> Once in his proper self, then in his name; | |
| <TR><TD> Predestinated time, who all deprives, | |
| <TR><TD> Could never yet deprive him of the same. | |
| <TR><TD> And had the genius which attended on him | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>500<TD> Been possibilited to keep him safe | |
| <TR><TD> Against the rigor that hath overgone him, | |
| <TR><TD> He had been to the public use a staff, | |
| <TR><TD> Leading by his example in the path | |
| <TR><TD> Which guides to doing well, wherein so few | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>505<TD> The proneness of this age to error hath | |
| <TR><TD> Informed rightly in the courses true. | |
| <TR><TD> As then the loss of one, whose inclination | |
| <TR><TD> Stove to win love in general, is sad, | |
| <TR><TD> So specially his friends, in soft compassion | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>510<TD> Do feel the greatest loss they could have had. | |
| <TR><TD> Amongst them all, she who those nine of years | |
| <TR><TD> Lived fellow to his counsels and his bed | |
| <TR><TD> Hath the most share in loss; for I in hers | |
| <TR><TD> Feel what distemperature this chance hath bred. | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>515<TD> The chaste embracements of conjugal love, | |
| <TR><TD> Who in a mutual harmony consent, | |
| <TR><TD> Are so impatient of a strange remove | |
| <TR><TD> As meager death itself seems to lament, | |
| <TR><TD> And weep upon those cheeks which nature framed | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>520<TD> To be delightful orbs in whom the force | |
| <TR><TD> Of lively sweetness plays, so that ashamed | |
| <TR><TD> Death often pities his unkind divorce. | |
| <TR><TD> Such was the separation here constrained | |
| <TR><TD> (Well-worthy to be termed a rudeness rather), | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>525<TD> For in his life his love was so unfeigned | |
| <TR><TD> As he was both an husband and a father. . . | |
| <TR><TD> The one in firm affection and the other | |
| <TR><TD> In careful providence, which ever strove | |
| <TR><TD> With joint assistance to grace one another | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>530<TD> With every helpful furtherance of love. | |
| <TR><TD> But since the sum of all that can be said | |
| <TR><TD> Can be but said that "He was good" (which wholly | |
| <TR><TD> Includes all excellence can be displayed | |
| <TR><TD> In praise of virtue and reproach of folly). | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>535<TD> His due deserts, this sentence on him gives, | |
| <TR><TD> "He died in life, yet in his death he lives." | |
| <TR><TD> Now runs the method of this doleful song | |
| <TR><TD> In accents brief to thee, O thou deceased! | |
| <TR><TD> To whom those pains do only all belong | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>540<TD> As witnesses I did not love thee least. | |
| <TR><TD> For could my worthless brain find out but how | |
| <TR><TD> To raise thee from the sepulcher of dust, | |
| <TR><TD> Undoubtedly thou shouldst have partage now | |
| <TR><TD> Of life with me, and heaven be counted just | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>545<TD> If to a supplicating soul it would | |
| <TR><TD> Give life anew, by giving life again | |
| <TR><TD> Where life is missed; whereby discomfort should | |
| <TR><TD> Right his old griefs, and former joys retain | |
| <TR><TD> Which now with thee are leaped into thy tomb | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>550<TD> And buried in that hollow vault of woe, | |
| <TR><TD> Expecting yet a more severer doom | |
| <TR><TD> Than time's strict flinty hand will let 'em know. | |
| <TR><TD> And now if I have leveled mine account | |
| <TR><TD> And reckoned up in a true measured score | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>555<TD> Those perfect graces which were ever wont | |
| <TR><TD> To wait on thee alive, I ask no more | |
| <TR><TD> (But shall hereafter in a poor content | |
| <TR><TD> Immure those imputations I sustain, | |
| <TR><TD> Learning my days of youth so to prevent | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>560<TD> As not to be cast down by them again); | |
| <TR><TD> Only those hopes which fate denies to grant | |
| <TR><TD> In full possession to a captive heart | |
| <TR><TD> Who, if it were in plenty, still would want | |
| <TR><TD> Before it may enjoy his better part: | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>565<TD> From which detained, and banished in th' exile | |
| <TR><TD> Of dim misfortune, has none other prop | |
| <TR><TD> Whereon to lean and rest itself the while | |
| <TR><TD> But the weak comfort of the hapless, "hope." | |
| <TR><TD> And hope must in despite of fearful change | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>570<TD> Play in the strongest closet of my breast, | |
| <TR><TD> Although perhaps I ignorantly range | |
| <TR><TD> And court opinion in my deep'st unrest. | |
| <TR><TD> But whether doth the stream of my mischance | |
| <TR><TD> Drive me beyond myself, fast friend, soon lost, | |
| <TR VALIGN=top><TD ROWSPAN=5>575<TD> Long may thy worthiness thy name advance | |
| <TR><TD> Amongst the virtuous and deserving most, | |
| <TR><TD> Who herein hast forever happy proved: | |
| <TR><TD> In life thou lived'st, in death thou died'st beloved. | |
| </TABLE> | |
| </BODY> | |
| </HTML> | |