AN EPITAPH ON THE MARCHIONESS OF WINCHESTER. THIS rich marble doth inter A Viscount's daughter, an Earl's heir, Besides what her virtues fair Added to her noble birth, More than she could own from earth. After so short time of breath, To house with darkness, and with death. Been as complete as was her praise, Nature and Fate had had no strife In giving limit to her life. Her high birth, and her graces sweet, Quickly found a lover meet; The virgin quire for her request The God that sits at marriage feast; He at their invoking came, But with a scarce well-lighted flame; And in his garland, as he stood, Ye might discern a cypress bud. Once had the early matrons run But, whether by mischance or blame, So have I seen some tender slip, Which the sad morn had let fall ON THE DEATH OF A FAIR INFANT, DYING OF A COUGH. I. O FAIREST flower, no sooner blown but blasted, Soft silken primrose fading timelessly, Summer's chief honour, if thou hadst out-lasted Bleak Winter's force that made thy blossom dry; For he, being amorous on that lovely dye That did thy cheek envermeil, thought to kiss, But kill'd, alas! and then bewail'd his fatal bliss. II. For since grim Aquilo, his charioteer, Of long-uncoupled bed and childless eld, Which, 'mongst the wanton Gods, a foul reproach So mounting up in icy-pearled car, But, all unwares, with his cold kind embrace Unhous'd thy virgin soul from her fair biding place. IV. Yet art thou not inglorious in thy fate; V. Yet can I not persuade me thou art dead, Or that thy corse corrupts in earth's dark womb, Or that thy beauties lie in wormy bed, Hid from the world in a low-delved tomb; Could Heaven for pity thee so strictly doom? Oh no! for something in thy face did shine Above mortality, that show'd thou wast divine. VI. Resolve me then, oh Soul most surely blest, VII. Wert thou some star which from the ruin'd roof Of sheeny Heaven, and thou, some Goddess fled, Amongst us here below to hide thy nectar'd head? VIII. Or wert thou that just Maid, who once before Or wert thou Mercy, that sweet-smiling youth? |