Part 28

Death I recant, and say, unsaid by mee What ere hath slip'd, that might diminish thee. Spirituall treason, atheisme 'tis, to say, That any can thy Summons disobey. Th'earths face is but thy Table; there are set 5 Plants, cattell, men, dishes for Death to eate. In a rude hunger now hee millions drawes Into his bloody, or plaguy, or sterv'd jawes. Now hee will seeme to spare, and doth more wast, Eating the best first, well preserv'd to last. 10 Now wantonly he spoiles, and eates us not, But breakes off friends, and lets us peecemeale rot. Nor will this earth serve him; he sinkes the deepe Where harmelesse fish monastique silence keepe, Who (were Death dead) by Roes of living sand, 15 Might spunge that element, and make it land. He rounds the aire, and breakes the hymnique notes In birds (Heavens choristers,) organique throats, Which (if they did not dye) might seeme to bee A tenth ranke in the heavenly hierarchie. 20 O strong and long-liv'd death, how cam'st thou in? And how without Creation didst begin? Thou hast, and shalt see dead, before thou dyest, All the foure Monarchies, and Antichrist. How could I thinke thee nothing, that see now 25 In all this All, nothing else is, but thou. Our births and lives, vices, and vertues, bee Wastfull consumptions, and degrees of thee. For, wee to live, our bellowes weare, and breath, Nor are wee mortall, dying, dead, but death. 30 And though thou beest, O mighty bird of prey, So much reclaim'd by God, that thou must lay All that thou kill'st at his feet, yet doth hee Reserve but few, and leaves the most to thee. And of those few, now thou hast overthrowne 35 One whom thy blow makes, not ours, nor thine own. She was more stories high: hopelesse to come To her Soule, thou'hast offer'd at her lower roome. Her Soule and body was a King and Court: But thou hast both of Captaine mist and fort. 40 As houses fall not, though the King remove, Bodies of Saints rest for their soules above. Death gets 'twixt soules and bodies such a place As sinne insinuates 'twixt just men and grace, Both worke a separation, no divorce. 45 Her Soule is gone to usher up her corse Which shall be'almost another soule, for there Bodies are purer, then best Soules are here, Because in her, her virtues did outgoe Her yeares, would'st thou, O emulous death, do so? 50 And kill her young to thy losse? must the cost Of beauty,'and wit, apt to doe harme, be lost? What though thou found'st her proofe 'gainst sins of youth? Oh, every age a diverse sinne pursueth. Thou should'st have stay'd, and taken better hold, 55 Shortly, ambitious; covetous, when old, She might have prov'd: and such devotion Might once have stray'd to superstition. If all her vertues must have growne, yet might Abundant virtue'have bred a proud delight. 60 Had she persever'd just, there would have bin Some that would sinne, mis-thinking she did sinne. Such as would call her friendship, love, and faine To sociablenesse, a name profane; Or sinne, by tempting, or, not daring that, 65 By wishing, though they never told her what. Thus might'st thou'have slain more soules, had'st thou not crost Thy selfe, and to triumph, thine army lost. Yet though these wayes be lost, thou hast left one, Which is, immoderate griefe that she is gone. 70 But we may scape that sinne, yet weepe as much, Our teares are due, because we are not such. Some teares, that knot of friends, her death must cost, Because the chaine is broke, though no linke lost.

[Elegie on M^{ris} Boulstred. _1633-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _in_ _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_ _this and the_ Elegie, Death, be not proud (_p._ 416) _are given as one poem_. _See note_]

[5 there are set] and the meate _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _TC_]

[6 dishes _1633_, _1650-69:_ dished _1635-39_, _A18_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _S96_, _TC_]

[10 first,] fruite _or_ fruites _A18_, _H49_, _L74_, _N_, _TC:_ first fruit _P_]

[14 keepe, _1635-39:_ keepe. _1633_, _1650-69_]

[15 by Roes _1633:_ the Roes _1635-54:_ the Rows _1669:_ by rows _A18_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_, _TC_]

[18 birds _Ed:_ birds, _1633-69_ (Heavens choristers)] _brackets from HN_]

[27 lives, _1635-69_, _A25_, _Cy_, _O'F_, _P_, _S:_ lifes, _HN:_ life, _1633_, _A18_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _Lec_, _N_, _TC_]

[34 to thee. _1633:_ for thee. _1635-69_]

[35 thou hast _1633-69:_ hast thou _HN_]

[36 blow] blow, _1633_]

[41 King _1633_, _A18_, _A25_, _B_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _HN_, _Lec_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _TC:_ Kings _1635-69_]

[45 worke _1633-69_, _HN_, _O'F_, _S:_ workes _A18_, _Cy_, _D_, _H49_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _TC:_ makes _Lec_. _See note_]

[56 Shortly,] Shortly _1633_

ambitious; _1635-69:_ ambitious, _1633_]

[62 mis-thinking] mistaking _Cy_, _HN_, _O'F_ (_but altered to text_)]

[64 profane; _1669:_ profane, _1635-54:_ profane. _1633_]

[74 though _1635-69_, _A18_, _A25_, _HN_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_, _TC:_ but _1633_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _Lec_]

[_Here follow in 1635-54_ By our first strange (_p._ 111), Madame, That I (_p._ 291), _and_ Death be not proud, (_p._ 422). _In 1669_ My Fortune and (_p._ 292) _precedes_ Madame, That I]

ELEGIE.

_Death._

Language thou art too narrow, and too weake To ease us now; great sorrow cannot speake; If we could sigh out accents, and weepe words, Griefe weares, and lessens, that tears breath affords. Sad hearts, the lesse they seeme the more they are, 5 (So guiltiest men stand mutest at the barre) Not that they know not, feele not their estate, But extreme sense hath made them desperate. Sorrow, to whom we owe all that we bee; Tyrant, in the fift and greatest Monarchy, 10 Was't, that she did possesse all hearts before, Thou hast kil'd her, to make thy Empire more? Knew'st thou some would, that knew her not, lament, As in a deluge perish th'innocent? Was't not enough to have that palace wonne, 15 But thou must raze it too, that was undone? Had'st thou staid there, and look'd out at her eyes, All had ador'd thee that now from thee flies, For they let out more light, then they tooke in, They told not when, but did the day beginne. 20 She was too Saphirine, and cleare for thee; Clay, flint, and jeat now thy fit dwellings be; Alas, shee was too pure, but not too weake; Who e'r saw Christall Ordinance but would break? And if wee be thy conquest, by her fall 25 Th'hast lost thy end, for in her perish all; Or if we live, we live but to rebell, They know her better now, that knew her well. If we should vapour out, and pine, and die; Since, shee first went, that were not miserie. 30 Shee chang'd our world with hers; now she is gone, Mirth and prosperity is oppression; For of all morall vertues she was all, The Ethicks speake of vertues Cardinall. Her soule was Paradise; the Cherubin 35 Set to keepe it was grace, that kept out sinne. Shee had no more then let in death, for wee All reape consumption from one fruitfull tree. God tooke her hence, lest some of us should love Her, like that plant, him and his lawes above, 40 And when wee teares, hee mercy shed in this, To raise our mindes to heaven where now she is; Who if her vertues would have let her stay Wee'had had a Saint, have now a holiday. Her heart was that strange bush, where, sacred fire, 45 Religion, did not consume, but'inspire Such piety, so chast use of Gods day, That what we turne to _feast_, she turn'd to _pray_, And did prefigure here, in devout tast, The rest of her high Sabaoth, which shall last. 50 Angels did hand her up, who next God dwell, (For she was of that order whence most fell) Her body left with us, lest some had said, Shee could not die, except they saw her dead; For from lesse vertue, and lesse beautiousnesse, 55 The Gentiles fram'd them Gods and Goddesses. The ravenous earth that now wooes her to be Earth too, will be a _Lemnia_; and the tree That wraps that christall in a wooden Tombe, Shall be tooke up spruce, fill'd with diamond; 60 And we her sad glad friends all beare a part Of griefe, for all would waste a Stoicks heart.

[Elegie. _1633:_ Elegie XI. Death. _1635-54_ (_being places among the_ Elegies): Elegie XI. _1669:_ An Elegie upon the death of M^{ris} Boulstred. _A18_, _B_, _Cy_, _H40_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _TCC_, _TCD:_ _no title, HN_]

[2 sorrow _1633_, _B_, _Cy_, _H40_, _HN_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _TC:_ sorrowes _1635-69_, _O'F_, _S_]

[8 desperate. _Ed:_ desperate; _1633-69_]

[10 Tyrant, _1633_, _1669_ (_no comma_): Tyran, _1635-54_]

[20 beginne. _Ed:_ beginne; _1633-69_]

[21 for _1635-69:_ to _1633_]

[26 for in her _1633 and all the MSS.:_ in her we _1635-69_, _Chambers_]

[28 They ... that ... well; _1633_, _Cy_, _H40_, _HN_, _L74_, _N_, _S_, _TC:_ That know her better now, who knew her well. _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _P_, _S96_]

[29 and pine, and] or pine, or _Cy_, _H40_, _HN_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96:_ or pine, and _L74_, _TCC_]

[30 miserie. _Ed:_ miserie; _1633-69_]

[34 The Ethicks speake _1633_, _A18_, _Cy_, _H40_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _TC:_ That Ethickes speake _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_, _S:_ The ethenickes spake _HN_

Cardinall. _Ed:_ Cardinall; _1633-69_]

[36 that kept out] to keep out _HN_, _P_

sinne. _Ed:_ sinne; _1633-69_]

[37 She had no more; then let in death for we _1669_]

[38 tree. _Ed:_ tree; _1633-69_]

[41-2 And when we see his mercy shewne in this 'Twill _&c._ _S_]

[44 holiday. _Ed:_ holiday; _1633-69_

_All the MSS. omit_ have, _but O'F inserts it later_]

[48 That what _1633-69:_ That when _HN_

turne] turn'd _Cy_, _HN_, _P_, _S96_

to _feast_, _Ed:_ to feast, _1633-69_

feast] feasts _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _TC_

to _pray_, _Ed:_ to pray, _1633-69_]

[50 last.] last; _1633_]

[53 Her body left _1633_, _A18_, _HN_, _N_, _TC:_ Her bodie's left _1635-69_]

[56 fram'd] fain'd _Cy_, _P:_ form'd _H40_, _HN_]

[57 wooes] woes _1633_

be] be, _1633_]

[58 _All the MSS. omit_ a _before_ Lemnia, _but O'F inserts_]

[61 sad glad _1633-69:_ glad sad _B_, _Cy_, _L74_, _N_, _O'F_, _P_, _S_, _S96_]

[62 waste _1633_, _A18_, _Cy_, _H40_, _HN_, _L74_, _N_, _P_, _TC:_ breake _1635-69_, _B_, _O'F_]

_Elegie on the L. C._

Sorrow, who to this house scarce knew the way: Is, Oh, heire of it, our All is his prey. This strange chance claimes strange wonder, and to us Nothing can be so strange, as to weepe thus. 'Tis well his lifes loud speaking workes deserve, 5 And give praise too, our cold tongues could not serve: 'Tis well, hee kept teares from our eyes before, That to fit this deepe ill, we might have store. Oh, if a sweet briar, climbe up by'a tree, If to a paradise that transplanted bee, 10 Or fell'd, and burnt for holy sacrifice, Yet, that must wither, which by it did rise, As we for him dead: though no familie Ere rigg'd a soule for heavens discoverie With whom more Venturers more boldly dare 15 Venture their states, with him in joy to share. Wee lose what all friends lov'd, him; he gaines now But life by death, which worst foes would allow, If hee could have foes, in whose practise grew All vertues, whose names subtile Schoolmen knew. 20 What ease, can hope that wee shall see'him, beget, When wee must die first, and cannot dye yet? His children are his pictures, Oh they bee Pictures of him dead, senselesse, cold as he. Here needs no marble Tombe, since hee is gone, 25 He, and about him, his, are turn'd to stone.

[Elegie _&c._ _1635-69_, _following_ Death be not proud (_p._ 422): Elegie, Funerall Elegie, _or no title_, _B_, _Cy_, _HN_, _O'F_, _S96:_ Elegie VI. (_being placed among the_ Elegies) _1633:_ Elegie. (_being eighth among_ Elegies) _D_, _H49_, _Lec:_ Elegia tercia. _S:_ Elegie XIII^a. _JC_, _W_]

[1 who _1633-39:_ that _1650-69_]

[2 prey. _1633:_ prey, _1633-54:_ Pay. _1669_]

[4 thus. _1669:_ thus; _1633-54_]

[13 dead: _1633-69:_ dead. _HN_, _Grolier_]

[16 Venture their states] Venter estates _B_

share. _D_, _H49_, _Lec_, _W:_ share _1633:_ share, _1635-69_, _Chambers and Grolier_. _See note_]

[17 him;] him, _1633_]

[20 names] name _1635-69_

knew. _Ed:_ knew; _1635-69_]

[24 he. _1650-69:_ he, _1633-39_]

_An hymne to the Saints, and to Marquesse Hamylton._

_To Sir Robert Carr._

SIR,

_I Presume you rather try what you can doe in me, then what I can doe in verse; you know my uttermost when it was best, and even then I did best when I had least truth for my subjects. In this present case there is so much truth as it defeats all Poetry. Call therefore this paper by what name you will, and, if it bee not worthy of him, nor of you, nor of mee, smother it, and bee that the sacrifice. If you had commanded mee to have waited on his body to Scotland and preached there, I would have embraced the obligation with more alacrity; But, I thanke you that you would command me that which I was loath to doe, for, even that hath given a tincture of merit to the obedience of_

Your poore friend and servant in Christ Jesus

I. D.

[2 verse; _1635-69:_ verse, _1633_]

[3 best] at the best _A18_, _TCC_

subjects. _1635-69:_ subjects, _1633:_ subject, _A18_, _TCC_]

[6-7 of him ... sacrifice. _1635-69:_ of you nor of him, we will smother it, and be it your sacrifice. _1633:_ of him, nor of you, nor of anye; smother it, and bee that the sacrifice. _A18_, _TCC_]

[9 the _1635-69:_ your _1633_, _A18_, _TCC_

more] much _1633_]

[10 loath] loather _1633_]

in Christ Jesus] _om._ _A18_, _TCC_]

Whether that soule which now comes up to you Fill any former ranke or make a new; Whether it take a name nam'd there before, Or be a name it selfe, and _order_ more Then was in heaven till now; (for may not hee 5 Bee so, if every severall Angell bee A _kind_ alone?) What ever order grow Greater by him in heaven, wee doe not so. One of your orders growes by his accesse; But, by his losse grow all our _orders_ lesse; 10 The name of _Father_, _Master_, _Friend_, the name Of _Subject_ and of _Prince_, in one are lame; Faire mirth is dampt, and conversation black, The _household_ widdow'd, and the _garter_ slack; The _Chappell_ wants an eare, _Councell_ a tongue; 15 _Story_, a theame; and _Musicke_ lacks a song; Blest _order_ that hath him! the losse of him Gangreend all _Orders_ here; all lost a limbe. Never made body such hast to confesse What a soule was; All former comelinesse 20 Fled, in a minute, when the soule was gone, And, having lost that beauty, would have none; So fell our _Monasteries_, in one instant growne Not to lesse houses, but, to heapes of stone; So sent this body that faire forme it wore, 25 Unto the spheare of formes, and doth (before His soule shall fill up his sepulchrall stone,) Anticipate a Resurrection; For, as in his fame, now, his soule is here, So, in the forme thereof his bodie's there. 30 And if, faire soule, not with first _Innocents_ Thy station be, but with the _Pænitents_, (And, who shall dare to aske then when I am Dy'd scarlet in the blood of that pure Lambe, Whether that colour, which is scarlet then, 35 Were black or white before in eyes of men?) When thou rememb'rest what sins thou didst finde Amongst those many friends now left behinde, And seest such sinners as they are, with thee Got thither by repentance, Let it bee 40 Thy wish to wish all there, to wish them cleane; Wim _him_ a _David_, _her_ a _Magdalen_.

[An hymne _&c._ _1633-69_, _in all of which it is classed with the_ Divine Poems, _following_ Resurrection. _In 1635-69 it is preceded by the letter_ To Sir Robert Carr.: _in 1633 the letter follows_, _and has no heading:_ _similarly in_ _A18_, _O'F_, _TCC_. _See note_]

[1 Whether] Whither _1633_, _and so in_ 3]

[2 new; _Ed:_ new, _1633-69_]

[6 so,] so? _1633_]

[7 alone?) _1635-54:_ alone;) _1633:_ alone) _1669_]

[8 so. _Ed:_ so; _1633-69_]

[12 are _1633_, _A18_, _TCC:_ is _1635-69_, _O'F_]

[16 song; _1633:_ song. _1635-69_]

[17 him! _Ed:_ him, _1633-69_]

[18 Gangreend _1635-69:_ Gangred _1633_

limbe. _1633-35:_ limbe: _1639-69_]

[22 none; _Ed:_ none: _1650-69:_ none, _1633-39_]

[23 one instant _1633:_ an instant _1635-69_]

[25 this _1633_, _A18_, _TCC:_ his _1635-69_]

[29 For, as in his _1633-39:_ For, as it his _1650-54:_ For, as it is his _1669_]

[30 there. _Ed:_ there; _1633-39:_ there, _1650-69_]

[36 in eyes] in the eyes _A18_, _O'F_, _TCC_]

EPITAPHS.

EPITAPH ON HIMSELFE.

_To the Countesse of Bedford._

MADAME,

That I might make your Cabinet my tombe, And for my fame which I love next my soule, Next to my soule provide the happiest roome, Admit to that place this last funerall Scrowle. Others by Wills give Legacies, but I 5 Dying, of you doe beg a Legacie.

My fortune and my will this custome breake, When we are senselesse grown to make stones speak, Though no stone tell thee what I was, yet thou In my graves inside see what thou art now: 10 Yet th'art not yet so good; till us death lay To ripe and mellow there, w'are stubborne clay, Parents make us earth, and soules dignifie Vs to be glasse, here to grow gold we lie; Whilst in our soules sinne bred and pampered is, 15 Our soules become worme-eaten Carkasses.

[Epitaph. _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_

On himselfe. _1635-69_

To the Countesse of Bedford. _O'F_, _S96:_ _no heading, and epistle only_, _A25_, _C_ _The introductory epistle, and the first ten lines of the epitaph, the whole with heading_ Elegie., _is printed 1635-54 among the_ Funerall Elegies. _The full epitaph without epistle and with heading_ On himselfe. _is included among the_ Divine Poems, _where it follows the_ Lamentations of Jeremy. _In his note Chambers_ (II. 234) _reverses these facts_. _In 1669_ On himselfe. _is transferred to the_ Funerall Elegies _and is followed immediately by the_ Elegie, _i.e. the epistle and incomplete epitaph_. _They are here given for the first time in a separate group_]

[5 Others by Wills _1635-69:_ Others by testaments _A25_, _C_, _O'F_ (_altered to_ wills), _S96:_ Men by testament _B:_ Then by testament _H40:_ O then by testament _D_, _H49_]

[10 now: _1650-69:_ now, _1635-39_]

[12 there, _1635_, _1669:_ thee, _1639-54_]

_Omnibus._

My Fortune and my choice this custome break, When we are speechlesse grown, to make stones speak, Though no stone tell thee what I was, yet thou In my graves inside seest what thou art now: Yet thou'art not yet so good, till death us lay 5 To ripe and mellow here, we are stubborne Clay. Parents make us earth, and soules dignifie Vs to be glasse; here to grow gold we lie. Whilst in our soules sinne bred and pamper'd is, Our soules become wormeaten carkases; 10 So we our selves miraculously destroy. Here bodies with lesse miracle enjoy Such priviledges, enabled here to scale Heaven, when the Trumpets ayre shall them exhale. Heare this, and mend thy selfe, and thou mendst me, 15 By making me being dead, doe good to thee, And thinke me well compos'd, that I could now A last-sicke houre to syllables allow.

[Omnibus. _D_, _H49:_ To all. _H40_, _RP31:_ Another on the same. (_i.e. M^{rs} Boulstred_) _P:_ On himselfe. _1635-69:_ _no title_, _B_, _S96:_ _in MSS. this complete epitaph follows the epistle_ (_p._ 291); _but in B they are separated by various poems and in P the epistle is not given_]

[3 tell] tel _1635_]

[4 seest] see _D_, _H49:_ _compare incomplete version_.]

[5 Yet _1635-69:_ Nay _S96_

thou'art _Ed:_ thou art _1635-69_]

[8 lie. _Ed:_ lie; _1635-69_]

[14 them] then _1669_]

[16 to thee, _B_, _D_, _H40_, _H49_, _O'F_, _S96:_ for thee, _1635-69_]

INFINITATI SACRUM,

16. _Augusti_ 1601.

METEMPSYCHOSIS.

_Poêma Satyricon._

* * * * *

EPISTLE.

Others at the Porches and entries of their Buildings set their Armes; I, my picture; if any colours can deliver a minde so plaine, and flat, and through light as mine. Naturally at a new Author, I doubt, and sticke, and doe not say quickly, good. I censure much and taxe; And this liberty costs mee more then others, by how much my owne things are worse then others. Yet I would not be so rebellious against my selfe, as not to doe it, since I love it; nor so unjust to others, to do it _sine talione_. As long as I give them as good hold upon mee, they must pardon mee my bitings. I forbid no reprehender, but him that like the Trent Councell forbids not bookes, but Authors, damning what ever such a name hath or shall write. None writes so ill, that he gives not some thing exemplary, to follow, or flie. Now when I beginne this booke, I have no purpose to come into any mans debt[1]; how my stocke will hold out I know not; perchance waste, perchance increase in use; if I doe borrow any thing of Antiquitie, besides that I make account that I pay it to posterity, with as much and as good: You shall still finde mee to acknowledge it, and to thanke not him onely that hath digg'd out treasure for mee, but that hath lighted mee a candle to the place. All which I will bid you remember, (for I will have no such Readers as I can teach) is, that the Pithagorian doctrine doth not onely carry one soule from man to man, nor man to beast, but indifferently to plants also: and therefore you must not grudge to finde the same soule in an Emperour, in a Post-horse, and in a Mucheron,[2] since no unreadinesse in the soule, but an indisposition in the organs workes this. And therefore though this soule could not move when it was a Melon, yet it may remember, and now tell mee,[3] at what lascivious banquet it was serv'd. And though it could not speake, when it was a spider, yet it can remember and now tell me, who used it for poyson to attaine dignitie. How ever the bodies have dull'd her other faculties, her memory hath ever been her owne, which makes me so seriously deliver you by her relation all her passages from her first making when shee was that apple[4] which Eve eate,[5] to this time when shee is hee,[6] whose life you shall finde in the end of this booke.

[Infinitati _&c._ _1633-69:_ (_in 1633 it is the first poem; in 1633-69 it follows the_ Funerall Elegies, _from which it is separated by some prose letters, and precedes_ Divine Poems _as here_), _A18_, _G_, _N_, _TCC_, _TCD_

Metempsychosis. _1650-69:_ Metempsycosis. _1633-39_]

[Footnote 1: debt; _Ed:_ debt, _1633-69_]

[Footnote 2: Mucheron, _1633_, _N_, _TC:_ Mushrome, _G:_ Maceron, _1635-69_, _O'F_]