Natures Picture Drawn by Fancies Pencil To the Life Being several Feigned Stories, Comical, Tragical, Tragi-comical, Poetical, Romancical, Philosophical, Historical, and Moral: Some in Verse, some in Prose; some Mixt, and some by Dialogues. Written by the Thrice Noble, Illustrious, and most Excellent Princess, The Duchess of Newcastle [i.e. Margaret Cavendish]. The Second Edition |
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 | Natures Picture Drawn by Fancies Pencil To the Life |  |
A Lady said, these VVarrs her Soul did shake,
And the remembrance made her heart to ake.
My Brother then was murther'd in cold-blood,
Incircled round with Enemies he stood;
VVhere he, like to a fixed Starr shin'd bright;
They like to black and pitchy Clouds of Night:
He like the Sun, his Courage like that Heat;
Their Envy, like bad Vapours, strove to beat.
His Light of Honour out; but pow'rful Fame
Did throw their spight back on their heads with shame.
And though they struck his Body, not his Mind,
(For that in Death through all their Malice shin'd.)
He valiant was, his Spirits knew no fear,
They never chill'd when they in Battel were;
And strove to give more blows than safety sought:
His Limbs most vigour had, when most he fought.
He spoke not loud, nor sung, his fear to hide;
With silence march'd, and quietly did ride,
Viewing the Armies with a watchful Eye;
And careful was, advantages to spye.
If that his Soldiers chanc'd to run away,
He ran not after them to make them stay,
As some Commanders, which will call and run
After the Soldiers, when the Flight's begun:
But when once gone, seldom return again,
But with their Soldiers they will safe remain.
But he amongst his Foes, like Earth, was fix'd;
Or, like to Fire, himself was intermix'd;
And their great solid Bodies did divide,
Pulling their Fabrick down on either side;
Until his Mercy did for Favour pray
Unto his Courage, so to run away.
He made them know he was a Soldier good,
Train'd up in Warrs, which Art he understood:
Besides, his Genius was prompt thereunto;
Wit, Skill, Invention, knew what best to do:
Which made the Foe more fierce his Life to take,
For fear that he their ruin soon would make.
For they, so soon as he was in their pow'r,
Like greedy Vulturs, did his Life devour.
He stood their Rage, his Courage knew no fear;
Nor on grim Death with terror did he stare;
But did embrace her with a Generous Mind,
VVith Noble Thoughts, and Kisses that were kind.
Vollies of Shot did all his Body tear;
VVhere his blood's spilt, the Earth no Grass will bear.
As if, for to revenge his Death, the Earth
VVas curs'd with barrenness ev'n from her birth.
And though his Body in the Grave doth lye,
His Fame doth live, and will eternally.
And the remembrance made her heart to ake.
My Brother then was murther'd in cold-blood,
Incircled round with Enemies he stood;
VVhere he, like to a fixed Starr shin'd bright;
They like to black and pitchy Clouds of Night:
He like the Sun, his Courage like that Heat;
Their Envy, like bad Vapours, strove to beat.
His Light of Honour out; but pow'rful Fame
Did throw their spight back on their heads with shame.
137
(For that in Death through all their Malice shin'd.)
He valiant was, his Spirits knew no fear,
They never chill'd when they in Battel were;
And strove to give more blows than safety sought:
His Limbs most vigour had, when most he fought.
He spoke not loud, nor sung, his fear to hide;
With silence march'd, and quietly did ride,
Viewing the Armies with a watchful Eye;
And careful was, advantages to spye.
If that his Soldiers chanc'd to run away,
He ran not after them to make them stay,
As some Commanders, which will call and run
After the Soldiers, when the Flight's begun:
But when once gone, seldom return again,
But with their Soldiers they will safe remain.
But he amongst his Foes, like Earth, was fix'd;
Or, like to Fire, himself was intermix'd;
And their great solid Bodies did divide,
Pulling their Fabrick down on either side;
Until his Mercy did for Favour pray
Unto his Courage, so to run away.
He made them know he was a Soldier good,
Train'd up in Warrs, which Art he understood:
Besides, his Genius was prompt thereunto;
Wit, Skill, Invention, knew what best to do:
Which made the Foe more fierce his Life to take,
For fear that he their ruin soon would make.
138
Like greedy Vulturs, did his Life devour.
He stood their Rage, his Courage knew no fear;
Nor on grim Death with terror did he stare;
But did embrace her with a Generous Mind,
VVith Noble Thoughts, and Kisses that were kind.
Vollies of Shot did all his Body tear;
VVhere his blood's spilt, the Earth no Grass will bear.
As if, for to revenge his Death, the Earth
VVas curs'd with barrenness ev'n from her birth.
And though his Body in the Grave doth lye,
His Fame doth live, and will eternally.
His Soul's Immortal, and so is his Fame;
His Soul in Heav'n doth live, and here his Name.
His Soul in Heav'n doth live, and here his Name.
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