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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A Description of Diverted Grief.
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 | Natures Picture Drawn by Fancies Pencil To the Life |  |
A Description of Diverted Grief.
A Man had once a Young and Handsom Wife,
Whose Virtue was unspotted all her life.
Her words were smooth, which from her Tongue did slide;
All her Discourse was wittily appli'd.
Her Actions modest, her Behaviour so,
As when she mov'd, the Graces seem'd to go.
Whatever Ill she chanc'd to see or hear,
Yet still her Thoughts as pure as Angels were.
Her Husband's Love seem'd such, as no Delight
Nor Joy could take him out of his Wife's sight.
It chanc'd this virtuous Wife fell sick to death,
And to her Husband spake with dying-breath:
Whose Virtue was unspotted all her life.
Her words were smooth, which from her Tongue did slide;
All her Discourse was wittily appli'd.
Her Actions modest, her Behaviour so,
As when she mov'd, the Graces seem'd to go.
Whatever Ill she chanc'd to see or hear,
Yet still her Thoughts as pure as Angels were.
Her Husband's Love seem'd such, as no Delight
Nor Joy could take him out of his Wife's sight.
It chanc'd this virtuous Wife fell sick to death,
And to her Husband spake with dying-breath:
Farewell my dearest Husband, dye I must,
Yet do not you forget me in the Dust;
Because my Soul would grieve if it should see
Another in my room, your LOVE to be:
My Ghost would mourn, lament; that never dyes,
Though Bodies do; pure Loves eternalize.
You Gods, said he, that order Death and Life,
O strike me dead, unless you spare my Wife
If your Decree be fix'd, nor alter can,
But she must dye, (O miserable Man!)
Here do I vow (Great Gods all witness be),
That I will have no other Wife but thee:
No Friendship will I make, converse with none,
But live an Anchoret my self alone.
Thy Spirits sweet, my Thoughts shall entertain;
And in my Mind thy Memory remain.
Yet do not you forget me in the Dust;
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Another in my room, your LOVE to be:
My Ghost would mourn, lament; that never dyes,
Though Bodies do; pure Loves eternalize.
You Gods, said he, that order Death and Life,
O strike me dead, unless you spare my Wife
If your Decree be fix'd, nor alter can,
But she must dye, (O miserable Man!)
Here do I vow (Great Gods all witness be),
That I will have no other Wife but thee:
No Friendship will I make, converse with none,
But live an Anchoret my self alone.
Thy Spirits sweet, my Thoughts shall entertain;
And in my Mind thy Memory remain.
Farewell, said she, for now my Soul's at peace,
And all the Blessings of the Gods encrease
Upon thy Soul; but I pray do not give
Away that Love I had whilst I did live.
Turning her Head, as if to sleep she lay,
In a soft Sigh her Spirits flew away.
And all the Blessings of the Gods encrease
Upon thy Soul; but I pray do not give
Away that Love I had whilst I did live.
Turning her Head, as if to sleep she lay,
In a soft Sigh her Spirits flew away.
When she was dead, great Mourning he did make,
VVould neither eat, nor drink, nor rest could take;
Kissing her cold pale Lips, her Cheeks, each Eye;
Cursing his Fate he lives, and cannot dye:
Tears fell so fast, as if his Sorrows meant,
To lay her in a watry Monument.
But when her Corps upon the Hearse was laid,
No Tongue can tell what mournful Cries he made.
Thus did he pass his time, a week or two,
In sad commplaints, and melancholy wo;
At last he was perswaded for to take
Some air abroad, ev'n for his own healths sake.
But first, unto the Grave he went to pray,
Kissing that Earth wherein her Body lay.
After a Month or two, his Grief to ease,
Some Recreations sought himself to please;
And calling for his Horses, and his Hounds,
He went to hunt upon the Champian grounds:
His Thoughts by these Pastimes diverted are,
Pass'd by the Grave, and never dropt a Tear.
At last he chanc'd a Company to meet
Of Virgins young, and fresh as Flowers sweet;
Their Cloathing fine, their Humours pleasant, gay,
And with each other they did sport and play,
Giving his Eyes a liberty to view;
VVith interchanging Looks, in Love he grew.
One Maid amongst the rest, most fair and young,
VVho had a ready wit, and pleasant tongue,
He Courtship made, to her he did address,
Cast off his Mourning, Love for to express.
Rich Clothes he made, and wondrous fine they were;
He barb'd, and curl'd, and powder'd sweet his Hair:
Rich Gifts unto his Mistress did present,
And every day to visit her he went.
They like each other well, they both agree,
That in all haste they straight must married be.
To Church they went, for joy the Bells did ring:
When married were, he home the Bride did bring.
But when he married was some half a year,
He Curtain-Lectures from his VVife did hear:
For whatsoe're he did, she did with spight
And scorn dislike, and all his kindness slight:
Cross every word, she would, that he did say;
Seem'd very sick, complaining every day,
Unless she went abroad; then she would be
In humour good, in other Company.
Then he would sigh, and call into his Mind
His dear dead Wife that was so wondrous kind.
He jealous grew, and was so discontent,
(And of his later Marriage did repent)
With Melancholy Thoughts fell sick and dy'd;
His VVife soon after was another's Bride.
VVhen she had done, the Men aloud did cry;
Said she had quit her Tale most spitefully.
VVould neither eat, nor drink, nor rest could take;
Kissing her cold pale Lips, her Cheeks, each Eye;
Cursing his Fate he lives, and cannot dye:
Tears fell so fast, as if his Sorrows meant,
To lay her in a watry Monument.
But when her Corps upon the Hearse was laid,
No Tongue can tell what mournful Cries he made.
8
In sad commplaints, and melancholy wo;
At last he was perswaded for to take
Some air abroad, ev'n for his own healths sake.
But first, unto the Grave he went to pray,
Kissing that Earth wherein her Body lay.
After a Month or two, his Grief to ease,
Some Recreations sought himself to please;
And calling for his Horses, and his Hounds,
He went to hunt upon the Champian grounds:
His Thoughts by these Pastimes diverted are,
Pass'd by the Grave, and never dropt a Tear.
At last he chanc'd a Company to meet
Of Virgins young, and fresh as Flowers sweet;
Their Cloathing fine, their Humours pleasant, gay,
And with each other they did sport and play,
Giving his Eyes a liberty to view;
VVith interchanging Looks, in Love he grew.
One Maid amongst the rest, most fair and young,
VVho had a ready wit, and pleasant tongue,
He Courtship made, to her he did address,
Cast off his Mourning, Love for to express.
Rich Clothes he made, and wondrous fine they were;
He barb'd, and curl'd, and powder'd sweet his Hair:
Rich Gifts unto his Mistress did present,
And every day to visit her he went.
They like each other well, they both agree,
That in all haste they straight must married be.
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When married were, he home the Bride did bring.
But when he married was some half a year,
He Curtain-Lectures from his VVife did hear:
For whatsoe're he did, she did with spight
And scorn dislike, and all his kindness slight:
Cross every word, she would, that he did say;
Seem'd very sick, complaining every day,
Unless she went abroad; then she would be
In humour good, in other Company.
Then he would sigh, and call into his Mind
His dear dead Wife that was so wondrous kind.
He jealous grew, and was so discontent,
(And of his later Marriage did repent)
With Melancholy Thoughts fell sick and dy'd;
His VVife soon after was another's Bride.
VVhen she had done, the Men aloud did cry;
Said she had quit her Tale most spitefully.
| Natures Picture Drawn by Fancies Pencil To the Life | |