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MERIT Rewarded.
1679.
To the Right Honourable William Lord Byron, upon the Death of Rich. Lord B. his Father.
Ancient has been the use to mourn in Verse;
And Poets, more than Heralds, grac'd the Herse.
The sacred heat that did their Breasts inflame,
By Muses fann'd, kindled the breath of Fame.
Hence to diviner heights did Worth aspire,
And brighter shin'd than in the Fun'ral Fire.
To Heroes only did their Verse belong;
Immortal Acts found an immortal Song.
'Twas Merit then did only purchase Praise;
Nor could a Crown of Gold bribe one of Bays.
Your noble Father their choice Skill had try'd;
Had he in those days either liv'd or dy'd.
And though I am unfit to sing his Name,
This Epitaph I sacrifice to Fame.
The Epitaph.
Illustrious Byron Justice found;Being four times crown'd.
216
A Coronet.
2. Then loyal Valour did bequeath
A Lawrel wreath.
3. His Suff'rings Martyr's glory found
With Roses crown'd.
4. Nothing can add to his great Story,
But that of Glory.
My Lord,
I shall not vainly mourn his doom,
Since he dropt fully ripe into his Tomb:
Yet loaded more with Glory than with Days,
Hence with my Cypress then, and reach me Bayes.
My Muse, like to its Subject, should be bright,
And, like to Roman Mourners, clad in White.
When first his Death was told, her Tears she shed;
And, like moist Lillies, droopt her dewy head.
Pearls thus at midnight fall from Luna's eyes,
But are again dry'd up at Sol's uprise.
Since he dropt fully ripe into his Tomb:
Yet loaded more with Glory than with Days,
Hence with my Cypress then, and reach me Bayes.
My Muse, like to its Subject, should be bright,
And, like to Roman Mourners, clad in White.
When first his Death was told, her Tears she shed;
And, like moist Lillies, droopt her dewy head.
Pearls thus at midnight fall from Luna's eyes,
But are again dry'd up at Sol's uprise.
Hail then Restorer of our Joys! shine bright,
And with thy Cynthia joyn in sheets of Light.
Increase your noble Stock: Thus Persians say
The Queen of Night joyns with the King of Day;
And, curtain'd in Eclipses, there they get
That shining Brood that in the Skies are set.
And with thy Cynthia joyn in sheets of Light.
Increase your noble Stock: Thus Persians say
The Queen of Night joyns with the King of Day;
And, curtain'd in Eclipses, there they get
That shining Brood that in the Skies are set.
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