Du Bartas His Divine Weekes And Workes with A Compleate Collectio[n] of all the other most delight-full Workes: Translated and written by yt famous Philomusus: Iosvah Sylvester |
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A FVNERAL ELEGIE |
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 | Du Bartas |  |
1166
A FVNERAL ELEGIE
To my Reverend Friend, M. D. Hill: Jn pious memory of that worthy Matrone, his
right vertuous and religious Wife, Margarite
Wyts (late Widow of the reverend Dr. Hadrianvs Saravia) Deceased.
All, that in all this wide World is inclos'd,
Is of Two Kindes (and divers, too) compos'd:
Mortall, the one; Immortall, th'other sort,
Exempt from Death (which spilleth worldlings sport)
And vnto each a diverse place is given.
Th'one droops on Earth: the other dwels in Heav'n.
Is of Two Kindes (and divers, too) compos'd:
Mortall, the one; Immortall, th'other sort,
Exempt from Death (which spilleth worldlings sport)
And vnto each a diverse place is given.
Th'one droops on Earth: the other dwels in Heav'n.
For, all, above bright Cynthia's silver Car,
Lives out of fear, from Death and danger far:
Far from corruption, and as free from Change,
Self-stable ever, never selfly-strange:
Never transform'd, nor trans-substantiate:
Sith, neither subject to the power of Fate,
Neither obnoxious to those cumbers rife,
Cares, snares, and surfaits, that doo combat Life:
Lives out of fear, from Death and danger far:
Far from corruption, and as free from Change,
Self-stable ever, never selfly-strange:
Never transform'd, nor trans-substantiate:
Sith, neither subject to the power of Fate,
Neither obnoxious to those cumbers rife,
Cares, snares, and surfaits, that doo combat Life:
And, all, beneath her many-formed flame,
That sojourns heer amid this fickle Frame
(Whether, the winged Myriades of the sky,
Whether, the Millions of the Ocean's fry,
Whether, the Legions in the woods and groves,
Of savage heards, or of domestick droves)
All, all, doo dy: All are to Death inthrall'd:
And, for their dying, are heer Mortall call'd.
That sojourns heer amid this fickle Frame
(Whether, the winged Myriades of the sky,
Whether, the Millions of the Ocean's fry,
Whether, the Legions in the woods and groves,
Of savage heards, or of domestick droves)
All, all, doo dy: All are to Death inthrall'd:
And, for their dying, are heer Mortall call'd.
But, chiefly Man, though in his better part,
Most like to God, in This, most like to smart:
So that his Reason (though divine-inspir'd)
Seems over-rated, or too-dear acquir'd.
Most like to God, in This, most like to smart:
So that his Reason (though divine-inspir'd)
Seems over-rated, or too-dear acquir'd.
1167
Yet, if kinde Nature nobly had decreed,
By certain and irrevocable Deed,
None but the vicious and the lend to dy
(The Vertuous living heer eternally)
There were som comfort in Man's wretched case:
And Nature then might hold a Mothers place.
By certain and irrevocable Deed,
None but the vicious and the lend to dy
(The Vertuous living heer eternally)
There were som comfort in Man's wretched case:
And Nature then might hold a Mothers place.
But, when wee see the Wicked (for the most)
Live long and lusty, ruling all the roast,
Though never turning or returning quick
(As Swine, or Dogs) their vomit to re-lick:
While (for the most) the Godly soon are gon,
Or daily going, deadly laid vpon
By humane malice, or som hand divine:
O! flesh and blood, how can it, not repine?
Live long and lusty, ruling all the roast,
Though never turning or returning quick
(As Swine, or Dogs) their vomit to re-lick:
While (for the most) the Godly soon are gon,
Or daily going, deadly laid vpon
By humane malice, or som hand divine:
O! flesh and blood, how can it, not repine?
Alas! To see a goodly field of Wheat
All burnt with lightning, or with hail-stones beat
(When the full Ears, humbling their flowry top,
Were even as ready, with a gratefull crop,
To thank the Husband for his taken toil,
His cost and care, his sweat, his seed, and soil:)
While safe the Tares Cockle and Darnell rest,
With Thorns and Thistles that the Corn opprest:
O! Who so constant, but would grieve, and grudge
(If not a Christian) at th'All-ordering Iudge;
And wag his head at Heav'n (weak earthly worm!)
Against the Author of that angry storm?
All burnt with lightning, or with hail-stones beat
(When the full Ears, humbling their flowry top,
Were even as ready, with a gratefull crop,
To thank the Husband for his taken toil,
His cost and care, his sweat, his seed, and soil:)
While safe the Tares Cockle and Darnell rest,
With Thorns and Thistles that the Corn opprest:
O! Who so constant, but would grieve, and grudge
(If not a Christian) at th'All-ordering Iudge;
And wag his head at Heav'n (weak earthly worm!)
Against the Author of that angry storm?
Such is thy case: Such was thy heavy cross,
To lose thy gold, when others kept their dross:
To have thy vessell, full of vertues, split;
Where lighter Keels, and empty, never hit:
To bee bereft so sweet, so sainct a Wise;
While heer bee left Harpies, and Hells of life.
To lose thy gold, when others kept their dross:
To have thy vessell, full of vertues, split;
Where lighter Keels, and empty, never hit:
To bee bereft so sweet, so sainct a Wise;
While heer bee left Harpies, and Hells of life.
But, I have learn'd; and thou hast taught (my Hill)
VVee must content vs with our Makers will;
The Rule of Right, disposing all that is:
And ordering all things to the good of his.
VVee must content vs with our Makers will;
The Rule of Right, disposing all that is:
And ordering all things to the good of his.
So, for Her good (thy good) was His good pleasure,
To snatch so soon thy Margarite hence, thy Treasure,
Thy Pearl (indeed, the Iewell of her kinde,
For worth and wealth of body and of minde)
Tri'd in her cradle, train'd from tendrest youth
Vnder the Cross, for CHRIST's eternall Truth:
Forsaking Gaunt for th'holy Gospels sake;
Lands, goods and air, which Nature dear doth make:
Fleeing from Antwerp (in poor Beggers weed)
The Spanish fury, in a fearfull need,
Wish her dear Parents tossed to and fro,
Right noble Parents, partners in her wo.
To snatch so soon thy Margarite hence, thy Treasure,
Thy Pearl (indeed, the Iewell of her kinde,
For worth and wealth of body and of minde)
Tri'd in her cradle, train'd from tendrest youth
Vnder the Cross, for CHRIST's eternall Truth:
Forsaking Gaunt for th'holy Gospels sake;
Lands, goods and air, which Nature dear doth make:
Fleeing from Antwerp (in poor Beggers weed)
The Spanish fury, in a fearfull need,
Wish her dear Parents tossed to and fro,
Right noble Parents, partners in her wo.
1168
Her April past, her Summer-age prepares,
If much lesse dangers, not much lesser cares;
In House-hold charge, vnder her Virgin-sway,
Her puisne Orphan-sisters to defray.
If much lesse dangers, not much lesser cares;
In House-hold charge, vnder her Virgin-sway,
Her puisne Orphan-sisters to defray.
For, her owne Father, Nature had vn-hous'd:
And Metkerk had her Mother re-espous'd
(Renown'd Sir Adolph, of whose noble stuff,
Little is nothing; and much, not enough,
To bee recorded: But, his stile and state,
Learn of S. Butolph, neerest Aldersgate)
And, Hee releast, and Shee deceast soon after,
Most worthy Mother, of so worthy Daughter.
Religious Lady, leaving by her Wil,
Charge to her children, to persever still
In Truth's profession; and Heer rather rest,
Though poor and mean; then, to bee re-possest,
Return to Flanders (on the best condition)
To bee replung'd in Romish superstition.
And Metkerk had her Mother re-espous'd
(Renown'd Sir Adolph, of whose noble stuff,
Little is nothing; and much, not enough,
To bee recorded: But, his stile and state,
Learn of S. Butolph, neerest Aldersgate)
And, Hee releast, and Shee deceast soon after,
Most worthy Mother, of so worthy Daughter.
Religious Lady, leaving by her Wil,
Charge to her children, to persever still
In Truth's profession; and Heer rather rest,
Though poor and mean; then, to bee re-possest,
Return to Flanders (on the best condition)
To bee replung'd in Romish superstition.
And well her Will her valiant Sons observ'd,
Both Seriant Maiors (as both well deserv'd,
In Faiths Defence, by wounds yet healed scarce)
To both those brave Nassauvian sons of Mars:
So did the rest: but best my Margarite,
Executrix (her yeers and vertues right)
All which shee past, and with so pure report
Fitting the mirror of her sex and sort:
Both Seriant Maiors (as both well deserv'd,
In Faiths Defence, by wounds yet healed scarce)
To both those brave Nassauvian sons of Mars:
So did the rest: but best my Margarite,
Executrix (her yeers and vertues right)
All which shee past, and with so pure report
Fitting the mirror of her sex and sort:
Such exercise of every House-wifes part,
Such honest shift, such thrift, such vse, such art:
Such modesty, such gravity, such grace,
Such speech, such silence (suiting time and place):
Such due devotion, such discretion seen,
As seemed neerer sixty then sixteen.
Such honest shift, such thrift, such vse, such art:
Such modesty, such gravity, such grace,
Such speech, such silence (suiting time and place):
Such due devotion, such discretion seen,
As seemed neerer sixty then sixteen.
How well, and worthy of her former fames,
Shee did demean her with two noble Dames,
In honour'd service (many yeers with Each:)
With praise and love, without the least impeach:
Palavicine, and Hastings will auouch
(Though now new-nam'd: that Cromwel, & this Zouch
So vertuous both, that (for so long together)
None but so vertuous could haue serued Either.
Shee did demean her with two noble Dames,
In honour'd service (many yeers with Each:)
With praise and love, without the least impeach:
Palavicine, and Hastings will auouch
(Though now new-nam'd: that Cromwel, & this Zouch
So vertuous both, that (for so long together)
None but so vertuous could haue serued Either.
Such was her Minor-age: such Mayden-life:
Such Woman-state: and such shee was a Wise
To (My) SARAVIA; to whose reverend Name
Mine owes the honour of du-BARTAS fame.
Such Woman-state: and such shee was a Wise
To (My) SARAVIA; to whose reverend Name
Mine owes the honour of du-BARTAS fame.
For, (as our London (else for drought vndon)
Sucks from the Paps (the Pipes) of Middleton,
(Whose memory mine never shall forget,
But to Hugh's name adde the sur-name of Great,
For his great Work) abundant streams to drench,
Cool, cleanse and clear: and fearful flames to quench.)
From th'ample Cisterns of his Sea of skill,
Suckt I (my Succour) my short shallow Rill:
The little All I can (and all I could
In three poor years, at three times three years old.)
His love and labour apted so my wit,
That when Vrania after rapted it,
Through Heav'ns strong working, weaknes did produce
Leaves of delight, and fruits of sacred vse:
Which, had my Muse t'our either Athens flowne,
Or follow'd him, had been much more mine owne,
Then was the fault that so it fell not out.
(But prais'd bee God, who pleas'd to bring about
His better will, to better mine: lest I,
Too-puft with knowledge, should bee huft too-hie.)
Sucks from the Paps (the Pipes) of Middleton,
(Whose memory mine never shall forget,
But to Hugh's name adde the sur-name of Great,
1169
Cool, cleanse and clear: and fearful flames to quench.)
From th'ample Cisterns of his Sea of skill,
Suckt I (my Succour) my short shallow Rill:
The little All I can (and all I could
In three poor years, at three times three years old.)
His love and labour apted so my wit,
That when Vrania after rapted it,
Through Heav'ns strong working, weaknes did produce
Leaves of delight, and fruits of sacred vse:
Which, had my Muse t'our either Athens flowne,
Or follow'd him, had been much more mine owne,
Then was the fault that so it fell not out.
(But prais'd bee God, who pleas'd to bring about
His better will, to better mine: lest I,
Too-puft with knowledge, should bee huft too-hie.)
Howbeit, Him needs must I honour much:
And Her for him, and for Herself: sith such
(When such so few, in such an Age as this:
So foul, so false, so full of vanities)
So milde a Childe, so meek a Servant, rather:
So loving Nurse to one, less Pheer then Father
(So weak and wayward thorough Ache and Age,
As still in Patience steept her Pilgrimage:)
O, happy Hee! so, happy Shee, the while:
Till Hee, more happy, left Her Widow's stile.
And Her for him, and for Herself: sith such
(When such so few, in such an Age as this:
So foul, so false, so full of vanities)
So milde a Childe, so meek a Servant, rather:
So loving Nurse to one, less Pheer then Father
(So weak and wayward thorough Ache and Age,
As still in Patience steept her Pilgrimage:)
O, happy Hee! so, happy Shee, the while:
Till Hee, more happy, left Her Widow's stile.
Whenceforth, sequestred from all publike sight,
From all occasions that might move Delight:
As hearty sorry as in habite sad,
Tears in her eyes, Sighes in her brest shee had
(As grieved Turtle on the green-less Spray
Grones, and bemones her, in a Mournfull Lay)
Lamenting many Months in heavy Cheer
Her Loss (alas!) Her loving Father-Pheer:
Resolved chastly, not to change her Life,
Her Widow-state, to bee a stately Wife:
Still keeping home; still tasked, sober-wise,
In Huswifes Vse, or holy exercise.
From all occasions that might move Delight:
As hearty sorry as in habite sad,
Tears in her eyes, Sighes in her brest shee had
(As grieved Turtle on the green-less Spray
Grones, and bemones her, in a Mournfull Lay)
Lamenting many Months in heavy Cheer
Her Loss (alas!) Her loving Father-Pheer:
Resolved chastly, not to change her Life,
Her Widow-state, to bee a stately Wife:
Still keeping home; still tasked, sober-wise,
In Huswifes Vse, or holy exercise.
Or, if at length shee looked out of Door,
'T was but to visit som weak, aged Poor;
Som wofull Woman, or som wretched wight,
Through som disaster, in som wofull plight:
Som long-sick Neighbour, or som needy Soule,
With timely Comforts of her Bag or Boule:
Or, on the Sabbaths, or the Lecture-Daies,
To hear, and learn, to read, and pray, and praise.
'T was but to visit som weak, aged Poor;
Som wofull Woman, or som wretched wight,
Through som disaster, in som wofull plight:
Som long-sick Neighbour, or som needy Soule,
With timely Comforts of her Bag or Boule:
Or, on the Sabbaths, or the Lecture-Daies,
To hear, and learn, to read, and pray, and praise.
Such was thy Marg'rite, morally divine;
Maid, Widow, Wife (Hill) til Thou hadst her Thine.
This, I record: to Thee belongs the rest:
If heer I ly, doo thou deny my Test,
Or testifie vnder thy hand with Mee,
That Such Shee was, and Such Shee was to Thee:
And, to that end, insert Thy Paragraph
Before, or after, her sad Epitaph.
Maid, Widow, Wife (Hill) til Thou hadst her Thine.
1170
If heer I ly, doo thou deny my Test,
Or testifie vnder thy hand with Mee,
That Such Shee was, and Such Shee was to Thee:
And, to that end, insert Thy Paragraph
Before, or after, her sad Epitaph.
Or, if Thy Grief as Yet permit thee Not,
Make Mee thy Proxie: for, right wel I wot,
Will-nill thou, Hill, Thou canst not but aver,
That Such Shee was as I have vouched Her:
And Such to Thee, well witness't by her Will,
Bequeathing All to her dear Dr. Hill:
And more then so, by a dear Mother's Smart,
Thy glad-sad Partner in a dead-live Part
(Her first and last) vnhappy-happy Boy,
Which cost her life, and Thee thy Life's best Ioy.
Such then Shee liv'd and dy'd: for, such must dy:
Yet such shall live, heer, and eternally.
So Shee; so Shee (though sudden from thee took)
Shall live, with Thee, in this thy living Book.
Make Mee thy Proxie: for, right wel I wot,
Will-nill thou, Hill, Thou canst not but aver,
That Such Shee was as I have vouched Her:
And Such to Thee, well witness't by her Will,
Bequeathing All to her dear Dr. Hill:
And more then so, by a dear Mother's Smart,
Thy glad-sad Partner in a dead-live Part
(Her first and last) vnhappy-happy Boy,
Which cost her life, and Thee thy Life's best Ioy.
Such then Shee liv'd and dy'd: for, such must dy:
Yet such shall live, heer, and eternally.
So Shee; so Shee (though sudden from thee took)
Shall live, with Thee, in this thy living Book.
| Du Bartas | |