Epitaphes, Epigrams, Songs and Sonets with a Discourse of the Friendly affections of Tymetes to Pyndara his Ladie. Newly corrected with additions, and set out by George Turbervile |
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An Epitaph and wofull verse of the death
of sir Iohn Tregonwell Knight, and learned Doctor of both Lawes
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 | Epitaphes, Epigrams, Songs and Sonets |  |
An Epitaph and wofull verse of the death of sir Iohn Tregonwell Knight, and learned Doctor of both Lawes
And can you cease from plaint,or keepe your Conduits drie?
May saltish brine within your breasts
in such a tempest lie?
Where are your scalding sighes
the fittest foode of paine?
37
I aske thee once againe?
Hast thou not heard of late
The losse that hath befell?
If not, my selfe (vnhappie Wight)
will now begin to tell:
(Though griefe perhaps will grutch,
and stay my foltring tongue)
From whence this ragged roote of ruth
and mourning moode is sprong,
Was dwelling in this sheere
a man of worthie fame:
A Iusticer for his desart,
Tregonwell was his name.
A Doctor at the Lawes,
a Knight among the mo:
A Cato for good counsell callde
as he in yeares did grow.
A Patrone to the poore,
A Rampire to the rest:
As leefe vnto the simple sorte
as friendly to the best.
No blinde affect his eie
in iudgement blearde at all:
Whose rightous verdit and decree
was quite deuoyde of gall.
If he in hatefull hartes
(where roote of rancour grew)
[37]
no paines he would eschew.
Minerua thought of like
and Nature did consent,
To proue in him by skilfull Arte
what eyther could inuent.
A plot of such a price
was neuer framde before:
To show their powre the Heauens had
Tregonwell kept in store.
The Prince did him imbrace,
and sought him to aduaunce,
And better former state of birth
by furthering of his chaunce.
He still was readie bent
his seruice to bestowe,
Thereby vnto his natiue soyle
if gratefull gaine might growe.
If sage aduise were scarce
and wholesome counsell scant,
Then should you see Tregonwels helpe
ne wisedome would not want.
When Legats came from farre
(as is there woonted guise)
To treate of truce, or talke of warre
as matters did arise:
Tregonwell then was callde
his verdit to expresse:
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of fruitfull things could gesse.
Or if himselfe were sent
(which hap Tregonwell had)
Into a farre and forraine lande,
then was Tregonwell glad.
For so he might procure
wealepublick by his paine:
It was no corsie to this Knight
long trauaile to sustaine.
But what? vndaunted death
that seekes to conquer all,
And Atropos that Goddesse sterne
at length haue spit their gall:
And reft vs such a one
as was a Phœnix true,
Saue that now of his cindrie Corse
there riseth not a nue.
Where may you see his match?
where shall you find his leeke?
None, though you from the farthest East
vnto the Ocean seeke.
O house without thy head,
O ship without a steare:
Thy Palynurus now is dead
as shortly will appeare.
In daunger of distresse
this Knight was euer woont
[38]
and bide the greatest broont.
No tumults tempest could
subdue his constant hart:
Ne would the man by any meanes
once from his countrie start.
But (oh) it naught auailes,
for death doth strike the stroke
In things humaine, no worldly wealth
his friendship may prouoke.
Let Troians now leaue off
by mourning to lament
The losse of Priam and his towne,
when ten yeares warre was spent.
Yee Romaines lay your Hoods
and black attire away:
Bewaile no more your Fabians fall
nor that sinister day
That reft a Noble race
which might haue florisht long:
For neither losse is like to this
our not deserued wrong.
Now Cornewall thou mayst crake,
and Dorset thou mayst crie:
For thone hath bred, and thother lost
Tregonwell sodainelie.
Whose corps though earthed bee
in lothsome lumps of soyle,
39
shall neuer feare the foyle.
Who so therefore shalt see
this Marble where he lies:
Wish that Tregonwels soule may finde
a place aboue the Skies,
And reach a rowme of rest
appointed for the nones:
For in this Tombe interred is
but flesh and bared bones.
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