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 |  |
The Prince, his Father answer'd; and said he,
I am not worth those Tears you shed for me.
But why do you thus weep, and thus lament,
For my death now? When to the Warrs I went,
You did encourage me to fight in field
For Victory, or else my Life to yeeld:
I willingly obey'd, and joy'd to find
My Father's Sympathy unto my Mind.
Besides, it shew'd a greater love to me,
Than Parents self-lov'd fondness us'd to be;
For to prefer my Honour, and my Fame,
Before the perpetu'ty of your Name:
And as you priz'd my Honour and Renown,
So I a Heavenly, not an Earthly Crown:
And give me leave the better choice to make,
To quit all troubles, and sweet Peace to take:
I ne'er more willing, nor more fit can dye,
For Heaven, and the Gods pure company:
For had I dy'd in Warrs, my Soul had been
Stained with Blood, and spotted o're with Sin.
But now, my Mistress is a Saint, in Heaven
Hath intercession made, my sins forgiven.
And since she's gone, all Joys with her are fled,
And I shall never happy be, till dead:
She was my Soul's delight, in her I view'd
The pure and Celestial Beatitude.
But were I sure the Soul that never dyes,
Should never meet, nor Bodies never rise
By Resurrection; yet sure those are blest
That pass this life, and in the Grave do rest.
I am not worth those Tears you shed for me.
But why do you thus weep, and thus lament,
For my death now? When to the Warrs I went,
You did encourage me to fight in field
For Victory, or else my Life to yeeld:
I willingly obey'd, and joy'd to find
My Father's Sympathy unto my Mind.
Besides, it shew'd a greater love to me,
Than Parents self-lov'd fondness us'd to be;
For to prefer my Honour, and my Fame,
Before the perpetu'ty of your Name:
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So I a Heavenly, not an Earthly Crown:
And give me leave the better choice to make,
To quit all troubles, and sweet Peace to take:
I ne'er more willing, nor more fit can dye,
For Heaven, and the Gods pure company:
For had I dy'd in Warrs, my Soul had been
Stained with Blood, and spotted o're with Sin.
But now, my Mistress is a Saint, in Heaven
Hath intercession made, my sins forgiven.
And since she's gone, all Joys with her are fled,
And I shall never happy be, till dead:
She was my Soul's delight, in her I view'd
The pure and Celestial Beatitude.
But were I sure the Soul that never dyes,
Should never meet, nor Bodies never rise
By Resurrection; yet sure those are blest
That pass this life, and in the Grave do rest.
| Natures Picture Drawn by Fancies Pencil To the Life | |