Poems or, A Miscellany of Sonnets, Satyrs, Drollery, Panegyricks, Elegies, &c. At the Instance, and Request of Several Friends, Times, and Occasions, Composed; and now at their command Collected, and Committed to the Press. By the Author, M. Stevenson |
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An Elegy upon the Right Worshipful Sir Thomas Rant.
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 | Poems |  |
An Elegy upon the Right Worshipful Sir Thomas Rant.
Looks take your leave of smiles; let every eye
Be drest in sorrows saddest Livery.
Prepare for newes, for news that will depress
Your Spirits with a load of Heaviness.
Where every Mourner cause has to be chief,
There needs gradation to so great a grief!
He's faln, he's faln! a Man of that renown,
The wonder, and the glory of the Gown.
Whom Norfolk call'd (that well his learning knew)
Laws Oracle, and Lord Chief Justice too.
Were cases ne'er so nice, he needed not
With Alexander cut the Gordeon knot:
His piercing Eye enlighten'd by his wit,
What others tore a pieces could unknit:
Such was his love to Justice too, that Might
Could never boast the Victory of Right.
His Poise so just was, and his Scales so even,
Men thought Astrea came again from heaven.
He still made Peace, deliver'd the Opprest,
And therefore had the promise to be blest.
Thus, thus he liv'd, and went at his decease,
As a Peace-maker, to the Prince of Peace.
He got enuff, and when enuff, did know,
I wou'd all other Lawyers wou'd do so.
Heaven, out of doubt (& heaven alone knows best)
In kindness gave him his Quietus est.
Be drest in sorrows saddest Livery.
Prepare for newes, for news that will depress
Your Spirits with a load of Heaviness.
Where every Mourner cause has to be chief,
There needs gradation to so great a grief!
He's faln, he's faln! a Man of that renown,
The wonder, and the glory of the Gown.
Whom Norfolk call'd (that well his learning knew)
Laws Oracle, and Lord Chief Justice too.
Were cases ne'er so nice, he needed not
With Alexander cut the Gordeon knot:
93
What others tore a pieces could unknit:
Such was his love to Justice too, that Might
Could never boast the Victory of Right.
His Poise so just was, and his Scales so even,
Men thought Astrea came again from heaven.
He still made Peace, deliver'd the Opprest,
And therefore had the promise to be blest.
Thus, thus he liv'd, and went at his decease,
As a Peace-maker, to the Prince of Peace.
He got enuff, and when enuff, did know,
I wou'd all other Lawyers wou'd do so.
Heaven, out of doubt (& heaven alone knows best)
In kindness gave him his Quietus est.
His charity, which with the best compares,
He writ himself in living Charactars.
He has, as it sufficiently is known,
Provided for more Widows than his own.
Learned he was, and Loyal too, if we
Mayn't rather say, Learning and Loyaltie.
In summe, he such accomplishments engrost,
'Tis not one Age can say what we have lost.
Well may we then go weep our fountains dry,
And leave a deluge for posterity.
He writ himself in living Charactars.
He has, as it sufficiently is known,
Provided for more Widows than his own.
Learned he was, and Loyal too, if we
Mayn't rather say, Learning and Loyaltie.
In summe, he such accomplishments engrost,
'Tis not one Age can say what we have lost.
Well may we then go weep our fountains dry,
And leave a deluge for posterity.
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