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109
The CAVALEER.
An Elegy upon Capt. Ben Marshal's Death.
1665.
O'r whelm'd in Night, and Grief I sit;
For Verse, or Humour most unfit:
Aurora's Mother both of Joy, and Wit.
For Verse, or Humour most unfit:
Aurora's Mother both of Joy, and Wit.
By day, the Chanters of the Spring
Warble, and keep time with the Wing;
But yet by Night the Nightingale does sing.
Warble, and keep time with the Wing;
But yet by Night the Nightingale does sing.
'Tis midnight now, and all at rest;
Except the sorrows in my brest;
Which are so far from sleep, they yet are drest.
Except the sorrows in my brest;
Which are so far from sleep, they yet are drest.
For Verse is Grief's most Solemn dress;
Verse, more than tears, can grief express;
Such drops their lasting fountains must confess.
Verse, more than tears, can grief express;
Such drops their lasting fountains must confess.
For tears (tho from a double Rill)
Are sometimes dry, the Brain springs still;
It is the Conduit, and its Pipe the Quill.
Are sometimes dry, the Brain springs still;
It is the Conduit, and its Pipe the Quill.
Let none say Verse may lessen Grief:
David (altho the Poet's Cheif)
His tears fro' th' Muses fountain got relief.
David (altho the Poet's Cheif)
His tears fro' th' Muses fountain got relief.
No artifice is needful here
(Like Herod's) to exact a tear;
His loss its self's a general Massacre.
(Like Herod's) to exact a tear;
His loss its self's a general Massacre.
110
He such true Friendship did possess,
As might its wasting stock increase,
And furnish this our jarring World with Peace.
As might its wasting stock increase,
And furnish this our jarring World with Peace.
Such a Companion all would crave,
Or such to be, or such to have;
Nay we for him did Wine, Plays, Women, wave.
Or such to be, or such to have;
Nay we for him did Wine, Plays, Women, wave.
To prove his Inclinations right;
His Loyalty was his delight;
For tho a Boy, he left his Play to fight.
His Loyalty was his delight;
For tho a Boy, he left his Play to fight.
Those Wounds, which for the King he met,
Spoke glorious Toils; for Blood's the Sweat
Of Honour, the best Scarlet Souldiers get.
Spoke glorious Toils; for Blood's the Sweat
Of Honour, the best Scarlet Souldiers get.
Tho Fortune (to maintain her spite)
Did aid the Wrong against the Right;
He courage shew'd in Suff'rings, as in Fight.
Did aid the Wrong against the Right;
He courage shew'd in Suff'rings, as in Fight.
In Persecution he had share;
Yet Patience did that smart repair:
So Thunder troubles, and yet clears the Air.
Yet Patience did that smart repair:
So Thunder troubles, and yet clears the Air.
As in those days he scorn'd to bow
To any Tyrants threatning Brow;
So he disdain'd as base a crouching now.
To any Tyrants threatning Brow;
So he disdain'd as base a crouching now.
For though his Worth could not be heard,
He knew it was it's own reward;
Since Traitors were prefer'd, he favours fear'd.
He knew it was it's own reward;
Since Traitors were prefer'd, he favours fear'd.
111
It would but our devotion blame,
Alone the inward Rites to name,
And quite neglect the stately Temples frame.
Alone the inward Rites to name,
And quite neglect the stately Temples frame.
Such was his Body, strait and high;
And then the Chrystals of each Eye
Did well reflect the beauties of his Sky.
And then the Chrystals of each Eye
Did well reflect the beauties of his Sky.
His Body's strength, like to his Mind;
That we despair in one to find
Their equal, 'till at last again they're joyn'd.
That we despair in one to find
Their equal, 'till at last again they're joyn'd.
Fruits ripest sooner suffer wrong;
This made him dye, alas, too young:
'Tis hard to run so fast, and travel long.
This made him dye, alas, too young:
'Tis hard to run so fast, and travel long.
That Conq'rour Death (to name him right)
Durst not trust here to his own might;
But cowardly avoided open Fight.
Durst not trust here to his own might;
But cowardly avoided open Fight.
H'attackt him like a wily Foe;
Wasted his strength without a blow;
And kept aloof till sure to find it so.
Wasted his strength without a blow;
And kept aloof till sure to find it so.
Yet still mistrustful to prevail,
With all his force did him assail;
Yet till the last his Heart did never fail.
With all his force did him assail;
Yet till the last his Heart did never fail.
Thus Martial Troy (that Gods did build)
Defended by the sacred Shield;
When all was lost, the Temple then did yield.
Defended by the sacred Shield;
When all was lost, the Temple then did yield.
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