The poems of George Daniel ... From the original mss. in the British Museum: Hitherto unprinted. Edited, with introduction, notes, and illustrations, portrait, &c. By the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart: In four volumes |
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An Elegie To the Memorie of the trulie Noble and my
worthie Freind, Sr William Alforde Knt:
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 | The poems of George Daniel |  |
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An Elegie To the Memorie of the trulie Noble and my worthie Freind, Sr William Alforde Knt:
of Meaux in Holdernesse.
I am noe Common Mourner, neither Croud
To Funeralls, and vent my Tears abroad,
In Elegies; or put my Witt in Print:
A better Poet then a Penitent,
I have noe Ends in verse; but keep the path
Of plaine Simplicitie. It is noe Death
Of Great Ones gives my Numbers ever Life;
But I am iust to vertue, and would Strive
To honour worthines, in everie Line;
And make my Poesie in these Colours shine.
To Funeralls, and vent my Tears abroad,
In Elegies; or put my Witt in Print:
A better Poet then a Penitent,
I have noe Ends in verse; but keep the path
Of plaine Simplicitie. It is noe Death
Of Great Ones gives my Numbers ever Life;
But I am iust to vertue, and would Strive
To honour worthines, in everie Line;
And make my Poesie in these Colours shine.
Which to Adorne, and Crowne with better Fame,
I now am brought to Celebrate the Name
Of Alforde; whose iust Merits, were they writt
By a cleare Pen, might challenge right to Sitt
Enthroned in Honour's Theatre; to bring
His Praise in Catalogve, were but to Singe
A forcéd orgie; and would much impaire
The lustre due to his full Character.
I now am brought to Celebrate the Name
Of Alforde; whose iust Merits, were they writt
By a cleare Pen, might challenge right to Sitt
Enthroned in Honour's Theatre; to bring
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A forcéd orgie; and would much impaire
The lustre due to his full Character.
Let Common Pens, who make a Trade of Rime,
Racke vertue in her Shapes, vnto the Chime
Of mercenarie Number; I am free,
And bring my Iudgment with my Elegie;
Which is at once, to pay the Debt I owe
His Memorie, and give the world to know
Some Light of his Deservings. Though it be
Knowne to the present Age, Posteritie
May want Him, and the Example; when, this weake
Tribute I pay his Memorie may Speake.
Racke vertue in her Shapes, vnto the Chime
Of mercenarie Number; I am free,
And bring my Iudgment with my Elegie;
Which is at once, to pay the Debt I owe
His Memorie, and give the world to know
Some Light of his Deservings. Though it be
Knowne to the present Age, Posteritie
May want Him, and the Example; when, this weake
Tribute I pay his Memorie may Speake.
Indeed he was, (I speake not in the Art
Of Passion, but with an open Heart;)
A man of a Cleare Soule; and full in all
The accomplishments of man, in generall.
A mind as large as Bountie, and a Brest
Where Loyaltye prevail'd with Interest;
For his owne Private, or his private freind,
Hee could not value to soe base an End.
Of Passion, but with an open Heart;)
A man of a Cleare Soule; and full in all
The accomplishments of man, in generall.
A mind as large as Bountie, and a Brest
Where Loyaltye prevail'd with Interest;
For his owne Private, or his private freind,
Hee could not value to soe base an End.
The rest, let Meux record, and Holdernes,
There pay in all its Tears, to his Decease;
Whilst wee interre him by his Ladie's Side;
So ioyned againe, whom Death did once devide;
And I, (their Poet) Celebrate their Fames
Glorious, to Time, and Equall in their Names.
There pay in all its Tears, to his Decease;
Whilst wee interre him by his Ladie's Side;
So ioyned againe, whom Death did once devide;
And I, (their Poet) Celebrate their Fames
Glorious, to Time, and Equall in their Names.
| The poems of George Daniel | |