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The works of Sr William Davenant

... Consisting of Those which were formerly Printed, and Those which he design'd for the Press: Now published Out of the Authors Originall Copies
D'Avenant, William (1606-1668)
  
[dedication]

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GONDIBERT:
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MADAGASCAR,
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POEMS

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To Endimion Porter.

Would thou wert dead! so strictly dead to me,
That, nor my sight, nor my vex'd memorie
Could reach thee more: so dead, that but to name
Thou wert, might give the sawcie lie to Fame;
That the bold Sonnes of Honour, and the milde
Race of Lovers (both thy disciples stil'd)
Might ask; who could the first example be
To all their good? yet none should mention thee:
Knocking at my Brest, when this hour is come;
I hope, I once shall find my heart at home.
244

Say thou art dead; yet whisper't but to me;
For should thy so well-spent mortalitie,
End to the world, and that sad end be knowne;
I might (perhaps) still live, but live alone:
The better world would follow thee, and all
That I should gaine, by that large Funerall.
Would be, the wanton vanity to boast,
What they enjoy, was from my plenty lost.
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