[Poems by Tompson in] Benjamin Tompson : Colonial Bard A Critical Edition |
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The Illustrious Fitz-John Winthrop Esquire—
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 | [Poems by Tompson in] Benjamin Tompson : Colonial Bard |  |
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The Illustrious Fitz-John Winthrop Esquire—
Governor of Quinecticott Colony in New England
Memorized and lamented by an aged Sylvan of the Massathusets
Anno Dom: 1708.
Winthrop this day repos'd his weary bones
Leaving his Province filld with equall groans
To those which by the wrack hee under-went
Ere his brave soul was from its binding rent.
Being the third of a Renowned line
Which wee Americans deemd next Divine
The last Gazet which from New-England came
Might ha' been crowned with GREAT WINTHROPs name.
Advertisment Enough to fill a page
And deluge with its tears the present age.
His grandsire by direction of a starre
Conducted all our Tribes hither, thus farr
And many thousands of most precious Ore
And SAINTS more precious landed here on shoare
Laying the Platforme of his State so firme
No underminers in his life did harme.
Winthrop, the second, of renowned fame
Hath filld this climate with his perfumd name.
CHARLES that hee might his grand Arcanas know
While hee prepard them would the bellows blow.
Were there a Balsom, which all wounds could cure
Twas in this Asculapian hand be sure.
WINTHROP, the third with palsied hand I write
His Province pillar, and this lands delight.
His auncient Patent while hee livd was free
From all intrusions on their libertie.
While all the neighbourhood was set on fire
Hee kept his Paradisian hearts desire,
Being garrisond with GOD, all fencd about
With living walls, and hearts of Marble stout.
New-England Histories so much have said
In WINTHROPS praise, poor I do but degrade.
Europe knows better than wee natives tell
How in thy Parentage thou didst excell.
Vertues sufficient to oblige a World
Have at thy Exit all their streamers furld.
In Boston lies the timber of the ARKe
On which before hees borne hee did imbarque
Winthrop the first Lord of the Americk coast
Opning his bosom of his sons may boast
In lethall agonies, this, prays for rest
Upon the pillow of that auncient breast.
Lands every where hee had wheron to lie
Yet hee must see his grandsires tomb and die.
By a great favorite hees upward handed
Sin and Temptations all at once disbanded
Hee at the Innes of Court such treaty finds
As fully can content ingenuous minds
Heers three great Winthrops under whom wee thrivd
Wee hope the fourth will prove far longer lived.
And such as are invested with great power
May bee preparing for a parting hour.
Leaving his Province filld with equall groans
To those which by the wrack hee under-went
Ere his brave soul was from its binding rent.
Being the third of a Renowned line
Which wee Americans deemd next Divine
The last Gazet which from New-England came
Might ha' been crowned with GREAT WINTHROPs name.
Advertisment Enough to fill a page
And deluge with its tears the present age.
His grandsire by direction of a starre
Conducted all our Tribes hither, thus farr
And many thousands of most precious Ore
And SAINTS more precious landed here on shoare
Laying the Platforme of his State so firme
No underminers in his life did harme.
Winthrop, the second, of renowned fame
Hath filld this climate with his perfumd name.
CHARLES that hee might his grand Arcanas know
While hee prepard them would the bellows blow.
Were there a Balsom, which all wounds could cure
Twas in this Asculapian hand be sure.
WINTHROP, the third with palsied hand I write
His Province pillar, and this lands delight.
His auncient Patent while hee livd was free
From all intrusions on their libertie.
While all the neighbourhood was set on fire
Hee kept his Paradisian hearts desire,
Being garrisond with GOD, all fencd about
With living walls, and hearts of Marble stout.
New-England Histories so much have said
In WINTHROPS praise, poor I do but degrade.
Europe knows better than wee natives tell
How in thy Parentage thou didst excell.
165
Have at thy Exit all their streamers furld.
In Boston lies the timber of the ARKe
On which before hees borne hee did imbarque
Winthrop the first Lord of the Americk coast
Opning his bosom of his sons may boast
In lethall agonies, this, prays for rest
Upon the pillow of that auncient breast.
Lands every where hee had wheron to lie
Yet hee must see his grandsires tomb and die.
By a great favorite hees upward handed
Sin and Temptations all at once disbanded
Hee at the Innes of Court such treaty finds
As fully can content ingenuous minds
Heers three great Winthrops under whom wee thrivd
Wee hope the fourth will prove far longer lived.
And such as are invested with great power
May bee preparing for a parting hour.
Epilogi vice—
Thus naked Sylvans, guiltless as to ArtYet in our sorrows need not learne our part,
Since wee can mourn, with all our Vitals black
When those are rent from us wee chiefly lack.
Not to renew your sorrows this I write
Not to prevent your surfeits in delight
Accept this offering of a countrey teare
From clouded eys that soon must disappeare
Might I with such kind Enterteinment have
Take lands who will, I would request a Grave.
Morti vivemus
B. T.
[endorsed]: 1708 on the Death of Governor Fitz-John Winthrop
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