Oxford Historical and Literary Studies Issued under the direction of C. H. Firth and Walter Raleigh: Professors of Modern History and English Literature in the University of Oxford: Volume 5: Henry Tubbe by G. C. Moore Smith |
 |
ON MRS KATHARINE SPENCER |
 | Oxford Historical and Literary Studies |  |
ON MRS KATHARINE SPENCER
What mournfull Hearse is this, that thus makes suteAnd wooes my Teares & Verse for a Salute?
For that is all, that the weake Impotence
Of my strong Greife, and dull Muse can dispence:
Let other Pens sweat to advance her Fame,
Mine shall but touch the odour of her Name:
For though my Sorrow be as large as that
Which knows no bounds; yet the Expression's flat,
And falters in her freenesse, 'cannot sound
67
Her Sweetnes, Courtesie, her Mildnes, Truth,
Her simple Wisdome, Gravitie in Youth,
Like Lines i' th' Circle of her Life did run
Upon the Center of Devotion.
There Shee was fixt, and to that Head did draw,
All the sweet Precepts of her vertuous Law:
A Law, that She propos'd unto her selfe
As a fair Marke t'avoid the dang'rous Shelfe
Of each Temptation, which the World presents
Like Pearls, to hide their horrid Discontents.
What Nature, Education, Fortune could
Bestow, by use She made her own true Good.
How did She hate the tempting tunes of Vice,
Whose Musique draws unto a Precipice!
When wee did urge the Cure of her Disease,
Her Soule assur'd her of a better Ease.
Her Sufferings were her Joy, the dolorous Paine
Of Sicknes was the Earnest of her Raigne;
That Raigne, that Crown Triumphant, wch defies
The petty Scorns of the World's Injuries:
With which oppress'd, like a just, pious Theefe,
She stole away to Heaven for Releife.
Her Breath departed hence without a groane,
As She had wish'd her Dissolution.
Let Angells sing the honour, majestie,
And greatnes of her Immortalitie;
All I can say is this, She could not stay
To weare that longer, wch would weare away.
Her Body was the Burden of her Soule,
Which now advanc'd is under no controule
Of Weaknes, Vanitie, or Sin, as free
From the least taint of all Impuritie,
As is her lovely name; a Fixed Star,
Fix'd above all the Clouds of Death & War.
| Oxford Historical and Literary Studies | |