A Fvneral Elegie Vpon The Mvch Lamented Death Of The Trespuissant and vnmatchable King, King Iames, King of Great Brittaine, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith. Who to the vniuersall sorrow of the Princes his Allies, his owne Kingdomes and people, expired the 27. of March, Anno 1625. In the yeere of his reigne 23. Written by Thom. Heywood |
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A short Consolatory Elegie, alluding to
the happy and blest succession, of the hopefull and
most Royall Charles the first King of England
stiled by that name. |
 | A Fvneral Elegie |  |
A short Consolatory Elegie, alluding to the happy and blest succession, of the hopefull and most Royall Charles the first King of England stiled by that name.
Svnshines succeed blacke tempests, calmes a storme;
The Heauens that in themselues haue vniforme,
Mix cares with pleasures, ioyes with discontent,
As if (to moralise) they thus much ment,
Presume on nothing; Things incertaine are,
Nor (in thy most deiectednesse) despaire.
Long tedious fasts in men consumptions breed,
Continuall surfets make vs loath to feede:
That we may both disgest with more facility,
They haue ordain'd the Lady Mutability
To soueraignize on earth, as meerely sent
To tell vs that there's nothing permanent.
Sicknesse attends on health, a fall on pride;
Againe, there is no ebbe but hath a tyde.
All this th' inconstant Moone can teach vs plaine,
Growing to th' Full, declining in her waine:
The heart of man doth still affect varietie,
And yet in nothing can it finde satietie;
There's emptinesse, and fulnesse; Flux, and wast;
Yet (Man) in neither thou assurance hast;
Rest followes labour, Day succeedeth Night,
And now my blacke page I will change to white.
The Heauens that in themselues haue vniforme,
Mix cares with pleasures, ioyes with discontent,
As if (to moralise) they thus much ment,
Presume on nothing; Things incertaine are,
Nor (in thy most deiectednesse) despaire.
Long tedious fasts in men consumptions breed,
Continuall surfets make vs loath to feede:
That we may both disgest with more facility,
They haue ordain'd the Lady Mutability
To soueraignize on earth, as meerely sent
To tell vs that there's nothing permanent.
Sicknesse attends on health, a fall on pride;
Againe, there is no ebbe but hath a tyde.
All this th' inconstant Moone can teach vs plaine,
Growing to th' Full, declining in her waine:
The heart of man doth still affect varietie,
And yet in nothing can it finde satietie;
There's emptinesse, and fulnesse; Flux, and wast;
Yet (Man) in neither thou assurance hast;
Rest followes labour, Day succeedeth Night,
And now my blacke page I will change to white.
The Kingly, Prophet; who the Psalmes compil'd,
Left vs a pres'dent, mourning for his child,
Who whilst the infant on his death-bed lay,
Was groueling on the earth, did fast and pray;
But after seuen daies, when he saw hope past,
That his (so much belou'd) had breath'd his last,
He that had all that time abstain'd from meat,
From his teare-watred couch, arose and eat:
Being ask the reason, the wise King replide,
I had some hope of mercy, till it dyde,
By prayer and fast his weaknesse to restore,
But now in vaine I should lament him more.
Left vs a pres'dent, mourning for his child,
Who whilst the infant on his death-bed lay,
Was groueling on the earth, did fast and pray;
But after seuen daies, when he saw hope past,
That his (so much belou'd) had breath'd his last,
He that had all that time abstain'd from meat,
From his teare-watred couch, arose and eat:
Being ask the reason, the wise King replide,
I had some hope of mercy, till it dyde,
By prayer and fast his weaknesse to restore,
But now in vaine I should lament him more.
By humane power, I neuer heard or read
Sackcloth and ashes could reuiue the dead;
But as Hee instantly perswaded sorrow
From all such eyes as tears from his did borrow;
So our Kings obsequies perform'd and done,
Cast eyes of ioyes on his successiue sonne.
The bitter sadnesse I before pursude,
Thus with the tragicke Poet I conclude;
Sackcloth and ashes could reuiue the dead;
But as Hee instantly perswaded sorrow
From all such eyes as tears from his did borrow;
So our Kings obsequies perform'd and done,
Cast eyes of ioyes on his successiue sonne.
The bitter sadnesse I before pursude,
Thus with the tragicke Poet I conclude;
| A Fvneral Elegie | |