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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To the sad Reader.
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 | A Fvneral Elegie |  |
To the sad Reader.
To
thee; (Compassionate Reader) ere I pay
My last of Duties to this Royall Clay,
(For best of man's no better) giue me leaue
Some thing to speake, which (I intreat) receiue
With as prepar'd, and well-dispos'd a minde,
As it is freely to thy view disign'd.
My last of Duties to this Royall Clay,
(For best of man's no better) giue me leaue
Some thing to speake, which (I intreat) receiue
With as prepar'd, and well-dispos'd a minde,
As it is freely to thy view disign'd.
I haue obseru'd, and still me thinkes I see
Beneath this goodly and faire flourishing Tree,
(Now ruin'd and demolisht) Plants that grow
Vnder his shadow, such as all men know,
By his protection cheer'd and kept aliue,
Their growth and beauties multiply and thriue,
Sweld with increase, their boughs on him depending,
Laden with ripe fruits to the ground euen bending,
Both shadowed from the Winters bleake extremes,
And (in the Summer) the Sunnes scorching beames.
Beneath this goodly and faire flourishing Tree,
(Now ruin'd and demolisht) Plants that grow
Vnder his shadow, such as all men know,
By his protection cheer'd and kept aliue,
Their growth and beauties multiply and thriue,
Sweld with increase, their boughs on him depending,
Laden with ripe fruits to the ground euen bending,
Both shadowed from the Winters bleake extremes,
And (in the Summer) the Sunnes scorching beames.
Yet this faire Dodon Oake, late all-commanding,
Hath in his mightie ruine left them standing:
And not (as we haue seene) great buildings fall,
Crushing and shattering beneath them, all.
Hath in his mightie ruine left them standing:
Crushing and shattering beneath them, all.
Now since euen some still rooted in their places,
Bettred to this day by his former graces:
Others by transplantation, higher rear'd,
And to more eminence in Court preferr'd:
(Excepting still those truely noble Spirits,
That sought to sute his fauours with their merits)
Since some euen deerely by him once affected,
To such great worth and goodnesse haue neglected
Rites due and needfull, as scarse once complaine,
For such a royall Patriot from vs tane.
Excuse me euen the weakest, if I (tho
Not knowne to him) that onely saw him grow
To others profit; haue my griefes displayd,
Yet neuer tasted of his meat or shade.
And this (oh courteous Reader) let suffice,
Now, if thou please, to teares prepare thine eyes.
Bettred to this day by his former graces:
Others by transplantation, higher rear'd,
And to more eminence in Court preferr'd:
(Excepting still those truely noble Spirits,
That sought to sute his fauours with their merits)
Since some euen deerely by him once affected,
To such great worth and goodnesse haue neglected
Rites due and needfull, as scarse once complaine,
For such a royall Patriot from vs tane.
Excuse me euen the weakest, if I (tho
Not knowne to him) that onely saw him grow
To others profit; haue my griefes displayd,
Yet neuer tasted of his meat or shade.
And this (oh courteous Reader) let suffice,
Now, if thou please, to teares prepare thine eyes.
| A Fvneral Elegie | |