Amanda A Sacrifice To an Unknown Goddesse, or, A Free-Will Offering Of a loving Heart to a Sweet-Heart. By N. H. [i.e. Nicholas Hookes] |
 |
|
|
|
On the immature death of his hopeful friend, Mr. Alexander Rookesby. |
 | Amanda |  |
On the immature death of his hopeful friend, Mr. Alexander Rookesby.
1
Most cruel death! be so precise?Take no excuse!
Could not thy nature, nor
Thy well promising youth apologize!
2
This fit of sicknesse should have been,The smallest stop,
Only a comma to thy health.
A short deliquium, then life agen.
3
What so unskilful in Orthographie?Illiterate fate?
To put a period thus,
Where but a colon at the most should be!
211
4
Was't not unmannerly in deathBefore his tale
Were told, or he had spoke
His better sentence out, to stop his breath!
5
O'th' dawning of his life I look,As on a short
Brief preface, or a kinde salute
To th'gentle Reader, but w' have lost the book.
6
'Tis fit each Scholar o're his Herse,Weep Elegies,
Nature was scanning him,
As though she meant to make a golden verse.
7
But death instead of long Hexameters,Making Adonicks,
Served a warrant in
Which fate had writ in short-hand characters.
8
So left the learn'd Hippocrates,(Giving a dash
Rude Ignoramus like)
To make a guesse and spell out the disease.
9
Himself read only his Contents,The Chapter must
Be read at's grave, while down
His coffin ives drill watrie monuments.
112
10
Farewel, farewel, dear heart,Is't thine, my friend?
I bid this longest farewel to,
Or rather is't my own with which I part?
11
Alas! good soul, thou'rt gone;And were it not
That I should wish my death,
I'd wish 'twere time to follow on.
12
Nor would I any other knellTo drive away
Bad spirits from my grave,
Only the Eccho of thy passing bell.
| Amanda | |