To the Right Honourable ROBERT Lord Sidney of Penshurst, Vicount Lisley, Lord Chamberlain to the Queens Majesty, and L. Governour of Vlushing, and the Castle of Ramekins.
George Wither presents these Elegiak-Sonnets, and wisheth double Comfort after his two-fold Sorrow.
Anagrams on the name of Sir William Sidney Knight, deceased.
Gulielmus Sidneius.
En vilis gelidus sum.
*But*
E't nil luge, sidus sum.
Besides
our great and universall care,
(Wherein you one of our chiefe sharers are)
To adde more griefe unto your griefes begun,
Whilest we a Father lost, you lost a Son,
Whose haplesse want had more apparent been,
But darkned by the Other 'twas unseen,
Which well perceiving, loth indeed was I
The Memory of one so deare should die:
Occasion thereupon I therefore took
Thus to present your Honour with this Book.
(Vnfained and true mournfull Elegies,
And for our Henry my last Obsequies)
That he which did your Sons late death obscure,
Might be the mean to make his fame endure.
But this may but renew your former woe:
Indeed and I might well have doubted so,
Had not I known that Vertue which did place you
Above the Common sort, did also grace you
With gifts of minde to make you more excell,
And far more able Passions rage to quell.
You can and may with moderation moan,
For all your comfort is not lost with one:
Children you have whose Vertues may renew
The comfort of decaying Hopes in you.
Praised be God for such great blessings giving,
And happy you to have such comforts living.
Nor do I think it can be rightly sed
You are unhappy in this One that's dead:
For notwithstanding his first Anagram
Frights, with Behold, now cold and vile I am:
Yet in his last he seems more cheerfull far,
And joyes, with
Soft, mourn not, I am a Star,
Oh, great preferment! What could he aspire
That was more high, or you could more desire?
Well, since his soule in heaven such glory hath,
My Love bequeathes his Grave this Epitaph.
Epitaph.
Here under lies a Sidney: And what then?
Dost think here lies but reliques of a man?
Know 'tis a Cabinet did once include,
Wit, Beauty, Sweetnesse, Court'sie, Fortitude.
So let him rest to Memorie still deare,
Till his Redeemer in the Clouds appeare.
Mean while, accept his will, who meaning plain,
Doth neither write for Praise, nor hope of Gain.
And now your Tears and private Griefe forbeare,
To turne unto our Great and Publike Care.
Your Honours true honourer, GEORGE WITHER.
