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The poems of William Habington

Edited with introduction and commentary by Kenneth Allott

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To the Right Honourable and excellently learned, William Earle of St.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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80

To the Right Honourable and excellently learned, William Earle of St.

My Lord,

The Laurell doth your reverend temples wreath
As aptly now, as when your youth did breath
Those tragicke raptures which your name shall save
From the blacke edict of a tyrant grave.
Nor shall your Day ere set, till the Sunne shall
From the blind heavens like a cynder fall;
And all the elements intend their strife,
To ruine what they fram'd; Then your fames life,
When desp'rate Time lies gasping, shall expire
Attended by the world ith' generall fire.
Fame lengthens thus her selfe. And I do tread
Your steps to glory, search among the dead,
Where Vertue lies obscur'd; that as I give
Life to her tombe, I spight of time may live.
Now I resolve in triumph of my verse,
To bring great Talbot from that forren hearse,
Which yet doth to her fright his dust enclose:
Then to sing Herbert who so glorious rose,
With the fourth Edward, that his faith doth shine
Yet in the faith of noblest Pembrookes line.
Sometimes my swelling spirits I prepare
To speake the mighty Percy, neerest heire,
In merits as in blood, to CHARLES the great:
Then Darbies worth and greatnesse to repeat:
Or Morleyes honour, or Mounteagles fame,
Whose valour lives eterniz'd in his name.
But while I thinke to sing those of my bloud,
And my Castara's; Loves unruly flood
Breakes in, and beares away what ever stands,
Built by my busie fancy on the sands.