Bosworth-field With a Taste of the Variety of Other Poems, Left by Sir John Beaumont ... Set Forth by his Sonne, Sir Iohn Beaumont |
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Vpon the following Poems of my deare Father, Sir Iohn Beaumont, Baronet, deceased.
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Vpon the following Poems of my deare Father, Sir Iohn Beaumont, Baronet, deceased.
You
, who prepare to reade graue Beaumonts Verse,
And at your entrance view my lowly straines,
Expect no flatt'ring prayses to reherse
The rare perfections, which this Booke containes.
And at your entrance view my lowly straines,
Expect no flatt'ring prayses to reherse
The rare perfections, which this Booke containes.
But onely here in these few Lines, behold
The debt which I vnto a Parent owe;
Who, though I cannot his true Worth vnfold,
May yet at least a due affection show.
The debt which I vnto a Parent owe;
Who, though I cannot his true Worth vnfold,
May yet at least a due affection show.
For should I striue to decke the Vertues high,
Which in these Poems (like faire Gemmes) appeare;
I might as well adde brightnesse to the skie,
Or with new splendour make the Sunne more cleare.
Which in these Poems (like faire Gemmes) appeare;
I might as well adde brightnesse to the skie,
Or with new splendour make the Sunne more cleare.
Since eu'ry Line is with such beauties grac'd,
That nothing farther can their prayses sound:
And that deare Name which on the Front is plac'd,
Declares what ornaments within are found.
That nothing farther can their prayses sound:
And that deare Name which on the Front is plac'd,
Declares what ornaments within are found.
That Name, I say, in whom the Muses meete,
And with such heate his Noble spirit raise,
That Kings admire his Verse, whil'st at his feete,
Orpheus his Harpe, and Phœbus casts his Bayes.
And with such heate his Noble spirit raise,
That Kings admire his Verse, whil'st at his feete,
Orpheus his Harpe, and Phœbus casts his Bayes.
Whom, though fierce death hath taken from our sights
And caus'd that curious Hand to write no more;
Yet maruell not if from the fun'rall Rites
Proceed these branches neuer seene before.
And caus'd that curious Hand to write no more;
Yet maruell not if from the fun'rall Rites
Proceed these branches neuer seene before.
For from the Corne arise not fruitfull Eares,
Except at first the earth receiue the same:
Nor those rich Odors which Arabia beares,
Send forth sweet smells, vnlesse consum'd with flame.
Except at first the earth receiue the same:
Nor those rich Odors which Arabia beares,
Send forth sweet smells, vnlesse consum'd with flame.
So from the ashes of this Phœnix flye
These off-springs, which with such fresh glory shine;
That whil'st time runneth, he shall neuer dye,
But still be honour'd in this famous Shrine:
To which, this Verse alone I humbly giue;
He was before: but now begins to liue.
These off-springs, which with such fresh glory shine;
That whil'st time runneth, he shall neuer dye,
But still be honour'd in this famous Shrine:
To which, this Verse alone I humbly giue;
He was before: but now begins to liue.
Francis Beaumont.
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