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Comedies, Tragi-comedies, With other Poems

by Mr William Cartwright ... The Ayres and Songs set by Mr Henry Lawes

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ON Mr William Cartvvright's excellent Poems.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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ON Mr William Cartvvright's excellent Poems.

VVhy did'st Thou climb so fast,
That in the Morning of thy Age
High Noon was overpast?
We had enjoy'd thee still,
Greater, if less; thy noble Stage
Thou did'st too soon fulfill.
When the World's Sun doth ride
Up to his Zenith, who can hope
Those Glories should abide?
Higher he cannot get,
And having once attain'd his Scope,
Like Thee he needs must set.
But the Sun gone, the Night
Has the same Emanation,
Though by a Proxy light:
So thy full Poems live,
Thou dead; whose warm Reflexion
Still the same heat does give.
And since Thou art so bright,
Our Praises Thou dost far outshine;
Dazling our weaker sight:
The Diamond only can
Cut Diamond; that great Soul of thine
Exceeds the thoughts of Man.


Whats best cannot be prais'd;
The single lustre of the Sun
Cannot by Croud of Stars be rais'd;
Nor can the Spring disclose
Colours, or Sweets, but are undone
In presence of the Rose.
Who can adorn that Face
Whose matchless Beauty once display'd,
All Ornament doth grace?
Write fair and mend, you blot;
Imperfect Silver may crave aid
Of Gilt; Gold needs it not.
Thus whilst thy Giant worth
Bedwarfes our Fansies; all our words
Do Cloud, not set thee forth:
Be then unto our Muse
('Tis all our Plunder'd VVorld affords)
Both Object and Excuse.
Io. Finch.