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The HEROINE.
Upon the death of the right Honourable Frances Countess of Rutland, &c.
1676.
No heats of Love, nor thirsts of Fame,
Did Poet's mind e're more inflame
Than mine, to write great Rutland's Name.
Did Poet's mind e're more inflame
Than mine, to write great Rutland's Name.
My meanness let no man despise;
We know the smoak of Sacrifice,
That aim'd at Heav'n, from Earth did rise.
We know the smoak of Sacrifice,
That aim'd at Heav'n, from Earth did rise.
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Honour does from Inferiours come:
So did the Consuls owe their doom,
And place, to th' Common Votes of Rome.
So did the Consuls owe their doom,
And place, to th' Common Votes of Rome.
Her Death by Verse may well be shown;
For Gods and Goddesses are known
Their very Beings hence to own.
For Gods and Goddesses are known
Their very Beings hence to own.
And yet this Reason may prove lame;
Since Praises, that did God-heads frame,
Fall short when they should speak her Name.
Since Praises, that did God-heads frame,
Fall short when they should speak her Name.
Truth, well as Heralds, makes it good,
Her Veins swell'd with a noble flood,
Sprung from third Edwards Royal blood.
Her Veins swell'd with a noble flood,
Sprung from third Edwards Royal blood.
Rutland an equal Match then brings,
Since the great Issue that hence springs,
Quarters both Arms, and Blood of Kings.
Since the great Issue that hence springs,
Quarters both Arms, and Blood of Kings.
No pride tho did her looks attend,
Which to the lowest she would lend;
As heav'nly blessings do descend.
Which to the lowest she would lend;
As heav'nly blessings do descend.
Whilst she in that high Orb did move;
She copy'd those bright Pow'rs above,
And gain'd both reverence and love.
She copy'd those bright Pow'rs above,
And gain'd both reverence and love.
Her blessings did with lustre twine;
Greatness and Goodness here did joyn,
The Sun does fructifie, and shine.
Greatness and Goodness here did joyn,
The Sun does fructifie, and shine.
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Her Gates, or Pity never barr'd;
Vertue, and Innocence her Guard;
Her Looks, obligements, and Reward.
Vertue, and Innocence her Guard;
Her Looks, obligements, and Reward.
Such Miracles were in her fate;
She never envy did create;
All did admire, or imitate.
She never envy did create;
All did admire, or imitate.
In Youth each noble Lover's dream;
In Age the gaze and rule of fame;
In Death the Priest's and Poet's Theme.
In Age the gaze and rule of fame;
In Death the Priest's and Poet's Theme.
How have I heard her, without noise,
Direct, and rule the publick voice;
As each Discourse had been her choice?
Direct, and rule the publick voice;
As each Discourse had been her choice?
How have I seen whole crouds depart,
When she, with her obliging Art,
Both pleas'd and captiv'd every heart.
When she, with her obliging Art,
Both pleas'd and captiv'd every heart.
Nor here alone was all her care;
She left Examples, great and fair,
To cause both wonder and despair.
She left Examples, great and fair,
To cause both wonder and despair.
Belvoir! thou shalt one instance be,
Where we the Arts of times past see,
Of these, and of Posterity,
Where we the Arts of times past see,
Of these, and of Posterity,
New builders here she did oppose;
And greater fame in this she chose;
Since here this Frame from ruines rose.
And greater fame in this she chose;
Since here this Frame from ruines rose.
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Let none reflect it as a shame;
To win a good one, is less fame,
Than to recover a bad Game.
To win a good one, is less fame,
Than to recover a bad Game.
As some Philosophers maintain,
'Twas less at first to make a man,
Than dead, to raise him up again.
'Twas less at first to make a man,
Than dead, to raise him up again.
First she all fitted and then reer'd;
Nor David nor his Son thus dar'd;
For this but us'd what that prepar'd.
Nor David nor his Son thus dar'd;
For this but us'd what that prepar'd.
So goodly and so strong it shows,
As Mars this stately Castle chose
For his lov'd Goddesses repose.
As Mars this stately Castle chose
For his lov'd Goddesses repose.
Who views its Beauties and its Power,
At once may think of Cæsar's Tower,
And Rosamund her lovely Bower.
At once may think of Cæsar's Tower,
And Rosamund her lovely Bower.
Large as her Mind, high as her Fame,
As tho she rais'd this stately Frame,
For all that from her Marriage came.
As tho she rais'd this stately Frame,
For all that from her Marriage came.
And such a Number from it past;
As have seven noble Houses grac'd:
Here her vast Debts are paid at last.
As have seven noble Houses grac'd:
Here her vast Debts are paid at last.
For as from many a Noble Strain,
Her Ancestors lent to each vein;
She here repaid it all again.
Her Ancestors lent to each vein;
She here repaid it all again.
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What's more to do then; but away,
When all is done for which we stay?
'Tis the last Act commends the Play.
When all is done for which we stay?
'Tis the last Act commends the Play.
This noble Lady clos'd her dayes,
(After such Acts as challenge praise)
Upon that Scene, her self did raise.
(After such Acts as challenge praise)
Upon that Scene, her self did raise.
Rare thus in life, and death, we prize
The Phœnix; who with closing Eyes,
Mounts on her Spicy Pile, and dyes.
The Phœnix; who with closing Eyes,
Mounts on her Spicy Pile, and dyes.
Her Epitaph.
Here Brass and Marble are but vainly spent;Her Name, to them, will be a Monument.
A lasting Fame Posterity must give,
Whilst Belvoir, Mountague, and Rutland live.
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