thee fairer right； And from the characters divide my sight。 Untill it （dimmer） a new torrent swells； And what obscur'd it； falls my spectacles Let the luxurious floods impulsive rise； As they would not be wept； but weep the eyes； The while earth melts； and we above it lye But the weak bubbles of mortalitie； Until our griefs are drawn up by the Sun； And that （too） drop the exhalation。 How in thy dust we humble now our pride； And bring thee a whole people mortifi'd！ For who expects not death； now thou art gone； Shows his low folly； not religion。 Can the poetick heaven still hold on The golden dance； when the first mover's gon？ And the snatch'd fires （which circularly hurl'd） In their strong rapture glimmer to the world； And not stupendiously rather rise The tapers unto these solemnities？ Can the chords move in tune； when thou dost dye； At once their universal harmony？ But where Apollo's harp （with murmur） laid； Had to the stones a melody convey'd； They by some pebble summon'd would reply In loud results to every battery； Thus do we come unto thy marble room； To eccho from the musick of thy tombe。 May we dare speak thee dead； that wouldest be In thy remove only not such as we？ No wonder； the advance is from us hid； Earth could not lift thee higher then it did！ And thou； that didst grow up so ever nigh； Art but now gone to immortality！ So near to where thou art； thou here didst dwell； The change to thee is less perceptible。 Thy but unably…comprehending clay； To what could not be circumscrib'd； gave way； And the more spacious tennant to return； Crack'd （in the two restrain'd estate） its urn。 That is but left to a successive trust； The soul's first buried in his bodies dust。 Thou more thy self； now thou art less confin'd； Art not concern'd in what is left behind； While we sustain the losse that thou art gone； Un…essenc'd in the separation； And he that weeps thy funerall； in one Is pious to the widdow'd nation。 And under what （now） covert must I sing； Secure as if beneath a cherub's wing； When thou hast tane thy flight hence； and art nigh In place to some related hierarchie； Where a bright wreath of glories doth but set Upon thy head an equal coronet； And thou； above our humble converse gon； Canst but be reach'd by contemplation。 Our lutes （as thine was touch'd） were vocall by； And thence receiv'd the soul by sympathy； That did above the threds inspiring creep； And with soft whispers broke the am'rous sleep； Which now no more （mov'd with the sweet surprise） Awake into delicious rapsodies； But with their silent mistress do comply； And fast in undisturbed slumbers lye。 How from thy first ascent thou didst disperse A blushing warmth throughout the universe； While near the morns Lucasta's fires did glow； And to the earth a purer dawn did throw。 We ever saw thee in the roll of fame Advancing thy already deathless name； And though it could but be above its fate； Thou would'st； however； super…errogate。 Now as in Venice； when the wanton State Before a Spaniard spread their crowded plate； He made it the sage business of his eye To find the root of the wild treasury； So learn't from that exchequer but the more To rate his masters vegetable ore。 Thus when the Greek and Latin muse we read； As but the cold inscriptions of the dead； We to advantage then admired thee； Who did'st live on still with thy poesie； And in our proud enjoyments never knew The end of the unruly wealth that grew。 But now we have the last dear ingots gain'd； And the free vein （however rich） is drein'd； Though what thou hast bequeathed us； no space Of this worlds span of time shall ere embrace。 But as who sometimes knew not to conclude Upon the waters strange vicissitude； Did to the ocean himself commit； That it might comprehend what could not it； So we in our endeavours must out…done Be swallowed up within thy Helicon。 Thou； who art layd up in thy precious cave； And from the hollow spaces of thy grave； We still may mourn in tune； but must alone Hereafter hope to quaver out a grone； No more the chirping sonnets with shrill notes Must henceforth volley from our treble throtes； But each sad accent must be humour'd well To the deep solemn organ of thy cell。 Why should some rude hand carve thy sacred stone； And there incise a cheap inscription？ When we can shed the tribute of our tears So long； till the relenting marble wears； Which shall such order in their cadence keep； That they a native epitaph shall weep； Untill each letter spelt distinctly lyes； Cut by the mystick droppings of our eyes。 El。 Revett。
Original has THE BUT。
Original has OW。
I have already pointed out； that the author of these truly wretched lines was probably the same person； on whose MORAL AND DIVINE POEMS Lovelace has some verses in the LUCASTA。 The poems of E。 R。 appear to be lost； which； unless they were far superior to the present specimen； cannot be regarded as a great calamity。
AN ELEGIE。
Me thinks； when kings； prophets； and poets dye； We should not bid men weep； nor ask them why； But the great loss should by instinct impair The nations； like a pestilential ayr； And in a moment men should feel the cramp Of grief； like persons poyson'd with a damp。 All things in nature should their death deplore； And the sun look less lovely than before； The fixed stars should change their constant spaces； And comets cast abroad their flagrant faces。 Yet still we see princes and poets fall Without their proper pomp of funerall； Men look about； as if they nere had known The poets lawrell or the princes crown； Lovelace hath long been dead； and he can be Oblig'd to no man for an elegie。 Are you all turn'd to silence； or did he Retain the only sap of poesie； That kept all branches living？ must his fall Set an eternal period upon all？ So when a spring…tide doth begin to fly From the green shoar； each neighbouring creek grows dry。 But why do I so pettishly detract An age that is so perfect； so exact？ In all things excellent； it is a fame Or glory to deceased Lovelace name： For he is weak in wit； who doth deprave Anothers worth to make his own seem brave； And this was not his aim： nor is it mine。 I now conceive the scope of their designe； Which is with one consent to bring and burn Contributary incence on his urn； Where each mans love and fancy shall be try'd； As when great Johnson or brave Shakespear dyed。 Wits must unite： for ignorance； we see； Hath got a great train of artillerie： Yet neither shall nor can it blast the fame And honour of deceased Lovelace name； Whose own LUCASTA can support his credit Amongst all such who knowingly have read it； But who that praise can by desert discusse Due to those poems that are posthumous？ And if the last conceptions are the best； Those by degrees do much transcend the rest； So full； so fluent； that they richly sute With Orpheus lire； or with Anacreons lute； And he shall melt his wing； that shall aspire To reach a fancy or one accent higher。 Holland and France have known his nobler parts； And found him excellent in arms and arts。 To sum up all； few men of fame but know； He was TAM MARTI； QUAM MERCURIO。
Burning。
Original has WE。
A fine image！
The motto originally employed by George Gascoigne； who； like Lovelace； wielded both the sword and the pen。
TO HIS NOBLE FRIEND CAPT。 DUDLEY LOVELACE UPON HIS EDITION OF HIS BROTHERS POEMS。
Thy pious hand； planting fraternal bayes； Deserving is of most egregious praise； Since 'tis the organ doth to us convey From a descended sun so bright a ray。 Clear spirit！ how much we are bound to thee For this so great a liberalitie； The truer worth of which by much exceeds The western wealth； which such contention breeds！ Like the Infusing…God； from the well…head Of poesie you have besprinkled Our brows with holy drops； the very last； Which from your Brother's happy pen were cast： Yet as the last； the best； such matchlesse skill From his divine alembick did distill。 Your honour'd Brother in the Elyzian shade Will joy to know himself a laureat made By your religious care； and that his urn Doth him on earth immortal life return。 Your self you have a good physician shown To his much grieved friends and to your own； In giving this elixir'd medecine； For greatest grief a soveraign anodine。 Sir； from your Brother y' have convey'd us bliss； Now； since your genius so concurs with his； Let your own quill our next enjoyments frame； All must be rich； that's grac'd with Lovelace name。 Symon Ognell M。D。 Coningbrens。
This person is not mentioned in Munk's Roll of the Royal College of Physicians； 1861。
ON THE TRULY HONOURABLE COLL。 RICHARD LOVELACE； OCCASIONED BY THE PUBLICATION OF HIS POSTHUME…POEMS。
ELEGIE。
Great son of Mars； and of Minerva too！ With what oblations must we come to woo Thy sacred soul to look down from above； And see how much thy memory we love； Whose happy pen so pleased amorous ears； And； lifting bright LUCASTA to the sphears； Her in the star…bespangled orb did set Above fair Ariadnes coronet； Leaving a pattern to succeeding wits； By which to sing forth their Pythonick fits。 Shall we bring tears and sighs？ no； no！ then we Should but bemone our selves for loosing thee； Or else thy happiness seem to deny； Or to repine at thy felicity。 Then； whilst we chant out thine immortal praise； Our offerings shall be onely sprigs of bays； And if our tears will needs their brinks out…fly； We'l weep them forth into an elegy； To tell the world； how deep fates wounded wit； When Atropos the lovely Lovelace hit！ How th' active fire； which cloath'd thy gen'rous mind； Consum'd the water； and the earth calcin'd Untill a stronger heat by death was given； Which sublimated thy poor soul to heaven。 Thou knew'st right well to guide the warlike steed； And yet could'st court the Muses with full speed And such success； that the inspiring Nine Have fill'd their Thespian fountain so with brine。 Henceforth we can expect no lyrick lay； But biting satyres through the world must stray。 Bellona joyns with fair Erato too； And with the Destinies do keep adoe； Whom thus she queries： coul