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The Lyric and Dramatic Poems of John Milton
The Lyric and Dramatic Poems of John Milton Author:John Milton Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: AN EPITAPH ON THE MARCHIONESS OF WINCHESTER. This rich marble doth inter The honoured wife of Winchester; A viscount's daughter, an earl's heir, Besi... more »des what her virtues fair Added to her noble birth, 5 More than she could own from earth. Summers three times eight save one She had told; alas! too soon, After so short time of breath, To house with darkness and with death! 10 Yet had the number of her days Been as complete as was her praise, Nature and Fate had had no strife In giving limit to her life. Her high birth and her graces sweet 15 Quickly found a lover meet; The virgin quire for her request The god that sits at marriage-feast; He at their invoking came, But with a scarce-well-lighted flame; 20 And in his garland, as he stood, Ye might discern a cypress-bud. Once had the early matrons run To greet her of a lovely son, And now with second hope she goes, 25 And calls Lucina to her throes; But whether by mischance or blame, Atropos for Lucina came, And with remorseless cruelty Spoiled at once both fruit and tree. 30 The hapless babe before his birth Had burial, yet not laid in earth; And the languished mother's womb Was not long a living tomb. So have I seen some tender slip, 35 Saved with care from winter's nip, The pride of her carnation train, Plucked up by some unheedy swain, Who only thought to crop the flower New shot up from vernal shower; 4 But the fair blossom hangs the head Sideways, as on a dying bed, And those pearls of dew she wears Prove to be presaging tears Which the sad morn had let fall 45 On her hastening funera1. Gentle Lady, may thy grave Peace and quiet ever have! After this thy travail sore, Sweet rest sei...« less