Minor Poems of Michael Drayton eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 351 pages of information about Minor Poems of Michael Drayton.

Minor Poems of Michael Drayton eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 351 pages of information about Minor Poems of Michael Drayton.
depriu’d. 110
      My noble friend, I would I might haue quit
    This age of these, and that I might haue writ,
    Before all other, how much the braue pen,
    Had here bin honoured of the English men;
    Goodnesse and knowledge, held by them in prise,
    How hatefull to them Ignorance and vice;
    But it falls out the contrary is true,
    And so my Ieffreyes for this time adue.

Vpon the death of Mistris ELIANOR FALLOWFIELD

      Accursed Death, what neede was there at all
    Of thee, or who to councell thee did call;
    The subiect whereupon these lines I spend
    For thee was most vnfit, her timelesse end
    Too soone thou wroughtst, too neere her thou didst stand;
    Thou shouldst haue lent thy leane and meager hand
    To those who oft the help thereof beseech,
    And can be cured by no other Leech. 
      In this wide world how many thousands be,
    That hauing past fourescore, doe call for thee. 10
    The wretched debtor in the Iayle that lies,
    Yet cannot this his Creditor suffice
    Doth woe thee oft with many a sigh and teare,
    Yet thou art coy, and him thou wilt not heare. 
    The Captiue slaue that tuggeth at the Oares,
    And vnderneath the Bulls tough sinewes rores,
    Begs at thy hand, in lieu of all his paines,
    That thou wouldst but release him of his chaines;
    Yet thou a niggard listenest not thereto,
    With one short gaspe which thou mightst easily do, 20
    But thou couldst come to her ere there was neede,
    And euen at once destroy both flower and seede. 
      But cruell Death if thou so barbarous be,
    To those so goodly, and so young as shee;
    That in their teeming thou wilt shew thy spight;
    Either from marriage thou wilt Maides affright,
    Or in their wedlock, Widowes liues to chuse
    Their Husbands bed, and vtterly refuse,
    Fearing conception; so shalt thou thereby
    Extirpate mankinde by thy cruelty. 30
      If after direfull Tragedy thou thirst,
    Extinguish Himens Torches at the first;
    Build Funerall pyles, and the sad pauement strewe,
    With mournfull Cypresse, and the pale-leau’d Yewe. 
    Away with Roses, Myrtle, and with Bayes;
    Ensignes of mirth, and iollity, as these;
    Neuer at Nuptials vsed be againe,
    But from the Church the new Bride entertaine
    With weeping Nenias, euer and among,
    As at departings be sad Requiems song. 40
      Lucina by th’ olde Poets that wert sayd,
    Women in Childe-birth euermore to ayde,
    Because thine Altars, long haue layne neglected: 
    Nor as they should, thy holy fiers reflected

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Minor Poems of Michael Drayton from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.