An Anatomy of the World, Title page – Poem
AN ANATOMY of the World.
WHEREIN, BY OCCASION OF the vntimely death of Mistris ELIZABETH DRVRY the frailty and the decay of this whole world is represented.
LONDON, Printed for Samuel Macham. and are to be solde at his shop in Paules Church-yard, at the signe of the Bul-head.
AN. DOM. 1611.
TO THE PRAISE of the Dead, and the ANATOMY.
WEl dy'de the world, that we might liue to see
This world of wit, in his Anatomee:
No euill wants his good: so wilder heyres
Bedew their fathers Toombs with forced teares,
Who…e state requites their los: whils thus we gain
Well may we walk in blacks, but not complaine.
Yet, how can I consent the world is dead
While this Muse liues? which in his spirits stead
Seemes to informe a world: and bids it bee,
In spight of losse, or fraile mortalitee?
And thou the subiect of this wel-borne thought,
Thrise noble maid; couldst not hauehave found nor sought
A fitter time to yeeld to thy sad Fate,
Then whiles this spirit liues; that can relate
Thy worth so well to our last nephews eyne,
That they shall wonder both at his, and thine:
Admired match! where striues in mutuall grace
The cunning Pencill, and the comely face:
A taske, which thy faire goodnes made too much
For the bold pride of vulgar pens to tuch;
Enough is vsus to praise them that praise thee,
And say that but enough those praises bee,
Which had'st thou liu'd, had hid their fearefull head
From th'angry checkings of thy modest red:
Death bars reward & shame: when enuy's gone,
And gaine; 'tis safe to giuegive the dead their owne.
As then the wise Egyptians wont to lay
More on their Tombs, then houses: these of clay,
But those of brasse, or marble were; so wee
GiueGive more vntounto thy Ghost, then vntounto thee.
Yet what we giuegive to thee, thou gau'st to vsus,
And maist but thanke thy selfe, for being thus:
Yet what thou gau'st, and wert, O happy maid,
Thy grace profest all due, where 'tis repayd.
So these high songs that to thee suited bine,
Serue but to sound thy makers praise, in thine,
Which thy deare soule as sweetly sings to him
Amid the Quire of Saints and Seraphim,
As any Angels tongue can sing of thee;
The subiects differ, tho the skill agree:
For as by infant-yeares men iudge of age,
Thy early louelove, thy vertues, did presage
What an hi… part thou bear'st in those best songs
VVhereto no burden, nor no end belongs.
Sing on, thou Virgin soule, whose lossefull gaine
Thy louelove-sicke Parents hauehave bewayl'd in vaine;
Neuer may thy name be in our songs forgot
Till we shall sing thy ditty, and thy note.