Poem Dedicated to Urian Oaks, Title page – To the reader
A POEM Dedicated to the Memory OF The Reverend and Excellent Mr. VRIAN OAKES the late Pastor to Christ's Flock, and Praesident of Harvard-Colledge, in Cambridge▪
Who was gathered to his People on 25d 5mo 16page missing In the fifty'th Year of his Age.
1 Sam. 25. 1.
And SAMUEL dyed, anpage missing the Israelites were gathered together, and Lamepage missing him.
Scindentur Vestes, Gemmae frangentur, et Aurum
Carmina quam tribuunt Fama perennis erit.
Opage missing
Magna dabit qui magna potest; mihi parva potentpage missing
Parva que poscenti, parva dedisse sat est.
page missing
BOSTON IN NEW-ENGLAND, Printed for Iohn Ratcliff. 1682.
TO THE READER
WOrthies to Praise is a Praise-worthy thing
Christ did it; and will do it! And to Sing▪
The Elogyes of Saints departed in
The Rhythm of Elegyes, has alwayes been
Esteemed Reason! David bids me go
My Christian Reader! and like him do so.
Cotton Embalms great Hooker; Norton Him▪
And Norton's Herse do's Poet-Wilson trim
With Verses: Mitchel writes a Poem on
The Death of Wilson; And when Mitchel's gone▪
Shepard with fun'ral Lamentations gives
Honour to Him: and at his Death receives
The like from the [like-Maro] Lofty Strain
Of admirable Oakes! I should be vain
To thrust into that gallant Chorus: Pride
Ne'er made mee such an Icharus: I cry'd
Of good Exemples [Ahimaaz his Thought]
How if I should run after them? And brought
These as a Pattern, and a Plea for what
I do; that my cross Reader blame me not.
But why so late? my Naenia's some will deem
Both out of Time, and Tune! To some I seem
Grief's Resurrection to essay; and bee
Iust like the Trojans who came late to see
And sorrow with Tiberius!—Only this
Shall be Reply'd! The fond Bookseller is
Now guilty of this Paper's ravishment
When long supprest: Give him thy Discontent!
Since Oakes (as Homer) has all Places Claim▪
Let Boston too forget its Anagram!