Mary Magdalenes Love to Christ, Poem 3 – Poem 7
On the death of the most virtuous young Gentlewoman Mrs: ELIZABETH THOMASON, who dyed of a Feavor
Sure Death's turn'd Hector, whiles in his Rant
He nothing does, but what's extravagant.
Rapos, Murthons he comi…s, nay doth do sto…
The blooming budds of Youth all in an hourd,
Plays Tyrant over all, no Sex, on age,
His pitty findes, or ffury can asswage.
Could all the Virtues being met in One
Could Beautie, or what you call Perfection
Have stay'd his fatall Stroake, Sh had been alive
That now is dead and would his power survive.
But speake proud Ravisher, did not …or Sight
Strike horrour in thee, and amazd thee' quite?
Did not thy Cheeks turne rod, and each part
Frozen befen…, turnd' then a flaming h…a…?
Thou know'st 'twas so; a… he that us'd for love
To kill so many, th…n did love-sick provd':
And that n… might himselfe … Servant show
He stole blind Cupid's Quiv… & his Bow,
Non did his hast any distinction make
Between the darts, a poyson'd g…d' n… takes
At ho… he …ims, and mo…d' by Chan…d' thou Art
The deadly Dart lay con…e…d in ho…' …oart:
The v…nnom strait ho… Virgin br…st inflames.
And doth like fire run dancing in h… voy…s.
N…i… Sh… poo… Soul…, not knowing of ye Plott
Thought that a burning ffeav… Shoo' had gott:
And unable her To…mo…s to Sustaind'
Sho… sighing pray'd, then dy'd, & lest ho… paine:
And s…th blest Soul…, for new thou'rt truly so
Thou'rt fled above, while w… mourn ho…d' belong,
Thy fame shal't dyd, for thy …ualuod mouth
Our Sighs & G…oans shall to the life set fo…th.
N… weepe thy loss… so long till it appoars
Thy Epitaph was written with our Tears.
Sta… Reader stay, and lo… thy weeping Eyes
Pay …rie…d' to this Virgins O…s…quid.
Thou can't …o…' lo so' vin…sse' thu heart is bent
To do m… stony then ho… Mo…mont.
For hand Youth, Beauty, Wit doo by in Dust
Who whiles she liv'd, was Godly, Chast & Just.
Whose pur… thoughts toward Heav'n still did soar
And stoom'd all wouldly Comforts to be poo…d.
At long… She Phenix-like' inflam'd he… breast
With … wont …oal 'twas that fire pleas'd how bost.
Till her pure soule towards Heaven did expire'
Jn flaming Spar…s blown from that sacred fire,
Whiles wee poo…d Mortalls wound of ho… bo…ft
Who nothing ha… but new bare Ashes left.
W: …errans
Epitap…ium Eliz Thomason Vista abeuntis die —
Lege, Viator, & …uge
Vivaci Lac…rumarum E…emate,
Ca…m, Ilebilis C…a Virginem,
Jntus agenti taie… debentur exeguiae.
Auacem & Re…ime p…em
Jn tactam …is Virgi…em
Qu… Spon…um pae…a C…ris…um,
Humana… R…pulit …ae….
Jmpervia satis gestavat pecto…,
Sua non …tuit Enteri…e Pietas
Vitam, nemini flen…am, trans…git,
Mersom, Omnibus.
Jn Marmoris Gremi… illam frustrâ guaeris,
Anima in Calum a… Angelis ra…ta,
Extra Sa…ae Mortis Jacula,
V…{que} redecat cum trium…tha… Sponso,
Corporis tuni…am, … …ae terrâ reliquit.
T C
To the Worthy Faster of a very virtuous Virgin deceased: who …si…l an …seu… Pe…son to make an Elegie &c.
S• Be advis'd; She's not your Daughter now,
But a crown'd Saint in Heavens great Court & You
Must take heed what you offer to her Shrine
You'l be prophane if that be not Divine.
Sternold who kill'd the Psalmes and David too
In Meeter and good meaning did not doe
More violence to Heaven, then you to her,
If whilst you think't a kindness you shall blurr
Her honour with my Inke: 'tis a disgrace
To set black spotts upon a Glorious Face.
Disdaine will burst her Coffin sure to have
Such dirty Feet as mine stand on her Grave.
Besides 'tis niggardly to weep in Verse,
Tears w.thout measure best become her Hearse.
The talking Brook is shallow still we see
Great Sorrows like deep Rivers silent bee.
Were I Appollo's Priest indeed, and fitt
To send a Poem up in flames of Witt,
Yet I'm but one; Sr, to her Alter's due
Whole Hecatombs of Verse & Poets too.
Goe search St Pauls Church Yard imploy choice eyes
To scan all Epitaphs, and Elegies.
All the rich Fancies, Sacred Raptures, all
The pearly drops which ever yet did fall
On spotlesse Virgins Toombs; then make your Claime
Print and devote them to your Daughters Name
Those vast Hyperbolces, Those lofty Notes
Which crack't ye. Muses voices, rent their throats,
Offended scrup'lous Readers, made them thinke
Poetry only Strong Lines and strong Drinke
Allayed by her Merit, soone will be
Reduct to sober truth and modesty.
But stay, this councill is but Simple Stuffe
(Englands Divine) Reynolds hath done enough:
His Sermon is her Monument in Print
And hath more honour then all Poems in't.
That doth not only speake her Saint, but more
Can make him one too, who but reads it ore.
Reynolds records her Saint, & You may hope
That's more than Cannonizing by a Pope.
R. W.
In memory o… Mrs Eliza Thomason who …ich Aprill ye 1659
It was the Spring an… F…nters were in contest
Whose smells should …irst reach Heav'n, & please it best
Then vid ELIZA's Sweetnesse so Surpasse
All …ivall Virgins, that S…e sent for was.
Twas Aprill when She drw…ne month so …it
For Heaven to be a Mourner in as It.
Twas Easter too, That Time did Death devise
Best for this Lamb to be a Sacrifice.
It was the Spring; The way twix Heaven & Earth
Was sweetined for…er passage, by the Birth
Of early Flowers which bur…t their Mothers Wombe
Resolv a to live an… … upon her Tombe.
It was the S…ina, Between the Earth & Skie
To please her Sou… as it was passing by,
Birds fill a one Aire with Anthems, every Nest
Was on the … to … to her Rest:
N… Pin-…l…er'd … who ne'r… tr… …in….
Nor …reat; but ventur'e then to … and sing:
F…l…wing ye Sai…d towards Heav'n whose entrance there
Dam… them & ena… …eir Not…. The hensive Aire
Dissolv'd to te…rs whic… …poil'… the p…atner'… traine,
And sunne them to their …ts with griefe againe.
Meane time, me…a…, Isa… at heavens faire ga…
The g…orious Virgins meet and … their Ma…
They ste… a which her Beautie to admire
Then …ed her to ne… place in their …wne Quire,
Which seem to be defective vntill Shee,
He did her Sweetnesse to their Harmonie.
A. Med… Sea th…r a when some Prince goes by
So lay the Starres that night about the Skie.
The milkie Way too (since Sp… past it ore)
Methinks …ookes writer than is die …tore.
L: W:
An Epitaph
Reacer … but know what Sacred Dust
Thou tread'st upon thou'dst judge thy selfe vnjust,
Should'st thou neglect a Showre of Tears to pay
To wash the Sin of thy owne …et away.
That …eter in the Play, who looking downe
When he should any … Heaven—was thought a C…wne,
And guilty of a Solicisme— might have
Applause for such an Action ore this Grave.
Here lies a peice of Heaven, & Heaven one day
Will send the best in Heaven to fetcht away.
Truth is, This lovely Virgin from her birth.
Became a constant Strife 'twixt Heaven & Earth:
Both claimd her, pleaded …or her, either cry'd,
The Child is mine; at length they did divide:
Heaven tooke her Soule; The Earth her Corps did Sease,
Yet not in fee. Shee only holds by Lease:
With this previso— when the Iudge shall call,
Earth shall give up her share. & Heaven have all.
R:W:
End of the text · Edward Reynolds, Mary Magdalenes Love to Christ (1659)