Poetical blossomes by A.C.

AN ELEGIE ON THE Death of my loving Friend and Cousen, Mr. RICHARD CLERKE, late of LINCOLNES-Inne Gentleman.

IT was decreed by stedfast Destinie, (The World from Chaos turn'd) that all should Die. Hee who durst fearelesse passe blacke Acheron And dangers of th'infernall Region, Leading Hell's triple Porter captivate, Was overcome himselfe, by conquering Fate. The Roman TVLLIE'S pleasing Eloquence, Which in the Eares did locke vp every Sence Of the rapt hearer, his Mellifluous breath Could not at all charme vnremorsefull Death. Nor SOLON so by Greece admir'd, could save Himselfe with all his Wisedome, from the Grave. Sterne Fate brought MARO to his Funerall flame, And would have ended in that fire his Fame; Burning those lofty Lines, which now shall be Times conquerors, and out-last Eternitie.

Even so lov'd CLERKE from Death no scape could find, Though arm'd with great ALCIDES valiant mind. Hee was adorn'd in yeares though farre more young, With learned CICERO'S, or a sweeter Tongue. And could dead VIRGIL heare his lofty straine, Hee would condemne his owne to fire againe. His youth a SOLON'S Wisedome did presage, Had envious Time but given him SOLONS age. And all that in our Ancestors hath bin Of any Vertue, earth now lost in him. Who would not therefore now if Learnings friend Bewayle his fatall and vntimely end: Who hath such hard, such vnrelenting Eyes, As would not weeps when so much Vertue dyes? The God of Poets doth in darknesse shrowd His glorious face, and weepes behind a Cloud. The dolefull Muses thinking now to write Sad Elegies, their teares confound their sight: But him to Elysium's lasting Ioyes they bring, Where winged Angels his sad Requiems sing.

Abraham Cowley.