Aretina; or, The serious romance Written originally in English. Part first.

Great Gloucester's Cipresse∣hearse, wreathed by a Loyal hand.

WE did admire what made the heavens tear, And why the clouds did such dark sables wear: It was that they in tears might pay respect To Gluocester, whom they did much affect: And that the hard hearted earth might softned be; At the sad news of his sad Tragedie. The lower heavens thus purg'd themselves, that they Might in parade be, when he pass'd their way: The season wep't in rain, and sigh'd in winde, Our mother earth did great distempers finde At her great loss, and with a pale wet face, Did her dear Son in her cold armes embrace. The rivers swell'd with rage, and every hill,

Was with a vail of black mist covered still. The leaves likewise, fell trembling from their trees When first they heard news of his obsequies. If Plato like the musick of the Sphaers, We understood, then might our nimble ears Perceive, how they quiv'rd grief in mournfull tones. Paused with sighs, and bass'd with hollow grones. Men thought, Dame nature now being old and weak, Durst nothing that was curious undertake; Wherefore, to shew men that they were mistaken, That master piece was by her undertaken; Which though it was presented as her last; Shew she a printise was, in making what was past. And though in Eden commenc'd was the Creation, Yet its accomplishment was from our British Nation. His body shew'd to what perfection rare, Dust might refined be by divine care: And yet God thought it neither fit nor just, That such a noble soul should lodge in dust, Untill that dust by Death were more refin'd, And fired to re-lodge so great a minde: The Gods Apollo have deprived, that he As the more learned should have his dietie. But why should air? lend mortals furder breath, Its sure, that they may still condole his death, And may it coyne in termes of Highest praise, And stamp that coyne with some heart brusting phrase. But since he's gone, we may conclude that sure There is another world yet more pure Then ours, or that Heavens quire did want a voice, Which only could supplyed be by this choice▪ And that God hath this Peer from earth's lower house transplanted To the high upper house of heaven, for ever to be sainted▪