Natures picture drawn by fancies pencil to the life being several feigned stories, comical, tragical, tragi-comical, poetical, romanicical, philosophical, historical, and moral : some in verse, some in prose, some mixt, and some by dialogues
Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of, 1624?-1674.
The Surprisal of DEATH.
A Company of Virgins young did meet,
Their Pastime was, to gather Flowers sweet:
They white Straw-Hats upon their Heads did wear,
And falling-Feathers, which wav'd with the air,
Fanning their Faces, like a Zephyrus Wind,
Shadowing the Sun, that strove their Eyes to blind;
And in their Hands they each a Basket held,
Which Baskets they with Fruits or Flowers fill'd:
But one amongst the rest such Beauty had,
That Venus for to change might well be glad.
Page 96Her Shape exact, her Skin was smooth and fair;
Her Teeth white, even set, a long curl'd Hair:
Her Nature modest, her Behaviour so,
As when she mov'd, the Graces seem'd to go.
Her Wit was quick, and pleasing to the Ear,
That all who heard her speak, straight Lovers were.
But yet her Words such Chast Love did create,
That all Impurity they did abate.
And every heart or head where wild Thoughts live,
She did convert, and wise Instructions give:
For her Discourse such heavenly Seeds did sow,
That where she strew'd, there Virtues up did grow.
These Virgins all were in a Garden set,
And each did strive the finest Flowers to get.
But this fair Lady on a Bank did lye
Of most choice Flowers, which did court her Eye;
And every one did bend their heads full low,
Bowing their Stalks, which from the Roots did grow;
And when her hands did touch their tender Leaves,
Each seem'd to kiss, and to her Fingers cleaves.
But she, as if in Nature 'twere a Crime,
VVas loath to crop their Stalks in their full prime;
But with her Face close to those Flowers lay,
That through her Nostrils those Sweets might find way;
Not for to rob them, for her head was full
Of Flow'ry Phansies, which her wit did pull,
And Posies made, the World for to present
VVith a more lasting and a sweeter Sent.
Page 97But as she lay upon this pleasant Bank,
For which those Flowers did great Nature thank;
Death envious grew she such delight did take,
And with his Dart a deadly wound did make:
A sudden Cold did seize her every Limb,
With which her Pulse beat slow, and Eyes grew dim.
Some that sate by, observ'd her pale to be,
But thought it some false Light; yet went to see:
And when they came, she turn'd her Eyes aside,
Spread forth her arms, then stretch'd, and sigh'd, and dy'd.
The frighted Virgins ran with panting-breath,
To tell the sadder story of her death:
The whilst the Flowers to her rescue bend,
And all their Med'cinable Virtues send:
But all in vain, their Power's too weak; each Head
Then droop'd, seeing they could not help the Dead.
Their fresher Colours did no longer stay,
But faded straight, and wither'd all away.
For Tears, they dropp'd their Leaves, and thought it meet
To strew her with them, as a Winding-Sheet.
The Airy Choristers hover'd above,
And sung her last sad Funeral-Song of Love.
The Earth grew proud, now having so much honour,
That Odoriferous Corpse lying upon her.
When that pure Virgin's Stuff dissolv'd in Dew,
Was the first cause new Births of Flowers grew,
And added Sweets to those it did renew.
Page 98The Grosser Parts the Curious soon did take,
Of it transparent Purslain they did make:
Her Purer Dust they keep for to refine
Best Poets Verse, and gild every Line;
And all Poetick Flames she did inspire:
So her Name lives in that Eternal Fire.
