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Melpomene: The Tragick Muse.
On the Death of John Dryden, Esq
COME all my Sisters now in Consort join,
Each weep her Favrite's loss with Tears Divine:
Fill all the Space with your immortal Sighs,
The vaulted Heavens return your louder Cries.
Ye Loves and Graces-hang your Heads, and weep,
And every God a decent Silence keep;
That I may Grieve my fill, for Dryden's gone,
Well may I now the mourning Vail put on:
Well may I now with Cypress load my Brow,
For who like him can e'er invoke me now?
Who sang fair Killigrew's untimely fall,
And more than Roman made her Funeral.
Inspir'd by Me, for me, he cou'd Command,
Bright Abington's rich Monument shall stand
For evermore, the Wonder of the Land.
Oldham he snatch'd from an ignoble Fate,
Chang'd his cross Star for a more fortunate.
For who wou'd not with Pride resign his Breath,
To be so Lov'd, to be so Blest in Death.
Cromwel's great Genius here was greater shewn,
Well might such Vertues for one Vice attone;
If vast Ambition can be reckon'd Vice,
Which to great Jove gave the Imperial Skies.
The Monarch CHARLES he has Divinely Sung,
Well I remember, when my Graces hung
On each inchanting Accent of his Tongue.