An anatomy of the vvorld Wherein, by occasion of the vntimely death of Mistris Elizabeth Drury the frailty and the decay of this whole world is represented. Donne, John, 1572-1631. 1611 Approx. 34 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 16 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A20619 STC 7022 ESTC S105367 99841096 99841096 5655 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A20619) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 5655) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 881:20) An anatomy of the vvorld Wherein, by occasion of the vntimely death of Mistris Elizabeth Drury the frailty and the decay of this whole world is represented. Donne, John, 1572-1631. [32] p. Printed [by William Stansby] for Samuel Macham. and are to be solde at his shop in Paules Church-yard, at the signe of the Bul-head, London : An. Dom. 1611. By John Donne. Elizabeth Drury was buried 17 December 1610. In verse. Signatures: A-B. The first leaf is blank except for signature-mark "A". Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. 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Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor. The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines. Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Drury, Elizabeth, d. 1610 -- Poetry. 2002-04 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2002-05 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2002-06 Sara Gothard Sampled and proofread 2002-06 Sara Gothard Text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-07 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion AN ANATOMY of the World. WHEREIN , BY OCCASION OF the vntimely death of Mistris ELIZABETH DRVRY the frailty and the decay of this whole world is represented . LONDON , Printed for Samuel Macham . and are to be solde at his shop in Paules Church-yard , at the signe of the Bul-head . AN. DOM. 1611. TO THE PRAISE of the Dead , and the ANATOMY . WEl dy'de the world , that we might liue to see This world of wit , in his Anatomee : No euill wants his good : so wilder heyres Bedew their fathers Toombs with forced teares , Who●e state requites their los : whils thus we gain Well may we walk in blacks , but not complaine . Yet , how can I consent the world is dead While this Muse liues ? which in his spirits stead Seemes to informe a world : and bids it bee , In spight of losse , or fraile mortalitee ? And thou the subiect of this wel-borne thought , Thrise noble maid ; couldst not haue found nor sought A fitter time to yeeld to thy sad Fate , Then whiles this spirit liues ; that can relate Thy worth so well to our last nephews eyne , That they shall wonder both at his , and thine : Admired match ! where striues in mutuall grace The cunning Pencill , and the comely face : A taske , which thy faire goodnes made too much For the bold pride of vulgar pens to tuch ; Enough is vs to praise them that praise thee , And say that but enough those praises bee , Which had'st thou liu'd , had hid their fearefull head From th' angry checkings of thy modest red : Death bars reward & shame : when enuy's gone , And gaine ; 't is safe to giue the dead their owne . As then the wise Egyptians wont to lay More on their Tombs , then houses : these of clay , But those of brasse , or marble were ; so wee Giue more vnto thy Ghost , then vnto thee . Yet what we giue to thee , thou gau'st to vs , And maist but thanke thy selfe , for being thus : Yet what thou gau'st , and wert , O happy maid , Thy grace profest all due , where 't is repayd . So these high songs that to thee suited bine , Serue but to sound thy makers praise , in thine , Which thy deare soule as sweetly sings to him Amid the Quire of Saints and Seraphim , As any Angels tongue can sing of thee ; The subiects differ , tho the skill agree : For as by infant-yeares men iudge of age , Thy early loue , thy vertues , did presage What an hi● part thou bear'st in those best songs VVhereto no burden , nor no end belongs . Sing on , thou Virgin soule , whose lossefull gaine Thy loue-sicke Parents haue bewayl'd in vaine ; Neuer may thy name be in our songs forgot Till we shall sing thy ditty , and thy note . AN ANATOMY OF THE WORLD . WHē that rich soule w ch to her Heauen is gone , Whom all they celebrate , who know they haue one , ( For who is sure he hath a soule , vnlesse It see , and Iudge , and follow worthinesse , And by Deedes praise it ? He who doth not this , May lodge an in-mate soule , but t is not his . ) When that Queene ended here her progresse time , And , as t' her standing house , to heauen did clymbe , Where , loth to make the Saints attend her long , Shee 's now a part both of the Quire , and Song , This world , in that great earth-quake languished ; For in a common Bath of teares it bled , Which drew the strongest vitall spirits out : But succour'd then with a perplexed doubt , Whether the world did loose or gaine in this , ( Because since now no other way there is But goodnes , to see her , whom all would see , All must endeuour to be good as shee , ) This great consumption to a feuer turn'd , And so the world had fits ; it ioy'd , it mournd . And , as men thinke , that Agues physicke are , And th' Ague being spent , giue ouer care , So thou , sicke world , mistak'st thy selfe to bee Well , when alas , thou' rt in a Letargee . Her death did wound , and tame thee than , and than Thou mightst haue better spar'd the Sunne , or Man ; That wound was deepe , but 't is more misery , That thou hast lost thy sense and memory . T' was heauy then to heare thy voyce of mone , But this is worse , that thou art speechlesse growne . Thou hast forgot thy name , thou hadst ; thou wast Nothing but she , and her thou hast o'repast . For as a child kept from the Font , vntill A Prince , expected long , come to fulfill The Ceremonies , thou vnnam'd hadst laid , Had not her comming , thee her Palace made : Her name defin'd thee , gaue thee forme and frame , And thou forgetst to celebrate thy name . Some moneths she hath beene dead ( but being dead , Measures of times are all determined ) But long shee'ath beene away , long , long , yet none Offers to tell vs who it is that 's gone . But as in states doubtfull of future heyres , When sickenes without remedy , empayres The present Prince , they 're loth it should be said , The Prince doth languish , or the Prince is dead : So mankind feeling now a generall thaw , A strong example gone equall to law , The Cyment which did faithfully compact And glue all vertues , now resolu'd , and slack'd , Thought it some blasphemy to say sh'was dead ; Or that our weakenes was discouered In that confession ; therefore spoke no more Then tongues , the soule being gone , the losse deplore . But though it be too late to succour thee , Sicke world , yea dead , yea putrified , since shee Thy'ntrinsique Balme , and thy preseruatiue , Can neuer be renew'd , thou neuer liue , I ( since no man can make thee liue ) will trie , What we may gaine by thy Anatomy . Her death hath taught vs dearely , that thou art Corrupt and mortall in thy purest part . Let no man say , the world it selfe being dead , 'T is labour lost to haue discouered The worlds infirmities , since there is none Aliue to study this dissectione ; For there 's a kind of world remaining still , Though shee which did inanimate and fill The world , be gone , yet in this last long night , Her Ghost doth walke ; that is , a glimmering light , A faint weake loue of vertue and of good Refl●cts from her , on them which vnderstood Her worth ; And though she haue shut in all day , The twi-light of her memory doth stay ; Which , from the carcasse of the old world , free , Creates a new world ; and new creatures be Produc'd : The matter and the stuffe of this , Her vertue , and the forme our practise is . And though to be thus Elemented , arme These Creatures , from hom-borne intrinsique harme , ( For all assum'd vnto this Dignitee , So many weedlesse Paradises bee , Which of themselues produce no venemous sinne , Except some forraine Serpent bring it in ) Yet , because outward stormes the strongest breake , And strength it selfe by confidence growes weake , This new world may be safer , being told The dangers and diseases of the old : For with due temper men do then forgoe , Or couet things , when they their true worth know . There is no health ; Physitians say that we At best , enioy , but a neutralitee . And can there be worse sickenesse , then to know That we are neuer well , nor can be so ? We are borne ruinous : poore mothers crie , That children come not right , nor orderly , Except they headlong come , and fall vpon An ominous precipitation . How witty's ruine ? how importunate Vpon mankinde ? It labour'd to frustrate Euen Gods purpose ; and made woman , sent For mans reliefe , cause of his languishment . They were to good ends , and they are so still , But accessory , and principall in ill . For that first mariage w●s our funerall : One woman at one blow , then kill'd vs all , And singly , one by one , they kill vs now . We doe delightfully our selues allow To that consumption ; and profusely blinde , We kill our selues , to propagate our kinde . And yet we doe not that ; we are not men : There is not now that mankinde , which was then When as the Sunne , and man , did seeme to striue , ( ●●y●t tenants of the world ) who should suruiue . When Stag , and Rauen , and the long-liu'd tree , Compar'd with man d●de in minoritee . When , if a s●o● pac●● starre had stolne away From the obseruers marking , he might stay Two or three hundred yeares to see 't againe , And then make vp his obseruation plaine ; When , as the age was long , the sise was great : Mans grouth confess'd , and recompenc'd the meat : So spacious and large , that euery soule Did a faire Kingdome , and large Realme controule : And when the very stature thus erect , Did that soule a good way towards Heauen direct . Where is this mankind now ? who liues to age , Fit to be made Methusalem his page ? Alas , we scarse liue long enough to trie ; Whether a new made clocke runne right , or lie . Old Grandsires talke of yesterday with sorrow , And for our children we reserue to morrow . So short is life , that euery peasant striues , In a torne house , or field , to haue three liues . And as in lasting , so in length is man Contracted to an inch , who w●s a span . For had a man at first , in Forrests stray'd , Or shipwrack'd in the Sea , one would haue laid A wager that an Elephant , or Whale That met him , would not hastily assaile A thing so equall to him : now alas , The Fayries , and the Pigmies well may passe As credible ; mankind decayes so soone , We 're scarse our Fathers shadowes cast at noone . Onely death addes t' our length : nor are we growne In stature to be men , till we are none . But this were light , did our lesse volume hold All the old Text ; or had we chang'd to gold Their siluer ; or dispos'd into lesse glas , Spirits of vertue , which then scattred was . But 't is not so : w' are not retir'd , but dampt ; And as our bodies , so our mindes are cramp't : 'T is shrinking , not close-weaning , that hath thus , In minde and body both bedwarfed vs. We seeme ambitious , Gods whole worke t' vndoe ; Of nothing he made vs , and we striue too , To bring our selues to nothing backe ; and we Do what we can , to do 't so soone as hee . With new diseases on our selues we warre , And with new phisicke , a worse Engin farre . Thus man , this worlds Vice-Emperor , in whom All faculties , all graces are at home ; And if in other Creatures they appeare , They 're but mans ministers , and Legats there , To worke on their rebellions , and reduce Them to Ciuility , and to mans vse . This man , whom God did wooe , and loth t' attend Till man came vp , did downe to man descend , This man , so great , that all that is , is his , Oh what a trifle , and poore thing he is ! If man were any thing , he 's nothing now : Helpe , or at least some time to wast , allow T' his other wants , yet when he did depart With her whom we lament he lost his hart . She , of whom th' Auncients seem'd to proph●sie , When they call'd vertues by the 〈◊〉 of shee , She in whom vertue 〈◊〉 so much ●efi●●d , That for Allay vnto so pure a minde Shee tooke the weaker Sex , ●h that co●ld d●●ue The poysonous tincture , and the stayne of Eue , Out of her thoughts , and deeds ; and purifie All , by a true religious Alchimy ; Shee , shee is dead ; shee 's dead : when thou knowest this , Thou knowest how poore a trifling thing man is . And learn'st thus much by our Anatomee , The heart being perish'd , no part can be free . And that except thou seed ( not banquet ) on The supernaturall food , Religion , Thy better Grouth growes withered , and scant ; Be more then man , or thou' rt lesse then an Ant. Then , as mankind● , so is the worlds whole frame Quite out of ioynt , almost created lame : For , before God had made vp all the rest , Corruption entred , and deprau'd the best : It seis'd Angels , and then first of all The world did in her Cradle take a fall , And turn'd her braines , and tooke a generall maime Wronging each ioynt of th'vniversall frame . The noblest part , man , felt it first ; and than Both beasts and plants , curst in the curse of man. So did the world from the first houre decay , That euening was beginning of the day , And now the Springs and Sommers which we see , Like sonnes of women after fifty bee . And new Philosophy cals all in doubt , The Element of fire is quite put out ; The Sunne is lost , and th' earth , and no mans wit Can well direct him , where to looke for it . And freely men confesse , that this world 's spent , When in the Planets , and the Firmament They seeke so many new ; they see that this Is crumbled out againe to his Atomis . 'T is all in pieces , all cohaerence gone ; All iust supply , and all Relation : Prince , Subiect , Father , Sonne , are things forgot , For euery man alone thinkes he hath got To be a Phoenix , and that then can bee None of that kinde , of which he is , but hee . This is the worlds condition now , and now She that should all parts to reunion bow , She that had all Magnetique force alone , To draw , and fasten sundred parts in one ; She whom wise nature had inuented then When she obseru'd that euery sort of men Did in their voyage in this worlds Sea stray , And needed a new compasse for their way ; Shee that was best , and first originall Of all faire copies ; and the generall Steward to Fate ; shee whose rich eyes , and brest , Guilt the West Indies , and perfum'd the East ; Whose hauing breath'd in this world , did bestow Spice on those Isles , and bad them still smell so , And that rich Indie which doth gold interre , Is but 〈◊〉 single money , coyn'd from her : She to whom this world must it selfe refer , As Suburbs , or the Microcosme of her , Shee , shee is dead ; shee 's dead : when thou knowst this , Thou knowst how lame a cripple this world is . And learnst thus much by our Anatomy , That this worlds generall sickenesse doth not lie In any humour , or one certaine part ; But , as thou sawest it rotten at the hart , Thou seest a Hectique feuer hath got hold Of the whole substance , not to be contrould . And that thou hast but one way , not t' admit The worlds infection , to be none of it . For the worlds subtilst immateriall parts Feele this consuming wound , and ages darts . For the worlds beauty is decayd , or gone , Beauty , that 's colour , and proportion . We thinke the heauens enioy their Sphericall Their round proportion embracing all . But yet their various and perplexed course , Obseru'd in diuers ages doth enforce Men to finde out so many Eccentrique parts , Such diuers downe-right lines , such ouerthwarts , As disproportion that pure forme . It teares The Firmament in eight and fortie sheeres , And in those constellations then arise New starres , and old do vanish from our eyes : As though heau'n suffred earth-quakes , peace or war , When new Towres rise , and olde demolish'd are . They haue empayld within a Zodiake The free-borne Sunne , and keepe twelue signes awake To watch his steps ; the Goat and Crabbe controule , And fright him backe , who els to eyther Pole , ( Did not these Tropiques fetter him ) might runne : For his course is not round ; nor can the Sunne Perfit a Circle , or maintaine his way One inche direct ; but where he rose to day He comes no more , but with a cousening line , Steales by that point , and so is Serpentine : And seeming weary with his recling thus , He meanes to sleepe , being now falne nearer vs. So , of the stares which boast that they do runne In Circle still , none ends where he begunne . All their proportion's lame , it sinks , it swels . For of Meridians , and Parallels , Man hath weau'd out a net , and this net throwne Vpon the Heauens , and now they are his owne . Loth to goe vp the hill , or labor thus To goe to heauen , we make heauen come to vs. We spur , we raine the stars , and in their race They 're diuersly content t' obey our pace . But keepes the earth her round proportion still ? Doth not a Tenarif , or higher Hill Rise so high like a Rocke , that one might thinke The floating Moone would shipwracke there , and sink ? Seas are so deepe , that Whales being strooke to day , Perchance to morrow , scarse at middle way Of their wish'd iourneys end , the bottom , dye . And men , to sound depths , so much line vntie , As one might iustly thinke , that there would rise At end thereof , one of th'Antipodies : If vnder all , a Vault infernall be , ( Which sure is spacious , except that we Inuent another torment , that there must Millions into a strait hote roome be thrust ) Then solidnes , and roundnes haue no place . Are these but warts , and pock-holes in the face Of th' earth ? Thinke so . But yet confesse , in this The worlds proportion disfigured is , That those two legges whereon it doth relie , Reward and punishment are bent awrie . And , Oh , it can no more be questioned , That beauties best , proportion , is dead , Since euen griefe it selfe , which now alone Is left vs , is without proportion . Shee by whose lines proportion should bee Examin'd , measure of all Symmetree , Whom had that Ancient seen , who thought soules made Of Harmony , he would at next haue said That Harmony was shee , and thence infer , That soules were but Resultances from her , And did from her into our bodies go , As to our eyes , the formes from obiects flow : Shee , who if those great Doctors truely said That th'Arke to mans proportions was made , Had beene a type for that , as that might be A type of her in this , that contrary Both Elements , and Passions liu'd at peace In her , who caus'd all Ciuill warre to cease . Shee , after whom , what forme soe're we see , Is discord , and rude incongruitee , Shee , shee is dead , shee 's dead ; when thou knowst this , Thou knowst how vgly a monster this world is : And learnst thus much by our Anatomie , That here is nothing to enamor thee : And that , not onely faults in inward parts , Corruptions in our braines , or in our harts , Poysoning the fountaines , whence our actions spring , Endanger vs : but that if euery thing Be not done fitly'nd in proportion , To satisfie wise , and good lookers on , ( Since most men be such as most thinke they bee ) They 're lothsome too , by this Deformitee . For good , and well , must in our actions meete : Wicked is not much worse then indiscreet . But beauties other second Element , Colour , and lustre now , is as neere spent . And had the world his iust proportion , Were it a ring still , yet the stone is gone . As a compassionate Turcoyse which doth tell By looking pale , the wearer is not well , As gold fals sicke being ●lung with Mercury , All the worlds parts of such complexion bee . When nature was most busie , the first weeke , Swadling the new-borne earth , God seemd to like , That she should sport herselfe sometimes , and play , To mingle , and vary colours euery day . And then , as though she could not make i now , Himselfe his various Rainbow did allow . Sight is the noblest sense of any one , Yet sight hath onely color to feed on , And color is decayd : summers robe growes Duskie , and like an oft dyed garment showes . Our blushing redde , which vs'd in cheekes to spred , Is inward sunke , and onely our soules are redde . Perchance the world might haue recouered , If she whom we lament had not beene dead : But shee , in whom all white , and redde , and blue ( Beauties ingredients ) voluntary grew , As in an vnuext Paradise ; from whom Did all things verdure , and their lustre come , Whose composition was miraculous , Being all color , all Diaphanous , ( For Ayre , and Fire but thicke grosse bodies were , And liueliest stones but drowsie , and pale to her , ) Shee , shee is dead ; shee 's dead : when thou knowst this , Thou knowst how wan a Ghost this our world is : And learnst thus much by our Anatomee , That it should more affright , then pleasure thee . And that , since all faire color then did sinke , T is now but wicked vanity to thinke , To color vitious deeds with good pretence , Or with bought colors to illude mens sense . Nor in ought more this worlds decay appeares , Then that her influence the heau'n forbeares , Or that the Elements doe not feele this , The father , or the mother barren is . The clouds conceiue not raine , or doe not powre In the due birth-time , downe the balmy showre . Th' Ayre doth not motherly sit on the earth , To hatch her seasons , and giue all things birth . Spring-times were common cradles , but are toombes And false-conceptions fill the generall wombs . Th' Ayre showes such Meteors , as none can see , Not onely what they meane , but what they bee . Earth such new wormes , as would haue troubled me Th'Egyptian Mages to haue made more such . What Artist now dares boast that he can bring Heauen hither , or constellate any thing , So as the influence of those starres may bee Imprisond in an Herbe , or Charme , or Tree , And doe by touch , all which those starres could do ? The art is lost , and correspondence too . For heauen giues little , and the earth takes lesse , And man least knowes their trade , and purposes . If this commerce twixt heauen and earth were not Embarr'd , and all this trafique quite forgot , Shee , for whose losse we haue lamented thus , Would worke more fully ' and pow'rfully on vs. Since herbes , and roots by dying , lose not all , But they , yea Ashes too , are medicinall , Death could not quench her vertue so , but that It would be ( if not follow'd ) wondred at : And all the world would be one dying Swan , To sing her funerall prayse , and vanish than . But as some Serpents poison hurteth not , Except it be from the liue Serpent shot , So doth her vertue need her here , to fit That vnto vs ; she working more then it . But she , in whom , to such maturity , Vertue was growne , past growth , that it must die , She from whose influence all Impressions came , But , by Receiuers impotencies , lame , Who , though she could not transubstantiate All states to gold , yet guilded euery state , So that some Princes haue some temperance ; Some Counsaylors some purpose to aduance The common profite ; and some people haue Some stay , no more then Kings should giue , to craue ; Some women haue some taciturnity ; Some Nunneries , some graines of chastity . She that did thus much , and much more could doe , But that our age was Iron , and rusty too , Shee , shee is dead ; shee 's dead : when thou knowst this , Thou knowest how drie a Cinder this world is . And learnst thus much by our Anatomy , That 't is in vaine to dew , or mollifie It with thy Teares , or Sweat , or Bloud : no thing Is worth our trauaile , griefe , or perishing , But those rich ioyes , which did possesse her hart , Of which shee 's now partaker , and a part . But as in cutting vp a man that 's dead , The body will not last out to haue read On euery part , and therefore men direct Their speech to parts , that are of most effect ; So the worlds carcasse would not last , if I Were punctuall in this Anatomy . Nor smels it well to hearers , if one tell Them their disease , who faine would think they 're wel . Here therefore be the end : And , blessed maid , Of whom is meant what euer hath beene said , Or shall be spoken well by any tongue , Whose name refines course lines , & makes prose song , Accept this tribute , and his first yeares rent , Who till his darke short tapers end be spent , As oft as thy feast sees this widowed earth , Will yearely celebrate thy second birth , That is , thy death . For though the soule of man Be got when man is made , 't is borne but than When man doth die . Our body 's as the wombe , And as a mid-wife death directs it home . And you her creatures , whom she workes vpon And haue your last , and best concoction From her example , and her vertue , if you In reuerence to her , doe thinke it due , That no one should her prayses thus reherse , As matter fit for Chronicle , not verse , Vouchsafe to call to minde , that God did make A last , and lastingst peece , a song . He spake To Moses , to deliuer vnto all , That song : because he knew they would let fall , The Law , the Prophets , and the History , But keepe the song still in their memory . Such an opinion ( in due measure ) made Me this great Office boldly to in●ade . Nor could incomprehensiblenesse deterre Me , from thus trying to emprison her . Which when I saw that a strict graue could do , I saw not why verse might not doe so too . Verse hath a middle nature : heauen keepes soules , The graue keeps bodies , verse the same enroules . A FVNERALL ELEGIE . T Is lost , to trust a Tombe with such a ghest , Or to confine her in a Marble chest . Alas , what 's Marble , Ieat , or Porphiry , Priz'd with the Chrysolite of eyther eye , Or with those Pearles , and Rubies which shee was ? Ioyne the two Indies in one Tombe , 't is glas ; And so is all to her materials , Though euery inche were ten escurials . Yet shee 's demolish'd : Can we keepe her then In workes of hands , or of the wits of men ? Can these memorials , ragges of paper , giue Life to that name , by which name they must liue ? Sickly , alas , short-liu'd , aborted bee Those Carkas verses , whose soule is not shee . And can shee , who no longer would be shee , Being such a Tabernacle , stoope to bee In paper wrap't ; Or , when she would not lie In such a house , dwell in an Elegie ? But 't is no matter ; we may well allow Verse to liue so long as the world will now . For her death wounded it . The world containes Princes for armes , and Counsailors for braines , Lawyers for tongues , Diuines for hearts , and more , The Rich for stomachs , and for backes the Pore ; The Officers for hands , Merchants for feet By which remote and distant Countries meet . But those fine spirits , which doe tune and set This Organ , are those peeces which beget Wonder and loue ; And these were shee● ; and shee Being spent , the world must needes decrepit bee . For since death will proceed to triumph still , He can finde nothing , after her , to kill , Except the world it selfe , so great as shee . Thus braue and confident may Nature bee , Death cannot giue her such another blow , Because shee cannot such another show . But must we say shee 's dead ? May 't not be said That as a sundred Clocke is peece-meale laid , Not to be lost , but by the makers hand Repolish'd , without error then to stand , Or as the Affrique Niger streame enwombs It selfe into the earth , and after comes , ( Hauing first made a naturall bridge , to passe For many leagues , ) farre greater then it was , May 't not be said , that her graue shall restore Her , greater , purer , firmer , then b●fore ? Heauen may say this , and ioy in 't ; but can wee Who liue , and lacke her , here this vantage see ? What is 't to vs , alas , if there haue beene An Angell made a Throne , or Cherubin ? We lose by 't : And as aged men are glad Being tastlesse growne , to ioy in ioyes they had , So now the sicke staru'd world must feed vpone This joy , that we had her , who now is gone . Reioyce then nature , and this world , that you Fearing the last fires hastning to subdue Your force and vigor , ere it were neere gone , Wisely bestow'd , and layd it all on one . One , whose cleare body was so pure , and thin , Because it neede disguise no thought within . T' was but a through-light scarfe , her minde t'enroule , Or exhalation breath'd out from her soule . One , whom all men who durst no more , admir'd ; And whom , who ere had worth enough , desir'd ; As when a Temple 's built , Saints emulate To which of them , it shall be consecrate . But as when Heau'n lookes on vs with new eyes , Those new starres eu'ry Artist exercise , What place they should assigne to them they doubt , Argue , and agree not , till those starres go out : So the world studied whose this peece should be . Till she can be no bodies else , nor shee : But like a Lampe of Balsamum , desir'd Rather t' adorne , then last , shee soone expir'd ; Cloath'd in her Virgin white integrity ; For mariage , though it doe not staine , doth dye . To scape th'infirmities which waite vpone Woman , shee went away , before sh'was one . And the worlds busie noyse to ouercome , Tooke so much death , as seru'd for opium . For though she could not , nor could chuse to die , Shee'ath yeelded to too long an Extasie . He which not knowing her sad History , Should come to reade the booke of destiny , How faire and chast , humble and high shee'ad beene , Much promis'd , much perform'd , at not fifteene , And measuring future things , by things before , Should turne the leafe to reade , and read no more , Would thinke that eyther destiny mistooke , Or that some leafes were torne out of the booke . But 't is not so : Fate did but vsher her To yeares of Reasons vse , and then infer Her destiny to her selfe ; which liberty She tooke but for thus much , thus much to die . Her modesty not suffering her to bee Fellow-Commissioner with destinee , Shee did no more but die ; if after her Any shall liue , which dare true good prefer , Euery such person is her delegate , T' accomplish that which should haue beene her fate . They shall make vp that booke , and shall haue thankes Of fate and her , for filling vp their blanks . For future vertuous deeds are Legacies , Which from the gift of her example rise . And 't is in heau'n part of spirituall mirth , To see how well , the good play her , on earth . FINIS .