| Herbert J.C. Grierson, ed. (1886–1960). Metaphysical Lyrics & Poems of the 17th C. 1921. |
| |
| Thomas Stanley |
| |
| 58. The Exequies |
| |
| DRAW neer | |
| You Lovers that complain | |
| Of Fortune or Disdain, | |
| And to my Ashes lend a tear; | |
| Melt the hard marble with your grones, | 5 |
| And soften the relentlesse Stones, | |
| Whose cold imbraces the sad Subject hide | |
| Of all Loves cruelties, and Beauties Pride. | |
| |
| No Verse | |
| No Epicedium bring, | 10 |
| Nor peaceful Requiem sing, | |
| To charm the terrours of my Herse; | |
| No prophane Numbers must flow neer | |
| The sacred silence that dwells here; | |
| Vast Griefs are dumb, softly, oh softly mourn | 15 |
| Lest you disturb the Peace attends my Urn. | |
| |
| Yet strew | |
| Upon my dismall Grave, | |
| Such offerings as you have, | |
| Forsaken Cypresse and sad Ewe; | 20 |
| For kinder Flowers can take no Birth | |
| Or growth from such unhappy Earth. | |
| Weep only o're my Dust, and say, Here lies | |
| To Love and Fate an equal Sacrifice. | |
| |
|
|
