| James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902. | | | | May 13 | | To King Charles and Queen Mary, for the Loss of Their First-born | | By Ben Jonson (1572–1637) |
| | (Died May 13, 1629)
An Epigram Consolatory
WHO dares deny, that all first-fruits are due | |
| To God, denies the Godhead to be true: | |
| Who doubts those fruits God can with gain restore, | |
| Doth by his doubt distrust his promise more. | |
| He can, He will, and with large interest, pay | 5 |
| What, at his liking. He will take away. | |
| Then, royal Charles and Mary, do not grutch | |
| That the Almighty’s will to you is such; | |
| But thank His greatness and His goodness too; | |
| And think all still the best that He will do. | 10 |
| That thought shall make, He will this loss supply | |
| With a long, large and blest posterity: | |
| For God, whose essence is so infinite, | |
| Cannot but heap that grace He will requite. | | | | |
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