ELEGY [...] Death of the late Honourable[?] GEORGE LORD DARTMOUTH.
Who Departed this Life in the[?] TOWER of LONDON, October the 25th. 1691.
TIS so, there's no Defen
[...]
against our Fate▪[?]
the Pious, Valiant, Just and
Fortunate[?]
The Youth and Aged in their
[...]
Turns[?]
Must leave their
Ashes in
Sepulchral Ʋrns▪[?]
Grim
Death no Sex nor Age for Favour spares▪
But Downy Youth and Age with Silver Hairs
Submit alike to his Imperious Will,
No Mortal having yet obtain'd the Skill
To bribe him for an hour, or make him stay
While he should one Ejaculation say;
Sometimes indeed he does some Warning give,
And each Days
Sickness[?] is a fresh Reprieve,
But others from Lifes Stage he snatches Quick,
And they are gone before, they know they'
[...]r
Sick[?].
Should sudden
Death the Noble
Dartmouth find▪
Dartmouth the Brave, the Valiant, Just and Kind?
Renown'd abroad, and well-belov'd at home,
Nor t'any place without Applauses come;
The Souldiers Darling and the Sea-mans Love,
Who both as Rivals for his Friendship strove.
His Valiant Soul knew well how to Command
A
Fleet by
Sea, and a
Campaign by
Land:
Oft has he dar'd the
Oceans angry Wave,
And oft at
Land approv'd himself as Brave.
Nor were his private
Vertues better known,
Than those which did the Valiant Souldier Crown,
Affable, Courteous, to his Foes a Friend
Who's stubborn Hearts would oft to's Goodness bend;
Couragious, Wise, Just, Discerning, always Brave,
His
Passions Master, and not he their Slave.
No little sneaking Arts advanc'd his Name,
His proper Merits rais'd him to his Fame:
Merit which formerly advanc'd so few,
His Princes Notice on his Actions drew;
So very few to Honour find the Way
By meer Desert, that we may justly say,
Where one it does to just Preferment raise,
It raises thousands by some otherways;
Prevailing[?] Friends, but more prevailing Mony,
[...] ever yet did fail of
failing[?] any.
Not to lament at such a Great Mans Fall,
And
show some[?] Sorrow at his Funeral
Were rude;
a
Soldier[?] now may drop a
Tear
Without a Blemish to his Character.
But
Sighs and
Tears and loud
Complaints are Vain,
They cannot call the
Hero back again,
Nor would he come, but too too well we know,
To change his Bliss for our sad Scene of Woe.
Great Dartmouth once[?] the Valiant, Just, and Wise,
Joy of our Hearts, and Pleasure of our Eyes,
Is now
no more[?] That dismal Word
no more
Like opening of a Wound just clos'd before,
Renews our
Griefs[?], and makes our Sorrows double,
And adds
Affliction[?] to our former Trouble.
Grief knows no Bounds when 'tis with Passion join'd,
But rushes on and never looks behind,
Till Reason can restrain the Head-strong Passion,
And Sorrow strike the Sail to Moderation.
Dry then thy Cheeks, my Muse thy Sighs refrain,
Since Tears are fruitless and since Sighs are vain.
His EPITAPH.
REeader, tread softly on the Dust
Of
Dartmouth, Valiant, Prudent, Just;
All silent Praises of his Name
Are but faint Eccho's of his Fame.
His Memory will still survive,
While Souldiers and while Sea-men live;
Nor need we then, large Structures raise,
When each Man Trumpets out his Praise.
LONDON, Printed for David Sley, 1691.