Page:Works of Edmund Spenser - 1857.djvu/470

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436
DAPHNAIDA.
To Peacham's Minerva Britanna are prefixed the following, thus addressed:
To Master Henry Peacham, a Vision upon this hisMinerva.
Methought I saw ill dead of silent night A goodly citie all to cinders turned, Upon whose ruines sate a nympbe in white, Rending her haire of wiery gold, who mourned Or for the fall of that faire citie burned,Or some deare love, whose death so made her sad:That since no joye in worldly thing she had.This was that genius of that auntient Troy,In her owne ashes buried long agoe:So griev'd to see that Britaine should enjoyHer Pallas, whom she held and honour'd soAnd now no litle memorie could showTo eternize her, since she did infuse,Her Enthean soule, into this English muse.E. S

DAPHNAÏDA

AN ELEGIE

UPON THE DEATH OF THE NOBLE AND VERTUOUS

DOUGLAS HOWARD,

DAUGHTER AND HEIRE OF HENRY LORD HOWARD, VISCOUNT BYNDON, AND WIFE OF
ARTHUR GORGES, ESQUIER

DEDICATED TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE LADIE

HELENA MARQUESSE OF NORTHAMPTON.

BY ED. SP.

TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND VERTUOUS LADY

HELENA,
MARQUESSE OF NORTH HAMPTON.

I Have the rather presumed humbly to offer unto your honour the dedication of this little poëme, for that the noble and vertuous gentlewoman of whom it is written, was by match neere alied and in affection greatly devoted, unto your ladiship. The occasion why I wrote the same, was as well the great good fame which I heard of her deceassed, as the particular goodwill which I bear unto her husband Master Arthur Gorges, a lover of learning and vertue, whose house, as your ladiship by marriage hath honoured, so doe I find the name of them, by many notable records, to be of great antiquitie in this realme, and such as have ever borne themselves with honourable reputation to the world, and unspotted loyaltie to their prince and countrey: besides, so lineally are they descended from the Howards, as that the Lady Anne Howard, eldest daughter to John Duke of Norfolke, was wife to Sir Edmund, mother to Sir Edward, and grandmother to Sir William and Sir Thomas Gorges, knightes: and therefore I doe assure my selfe that no due honour done to the White Lyon, but will be most gratefull to your ladiship, whose husband and children do so neerely participate with the bloud of that noble family. So in all dutie I recommend this pamphlet, and the good acceptance thereof, to your honourable favour and protection. London, this first of lanuarie, 1591. Your honours humbly ever. Ed. Sp.

What-ever man be he whose heavie mynd,With griefe of mournefull great mishap opprest,Fit matter for his cares increase would fynd,Let reade the rufull plaint herein exprest,Of one, I weene, the wofulst man alive, 5Even sad Alcyon, whose empierced brestSharpe sorrowe did in thousand peeces rive.But whoso else in pleasure findeth sense,Or in this wretched life doeth take delight, Let him be banisht farre away from hence; 10No let the sacred sisters here be hight.Though they of sorrowe heavilie can sing; For even their heavie song would breede delight; But here no tunes, save sobs and grones, shall ring.
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