On the truly Honorable Coll. Richard Lovelace, occasioned by the Publication Of his Posthume-Poems.

GReat Son of Mars! and of Minerva too…
With what oblations must we come to woo
Thy sacred soul to loo… down from above,
And see how much th… memory we love,
Whose happy pen so pleased amorous Ears,
And lifting bright …,
Her in the Star-be spangled or… did set,
Above fair Ariadnes …
Leaving a pattern to succeeding …
By which to sing forth their …
Shall we bring tears awd … no, no, then w…
Should but bemone our selves for loosing thee,
Or else thy happiness seem to deny,
Or to repi…e at thy felicity:
Then whilst we chant out thine immortal praise,
Our offerings shall be onely Sprig… of Bays;
And if our tears will needs their brinks out-fly,
We'l weep them forth into an Elegy,
To tell the World how deep Fates wounded wit,
When Atropos the lovely Lovelace hit;
How th' active fire which cloath'd thy gen'rous …,
Consum'd the water and the earth …,
Vntill a stronger heat by death was given,
Which sublimated thy poor soul to heaven.
Thou knew'st right well to guide the warlike st…ed,
And yet could'st court the Muses with full speed,
And such success, that the inspiring nine
Have fill'd their Thespian fountain so with brin…,
Hen…eforth we can expect no Lyrick lay,
But biting Satyres through the world must stray.
Bellona joyns with fair Erato too,
And with the Destinies do keep▪ doe,
Whom thus she querie…; Could not you a while
Reprieve his life until another file
Of Poems such as these, had been … up?
The fates r…ply'd; that, Thou wert taken up
A Sacrifice unto the Deities:
Since things most perfect please their …oly eyes,
And that no other Victim could be found,
With so much Learning and true Virtue crown'd.
Since it is so in peace for ever rest:
'Tis very just that God should have the best.