On the Death of the most sadly, ever to be deplored, Most Illustrious, Right Honourable, JAMES LORD MARQUESS of MONTROSE, &c.
Funeral Elegie.
TOgether Rendevouz, you Watry Clouds,
Distill your selves into Tears bitter Flouds;
A new Deluge, whereby you may Compose
To weep the Death of th'Marquess of Montrose:
Death, Death, I'll not dyve in Thy Origine,
Let Divines judge, how Thou at first came in:
Vagrant, Ubiquiter, through th'world does roam;
Yet in each House, still present is at Home:
Though Uncreated, Lifeless, yet to Thee,
The Lord of Life, on Cross did yielder be;
Though Thou the Wages be of Sin, 'tis strange
On th' innocent Thy Wrath should bear revenge;
In Sickness-Bed, has stoll'n upon that Heart,
In Field with Sword could have out-dar'd Thy Dart:
The Mount has Levell'd, where the Rose did grow,
From Foes Wound-wrinkles kept old Albions Brow,
Which brings all Flow'rs within our Paradise
Into a mourning withered sad disguise;
A dismal loss unto the Age does bring
Long before Summer, plucked in the Spring;
The Royal-Thistle causing to be sad
To see His Darling Rose so soon to fade,
Whose Fragrancy did please the Lyons Scent,
His Guardian, for whom life would have spent;
For whom our lower Ranks of Subjects Groans,
The highers ears fills with unwonted Moans;
Princes and Peers together seem to strive
For Thee, the deepest sorrow to contrive:
A general grief does all the Land ov'rspread,
It's Love and Joy, with Death's dark Vail is clade,
By Albany ought never be forgot,
Crowns-Royal-Line endeavour'd to promote:
When that in War ingaged was gainst France,
In England did a Scottish: Troop advance:
Most quick Ingine, with Arms and Arts acquaint,
To Camp and Colledge was an Ornament;
In Van led Royal-Guard with such a Grace,
Rais'd Courage in each Guarders Breast and Face;
In Cathredal desir'd the Miter shine
As well as Wars, observ'd Church-Discipline:
Natures choise Jewel of Nobilitie,
Enliv'd, and honour'd Magnanimitie,
On State-Stage early flourishing aspir'd,
Young Matchivilian, by the old admir'd,
In Council known, a perfect sober Wit,
Betimes call'd thereto, CHARLES thought requisite:
Keep'd secresie as Clam-shels Closs Entire,
Councils designs to know, defi'd the Air:
Both Prudence and true Gallantrie maintain'd,
The ways of Emulation much disdain'd,
Th' Elixar of all high-born Eminence,
Fraught with both Heaven and Earths Intelligence,
In either, no thing is but Thou did know;
The Center of all Worthiness did show,
This in a quiet way, did make appear;
Scorn'd of a Victims Sacrifice to hear.
On Self-opiniators could not look,
Resolv'd with Reason what Thou undertook.
For Countreys publick Safety, ever stood;
Did before Greatness, study to be Good:
Plots and Conspiracies abhorred so,
Was to Rebellion a most severe Foe.
As Thy Grandsire this Character did Merit,
A Loyal-subject of Casarean Spirit:
His Valour had, that razed Adrians Wall,
Broke Abercorns; Severus Pride made fall.
Chief of Grames Name, who alwayes have been great,
Has seventy one Kings Serv'd in War and State;
Has Thirteen hundred twenty seven years stood;
With whom King Fergus-Second, Match'd in Blood:
To Royaltie may say, Truth to discover.
To King Eugenius-Second Bred Queen-Mother.
Thy Jovial House, turns now the House of Woe,
No Heart of Stone unbroke, can therein go:
Alace to see thy Lady Marquess state,
Heartless become, by this sad Stroke of Fate,
With her young Marquess sits, whose doleful Crys,
With Her to Joyn, moves all our Sphears and Skies;
Bereav'd of Her dear Lord, t'wixt whom was Love,
That Imitate Heavens Hierarchie above.
Ah! ah! young Marquess in Thy Bud, to see
Of Thy Paternal-root, Robed to be;
By which Thy Name and House Enervat are,
Of Chief and Master, of both who had Care:
Chronologizers Theam t'inlarge long Story,
The Soul of Virtue now is gone to Glory.
M. M.