Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DEATH'S LECTURE AT THE FUNERAL OF A YOUNG GENTLEMAN, by RICHARD CRASHAW



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DEATH'S LECTURE AT THE FUNERAL OF A YOUNG GENTLEMAN, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Dear reliques of a dislodg'd soul, whose lack
Last Line: Of all interpreters read nature true.
Variant Title(s): Upon Mr. Staninoughs Death
Subject(s): Stanninow, James (d. 1635)


Dear Reliques of a dislodg'd SOUL, whose lack
Makes many a mourning paper put on black!
O stay a while, ere thou draw in thy head
And wind thy self up close in thy cold bed.
Stay but a little while, untill I call
A summons worthy of thy funerall.
Come then, YOUTH, BEAUTY, and blood!
All ye soft powres,
Whose sylken flatteryes swell a few fond howres
Into a false aeternity. Come man;
Hyperbolized NOTHING! know thy span;
Take thine own measure here: down, down, and bow
Before thy self in thine idaea; thou
Huge emptynes! contract thy self; and shrinke
All thy wild circle to a Point. O sink
Lower and lower yet; till thy leane size
Call heavn to look on thee with narrow eyes.
Lesser and lesser yet; till thou begin
To show a face, fitt to confesse thy Kin,
Thy neighbourhood to NOTHING.
Proud lookes, and lofty eyliddes, here putt on
Your selves in your unfaign'd reflexion,
Here, gallant ladyes! this unpartial glasse
(Though you be painted) showes you your true face.
These death-seal'd lippes are they dare give the ly
To the lowd Boasts of poor Mortality
These curtain'd windows, this retired eye
Outstares the liddes of larg-look't tyranny.
This posture is the brave one; this that lyes
Thus low, stands up (me thinkes,) thus and defies
The world. All-daring dust and ashes! only you
Of all interpreters read Nature True.





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