Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DEATH'S LECTURE AT THE FUNERAL OF A YOUNG GENTLEMAN, by RICHARD CRASHAW 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. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A HYMN [TO THE NAME AND] IN HONOR OF SAINT TERESA by RICHARD CRASHAW A SONG [OF DIVINE LOVE] by RICHARD CRASHAW AN EPITAPH UPON HUSBAND AND WIFE WHO DIED AND WERE BURIED by RICHARD CRASHAW CHARITAS NIMIA; OR THE DEAR BARGAIN by RICHARD CRASHAW IN THE HOLY NATIVITY [OF OUR LORD GOD]; AS SUNG BY SHEPHERDS by RICHARD CRASHAW ON GEORGE HERBERT'S BOOK, THE TEMPLE, SENT TO A GENTLEWOMAN by RICHARD CRASHAW THE FLAMING HEART by RICHARD CRASHAW WISHES TO HIS SUPPOSED MISTRESS by RICHARD CRASHAW A HYMN IN THE GLORIOUS EPIPHANIE OF OUR LORD, GOD by RICHARD CRASHAW AN ELEGIE ON THE DEATH OF DR. PORTER by RICHARD CRASHAW AN ELEGY UPON THE DEATH OF MR. STANNINOW, FELLOW OF QUEENE'S by RICHARD CRASHAW |
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