ELISA, OR AN ELEGY UPON THE UNRIPE DECEASE OF SIR ANTHONY IRBY, SELECTION by PHINEAS FLETCHER

My dearest Betty, my more lovéd heart,
I leave thee now; with thee all earthly joying:
Heaven knows, with thee alone I sadly part:
All other earthly sweets have had their cloying;
Yet never full of thy sweet love's enjoying,
Thy constant loves, next Heaven I did refer them:
Had not much grace prevailed 'fore Heaven I should prefer them.

I leave them now the trumpet calls away;
In vain thine eyes beg for some time's reprieving;
Yet in my children here immortal stay:
In one I die, in many ones am living:
In them and for them stay thy too much grieving:
Look but on them, in them thou still wilt see
Married with thee again thy twice-two Antony.

And when with little hands they stroke thy face,
As in thy lap they sit (ah careless) playing,
And stammering ask a kiss, give them a brace;
The last from me: and then a little staying
And in their face some part of me surveying,
In them give me a third, and with a tear
Show thy dear love to him who loved thee ever dear.

And now our falling house leans all on thee;
This little nation to thy care commend them:
In thee it lies that hence they want not me;
Themselves yet cannot, thou the more, defend them;
And when green age permits to goodness bend them:
A mother were you once, now both you are:
Then with this double style double your love and care.

Turn their unwary steps into the way:
What first the vessel drinks, it long retaineth;
No bars will hold when they have used to stray:
And when for me one asks and weeping plaineth,
Point thou to Heaven, and say, he there remaineth:
And if they live in grace, grow and persever,
There shall they live with me: else shall they see me never.

My God, oh, in Thy fear here let them live;
Thy wards are they, take them to Thy protection:
Thou gav'st them first, now back to Thee I give;
Direct then Thou, and help her weak direction;
That reunited by Thy strong election,
Thou now in them, they then may live in Thee;
And seeing here Thy will, may there Thy glory see.

Betty, let these last words long with thee dwell:
If yet a second hymen do expect thee,
Though well he love thee, once I loved as well:
Yet if his presence make thee less respect me,
Ah, do not in my children's good neglect me:
Let me this faithful hope departing have;
More easy shall I die, and sleep in careless grave.

Farewell, farewell; I feel my long long rest,
And iron sleep my leaden heart oppressing:
Night after day, sleep after labour's best;
Port after storms, joy after long distressing:
So weep thy loss, as knowing 'tis my blessing:
Both as a widow and a Christian grieve:
Still live I in thy thoughts, but as in Heaven I live.

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