William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Restoration Verse. 1910.
The ExequiesThomas Stanley (16251678)
D
You lovers, that complain
Of Fortune or Disdain,
And to my ashes lend a tear.
Melt the hard marble with your groans,
And soften the relentless stones,
Whose cold embraces the sad subject hide
Of all Love’s cruelties, and Beauty’s pride.
No epicedium, bring;
Nor peaceful requiem sing,
To charm the terrors of my hearse;
No profane numbers must flow near
The sacred silence that dwells here.
Vast griefs are dumb; softly, oh softly mourn!
Lest you disturb the peace attends my urn.
Upon my dismal grave
Such offerings as you have:
Forsaken cypress, and sad yew;
For kinder flowers can take no birth
Or growth from such unhappy earth.
Weep only o’er my dust, and say: ‘Here lies
To Love and Fate an equal sacrifice.’