Category: PART V

Truth in the Golden Age was healthy, strong,[note]was healthy, strong,] had Health and Strength, 1664; had health & strength; 1668 [/note]
But in the Silver Age grew lean and wan;[note]and wan;] at length; 1664; at length. 1668 [/note]
I’th’Brazen Age sore sick abed did lie,
And in the last hard Iron Age did die.
Reck’ning and Measuring,[note]Reck’ning and Measuring,] Measuring, and Reckoning, 1653 [/note] both being just,                             5
She as her two executors did[note]She as her two executors did] Were here Executors, to whom she 1664; Were her Executors, to whom she 1668. In the 1664 Errata list, “here” is corrected back to “her”; this correction is also carried forward into 1668. [/note] trust,
Which did distribute all her goods[note]Which did distribute all her goods] Her goods for to distribute all 1653 [/note] about
To her dear friends, and[note]and] as 1653 [/note] legacies gave out:
First useful arts, the life of man[note]man] men 1653 [/note] to ease,
Then those of pleasure, which the mind do please;             10
Distinguishments from this to that[note]this to that] that to this 1653 [/note] to show,
What’s best to take or leave, which way to go;
Experiments to shun, or to apply,
Either for health or peace, or what to fly;
And sympathies, which do[note]do ] keep 1653 [/note] the world unite,                         15
Which else antipathies[note]Which else antipathies] Aversions otherwise 1653 [/note] would ruin quite.
This will and testament she left behind,
And as her deed of gift, left to[note]left to] unto 1664, 1668 [/note] mankind.
Mourning she gave to all her friends to wear,
And did appoint that four her hearse should bear;              20
Love at the head did hold the winding-sheet;
On each side, Care and Fear; Sorrow the feet.
This sheet at every corner fast was tied,
Made of oblivion strong, and very wide.
Nat’ral affections, all[note]Nat’ral affections, all] Naturall affections 1653 [/note] in mourning clad,                              25
Went next the hearse, with grief distracted mad:
Their hair, their face, their hands, tore, scratched, and wrung,[note]Their hair, their face, their hands, tore, scratched, and wrung] Did tear their hair, scracht face, and hands did wring, 1653 [/note]
And from their eyes fountains of tears outsprung,[note]outsprung;] did spring. 1653 [/note]
“For Truth,” said they, “did always with us live.
But now she’s dead, there is no Truth to give.”[note]there is no Truth to give:] no Truth that we can give. 1653; there is no Trnth to give: 1664 [/note]                  30
After came kings, which all good laws did make,
And power used for Truth and Virtue’s sake.
Next Honor came[note]Honor came] them came Honour, 1653 [/note] in garments black and long,
With blubbered face, and down her head she hung,[note]down her head she hung,] her head down hung: 1653 [/note]
Who wished to die, for life was now a pain;                          35
Since Truth was dead, honor no more could gain.
Then lovers came[note]Then Lovers came] Next these, Lovers 1653 [/note] with faces pale as death,
With shamefast eyes, quick pulse, and shortened breath,
And in each hand, a bleeding heart did bring,
Which hearts within the grave[note]hearts within the grave] they into the Grave 1664, 1668 [/note] of truth did fling.             40
And ever since, lovers inconstant prove;
They more profession give than real love.
Next them came counsellors of all degrees,
From courts and countries, and from[note]and from] and 1653 [/note] chief cities;
Their wise heads were a guard, and a strong wall,              45
So long as Truth did live amongst them all.
All sorts of tradesmen, using not to swear
So long as Truth, not Oaths, sold off their ware.
Physicians came, not those that try[note]not those that try] who try new wayes 1653 [/note] for skill
New ways, and for experience[note]New ways, and for experience] And for Experience sake doe 1653 [/note] many kill,                           50
But which use simples good, by[note]which use simples good, by] doe use Simples good, which 1653 [/note] Nature sent,
To strengthen man, and sickness to prevent.
Judges and lawyers came, not wrangling,[note]Judges, and lawyers came, not wrangling,] Some Judges were, no wrangling Lawyers 1653 [/note] base,
But which for Truth[note]But which for Truth] For Truth alive 1653 [/note] did plead, decide each case;
Widows, which[note]which] that 1653 [/note] to their husbands kind had swore           55
That, when they died, they’d[note]they’d] would 1653 [/note] never marry more;
At last the clergy came, who[note]who] which 1664, 1668 [/note] taught Truth’s way,
And how men in devotion ought to pray,
Who did men’s lives by moral laws[note]Who did men’s lives by moral laws] By Morall Lawes the lives of men 1653 [/note] direct,
Persuade to peace, and governors respect.                            60
They wept for grief, as prophets did foretell,
That all the world with falsehood would rebel.
“Faction will come,” said[note]said] say 1653 [/note] they, “and bear great sway,
And bribes shall all the innocent[note]shall all the innocent] the Innocent shall all 1653 [/note] betray.
Within the church shall controversies rise,[note]Within the church shall controversies rise, ] Controversies within the Church shall rise, 1653 [/note]                        65
And heresies shall bear away the prize.
Instead of peace, the priests shall discords preach,
And high rebellion in their doctrines teach.
Then shall men learn the laws for to explain,
Which learning only serves for lawyers’ gain.                      70
For they do make and spread them like[note]like] in 1653 [/note] a net,
To catch in clients, and their money get.
The laws, which wise men made to keep the[note]to keep the] for to keep 1664, 1668 [/note] peace,
Serve only now for quarrels to increase.
All those that sit in Honor’s stately throne                             75
Are counterfeits, not any perfect known.
They put on vizards of an honest face,
But all their acts unworthy are, and base.
Friendship in words and compliments will[note]will] shall 1664, 1668 [/note] live,
But in the heart not one night’s lodging give.[note]But in the heart not one night’s lodging give.] Not one nights lodging in the heart shall give. 1653 [/note]                     80
Lovers shall die for lust, yet love not one,
And virtue unregarded sit alone.
Now Truth is dead, no goodness here shall dwell,
But with disorder make each place a hell.”
With that they all did shriek,[note]did shriek,] shriekt out, 1653 [/note] lament, and cry                    85
To Nature, for to end their misery.
And now this Iron Age’s so rusty grown,
That all the hearts are turned to hard flintstone.

FINIS

[note]on my Brother, Killed in these Unhappy Wars] upon the Death of my Brother. 1664; upon the Death of my Brother. 1668
Whitaker argues that this poem is not simply a private expression of grief, but “a piece of public poetry, for [Cavendish’s brother] Sir Charles Lucas was a well-known royalist martyr”; see Mad Madge, 146.[/note]

Dear Brother,[note]Dear Brother, [line break] ] DEare Brother, [no line break] 1653 [/note]
.                          Thy idea in my mind doth lie,
And is intombed in my sad memory,
Where every day I to thy shrine do go,
And offer tears, which from my[note]my] mine 1664, 1668 [/note] eyes do flow.
My heart the fire, whose flames are ever pure,                    5
Shall[note]Shall] Laid 1653 [/note] on Love’s altar last, till life endure.
My sorrows incense strew of sighs fetched deep;
My thoughts do watch while thy[note]thy] they 1653 [/note] sweet spirit sleeps.[note]sweet spirit sleeps.] dear Ashes sleep; 1664: dear Ashes sleep. 1668 [/note]
Dear blessèd soul, though thou art gone, yet lives
Thy fame on earth, and men[note] men] Man 1664, 1668[/note] thee praises give.[note]give.] gives: 1664, 1668 [/note]               10
But all’s too small, for thy heroic mind
Was above all the praises of mankind.

 

[note]Upon the Funeral of my Dear Brother, Killed in these Unhappy Wars ] OF a Funerall. 1653
Whitaker says of this poem that it tells “of a burial without mourners, the body borne by enemies amidst universal rejoicing—a story that could apply equally to Margaret’s brother or to King Charles I”; see Mad Madge, 146. However, the second and third editions specify that the poem is also about (or rather, is written from the perspective of) her brother.[/note]

Alas, who shall condole my funeral,[note]Alas, who shall condole my funeral,] Alas! Who shall my funeral Mourner be, 1664, 1668 [/note]
Since none is near that doth my life concern?[note]doth my life concern?] is Ally’d to me? 1664; is alli’d to me? 1668 [/note]
Or who shall drop a sacrificing tear,
If none but enemies my hearse shall bear?

For here’s no mourner to lament my fall,                                5
But all rejoicèd in my fate, though sad,[note]all rejoiced in my fate, though sad,] in my Fate, though Sad, Rejoyced all, 1664; in my Fate, though sad, rejoyced all, 1668 [/note]
And think my heavy ruin far too light,
So cruel is their malice, spleen, and spite![note]spleen and spite!] and their spight. 1653 [/note]

For men no pity nor compassion have,[note]have,] know, 1664, 1668 [/note]
But all in savage wilderness do delight[note]But all in savage wilderness do delight,] But like feirce Beasts in Savage Wildness go, 1664; But, like fierce Beasts, in Savage Wildness go 1668 [/note]                                10
To wash and bathe themselves in my pure[note]pure] poor 1664, 1668 [/note] blood,
As if they health received from that red flood.

Yet will the winds ring out my knell,[note]ring out my knell,] my Dolefull Knell Ring out, 1664; my Doleful Knell ring out; 1668 [/note]
And showering rain fall on my hearse,[note]hearse,] Hearse about; 1664; Hearse about. 1668 [/note]
And birds as mourners sit thereon,[note]And birds as mourners sit thereon,] The Birds, as Mourners on my Tomb shall Sit, 1664; The Birds, as Mourners, on my Tomb shall sit, 1668 [/note]                                     15
And grass a covering grow upon.[note]a covering grow upon.] like as a Covering Grow on it. 1664; like as a Covering, grow on it. 1668 [/note]

Rough stones, as scutcheons, shall adorn my tomb,[note]Lines 17–20 in 1653 were removed, and do not exist, in 1664 and 1668. [/note]
And glow-worm burning tapers stand thereby;
Night sable covering shall me overspread;
Elegies of mandrakes’ groans shall write me dead.            20

Then let no spade nor pickaxe come near me,[note]come near me,] dig me up, 1653 [/note]
But let my bones in peace rest quietly,[note]in peace rest quietly,] lye quietly in peace. 1653 [/note]
For who the dead dislodges from their grave[note]For who the dead dislodges from their grave] He, who the Dead Dislodges from their Grave, 1664; He, who the Dead dislodges from their Grave, 1668 [/note]
Shall neither blessedness nor honor have.

Calamity was laid on Sorrow’s hearse,
And coverings had of melancholy verse.
Compassion, a kind friend, did[note]a kind friend, did] as kind friends, doth 1653 [/note] mourning go,
And tears about the corpse as flowers strow.
A garland of deep sighs, by pity made,                        5
Upon Calamity’s sad corpse was laid;[note]Upon Calamity’s sad corpse was laid;] On the sad Corps of Calamity laid. 1653 [/note]
Bells of complaints did ring it to the grave;
Poets a monument of fame it gave.[note]Poets a monument of fame it gave.] And history a monument of fame it gave. 1653 [/note]

[note]Whitaker argues that this poem is about the daughter of Cavendish’s sister Mary, and that the poem “mourn[s her] in terms reminiscent of Donne’s Anniversaries”; see Mad Madge, 146. She notes, however, that this reading may not have been immediately evident to everyone: “These poems did not name their subjects—only those who knew Margaret’s family history well would identify her relations here” (146). [/note]
You lovers all come mourn here, and lament
Over this grave, and build a monument
For beauty’s everlasting memory;
The world shall never such another see.
Her face did seem like to[note]to] as 1664, 1668 [/note] a glory bright,                                  5
Nay, e’en the rising sun from her took light.[note]Nay, e’en the rising sun from her took light;] And when the Sun did rise, from her took light: 1653 [/note]
The sun and moon could ne’er eclipsed have been
If e’er these[note]e’er these] ere those 1653 [/note] planets had her beauty seen.
Nor had this isle been subject to dark nights,
Had not sleep shut her eyes, and[note]and] so 1653 [/note] stopped those lights;     10
No bodies could infection take; her breath
Did cleanse the air, restoring life from death.
But Nature, finding she had been too free
In making such a mighty power as she,
Used all Industry’s powerful art and skill,                             15
And gave Death pow’r this body for to kill.[note]And gave Death pow’r this body for to kill.] Gave Death a greater power this body to kill. 1653 [/note]
For had but Nature let this body live, [note]had but Nature let this body live,] if that Nature let this body live, 1653 [/note]
She’d’ve had no work for Death nor Fates to give.[note]She’d’ve had no work for Death nor Fates to give.] She had no work for Death, nor Fates to give. 1653; She’d had no Work for Death, nor Fates to give. 1664; She’d had no Work for Death, nor Fates to give. 1668 [/note]

[note]the Death of her Only Daughter] her only Daughter, which dyed. 1653
Whitaker argues that this poem “commemorate[s] Margaret’s sister Mary as an ideal of parental love”; see Mad Madge, 146. She notes, however, that this reading (and others she proposes in this Part) may not have been immediately evident to everyone: “These poems did not name their subjects—only those who knew Margaret’s family history well would identify her relations here” (146).[/note]
Unto this grave let unkind parents turn,[note]turn,] come, 1653 [/note]
And touch these loving ashes in this urn.
All the dislike parents in children find
Shall[note]Shall] Will 1664, 1668 [/note] vanish quite, and be of nature kind.
For in this tomb such pure love buried lies,                   5
None perfect is, but what from hence doth rise.

Widows which honor for your husbands have,[note]Widows which honor for your husbands have,] Widow, which honour to her Husband gave! 1653
Whitaker argues that this poem “celebrate[s] Margaret’s mother as a ‘pattern’ of virtuous widowhood”; see Mad Madge, 145–46. [/note]
Virtuous in life, and faithful to their graves,[note]Virtuous in life, and faithful to their graves,] By vertuous life, and faithful to her Grave, 1653; Virtuous in Life, and Faithfull to their Grave, 1664; Vertuous in Life, and Faithful to their Grave; 1668 [/note]
Set altars on this hearse for memory,
And let her fame live here eternally.
Here celebrate her name, come, and do[note]come, and do] and 1653 [/note] bring           5
Your offerings, and all her praises sing.[note]all her praises sing.] aloud her Praises sing; 1664; aloud her Praises sing: 1668 [/note]
For she was one whom Nature strove to make
A pattern fit, ensample from to take.[note]ensample from to take. ] Ensamples out to take. 1653 [/note]

Into the cup of love pour sorrow’s tears,
Where every drop a perfect image bears,
And trickling down the hill of beauty’s cheek,
Falls on the breast, dives[note]Falls on the breast, dives] Fall on the Breast, Dive 1664; Fall on the Breast, dive 1668 [/note] through, the heart to seek.[note]seek.] meet. 1653 [/note]
Which heart would be burned up with fire of grief,[note]would be burned up with fire of grief,] burnt up would be with fire of grief, 1653 [/note]           5
Did not those tears with moisture give relief.

Upon the hill of sad melancholy,[note]sad Melancholy,] Melancholy sate 1653 [/note]
I did a silent mourning beauty spy,[note]I did a silent mourning beauty spy,] A Mourning Beauty; but no word she spake. 1653 [/note]
Still as the night; not one[note]Still as the night; not one] Silent as night, where no 1653 [/note] articulate noise
Did once rise up, shut close from th’light[note]th’light] light 1653 [/note] of joys,
Only a wind of sighs, which did[note]did] doth 1653 [/note] arise                                          5
From the deep cave, the heart, wherein it[note]it] those 1653 [/note] lies.
A veil of sadness o’er[note]A veil of sadness o’er] Sadnesse, as a Vaile, over 1653 [/note] her face was flung,
Sorrow, a mantle black, about her hung.
Her leaning head upon her hand did rest;
The other hand was laid upon the breast.                                  10
Her eyes did humbly[note]humbly] humble 1653 [/note] bow towards the ground;
Their object, th’earth, was[note]Their object, th’earth, was] The Earth the object 1653 [/note] in her eyes quite drowned.
From her soft heart a spring of tears did rise,
Which ran[note]ran] run 1653, 1664, 1668 [/note] from the two fountains of her eyes,
And where those show’rs did fall, the flow’rs which[note]show’rs did fall, the flow’rs which] Showers fell, Flowers up 1653 [/note] sprung 15
No comfort gave;[note]gave;] give, 1653 [/note] their heads for grief down hung.
Yet did the stars shine bright as tapers by;
Shadows of light did sit as mourners nigh.
At last the gods did pity her sad fate,
Her to a shining comet did[note]Her to a shining comet did] And to a Shining Comet Her 1664; And to a Shining-Comet, her 1668 [/note] translate.                                       20

Upon a grave outrageous Sorrow set,[note]Upon a grave outrageous Sorrow set,] OUtragious Sorrow on a Grave was set, 1664; OUtragious Sorrow, on a Grave was set, 1668 [/note]
Digging the earth, as if she through would get.
Her hair untied loose on her shoulders hung,
And every hair with tears, like beads, was strung,
And when those tears[note]And when those tears] Which Tears, when they 1664; Which Tears, when they 1668 [/note] did fall with their own weight,      5
Then[note]Then] With 1653 [/note] newborn tears supplied their places straight.
She held a dagger, seemed with courage bold;
Grief bid her strike, but Fear did bid her hold.
Impatience raised her voice, and shrieking[note]and shrieking] she Shriek’d out 1664; she shriek’d out 1668 [/note] shrill,
Which sounded like a trumpet on a hill.                              10
Her face was flecked, like marble streaked with red,
Caused by grief’s vapors flying to her head.
Her bosom bare, her garments loose and wide,
And in this posture lay by Death’s cold side.
By chance a man, who had a fluent tongue,                        15
Came walking by, seeing her lie along,
Pitying[note]Pitying] Pittied 1664; Pitied 1668 [/note] her sad condition and her grief,
Did strain[note]Did strain] And strain’d 1664; And strain’d, 1668 [/note] by rhet’ric’s[note]rhet’ric’s] Rhethoricks 1653; Rhetorick’s 1664 [/note] help, to give relief.
“Why do you mourn,” said he, “and thus complain,
Since grief will neither Death nor gods[note]gods] th’Gods 1664; th’Gods, 1668 [/note] restrain?             20
When they at first all creatures did create,
They did them all[note]They did them all] And gave them life, 1653 [/note] to Death predestinate.
Your sorrow cannot alter their decree,
Nor call back life by your impatiency.
Nor can the dead from Love receive a heat,                        25
Nor hear[note]hear] heares 1653 [/note] the sound of lamentations great,
For Death is stupid, being numb[note]numb] numb’d 1653 [/note] and cold,
No ears to hear, nor eyes for[note]for] hath 1664, 1668 [/note] to behold.
Then mourn no more, since you no help can give,
Take pleasure in your beauty whilst[note]whilst] whiles 1653 [/note] you live,                 30
For in the fairest Nature pleasure takes,
But if you die, then Death his triumph makes.”
At last his words like keys unlocked her ears,
And then she straight considers what she hears.
“Pardon, you gods,” said she, “my murm’ring[note]murm’ring] murmuring 1653 [/note] crime;    35
My grief shall ne’er dispute your will divine,
And in sweet life will I take most delight.”
And so went home with that fond carpet-knight.