[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.