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Show •jp ¥ 0 E M S. Till when the frefh remembrances of thee Shall be m y Emblems of Mortality. For fuch a lofs as this (bright Soul!) is not Ever to be repaired, Qr forgot. - - • In Memory of that excellent Perfon Mrs. Mary Lloyd o/Bodidrift in Denbigh-fliire, who died Nov. x^ 16^6. after fie came thither fr*>m Pembroke-fhire. . • • ICannot hold, for though to write were rude, Yet tp be filent were Ingratitude, And Folly too 5 for if Pofterity Should never hear of fuch an one as thee',' And onely know this Age's brutifh fame, They would think Virtue nothing but a Name. And though far abler Pens muft her define, Yet her Adoption hath engaged mine : And I muft o w n where Merit fhines fo clear, 'Tis hard to write, but harder t6 forbear. Sprung from an ancient and an honour'd* Stem, W h o lent her luftre, and fhe paid it them ; W h o ftill in great and noble things appear'd, W h o m all their Country lov'd, and yet they fear'd. Match'd to another good and great as they, W h o did their Country both oblige andfway. Behold herfelf, w h o had without difpute, More than both Families could contribute. W h a t early Beauty Grief and Age had broke, Her lovely Reliques and her Offspring fpoke. She was by Nature and her Parents care, A W o m a n long before moft others are. But yet that antedated feafon fhe Improv'd to Virtue, not to 1 iberty. For fhe was ftill in either ftate of life, Meek as a Virgin, Prudent as a Wife. And fhe well knew, although fo young and fair, Juftly to mix Obedience, Love, and Care ; Whilft POEMS. 43 Whil'ft to her Children (lie did ftill appear So wifely kind, fo tenderly fevere, That they from her Rule and Example brought A native Honour, which fhe ftampt and taught. Nor can a fingle Pen enough commend So kind a Sifter and fo clear a Friend. A Wifdom from above did her fecure, Which as 'twas peaceable, was ever pure. And if well-order'd Commonwealths muft be Patterns for every private Family, Her Houfe, rul'd by her hand and by her eye, Might be a Pattern for a Monarchy. Solomons wifeft W o m a n lefs could do ; She built her houfe, but this preferv d hers too. She was fo pious that when fhe did die, She fcarce chang'd place, I'm fure not company. Her Zeal was primitive and practick too , She did believe, and pray, and read, and do. A firm and equal Soul file had engroft, Juft evn to thofe that difoblig'd her moft. She grew to love thofe wrongs flie did receive For giving.her the power to Forgive. Her Alms I may admire, but not relate, But her o w n works fhall praife her in the gate. Her Life was checquer'd with afflictive years, And even her Comfort feafon'd in her Tears. Scarce for a Husband's lofs her eyes were dri'd, And that lofs by her Children half fuppli'd, W h e n Heav'n was pleas'd not thefe dear Props t' afford, But tore moft off by ficknefs or by fword. She, who in them could ftill their Father boaft, W a s a frefh W i d o w every Son fhe loft. Litigious hands did her of Right deprive, That after all twas Penance to furvive. She ftill thefe Griefs had nobly undergone, Which few fupport at all, but better none. Such a fubmiflive Greatnefs w h o can find ? A tender Heart with fo refolv'd a Mind! G 2 But |