Page:The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse.djvu/435

 Elegy upon Sir Philip Sidney. 349

Fain would I fliew how he fames paths did tread, But now into fuch Lab'rinths I am lead, With endlefs turnes, the way I find not out, How to perlifl my Mufe is more in doubt; Which makes me now with Silvc/ier confefs. But Sidncy^s Mufe can ling his worthinefs.'^

Where is that envious tongue, but can afford, Of this our noble SciJ>io Ibme good word ? Noble Bartas, this to thj praife adds more, In fad, fweet verfe, thou didft his death deplore; lUuftrious Stella, thou didft thine full well, If thine afpe<ft was milde to AJlrophell ; I feare thou wert a Commet, did portend Such prince as he, his i-ace Ibould Ihortlj end ; If fuch Stars as thefe, fad prefages be, I wilb no more fuch Blazers we maj fee ; But thou art gone, fuch Meteors never laft. And as thy beauty, fo thv name would waft. But that it is record by Philips hand, That fuch an omen once was in our land,

Princely Philif, rather Alexander,

Who wert of honours band, the chief Commander. How could that Stella, fo confine thy will ? To wait till Ibe, her influence diftill,

1 rather judg'd thee of his mind that wept. To be within the bounds of one world kept,t But Omfhala, fet Hercules to fpin,

^ And Mars himielf was ta'n by Venus gin; Then wonder leffe, if warlike Philip yield When fuch a Hero Ihoots him out o' th' field,

��* " Although I know none, but a Sidney's Mufe, Worthy to Jin g a Sidney's Worthincjfe : "

Dedication to ' An Elegiac Epiftle on the deceafe of Sir William Sidney, by Joshua Sylvester. t See page 288.

�� �