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NOTHING is here for tears, nothing to wail | |
| Or knock the breast, no weakness, no contempt, | |
| Dispraise, or blame, nothing but well and fair, | |
| And what may quiet us in a death so noble. | |
| Let us go find the body where it lies | 5 |
| Sok’t in his enemies blood, and from the stream | |
| With lavers pure and cleansing herbs wash off | |
| The clotted gore. I with what speed the while | |
| (Gaza is not in plight to say us nay) | |
| Will send for all my kindred, all my friends | 10 |
| To fetch him hence and solemnly attend | |
| With silent obsequie and funeral train | |
| Home to his Fathers house: there will I build him | |
| A Monument, and plant it round with shade | |
| Of Laurel ever green, and branching Palm, | 15 |
| With all his Trophies hung, and Acts enroll’d | |
| In copious Legend, or sweet Lyric Song. | |
| Thither shall all the valiant youth resort, | |
| And from his memory inflame thir breasts | |
| To matchless valour, and adventures high: | 20 |
| The Virgins also shall on feastful days | |
| Visit his Tomb with flowers, only bewailing | |
| His lot unfortunate in nuptial choice, | |
| From whence captivity and loss of eyes. | |
| All is best, though we oft doubt, | 25 |
| What th’ unsearchable dispose | |
| Of highest wisdom brings about, | |
| And ever best found in the close. | |
| Oft he seems to hide his face, | |
| But unexpectedly returns | 30 |
| And to his faithful champion hath in place | |
| Bore witness gloriously; whence Gaza mourns | |
| And all that band them to resist | |
| His uncontrollable intent, | |
| His servants he with new acquist | 35 |
| Of true experience from this great event | |
| With peace and consolation hath dismist, | |
| And calm of mind all passion spent. | |
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