Classic Poem

I might persuade she were not dead and cry
That so much vertue knew no way to die,
But this Almighty Truth forbids; and she
Will be believ'd for powerfull sh'is; as she
When she was living, now alas! in vain
We flatter desperate Joys, when we would faine
Life in those limbs that are as cold, and low
As her friends hopes, or as pale Sorrow now.
The Sun returns and every year the Spring
Redecks the frozen Winter's languishing,
But when the Soul from her clay house removes
There's no renewing of their pristine loves.
She now is gone for ever, ever to us,
There's no Elisha now, no Thesius
That may return her from the shades, and if
There were such vertue left, when she had life
'Tis now benum'd and fled, the good we have,
With her is hasting to her silent Grave.
Beauty and feature both since she is gone,
Suffer Eclipse and Diminution.
And this is it, which makes most ladies known,
Borrow from Art, what now is not their own,
That in the face, where harmless Ignorance
Thinks beauty sits, lies Italy and France .
But if there be, since her, that does not paint,
To her chaste ways she owes her being Saint.
The Virgin Ice rob'd with a Maiden Snow,
Ne'r knew a Chastity more pure; no show
But sweetness all, such a Cherubic look,
You'd think 'twere spotless Innocency's book;
So in the Cradle-hours of new born time,
Shew'd uncorrupted nature in her prime.
The Industrious Bee, that midst her Honey lives
Yet un-intangled keeps her wing, and thrives
In her own stock of sweetness, told how she
Liv'd in the World, from the World's mazes free.
Mild as the scent of Roses, that wheres'e'er
She with her Charming Influence did appear
The world (tempestuous else) wore a calm peace,
As by the Halycon's nest, the Tyrrhene -seas.
Not affable for ends, but from a mind
That in humility more height could find
Than e'r sober greatness touch'd at: and herein
Not seeking votes, she was cried up a Queen.
To whom, even all that had but Ears or eyes
Bow'd, and deprecating, left their heart her prize.
So sweet, that now it cannot be withstood
But Women may be lov'd, 'cause she was good
And sanctified their Sex. The World shall see
That they here after more shall honored be,
For when Great Queens, by fate are ta'en away,
Still to their figures, Subjects reverence pay.