Classic Poem

My dearest consort, my more loved heart,
I leave thee now: with thee all earthly joying:
Heaven knows with thee I sadly part:
All other earthly sweets have had their cloying;
Yet never full of thy sweet loves' enjoying,
Thy constant loves, next Heaven I did refer them;
Had not much grace prevail'd, 'fore Heaven I should prefer them.

I leave them, now the trumpet calls away;
In vain thine eyes beg for some time's reprieving;
Yet in my children here immortal stay:
In one I die, in many ones am living:
In them, and for them, stay thy too much grieving;
Look but on them, in them thou still wilt see
Marry'd with thee again thy twice-two Antony.

And when with little hands they stroke thy face,
As in thy lap they sit (ah, careless!) playing,
And stammering ask a kiss, give them a brace;
The last from me: and then a little staying,
And in their face some part of me surveying,
In them give me a third, and with a tear
Show thy dear love to him who loved thee ever dear.

And now our falling house leans all on thee;
This little nation to thy care commend them;
In thee it lies that hence they want not me;
Themselves yet cannot, thou the more defend them;
And when green age permits, to goodness bend them;
A mother were you once, now both you are:
Thou with this double style double your love and care.

Turn their unwary steps into the way:
What first the vessel drinks, it long retaineth;
No bars will hold, when they have used to stray:
And when for me one asks, and weeping plaineth,
Point thou to heaven, and say, " He there remaineth: "
And if they live in grace, grow and persevere,
There shall they live with me: else they shall see me never.

My God, oh! I in thy fear here let me live!
Thy wards they are, take them to thy protection;
Thou gavest them first, now back to thee I give;
Direct them now, and help her weak direction;
That re-united by thy strong election,
Thou now in them, they then may live in thee;
And seeing here thy will, may there thy glory see.

Farewell, farewell! I feel my long long rest,
And iron sleep my leaden heart oppressing:
Night after day, sleep after labour's best;
Port after storms, joy after long distressing:
So weep thy loss, as knowing 'tis my blessing;
Both as a widow and a Christian grieve:
Still live I in thy thoughts, but as in heaven I live.