尊敬的罗伯特·卡尔爵士，罗切斯特子爵，最高贵的吊袜带骑士，陛下最尊贵的枢密院成员之一。我尊贵的阁下，我向您献上我在我们最光荣的王子的骨灰里发现的一些火花。我不认为这值得你的看法，但它的目的是为了维护他的名声，我不知道有什么比这对你更珍贵的了(除了他们的陛下和他们可爱的孩子的神圣生命)。即使我的整个生活都变成了闲暇，而这种闲暇与所有的缪斯相伴，也无法画出一张足够大的他的地图;对他的赞美犹如波涛汹涌的大海，既无岸也无底。我高贵的主人，我也不想把这件睡衣送给你，好让他的临终之床仍然漂浮在你那双慈悲的眼睛里:你已经带着许多铅，奏出了王室和你自己的悲伤。啊，这种关心竟能获得如此雄心勃勃的称号!只是，在这里，虽然我不敢说你会发现他还活着，因为这种保证值许多王国，但你会看到他吸了一口气，这让我们感到安慰，他的关键日子已经过去，新生命的荣耀已经到来，既不受身体的影响，也不受命运的影响。对于我在这件事上的缺点，我的愿望和马夏尔的愿望是一致的;哦，我的朋友们! Pulchrior in terris nulla tabella foret. Howsoever, your protection is able to give it noble lustre, and bind me by that honourable courtesy to be ever Your honour's truly devoted servant, JOHN WEBSTER. A MONUMENTAL COLUMN. A FUNERAL ELEGY. The greatest of the kingly race is gone, Yet with so great a reputation Laid in the earth, we cannot say he's dead, But as a perfect diamond set in lead, Scorning our foil, his glories do break forth, Worn by his maker, who best knew his worth. Yet to our fleshy eyes there does belong That which we think helps grief, a passionate tongue: Methinks I see men's hearts pant in their lips; We should not grieve at the bright sun's eclipse, But that we love his light: so travellers stray, Wanting both guide and conduct of the day. Nor let us strive to make this sorrow old; For wounds smart most when that the blood grows cold. If princes think that ceremony meet, To have their corpse embalm'd to keep them sweet, Much more they ought to have their fame exprest In Homer, though it want Darius' chest: To adorn which in her deserved throne, I bring those colours which Truth calls her own. Nor gain nor praise by my weak lines are sought: Love that's born free cannot be hir'd nor bought. Some great inquisitors in nature say, Royal and generous forms sweetly display Much of the heavenly virtue, as proceeding From a pure essence and elected breeding: Howe'er, truth for him thus nuch doth importune, His form and value both deserv'd his fortune; For 'tis a question not decided yet, Whether his mind or fortune were more great. Methought I saw him in his right hand wield A caduceus, in th' other Pallas' shield: His mind quite void of ostentation, His high-erected thoughts look'd down upon The smiling valley of his fruitful heart: Honour and courtesy in every part Proclaim'd him, and grew lovely in each limb: He well became those virtues which grac'd him. He spread his bounty with a provident hand, And not like those that sow th' ingrateful sand: His rewards follow'd reason, ne'er were plac'd For ostentation; and to make them last, He was not like the mad and thriftless vine That spendeth all her blushes at one time, But like the orange-tree his fruits he bore,- Some gather'd, he had green, and blossoms store. We hop'd much of him, till death made hope err: We stood as in some spacious theatre, Musing what would become of him, his flight Reach'd such a noble pitch above our sight; Whilst he discreetly-wise this rule had won, Not to let fame know his intents till done. Men came to his court as to bright academies Of virtue and of valour: all the eyes, That feasted at his princely exercise, Thought that by day Mars held his lance, by night Minerva bore a torch to give him light. As once on Rhodes, Pindar reports, of old Soldiers expected 't would have rain'd down gold, Old husbandmen i' the country gan to plant Laurel instead of elm, and made their vaunt Their sons and daughters should such trophies wear Whenas the prince return'd a conqueror From foreign nations; for men thought his star Had mark'd him for a just and glorious war. And, sure, his thoughts were ours: he could not read Edward the Black Prince's life but it must breed A virtuous emu