In Commemoration of Mr. Christopher Love, who was
beheaded on Tower-hill the 22. of August. 1651.
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1.
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WHy should I call the sacred Muses, and
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Implore the aid of their assisting hand?
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Why should I ask a rapid Eagles quill,
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Since with my tears I could whole volumes fill?
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Which like a flowing Spring-tide freely rise
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From the exuberous Fountains of mine Eyes.
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2.
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What do I dream, or are my Sences fled,
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Or i'st a reall truth, that LOVE is dead?
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(Oh) too too true, alas, how could it be
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LOVE should survive, when men want Charitie?
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Sion laments, our Joy, our Peace is fled,
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All things at variance fall, and LOVE is dead.
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3.
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What slay a Prophet? that's a Fact indeed,
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A Land-destroying Sin, London take heed:
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For such Prepostrous Courses will undo
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The thy Associates, and this Kingdom too;
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If once Gods Messengers are abused, we
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To stay destruction, have no remedie.
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4.
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It is no wonder Tigers should persue
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Such harmles Preys, as he who never knew
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What Treason ment: Some at the Action smil'd,
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Herod and Pilate then were reconcil'd;
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They all adjudged him Jointly, yet each Cry,
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Who is it that condemn'd him? 'tis not I.
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5.
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Are these the Men whose fair pretences made
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The better Sort rejoice, the worse afraid;
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Who hold the equall Beam of Justice Scale,
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And say they seek nought but the Common-Weal?
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Me thinks tis strange, that Lambs should Lions prove,
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And Saints be at such emnity with LOVE.
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6.
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Did he not rather chuse to Sacrifise
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His Life, then wound his Conscience: and despise
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A Death for JESUS sake, while he supposes,
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Himself cal'd to Mount Nebo, as was Moses:
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How little need was there of Armed Troops
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To inviron him, whose God was all his hopes.
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7.
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How willingly he took his Saviours Yoak,
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How Boldly and Couragiously he Spoak;
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With what unmoved constancy he laid,
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His Neck upon the Block, no whit dismaid?
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Spectators were asham'd that they should be
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Far more opprest with sorrow, then was he.
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8.
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Passion prevails, I cannot speak the rest,
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With such a weight of Grief my heart's opprest:
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However surely 'twas a fatall blow,
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And may procure a sudden overthrow
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To the cheif Actors: Sampsons last fall slew more
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Philistians, then all his Life before.
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9.
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Why did not Heaven and Earth at this agree,
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To let us know some strange Catastrophe?
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Why did the Sun move, or the Sphears not cease
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Their furious Motion, at this Saints Decease?
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Since Thunder claps, and sable mourning Skies
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Did celebrate his Funerall Obsequies.
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10.
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(Oh) stupid men, Petitions would not save
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His Life from Foes, nor yet him from the Grave:
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Nor was his Age, or spotles innocence,
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Enough to guard him from the violence
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Of those whose Will's a Law, and dye he must;
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To satisfie some Mens ambitious Lust.
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11.
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Was not his Accusation high and Large,
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Witnesses disagreed about his Charge;
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Was there not some suborned hir'd to swear
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Against him falsly, whom for ought I can hear
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May hang like Judas, since they could dispence
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To sell him though for more then thirty pence.
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12.
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His Life was made a Prey, to some whose guise
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Of Justice would not serve to blind the wise,
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Who well perceiv'd the Cause: but tis no News,
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Pilate did thus to gratifie the Jews;
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Wherefore judge ye, if proud Mars hath not driven
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With his keen Sword, Astrea unto Heaven.
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13.
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Come hither Stoick, here is that will make
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Thy tears prove passion, for this Martyrs sake;
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For such indeed's our losse, that we might borrow
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The Copy of an everlasting Sorrow:
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Since he is cut off, whose very Name of right
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Should not be nam'd without an Epethite.
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14.
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But stay O Muse, and do not thou disturb
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His Sacred Ashes while they sleep, but curb
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Passion by reason: Let faith make thee know,
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He joyes above, while we lament below;
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That fair though fatall blow, his Soul hath sent
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A silent Victim to the Firmament.
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15.
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Thus one of Sions pillers was betraid
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To Dust and Ashes: thereby happy made;
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Was by some envious Critticks taken from
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Those hideous troubles which are like to come
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Upon the Earth: And now in Heaven he Sings
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Melodious Anthems, to the King of Kings.
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