[Page 62]

A Pastoral on the QUEEN.

(Phillis.)
1 WHy (Philomela) sleep those chearful Strains,
2 With which so much you gratify'd the Plains?
3 When every murmuring stream and pretty spring
4 Of some soft Tale would stop to hear thee Sing
5 In Notes, that all the Nymphs and Shepherds mov'd;
6 And Theron too, had he been by, had Lov'd.
7 But ah! unwellcome Alteration, now
8 No pleasant Smile, or Wreath, adorns thy Brow:
9 About the Plains thy Flocks neglected, stray;
10 And thou, as careless and forlorn as they:
11 In hollow Rocks, and Cypress Shades, alone,
12 Dost Teach the Mournful Dove a sadder Mone.
13 For, all I heard from thee, when listning by,
14 Were broken Notes, of some sad Elegy:
[Page 63]
15 But such a great and unaffected Air
16 Thy Solitary Lamentations were,
17 I find, no selfish Grief, or Interest
18 Cou'd draw those Generous Murmurs from thy Breast.
19 'Tis sure, the Publick Loss thou dost condole;
20 'Tis that which yet lies pressing on thy Soul.
(Philomela.)
21 'Tis that indeed, our common loss and care,
22 Which, in my Breast, claims this unvulgar share;
23 Too sadly claims it: Oh! the Queen, the Queen
24 Has left the World: but Heaven! How black a Scene
25 Her Exit makes it? — Oh Illustrious Saint!
26 (By Death, from our most warm Caresses rent;
27 Could I but speak thy Worth: But that's a Theme
28 Too mighty for my boldest Thoughts to Stem:
29 Ev'n my own Grief, I have no words to Paint,
30 Nor find my Love an Elegant Complaint.
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31 My Lyre it self no more can give me ease,
32 (Nor the strong Tumults of my Soul appease;
33 No more can give my swelling Breast relief,)
34 Then Fate reverse the Subject of my Grief:
35 'Tis all in vain —
36 Alass! the Royal Shepherdess is gone;
37 And, with her, the Whole Sex's Glory flown.
38 Oh! Could not all those Heavenly Virtues Save
39 Divine Maria from th' Insatiate Grave?
40 Nor her's, and our Dear Hero's Moving Tears?
41 Nor all the poor Lamenting Nations Fears?
42 No, no; they could not — She resigns Her Breath;
43 The Charming QUEEN a Trophy falls to Death.

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About this text

Title (in Source Edition): A Pastoral on the QUEEN.
Author: Elizabeth Rowe (née Singer)
Themes: grief; sadness; death
Genres: heroic couplet; pastoral

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Source edition

Rowe, Elizabeth Singer, 1674-1737. Poems on several occasions. Written by Philomela. London: Printed for John Dunton at the Raven in Jewen-street, 1696, pp. 62-64. [24],72,69,[11]p.; 8⁰ (ESTC R7317; OTA A57734)

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The text has been typographically modernized, but without any silent modernization of spelling, capitalization, or punctuation. The source of the text is given and all editorial interventions have been recorded in textual notes. Based on the electronic text originally produced by the TCP project, this ECPA text has been edited to conform to the recommendations found in Level 5 of the Best Practices for TEI in Libraries version 4.0.0.

Other works by Elizabeth Rowe (née Singer)