To tell the world that such there euer were, Whose memory shall from the earth decay, Before those Rags be worne they gaue away: 60 Had I her god-like features neuer seene, Poore slight Report had tolde me she had beene A hansome Lady, comely, very well, And so might I haue died an Infidell, As many doe which neuer did her see, Or cannot credit, what she was, by mee. Nature, her selfe, that before Art prefers To goe beyond all our Cosmographers, By Charts and Maps exactly that haue showne, All of this earth that euer can be knowne, 70 For that she would beyond them all descrie What Art could not by any mortall eye; A Map of heauen in her rare features drue, And that she did so liuely and so true, That any soule but seeing it might sweare That all was perfect heauenly that was there. If euer any Painter were so blest, To drawe that face, which so much heau'n exprest, If in his best of skill he did her right, I wish it neuer may come in my sight, 80 I greatly doubt my faith (weake man) lest I Should to that face commit Idolatry. Death might haue tyth'd her sex, but for this one, Nay, haue ta'n halfe to haue let her alone; Such as their wrinkled temples to supply, Cyment them vp with sluttish _Mercury_, Such as vndrest were able to affright, A valiant man approching him by night; Death might haue taken such, her end deferd, Vntill the time she had beene climaterd; 90 When she would haue bin at threescore yeares and three, Such as our best at three and twenty be, With enuie then, he might haue ouerthrowne her, When age nor time had power to ceaze vpon her. But when the vnpittying Fates her end decreed, They to the same did instantly proceed, For well they knew (if she had languish'd so) As those which hence by naturall causes goe, So many prayers, and teares for her had spoken, As certainly their Iron lawes had broken, 100 And had wak'd heau'n, who clearely would haue show'd That change of Kingdomes to her death it ow'd; And that the world still of her end might thinke, It would haue let some Neighbouring mountaine sinke. Or the vast Sea it in on vs to cast, As _Seuerne_ did about some fiue yeares past: Or some sterne Comet his curld top to reare, Whose length should measure halfe our Hemisphere. Holding this height, to say some will not sticke, That now I raue, and am growne lunatique: 110 You of what sexe so ere you be, you lye, 'Tis thou thy selfe is lunatique, not I. I charge you in her name that now is gone, That may coniure you, if you be not stone, That you no harsh, nor shallow rimes decline, Vpon that day wherein you shall read mine.