But gentle friend as soone shall I behold That stone of which so many haue vs tould, (Yet neuer any to this day could make) The great _Elixar_ or to vndertake The _Rose-crosse_ knowledge which is much like that A Tarrying-iron for fooles to labour at, 100 As euer after I may hope to see, (A plague vpon this beastly world for me,) Wit so respected as it was of yore; And if hereafter any it restore, It must be those that yet for many a yeare, Shall be vnborne that must inhabit here, And such in vertue as shall be asham'd Almost to heare their ignorant Grandsires nam'd, With whom so many noble spirits then liu'd, That were by them of all reward depriu'd. 110 My noble friend, I would I might haue quit This age of these, and that I might haue writ, Before all other, how much the braue pen, Had here bin honoured of the _English_ men; Goodnesse and knowledge, held by them in prise, How hatefull to them Ignorance and vice; But it falls out the contrary is true, And so my _Ieffreyes_ for this time adue. Vpon the death of Mistris ELIANOR FALLOWFIELD Accursed Death, what neede was there at all Of thee, or who to councell thee did call; The subiect whereupon these lines I spend For thee was most vnfit, her timelesse end Too soone thou wroughtst, too neere her thou didst stand; Thou shouldst haue lent thy leane and meager hand To those who oft the help thereof beseech, And can be cured by no other Leech. In this wide world how many thousands be, That hauing past fourescore, doe call for thee. 10 The wretched debtor in the Iayle that lies, Yet cannot this his Creditor suffice Doth woe thee oft with many a sigh and teare, Yet thou art coy, and him thou wilt not heare. The Captiue slaue that tuggeth at the Oares, And vnderneath the Bulls tough sinewes rores, Begs at thy hand, in lieu of all his paines, That thou wouldst but release him of his chaines; Yet thou a niggard listenest not thereto, With one short gaspe which thou mightst easily do, 20 But thou couldst come to her ere there was neede, And euen at once destroy both flower and seede. But cruell Death if thou so barbarous be, To those so goodly, and so young as shee; That in their teeming thou wilt shew thy spight; Either from marriage thou wilt Maides affright, Or in their wedlock, Widowes liues to chuse Their Husbands bed, and vtterly refuse, Fearing conception; so shalt thou thereby Extirpate mankinde by thy cruelty. 30 If after direfull Tragedy thou thirst, Extinguish _Himens_ Torches at the first; Build Funerall pyles, and the sad pauement strewe, With mournfull Cypresse, and the pale-leau'd Yewe. Away with Roses, Myrtle, and with Bayes;