[_Mr. Edward Holt._] Holt was King's brother-in-law,
having married his sister Elizabeth (_v. sup._, p. 173). He
died at Oxford in 1643 while attending the King as Groom of
the Bedchamber, and was buried in the Cathedral. His father,
who outlived him, was a Baronet, and is again abused by
King in his will as having been 'implacable'; but the Bishop
apparently thought better of his nephew Sir Robert, who was
a stout Royalist and churchman both before and after the
Restoration. Walton dedicated his _Life of Donne_ to this Sir
Robert Holt. His much-abused grandfather had at any rate set
the example of loyalty, and is said to have been plundered or
extortioned by Parliamentary 'contributions' or 'compositions'
to the amount of about £20,000.]
_To my dead friend Ben. Jonson._
[Died August 6, 1637.]
I see that wreath, which doth the wearer arm
'Gainst the quick strokes of thunder, is no charm
To keep off Death's pale dart. For, Jonson, then
Thou hadst been number'd still with living men.
Time's scythe had fear'd thy laurel to invade,
Nor thee this subject of our sorrow made.
Amongst those many votaries who come
To offer up their garlands at thy tomb;
Whilst some more lofty pens, in their bright verse
(Like glorious tapers flaming on thy hearse), 10
Shall light the dull and thankless world to see,
How great a maim it suffers, wanting thee;
Let not thy learned shadow scorn, that I
Pay meaner rites unto thy memory;
And since I nought can add but in desire,
Restore some sparks which leap'd from thine own fire.
What ends soever others' quills invite,
I can protest, it was no itch to write,
Nor any vain ambition to be read,
But merely love and justice to the dead, 20
Which rais'd my fameless Muse; and caus'd her bring
These drops, as tribute thrown into that spring,
To whose most rich and fruitful bead we owe
The purest streams of language which can flow.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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