Hee that would write an Epitaph for thee, And do it well, must first beginne to be Such as thou wert; for, none can truly know Thy worth, thy life, but he that hath liv'd so; He must have wit to spare and to hurle downe: 5 Enough, to keepe the gallants of the towne. He must have learning plenty; both the Lawes, Civill, and Common, to judge any cause; Divinity great store, above the rest; Not of the last Edition, but the best. 10 Hee must have language, travaile, all the Arts; Judgement to use; or else he wants thy parts. He must have friends the highest, able to do; Such as _Mecœnas_, and _Augustus_ too. He must have such a sicknesse, such a death; 15 Or else his vaine descriptions come beneath; Who then shall write an Epitaph for thee, He must be dead first, let'it alone for mee. [On _&c._ _Also in Corbet's Poems 1647_] _An Elegie upon the incomparable D^{r} DONNE._ All is not well when such a one as I Dare peepe abroad, and write an _Elegie_; When smaller _Starres_ appeare, and give their light, _Phœbus_ is gone to bed: Were it not night, And the world witlesse now that DONNE is dead, 5 You sooner should have broke, then seene my head. Dead did I say? Forgive this _Injury_ I doe him, and his worthes _Infinity_, To say he is but dead; I dare averre It better may be term'd a _Massacre_, 10 Then _Sleepe_ or _Death_; See how the _Muses_ mourne Upon their oaten _Reeds_, and from his _Vrne_ Threaten the World with this _Calamity_, They shall have _Ballads_, but no _Poetry_. _Language_ lyes speechlesse; and _Divinity_, 15 Lost such a _Trump_ as even to _Extasie_ Could charme the Soule, and had an _Influence_ To teach best _judgements_, and please dullest _Sense_. The _Court_, the _Church_, the _Vniversitie_, Lost _Chaplaine_, _Deane_, and _Doctor_, All these, Three. 20 It was his _Merit_, that his _Funerall_ Could cause a losse so _great_ and _generall_. If there be any Spirit can answer give Of such as hence depart, to such as live: Speake, Doth his body there vermiculate, 25 Crumble to dust, and feele the lawes of Fate? Me thinkes, _Corruption_, _Wormes_, what else is foule Should spare the _Temple_ of so faire a _Soule_. I could beleeve they doe; but that I know What inconvenience might hereafter grow: 30 Succeeding ages would _Idolatrize_, And as his _Numbers_, so his _Reliques_ prize.