POEMA MORTUALE: OR, AN ELEGY UPON DEATH, THE LAW of NATURE, AND TRIBUTE of MORTALS.  
By R. M. No Poet, nor the Son of a Poet.  
Dust (Bodies) are, and unto Dust return:  
Souls, locked are not in a sable URN.  
In Christo vixi; morior; vivamque perennè:  
Gratia, Christ, mihi; Gloria, Christ, Tibi.  
Anno Praedicto 1679.   


I. The Prologue.  
The Vale of the Author, to the Reader.  

AS with Hortensius, 'tis not with Me;  
Unapt to write, but apt to speak was He:  
Nor do I with ALBERICUS compare,  
Unapt to speak, but apt to write his share:  
For words, or works, their Genius rarely lay,  
But (haltingly) do I go (either) way.  
Death, subject is; a Cup full to the Brim;  
An Ocean, where Elephants may swim.  
In POETRY I'm learning but to spell;  
Are Deeps exhausted with a Muscleshell?  
One was a Mute, wise Cato being there;  
Give fancy Vent, Dubartas was not here.  
This Poem (now) takes air, our mortal Fate,  
As to CONDOLE, so to Congratulate.  
Dost live to die? this shows a (doleful) state:  
Dost die to live? this (Dolour) antiquate.  
Is Truth the White? let that Man never speed,  
Who (from the Issue) censures of the Deed.  
Man may attempt all Men to please as soon,  
As He that made a Vestment for the Moon,  
To suit (each) interchange: ah (juggling) Ape!  
Days (scarcely) too She keepeth in a Shape.  
Prose (Poems too) meet with a (critic) wound;  
Some (Faults will find) besides Faults to be found:  
Wing Momus (then) this Book is not for Thee;  
And Zoilus take they Flight as far as Herald  
Art Notional? 'twas no Prophetic Bram,  
Art Critical? 'tis no Poetic Strain;  
But art Celestial? (here lies the STRESS)  
Most (lovely) Truth shows in her (native) Dress.  
Now, Reader, take; taste; eat; but (also) wish;  
'Tis (Lordly) Far, though in an (earthen) Dish.    

II. The Description.  

PAle Death the Subject is; but what is Death?  
From (lifened) dust, but a (departed) Breath.  
But is not Death (so worthy Meditation)  
An Essence? No, nor Substance, but Privation.  
There Being's are, but Death no Being have;  
No Creature 'tis; for Creatures 'tis a Grave.  
Death's but a Fall, which (by a Fall) invaded  
This Microcosm; whereby he was degraded.  
Some Persons are for Debts in PRISON laid;  
This Debt pays Man, though Man be left unpaid.  
Man, mortal is; this Microcosmus must  
Strike Sail to Death, and graved be in dust.  
Life's but a breathing Death; a Tale that's told;  
He doth but live, that liveth to be old.  
A Vapour is man's Life; a Taper burning;  
'Tis like the wind that passeth not returning.  
Ah! what is Life? a Flood; and Ebb; and Man,  
Sails (then) into a (timeless) OCEAN.  
Ah puzzling Theme! was Austin at a loss  
What Life to call? let not my Gold be Dross.  
Man's Nostril is a passage for his Breath;  
'Tis then a (dying) Life, or (living) Death.  
Life's but a (dying) Death; our Bodies are  
But (living) Graves; the longest Liver share  
But in a span of days; Death (homeward) sends;  
A CIRCLE 'tis, beginning where it ends.  
Ah daring Death! the Tribute due to Nature;  
The Law of Mortals, not reflecting Stature;  
And of the Universe the Empress;  
That visit Mortals in a various dress.    

III. The Assertion.  

THE Hebrew Proverb travels very far,  
In Golgotha Skulls of all Sizes are.  
DeathsDeaths not a (buy) but (beaten) path for All;  
Here Croesus, Codrus, stumble may, and fall.  
One shoots the Gulf, yet grounds upon a Shelf;  
A Manuscript deceiveth DEATH it self.  
No distance doth this Law of Nature know,  
But Mortals reap according as they sow.  
Death (to the Grave) is path for (any) Foot;  
This (common) Gulf, the mean and mighty shoot.  
They blessed are much more (let this take Air)  
In Peter's Chain, than He in Peter's Chair:  
Ah Miscreant to refuge in a Lie!  
Ah Monster-Man! I see (as I pass by)  
Thy Triple-Crown gins to stand awry;  
Down (Dagon-like) let this fall from on high;  
Break Crown, Head, Neck, this is the (common) Cry;  
Thus wished 'tis, that thou may'st (ever) die.  
Popes (died) have, without a (doleful) Song,  
Unless it were because they (lived) long.  
Where's Adam? Abram? Isa'c? Jacob? Where?  
Inventi non sunt; they SEPULCRED were.  
What Proto-Adam? Yea, He was a Man;  
Red-earth I find, when that his name I scan.  
This Proto-Man finds Death on Nature enter;  
Thus earth to earth returns, as to its Centre.  
What Abraham? 'tis strange; 'tis true, he dies,  
And in the CAVE of Mackpelah he lies.  
What Isa'c too, a TYPE so eminent?  
Types, Shadows are; Death pitched hath his Tent  
With Abraham: Ah when his Days were spent!  
He (like a Son) unto his FATHER went.    

The Assertion.  

WHat Jacob too? Esau supplanted He;  
One named right, for Name and Act agree:  
Ah but Supplanters may supylanted be!  
Him daring) Death transplanted have I see.  
Mortality (whatever Men suggest)  
Antiquity hath for her (native) Crest:  
Did not Death reign from ADAM unto MOSES?  
where's Matthew? Mark? Paul? Peter? James? and Joses?  
Our Fathers where are They? the greatest Sage  
Is slily passing; going off the STAGE.  
Well styled (then) is Death, most aged King,  
Who led the Van, and up the Rear does bring.  
Ah read Death's Motto in a Lady's Line!  
My lot's to Day; to morrow may be thine:  
And wonder not at that true Celled-sense,  
Amongst these Skulls I find no difference.  
But where's Methuselah of all most grey?  
Scan but his name, the word the man bewray:  
Years lived he Nine hundred sixty nine,  
But died then; no longer was his Line.  
Though many (now) on Beds of IVORY  
Do stretch themselves; yet these must also lie  
In Beds of Earth; this Tribute pay they must,  
And for their Heads a Pillow have of Dust.  
The great Mogul erects his Nest on high;  
But liveth he, that shall not (also) dye?  
All died have, that lived have; or have  
Translated been, and so deceived the Grave:  
Thus dye shall All that live, or changed be;  
From ADAM all derive their Pedigree.  
Now, Reasons take (from one so low in Stature)  
Why Death should be a Tribute due to Nature.    

iv The Reasons.  

1. The Decree of God.  

DEath, seizeth All, for this is God's Decree;  
She seizeth, but will not surrender Thee.  
Death (Heaven's Statute is) in Scripture-sense,  
Each man's line meets in this Circumference.  
Earth, Heaven, Hell, their Laws are different,  
(If writing thus be not impertinent:)  
Earth's Law municipal, is (once) to die;  
But Heavens is to live eternally:  
Hell (also) hath a LAW, to die for ever;  
Take prospect (here) of three; Once; always; never.    

2. The Matter of the Body.  

ADd (nextly) now the Matter of the Man;  
This Fabric (then) Eternize if ye can.  
Ah mortal Man! made up of Elements;  
Earth, Air, Fire, Water, are Ingredients:  
For Man to die, to me appeareth just,  
Who (at the first) was reared out of dust.  
The Breath of God, the Soul I find to be;  
The Work of God, the Body seems to me.  
The Building's Clay, the Basis (also) Dust;  
The Creature to the Centre (dying) must.    

3. The Merit of Sin.  

ALl sinned have, and therefore All must die;  
This must be true, or Truth must be a Lye.  
The Soul dies not, 'tis an (immortal) Spirit:  
The Body dies, 'tis Sins (undoubted) Merit.  
Sins venial, and mortal, Papists make;  
But this distinction is a gross mistake.  
As Adam's bounds were set, and Soul endued;  
So breaking these, a (double) Death ensued.  
'Tis better thus (infernal) Sophistry  
To naus'ate, than a (double) Death to die.     

V The Uses.  

THree Uses (now) of daring Death be making;  
High Prudence 'tis right Measures to be taking.   

I. Of Trial.  

TRy, mortal Man; come to the Test, and try;  
Stage Persons; also Things; yet Man must die.  
Can any PERSON? Or, can any THING  
(That Persons deck) match Death? this (timely) bring.    

1. Of Beauty.  

CAN Beauty (that's a Snare) from Death's Arrest  
Bail MORTALS? No; as Ages do attest.  
Can Beauty (so admired by the Tall?)  
No, mortal Man, for Nature caught a Fall,  
When she was young (as did a petty Prince)  
Which caused hath her halting ever since.  
She's courted; painted; spotted; yet I see,  
'Tis (native) Beauty without spots to be.  
Some try to mend, but while they mend, they mar;  
For Beauty-speets, the SPOTS of Beauty are.  
Fade Beauty will like Flowers of the Field;  
Not shot-free girded with an Ajax's Shield.  
She fades; faints; falls; and (running of her Race)  
Hath for her Scutch'on but a (wrinkled) Face.  
Where's Sarah that the Court of Pharaoh charm?  
This (daring) Death, this Beauty doth alarm.  
Where's Absalon, the Beauty of his Age?  
He acts his part, and goeth off the Stage.  
From Head to Foot, no Blemish could be found;  
But Beauty dies; Death marching is her Round.  
This Tribute due to Nature paid He;  
The Halter was his Hair upon a Tree.  
Here (Isr'el's Mirror) had his mortal Stroke;  
Will others (now) call this the Royal Oak?     

II. Of Men, and Means.  

CAn Men, or Means? each Creature in its Station,  
From Nature's instinct plot its Conservation.  
What Drug by Galen could prescribed be?  
Or could Hypocrates by DOSES free  
His Pat'ents? No; they differ as to Staure,  
Yet payment make of Tribute due to Nature.  
For Spirits Chemists are; Phlebotomy  
A Monster seems in that extracting eye:  
They breathe no Veins; rare Spirits they apply;  
But salved is not DEATH by Chemistry.  
Two ways there are Diseases for to cure;  
But neither can face-paling Death allure:  
Is Sympathy the way? the Arrow's wide,  
For Digby that admired Artist died.  
Or is ANTIP ATHY? ah but undarted.  
Is still the White! beloved Luke's departed.  
Speak Borgius (that I may hear the sound)  
Who Remedies for all Diseases found,  
But Death; He dies, and dying did assure  
No Drug, or Dose, of Death could make a Cure.  
Let Nature (now) most fortify that can,  
Health's highest sphere a Crisis proves to Man.  
One way to come (into) the World had all;  
But to go (out) a thousand; and to fall;  
A Nail kills Sisera; but, by a Stone  
Goliath falls; for he would stand alone:  
This Giant (now) meets with a mortal Blow;  
Right goes an Arrow out of Heaven's Bow:  
One wound Goliath kills, but twenty three  
Great Caesar had, and then departed he.  
Strong Samson enters now, of whom 'tis said,  
He Rubbish made, and under Rubbish laid.  
Thus Men, and Means, disputing Con and Pro,  
Do act their Parts, and off the Stage do go.    

III. Of Honour and Policy.  

CAN Honour? No, the tallest Pines are shaken  
By smallest winds; and may not this awaken?  
Sure footing (Soul) hath not Magnificence;  
This may be in the Preterperfect Tense:  
This (Bucket-like) now up, now down, is She;  
But (down) the mot'on swiftest seem to me.  
Can I prefer, such have Preferment should,  
Not that would Places, but that Places would.  
All worldly Grandeur in the Dust is laid;  
As Caesar took, so Caesar Tribute paid.  
Thus ROMAN Honour passeth as a Blast,  
Though Pompey slew, slain Pompey was at last.  
High Haman staged is (making uproar;)  
Next to the King does now this Abject soar:  
As to Design, in fewish blood he wallows;  
As to Desert, ascendeth He the Gallows.   

CAN Policy? No; MAZIRINI may  
Strike Sail to Death, and go this (common) way.  
Ah where's Pythagoras, with prudent Cato?  
Where's Seneca, with Socrates and Plato?  
Where's Cicero, with Athen's Legislators?  
And where's Apollo, with the Commentators?  
But where is that (admired) Aristotle?  
(Yet Euripus would not into his Bottle:)  
So (oft) ebb, and flow this Deep, that He  
(Unsatisfied.) would the Bottom see.  
But where's Achitophel? accursed may  
Such Policy be to the (latter) Day:  
An ORACLE was He within his Age;  
But hangs himself, and falleth off the Stage.  
Where's Solomon, more wise than any other?  
That could defect the true from feigned Mother:  
Ah (turbid.) Death! He was a (mortal) Sage;  
And being mortal goeth off the STAGE.    

iv Of Wealth.  

CAN Riches? No; or Truth is made a Lie;  
But Wealth's a gilded, lying VANITY.  
The World (saith One) to Man is God's Epistle;  
But (often) prove to Man a vexing Thistle.  
The World's a Labyrinth; my Soul beware;  
And (Michal-like) is given as a Snare.  
Ah bitter-sweet, and that but for an hour!  
Sweet is the Promise, but the Payment sour.  
The World's a Cheat; the things thereof decay;  
And (Laban-like) for Rachel Leah pay.  
A Siren's Song, and unto Whoredom pander,  
Which causeth many (Dinah-like) to wander.  
Ah England mourn, and grow into a Passion!  
The Spanish Mode, is now an English Fashion.  
Most vainly Mortals worldly things aspire;  
These are not Food, but Fuel to Desire.  
Shall Hearts be set on that, where (only) Feet  
Should standing be? hence bearing but a Sheet!  
Job staged is, and not for Wealth the least,  
But greater than the greatest of the East;  
His Substance winged is (the Blow was such;)  
But Jah Jehovah gives him twice as much.  
No Object for the Eye is Wealth, and can  
This Object be unto the Heart of Man?  
But worldly Men make for themselves a Rod,  
Below a Soul, is all below a GOD.  
Where's Crassus? Croesus? Crates? Aristippus?  
Or Cyrus? Xerzes'? Dives and Philippus?  
Left by the World are they, where (living) find them;  
And (dying) they do leave the World behind them.  
Where's He that had so vast a Territory?  
Who Ruler was (according to the Story)  
Of Provinces an Hundred twenty seven;  
The Man is dead, and gone to Hell, or Heaven.    

V Of Fortitude.  

CAn Fortitude? This Mortals rarely deck;  
A (rare) but (rich) Gem 'tis about the neck  
Of Potentates; refute it if ye can,  
Son unto Caesar Valour makes a Man.  
Great Alexander would immortal be  
Unwounded; wounded mortal proved he.  
Where's (little) David? yet hath (little) Fear;  
who killed both the Lion and the Bear:  
Philistine-foreskins hanged up may be,  
As (signal) Trophies for a Saul to see:  
Yea, Gath-Goliah, dreadful in his motion,  
Had (native) Blood prescribed for a Potion?  
Ah but he dies (as Scripture hath averred!)  
And in the (Royal) City was interred.  
Stout Hannibal (Rome's Terror) where is He?  
Or those stout Scipio's, that would not flee?  
Where's Saladine, that (Oriental) Victor?  
Or where should I dig for (puissant) Hector?  
Huniades doth next ascend the STAGE,  
Who (all his Race) did war with Turcists wage;  
In Battles many (stoutly) he engage,  
And (through Valour) Turkey did enrage:  
To this (vast) Empire dreadful was his name,  
Their (crying) Babes were stilled with the same;  
Jobs (iron) Pen take to engrave his Fame,  
(My Narrative defective is, and lame;)  
That to Posterity transmitted may  
His Valour and his Conquest be I say.  
Where's Scanderbag? who was so valorous;  
And with his Valour so victorious:  
In more than twenty Battles he engage  
Proud Saracens; whose right Arm did presage  
His Valour and his Conquest in his Age:  
This (matchless) Valour goeth off the Stage.    

VI Of Learning.  

CAn Learning? This to Tully doth ally;  
Knots-Gordian this (through Art) untie;  
Which one no way but (by his Sword) espy:  
But did not Tully, and his Nephew die?  
Keep Learning in her (native) Orb, and thus  
Shall due Respect be for Philologus.  
where's Homer? Horace? Zeno and Prochorus?  
Or Xenophon? Tertullus? Theodorus?  
where's Plato? Plautus? Plutarch? Theophrastus'?  
Or Memucan? Alvarez and Erastus?  
where's Austin with his Tract of Recantation?  
Or Ambrose, modest in his Meditation?  
Though Ignorance to Learning giveth check,  
Yet (surely) this the Sons of Adam deck.  
Thus Learning in a Lord (as was of old)  
Assimilates a DIAMOND in Gold.  
where's Origen so full of Allegories?  
Or Moderators in the Consistories?  
where's Jewel, who the Truth defended well?  
Or Bolton, on Death, Judgement, Heaven, Hell?  
where's Chrysippus? his Study might have bled him,  
(For aught I see) had not Melissa fed him.  
where's Hilary for Style so greatly eyed?  
Or Gregory, that was so mortified?  
where's Basil? Beda too? so preaching then  
(If one speaks Truth) the stones did cry Amen.  
Where are those prying Ones of Issachar?  
And where's Erasmus learning's morning Star?  
where's CYPRIAN so worthy Martyrdom?  
With very many more? but here's no room.  
where's Moses, mighty, both in Words and Deeds?  
Death (unto Death) the man in Moab bleeds.  
where's Cranmer? Ridley? Lambert? and the rest?  
Ah dead are these, and dying are the best!    

II. Of Terror.  

ART out of Christ? On Ebal stand I mul  
And Lectures (now) not (only) read of Dus.  
But (also) Wrath, that's blown into a flame:  
Almighty Breath is kindler of the same.  
To Souls in Christ, Death is most amiable;  
Most terrible of all things formidable  
To Christless Ones; yea (this) appears to me  
Of HELL the very Suburbs for to be.  
Ah mortal Man! If I may speak my Sense,  
Infernal Dregs are in the (future) Tense.  
'Tis pity that an ENOSH is deterred  
From (dying) Thoughts, for Bildad hath averred  
That Death the King of Terrors is to thee,  
If Christless dying; and thus unto me.  
Lend but an Ear to what the Romists say,  
Rome (unto Heaven) is the (only) way:  
Ah but (my Soul) go not so far about!  
A Papal-Toe may (sometimes) have the Gout:  
Rome's Monster goeth wrong, and will not suffer  
A going right; this Candle wants a Snuffer;  
Yea, an Extinguisher, that lighted may  
A better be, and light a (better) way.  
Ah needs must Hell a dismal Dung'on be!  
Where Heavens Sun shall never shine to thee.  
Sin, hath no Mean, but not at all to be;  
Sin, is the Means for to endanger thee.  
Prepare for Death; let this appear to thee  
Certain; uncertain is the Time to me.  
Death (if no Children) did a Rachel cry;  
Ah crying be a Christ, or else I die!  
Doth Death arrest, and find thee without Grace?  
With Judas (then) go to thy proper place.  
If (true Grace here) shall not implanted be,  
Then Woe, Woe, Woe (hereafter) unto thee.    

III. Of Triumph.  

A Scend (my Soul) on Mount Gerizim stand;  
A taking Prospect is the Holy LAND.  
Be joyous Saint, no Corrosive to thee,  
Of (stingless) Death can a Memento be.  
Not fuller is of light the World's bright eye;  
Nor yet the Sea with water (never dry)  
Then that man's Heart with joy who (truly) see  
The Death of Christ, the Death of Death to be.  
Had Heaven Sin (thus Anselm speaks about it)  
Much rather would He be in Hell without it.  
A drop of Sin, doth unto Mortals bring  
More evil than a Sea of Suffering.  
There may be Sorrow without Sin, but can  
Sin (without Sorrow) be unto the man?  
DeathsDeaths an Eclipse; to man this happen may  
As in a (clear) so on a (cloudy) day.  
None (until Deatth) were blest in Solon's eye;  
They blessed are, that in a JESUS die.  
Ah (moment) Man! be winged like a Dove;  
And restless too, till Arked with thy Love:  
Solace thyself with Loves; If Christ be thine,  
GALL into Honey, WATER into Wine,  
Converted are: Now Marah tasteth sweet;  
And (lovely) will appear a (winding) sheet.  
Make Death familiar; this welcome thus;  
Come Life, come Death, with good Ignatius.  
The presence of all Good, is Heaven; and  
The absence of all Evil: Here's a Land!  
Oh then (my Soul) suck sweetly here, and crave it!  
An Heaven 'tis to hope it; what to have it?  
Thus, Time's a Space, lent from Eternity;  
A Globe, that rells with (fly) Celerity:  
As it is true, Aloba it is that lends it;  
It is as true, Omega 'tis that ends it.    

VI The Epilogue.  

FAith (through Grace) make (now) of Sacred Truth:  
Must NESTOR die? so may the Shumem-Youth.  
'Tis true, Life is the Triumph of each Stature;  
'Tis true, Death is the Tribute due to Nature.  
All Ages; Statures; Sexes; Assizes must,  
This payment make, and bedded be in dust.  
And he died, this Epitaph must have  
Each individual, upon his Grave.  
Death (ingress) had by Sin; this (sadly) woundeth;  
Sin (egress) hath by Death; this (gladly) soundeth.  
Reader; the (Bodies-death) doth perfectly  
From (Deaths-body) the Saint indemnify.  
Death, a Dilemma is; nonplussed are All,  
Who enter Lists, and so Resign the Wall.  
The Fear of Death, the Soul with Terror fill;  
Death killeth (once) but Fear doth (often) kill.  
A Creature (with the Ephemera) may  
Be (as to Life) a Creature of a Day.  
Years unto One the God of Nature gives;  
Another not a Day in Nature lives:  
View Nature (now) and in this (Glass) descry;  
Art a Day old? then old enough to die.  
The best of Men, they are but Men at best;  
The worst of Men, die sooner than the rest.  
In hearing, hear; in saying (also) say:  
In trying, try; in praying (also) pray:  
In doing, do; in giving (also) give:  
In living, die; in dying (also) live.   

Are grace-ful Veins found running through Thee?  
All Glory (then) be given unto THREE.   
FINIS.