Several of Anne Killigrew's friends and relatives appear in the volume: | sig.b2 | "her Warlike Brother" is Henry Killigrew (d. 1712), commodore in the 1680's and eventually Admiral, who was on duty in the Mediterranean when Dryden wrote. | | | | p. 24 | Lady Berkeley and her son are the wife and son, John, of John, first Baron Berkeley of Stratton (d.1687). John the younger was lieutenant in 1685 and attained the rank of Admiral in 1688. | | | | p. 49 | Lord Colrane is Henry Hare, second Baron Coleraine (1636-1708), the distinguished antiquary. A copy of the Poems bearing his bookplate, dated 1702, is in the University of Michigan Library. | | | | p. 76 | Mrs. A. K., the victim of this extraordinary accident shortly before the civil broils, was probably Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Killigrew, the poetess's grandfather. | | | | p. 79 | The Duchess of Grafton is the daughter of Henry Bennet, Earl of Arlington and wife of Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Grafton and son to Charles II and Barbara Villiers. |
On the Death
of
The Truly Virtuous Mrs. Anne Killigrew who was Related to my (Deceased) Wife. I cannot Mourn thy Fate, Sweet Mayd, but Joy That Thou art gone from all this Worlds Annoy, From th' hurry of this cursed Age, that draws Heav'ns Vengeance down by th' breach of all the Laws. Of GOD, & Man: ther's nothing here but Noise And Interruption of True Peacefull Joyes. That which they Pleasure call is Sport for Apes Which turns the Phansie to a thousand Shapes And Wrests the Mind from that Celestial Sphear To which Its Nature ever would adhere That by a Constant Revolution Its Rest & Motion ever might be ONE That which my Mind hath ever Sought, thy Mind Tho Compast with these walls of Clay did Find: Pure Quintessential Love, Aethereal Flame, Which Always shines, & Alwayes is the Same: Here's no faint trembling Flame: all Bright appears 'Tis ne're blown out with Sighs, nor quencht with tears. Thy Soul Enflames my Love: the Unitie I had with Her, who was Allie'd to Thee Is Now made Perfect: Our Souls Mutual Flame Tho Higher in Degree in Nature's still the same. Her, Thee, & All the Glorious Souls Above I Now Enioy, whilst in You All I Love The Boundless Spring of Joy to Ev'ry Mind That knowes what's Truly Fair & Knowes what's Truly Kind. How have I Labour'd to Depress the Pride Of one [Dr. Parker] that strives Illustrious Truth to Hide In the Thick Bushes of Learn'd Sophistrie, Which he that Enters hardly sees the Skie? Truth that thy Splendid Soul did clearly see And of it made a plain Discoverie. And having Conquer'd Fate, Thou leavst those Arms [Her Poems] By which Mankind may Conquer All their Harms And make them Serve their Noble Purposes. All Good to Gain, All Evil to Repress. How Bravely did thy Melibaeus shew The Madness of that Love most men pursue And how Youth may their strongest Lusts subdue! O Happy Mayd, who didst so soon Espie In This Dark Life, that All is Vanitie! May thy Bright Love, All Youthfull Minds Inspire, And like the SUN, put out all other Fire; May all the Virtuous Celebrate thy Name; All Poets Hearts Partake of thy Great Flame That all their Ardors & their Flights may be The Flames that Fly up to the Deitie; That DAVID's Muse they all may Imitate, Sing Virtues Triumphs ore the Power of Fate: That all their Works Resembling Hea'vn may prove The Blest Effects of Glory, Power, & Love. E. E. 1685.
POEMS BY
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