Lady Elizabeth Hoby (1540–1609)

1

AN EPICEDIUM BY ELIZABETH HOBY, THEIR MOTHER,

ON THE DEATH OF HER TWO DAUGHTERS ELIZABETH AND ANNE

Elizabeth lies here (alas for my heart), thus fated:

You lie here, scarecely mature, a tender virgin

When you lived, you were a daughter dear to her mother

Now, live dear to God and your father.

Your death was cruel, but there was one still crueller:

the one which cut down your younger sister Anna with you.

Anna, you were the glory of your father and mother; aft er your sister's end

and aft er your mother's grief, here you lie, golden virgin!

There was one mother, one father, one death, for the pair

And this one stone hides both their bodies.

Thus I, their mother, wanted to unite them in a single tomb,

weeping, whom I once carried in the same happy womb

These two noble and most hopeful sisters

in the same Year, i.e. 1570

In the same Month, i.e. February

only a few days apart,

slept in the Lord.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

2

KING JOHN

Act III, Scene 4 [3.4.93]

Constance

Grief fills the room up of my absent child:

Lies in his bed, walks up and down with me,

Puts on his pretty looks, repeats his words,

Remembers me of all his gracious parts,

Stuff s out his vacant garments with his form;

Then have I reason to be fond of grief!

Fare you well: had you such a loss as I,

I could give better comfort than you do.

I will not keep this form upon my head,

When there is such disorder in my wit… [she tears her hair again

O Lord! my boy, my Arthur, my fair son!

My life, my joy, my food, my all the world!

My widow-comfort, and my sorrows’ cure! [she runs forth

Ben Jonson (1572–1637)

3

Epigram 22

ON MY FIRST DAUGHTER

Here lyes to each her parents ruth,

Mary, the daughter of their youth;

Yet, all hevens gift s, being heavens due,

It makes the father, lesse, to rue.