"On the 3. of September, 1651"

By Katherine Philips

Transcription, correction, editorial commentary, and markup by Staff and Research Assistants at The University of Virginia, John O'Brien, Sara Brunstetter - 13 -

On the 3. of September, 1651, n001

n002 1 As when the glorious Magazine of Light, 2 Approaches to his Canopy of Night 3 He with the new splendor clothes his dying Rays, 4 And double brightness to his Beams conveys; n003 5 And (as to brave, and check his ending fate) 6 Puts on his highest look in's lowest state

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7 Dreft in such terrour as to make us all n004 8 Be Anti-Persians, and adore his Fall 9 Then quits the world depriving it of Day 10 While Every Herb and Plant does droop away; 11 So when our gasping English Royalty n005 12 Perciev'd her Period, was now drawing nigh, 13 She summons her whole strength to give one blow, 14 To raise her self, or pull down others too. 15 Big with revenge and hope she now spake more 16 Of terror than in many months before; 17 And musters her Attendants or to fave 18 Her from, or else attend her to, the Grave: 19 Yet but enjoy'd the miserable fate 20 Of setting Majesty, to die in State. n006 21 Unhappy Kings, who cannot keep a Throne, , 22 Nor be so fortunate to fall alone! n007 23 Thier weight sinks others: Pompey could not fly, , 24 But half the World must bear him company; n008 25 And captiv'd Sampson, could not life conclude, 26 Unless attended with a multitude. n009 27 Who'd trust to greatness now, whose food is air, , 28 Whose ruine sudden, and whose end despair? 29 Who would presume upon his Glorious Birth, 30 Or quarrel for a spacious share of Earth n010 31 That sees such Diadems, become so cheap, 32 And Heros tumble in a common heap? 33 Oh give me Vertue then, which sums up all, 34 And firmly stands when Crowns and Scepters fall.

Page 2 Footnotes

n001 This date marks the Battle of Worcester where Oliver Cromwell and his men defeated Charles II and the Royalists, thus marking the end of the English Civil War. Source: Wikipedia n002 Magazine of light refers to the sun as an arsenal container of light

n003 Brave here means to defy. Source: Oxford English Dictionary

n004 (DRAFT-Is this right?)Anti-Persians, i.e. those against the sun. They are "rooting" for the sun to set. It was thought that Persians worshipped the sun. (Encyclopedia Britannica) n005 End. Source: Oxford English Dictionary

n006 (DRAFT) I would like something on this but I can't figure out the kings this refers to

n007 Pompey was assassinated while fleeing to Egypt in 48 BCE, and was replaced by Caesar. Source: Wikipedia n008 (DRAFT-I would love to have this double checked)Sampson is a nazirite who was gifted with superhuman strength. He was famed for killing a lion with his bare hands, and being taken captive and tortured after being betrayed by his lover Delilah. Source: Wikipedia n009 Who survives on nothing or who has false hope.

n010 Crowns. Source: Oxford English Dictionary

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