Note 37 — THRENODIA AUGUSTALIS.
Reading edition
The following Nœnia, among others, occur in Mr Luttrell's Collection:
"A Pindarick Ode, by Sir F. F. Knight of the Bath."
"A Pindarick Ode on the Death of our late Sovereign, with an ancient Prophecy on his present Majesty, by Afra Behn."
"A Poem, humbly dedicated to the Great Pattern of Piety and Virtue, Catherine, Queen Dowager, on the Death of her dear Lord and Husband, King Charles II. By the Same. (4th April, 1685.)"
"The Vision, a Pindarick Ode, by Edmund Arwaker, M. A."
"The Second Part of Ditto, on the Coronation of James and Mary." This author poured forth a similar effusion upon the death of Queen Mary.
"A Pindarick Ode on the Death of Charles II, by J. H."
"Ireland's Tears to the sacred Memory of our late Dread Sovereign, King Charles II., 11th April, 1685."
"Pietas universitatis Oxoniensis in obitum augustissimi et desideratissimi Regis Caroli Secundi."
Duke, and others, also invoked Melpomene on this mournful occasion: but, perhaps, the most remarkable of all these lamentations is, "The Quaker's Elegy on the Death of Charles, late King of England, written by W. P. a sincere lover of Charles and James; (31st March, 1685.)" "Tears wiped off, a Second Part, on the Coronation, (22d April.)" This curious dirge begins thus:
What wondrous change in waking do I find, For a strange something does my sense unbind; Truth has possessed my darkened soul all o'er With an unusual light, not known before; And doth inform me, that some star is gone, From whose kind influence we had life alone. No sooner had this stranger seized my soul, But Rachel knocked, to raise me from my bed, And, with a voice of sorrow, did condole The loss of Charles, whom she declared was dead; Charles dost thou mean we King of England call, That lived within the mansion of Whitehall? Yes—'tis too true, &c.