A web-based edition of early seventeenth-century political poetry from manuscript sources. It brings into the public domain over 350 poems, many of which have never before been published.
H24 Once dead and twice a live; death could not frame
Notes. This poem is one of three commendatory epitaphs on Overbury that circulated simultaneously in print and manuscript. In the printed version, first published in the 1616 edition of Sir Thomas Overbury His Wife, the author is identified as “ Jo. Fo.”—perhaps the playwright John Ford, author of a now lost book on the Overbury case.
“On Sir Tho Overbury”
Once dead and twice a live; death could not frame
a death, whose sting could kill his fame
he might have lived, had not the life which gave
life to his life, betraid him to his grave1
if greatnes could consist in being good
5his goodnes did add titles to his blood.
only unhappie in his lives last fate,
in that he liv’d so soone and die2 so late;
alas, where to should men oppressed trust
when innocence cannot protect the Just?
10his error was his fault, his truth his end,
noe enimie his ruine but his frend
cold frendshipp, where hott vows are but a breath
to guerdon3 poore simplicity with death:
was never man that felt the sence of greife
15soe Overbury’d4 in a safe beliefe
beliefe? o cruell slaughter! tymes unbred
will say, who dies that is untymely dead,
by treachery of lust, or by disgrace
in frendship twas but Overburyes case,
20which shall not more commend his truth then prove
theire guilt whoe were his opposites in love
rest happy men; and in thy spheare of awe
behold how Judgstice swaies the sworde of law
to weed out those whose hands inbrew’d in blood
25Cropt off thy youth and flouer in the bud
sleepe in thy peace, thus happie hast thou prov’d
thou might’st dide more knowne, not more belov’d.
Source. Folger MS V.a.162, fol. 14v
Other known sources. Overbury 2¶1v
H24
1 had not...grave: this slightly convoluted passage refers to Overbury’s betrayal by his friend Robert Carr. The theme of false friendship is taken up later in the poem, and is common in writings on the Overbury affair. <back>
2 die: probable scribal error; read “died”. <back>
3 to guerdon: to requite; to reward. <back>
4 Overbury’d: i.e. over buried. This pun on Overbury’s name was quite common. <back>
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