To mortal passions, whose immortal mind,

Whilst here on earth, was not to earth confin'd.

He must be gone, the stars had so decreed;

As he of them, so they of him, had need.

This message 'twas the blazing comet brought;

I saw the pale-fac'd star, and seeing thought

(For we could guess, but only Lilly knew)

It did some glorious hero's fall foreshew:

A hero's fall'n, whose death, more than a war,

Or fire, deserv'd a comet: th' obsequious star