Anne Killigrew

Anne Killigrew was an English poet and painter of the late 17th century. Her poetry, often moral and religious in subject, is best known through the posthumous collection and John Dryden's commemorative ode. Biography ↓More ↓

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Anne Killigrew

TO My Lord Colrane, In Answer to his Complemental Verses sent me under the Name of CLEANOR

LOng my dull Muse in heavy slumbers lay, Indulging Sloth, and to soft Ease gave way, Her Fill of Rest resolving to enjoy, Or fancying little worthy her employ. When Noble Cleanors obliging Strains Her, the neglected Lyre to tune, constrains. Confus'd at first, she rais'd her drowsie Head, Ponder'd a while, then pleas'd, forsook her Bed. Survey'd each Line with Fancy richly fraught, Re-read, and then revolv'd them in her Thought. And can it be ? she said, and can it be ? That 'mong the Great Ones I a Poet see ? The Great Ones? who their Ill-spent time devide, 'Twixt dang'rous Politicks, and formal Pride, Destructive Vice, expensive Vanity, In worse Ways yet, if Worse there any be:

Anne Killigrew

ON THE Dutchess of Grafton Under the Name of Alinda.

A SONG. I. TH'ambitious Eye that seeks alone, Where Beauties Wonders most are shown; Of all that bounteous Heaven displays, Let him on bright Alinda gaze; And in her high Example see, All can admir'd, or wisht-for, be ! II. An unmatch't Form, Mind like endow'd, Estate, and Title great and proud; A Charge Heaven dares to few commit, So few, like her, can manage it; Without all Blame or Envy bear. The being Witty, Great, and Fair ! III.

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HERODIAS Daughter presenting to her Mother St. JOHN's Head in a Charger, also Painted by her self

BEhold, dear Mother, who was late our Fear, Disarm'd and Harmless, I present you here; The Tongue ty'd up, that made all Jury quake, And which so often did our Greatness shake;

No Terror sits upon his Awful Brow, Where Fierceness reign'd, there Calmness triumphs now; As Lovers use, he gazes on my Face, With Eyes that languish, as they sued for Grace; Wholly subdu'd by my Victorious Charms, See how his Head reposes in my Arms. Come, joyn then with me in my just Transport, Who thus have brought the Hermite to the Court.

St. John Baptist Painted by her self in the Wilderness, with Angels appearing to him, and with a Lamb by him

THe Sun's my Fire, when it does shine, The hollow Spring's my Cave of Wine, The Rocks and Woods afford me Meat; This Lamb and I on one Dish eat: The neighbouring Herds my Garments send, My Pallet the kind Earth doth lend: Excess and Grandure I decline, M'Associates onely are Divine.

Biography

Anne Killigrew was born in 1660 and died in 1685. She served as a maid of honour to Mary of Modena, Duchess of York. Killigrew was both a poet and a painter, though only a few of her paintings survive. Her poems were published posthumously in a single volume in 1686. The collection includes odes, pastorals, and religious meditations. Her verse often explores themes of virtue, mortality, and divine love. Stylistically, it reflects the influence of the metaphysical poets. John Dryden honored her with his ode 'To the Pious Memory of the Accomplish'd Young Lady Mrs. Anne Killigrew,' which praises her moral and artistic gifts. Though her output was small, she holds a place in English literary history largely due to Dryden's tribute. Her work offers insight into the intellectual and artistic pursuits of women in Restoration England.

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