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Peace to thy gentle fhade, and endless rest!
Bleft in thy Genius, in thy Love too bleft!
One grateful woman to thy fame fupplies

What a whole thanklefs land to his denies.

NOTES.

5

VER. 3. Beneath a rude] The Tomb of Mr. Dryden was erected upon this hint by the Duke of Buckingham; to which was originally intended this Epitaph,

This SHEFFIELD rais'd. The facred Duft below

Was DRYDEN once: The reft who does not know? which the Author fince changed into the plain infcription now upon it, being only the name of that great Poet.

J.

DRYDEN.

Natus Aug. 9, 1631. Mortuus Maij 1. 1700.

JOANNES SHEFFIELD DUX BUCKINGHAMIENSIS POSUIT.

P.

VI.

On Mrs. CORBET,

Who died of a Cancer in her Breast.

ERE refts a Woman, good without

HE

tence,

pre

Bleft with plain Reafon, and with fober Sense:
No Conquefts fhe, but o'er herself, defir'd,
No Arts effay'd, but not to be admir'd.
Paffion and Pride were to her foul unknown,
Convinc'd that Virtue only is our own.
So unaffected, fo compos'd a mind;
So firm, yet foft; fo ftrong, yet fo refin'd;
Heav'n, as its pureft gold, by Tortures try'd;
The Saint fuftain'd it, but the Woman dy'd. ·

VII.

On the Monument of the Honourable ROBERT DIGBY, and of his Sifter MARY, erected by their Father the Lord DIGBY, in the Church of Sherborne in Dorsetshire, 1727.

G

O! fair Example of untainted youth,

Of modest wisdom, and pacifick truth:
Compos'd in fuff'rings, and in joy fedate,
Good without noife, without pretenfion great.
Juft of thy word, in ev'ry thought fincere,
Who knew no wish but what the world might hear:
Of fofteft manners, unaffected mind,

Lover of peace, and friend of human kind:
Go live! for Heaven's Eternal year is thine,
Go, and exalt thy Moral to Divine.

And thou, bleft Maid! attendant on his doom,
Penfive haft followed to the filent tomb,
Steer'd the fame course to the fame quiet shore,
Not parted long, and now to part no more!
Go then, where only bliss fincere is known!
Go, where to love and to enjoy are one!

Yet take thefe Tears, Mortality's relief,
And till we share your joys, forgive our grief:
Thefe little rites, a Stone, a Verse receive;
'Tis all a Father, all a Friend can give!

VIII,

On Sir GODFREY KNELLER, In Westminster-Abbey, 1723.

K

NELLER, by Heav'n and not a Master
taught,

Whofe Art wasNature, and whofe Pictures Thought;
Now for two ages having fnatch'd from fate
Whate'er was beauteous, or whate'er was great,
Lies crown'd with Princes honours, Poets lays, 5
Due to his Merit, and brave Thirst of praise.
Living, great Nature fear'd he might outvie
ler works; and, dying, fears herself may die.

IMITATIONS.

VER. 7. Imitated on the famous Epitaph on Raphael.
Raphael, timuit, quo fofpite, vinci

Rerum magna parens, et moriente, mari. P.

IX.

On General HENRY WITHErs,

In Westminster-Abbey, 1729.

ERE, WITHERS, reft! thou bravest, gentlest mind,

HERE

Thy Country's friend, but more of human kind.
Oh born to Arms! O Worth in Youth approv'd!
O foft Humanity, in Age belov'd!

For thee the hardy Vet'ran drops a tear,

And the gay Courtier feels the figh fincere.
WITHERS, adieu! yet not with thee remove
Thy Martial spirit, or thy Social love!
Amidft. Corruption, Luxury, and Rage,
Still leave fome ancient Virtues to our age:
Nor let us fay (those English glories gone)
The laft true Briton lies beneath this ftone.

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