V.

Intended for Mr. ROWE,

THY

In Westminster-Abbey.

HY reliques, Rowe, to this fair Urn we
truft,

And facred, place by DRYDEN's awful duft :
Beneath a rude and nameless stone he lies,
To which thy Tomb shall guide inquiring eyes.
Peace to thy gentle shade, and endless rest !
Bleft in thy Genius, in thy Love too bleft!
One grateful woman to thy fame fupplies
What a whole thankless land to his denies.

NOTES.

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 rest 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. DRY DEN.

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

5

VI. On

Bleft with plain Reason, 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 soft; so strong, yet so refin❜d;
Heav'n, as its pureft gold, by Tortures try'd;
The Saint fuftain'd it, but the Woman dy'd.

6

VII. On

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.

NO! fair Example of untainted youth,

G%

Of modeft wisdom, and pacifick truth:
Compos'd in fuff'rings, and in joy sedate,
Good without noife, without pretenfion great.
Juft of thy word, in ev'ry thought fincere,
Who knew no wifh but what the world might hear:
Of foftest 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,
Pensive haft follow'd to the filent tomb,
Steer'd the fame courfe to the fame quiet fhore,
Not parted long, and now to part no more!
Go then, where only blifs fincere is known!
Go, where to love and to enjoy are one!

Yet take these Tears, Mortality's relief,
And till we fhare your joys, forgive our grief:
These little rites, a Stone, a Verfe receive;
*Tis all a Father, all a Friend can give!

On Sir GODFREY KNELLER,

K

In Westminster-Abbey, 1723.

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

Whofe Art was Nature, 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 Thirft of praife.
Living, great Nature fear'd he might outvie
Her works; and, dying, fears herself may die.

IMITATIONS.

VER.7. Imitated from the famous Epitaph on Raphael,
Raphael, timuit, quo fofpite, vinci
Rerum magna parens, et moriente, mori. P.

IX. On

IX.

On General HENRY WITHERS,

In Westminster-Abbey, 1729.

ERE, WITHERS, reft! thou braveft, gentleft mind,

HER

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 fpirit, or thy Social love!
Amidst Corruption, Luxury, and Rage,
Still leave some ancient Virtues to our age:
Nor let us fay (thofe English glories gone)
The last true Briton lies beneath this stone.