Epitaphs. "His saltem accumulem donis, et fungar inani ["This unavailing gift at least I may bestow."-DRYDEN.] I. ON CHARLES, EARL OF DORSET, IN THE CHURCH OF WITHYAM IN SUSSEX. DORSET, the grace of Courts, the Muses' pride, Patron of arts, and judge of nature, died. His anger moral, and his wisdom gay. Bless'd satirist! who touch'd the mean so true, Bless'd courtier! who could king and country please, Where other BUCKHURSTS, other DORSETS shine, 10 II. ON SIR WILLIAM TRUMBULL, ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARIES OF STATE TO KING WILLIAM III., WHO, HAVING RESIGNED HIS PLACE, DIED IN HIS RETIREMENT AT EASTHAMPSTEAD IN BERKSHIRE, 1716. A PLEASING form; a firm, yet cautious mind; Sincere, though prudent; constant, yet resign'd: Honour unchanged, a principle professed, An honest courtier, yet a patriot too; Just to his Prince, and to his country true: Fill'd with the sense of age, the fire of youth, A generous faith, from superstition free; A love to peace, and hate of tyranny; Such this man was; who now, from earth removed, 5 10 III. ON THE HON. SIMON HARCOURT, ONLY SON OF THE LORD CHANCELLOR HARCOURT; AT THE CHURCH OF То this sad shrine, whoe'er thou art! draw near, Here lies the friend most loved, the son most dear: How vain is Reason, Eloquence how weak! IV. ON JAMES CRAGGS, ESQ., IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY. JACOBUS CRAGGS, REGI MAGNE BRITANNIE A SECRETIS ET CONSILIIS SANCTIORIBUS, PRINCIPIS PARITER AC POPULI AMOR ET DELICIÆ; ANNOS, HEU PAUCOS, XXXV. OB. FEB. XVI. MDCCXX. STATESMAN, yet friend to Truth! of soul sincere, Praised, wept, and honour'd, by the Muse he loved. V. INTENDED FOR MR. ROWE, IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY. THY And sacred, place by DRYDEN's awful dust: 5 This epitaph was altered by Pope, and now stands as follows, on the monument erected in the Abbey to Rowe and his daughter: Thy reliques, Rowe! to this sad shrine we trust, To these so mourn'd in death, so loved in life! That holds their ashes, and expects her own."] The tomb of Mr. Dryden was erected upon this hint by the Duke of Buckingham; to which was originally intended this epitaph : "This Sheffield raised. The sacred dust below Was Dryden once: the rest who does not know?" which the author since changed into the plain inscription 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 U HER VI. ON MRS. CORBET, WHO DIED OF A CANCER IN HER BREAST. TERE rests a woman, good without pretence, Nor arts essay'd, but not to be admired. So firm, yet soft; so strong, yet so refined; 10 VII. ON THE MONUMENT OF THE HONOURABLE ROBERT ERECTED BY THEIR FATHER THE LORD DIGBY, IN THE CHURCH OF CO! fair example of untainted youth, Of modest wisdom, and pacific truth: Composed in sufferings, and in joy sedate, Good without noise, without pretension great : Just of thy word, in every thought sincere, Who knew no wish but what the world might hear: Of softest 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. 10 And thou, bless'd maid! attendant on his doom, Pensive hast follow'd to the silent tomb, Steer'd the same course to the same quiet shore, Not parted long, and now to part no more! 15 Go, where to love and to enjoy are one! Yet take these tears, Mortality's relief, And till we share your joys, forgive our grief: 'Tis all a father, all a friend can give! KNELLER, by Heaven and not a master taught, Living, great Nature fear'd he might outviel 66 Rerum magna parens, et moriente, mori." [And thus translated by Swift's friend, Harrison :"Here Raphael lies, by whose untimely end Nature both lost a rival and a friend."] 5 |