EPITAPH ON SIR WILLIAM TRUMBAL, ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARIES OF STATE Te KING WILLIAM III. Who having resigned his Place, died in his Retirement at Easthamsted, in Berkshire, 1716. A PLEASING form, a firm, yet cautious mind; Fix'd to one side, but moderate to the rest: Such this man was, who now, from Earth remov'd, Pope. EPITAPH ON THE HON. SIMON HARCOURT, ONLY SON OF THE LORD CHANCELLOR HARCOURT. At the Church of Stanton-Harcourt, Oxfordshire, 1720. To this sad shrine, whoe'er thou art, draw near; Here lies the friend most lov'd, the son most dear: Who ne'er knew joy but friendship might divide, Or gave his father grief but when he died. How vain is reason, eloquence how weak! If Pope must tell what Harcourt cannot speak. Oh! let thy once-lov'd friend inscribe thy stone, And with a father's sorrows mix his own! VOL. III. Pope. EPITAPH ON JAMES CRAGGS, ESQ. IN WESTMINSTER-ABBEY. STATESMAN, yet friend to truth! of soul sincere, Who broke no promise, serv'd no private end, Prais'd, wept, and honour'd by the Muse he lov'd. Pope. EPITAPH INTENDED FOR MR. ROWE. IN WESTMINSTER-ABBEY. Tay reliques, Rowe! to this fair urn we trust, Pope. EPITAPH ON MRS. CORBET, WHO DIED OF A CANCER IN HER BREAST. HERE rests a woman, good without pretence, Passion and pride were to her soul unknown, So unaffected, so compos'd a mind, So firın, yet soft, so strong, yet so refin’d. Heav'n, as its purest gold, by tortures tried; The saint sustain'd it, but the woman died. Pope. EPITAPH ON THE MONUMENT OF THE HON. ERECTED BY THEIR FATHER LORD DIGBY. In the Church of Sherborne, in Dorsetshire, 1727. Go! fair example of untainted youth, Lover of peace, and friend of human-kind! And thou, bless'd maid! attendant on his doom, Pensive had follow'd to the silent tomb, Steer'd the same course to the same quiet shore, Yet take these tears, mortality's relief, Pope. EPITAPH ON SIR GODFREY KNELLER, IN WESTMINSTER-ABBEY, 1723. KNELLER, by Heav'n, and not a master, taught, Whose art was nature, and whose pictures thought; Now for two ages having snatch'd from fate Whate'er was beauteous, or whate'er was great, Lies crown'd with princes' honours, poets' lays, Due to his merit and brave thirst of praise, Living, great Nature fear'd he might outvie Her works; and, dying, fears herself may die. Pope. EPITAPH ON GENERAL HENRY WITHERS, HERE, Withers! rest; thou bravest, gentlest mind, For thee the hardy veteran drops a tear, Pope. EPITAPH ON MR. ELIJAH FENTON, AT EASTHAMSTED, BERKS, 1730. THIS modest stone, what few vain marbles can, [great; Pope. EPITAPH ON MR. GAY. IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY, 1732. Or manners gentle, of affections mild; With native humour tempering virtuous rage, And uncorrupted ev'n among the great : Pope. |