552. Sleep, beloved! footsteps rude But we thy friends will softly tread, Gentle she was, to all who knew her dear, Her life was meekness, and her death was peace. 554. Ever blessed are the happy dead who die 555. Alas! all beauty that has birth, To cheer, to glorify the earth, 556. RICHD. HOWITT. Resignedly he smil❜d on death, And prayed with calm expiring breath, 557. Dearest of Mothers, best of friends, farewell! May this plain stone a son's affections tell : Through life thy virtues were his joy and pride, In death, his best example, and his guide. 558. Time was, like you, I life possess'd; 559. Esteem'd he was by all, by all approv❜d, To gaze upon the loved in death, To mark the closing beamless eye, To leave the lorn one in despair, "My kingdom come !-ye'll meet them there" ELIZA COOK. 561. Thy trials o'er, and all thy sufferings past, If ever truth in epitaph was told, Reader, for truth, this character behold; To-day the blossom buds and blooms, Since the tomorrow, when it comes, Condemns it to the dust. 564. JOHN CLARE. Blessed be God. Compared with him, 565. Resign'd and patient to the last, she view'd 566. All human things hang on a slender stay, 567. What is death, that e'en its thought should make us sigh and weep? The grave to me, but seems a couch of sound and holy sleep. Why should I dread the fiat, when my trusting spirit knows, That He who bids my eyelids fall will watch their last repose? ELIZA COOK. 568. Here rests a woman, good without pretence, 569. POPE. May heavenly peace be thy eternal doom, 570. What charms adorned thy youth, where nature smil'd, And more than man was given us in a child! His infancy was ripe: a soul sublime In years so tender that prevented time; Heaven gave him all at once; then snatched away, Ere mortals all his beauties could survey; Just like the flower that buds and withers in a day. DRYDEN. 571. In the deep summer thou dost sink to slumber; RICHARD HOWITT. 572. Death levels man-the wicked and the just, 573. Oh, man! when thou art getting vain, Just turn towards the cypress tree,— ELIZA COOK. |