Classic Poem

The fairest Flow'rs are not secur'd from Blasts,
The strongest Tow'rs must unto Ruin yield,
Each Visible unto its Period hastes,
And by Retreat all call'd to quit the Field;
Both Animals and Vegetables fall,
Nature to common Change exposeth all:

None can secure himself. Man, tho' possest
Of that great Faculty, styl'd Rational ,
May plead no Priviledge above the rest,
But stoop to th'Fate o'th' meanest Animal:
YeTherein doth a Mystick Grandeur lie,
He hath a Nobler Part can never dye.

Altho' remov'd from Converse with his Friend;
Relations and Acquaintance, are depriv'd
Of his Society, Words can't extend
T'unequal Objects; some are therefore griev'd
Thus to be separated each from other;
From a dear Father, or a tender Mother.

O can their Off-spring be so unconcern'd,
As not a little to Breathe forth their Grief,
Where Sympathetick Bowels often yearn'd,
Yet cannot now administer Relief
To either side! Survivers may complain,
Mourn and lament their absence, but in vain.

But yet we may a little ruminate
On by-past things, impressed on the Mind,
And (tho' with grief) revolve that former State,
When each in others Joys did Solace find;
And let their Vertues flourish in each Breast,
And Mem'ries live, tho' they are gone to rest.

Ah, he is gone, who was a Father dear
Unto his Off-spring, with a tender Eye,
Waiting for good; tho' seemingly severe,
When careless Crimes enforc'd Severity:
As famous Judges often Sentence give
With Tears, so he with the Chastiz'd did grieve.

This dear Paternal Love did more engage
His Childrens Hearts, than here may be exprest,
Alluring (as it were) our tender Age
To his advice; Love's Conquest is the best.
Let others boast their forc'd Authority,
Reigning like Tyrants in their Family.

Nor did he count it as his chiefest Care,
To gather for them Superfluity,
Knowing that Earth-bred Wealth is oft a Snare,
Whereby the Heart's engag'd to Vanity:
His Gen'rous Spirit rather was inclin'd,
To furnish them with Treasures of the Mind.

And though, in outward shew, he did appear
Less forward in professing things divine,
His Heart was not without an holy Fear;
Light in his Youthful Days began to shine,
And shew to him the empty Vanity
Of Rome 's seducing Soul-Idolatry.

For when he was, by a Related Friend,
Solicited their Fancies t'entertain,
Who urging (when his Life seem'd near its end)
To dye a Catholick, 'twas all in vain:
The sacred Precepts of the blessed Truth
Began to spring up in his Blooming Youth.

So that, for all the Favours he receiv'd
From that Relation, or great hopes of more,
By promise due, he would not be deceiv'd
To own those Principles he knew before
Were Men's Inventions: Thus Heav'n secretly
Did shroud and keep him from such Subtilty.

And in succeeding Days did plainly shew
A Way more excellent, a blessed Way;
Whereby he, to his Satisfaction, knew
That Path, wherein Fools walking cannot stray:
Now, let his Weakness be forgotten quite,
And with his Dust be buried out of sight.

His Second Self by him was well belov'd;
Who, tho' she for a season did survive,
That she by future Trials might be prov'd,
And by renewed Sorrows learn to grieve:
A second Love she never entertain'd,
But a chaste Widow many Years remain'd.

And if Affliction and Chastizement be
Undoubted Characters of Fathers Love,
Whose Prudence often in Severity
Doth, for Instruction to his Children, prove
A greater Favour than they apprehend;
She had her share, and found it in the end.

Nor may her dear Affection be forgot
Unto her Off-spring, whom she taught the Law
Of Filial Duty; yet delighted not
So much through Fear, as Love, to keep in awe:
Austerity may gain a Slavish Fear,
But Natural Affection more endear.

She likewise (as her Consort did before)
Delighted much to gratify her Friend,
If any her assistance did implore,
She freely would reach forth a helping-Hand;
Thus studying good, she sometimes griev'd to see
Relations for small Trifles disagree.

Yea, she would rather bear an Injury,
Than recompence it; rather reconcile
Dissenting Parties, through her Lenity,
Than seem t' encline to either for a while:
But these her Exercises now must cease,
And she rejoyce in Everlasting Peace.

Alas! that those, who knew her well, might learn,
By her Example, to become more mild,
And not account Revenge a just Concern,
Nor study to Revile, because Revil'd;
Such would more inward Consolation know,
Than from an angry Breast can ever grow.

Well, though both He and She be gone to rest,
And cannot with our Sorrows now be mov'd,
Nor with the Frownings of this World oppress'd,
Wherewith some may as yet be further prov'd,
Their Names, engraven in our Hearts, may not
Be raz'd, or cancel'd, or in time forgot.

Nor shall we study high Hyperboles,
So to perpetuate their Memory,
Or raise a Monument of common Praise,
Which cannot add to their Felicity;
For they were what this insufficient Pen
Cannot describe unto surviving Men.