Classic Poem

Epitaph on the Death of the Right Vertuous Lady Liegh, An

Here dead shee lies; who while aliue she was,
was Graces Inne; Wits Home, and Vertues Rest:
Whose WORTH was of true Worthinesse a Masse:
yet well proportion'd for her humble Brest .

A Wife and Mother! as it's hard to say,
whose losse was great'st, her childrens , or her pheares
To eyther wisely kinde; to each a stay;
that made one , loue; the other , loue and feare.

To her all-honour'd Sire , she was as deare,
as she was vertuous; which was as the bloud
In his Hearts Cente; which to him is neare;
yet dearer held his flesh in one so good!

Who dide (as liue she did) in grace and peace ,
more laden with good-deeds then idle-dayes :
Leauing her worth (for worthinesse increase)
for Wiues vnborne, to imitate and praise .

Who had at once, two Husbands , yet she liu'd
of Wifely truth a constant Paragon .

One Husband heauenly was; who hath depriu'd
the Earthly of her, for himselfe alone.
Yet, yer he had her, bought her with his Bloud
But, with her, bought a World of Womanhood!

Then, maugre Times, & Death these Lines , tho weake,
May leade all Times all good of her to speake!

Here Muse, now close the Paper-tombes of these
Two vertuous Soules , and Bodyes: Aunt and Neece , with this,
A good Name is better than a good Ointment: and the
day of death, then the day that one is borne. Eccles 7 3English