On the Monument of the Hon. R. Digby and of His Sister Mary. Epitaphs. Alexander Pope. 1903. Complete Poetical Works

Alexander Pope (1688–1744). Complete Poetical Works. 1903.

Epitaphs

On the Monument of the Hon. R. Digby and of His Sister Mary

Erected by Their Father, Lord Digby, in the Church of Sherborne, in Dorsetshire, 1727.

GO! fair example of untainted youth,
Of modest Wisdom and pacific Truth:
Composed in Suff’rings, and in Joy sedate,
Good without noise, without pretension great:
Just of thy word, in ev’ry thought sincere,	5
Who knew no wish but what the world might hear:
Of softest Manners, unaffected Mind,
Lover of Peace, and Friend of humankind!
Go live! for Heav’n’s eternal year is thine;
Go, and exalt thy Mortal to Divine.	10
And thou, bless’d Maid! attendant on his doom,
Pensive hath 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!
Go then, where only bliss sincere is known!	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:
These little rites, a Stone, a Verse, receive;
’T is all a Father, all a Friend can give!	20