University of Virginia Library

CXX. An Epitaph On S.P. A Child Of Q. El. Chappel.

VVeep with me all you that read
This little story:
And know, for whom a teare you shed,
Death's selfe is sorry.
'Twas a child, that so did thrive
In grace, and feature,
As Heaven and Nature seem'd to strive
Which own'd the creature.
Yeares he numbred scarce thirteene
When Fates turn'd cruell,
Yet three fill'd Zodiackes had he been
The Stages jewell;
And did act (what now we moane)
Old men so duely,
As, sooth, the Parcæ thought him one,
He plaid so truely.
So, by error to his fate
They all consented;
But viewing him since (alas, too late)
They have repented;
And have sought (to give new birth)
In bathes to steep him;
But, being so much too good for earth,
Heaven vowes to keep him.