University of Virginia Library

EPITAPHIUM. EZEKIEL CHEEVERUS.

Ludimagister:
Primo Neo-portensis;
Deinde, Ipsuicensis;
Postea, Carolotenensis
Postremo, Bostonensis
cujus
Doctrinam ac Virtutem
Nosti, si Sis Nov-Anglus,
Colis, si non Barbarus;
GRAMMATICUS,
a Quo, non pure tantum, sed et pie,
Loqui;
RHETORICUS,
a Quo non tantum Ornate dicere
coram Hominibus,
Sed et Orationes coram Deo fundere
Efficacissimas;
POETA,
a Quo non tantum Carmina pangere,
Sed et
Cælestes Hymnos, Odasq; Angelicas,
canere,
Didicerunt,
Qui discere voluerunt;
LUCERNA,
ad Quam accensa sunt,
Quis queat numerare,
Quot Ecclesiarum Lumina?
Qui secum Corpus Theologiæ abstulit,
Peritissimus THEOLOGUS,
Corpus hic suum sibi minus Charum,
deposuit.
Vixit Annos, XCIV.
Docuit, Annos, LXX.
Obijt, A.D. M. DCC. VIII.
Et quod Mori potuit,
HEIC
Expectet Exoptatq:
Primam Sanctorum Ressurectionem
ad
Immortalitatem.
Evuvijs debetur Honos Immortalitatem primam.

The Latin may be translated:

Epitaph Ezekiel Cheever Schoolmaster

First of New-Haven;
Then of Ispwich;
After of Charlestown
Last of Boston
whose
Learning and Virtue
You know, if you be a New Englander,
You honor, if you be not a foreigner;
GRAMMARIAN,
from whom talk is not only pure but
also pious;
RHETORICIAN
from whom speech is elegant
not only to men in public
but he also showers
Most effective speeches on God in public
POET
from whom not only songs are composed
But he also
Sings Celestial hymns and angelic odes,
They learn,
Who wish to learn;
A LAMP
for whom has been kindled
Who can count
How many lights of the Churches?
AND
He carried off the corpus of Theology with him
Most experienced THEOLOGIAN,
He placed his own body less dear to him.
He lived 94 years.
He taught 70 years.
He died in 1708 A.D.
And because he is able to die,
He awaits and desires
The first resurrection of the holy ones
for Immortality.
Honor is owed first Immortality.