University of Virginia Library

On Doctor Corbets Father.

Vincent Corbet farther known
By Pointers name then by his owne,
Here lies engaged till the day
Of raysing bones and quickning clay:
No wonder reader that he hath
Two Sir-names in one Epitaph,
For this one doth comprehend
All that both families could lend;
And if to know more art then any
Could multiply one into many,
Here a Colony lies then
Both of qualities and men.
Yeares he liv'd were neere fourescore,
But count his vertues, he liv'd more;
And number him by doing good,
He liv'd the age before the stood.
Should we undertake his story,
Truth would seeme fain'd, and fainednesse glory:
Besides the Tablet were too small,
Adding the pillars and the wall;
Yet of this volume much, if found,
Writ in many a fertill ground,
Where the Printer thee affords
Earth for Paper, Trees for Words
He was natures Factor here,
And leiger [illeg.] for every shiere;
To supply the ingenious wants
Of some Spring fruits, and forraine plants.
Simple he was, and withall,
His purse not base, nor prodigall,
Poorer in substance, then in friends,
Future and publique were his ends
His conscience like his diet, such
As neither tooke nor left too much,
So the made lawes needlesse growne
To him, he needed but his owne:
Did he his neighbour bid like those
That feast them onely to enclose,
Or with their Roastmeat rack their rents,
And cousen them with their fed consents?
No the free meeting of his board
Did but one liberall sense afford;
No Close or Aker understood,
But onely love and neighbourhood
His Almes were such as Paul defines,
Nor causes to be said, but signes;
Which Almes by faith, hope, love, laid downe,
Layd up what now he weares a Crowne.
Besides his fame, his goods, his life,
He left a griev'd sonne and wife;
Strange sorrow scarce to be beleev'd,
When as a sonne and heire is griev'd.