Poems By the most deservedly Admired Mrs Katherine Philips: The matchless Orinda. To which is added Monsieur Corneille's Pompey & Horace Tragedies. With several other Translations out of French |
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An Epitaph on my Honoured Mother-in-Law
Mrs. Phillips of Portheynon in Cardigan-shire,
who dyed Jan. 1. Anno 1662–1663
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An Epitaph on my Honoured Mother-in-Law Mrs. Phillips of Portheynon in Cardigan-shire, who dyed Jan. 1. Anno 1662–1663
Reader stay, it is but just;Thou dost not tread on common dust.
For underneath this stone does lye
One whose Name can never dye:
Who from an Honour'd Linage sprung,
Was to another matched Young;
Whose happiness she ever sought;
One blessing was, and many brought.
And to her spouse her faith did prove
By fifteen pledges of their Love.
But when by Death of him depriv'd,
An honourable Widow liv'd
Full four and twenty years, wherein
Though she had much afflicted been,
Saw many of her Children fall,
And publick Ruine threaten all.
Yet from above assisted, she
Both did and suffer'd worthily.
She to the Crown, and Church adher'd,
And in their Sorrows them rever'd,
With Piety which knew no strife,
But was as sober as her life.
A furnish'd Table, open door,
That for her Friends, this for the Poor
She kept; yet did her fortune find,
Too narrow for her nobler Mind;
Which seeking objects ro relieve,
Did food to many Orphans give,
Who in her Life no want did know,
But all the Poor are Orphans now.
Yet hold, her Fame is much too safe,
To need a written Epitaph.
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Can never here forgotten be,
Till Cardigan it self become,
To its own ruin'd heaps a Tomb.
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