University of Virginia Library


40

My Own EPITAPH.

Here lies a true Maid, deformed and old;
Who, that she never was handsome, ne'er needed be told.
Tho' she ne'er had a Lover, much Friendship had met;
And thought all Mankind quite out of her Debt.
She ne'er could forgive, for she ne'er had resented;
As she ne'er had deny'd, so she never repented.
She lov'd the whole Species, but some had distinguish'd;
But Time and much Thought had all Passion extinguish'd.
Tho' not fond of her Station, content with her Lot;
A Favour receiv'd she had never forgot.
She rejoic'd in the Good that her Neighbour possess'd,
And Piety, Purity, Truth she profess'd.

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She liv'd in much Peace, but ne'er courted Pleasure;
Her Book and her Pen had her Moments of Leisure.
Pleas'd with Life, fond of Health, yet fearless of Death;
Believing she lost not her Soul with her Breath.