Epistle XVI. To Marcellinus.
by
B. G. Esq;
[_]
Upon the Death of an extraordinary Young Woman, that was near Marriage.
AT the writing of this, I am in the deepest Concern for our Friend
Fundamus, who has lost his Second Daughter: A Young Woman, so delightful! so lovely! as made her worthy,
not only of a long Life, but almost Immortality. She had not quite reach'd Fourteen,
and had already the Prudence of Age, a decent Gravity, a youthful Sweetness,
with a Virgin Modesty. How endearing was her
Love to her Father! How agreeably did she entertain us his Friends! How did she esteem her Nurses,
her Masters, her Instructors, according to their several Employments! With what Attention and Judgment did she read! How cautiously did she take her Diversions! With what Temper,
with what Patience, and even Constancy, did she bear her last Illness! She follow'd the Prescription of her Physicians! She comforted her Sister,
her Father, and as the Strength of her Body decay'd, she supported herself by the Vigour of her Mind! This held to the last,
nor did it sink under the Length of her Illness, or the Apprehension of Death.
This Behaviour has left us more and stronger Reasons to desire her Life,
and to lament our Loss. Oh sad and untimely Fate! Oh Season of Death most afflicting! She was espoused to a deserving Youth,
the Day of Marriage set, the Company invited! How is our Joy chang'd into Mourning?
I cannot find Words to express the Shock it gave me, to hear
Fundanus himself (for Grief is
fruitful in Invention) ordering, that what was to be expended in Cloaths,
Ornaments, and Jewels, should now be laid out in Myrrh, Ointments, and Perfumes.
He is a Man of Learning and good Sense, as having apply'd himself to Arts and the deepest Studies from his Youth;
but how is he at a Loss for the Use of his Philosophy? What he has frequently recommended,
he cannot
apply to himself. All his Vertue is swallow'd up; he is immers'd in Sorrow:
You will forgive, nay, you would commend him, when you consider what he has lost.
He has lost a Daughter, that was not less like him in Manners, than in Person! Why,
by a wonderful Similitude, represented her whole Father. Therefore, if upon so just an Occasion,
you send him any Letter of Consolation, let it not be such, as in a way of Reproof,
may attempt to fortify, but soft and humane, for which, Time only can make Way.
For as a fresh Wound shrinks at the Touch of the Surgeon, after suffers,
and willingly receives Help; so does the Mind reject and refuse Comfort,
under the first Impression of Grief, who' it afterwards wants, and submits to,
the pressing Advice of Friends.
