VIII.

On Sir GODFREY KNELLER,

K

In Westminster-Abbey, 1723.

NELLER, by Heav'n and not a Master taught,

Whofe Art was Nature, and whofe Pictures

Thought;

Now for two Ages having fnatch'd from fate Whate'er was beauteous, or whate'er was great, Lies crown'd with Princes honours, Poet's lays, 5 Due to his Merit, and brave Thirst of praise. Living, great Nature fear'd he might outvie Her works; and, dying, fears herself may

IMITATIONS.

die.

VER. 7. Imitated from the famous Epitaph on Raphael.

Raphael, timuit, quo fofpite, vinci
Rerum magna parens, et moriente, mori.

P.

IX.

On General HENRY WITHERS,

H'

In Westminster Abbey, 1729.

TERE, WITHERS, reft! thou braveft, gentleft mind,

Thy Country's friend, but more of human kind. Oh born to Arms! O Worth in Youth approv'd! O foft Humanity, in Age belov'd!

For thee the hardy Vet'ran drops a tear,

And the gay Courtier feels the figh fincere.
WITHERS, adieu! yet not with thee remove
Thy Martial fpirit, or thy focial love!
Amidft Corruption, Luxury, and Rage,
Still leave fome ancient Virtues to our age:
Nor let us fay (those English glories gone)
The laft true Briton lies beneath this ftone.

May truly fay, Here lies an honest Man :
A Poet, bleft beyond the Poet's fate,

Whom Heav'n kept facred from the Proud and

Great:

Foe to loud Praife, and Friend to learned Eafe,
Content with Science in the Vale of Peace.
Calmly he look'd on either Life, and here
Saw nothing to regret, or there to fear;
From Nature's temp'rate feast rose satisfy'd,
Thank'd Heav'n that he had liv'd, and that hedy'd.

O

XI.

On Mr. GAY,

In Westminster-Abbey, 1732.

F Manners gentle, of Affections mild;

age:

5

In Wit, a Man; Simplicity, a Child : With native Humour temp'ring virtuous Rage, Form'd to delight at once and lafh the Above Temptation, in a low Eftate, And uncorrupted, ev'n among the Great: A fafe Companion, and an easy Friend, Unblam'd thro' Life, lamented in thy End. These are Thy Honours! not that here thy Bust Is mix'd with Heroes, or with Kings thy duft; 10 But that the Worthy and the Good shall say, Striking their penfive bofoms-Here lies GAY.

NOTES.

VER. 12. Here lies Gay.] i. e. in the hearts of the good and worthy. Mr. Pope told me his conceit in this line was not generally understood. For, by peculiar ill luck, the formulary expreffion which makes the beauty, misleads the Reader into a fenfe which takes it quite away.

3

Nature and Nature's Laws lay hid in Night: GOD faid, Let Newton be! and all was Light,

NOTES.

and all was Light.] It had been better-ard there was Light, -as more conformable to the reality of the fact, and to the allufion whereby it is celebrated.

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