Curious Epitaphs Part 19

On Sat.u.r.day, the 2nd May, 1800, the remains of William Cowper were interred in that part of Dereham Church known as St. Edmund's Chapel. He died without a will, but Lady Hesketh consented to administer his estate, and eventually placed a tablet to his memory on the wall of the chancel, near his grave. It is constructed of white marble, and over the top are represented two volumes, labelled respectively "Holy Bible" and "The Task." The inscription as follows was written by Cowper's friend, Hayley:--

In memory of WILLIAM COWPER, Esq., Born in Hertfords.h.i.+re in 1731, Buried in this Church in 1801.

Ye who with warmth the public triumph feel Of talents, dignified by sacred zeal, Here, to devotion's bard devoutly just, Pay your fond tribute due to Cowper's dust!

England, exulting in his spotless fame, Ranks with her dearest sons his fav'rite name; Sense, fancy, wit, suffice not all to raise So clear a t.i.tle to affection's praise; His highest honours to the heart belong; His virtues form'd the magic of his song.

Charles and Mary Lamb are buried in the churchyard of Edmonton, and a white headstone, marks the spot, on which is recorded, in bold black letters, the following inscription written by Lamb's friend, the Rev.

Henry Francis Cary, the translator of Dante:--

To the memory of CHARLES LAMB, died 27th December 1834, aged 59.

Farewell, dear friend, that smile, that harmless mirth, No more shall gladden our domestic hearth; That rising tear, with pain forbid to flow, Better than words no more a.s.suage our woe; That hand outstretched from small but well-earned store, Yield succour to the dest.i.tute no more, Yet art thou not all lost, thro' many an age With sterling sense of humour shall thy page Win many an English bosom pleased to see That old and happier vein revived in thee.

This for our earth, and if with friends we share Our joys in heaven we hope to meet thee there.

Also MARY ANNE LAMB, Sister of the above.

Born 3rd December 1767, Died 20th May 1847.

In the church is a memorial to Lamb and Cowper. It occupies a good position at the west end of the north wall, and consists of two inscribed white marble panels, enshrined in a graceful freestone design, the arches of which are supported by veined marble pilasters. In the upper portion of each panel is carved a portrait in relief, the one on the right showing the head of Cowper, while on the left the features of Lamb are characteristically depicted.

The following are the inscriptions contained on the memorial:--

(_Left panel._)

In memory of CHARLES LAMB "The Gentle Elia" and author of Tales from Shakespeare, etc.

Born in the Inner Temple 1775 educated at Christ's Hospital died at Bay Cottage Edmonton 1834 and buried beside his sister Mary in the adjoining churchyard.

At the centre of his being lodged A soul by resignation sanctified O, he was good if e'er a good man lived!

WORDSWORTH.

(_Right panel._)

In memory of WILLIAM COWPER, THE POET Born in Berkhampstead 1731 Died and buried at East Dereham 1800.

He was the author of The Diverting History of "John Gilpin."

John Gilpin was a citizen Of credit and renown, A trainband captain eke was he Of famous London town.

John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear, Though wedded we have been These twice ten tedious years, yet we No holiday have seen.

To-morrow is our wedding day, And we will then repair Unto "the Bell" at Edmonton, All in a chaise and pair, etc.

(_Along base of design._)

This monument to commemorate the visit of the London and Middles.e.x Archaeological a.s.sociation/ to Edmonton church and parish on the 26th July 1888/ was erected by the President of the Meeting Joshua W.

b.u.t.terworth, F.S.A.

For some years we have been interested in the life and poetry of Mary Pyper, "A Poet of the Poor," and in our "Literary Byways" have told at length the story of her career. We there state, through the exertions of Dr. Rogers in May, 1885, a handsome cross was erected over her remains in Greyfriars' churchyard, Edinburgh, simply bearing her name, "Mary Pyper."

Such was the information we received from a friend whom we induced to see the memorial and give us particulars of it, and to our surprise when we visited her grave in April, 1899, we found on the cross the following inscription, which we presume has been added since its erection:--

By admiring Friends Erected in memory of MARY PYPER, who amidst untoward surroundings cherished her gift as a writer of sacred verse.

Born 25th May, 1795.

She died at Edinburgh, 25th May, 1870.

Let me go! The day is breaking; Morning bursts upon the eye; Death this mortal frame is shaking, But the soul can never die!

The lines are from her poem ent.i.tled "The Christian's View of Death,"

which finds a place in several standard works of poetry. Her best known production is an "Epitaph: A Life," and often attributed incorrectly to German sources. It is as follows:--

"I came at morn--'twas Spring, and smiled, The fields with green were clad; I walked abroad at noon, and lo!

'Twas Summer--I was glad.

I sate me down--'twas Autumn eve, And I with sadness wept; I laid me down at night--and then 'Twas Winter--and I slept."

Among self-taught poets Mary Pyper is ent.i.tled to an honourable place.

Mr. John T. Page furnishes us with the following inscriptions copied from Hogarth's monument in Chiswick churchyard. It was erected, says Mr. Page, in 1771, seven years after his death, and is a tall piece of masonry crowned with a funeral urn. Beneath this, on the side facing the church, are carved in low relief a mask, maul-stick, palette and brushes, a laurel wreath and an open book bearing the t.i.tle of his famous "a.n.a.lysis of Beauty." On the same side, on a small block of Aberdeen granite at the foot of the memorial, is recorded the fact that it was

Restored by WILLIAM HOGARTH, of Aberdeen, in 1856.

It has well stood the "storm and stress" since then, but is now beginning to show signs of the need of another restoration, for, on the east side, over the inscription, the combined armorial bearings of Hogarth and his wife are as nearly as possible obliterated.

The inscriptions are as follows:--

(_N. Side._)

Farewell great Painter of mankind!

Who reach'd the n.o.blest point of Art, Whose _pictur'd Morals_ charm the Mind, And through the Eye correct the Heart.

If _Genius_ fire thee, Reader, stay; If _Nature_ touch thee, drop a Tear; If neither move thee, turn away, For HOGARTH'S honour'd dust lies here.

D. GARRICK.

(_E. Side._)

Here lieth the body of WILLIAM HOGARTH, ESQR., who died October the 26th 1764 aged 67 years MRS. JANE HOGARTH wife of William Hogarth Esqr.

Obit. the 13th of November 1789 aetat 80 years.

(_W. Side._)

Here lieth the Body of MRS. ANNE HOGARTH Sister to WILLIAM HOGARTH ESQR.

She died August the 13th 1771 aged 70 years Also the Body of MARY LEWIS Spinster died 25th March 1808 Aged 88 years.

(_S. Side._)

Here lieth the Body of DAME JUDITH THORNHILL Relict of SR JAMES THORNHILL KNIGHT of Thornhill in the County of Dorset She died November the 12th 1757 aged 84 years.

The lapse of one hundred and thirty years, says Mr. Page, has not served to dim the ardour with which the works of William Hogarth are cherished by the English nation. His "Harlot's Progress" not only served to reconcile his father-in-law, Sir James Thornhill, to the runaway match the plebeian Hogarth had contracted three years before with his daughter, but it is still looked upon as his _chef d'oeuvre_ by many eminent critics; and there is nearly always to be seen a crowd round his "Marriage a la Mode"

in the National Gallery. The virulent contest with Wilkes and Churchill, with which his last days were embittered, has long ago been forgotten, and the name of William Hogarth still lives, and will be popular for all time through his admired series of paintings and engravings, which are prized and h.o.a.rded with an ever-increasing love by their happy possessors.