Gleanings in Graveyards Part 27

THURLOW.

Here she lies, a pretty bud, Lately made of flesh and blood; Who as soon fell fast asleep As her little eyes did peep.

Give her strewings, but not stir The earth that lightly covers her.

LAVENHAM.

Quod fuit esse quod est, quod non fuit esse quod esse.

Esse quod est non esse, quod est non erit esse.

Translation.

What John Giles has been, Is what he is (a batchelor); What he has not been, Is what he is (a corpse); To be what he is Is not to be (a living creature).

He will not have to be What he is not (dust).

BURY.

Here lies Jane Kitchen, who, when her gla.s.s was spent, Kickt up her heels, and away she went.

Surrey.

BERMONDSEY.

William Palin.

Silent grave, to thee I trust This precious pearl of worthy dust.

Keep it safe, O sacred tomb!

Until a wife shall ask for room.

WALWORTH.

Here lies the wife of Roger Martin, She was a good wife to Roger-that's sartain.

OCKHAM.

The Lord saw good, I was topping off wood, And down fell from the tree; I met with a check, and I broke my blessed neck, And so Death topped off me.

WIMBLEDON.

Sweet Saviour, Jesus, give me wings Of Peace and perfect Love, As I may move from Earthly Things, To rest with thee above.

For sins and Sorrows overflow All earthly things so High, That I can't find no rest below, Till up to thee I fly.

THAMES DITTON.

In memory of Mr. Wm Mach.e.l.l, who departed this life Oct. 10, 1808.

Aged 88 years.

Whilst in this world I remained, my life was A pleasure and health and gain. But now G.o.d thought best to take me to his everlasting rest, And I thank G.o.d for it.

STREATHAM.

On the South Wall of this Church is the following remarkable Inscription:-Elizabeth, wife of Major-Genl Hamilton, who was married 47 years, and never did ONE thing to disoblige her Husband.

BATTERSEA.

Sir Edward Court.

"Alone, unarm'd, a tiger he oppress'd, And crush'd to death the monster of a beast: Thrice twenty mounted Moors he overthrew Singly on foot, some wounded, some he slew, Disperst the rest; what more could Sampson do?"

NOTE.-This is only part of the inscription, which relates that, being attacked in the woods by a tiger, he placed himself on the side of a pond, and when the tiger flew at him, he caught him in his arms, fell back with him into the water, got upon him, and kept him down till he had drowned him.

GUILDFORD.

Reader, pa.s.s on, ne'er waste your time On bad biography and bitter rhyme; For what I am, this c.u.mb'rous clay insures, And what I was, is no affair of yours.