"Honneur au GENERAL FOY.
Il se repose de ses travaux,
Et ses oeuvres le suivent.
Hier quand de ses jours la source fut tarie,
La France, en le voyant sur sa couche entendu,
Implorait un accent de cette voix cherie.
Helas! au cri plaintif jeté par la nature,
C'est la premiere fois qu'il ne pas repondu"
The following is said to have been written by "rare Ben Jonson," and has
been much admired:--
"Underneath this stone doth lie
As much virtue as could die;
Which, when alive, did vigour give
To as much beauty as could live."
To these could be added several others, but at present we shall content
ourselves with quoting the two following, as specimens of the satirical
or ludicrous:--
_Prior, on himself, ridiculing the folly of
those who value themselves on their
pedigree_.
"Nobles and heralds, by your leave,
Here lie the bones of Matthew Prior,
The son of Adam and Eve,
Let Bourbon or Nassau go higher."
* * * * *
"Here, fast asleep, full six feet deep,
And seventy summers ripe,
George Thomas lies in hopes to rise,
And smoke another pipe."