[Illustration: Tomb of Gower, the Poet.]
Dr. Johnson has dignified Gower with the character of "THE FATHER OF
ENGLISH POETRY"; so that no apology is required for the introduction of
the above memorial in our pages. It stands in the north aisle of the
church of St. Mary Ovrie, or St. Saviour, Southwark; and is one of the
richest monuments within those hallowed walls. The tomb consists of three
Gothic arches, the roof of which springs into several angles. The arches
are richly ornamented with cinnquefoil tracery, roses, and carved work of
exquisite character. Behind these arches are two rows of trefoil niches;
and between them also rises a square column, of the Doric order,
surmounted by carved pinnacles. On the extremity of the arches is placed
richly carved foliage, of a similar character to that which ornaments
the edges of the arches; and in the centre are circles enclosing
quatrefoils. From the bases of the two middle square columns descend
roses, and other foliage; and from the lower extremities of the interior
arches descend cherubim. Within three painted niches, are the figures of
Charity, Mercy, and Pity, round whom are entwined golden scrolls bearing
the following inscriptions:
"_Pour la Pitie Jesu regarde.
Et tiens cest Ami en saufve Garde_."
Jesu! for thy compassion's sake look down,
And guard this soul as if it were thine own.
On the second scroll is written:
"_Oh, bon Jesu! faite Mercy,
Al' Ame dont le Corps gist icy_."
Oh! good Jesu! Mercy shew
To him whose body lies below.
On the third scroll is written:
"_En toy qui es Fitz de Dieu le Pere,
Saufve soit qui gist sours cest Pierre_."
May he who lies beneath this stone,
Be sav'd in thee, God's only son![1]
[1] These translations are somewhat freely made.
Between each of these figures are painted blank trefoil niches; and below
the whole, on a plain tablet, the following inscription:
"Armiger scutum nihil a modo fut tibi tutum,
Reddidit immolutum, morti generali tributum,
Spiritus exutum se gaudeat esse solutum,
Est ubi vistutum, Regnum sive labe statutum."
On the left side:
"Hoc viri
Inter inclytos memorandi
Monumentum sepulchrali,
Restaurari propriis impensis
Parocnia hujus meolæ
Curaverunt
A.D. MDCCXCVIII."
On the right side:
Capellaris {GULIELMO DAY
{ &
{GULIELMO WINCKWORK.
Custodibus {GULIELMO SWAINE
{ &
{DAVIDE DURIE.
Aotante humiblimo Pastore DAVIDE GILSON.