Gleanings in Graveyards Part 31

On a Marine Officer.

Here lies, retired from busy scenes, A first lieutenant of marines, Who lately lived in gay content On board the brave s.h.i.+p _Diligent_.

Now stripped of all his warlike show, And laid in box of elm below, Confined in earth in narrow borders, He rises not till further orders.

BIRSTALL.

This is to the memory of old Amos, Who was, when alive for hunting famous, But now his chases are all o'er, And here he's earthed-of years fourscore.

Upon this stone he's often sat, And tried to read his epitaph; And thou who dost so at this moment, Shalt, ere long, somewhere lie dormant.

ROTHERHAM.

We joined was in mutual love, And so we did remain, Till parted was by G.o.d above, In hopes to meet again.

LEEDS.

Hic jacet sure the fattest man, That Yorks.h.i.+re stingo made; He was a lover-of his can, A clothier by his trade.

His waist did measure three yards round, He weighed almost three hundred pounds; His flesh did weigh full twenty stone- His flesh, I say, he had no bone, At least 'tis said that he had none.

NORTH ALLERTON.

Hic jacet Walter Gun, Some time Landlord of the Sun; Sic transit gloria mundi.

He drank hard upon Friday, That being a high day, Then took to his bed and died upon Sunday.

WADDINGTON.

Wm. Rd. Phelp, a Boatswain of H.M.S. Invincible.

When I was like you, For years not a few, On the ocean I toil'd, On the line I have broil'd, In Greenland I've s.h.i.+ver'd, Now from hards.h.i.+ps deliver'd; Capsized by old Death, I surrendered my breath, And now I lay snug, As a bug in a rug.

LEEDS.

Here lies my wife, Here lies she; Hallelujah, Hallelujee.

RICHMOND.

Here lies the body of William Wix, One Thousand, Seven Hundred & Sixty Six.

Wales.

Carmarthens.h.i.+re.

CARMARTHEN.

A hopeful youth, and well beloved, Has to the earth his body bequeathed.

Carnarvons.h.i.+re.

ABERCONWAY.

Here lieth the body of Nicholas Hooker, of Conway, Gent.

Who was the one and fortieth child of William Hooker, Esq.by Alice his wife, and the father of twenty-seven children.

He died on the 20th day of March, 1637.

CARNARVON.

Dust from dust at first was taken,- Dust by dust is now forsaken; Dust in dust shall still remain, Till dust from dust shall rise again.

Denbighs.h.i.+re.

WREXHAM.