Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AN EPITAPH ON HIS MOST HONORED FRIEND, RICHARD, EARL OF DORSET, by HENRY KING (1592-1669)


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AN EPITAPH ON HIS MOST HONORED FRIEND, RICHARD, EARL OF DORSET, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Let no profane ignoble foot tread neer
Last Line: And want a mourner at his funeral.
Subject(s): Epitaphs; Sackville, Richard. 3rd Earl Of Dorset


LET no profane ignoble foot tread near
This hallow'd piece of earth; Dorset lies here.
A small sad relique of a noble spirit,
Free as the air, and ample as his merit;
Whose least perfection was large, and great
Enough to make a common man complete.
A soul refin'd and cull'd from many men,
That reconcil'd the sword unto the pen,
Using both well. No proud forgetting Lord,
But mindful of mean names, and of his word.
One that did love for honour, not for ends,
And had the noblest way of making friends
By loving first. One that did know the Court,
Yet understood it better by report
Than practice, for he nothing took from thence
But the king's favour for his recompense.

One for religion, or his country's good,
That valu'd not his fortune, nor his blood.
One high in fair opinion, rich in praise,
And full of all we could have wish'd, but days.

He that is warn'd of this, and shall forbear
To vent a sigh for him, or lend a tear;
May he live long and scorn'd, unpitied fall,
And want a mourner at his funeral.





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