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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


EPITAPH ON MR. FRANCIS LEE OF THE TEMPLE, GENT. by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643)

Poet Analysis

First Line: NATURE HAVING SEEN THE FATES
Last Line: AND HID IT UNDERNEATH THIS TOMB.
Subject(s): EPITAPHS; LEE, FRANCIS (D. 1637);

NATURE having seen the Fates
Give some births untimely dates,
And cut off those threads before
Half their web was twisted o'er,
Which she chiefly had intended
With just story should be friended,
Underhand she had begun,
From those distaffs half way spun,
To have made a piece to tarry,
As our Edward should, or Harry.
But the fatal Sisters spying
What a fair work she was plying,
Curstly cut it from the loom,
And hid it underneath this tomb.



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