Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ON THE DEATH OF MR. JORDAN, MASTER AT WESTMINSTER SCHOOL, by ABRAHAM COWLEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Hence, and make room for me, all you who come Last Line: For what I ow'd his life, I'll pay his grave. Subject(s): Teaching & Teachers; Educators; Professors | ||||||||
HEnce, and make room for me, all you who come Onely to read the Epitaph on this Tombe. Here lies the Master of my tender Years, The Guardian of my Parents' Hope and Fears; Whose Government ne're stood me in a Teare; All weeping was reserved to spend it here. Come hither, all who his rare virtues knew, And mourn with Me; he was your Tutor too. Let's joyn our Sighes, 'till they fly far, and shew His native Belgia what she's now to doe. The League of grief bids her with us lament; By her he was brought forth, and hither sent In payment of all Men we there had lost, And all the English Blood those wars have cost. Wisely did Nature this learn'd Man divide; His Birth was Theirs, his Death the mournful pride Of England; and t' avoid the envious strife Of other Lands, all Europe had his Life, But we in chief; our Countrey soon was grown A Debter more to Him, then He t' his Own. He pluckt from youth the follies and the crimes, And built up Men against the future times. For deeds of Age are in their Causes then, And though he taught but Boys, he made the Men. Hence 'twas, a Master in those ancient dayes, When Men sought Knowledge first, and by it Praise, Was a thing full of Reverence, Profit, Fame; Father it self was but a Second Name. He scorn'd the profit; his Instructions all Were like the Science, Free and Liberal. He deserv'd Honors, but despised them too As much as those who have them, others do. He knew not that which Complement they call; Could Flatter none, but Himself least of all. So true, so faithful, and so just, as he Was nought on Earth, but his own Memorie. His Memory, where all things written were As sure and fixt as in Fate's Books they are. Thus he in Arts so vast a treasure gain'd, Whilst still the Use came in, and Stock remain'd. And having purchas'd all that man can know, He labor'd with't to enrich others now. Did thus a new and harder task sustain, Like those that work in Mines for others' gain. He, though more nobly, had much more to do; To search the Vein, dig, purge, and mint it too. Though my Excuse would be, I must confess, Much better, had his Diligence been less. But if a Muse hereafter smile on me, And say, Be thou a Poet, Men shall see That none could a more grateful Scholar have; For what I ow'd his Life, I'll pay his Grave. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CORRESPONDENCE-SCHOOL INSTRUCTOR SAYS GOODBYE TO HIS POETRY STUDENTS by GALWAY KINNELL GRATITUDE TO OLD TEACHERS by ROBERT BLY TWO RAMAGES FOR OLD MASTERS by ROBERT BLY ON FLUNKING A NICE BOY OUT OF SCHOOL by JOHN CIARDI HER MONOLOGUE OF DARK CREPE WITH EDGES OF LIGHT by NORMAN DUBIE OF POLITICS, & ART by NORMAN DUBIE SEVERAL MEASURES FOR THE LITTLE LOST by NORMAN DUBIE |
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