Submit a Poem
Get Your Premium Membership
spacer
Pinterest button


Photo of Thomas Carew

Carew, Thomas

Thomas Carew was in the 'Cavalier' group of Caroline poets whose inspiration was entirely secular.. English Cavalier poet

Email Poem - Epitaph for Maria WentworthEmail Poem

Epitaph for Maria Wentworth

 And here the precious dust is laid; 
Whose purely-temper'd clay was made 
So fine that it the guest betray'd. 

Else the soul grew so fast within, 
It broke the outward shell of sin, 
And so was hatch'd a cherubin. 

In height, it soar'd to God above; 
In depth, it did to knowledge move, 
And spread in breadth to general love. 

Before, a pious duty shin'd 
To parents, courtesy behind; 
On either side an equal mind. 

Good to the poor, to kindred dear, 
To servants kind, to friendship clear, 
To nothing but herself severe. 

So, though a virgin, yet a bride 
To ev'ry grace, she justified 
A chaste polygamy, and died. 

Learn from hence, reader, what small trust 
We owe this world, where virtue must, 
Frail as our flesh, crumble to dust.



Comments