Epitaph for Maria Wentworth

Read 'Epitaph for Maria Wentworth' by 'Thomas Carew' and provide your summary and literary analysis in the comments section below.

Epitaph for Maria Wentworth by Thomas Carew

 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.

Form: Tercet

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