Epitaph On My Ever Honoured Father
by
O ye whose cheek the tear of pity stains,
Draw near with pious rev’rence, and attend!
Here lie the loving husband’s dear remains,
The tender father, and the gen’rous friend;
The pitying heart that felt for human woe,
The dauntless heart that fear’d no human pride;
The friend of man–to vice alone a foe;
For “ev’n his failings lean’d to virtue’s side.”[1]
[Footnote 1: Goldsmith.–R.B.]