Here lies Fred, Who was alive, and is dead, Had it been his father, I had much rather; Had it been his brother, Still better than another; Had it been his sister, No one would have missed her; Had it been the whole generation, So much better for the nation; But since 'tis only Fred, Who was alive, and is dead, There's no more to be said. George II. was playing cards when the news of his son's death was brought to him. He turned very pale and said nothing for a minute; then he rose, whispered to Lady Yarmouth, "_Fritz ist todt_," and quitted the room. But he sent that same night a message of condolence to the bereaved widow. [Illustration: FREDERICK, PRINCE OF WALES, FATHER OF QUEEN MATILDA. _From the Painting by J. B. Vanloo at Warwick Castle, by permission of the Earl of Warwick._] The death of her husband was a great blow to Augusta Princess of Wales. Suddenly deprived of the prospect of becoming Queen of England, she found herself, at the age of thirty-two, left a widow with eight young children and expecting shortly to give birth to another. Her situation excited great commiseration, and among the people the dead Prince was generally regretted, for despite his follies he was known to be kindly and humane. Elegies were cried about the streets, and very common exclamations were: "Oh, that it were his brother!" "Oh, that it were the Butcher!" Still it cannot be pretended that Frederick was deeply mourned. A conversation was overheard between two workmen, who were putting up the hatchment over the gate at Leicester House, which fairly voiced the popular sentiment: "He has left a great many small children," said one. "Aye," replied the other, "and what is worse, they belong to our parish." Contrary to expectation the King behaved with great kindness to his daughter-in-law, and a few days after her bereavement paid her a visit in person. He refused the chair of state placed for him, seated himself on the sofa beside the Princess, and at the sight of her sorrow was so much moved as to shed tears. When the Princess Augusta, his eldest granddaughter, came forward to kiss his hand, he took her in his arms and embraced her. To his grandsons the King said: "Be brave boys, be obedient to your mother, and endeavour to do credit to the high station in which you are born". He who had never acted the tender father delighted in playing "the tender grandfather".[7] [7] _Vide_ Horace Walpole's _Reign of George II._