Through cloth and wood and metal to his prey, That prey dissolving shall a mass remain, That fancy loathes and worms themselves disdain. But see! the master-mourner makes his way, To end his office for the coffin'd clay; Pleased that our rustic men and maids behold His plate like silver, and his studs like gold, As they approach to spell the age, the name, And all the titles of th' illustrious dame.-- This as (my duty done) some scholar read, 300 A village-father look'd disdain and said: "Away, my friends! why take such pains to know What some brave marble soon in church shall show? Where not alone her gracious name shall stand, But how she lived--the blessing of the land; How much we all deplored the noble dead, What groans we utter'd and what tears we shed; Tears, true as those, which in the sleepy eyes Of weeping cherubs on the stone shall rise; Tears, true as those, which, ere she found her grave, 310 The noble Lady to our sorrows gave." Down by the church-way walk, and where the brook Winds round the chancel like a shepherd's crook, In that small house, with those green pales before, Where jasmine trails on either side the door; Where those dark shrubs that now grow wild at will, Were clipp'd in form and tantalized with skill; Where cockles blanch'd and pebbles neatly spread, Form'd shining borders for the larkspurs' bed-- There lived a Lady, wise, austere, and nice, 320 Who show'd her virtue by her scorn of vice. In the dear fashions of her youth she dress'd, A pea-green Joseph was her favourite vest; Erect she stood, she walk'd with stately mien, Tight was her length of stays, and she was tall and lean. There long she lived in maiden-state immured, From looks of love and treacherous man secured; Though evil fame (but that was long before) Had blown her dubious blast at Catherine's door. A Captain thither, rich from India, came, 330 And though a cousin call'd, it touch'd her fame: Her annual stipend rose from his behest, And all the long-prized treasures she possess'd:-- If aught like joy awhile appear'd to stay In that stern face, and chase those frowns away, 'Twas when her treasures she disposed for view, And heard the praises to their splendour due; Silks beyond price, so rich, they'd stand alone, And diamonds blazing on the buckled zone; Rows of rare pearls by curious workmen set, 340 And bracelets fair in box of glossy jet; Bright polish'd amber precious from its size, Or forms the fairest fancy could devise. Her drawers of cedar, shut with secret springs, Conceal'd the watch of gold and rubied rings; Letters, long proofs of love, and verses fine Round the pink'd rims of crisped Valentine. Her china-closet, cause of daily care, For woman's wonder held her pencill'd ware;