Gleanings in Graveyards: A Collection of Curious EpitaphsNorfolk, Horatio Edward
General
Gleanings in Graveyards: A Collection of Curious Epitaphs
Norfolk, Horatio Edward
Epitaphs; Epitaphs -- Great Britain
O holy Jove! my murderers, may they die
A death like mine—my buriers live in joy!
* * * * *
On a Magistrate who had formerly been a Barber.
Here lies Justice;—be this his truest praise:
He wore the wig which once he made,
And learnt to shave both ways.
* * * * *
To the Memory of Nell Batchelour,
The Oxford Pye-woman.
Here into the dust,
The mouldering crust
Of Eleanor Batchelour’s shoven;
Well versed in the arts
Of pyes, custards, and tarts,
And the lucrative skill of the oven.
When she’d lived long enough
She made her last puff—
A puff by her husband much praised;
Now here she does lie,
And makes a dirt-pye,
In hopes that her crust may be raised.
* * * * *
On a Volunteer.
Here lies the gallant Captn King,
He’s finished Life’s review;
No more he’ll stand on either wing,
For now he flies on two.
He was a gallant Volunteer,
But now his Rifle’s rusty;
No more at drill will he appear,
His uniform is dusty.
No more he’ll hear the Bugle’s sound
Till Bugler Angels blow it,
Nor briskly march along the ground,
His body lies below it.
Let’s hope when at the great parade
We all meet in a cluster,
With many another martial blade
He’ll readily pass muster.
Seraphic sabre in his fist,
On heavenly drill reflective,
May he be placed upon the list,
Eternally effective.
* * * * *
On a Sailor.
Written by his messmate.
Here is honest Jack—to the lobsters a prey,
Who lived like a sailor free hearty and gay,
His riggings well fitted, his sides close and tight,
His bread room well furnished, his mainmast upright;
When Death, like a pirate built solely for plunder,
Thus hail’d Jack in a voice loud as thunder,
“Drop your peak my old boy, and your topsails throw back!
For already too long you’ve remain’d on that tack.”
Jack heard the dread call, and without more ado,
His sails flatten’d in and his bark she broach’d to.
* * * * *
Laconic Epitaph.
Snug.
* * * * *
On a Seaman.
My watch perform’d, lo here at rest I lay,
Not to turn out till resurrection day.
* * * * *
Laconic Epitaph on a Sailor.
I caught a feaver—weather plaguey hot,
Was boarded by a Leech—and now am gone to pot.
* * * * *
On an honest Sailor.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account