“In his Abundance all appear’d t’ abound; “Liberal and rich, a plenteous Board he spread, “Ev’n cool Dissenters at his Table fed; “Who wish’d,--and hop’d,--and thought a Man so kind, “A Way to Heaven, though not their own, might find; “To them, to all, he was polite and free, “Kind to the Poor, and, ah! most kind to me:-- “‘_Ralph_,’ would he say, ‘_Ralph Dibble_, thou art old; “‘That Doublet fit, ’twill keep thee from the Cold: “‘How does my Sexton?--What! the Times are hard; “‘Drive that stout Pig and pen him in thy Yard.’ “But most, his Reverence lov’d a mirthful Jest;-- “‘Thy Coat is thin; why, Man, thou’rt _barely_ drest; “‘It’s worn to th’ Thread! but I have nappy Beer; “‘Clap that within and see how they will wear.’ “Gay Days were these; but they were quickly past: “When first he came, we found he cou’dn’t last: “An whoreson Cough (and at the Fall of Leaf) “Upset him quite:--but what’s the Gain of Grief? “Then came the _Author-Rector_; his Delight “Was all in Books; to read them, or to write: “Women and Men, he strove alike to shun, “And hurried homeward, when his Tasks were done; “Courteous enough, but careless what he said, “For Points of Learning he reserv’d his Head; “And when addressing either Poor or Rich, “He knew no better than his Cassock which: “He, like an Osier, was of pliant kind, “Erect by Nature, but to bend inclin’d; “Not like a Creeper falling to the ground, “Or meanly catching on the Neighbours round;-- “Careless was he of Surplice, Hood, and Band,-- “And kindly took them as they came to hand; “Nor, like the Doctor, wore a World of Hat, “As if he sought for Dignity in that: “He talk’d, he gave, but not with cautious Rules: “Nor turn’d from Gypsies, Vagabonds, or Fools; “It was his Nature, but they thought it Whim, “And so our Beaux and Beauties turn’d from him: “Of Questions, much he wrote, profound and dark,-- “How spake the Serpent, and where stopp’d the Ark; “From what far Land the Queen of Sheba came; “Who Salem’s Priest and what his Father’s Name; “He made the Song of Songs its Mysteries yield, “And Revelations to the Word, reveal’d. “He sleeps i’ the Aisle,--but not a Stone records “His Name or Fame, his Actions or his Words:---- “And truth, your Reverence, when I look around, “And mark the Tombs in our Sepulchral Ground, “(Though dare I not of one Man’s Hope to doubt,) “I’d join the Party who repose without. “Next came a _Youth_ from _Cambridge_, and, in truth, “He was a sober and a comely Youth; “He blush’d in Meekness as a modest Man, “And gain’d Attention ere his Task began; “When preaching, seldom ventur’d on Reproof, “But touch’d his Neighbours tenderly enough. “Him, in his youth, a clamorous Sect assail’d, “Advis’d and censur’d, flatter’d,--and prevail’d.--