The Last Words (Real and Traditional) of Distinguished Men and WomenMarvin, Frederic Rowland
History
The Last Words (Real and Traditional) of Distinguished Men and Women
Marvin, Frederic Rowland
Last words
Dante Gabriel Rossetti is buried near the waves of his beloved German
Ocean in the churchyard of Birchington, a small village on the Isle of
Thanet. He died in 1882 at his bungalow, on a cliff near by, and his
grave is marked by a tall Celtic cross of stone, carved with designs by
Ford Madox Brown. The head and arms of the cross are decorated with a
spray ending in leaves, and two leafy branches right and left. The shaft
has four panels, with reliefs. The upper compartment has a figure of
Christ, fronting, and two figures right and left in profile. The panel
below has a kneeling bull, with wings, to represent the Evangelist.
Below that is a kneeling painter, with canvas and easel before him and
his palette on his arm. The lowest panel is filled with a decorative
scroll. There is a stained-glass window to his memory in the little
church.
ROUSSEAU (Jean Jacques, the famous author of "La Nouvelle Heloise,"
"Emile," "Du Contrat Social" and "Confessions"), 1712-1778. "_Throw up
the window that I may see once more the magnificent scene of nature._"
RUTHERFORD (Rev. Samuel), 1695-1779. "_If he should slay me ten thousand
times, ten thousand times I'll trust him. I feel, I feel, I believe in
joy, and rejoice; I feed on manna. O for arms to embrace him! O for a
well-tuned harp!_"
RUTHERFORD (Rev. Thomas), 1712-1771. "_He has indeed been a precious
Christ to me; and now I feel him to be my rock, my strength, my rest, my
hope, my joy, my all in all._"
SABATIER (Raphael Bienvenu, French surgeon), 1732-1811. "_Contemplate
the state in which I am fallen, and learn to die_," said to his son.
He was ashamed of his bodily infirmities and of his approaching
mortality.
SAMSON (one of the judges of Israel, of the tribe of Dan, and the son of
Manoah), about B. C. 1155. "_Let me die with the Philistines._" After
performing several wonderful deeds of strength, he was made prisoner,
and deprived of sight by the Philistines, a great number of whom he
subsequently destroyed, along with himself, by pulling down the temple
in which they were assembled.
_See Judges, xvi._
SAND ("George," pseudonym of Madame Dudevant), 1804-1876. "_Laissez la
verdure_"--meaning, "Leave the tomb green, do not cover it over with
bricks or stone."
SANDERSON (Robert, English prelate, chaplain to Charles I., and later
Bishop of London), 1587-1663. "_My heart is fixed, O God! my heart is
fixed where true joy is to be found._"
SARPI (Fra Paolo, author of "History of the Council of Trent," and
opponent of the doctrine of the infallibility of the Pope), 1552-1623.
"_Be thou everlasting._" These words were spoken in reference to his
country, Venice.
SAUNDERS (Lawrence, suffered martyrdom during the reign of Queen Mary).
"_Welcome the cross of Christ, welcome everlasting life._"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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