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
"I have made Severn's acquaintance. He is a very fine fellow, and I like
him amazingly. My only introduction to him was our common admiration of
Keats, whose memory he cherishes most affectionately, and of whom he is
never tired of speaking when he finds one who listens with gladness. I
sat in his studio for hours while he painted a design which Keats
suggested to him, and all the while he was telling me particulars of his
last days. His sufferings were terrible and prolonged. Shelley and Hunt
had deprived him of his belief in Christianity, which he wanted in the
end, and he endeavored to fight back to it, saying if Severn would get
him a Jeremy Taylor he thought he could believe; but it was not to be
found in Rome. Another time (which is to me peculiarly painful, though
it shows at the same time how little way he had proceeded in a
particular line of thought), having been betrayed into considerable
impatience by bodily and mental anguish, he cried, on recovering
himself, 'By God, Severn, a man ought to have some superstition, that he
may die decently.'"
KEN (Thomas, Bishop of Bath and Wells, author of several volumes of
sermons and of some very beautiful hymns, among which is the famous
Doxology. "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow"--the Protestant
"_Te Deum laudamus_"), 1637-1711. "_God's will be done._"
Bishop Ken was one of the seven bishops committed to the Tower for
disobedience by James II., but proved his loyalty by refusing to take
the oaths to William and Mary, and was therefore deprived of his
bishopric. He was a man of devoted piety, expansive benevolence, and
great tenderness of spirit.--_Allibone._
KING (Thomas Star, Unitarian clergyman), 1824-1864. "_Dear little
fellow--he is a beautiful boy._" This he said of his little son who had
been brought in to see him.
KINGSLEY (Charles, clergyman, novelist, and poet), 1819-1875. "_Thou
knowest, O Lord, the secrets of our hearts; shut not Thy merciful ears
to our prayer, but spare us, O Lord most holy, O God most mighty, O holy
and merciful Saviour, Thou most worthy Judge Eternal, suffer us not at
our last hour, from any pains of death, to fall from Thee._"--_Episcopal
"Burial Service."_
In the night he was heard murmuring, "No more fighting: no more
fighting." Then followed intense earnest prayers, which were his habit
when alone. His warfare was accomplished; he had fought the good fight;
and, on one of his last nights on earth, his daughter heard him exclaim,
"How beautiful God is!" The last morning, at five o'clock, just after
his eldest daughter and his physician, who had sat up all night, had
left him, and he thought himself alone, he was heard, in a clear voice,
repeating the Burial Service. He turned on his side after this, and
never spoke again.
_"Letters and Memoirs of Charles Kingsley," by his wife._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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