An Elegy on the Earl of Sandwich

If there were aught in Verse at once could raise
Or tender pity or immortal praise,
Thine obsequies, brave Sandwich, would require
Whatever would our nobler thoughts inspire;
But since thou find'st by thy unhappy fate,
What 'tis to be unfortunately great,
And purchase Honour at too dear a rate:
The Muse's best attempt, howe'er design'd,
Cannot but prove impertinently kind,
Thy glorious valour is a theme too high
For all the humble arts of Poesy.
To side with chance and kingdoms overrun
Are little things ambitious men have done;
But on a flaming ship thus to despise
That life, which others did so highly prize;
To fight with fire, and struggle with a wave,
And Neptune with unwearied arms outbrave,
Are deeds surpassing fab'lous chronicle,
And which no future age shall parallel;
Leviathan himself's outdone by thee,
Thou greater wonder of the deep, than he:
Nor could the deep thy mighty ashes hold.
The deep that swallows diamonds and gold;
Fame ev'n thy sacred relics does pursue,
Richer than all the treasures of Peru:
While the kind sea thy breathless body brings
Safe to the bed of honour and of kings.