Death & Dying
On Sir John Roe
From Epigrams (1616)
Death & Dying
In place of scutcheons that should deck thy herse,
Take better ornaments, my tears and verse.
If any sword could save from Fates', Roe's could;
If any Muse outlive their spight, his can;
If any friends' tears could restore, his would;
If any pious life ere lifted man
To heaven; his hath: O happy state! wherein
We, sad for him, may glory, and not sin.
✦ ✦ ✦
Codex Note
Epigrams, no. 27.
Cite this poem
MLA
Jonson, Ben. “On Sir John Roe.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/jonson/75/.
Chicago
Jonson, Ben. “On Sir John Roe.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/jonson/75/.
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