Death & Dying
On Charles Earl of Dorset, in the Church of Withyam, in Sussex
From Epitaphs
Dorset, the grace of courts, the Muses' pride,
Patron of arts, and judge of nature, died.
The scourge of pride, though sanctified or great,
Of fops in learning, and of knaves in state:
Yet soft his nature, though severe his lay,
His anger moral, and his wisdom gay.
Bless'd satirist! who touch'd the mean so true,
As show'd vice had his hate and pity too.
Blest courtier! who could king and country please,
Yet sacred keep his friendships, and his ease.
Blest peer! his great forefathers' every grace
Reflecting, and reflected in his race;
Where other Buckhursts, other Dorsets shine,
And patriots still, or poets, deck the line.
Cite this poem
MLA
Pope, Alexander. “On Charles Earl of Dorset, in the Church of Withyam, in Sussex.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/pope/37/.
Chicago
Pope, Alexander. “On Charles Earl of Dorset, in the Church of Withyam, in Sussex.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/pope/37/.
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