Death & Dying

On Charles Earl of Dorset, in the Church of Withyam, in Sussex

by Alexander Pope 1688–1744

From Epitaphs

Death & Dying

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.

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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