Death & Dying

Epitaph in the Chapel-Yard of Langdale, Westmoreland

by William Wordsworth 1770–1850

From Poetical Works, ed. Knight (1896), vol. VIII

Death & Dying

By playful smiles, (alas! too oft
A sad heart’s sunshine) by a soft
And gentle nature, and a free
Yet modest hand of charity,
Through life was OWEN LLOYD endeared
To young and old; and how revered
Had been that pious spirit, a tide
Of humble mourners testified,
When, after pains dispensed to prove
The measure of God’s chastening love,
Here, brought from far, his corse found rest,--
Fulfilment of his own request;--
Urged less for this Yew’s shade, though he
Planted with such fond hope the tree;
Less for the love of stream and rock,
Dear as they were, than that his Flock,
When they no more their Pastor’s voice
Could hear to guide them in their choice
Through good and evil, help might have,
Admonished, from his silent grave,
Of righteousness, of sins forgiven,
For peace on earth and bliss in heaven.

MLA

Wordsworth, William. “Epitaph in the Chapel-Yard of Langdale, Westmoreland.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wordsworth/802/.

Chicago

Wordsworth, William. “Epitaph in the Chapel-Yard of Langdale, Westmoreland.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wordsworth/802/.

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