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Poem
November 10, 1768
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
An epitaph mourning the untimely death of a small, mild creature killed in the dark by a cruel murderer who emboweled it, likened to a tiger attacking a child. The poet laments the loss of their 'darling jewel' and urges parents, ladies, wives, and others to sympathize.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
EPITAPH.
Below this turf a being lies
Who was nor faint nor sinner.
Yet
men
such
company do prize,
And
wish them of a larger size,
If hungry, when at dinner.
For as the belly has no ears,
And singing cannot relish,
So hunger drives off other cares,
Man minds not how his fellow fares.
If he himself don't perish.
The breathless corpse which lies below
Met an untimely end,
Yet not from an avowed foe,
Nor yet from one that was not so
Nor, thirdly, from a friend,
For in the dark the murderer cruel
Attack'd the creature mild,
Yea instantly did him embowel,
And robb'd of life my darling jewel,
As tigers would a child.
O all ye parents, far and near,
Who of my loss do read,
With sorrow my afflictions bear,
And, with the sympathising tear,
Show that your hearts can bleed.
Young Ladies, see your charms fled
Wives, see your husbands gone;
Yourselves, old men, see on death's bed
Ye young, perceive your sweethearts dead;
And then, like me, you'll moan.
MAYFIELD,
CALEDONIENSIS:
October 23, 1768.
Below this turf a being lies
Who was nor faint nor sinner.
Yet
men
such
company do prize,
And
wish them of a larger size,
If hungry, when at dinner.
For as the belly has no ears,
And singing cannot relish,
So hunger drives off other cares,
Man minds not how his fellow fares.
If he himself don't perish.
The breathless corpse which lies below
Met an untimely end,
Yet not from an avowed foe,
Nor yet from one that was not so
Nor, thirdly, from a friend,
For in the dark the murderer cruel
Attack'd the creature mild,
Yea instantly did him embowel,
And robb'd of life my darling jewel,
As tigers would a child.
O all ye parents, far and near,
Who of my loss do read,
With sorrow my afflictions bear,
And, with the sympathising tear,
Show that your hearts can bleed.
Young Ladies, see your charms fled
Wives, see your husbands gone;
Yourselves, old men, see on death's bed
Ye young, perceive your sweethearts dead;
And then, like me, you'll moan.
MAYFIELD,
CALEDONIENSIS:
October 23, 1768.
What sub-type of article is it?
Epitaph
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
What keywords are associated?
Epitaph
Small Creature
Murderer
Hunger
Sympathy
Darling Jewel
Untimely End
What entities or persons were involved?
Mayfield, Caledoniensis:
Poem Details
Title
Epitaph.
Author
Mayfield, Caledoniensis:
Subject
On The Death Of A Small Creature
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
Below This Turf A Being Lies
Who Was Nor Faint Nor Sinner.
For In The Dark The Murderer Cruel
Attack'd The Creature Mild,
Yea Instantly Did Him Embowel,
And Robb'd Of Life My Darling Jewel,
As Tigers Would A Child.
O All Ye Parents, Far And Near,
Who Of My Loss Do Read,