Original - Duke Divinity School

On the Death of ----- 109
Here lies a Dicer, 110 long in doubt
If Death could kill the Soul or not.
Here ends his Doubtfulness at last
Convinced; But O! the Die is Cast!
On the Duke of Gloucester’s Death 111
Lest he with Burning’s faith should be endued
Or learn from Churchill Truth and Gratitude,
Kind Heaven did well its timely force employ,
And to preserve the Man, Destroy’d the Boy!
[Another epitaph] 112
Upon this Marble drop a Tear;
Here lies Fair Rosalind:
All Mankind was pleased with Her,
And She with all Mankind.
[The Tomb of Euphemius] 113
A blooming youth lies buried here,
Euphemius, to his Country Dear.
Nature adorn’d his Mind and Face
With every Muse, and every Grace;
About the Marriage State to prove,
But Death had quicker Wings than Love.
109 Samuel Wesley Jr., ms; cf. “Epitaph on a Gamester and Free Thinker,” Poems on Several Occasions
(London: S. Birt, 1736), 92. John quotes the form above in Sermon 115, “Dives and Lazarus,” II.8, Works 4:15; and
in Earnest Appeal, §65, Works 11:72.
110 Published version of Samuel Jr.: “Here lies a Skeptick ...”
111Not in Poems (1862), so not surviving in manuscript, but likely also by Samuel Jr. On William, Duke of
Gloucester (1689–1700); mentioning John Churchill (1650–1722).
112Cf. William Oldys, ed., A Collection of Epigrams (London: J. Walthoe, 1727), #170; original by Mary
Monk in Marinda (London: J. Tonson, 1716), 125.
113 Samuel Wesley Jr., ms; cf. Poems (1862), 650.
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