An elegie on that incomparable example of hospitality, charity, and generosity, the thrice-worthy William Whitmore, Esq; who departed this life on the fifth of this instant August, 1678.

An elegie on that incomparable example of hospitality, charity, and generosity, the thrice-worthy William Whitmore, Esq; who departed this life on the fifth of this instant August, 1678.

Table of contents

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As, An EPITAPH.

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§

[Page]

MEMENTO MORI

An ELEGIE On that Incomparable Example of Hospitality, Charity, and Generosity, The Thrice-Worthy WILLIAM WHITMORE, Esq Who departed this Life on the Fifth of this Instant August, 1678.

GReat WHITMORE! though I never drank thy Wine,

Nor crowded at thy Liberal Board to Dine,

Yet give me leave, with an unbribed Verse,

To pay just Tribute to thy Honour'd Herse.

Ungrateful WITS! could you so often steal,

By Mumping Vistts, a Recruiting Meal

At his free Table, and yet when he Dies,

Not Celebrate aloud his Obsequies?

Now I find how our Poets Fancies beat;

They onely Write, whilst they know where to Eat.

The Belly helps the Brain: When WHITMORE's gone,

Apollo's Bankrupt; farewel, Helicon.

But I that never yet stoop'd to a Trencher,

Flatter'd a Grandee nor pimp'd for a Wencher,

(Those thriving Arts) must, though with weak Essays,

Here sacrifice an Hecatomb of Praise,

To let our dull Degenerous Gentry know

How much they to this Great Example owe.

Whilst others waste Estates in wild Deboch,

And cramp the Mannor-house to a guilt Coach;

Turn out of doors their useless Kitchins, and

Make Servants, Horses-like, at Livery stand;

Though little Miss, 'tis fear'd, devours them more

Than Twelve tall Blue-coats did their Syres before.

This Generous Soul those Sneaking Arts disdain'd,

And Exil'd Bounty only with him raign'd.

His Noble Hall kept a continual Feast,

And all the Thronging Town became its Guest.

Such vast Provisions in each day were laid,

Pin'd Cities, whom ambitious Arms invade,

One Meal of his Impregnable had made.

His Charity so Great, the joyful Poor

Were ne'r sent empty from his well-known Door

With Misers Pity, or with Nabals Frown,

Which now, alas! our General Alms are grown.

If any do their Bread on Waters cast,

Repining Judas cries, Why all this wast?

Or makes them chuse (with subtle hopes of Gain)

Quick Tiding-streams, may bring it back again.

Our Mountebanks of Zeal cheap Notions nurse,

And love that Piety that saves the Purse.

Good Works they count too Chargeable a Theam;

But He strove with true Goodness to Redeem

Vertue to Action, that Life-feeding Flame

That keeps Religion warm; not swell a Name

Of Faith, A Mountain word, oft made of Air,

And those dear Spoils that wont to dress the Fair

And fruitful Charities full Breasts (of old)

Turning her out to tremble in the Cold.

"What can the Poor hope from us, when we be

"Ʋncharitable ev'n to Charity?

Their Wants proclaim his Loss; and now he's gone,

Let no rude Hand presume his Sacred Stone

For to profane with Cheap Inscription:

For we will shed the Tribute of our Tears

So long, till the relenting Marble wears;

Which shall such order in their Cadence keep,

That they a Native Epitaph shall weep,

Until each Letter spelt distinctly lies

Cut by the mystick Droppings of our Eyes;

Till then, for the Worlds sake, rather than Thine,

Let these few Lines be Sacred to thy Shrine,

As, An EPITAPH.

HEre, Reader, lies a pretious Trust

Of Good and Charitable Dust:

A Casket Heavens Choice hath been,

To treasure its Dispencer in:

One who its Blessings did convey

With wide-spread Hands a noble way:

Whose Board stood free to Entertain

Guests, though they could not Bid again.

Here, in a word, Entomb'd doth lie

Th'old English Hospitalitie,

Now doubly dead, and which we fear

Will scarce again this Age appear;

Unless you, Sirs, thus taught to live,

Him back, in his Example, give.

Mean time let each Mouth he hath fed

Joyn in Applauses of the Dead;

Till like Himself his Fame shall be

Vested with Immortality.

FINIS.

§

§

With Allowance.

§

§

LONDON: Printed for L. C. 1678.

Information about this book

Title statement

An elegie on that incomparable example of hospitality, charity, and generosity, the thrice-worthy William Whitmore, Esq; who departed this life on the fifth of this instant August, 1678.

Edition statement

1678

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2009-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

B03162

ID [OCLC]

15614170

ID [STC]

Wing E365

ID [STC]

Interim Tract Supplement Guide C.20.f.3[159]

ID [STC]

ESTC R36177

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99890174

ID [PROQUEST]

ocm99890174

ID [VID]

182643

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Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. B03162)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 182643)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books; Tract supplement ; A4:1[159])

Source

— An elegie on that incomparable example of hospitality, charity, and generosity, the thrice-worthy William Whitmore, Esq; who departed this life on the fifth of this instant August, 1678.,

Extent

1 sheet ([1] p.).

Printed for L.C.,. London: :: 1678.. (Verse: "GReat Whitmore! though I never drank thy Wine ...") ("With allowance.") (Within mourning borders, with emblems and motto.) (Reproduction of original in the British Library.)

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