One of my favourite epitaphs is in the form of a poem, and you can find it in Westminster Abbey. It’s on the tomb of John Gay, the playwright whose most famous work is The Beggar’s Opera, poet and wit, who died in 1732. His friend and fellow poet Alexander Pope wrote the following to go on the tomb:
On Mr Gay by Alexander Pope
Of manners gentle, of affections mild;
In wit, a man; simplicity, a child:
With native humour tempering virtuous rage,
Form’d to delight at once and lash the age:
Above temptation in a low estate,
And uncorrupted, even among the great:
A safe companion, and an easy friend,
Unblamed through life, lamented in thy end.
These are thy honours! not that here thy bust
Is mix’d with heroes, or with kings thy dust;
But that the worthy and the good shall say,
Striking their pensive bosoms-Here lies Gay.
The poem is followed by an inscription written by Gay himself:
“Life is a jest; and all things show it,
I thought so once; but now I know it.”
Gay’s funeral was a lavish affair and Alexander Pope was one of the pall bearers. The monument, you can see a great photo here, is an impressive one and was paid for by his friends the Duke and Duchess of Queensberry.
It’s quite something to have a poetic epitaph written by one of the greatest poets of the 18th century (Pope is best remembered today for his marvellously satirical The Rape of the Lock), and Pope has nothing but good to say of his departed friend. John Gay sounds a paragon of all the virtues.
Do you share my enjoyment of this poem? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.
Comments are moderated, and will not appear until approved.
[DISPLAY_ULTIMATE_PLUS]