Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


EPITAPH ON MR. JOHN SMYTH, CHAPLAIN TO THE EARL OF PEMBROKE by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643)

Poet Analysis

First Line: KNOW THOU, THAT TREAD'ST ON LEARNED SMYTH INURN'D
Last Line: WE SHALL FALL DOWN, AND SLEEP WITH HIM IN DUST.
Subject(s): CLERGY; EPITAPHS; PRIESTS; RABBIS; MINISTERS; BISHOPS;

KNOW thou, that tread'st on learned Smyth inurn'd,
Man is an hour-glass that is never turn'd;
He is gone through; and we that stay behind
Are in the upper glass, yet unrefin'd.
When we are fit, with him so truly just,
We shall fall down, and sleep with him in dust.



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