To him, whose loyal, brave, and gentle heart, Fulfilled the hero's and the patriot's part, -- Whose charity, like that which Paul enjoined, Was warm, beneficent, and unconfined, -- This stone is reared: to public duty true, The seaman's friend, the father of his crew; Mild in reproof, sagacious in command, He spread fraternal zeal throughout his band, And led each arm to act, each heart to feel, What British valor owes to Britain's weal. These were his public virtues; -- but to trace His private life's fair purity and grace, To paint the traits that drew affection strong From friends, an ample and an ardent throng, And, more, to speak his memory's grateful claim On her who mourns him most, and bears his name- O'ercomes the trembling hand of widowed grief, O'ercomes the heart, unconscious of relief, Save in religion's high and holy trust, Whilst placing their memorial o'er his dust. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE COCK AND THE BULL by CHARLES STUART CALVERLEY A THANKSGIVING TO GOD [FOR HIS HOUSE] by ROBERT HERRICK REVELATION by ROBERT PENN WARREN TO CHLOE by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS LESBIA'S COMPLAINT AGAINST THYRISIS HIS INCONSTANCY; A SONNET by PHILIP AYRES VERSES TO HER WHO IS JUSTLY ENTITLED TO THEM by BERNARD BARTON OFF BARNEGAT by ETHEL LYNN BEERS EPITAPH ON MR. TURNER OF ST. MARY-HALL by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) |