Ben Jonson

Epitaph (ii)

On Salathiel Pavy
A child of Queen Elizabeth's Chapel

WEEP with me, all you that read
        This little story;
And know, for whom a tear you shed
        Death's self is sorry.
'Twas a child that so did thrive
        In grace and feature,
As Heaven and Nature seem'd to strive
        Which own'd the creature.
Years he number'd scarce thirteen
        When Fates turn'd cruel,
Yet three fill'd zodiacs had he been
        The stage's jewel;
And did act (what now we moan)
        Old men so duly,
As sooth the Parcae thought him one,
        He play'd so truly.
So, by error, to his fate
        They all consented;
But, viewing him since, alas, too late!
        They have repented;
And have sought, to give new birth,
        In baths to steep him;
But, being so much too good for earth,
        Heaven vows to keep him.