Ben Jonson


                On My First Daughter

Here lies, to each her parents' ruth,
        Mary, the daughter of their youth;
Yet all heaven's gifts being heaven's due,
        It makes the father less to rue.
At six months' end, she parted hence
        With safety of her innocence;
Whose soul heaven's queen, whose name she bears,
        In comfort of her mother's tears,
Hath placed amongst her virgin-train:
        Where, while that severed doth remain,
This grave partakes the fleshly birth;
        Which cover lightly, gentle earth!

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