Of A

FAIR MAIDEN LADY,

WHO DIED AT BATH,

AND IS THERE INTERRED.

This lady lies buried in the Abbey-Church at Bath. The lines are accompanied by the following inscription upon a monument of white marble: "Here lies the body of Mary, third daughter of Richard Frampton of Moreton, in Dorsetshire, Esq. and of Jane his wife, sole daughter of Sir Francis Cothington of Founthill, in Wilts, who was born January 1, 1676, and died, after seven weeks illness, on the 6th of September, 1698.

"This monument was erected by Catharine Frampton, her second sister and executrix, in testimony of her grief, affection, and gratitude."

Below this marble monument is laid All that heaven wants of this celestial maid. Preserve, O sacred tomb, thy trust consigned; The mold was made on purpose for the mind: And she would lose, if, at the latter day, One atom could be mixed of other clay; Such were the features of her heavenly face, Her limbs were formed with such harmonious grace: So faultless was the frame, as if the whole Had been an emanation of the soul; Which her own inward symmetry revealed, And like a picture shone, in glass annealed; Or like the sun eclipsed, with shaded light; Too piercing, else, to be sustained by sight. Each thought was visible that rolled within; As through a crystal case the figured hours are seen. And heaven did this transparent veil provide, Because she had no guilty thought to hide. All white, a virgin-saint, she sought the skies, For marriage, though it sullies not, it dyes. High though her wit, yet humble was her mind; } As if she could not, or she would not find } How much her worth transcended all her kind. } Yet she had learned so much of heaven below, That when arrived, she scarce had more to know; But only to refresh the former hint, And read her Maker in a fairer print. So pious, as she had no time to spare For human thoughts, but was confined to prayer; Yet in such charities she passed the day, 'Twas wondrous how she found an hour to pray. A soul so calm, it knew not ebbs or flows, Which passion could but curl, not discompose. A female softness, with a manly mind; } A daughter duteous, and a sister kind; } In sickness patient, and in death resigned. }