Ben Jonson(1572–1637)
On My First Daughter
H e r e lies, to e a c h h e r parents' ruth,sorrow
Mary, t h e d a u g h t e r o f their y o u t h ;
Yet all h e a v e n ' s gifts b e i n g h e a v e n ' s d u e ,
It m a k e s t h e f a t h e r l e s s to rue.
At six months' end she parted hence
W i t h safety o f h e r i n n o c e n c e ;
Whose soul heaven's queen, whose name she bears,
In comfort of her mother's tears,
H a t h p l a c e d a m o n g s t h e r virgin-train:2
Where, while that severed doth remain, 3
T h i s grave partakes t h e f l e s h l y birth;
W h i c h c o v e r lightly, g e n t l e earth!