[List-Cumbria] Carlisle Journal, 20 May 1815 - Letter - Epitaph

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 20 May 1815   (p. 4, col. 1)

 

To the EDITOR of the CARLISLE JOURNAL. 

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MR. EDITOR-In Brampton old church-yard stands a stone in memory of one Margaret RICHARDSON, with the following inscription; the
insertion of which may amuse some of your readers.-It does, indeed, appear to savour a little of irreverance; but if this be a valid
objection, and had been acted upon, neither SWIFT nor STERNE would have continued to live in their works. 

 

          Brampton, May 11, 1815.                                                         L. 

 

                                        EPITAPH. 

 

     Here lie my old limbs-my vexation now ends; 

     I've liv'd much too long for myself and my friends. 

     As for church-yards and grounds which the parsons call holy, 

     'Tis a rank piece of priest-craft, and founded on folly: 

     In short, I despise them;-and as for my soul, 

     Which may mount the last day with my bones from this hole, 

     I think that it really hath nothing to fear 

     From the God of mankind, whom I truly revere. 

     What the next world may be little troubles my pate: 

     If not better than this, I beseech thee, oh fate, 

     When the bodies of millions fly up in a riot, 

     To let the old body of Marg'ret lie quiet. 

 

 

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