An Epitaph upon the death of Richard Price
Esquier (the second sonne of Sir John Price Knight, deceased) which Richard
left this life the fifth day of Januarie, 1586.
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MY sorrow doth suppresse my
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memorie,
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My griefe eke grieves my
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hart, and all my powres,
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My teares do pierce my pa-
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per thorowlie,
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My Muse me failes, my wo
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my wit devoures,
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So as amasd I sit devoid of might,
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In verse, or prose, my meaning to indight.
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Of princely jewels, precious are the price,
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Of gold the gaine who wisheth not to have,
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Of house and land, and all by land that rise,
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Of all for life, who seeketh not to save:
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But when I weigh the depth of mine intent,
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A Price to prayse, I cannot but lament.
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A Price for gentle bloud, of price he was,
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A Price well taught in youth to live in age,
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A Price so fraught with vertues that surpasse,
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A Price though yong in yeeres, in wisedom sage:
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A precious Price, as Wales did ever yeeld,
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A Price of peace in towne, yet fierce in field.
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His vertues rare, his wisedom so profound.
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His learned skill, his curtesie so seene,
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His bountie great in house did so abound,
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His travell such for Countrey, and for Queene,
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Made him beloved, and for his friendship fast,
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So famously, as evermore shall last.
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He lived no doubt with well contented mind,
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He lived upright, just both in word and deed,
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He lived a subject true, as man may find,
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He lived to God a child of Abrahams seed:
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He lived to die, content to leave each frend,
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He died to live in joy, that shall not end.
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His wofull wife may chiefly waile his want,
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His servants next have greatest cause to grieve,
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His countrey then (sith such as he be scant)
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His friends each one may sorow whilest they live:
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Among the which a greater losse had none,
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Then I my selfe, that causlesse do not mone.
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Oh God graunt us thy grace, and daily aide,
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Oh God put feare and love into our hart,
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Oh God to sinne make us full sore afraid,
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Oh God thy love from us do not divart:
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Thou that from us our peerelesse Price hast reft,
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Be our defence, that heere behind are left.
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