Grampian Club > Monuments and monumental inscriptions in Scotland > Volume 1

GEEYFRIAKS CHURCH YAED. 55
James Brown, who died in 1691, had bemoaned his wife who
pre-deceased him in these lines : —
" Here lyes interr'd her corps, in hopes to rise,
Whose soul's above with Christ in paradise,
When both unite ; a matron grave and just.
Faithful and careful in her husband's trust ;
Not gaudie, kept her shop, went not abroad,
Verfous and charitable, serving God,
Prudent, obliging, in her ways discreet.
At home, abroad, did for her husband's credit ;
He mindful of her worth moved this intent,
Tor badge of love, t'erect this monument."
A parent laments his children thus : —
" Though marble, porphirie, and mourning touch
May praise these spoils, yet can they not too much ;
For beauty lost and fame this stone doth close
One earth's deliglit, heaven's care, a purest rose.
And shouldst thou, reader, but vouchsafe a tear,
Upon it other flowers shall soon appear.
Sad violets and hyacinths, which grow
With marks of grief, a publick loss to show/'
The following is common to Scottish graveyards : —
" A soul prepared needs no
The summons comes, the saint obeys ;
Swift was her flight and short the road,
She closed her eyes and saw her God."
A female who died 12tli November, 1675, aged forty-six, is
celebrated in these lines : —
" A nature sweet grace did enamel o'er,
A modest mind a great wit did decore ;
Her comely features vertue did excel,
Her dust here lyes, her soul with Christ doth dwell."
A child of seven years, daughter of Alexander Swinton of Mer-
singtoun, advocate, had these lines upon her tombstone : —
" The sweetest children are but like fair flow^ers,
Which please the fancy for some days and hours ;
They soon spring up, but ere they be well grown.
They fade away, their place is no more known ;