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noticed, as it is with fair certainty unknown. It was written by 
Charles Leftley, a friend of her brother William, and is entitled — 
A DIRGE 
ON THE MUCH LAMENTED DEATH OF THE 
BEAUTIFUL MARIA LINLEY.* 
Larded all with sweet flowers 
She bewept to the grave did go 
With true—love showers. 
—Shakespeare. 
Underneath this ebon shade 
Mark’d by a rudely sculptured stone 
The lov’d Maria low is laid ; 
Soft be the turf she rests upon. 
These flowers that grow around her tomb 
All bear a paler hue 
And die almost before they bloom ; 
Their sympathy so true. 
The pensive powers who haunt the grove 
Shall here their vigils keep 
Chaunt their wild requiems o’er my love 
And soothe her lasting sleep. 
7 Pity for her shall touch the string 
1 And breath her softest sigh 
And here her holy strains shall sing 
Of heaven taught melody. 
For she was sweet as opening buds 
Mild as the hours of May 
Bright as the sunbeam on the floods 
And constant as the day. 
* «The Cabinet,” Vol. 1, p. 65. 
