DOVE DALE REVISITED 117 



deathbed and stretching forth his arm in the 

 act of imploring a blessing on his only daughter 

 and her children, who surround his couch. 

 The effect of this touching scene is undisturbed 

 by any surrounding objects : it is alone in the 

 chapel, whose sides and floor are of a sober 

 tone, whilst the light is subdued by the stained 

 glass through which it passes." 



There is, or was, in the church a monument 

 bearing an epitaph by Charles Cotton. It is 

 thus given in his "Poems," 1689 : 



"An EPITAPH on ROBERT PORT, Esq., de- 

 sign'd for a monument and now set up in Elum 

 Church in the County of Stafford." 



There are twenty-six lines in all ; of these the 

 twelve following are the last : 



'* Here, Reader, here a Port's sad Reliques lye 

 To teach the careless World Mortality ; 

 Who while he Mortal was unrivall'd stood 

 The Crown, and Glory of his Antient blood : 

 Fit for his Princes, and his Countries trust, 

 Pious to God, and to his Neighbour just. 

 A loyal Husband to his latest end, 

 A gracious Father, and a faithfull Friend. 

 Belov'd he liv'd and dy'd o'recharg'd with Years, 

 Fuller of Honour than of Silver Hairs. 

 And, to sum up his Vertues, this was he 

 Who was what all we should, but cannot be." 



