84 IZAAK WALTON AND HIS FRIENDS 



object till his death, after which it was reproduced 

 in stone by Nicholas Stone, the famous sculptor. 

 During his last illness Donne for several days lay 

 waiting for the appointed hour of his death, then 

 closing his own eyes and disposing his hands and 

 body into such a posture as required not the least 

 alteration by those that came to shroud him,^ 

 " The world's beloved Donne," " Our Donne," 

 falling on sleep, bade farewell to the world. His 

 last words were, '* Thy kingdom come, Thy will be 

 done." — "Death had set the seal of immortality 

 upon him, and the beautiful had become eternal." 



Donne was buried in St Paul's , Cathedral ; 

 many noted persons attended the funeral. His 

 grave was strewed with choice flowers. 



The next day, writes Walton, after his burial, 

 some unknown friend, some one of the many lovers 

 and admirers of his virtue and learning, writ this 

 epitaph with a coal on the wall over his grave : — 



" Reader, I am to let thee know, 

 Donne's body only lies below ; 

 For could the grave his soul comprise 

 Earth would be richer than the skies." 



In Notes and Queries I have raised the question 



i"If I must die I'll snatch at everything 



That may but mind me of my latest breath ; 



Death's heads, graves, knells, blacks, tombs, all these shall bring. 



Into my soul such useful thoughts of death 



That this noble king of fears 



Shall not catch me unawares." 



Quarle's Midnight Meditations. 



