DR. THOMAS RAVIS.
In the following tribute to the memory of a fellow-collegian, and predecessor in the deanery of Christ Church, it will not be too much to conjecture that Corbet was urged by gratitude for kindness experienced while the latter was young. The “Elegie” was evidently written immediately upon the interment of its subject, as towards its conclusion he complains that no tomb was raised over his remains; a complaint which was soon after obviated, when a fair monument was erected, bearing the following inscription, which contains all that is necessary to be told here of the circumstances of his life and character:
“MEMORIÆ SACRUM.
Thomas Ravis, claris natalibus Mauldenæ in Suthreia natus, Regius Alumnus in Schola Westmonasteriensi educatus, in Academiam Oxoniensem adscitus, omnes academicos honores consequutus, et magistratibus perfunctus, Decanus Ecclesiæ Christi ibidem constitutus, et bis Academiæ Pro-Cancellarius. Unde ob doctrinam, gravitatem, et spectatam prudentiam, à Rege Jacobo, primum ad Episcopatum Glocestrensem provectus, deinde ad Londinensem translatus, et demum à Christo, dum Ecclesiæ, Patriæ, Principi vigilaret, in cœlestem patriam evocatus, placide pieque emigravit, et quod mortale fuit, certa spe resurgendi, hic deposuit, die 14 Decembris, An. salutis 1609.”
AN ELEGIE
WRITTEN UPON THE DEATH OF
DR. RAVIS,
BISHOP OF LONDON.
When I past Paules, and travell’d in that walke
Where all oure Brittaine-sinners sweare and talk[36];
Ould Harry-ruffians, bankerupts, southsayers,
And youth, whose cousenage is as ould as theirs;
And then beheld the body of my lord
Trodd under foote by vice that he abhorr’d;
It wounded me the Landlord of all times
Should let long lives and leases to their crimes,
And to his springing honour did afford
Scarce soe much time as to the prophet’s gourd.
Yet since swift flights of virtue have apt ends,
Like breath of angels, which a blessing sends,
And vanisheth withall, whilst fouler deeds
Expect a tedious harvest for bad seeds;
I blame not fame and nature if they gave,
Where they could give no more, their last, a grave.
And wisely doe thy greived freinds forbeare
Bubbles and alabaster boyes to reare
On thy religious dust: for men did know
Thy life, which such illusions cannot show:
For thou hast trod among those happy ones
Who trust not in their superscriptions,
Their hired epitaphs, and perjured stone,
Which oft belyes the soule when shee is gon;
And durst committ thy body, as it lyes,
To tongues of living men, nay unborne eyes.
What profits thee a sheet of lead? What good
If on thy coarse a marble quarry stood?
Let those that feare their rising purchase vaults,
And reare them statues to excuse their faults;
As if, like birds that peck at painted grapes,
Their judge knew not their persons from their shapes.
Whilst thou assured, through thy easyer dust
Shall rise at first; they would not though they must.
Nor needs the Chancellor boast, whose pyramis
Above the host and altar reared is[37];
For though thy body fill a viler roome,
Thou shalt not change deedes with him for his tombe.