Cowley had previously written:
"Large was his soul; as large a soul as e'er
Submitted to inform a body here.
High as the place 'twas shortly in Heav'n to have,
But low, and humble as his grave.
So high that all the virtues there did come,
As to their chiefest seat,
Conspicuous, and great;
So low that for me too it made a room."
On the Death of Mr. William Hervey.