London and its Environs Described, Volume I, Page 128 & 129

This page continues the article entitled Abbey Church of St. Peter's, Westminster, which started on Page 1.
The next article is entitled Abbots Langley, and starts on Page 131.

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" them: but one man's fame is made the " foundation of another's, in the same man- " ner with the gentleman's, who ordered " this sentence to be made his epitaph; " Here lies Sir Philip Sidney's " friend. Some there are that mention " only the names of the persons whose " dust they cover, and preserve a noble si- " lence with regard to the hand that raised " them; but even here, the dead can re- " ceive no benefit from such disinterested " affection; but the living may profit much " by so noble an example. Another thing " that displeases me is the manner of the " inscriptions, which frequently mistake " the very design of engraving them, and " as frequently give the lie to themselves. " To pore one's self blind in guessing out " Æternæ Memoriæ Sacram, is a jest, that " would make Heraclitus laugh; and yet " most of them begin in that pompous " taste, without the least reflection that " brass and marble can't preserve them from " the tooth of Time; and if men's actions " have not guarded their reputations, the " proudest monument would flatter in vain. " Sepulchral monuments should be always " considered as the last public tribute paid " to virtue; as a proof of our regard for
		" noble

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" noble characters, and most particularly " as an excitement to others to emulate the " great example. " It is certain there is not a nobler a- " musement, than a walk in Westminster " Abbey, among the tombs of heroes. " patriots, poets, and philosophers; you are " surrounded with the shades of your great " forefathers; you feel the influence of " their venerable society, and grow fond of " fame and virtue in the contemplation: " 'tis the finest school of morality, and the " most beautiful flatterer of imagination in " nature. I appeal to any man's mind that " has any taste for what is sublime and " noble, for a witness to the pleasure he " experiences on this occasion; and I dare " believe he will acknowledge, that there is " no entertainment so various, or so in- " structive. For my own part, I have " spent many an hour of pleasing melan- " choly in its venerable walks; and have " been more delighted with the solemn " conversation of the dead, than the most " sprightly sallies of the living. I have " examined the characters that were in- " scribed before me, and distinguished " every particular virtue. The monuments " of real fame, I have viewed with real
Vol. I.	K	" respect;