Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield

Verses Written in a Lady’s Sherlock ‘Upon Death’

Mistaken fair, lay Sherlock by, 
	His doctrine is deceiving; 
For, whilst he teaches us to die, 
	He cheats us of our living.

To die’s a lesson we shall know
	Too soon, without a master; 
Then let us only study now
	How we may live the faster.

To live’s to love, to bless, be bless’d
	With mutual inclination; 
Share then my ardour in your breast,
	And kindly meet my passion.

But if thus bless’d I may not live,
	And pity you deny, 
To me, at least, your Sherlock give,
	’Tis I must learn to die.