It is he that puts into man all the wisdom of the world,
without speaking a word; which God, with all the Words of His Law,
promises and threats, doth not infuse.
"Death which hateth and destroyeth man is believed; God which hath
made him and loves him is always deferred. It is, therefore, Death
alone that can suddenly make man to know himself. He tells the
proud and insolent that they are but abjects, and humbles them at
the instant; makes them cry, complain and repent; yea, even to
hate their fore-passed happiness.
"He takes account of the rich, and proves him a beggar; a naked
beggar which hath interest in nothing but in the gravel that fills
his mouth. He holds a glass before the eyes of the most beautiful
and makes them see therein their deformity and rottenness, and
they acknowledge it.
"O eloquent, just and mighty Death! whom none could advise, thou
hast persuaded; what none have dared thou hast done; and whom all
the world have flattered, thou only hast cast out of the world and
despised; thou hast drawn together all the far-stretched
greatness, all the pride, cruelty and ambition of man, and covered
it all over with these two narrow words--HIC JACET."
Sir Walter Ralegh was born only a few miles down below Ottery St.
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