The Watchmaker’s Epitaph by Unknown

Here lies in the horizontal position
The outside case of
George Routleigh, Watchmaker,
Whose abilities in that line were an honour
To his profession:

Integrity was the main-spring,
And prudence the regulator
Of all the actions of his life:
Humane, generous and liberal,
His hand never stopped
Till he had relieved distress;

So nicely regulated were all his movements
That he never went wrong
Except when set-a-going
By people
Who did not know his key;
Even then, he was easily
Set right again:

He had the art of disposing of his time
So well
That his hours glided away
In one continual round
Of pleasure and delight,
Till an unlucky moment put a period to
His existence;

He departed this life
November 14, 1802
Wound up,
In hopes of being taken in hand
By his Maker,
And of being
Thoroughly cleaned, repaired and set-a-going
In the World to come.

From: http://www.devonheritage.org/stentiford/Issue_52/Article2/6Dec2art1.htm

Date: 1786 (published)

By: Unknown

Tags: 1786, here lies in the horizontal position, poetry, the watchmaker's epitaph, unknown