RURAL FUNERALSWord格式文档下载.docx
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RURAL FUNERALSWord格式文档下载.docx
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stforgraves-
Youwereasflowersnowwither'
d;
evenso
Theseherbletsshall,whichweuponyoustrow.
CYMBELINE.
AMONGthebeautifulandsimple-heartedcustomsofrurallifewhich
stilllingerinsomepartsofEngland,arethoseofstrewingflowers
beforethefunerals,andplantingthematthegravesofdeparted
friends.These,itissaid,aretheremainsofsomeoftheritesof
theprimitivechurch;
buttheyareofstillhigherantiquity,having
beenobservedamongtheGreeksandRomans,andfrequentlymentionedby
theirwriters,andwere,nodoubt,thespontaneoustributesof
unletteredaffection,originatinglongbeforearthadtaskeditselfto
modulatesorrowintosong,orstoryitonthemonument.Theyarenow
onlytobemetwithinthemostdistantandretiredplacesofthe
kingdom,wherefashionandinnovationhavenotbeenabletothrongin,
andtrampleoutallthecuriousandinterestingtracesoftheolden
time.
InGlamorganshire,wearetold,thebedwhereonthecorpseliesis
coveredwithflowers,acustomalludedtoinoneofthewildand
plaintivedittiesofOphelia:
Whitehisshroudasthemountainsnow
Lardedallwithsweetflowers;
Whichbe-wepttothegravedidgo,
Withtrueloveshowers.
Thereisalsoamostdelicateandbeautifulriteobservedinsomeof
theremotevillagesofthesouth,atthefuneralofafemalewhohas
diedyoungandunmarried.Achapletofwhiteflowersisbornebefore
thecorpsebyayounggirlnearestinage,size,andresemblance,
andisafterwardshungupinthechurchovertheaccustomedseatof
thedeceased.Thesechapletsaresometimesmadeofwhitepaper,in
imitationofflowers,andinsideofthemisgenerallyapairof
whitegloves.Theyareintendedasemblemsofthepurityofthe
deceased,andthecrownofglorywhichshehasreceivedinheaven.
Insomepartsofthecountry,also,thedeadarecarriedtothe
gravewiththesingingofpsalmsandhymns:
akindoftriumph,"
to
show,"
saysBourne,"
thattheyhavefinishedtheircoursewithjoy,
andarebecomeconquerors."
This,Iaminformed,isobservedinsome
ofthenortherncounties,particularlyinNorthumberland,andithasa
pleasing,thoughmelancholyeffect,tohear,ofastillevening,in
somelonelycountryscene,themournfulmelodyofafuneraldirge
swellingfromadistance,andtoseethetrainslowlymovingalongthe
landscape.
Thus,thus,andthus,wecompassround
Thyharmlesseandunhauntedground,
Andaswesingthydirge,wewill
Thedaffodill
Andotherflowerslayupon
Thealtarofourlove,thystone.
HERRICK.
Thereisalsoasolemnrespectpaidbythetravellertothepassing
funeralinthesesequesteredplaces;
forsuchspectacles,occurring
amongthequietabodesofnature,sinkdeepintothesoul.Asthe
mourningtrainapproaches,hepauses,uncovered,toletitgoby;
he
thenfollowssilentlyintherear;
sometimesquitetothegrave,at
othertimesforafewhundredyards,and,havingpaidthistribute
ofrespecttothedeceased,turnsandresumeshisjourney.
TherichveinofmelancholywhichrunsthroughtheEnglish
character,andgivesitsomeofitsmosttouchingandennobling
graces,isfinelyevidencedinthesepatheticcustoms,andinthe
solicitudeshownbythecommonpeopleforanhonoredandapeaceful
grave.Thehumblestpeasant,whatevermaybehislowlylotwhile
living,isanxiousthatsomelittlerespectmaybepaidtohis
remains.SirThomasOverbury,describingthe"
faireandhappy
milkmaid,"
observes,"
thuslivesshe,andallhercareis,thatshe
maydieinthespring-time,tohavestoreofflowersstuckeuponher
windingsheet."
Thepoets,too,whoalwaysbreathethefeelingofa
nation,continuallyadverttothisfondsolicitudeaboutthegrave.In
"
TheMaid'
sTragedy,"
byBeaumontandFletcher,thereisabeautiful
instanceofthekind,describingthecapriciousmelancholyofa
broken-heartedgirl:
Whensheseesabank
Stuckfullofflowers,she,withasigh,willtell
Herservants,whataprettyplaceitwere
Toburyloversin;
andmakehermaids
Pluck'
em,andstrewheroverlikeacorse.
Thecustomofdecoratinggraveswasonceuniversallyprevalent:
osierswerecarefullybentoverthemtokeeptheturfuninjured,and
aboutthemwereplantedevergreensandflowers."
Weadorntheir
graves,"
saysEvelyn,inhisSylva,"
withflowersandredolentplants,
justemblemsofthelifeofman,whichhasbeencomparedinHoly
Scripturestothosefadingbeauties,whoserootsbeingburiedin
dishonor,riseagaininglory."
Thisusagehasnowbecomeextremely
rareinEngland;
butitmaystillbemetwithinthechurch-yardsof
retiredvillages,amongtheWelshm
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