Being so much too good for earth, Heaven vows to keep them

Grace McDonnell, age 7, one of 20 children massacred in the Connecticut school shooting.

An Epitaph on S.P.

By Ben Jonson

A Child of Queen Elizabeth's Chapel

Weep with me, all you that read

         This little story:

And know, for whom a tear you shed

         Death's self is sorry.

'Twas a child, that so did thrive

         In grace and feature,

As heaven and nature seem'd to strive

         Which own'd the creature.

Years he number'd scarce thirteen

         When fates turn'd cruel,

Yet three fill'd zodiacs had he been

         The stage's jewel;

And did act (what now we moan)

         Old men so duly,

As, sooth, the Parcæ thought him one,

         He play'd so truly.

So, by error, to his fate

         They all consented;

But viewing him since (alas, too late)

         They have repented;

And have sought (to give new birth)

         In baths to steep him;

But being so much too good for earth,

         Heaven vows to keep him.