Signed, witnessed, and sealed—it was all written down

By his dear friend, the lawyer of great renown.

’Mong his sons, who had boldly pronounced him insane;

’Mong his daughters, who called him foolish and vain;

’Mong his heirs, who greatly embittered the strife

By coarsely defaming his beautiful wife;

He gave, and bequeathed (calling each one by name),

In trust—nevertheless, for the use of the same,

Nearly all of his wealth, and princely estate.

How much was reserved, it is needless to state.

Unselfish act! Such acts are never seen

Performed by men controll’d by hate, or spleen,

Which, like the adder’s venom—viper’s breath—

Are but the obnoxious messengers of death.

Unselfish act! And that stroke of his pen,

Forced his children to cry Amen! and Amen;

Admit he was sane when he made his Last Will,

If then he was sane, he must be so still,

And if so still—for a moment, consider,

Was he not sane when he married the widow?

Respecting his wife, who took him by stealth,

As some boldly say, to obtain his great wealth,

How comes it, pray tell me, that in the same hour

He signed the Will, she relinquished her Dower?

His head always level, her heart always true,

Let us wish them God-speed, and bid them adieu.

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