An Epitaph A Day - November 8

Keeps Death's Spectre Away

Frederick, Prince of Wales
Father of George I
King Of England

What had Frederick done, that he was so loathed
by George II and never mentioned by George III?


Here lies Fred,
Who was alive, and Is dead.
Had it been his father,
I had much rather.
Had it been his brother,
Still better than another.
Had it been his sister,
No one would have missed her.
Had it been the whole generation,
Still better for the nation.
But since 'tis only Fred,
Who was alive, and is dead,
There's no more to be said."

Source:

Thackeray, William Makepeace. The Complete Works of William Makepeace Thackeray: With Illustrations by the Author, and with Introductory Notes Setting Forth the History of the Several Works in Twenty-two Volumes. New York: Houghton, Mifflin and company, 1889.