3 Yet still he fills Affection’s
eye,
Obscurely wise
and coarsely kind;
Nor, letter’d Arrogance,
deny
Thy praise to
merit unrefined.
4 When fainting Nature call’d for
aid,
And hovering Death
prepared the blow,
His vigorous remedy display’d
The power of Art
without the show.
5 In Misery’s darkest cavern known,
His useful care
was ever nigh;
Where hopeless Anguish pour’d
his groan,
And lonely Want
retired to die.
6 No summons, mock’d by chill delay;
No petty gain,
disdain’d by pride;
The modest wants of every
day,
The toil of every
day supplied.
7 His virtues walk’d their narrow
round,
Nor made a pause,
nor left a void;
And sure the Eternal Master
found
The single talent
well employ’d,
8 The busy day—the peaceful
night,
Unfelt, unclouded,
glided by;
His frame was firm—his
powers were bright,
Though now his
eightieth year was nigh.
9 Then with no fiery, throbbing pain,
No cold gradations
of decay,
Death broke at once the vital
chain,
And freed his
soul the nearest way.
* * * * *
EPITAPH ON CLAUDE PHILLIPS,[1]
AN ITINERANT MUSICIAN.
Phillips! whose touch harmonious could
remove
The pangs of guilty power and hapless
love,
Rest here; distress’d by poverty
no more,
Find here that calm thou gav’st
so oft before;
Sleep undisturb’d within this peaceful
shrine,
Till angels wake thee with a note like
thine.
[Footnote 1: ‘Claude Phillips:’ a Welsh travelling fiddler, greatly admired.]
* * * * *
EPITAPH
ON SIR THOMAS HANMER, BART.
Thou who survey’st these walls with
curious eye,
Pause at this tomb where Hanmer’s
ashes lie;
His various worth through varied life
attend, 3
And learn his virtues while thou mourn’st
his end.
His force of genius burn’d
in early youth,
With thirst of knowledge, and with love
of truth;
His learning, join’d with each endearing
art,
Charm’d every ear, and gain’d
on every heart.
Thus early wise, the endanger’d
realm to aid,
His country call’d him from the
studious shade; 10
In life’s first bloom his public
toils began,
At once commenced the senator and man.
In business dexterous, weighty in
debate,
Thrice ten long years he labour’d
for the state;
In every speech persuasive wisdom flow’d,
In every act refulgent virtue glow’d:
Suspended faction ceased from rage and
strife,
To hear his eloquence, and praise his
life.
Resistless merit fix’d the
senate’s choice,
Who hail’d him Speaker with united
voice. 20
Illustrious age! how bright thy glories
shone,
While Hanmer fill’d the chair—and
Anne the throne!