VERSES, WRITTEN AT THE REQUEST OF A GENTLEMAN TO WHOM A LADY HAD GIVEN A SPRIG OF MYRTLE*, WHAT hopes-what terrors does this gift create? *Thefe verfes were firft printed in a Magazine for 1768, but were written between forty and fifty years ago. Elegant as they are, they were compofed in the fhort space of five minutes. To To Lady FIREBRACE*, At BURY ASSIZES. AT length muft Suffolk beauties fhine in vain, To LYCE, an elderly Lady. YE nymphs whom starry rays invest, Who fhine by lavish lovers drest, But as your fifter of the sky, Let Lyce fhare the praise. This lady was Bridget, third daughter of Philip Bacon, Efq, of Ipswich, and relict of Philip Evers, Efq. of that town; she became the fecond wife of Sir Cordell Firebrace, the last Baronet of that name (to whom he brought a fortune of 25,000l.), July 26, 1737. Being again left a widow in 1759, the was a third time married, April 7, 1762, to William Campbell, Efq. uncle to the present Duke of Argyle, and died July 3, 1782. Her Her filver locks difplay the moon, Her brows a cloudy fhow, Strip'd rainbows round her eyes are feen, Her teeth the night with darkness dyes, But fome Zelinda, while I fing, Yet spite of fair Zelinda's eye, ON THE DEATH OF Mr. ROBERT LEVET, CONDEMN'D to Hope's delufive mine, By fudden blafts, or flow decline, Well try'd through many a varying year, Officious, innocent, fincere, Of every friendlefs name the friend. Yet Yet ftill he fills affection's eye, Obfcurely wife and coarfely kind; Nor letter'd arrogance deny Thy praise to merit unrefin'd. When fainting nature call'd for aid, The power of art without the show. No fummons mock'd by chill delay, His virtues walk'd their narrow round, The bufy day-the peaceful night, His frame was firm-his powers were bright, Then with no fiery throbbing pain, And freed his foul the nearest way. EPITAPH on CLAUDE PHILLIPS, AN ITINERANT MUSICIAN. PHILLIPS! whofe touch harmonious could remove EPITAPHIUM IN THOMAM HANMER, BARONETTUM. Honorabilis admodum THOMAS HANMER, Wilhelmi Hanmer armigeri è Peregrina Henrici De Mildenhal in Com: Suffolciæ Baronetti forore et hærede. Filius Johannis Hanmer de Hanmer Baronetti Thefe lines are among Mrs. Williams's Mifcellanies; they are nevertheless recognized as Johnson's, in a memorandum of his hand-writing, and were probably written at her request. Phillips was a travelling Fidler up and down Wales, and was greatly celebrated for his performance, Hæres. |